Unleash your psychic powers.

[John Jackson]

I have a friend whose 15 year old daughter came home with a magazine containing the following article:

Unleash your psychic powers (http://www.skeptics.org.uk/graphics/Bliss_psychic.jpg) (I've linked to the image as it needs to be large enough to read the text).

It is the kind of article (I consider it to be a normalising advert) that annoys me - encouraging youngsters to interpret natural events as "psychic".

However, the questions chosen are so obviously going to lead to high scores that it could be used as a good example of how youngsters can be influenced by what amounts to deliberate trickery.

e.g.

Question 3: Considering how often teenagers use mobile phones, they are bound to call each other at the same time every now and then.

Question 5: If you do that 10 times, you’ll get 2 correct guesses by chance. There’s 4 free “psychic points� for a start.

Any thoughts on this type of article and its true purpose?

[Cleon]

Personally, I like #4--"how many colors are you wearing that are the same?" Because, you know, fashion trends are really just psychic powers in disguise. ;)

[tkingdoll]

Well you never know, it might have the opposite effect to the one intended, i.e. the results might be so poor for most girls that they decide being psychic is a load of old bunkum.

Unlikely, but you never know.

At least it's not an advertorial. I was suprised not to see a 'score more than 2? Then call our Premium Rate Hotline and get your free psychic pack now!! (Calls cost £5 per minute)'

[FreeChile]

Isn't this like Rupert Shelldrake's "The Sense of Being Stared At" basically asking people to delude themselves into believing they have psychic powers?

[Mr. Skinny]

I have a 15 year old daughter that would likely laugh at this article.

I think it's interesting that almost every question involves "your mate"

[Z]

I saw the title of this thread, and thought it was an activist thread against cruelty to psychic powers. I keep mine on a short leash, in the backyard, with only a small plate of water to sustain it.

[Ashles]

From the text in the top right marking section it appears that Jenny Smedley (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~author/) is responsible for this article, or at least the exercises and matking.

And she even has a recommendation by, surprise, surpise, Uri Geller at the top of this page (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~author/critics.htm).

These people are actually starting to depress me. Can I sue for that?

Especially as she claims that her book 'Ripples' is going to made into a film "called Souls Don't Lie and will star Jake Seal as Ryan. The film is in pre-production with KAKE Productions".

Strangely the IMDB has never heard of such a film.

It sounds to me like Jenny Smedly might be a self important lying little bitch with no more decency than a starving rat and no more right to be in the media pushing her views on impressionable youngsters than a prostitute addicted to crack.
But I could be wrong. Maybe it's just how she is portrayed.

[John Jackson]

My main concern with articles such as this one is that it looks fairly innocuous in itself, but I just wonder what effect it has when it’s considered alongside many other similar articles.

I think the constant barrage of such articles in feckless magazines has a normalising effect on people, similar to the way financial adverts are targeted at children for the same reason. (example: http://www.sundayherald.com/50350).

Fortunately my friend (hello Melly if you’re reading :D) is going to use the article to show her daughter how this type of article is written to intentionally deceive people into accepting psychic explanations of mundane events.

Then hopefully, her daughter will explain to her friends why it's a load of tripe too.

Originally posted by Ashles
And she even has a recommendation by, surprise, surpise, Uri Geller at the top of this page (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~author/critics.htm). That’s the kiss of death for her book sales then. :D

[Anti_Hypeman]

Well when the kids create the cards chances are they wont all look exactly identical and they will be able to easily pick some of them out by the backs, giving then a subliminal edge.

There is a reason they are told to create cards instead of just using a normal deck.

[kurious_kathy]

Why consult the dead on the living? We are warned about this and I have repented of all occult and new age beliefs. God's word is the truth and anything outside of Christ leads to death?
I myself was faced with having to test the spirits. All spirits that confess Jesus Christ is Lord are from God. The rest you better rebuke. Been there, done that and even though I still hear voices in the angelic realm I know I am God's. How about you? We all must choose whom we serve and get out from under all the lies this world can feed us!

[Ashles]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Why consult the dead on the living? We are warned about this and I have repented of all occult and new age beliefs. God's word is the truth and anything outside of Christ leads to death?
I myself was faced with having to test the spirits. All spirits that confess Jesus Christ is Lord are from God. The rest you better rebuke. Been there, done that and even though I still hear voices in the angelic realm I know I am God's. How about you? We all must choose whom we serve and get out from under all the lies this world can feed us!
Hi, welcome to the forum.

