Life After Death: The Burden of Proof

This past Friday I went down to Roy Thompson Hall, and sat in at Deepak Chopra’s lecture/seminar on insights into his new book, “Life after Death, The Burden of Proof.” He is now a currently retired, a former board certified endocrinologist, and board certified in internal medicine. He has written several books on eastern medicine and the human body, as well as books on spirituality and several CD’s and videos.

In the presentation he displayed on Friday he discussed several insights into his book, and many of the key ideas. What struck me was his ability to share his ideas clearly to people. He used many examples throughout the presentation which he used to try and support his view. The most noticeable one was when he asked an audience member, “What did you have for dinner last night?” The man responded with, “Chicken.” Deepak then told the audience to think of chicken in your mind. And he went on, “When people ask me where you go when you die, I tell them, you go to where that chicken is.” It was a humorous, but an understandable example. Deepak had a clear, confident, well supported, and slightly humorous presentation. Whether you believed in what he said or not, you sure came out thinking after the seminar.

Deepak’s book and topic that evening is still controversial, however it doesn’t try and change people’s attitudes, just tries to better inform, and show you his opinion. A lot of evidence used by Deepak in his seminar is considered weak, and sometimes completely incorrect. However the audience in which he was presenting to, I assume would not disagree, but only take it with a grain of salt, as they are there to hear what he thinks. The topic he discussed did seek a response, and did allow the listeners to take his ideas and compare them or mix them with their own. He wasn’t trying to change anyone’s attitudes, but only give an idea of his opinion. All of this relates to the issue of persuasive and informative topics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OGm-tzVRfA

http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2006/11/what_happens_af.html

http://pharyngula.org/index/weblog/comments/moonbat_anti_evolutionist_deepak_chopra/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepak_Chopra

Adler, Ronald B., and George Rodman. Understanding Human Communication. New York: Oxford, 2006.

Below is an interview with Deepak in which he discusses some of his views.