National Review online has an interesting article about Michael Shiavo’s lawyer, George Felos. Reading through the article it would be easy to dismiss Felos as a crackpot, but this would be hasty. Instead, we should see Felos’ beliefs as being consistent with the New Spirituality (formerly known as the New Age).
In his 2002 book Litigation as Spiritual Practice, Felos expresses his belief in the “cosmic law of cause and effect,” in which the human mind is not limited by the constraints of reality. More specifically, if one wants a new car, one could make this dream car manifest “out of the ether.”
Felos claims to have used his mental powers to cause a plane he was passenger on to nearly crash. By simply asking himself, “I wonder what it would be like to die right now?” the plane’s autopilot program mysteriously ceased to function and the plane descended into free fall. Felos then observed, “At that instant a clear, distinctly independent and slightly stern voice said to me, ‘Be careful what you think. You are more powerful than you realize.’ In quick succession I was startled, humbled and blessed by God’s admonishment.”
Throughout Litigation as Spiritual Practice, Felos combines tactics on successful litigation with his spiritual adventures. The book’s 30 chapters feature a diversity of selections such as: “Bargaining for the Contingency Fee” alongside others entitled, “Rescued on Dream Wings” and “My Death and Resurrection.”
As Mrs. Browning lay motionless before my gaze, I suddenly heard a loud, deep moan and scream and wondered if the nursing home personnel heard it and would respond to the unfortunate resident. In the next moment, as this cry of pain and torment continued, I realized it was Mrs. Browning.
I felt the midsection of my body open and noticed a strange quality to the light in the room. I sensed her soul in agony. As she screamed I heard her say, in confusion, “Why am I still here … Why am I here?” My soul touched hers and in some way I communicated that she was still locked in her body. I promised I would do everything in my power to gain the release her soul cried for. With that, the screaming immediately stopped. I felt like I was back in my head again, the room resumed its normal appearance, and Mrs. Browning, as she had throughout this experience, lay silent.
Read more here.
(Hat Tip to Chris Regan).