Magic etc
Science has come a long way through the skeptical examination of facts using the assumption that natural mechanical rules can be found to model and predict events.
Although most of Benji's friends appreciate the strengths in the logical approaches used in Science Benji also appreciates the value of keeping an open mind to ideas that may seem fanciful or illogical or ones that include ideas normally not discussed by scientists.
Some of the ideas we explore look at the nature of mind and experience and explore the validity of concepts from traditional or religious belief systems or philosophy of mind and metaphysics.
E.g. Some of the ideas of physicists such as Smolin and Hawking include the idea of thinking of our universe in some ways as similar to an evolved living organism with an intelligent mind. This of course in some ways is similar to the religious ideas of all knowing Gods.
In our investigations we explore various scenarios involving alien and universal intelligences and extraterrestrial organisms. Our goal is not to promote any particular view but to explore any ideas consistent with logic and observations.
Benji has his own beliefs invoving magical cats and happiness enriching power of honey cakes, but he admits that some of his ideas are not backed by overwhealming scientific evidence.
Of course for something to be of interest to Science it has to have predictable observable outcomes. For this reason some experimental scientists place theoretical sciences as well as religious beliefs outside the realm of science. Although as individuals we may have preferred scientific, religious or philosophical ideas we try to be open minded where there is room for oposing opinions.