Just to check, were you asking a question with your post?

[Atlas]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Why consult the dead on the living? We are warned about this and I have repented of all occult and new age beliefs. God's word is the truth and anything outside of Christ leads to death?
I myself was faced with having to test the spirits. All spirits that confess Jesus Christ is Lord are from God. The rest you better rebuke. Been there, done that and even though I still hear voices in the angelic realm I know I am God's. How about you? We all must choose whom we serve and get out from under all the lies this world can feed us! Hi Kathy, Welcome to the forum. I agree with all this. Of course, I don't believe in spirits, angels and devils. If they did exist though I think the ones for Jesus would be cool but I'd probably still go for the ones that confess football is the lord of all sports. Football - it's on Sunday, a holy day. Chips and beer - the body and lifeblood of my existence. Luckily it's only on for half a year because you can't really expect people to be good all year around.

But yah, like your first question. I don't put no stock in dead people neither. What good are Plato, Kepler, Einstein and Darwin. They're all very dead.

[Atlas]

Kurious_Kathy,

I was being flippant there and though I like to joke about these things I really don't feel like it's the right way to treat someone coming here offering their first post. So let me start anew and Welcome you to the forum.

The thoughts you express have been uttered by many of us at one time or another in our lives. There are still a few posters on these boards who share your conviction. The vast majority of us do not. I alluded to the reason in my post above.

Generally speaking, we do not believe we live in a demon haunted world. We do not believe in a God described by the Bible or the Koran. Some posters are deists, most are skeptical of any God that we could know, trapped as we are in this physical world with these tiny brains. God would be big, - bigger than big. The Christian God seems so small, angry and helpless. While, to believers, you can only get to the Father one way - through Jesus - the Father is nowhere that skeptics want to go. Jesus is irrelevant in their lives except for the amazing historical and mythological power his interpreters have weilded. That power has captured your mind and heart. It can be a tremendous source of peace and joy but it can also be a source of confusion, doubt and pain. I hope you bring the peace and joy part in your communications in this forum. Hell is not real here. People who bring it up are not recieved fondly. Hell is an idea that authoritarians have used to threaten the gullible to keep them in line and extract their money.

Stick with peace and light and you'll be better received. But you'll be challenged - people are skeptics here, that's what they do. If you speak about your feelings you're on safe ground. If you tell us about the sky god, angels and devils that rule our lives folks will ask for proof and they won't accept the Bible as true unless you're willing to explain the meanings behind their favorite Biblical absurdities.

Anyway, I hope you find what you're looking for here. Lots of interesting people post here. You're welcome to bring your sunshine in. But you won't get alot of Christian fellowship and support on these pages.

[Ducky]

Originally posted by Ashles
Hi, welcome to the forum.

Just to check, were you asking a question with your post?

Doesn't appear to be, from what I read.

I'll make a prediction:

As with all trolls, (to quote Shakespear) "Knavish speech falls deaf upon a fool's ears."


Though to be fair, I don't know if this is blatantly troll behavior, so I'll reserve judgement.

Welcome to the forum, kathy.

[Dubium]

That was a lovely welcome, Atlas. As one who has been everything on the Christian register - from nominal anglican to born again charismatic, I echo your sentiments. Quite frankly after years of waiting for the world to end, the last trumpet to sound, the rapture... you name it... the day I finally and uniquivocally LOST Jesus as my own personal saviour was the day I cast off the oppression of religion and started living. I am happier, have higher ideals and ethics and humanitarian principles than I EVER had as a christian.

Roz

[kurious_kathy]

Jesus only reveals himselves to true believers! I guarantee you the second death will be worse than the first for those that choose to live in darkness. That's this world as you know it!
When I was converted from my paganism I was delivered from darkness and yes people can be demon possesed. He kicked one out of my body when I had lowered my resistance with drugs and false beliefs which is all that astrology, physic, paranormal, ect.. I heard His voice and I'll never forget it. When darkness tried to take me over Jesus said no! I remember asking when this happened, what was that? His voice said,"Someone you forgot about a very long time ago! Jesus lives in me now and I see the spiritual warfare as it really is, true stuff!
Without faith it impossible to please God, and my God is very BIG!

