Aurino,

I wrote:

>> Your hypothesis predicts that biological
>> testing would show the tingling to be an
>> observable bodily function.

You replied:

> Not necessarily. TOM has direct access to large
> portions of your brain and can simulate any
> kind of virtual reality for you.

I see. That's disappointing, because until we can display these "virtual reality" states using some device other than the individual's perceptions only, it would be difficult to scientifically establish their existence. The theists claim that they (OBEs, NDEs) are visions from God or spiritual travel seems almost as unprovable.

I was hoping this could be a test between the theists and atheists in this forum. You've been right to show that the contest isn't so clear cut in the way I thought it could be.

Nevertheless, perhaps TOM will prove an interesting problem for the theists anyway.