Study of Religions Task 1: Book Review Student Number: 1907655 Sarah Porch-Lee 1,204 words Hunter, J. (2018). Engaging the Anomalous: Collected Essays on Anthropology, the Paranormal, Mediumship and Extraordinary Experience. United States and United Kingdom: August Night Books, eBook Locations 3 - 4126. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-78677-056-1. Introduction and Context From the outset of his book, Dr. Jack Hunter’s passion for studying unique human experiences is made evident. He conducts ethnography in settings that may be deemed by some to be paranormal; however, he takes care to serve his research in a balanced context by solidly ensconcing his work in religious anthropological methodology and literature alongside clearly explained current psychological research. In this manner, he is able to offer the reader his own exciting first-hand experiences with paranormal events and introduce them to the continually evolving field of paranthropology, while also satisfying academic and scientific requirements that are so desperately needed in the study of such events. This collection of essays comes together to support Hunter’s approach to studying the paranormal in a way that brings an academic reader to the brink of experiencing something new while providing a way to bring academia and a multi-approach methodology to the paranormal table. Claims and Arguments This approach Dr. Hunter uses to explore the paranormal is contained within anthropology and is referred to as paranthropology; his methodology is argued and supported by several central ideas. Ultimately, Dr. Hunter believes the paranormal must studied in a non-reductive way (CITE THIS?). Although anthropologists have studied paranormal and fringe religious rites since the inception of the field of anthropology, Hunter sees that much of the research in these types of events was explained away as either misunderstood by the participants themselves or as psychological deviancies. He was inspired in his study of anthropologist Edith Turner’s (1993) work to attempt to view paranormal experiences as participants view them and to avoid reducing the experience to something other than what the participant believes they are experiencing. Along similar lines comes his next main argument which is that the study of paranormal events is complex and should involve a multi-disciplinary approach. Paranormal events can be more richly engaged with by including multiple fields such as anthropology, religion, psychology, and sociology. Utilizing multiple disciplines keeps an observer away from the temptation to offer a simple explanation of what occurred. This refers back to Dr. Hunter’s original argument which is to avoid reductionist methodology when engaging with the paranormal. Additionally, Dr. Hunter draws from Charles Fort (2008) to argue that the paranormal is experienced through various ontologies; this reinforces there is not one simple way to engage with the paranormal, nor is there one specific occurrence that may be happening in a paranormal event. Rather, multiple dynamics are at work in any given setting; each of which can be experienced and analyzed. Structural Description Dr. Hunter weaves his main tenets together throughout a series of essays which analyze past anthropological literature in relation to his own first hand experiences with a mediumship group at the Bristol Spirit Lodge. Dr. Hunter sees a possibly flawed approached to the widely accepted method of observing and studying the paranormal by anthropology’s forefathers, which tends towards doubt and reductionism of experienced events of this nature. Instead, he has chosen to approach his research with the mindset that spiritual / paranormal realities may be real. Dr. Hunter makes it clear, though, that he does not make claims that these possibilities are real, but rather that it helps research to approach studies with an open mind. Indeed, as Dr. Hunter experienced mediumship gatherings at the Bristol Spirit Lodge he used a non-reductive mindset and was able to engage with the experience along with group participants. Using a phenomelogical approach centered on gathering first hand qualitative data by engaging with an open-mind in research settings which opened the door for him to publish his findings in academic work. He did this by taking his observations and considering them through the lens of multiple academic disciplines such as anthropology, religion, and psychology. Rather than using reductionism at this stage, he engages in discussion on his paranormal experiences by allowing for ontological multiplicity. Evaluation and Critique Dr. Hunter’s claim that paranormal and spiritual experiences should be studied with a non-reductive mindset seems to be a well thought out and solid research approach. He has seen it practiced by the well-respected researcher, Edith Turner (2008), and has also used a non-reductive approach in his own observations and publications. This method has served him well and resulted in interesting personal experiences and conclusions. By refusing to reduce the experiences of those he observed in the Bristol Spirit Lodge, he participated in their rituals alongside them and was able to feel and see what they felt and saw. For example, Dr. Hunter describes involuntary physical movement of his arm and hand, as well as observing specific visual change over a medium’s face during a ritual which was independently confirmed by another participant. Dr. Hunter’s research at the Bristol Spirit Lodge was fascinating data resulting from his non-reductive approach; more examples would have solidified his claim even further. I will be interested to see more studies taking a non-reductive approach at work outside the Bristol Spirit Lodge. This is an exciting way to approach the paranormal, needs to be used in more settings, and should continue to be represented to create a longer footprint throughout anthropological literature. Dr. Hunter makes evident through his research how a multi-disciplinary approach is best when considering paranormal observations; however, he also encourages the researcher to attempt the aforementioned non-reductive analyzation, as well. Both of these methods seem appropriate and helpful to an anthropologist attempting the study of the paranormal, but the two methods could play at odds with each other. An inexperienced researcher might find difficulty in attempting a non-reductive approach when applying a multi-disciplinary analysis of gathered data. The temptation to reduce observations within the disciplines will exist; more explanation on how to avoid this temptation would be helpful. Perhaps Dr. Hunter’s most compelling claim lies in his concept of ontological flooding, wherein the researcher is open to all felt experiences of any reality. Allowing oneself to be open to various ontologies frees one to engage in any paranormal setting without needing to worry about the veracity of it. This is an exciting idea, and it may connect the dots between how to take a non-reductive approach and move into careful multi-disciplinary analysis. As Dr. Hunter explained in the book, conclusions may be found that reach beyond the initial question when one allows for a multiplicity of ontologies to be at work. Because this idea allows researchers to process the paranormal through any reality, it could either encourage research in the field or it could cause further methodological questioning and critique if undertaken carelessly. Conclusions Overall, these claims explain how the study of the paranormal can be improved and carried out within academia. Perhaps the most intriguing concept found in these claims lies within the idea that researchers must first prepare themselves to engage with paranthropology; they must be open to the possibility that anything could happen. Indeed, the methods laid out in this book encourage the researcher to look inward before looking outward. The study of paranormal events remains at a crossroads, and Dr. Hunter is attempting to help this field by considering thoughtful ways to study special events that can be thought of in new ways while adhering to appropriate scientific measures of data analysis. 1,204 words References Fort, C. (2008). The Book of the Damned: The Complete Works of Charles Fort. London: Tarcher. Turner, E. (1993). The Reality of Spirits: A Tabooed or Permitted Field of Study?. Anthropology of Consciousness, 4(1), pp.9-12.