[Ducky]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Jesus only reveals himselves to true believers! I guarantee you the second death will be worse than the first for those that choose to live in darkness. That's this world as you know it!
When I was converted from my paganism I was delivered from darkness and yes people can be demon possesed. He kicked one out of my body when I had lowered my resistance with drugs and false beliefs which is all that astrology, physic, paranormal, ect.. I heard His voice and I'll never forget it. When darkness tried to take me over Jesus said no! I remember asking when this happened, what was that? His voice said,"Someone you forgot about a very long time ago! Jesus lives in me now and I see the spiritual warfare as it really is, true stuff!
Without faith it impossible to please God, and my God is very BIG!



Ok, NOW I call troll.

[Jeff Corey]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Why consult the dead on the living? We are warned about this and I have repented of all occult and new age beliefs. God's word is the truth and anything outside of Christ leads to death?
I myself was faced with having to test the spirits. All spirits that confess Jesus Christ is Lord are from God. The rest you better rebuke. Been there, done that and even though I still hear voices in the angelic realm I know I am God's. How about you? We all must choose whom we serve and get out from under all the lies this world can feed us!
Personally, I like Satan. The only fallen angel with a sense of humor. He was big on smutty limericks, but only in Aramaic.

[pmurray]

Originally posted by Ashles
Especially as she claims that her book 'Ripples' is going to made into a film "called Souls Don't Lie and will star Jake Seal as Ryan
"Souls don't lie"?? Souls are the only things that do lie!

[kurious_kathy]

You wouldn't like satan if you knew his true nature. The only thing he cares about is blinding people to the truth,"The gospel" No one will be laughing on judgement day and that day is definately coming.
Are we all willing to be sheep led to slaughter, or will we repent of our sinful, carnality? This world will fade away, but what God says is true. Scientist are really finding that out these days as well. I love some of the testimonies of people who have actually tried to prove Jesus isn't the Messiah, and how He has turned them around. He is the light og this world!
Many have tried to prove this is not true and they can't?
Will you choose life? His words will never fade but this world will. I myself am looking forward to a new heaven and earth!!
He also promises he will come and reign on earth for 1000 years with his people. That can happen any time according to the book of Revelation.

[Ducky]

This world will fade away, but what God says is true. Scientist are really finding that out these days as well.

As much as I hate feeding the trolls, I have to respond to this one.

What exactly are you saying scientists are learning?

[kurious_kathy]

He is the light of this world! That's what I know to be true. Skeptics and pagans please wake up, don't stay spiritually dead. If you can believe He died on the cross for you then receive it. All that call on him will be saved, or do you like being blind? No thanks, not me thanks to him showing me the way.
"The only way to the Father is through the Son!" That's divine power uninhibited. Is God's grace sufficient for you? It is for me!:)

[SezMe]

I'm gonna be damned suspicious if I see any hellfire.

[Ducky]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
He is the light of this world! That's what I know to be true. Skeptics and pagans please wake up, don't stay spiritually dead. If you can believe He died on the cross for you then receive it. All that call on him will be saved, or do you like being blind? No thanks, not me thanks to him showing me the way.
"The only way to the Father is through the Son!" That's divine power uninhibited. Is God's grace sufficient for you? It is for me!:)


This is just blatant spamming.

I've reported this to a moderator.

[Bronze Dog]

Just a note, Kathy: If you think about warning us about smiting, damnation and all that, you may want to order your God this T-shirt (http://www.zestuff.com/product_image.php?imageid=47)

[Atlas]

Originally posted by fowlsound
This is just blatant spamming. Well, that post did seem so.

kurious-kathy,

We've kind of let you hijack this thread. These things happen sometimes but it's not proper etiquette to continue it. If you want to continue sharing your philosophy you should probably open a new thread. Do you know how to do that?

Be warned though, you'll suffer the slings and arrows of outraged posters - might be fun though.

[Patricio Elicer]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
He is the light of this world! That's what I know to be true. Skeptics and pagans please wake up, don't stay spiritually dead. If you can believe He died on the cross for you then receive it. All that call on him will be saved, or do you like being blind? No thanks, not me thanks to him showing me the way.
"The only way to the Father is through the Son!" That's divine power uninhibited. Is God's grace sufficient for you? It is for me!:) kurious-kathy, it appears that you are spamming this thread with a totally unrelated subject. Please feel free to start a new thread in the pertinent section if you have a point to make, or if you just want to share your thoughts

[kurious_kathy]

I know I am very straight forward about my belief but I am very concerned about this subject and have a strong personal conviction about it. You see I was so there before my turn around last November. I was one of the people that thought she had some kind of special gift, or phsycic ability. Only to find out I was being deceived by a presence named Joseph who told me he was my guardian angel? It only took a couple of days before God exposed this demon for the liar he was. Along with that I was able to be delivered from lots of bondage or things that I believed were true because of going to phycics and believing their readings. See I fed lots of lies so God needed to give me what I consider a miracle to get free from it. I know my faith has made me whole and I just want to be able to share my supernatural experience with others that might have been through some of the same things. I really wish all people faith, hope and love in their lives too. Hoping all things work to the good is important to me!

