Geophysical variables and behavior: XCVI. "Experiences" attributed to Christ and Mary at Marmora, Ontario, Canada may have been consequences of environmental electromagnetic stimulation: implications for religious movements.
L A Suess, Michael A. Persinger
Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1, 2001 DOI: 10.2466/pms.2001.93.2.435 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals and groups reporting religious experiences near Marmora, Ontario, Canada, since 1992 |
| Keywords | Humans Oxides Iron Magic Religion and psychology Spirituality Disasters Electromagnetic fields Mining Catholicism Ontario Ferrosoferric oxide |
| Key findings | The authors suggest that local geophysical and geological conditions generated weak complex magnetic fields (0.1 to 1 microTesla) whose temporal patterns resembled laboratory fields used to evoke a sensed presence and altered states, and that these conditions produced odd lights and physiological changes in the thousands of people who visited the area. Most messages attributed to spiritual beings by 'sensitive' individuals occurred one or two days after increased global geomagnetic activity, and between 1992 and 1997 local seismic epicentres moved closer to the site. |
Abstract
Since the year 1992 individuals and groups of people have reported religious experiences near Marmora, Ontario, Canada. The experiences, attributed to Christ or Mary, have occurred near the top of a hill adjacent to an open pit magnetite mine that has been accumulating about 15 million gallons of water per month for more than a decade. During the period between 1992 and 1997 epicentres for local seismic events moved significantly closer to this site. Most of the messages attributed to spiritual beings by "sensitive" individuals occurred one or two days after increased global geomagnetic activity. We suggest that conditions produced by local geophysical and geological properties created the odd lights and induced physiological changes within the thousands of people who visited the area. Direct measurements indicated that weak (0.1 microTesla to 1 microTesla) complex magnetic fields, the temporal patterns of which were similar to the experimental fields we have employed to evoke the sensed presence and altered states within the laboratory, may have been generated within the area.