Whiteman, J(oseph) H(ilary) M(ichael) (1906-?)

Mathematician and writer on religion, science, and parapsychology. He was born on November 2, 1906. He attended Highgate School, London; Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; and the University of Cape Town (Ph.D. and M.Mus.). He joined the faculty of mathematics at the University of Cape Town and remained there for many years (1939-71). He was named emeritus professor of mathematics in 1972. Also an accomplished musician, he published some 100 articles on music in the journal South African Music Teacher, and he also contributed to various symposia on music.

Whiteman experienced out-of-the-body travel, prompting his interest in parapsychology. He has described these experiences in several of his books and articles. From a scientific perspective, he has also argued that the new post-quantum physics will provide a new worldview that has a place for parapsychology and psychic phenomena. He has contributed numerous papers on parapsychology and related subjects to various publications. He received the Valkhoff Medallion from the South African Society for Psychical Research for his contributions to the field.

Sources:

Berger, Arthur S., and Joyce Berger. The Encyclopedia of Parapsychology and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House, 1991.

Pleasants, Helene, ed. Biographical Dictionary of Parapsychology. New York: Helix Press, 1964.

Whiteman, J. H. M. The Mystical Life: An Outline of Its Nature and Teachings from the Evidence of Direct Experience. London: Faber & Faber, 1961.

——. "The Mystical Way, and Habitualizing of Mystical States." In Handbook of States of Consciousness. Edited by B. Wolman and Montague Ullman. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1986.

——. "Parapsychology and Physics." In Handbook of Parapsychology. Edited by B. Wolman. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1977.

——. "The Process of Separation and Return in Experiences Fully 'Out of the Body.' " Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 50 (1956).

Whiteman, Michael. Philosophy of Space and Time and the Inner Constitution of Nature: A Phenomenological Study. London: Allen & Unwin; New York: Humanities Pub., 1967.