[Ducky]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
I know I am very straight forward about my belief but I am very concerned about this subject and have a strong personal conviction about it. You see I was so there before my turn around last November. I was one of the people that thought she had some kind of special gift, or phsycic ability. Only to find out I was being deceived by a presence named Joseph who told me he was my guardian angel? It only took a couple of days before God exposed this demon for the liar he was. Along with that I was able to be delivered from lots of bondage or things that I believed were true because of going to phycics and believing their readings. See I fed lots of lies so God needed to give me what I consider a miracle to get free from it. I know my faith has made me whole and I just want to be able to share my supernatural experience with others that might have been through some of the same things. I really wish all people faith, hope and love in their lives too. Hoping all things work to the good is important to me!

You have a strong conviction? God saved you?

Oh well then, forget science! I'M CONVINCED!:rolleyes:


What you are is trolling. Stop hijacking this thread and start another one if you're so hell bent on witnessing for Christ on a skeptic's forum.

Better yet, go preach somewhere else.

[kurious_kathy]

Seems to me that there are so many different types of people in this world, what do you think the common denominator is? Do you have to prove things scientifically, go through life experiences, or both? Just because you haven’t been through the same experiences as someone else, does that make them wrong, or just different?

[Ashles]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Seems to me that there are so many different types of people in this world, what do you think the common denominator is?
Well, fairly obviously, that they are all people.

I don't understand your point.

Do you have to prove things scientifically, go through life experiences, or both?
Depends on what you're looking for. If it's the truth about how things work then the scientific approach is a good one.

And we've all had life experiences here as well.

I was born and grew up with a brain that is sceptical. It's not like I want to not believe in God. But I cannot change my nature. If something has no evidence towards it I have no particular reason to believe it exists. I can't try and believe in something I don't think exists, nor would I want to.
And with all the inconsistencies in religions and all the pain they have caused I see further reasons to not particularly want much to do with them.

I am perfectly capable of leading a moral life without rules given to me by some theoretical higher power.

Just because you haven’t been through the same experiences as someone else, does that make them wrong, or just different?
It makes them different certainly. And they may well also be wrong. Again I don't understand your point.

Kathy, please don't take this the wrong way but I think you are going to struggle a bit here if your message is just that we should believe in God because you think we should.

Believe it or not these are questions that other people have thought about themselves. And for many of us there is just simply not a belief in God.
I personally think the reasons for humans wanting to create a concept of God are very interesting psychologically. And I think certain personal experiences can be very compelling.

But I don't see any reason to believe in God, nor any evidence that compels me to.

And if there is a God and he turns out to be the sort that would punish me simply for using the brain he gave me in the way it was created then I still wouldn't wish to believe in such an entity.
If there is a God I would hope he would only be interested in how I had actually lived my life - not how I felt about Him.
I would hate the thought of such a petty and insecure God.

If you wish to believe in od that is your choice entirely. But that is entirely the extent of the matter - personal choice.
You can't provide any evidence God exists any more than we can provide evidence that he doesn't.

Now if you want to start talking about creationism and Noah's Ark... well, we always enjoy that debate as there are real issues there we can discuss (fossils, geology, genetics etc.)

[kurious_kathy]

Originally posted by Ashles
Well, fairly obviously, that they are all people.

And we've all had life experiences here as well.
Eperiences, or experiments? Seems so many here want scientific proof. But there are things in life that superceed man's wisdom.
God's ways are not our ways. He is Holy. The great I AM

I was born and grew up with a brain that is sceptical. It's not like I want to not believe in God. But I cannot change my nature. If something has no evidence towards it I have no particular reason to believe it exists. I can't try and believe in something I don't think exists, nor would I want to.
Then you have made a choice to not believe. I think that is sad.

