Education

B.A. in Sociology, Niagara University

M.A. in Sociology, St. John’s University

Ph.D. in Sociology/Criminology, Fordham University

Bio

William F. Bengston has been a committed member of the SJC faculty for 40 years. Currently a professor of sociology and coordinator for the Department of Human Relations, his responsibilities include the development and coordination of this interdisciplinary major that combines sociology and psychology.

Dr. Bengston is active in his local community. He has served for 21 years on various elected boards, including being president of the Harborfields Public Library, the Port Jefferson Library, and the Port Jefferson School District board.

Dr. Bengston has published a significant number of works on sociology, the sociology of science and knowledge, alternative medicine, criminology and healing research. His recent works include, “Challenges for Preclinical Investigations of Human Biofield Modalities,” published in 2015 in Global Advances in Health and Medicine; “Spirituality, Connection, and Healing with Intent: Reflections on Cancer Experiments on Laboratory Mice” published in 2012 by Oxford University Press; “Anomalous DC Magnetic Field Activity during a Bioenergy Healing Experiment” and “The Healing Connection: EEG Harmonics, Entrainment, and Schumann's Resonances,” both of which appeared in The Journal of Scientific Exploration in 2010. In 2008, he published “Can Healing Be Taught?” in Explore: The Journal of Science and Medicine. His work on “A Method Used to Train Skeptical Volunteers to Heal in an Experimental Setting” and “Resonance, Placebo Effects, and Type II Errors: Some Implications from Healing Research for Experimental Methods,” was published by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2007.  In addition, his book, The Energy Cure has been translated into four languages.

Dr. Bengston is president of the Society for Scientific Exploration, an international group of approximately 1,000 scientists who investigate scientific anomalies. He is currently carrying out funded research at Brown University and at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Dr. Bengston serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Scholarly & Professional Interests

Criminology

Sociology of religion

Sociology of science and knowledge

Scientific anomalies

Placebo and consciousness studies

Select Publications

Book

• The Energy Cure (in English, German, Spanish, Romanian), Sounds True Publishers (English).

Selected Journal Articles

• "Spirituality, Connection, and Healing with Intent: Reflections on Cancer Experiments on Laboratory Mice," in Lisa Miller (ed.), "Science and Spirituality," Oxford University Press, 2012.
• "Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries: Going Beyond Even Meta-Analysis on Distant Intention," Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," vol. 18(6), June 2012.
• "Some Implications of the Reported Effects on Johrei on the Viability and Proliferation of Cultured Cancer Cells in Vitro," Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 18(3), March 2012
• "Consciousness and the Source of Reality," Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 25(4), Winter 2012.
• "The Healing Connection: EEG Harmonics, Entrainment, and Schumann's Resonances," Journal of Scientific Exploration, vol. 24(4), Winter 2010.
• "Anomalous DC Magnetic Field Activity during a Bioenergy Healing Experiment," Journal of Scientific Exploration, vol. 24(3), Fall 2010.
• "Some Patterns of Acceptance of Anomalies," The Explorer, vol. 22, no. 3, Spring 2009.
• "Can Healing be Taught?" Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, vol. 4, May 2008.
• "What Do We Believe?" The Explorer, vol. 22, no. 1, Spring 2008.
• "Resonance, Placebo Effects, and Type II Errors: Some Implications from Healing Research for Experimental Methods." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol 13(3), 2007.