And with all the inconsistencies in religions and all the pain they have caused I see further reasons to not particularly want much to do with them.
It's not about religion, it's about a relationship with our creator. And I definately believe the Gospel. Jesus died so we can live. Sinneres saved by grace. The only way to the Father is through the Son, which I belive whole heartedly. It's not head knowlege, but heart knowlege. Very spiritual. Just seems athiest have no concept of spirituality?

I am perfectly capable of leading a moral life without rules given to me by some theoretical higher power.
He isn't a theory, He is alive! I know this because He lives in me.

Kathy, please don't take this the wrong way but I think you are going to struggle a bit here if your message is just that we should believe in God because you think we should.
I just don't understand how people don't acknowlege Him? He is the light of conscience in every man. He gives us the ability to choose right from wrong, good from bad, moral from immoral.

I personally think the reasons for humans wanting to create a concept of God are very interesting psychologically. And I think certain personal experiences can be very compelling.
He isn't something people make up in their heads. That is way off the mark. Again you are chosing not to believe He exists.

But I don't see any reason to believe in God, nor any evidence that compels me to.
He can only be found by someone who has faith that He is. He says if you look for me, you will find me. You and many are just not seeking Him. I think that's sad.

Now if you want to start talking about creationism and Noah's Ark... well, we always enjoy that debate as there are real issues there we can discuss (fossils, geology, genetics etc.)
Have you ever read the Bible about Noah? Why did God flood the earth? Why was Noah and His family saved?

[Dubium]

The story of Noah is a myth. 'Great Flood' myths are common to a myriad of cultures. Check out Flood Myths (http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html)

You've only got to read the story of Noah to realise it's a fabrication. For a start, how did he collect two kinds of every snail, given that there are umpteen species. Why did he need two of every species, if some are hermaphrodites (they produce ova and spermatozoa).

How did he collect 2 kangaroos, two wallabies, two duck billed platypii, and how did he house them in a not-very-big boat? Australia was not discovered by Europeans until the 16th century and there are no aboriginal legends about a middle-eastern man with a boat collecting specimens about 4-6000 years ago (or whenever you reckon).

It's just another variation of the 'God will smite you nasty sinners and punish you for all the fun you're having and reward all us smug christians who have suffered church every sunday' idea.

[Odin]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Have you ever read the Bible about Noah? Why did God flood the earth? Why was Noah and His family saved?

aside from ridding the world of the wicked people, why did God kill all the animals, children and good people, when it would be within his power to save everyone but the wicked?

What happened to the plants?

[Ashles]

Originally posted by kurious_kathy
Have you ever read the Bible about Noah? Why did God flood the earth? Why was Noah and His family saved?
Why did Noah force his family to commit incest to repopulate the earth?

Why did evil return to the world anyway?

Why was Noah's son punished simply for seeing his father naked by accident?

Why is there no evidence of a global flood?

Where did all the water come from?

Where did it all go to?

Why did it not kill all the fish? (saltwater and freshwater salinity changes would kill thm all)

Have you ever actually thought about how impossible it would be to build an ark with two of every creature on board?

etc, etc...


It's a morality tale Kathy - it's not meant to be taken literally, it's more a fable like Aesop's fables. It's supposed to make you think about good and evil as concepts. Not be taken as read.


And what about Adam and Eve? Does it not bother you that God actually lied about the apple ('eat that and you wil die') whereas the snake actually told the truth, yet was punished.
And Adam and Eve were punished for wishing to seek knowledge?

It's one thing to read the bible as an instruction guide as to how morally to behave (despite its many contradictions), but another to believe it as historical record.


You ask the wrong questions. "Why did God flood the earth?" doesn't make any sense if God didn't actually flood the earth.

You may as well ask why Tom Riddle became Voldemort in the Harry Potter books.
It's a story.

If religion gives people comfort then that's great for them, but claiming any of the Biblical stories are real can be actually tested. And we find repeatedly that they don't match the evidence we have from the world around us.

And most of the stories are borrowed from earlier religions and mythologies anyway.

[crocodile deathroll]

I find good way to test these wankers is to wait for the next major break news event: eg, an assassination, a massive terrorist attack as they happen from time to time or major natural disaster somewhere around the world then as news of the event breaks. Then immediately turn to this (http://forum.prophecies.us/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=1b38d675fd3689c53a96dc35ef6b5b5e) website and check how many posts were made before the event.

:crc: