All Comments (266)

I'm not a medium, but I have used them. I do believe in them, however.

I am a financial advisor who manage millions of dollar and I am solidly grounded. I have a worldwide reputation as a money manager.

Now, to tell you what I think of psychics. Three times in my life I picked up feelings that some things were going to happen. Sure enough they did happen. I'm not talking about feelings about buying certain stocks or selling certain commodities. I'm talking about specific events and feelings that no five sense limiting person would ever be able to foresee. When they happened they made me less skeptical and more open.

I even explored the possibility of developing these "skills" that I didn't know I had. After researching it for a while I decided my life and fate was destined to make money, not make predictions of a psychic nature. Of course, in a limited fashion I do apply some timing to what I do; if you call the use of cycles to be psychic then in a way I am. Cycles, however, are grounded in natural laws, not nebulous feelings and impressions that psychics use.

So, I believe in the validity of GOOD psychics. Since we are dealing in an area that is very hard to quantify, most psychics are bad ones because they are "wannabees" and not authentic ones. Just like anything in life you must work at finding good professionals to use. Unfortunately, good psychics have more off days than on days. It's the nature of their work. They are reliant on what is being "transmitted" so to speak, from the other side. If there aren't any transmissions, there's nothing to work with. To fault them with bad calls, etc, when nothing is being transmitted is to place fault for the wrong reasons.

There, I've had my say. You will certainly believe in psychic phenomena when it happens to you. You remain a skeptic till you can have that experience.

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Dear Sally,

In my commenting on the posts that I have viewed here, I don't know where to begin! I am appalled at the unfeeling posts that I have read! I simply feel that I must write something here in defense of, and on the behalf of several of those who I know personally and believe to be, "reputable" Mediums. I also wish to say something in defense of and on the behalf of Gigi Bloom for whatever her reasons were for going to see the Medium she saw, and to speak a little about the outcome of that visit.

And, I'll write this now and immediately, Sally, in defense of you and on your behalf.

In my reading of your article, Sally, and in "my" understanding of it—(similar to many human beings) your article was “filtered” through my own life's experiences. And (my) judgments about it were made following (as with any given subject)--which, as such, in the end becomes "my perception" according to my "subjective" view (of it). And I want you to know, Sally, that…

I felt that you neither endorsed, nor prohibited one's "Free Will" choice of going to a Medium though you’ve certainly met your detractors and some seemingly angry accusers of doing so in this forum!

I feel for you for the wrath, anger and what I view as sheer hostility thrown your way in more than a few of the posts (and I read them all!)! This not only has come your way, Sally, but also towards your friend Gigi who is obviously in pain over the loss of her son.

My Gosh, I just have to say! No wonder Journalists in the “Real World” news seem afraid to write about subjects of this sort! God forbid a journalist from a reputable newspaper chooses to write an article about “ The Possibility of Life After Death” or “Are There Those Who Can and Do Indeed Communicate with the Deceased”, or “ People’s Faith and Belief in Spiritual or Paranormal Experiences”, etc, etc!
Just look at the posts and the anger Sally and Gigi received for writing about the subject. And despite all the very passionate responses and rancor not one person was willing to considered that there might be some truth to it and value to many in learning more about it.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind reading a few (more) articles with captions like those, but then, I am a spiritually curious type and perhaps a more “open” person to any concepts and thoughts that might challenge my understanding, beliefs, perceptions and even my fears. And, even though I may not agree with everything that is shared with me, that I might read, I’m sure in knowing myself that I am still capable of learning a thing or two about any given subject.

What I am trying to get across here is that if there is one thing that I have learned in living my life (for lo these many years) on this crazy planet (and I won’t tell those reading this post how many years that is!), it is that I REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH-- in any “for certain” kind of way, about a myriad of subjects!

With one exception, I know me! I know the person I am! My personality is such that a part of my behaviour towards other people is almost always empathetic and compassionate where other people's feelings are concerned. Even if they are not so with me. It's something that takes practice but is always a worthwhile endevor in trying to get good at! That does not mean that I do not have (my) opinions on things as a human being living on this great planet do. BUT, I don't feel that my opinions, perceptions, and what I think should be agreed with by every other person to the degree that I push it on them. Everyone has free will! I am not the type to be force anyone to think like me, we're all different and this is one of the things that make us a wonderful species! We have our own thoughts, likes, dislikes and opinions to share with eachother. And thoughts and opinons about things are likely to change as we learn, grow, and mature... there is really no reason to be pushy and arrogant in “how” we share our thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Again, I reiterate; what I might think about any given subject (How I perceive it!) has the possibility of changing the more I learn! And wouldn’t at least some of you who posted such opinionated, mean spiritited, derogatory comments to Sally (and also to Gigi) about her choice to see a medium, and the things that were said about Mediums agree that my statement above might just possibly be applicable to you as well as you grow and learn?

I viewed your article, Sally, as not only unbiased, non-judgemental, and from a journalistic perspective. But I feel that you also wrote from the perspective of a concerned and caring friend (of Gigi)! Someone you know well who went to the Medium specifically for the purpose, and in the hopes of gaining some sense of peace and comfort during the stages of grief that she and one can, and most certainly does, go through after losing a “loved one”. Especially a child.

Don’t we all as humans feel the pain and grief in our loss of ANY of our loved ones! But most especially we grieve as parents for the loss of any of our children (To most mothers, no matter what the child's age, they are still our "Baby"!) For goodness sake, all people share the feelings of grief and bereavement when they lose someone they loved! If we didn't we wouldn't be "Human"! I think that in discussing this from an intellectual point of view and also a scientific one (though I am not a Scientist myself), we most probably can agree, that as human beings we also share other human characteristics. Such as emotions and feelings. These characteristics of Human Behaviour (Feelings and emotions) are some of the things that we all share that makes us unique.

And the ability to "feel" their pain-- and to be empathetic and compassionate towards them and those who might be feeling the pain of loss-- is what I think should have been shown to Gigi and Sally!

Think what you want, but couldn't you have been softer in your approach in sharing your thoughts and opinions? Maybe a little less threatening, less hostile words of sympathy for Gigi's pain might have been considered no matter what she chose to do. Yes!

Well, that's my opinion. You may, of course, take it or leave it but at least I put it forth to you in a different manner than so many others here did not. I say, and it's my opinion also, t SHAME ON YOU who weren't thinking morer kindly for each of these ladies.

As for Mediums, I've known spectacular mediums who shocked me with their accuracy. I've known some who didn't at all validate any experience I'd ever had. I do not feel that all Mediums are bad, nor good, just simply better or worse as with any other profession.

Thanks for reading! If you made it all the way through, I congratulate you. I hope maybe some learned something here and will reflect upon some of what I've shared. If you don't or didn't that's your choice, I won't be mad at you for it!

God bless each of you! I have faith in you!

Dear Sally,

In my commenting on the posts that I have viewed here, I don't know where to begin! I am appalled at the unfeeling posts that I have read! I simply feel that I must write something here in defense of, and on the behalf of several of those who I know personally and believe to be, "reputable" Mediums. I also wish to say something in defense of and on the behalf of Gigi Bloom for whatever her reasons were for going to see the Medium she saw, and to speak a little about the outcome of that visit.

And, I'll write this now and immediately, Sally, in defense of you and on your behalf.

In my reading of your article, Sally, and in "my" understanding of it—(similar to many human beings) your article was “filtered” through my own life's experiences. And (my) judgments about it were made following (as with any given subject)--which, as such, in the end becomes "my perception" according to my "subjective" view (of it). And I want you to know, Sally, that…

I felt that you neither endorsed, nor prohibited one's "Free Will" choice of going to a Medium though you’ve certainly met your detractors and some seemingly angry accusers of doing so in this forum!

I feel for you for the wrath, anger and what I view as sheer hostility thrown your way in more than a few of the posts (and I read them all!)! This not only has come your way, Sally, but also towards your friend Gigi who is obviously in pain over the loss of her son.

My Gosh, I just have to say! No wonder Journalists in the “Real World” news seem afraid to write about subjects of this sort! God forbid a journalist from a reputable newspaper chooses to write an article about “ The Possibility of Life After Death” or “Are There Those Who Can and Do Indeed Communicate with the Deceased”, or “ People’s Faith and Belief in Spiritual or Paranormal Experiences”, etc, etc!
Just look at the posts and the anger Sally and Gigi received for writing about the subject. And despite all the very passionate responses and rancor not one person was willing to considered that there might be some truth to it and value to many in learning more about it.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind reading a few (more) articles with captions like those, but then, I am a spiritually curious type and perhaps a more “open” person to any concepts and thoughts that might challenge my understanding, beliefs, perceptions and even my fears. And, even though I may not agree with everything that is shared with me, that I might read, I’m sure in knowing myself that I am still capable of learning a thing or two about any given subject.

What I am trying to get across here is that if there is one thing that I have learned in living my life (for lo these many years) on this crazy planet (and I won’t tell those reading this post how many years that is!), it is that I REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH-- in any “for certain” kind of way, about a myriad of subjects!

With one exception, I know me! I know the person I am! My personality is such that a part of my behaviour towards other people is almost always empathetic and compassionate where other people's feelings are concerned. Even if they are not so with me. It's something that takes practice but is always a worthwhile endevor in trying to get good at! That does not mean that I do not have (my) opinions on things as a human being living on this great planet do. BUT, I don't feel that my opinions, perceptions, and what I think should be agreed with by every other person to the degree that I push it on them. Everyone has free will! I am not the type to be force anyone to think like me, we're all different and this is one of the things that make us a wonderful species! We have our own thoughts, likes, dislikes and opinions to share with eachother. And thoughts and opinons about things are likely to change as we learn, grow, and mature... there is really no reason to be pushy and arrogant in “how” we share our thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Again, I reiterate; what I might think about any given subject (How I perceive it!) has the possibility of changing the more I learn! And wouldn’t at least some of you who posted such opinionated, mean spiritited, derogatory comments to Sally (and also to Gigi) about her choice to see a medium, and the things that were said about Mediums agree that my statement above might just possibly be applicable to you as well as you grow and learn?

I viewed your article, Sally, as not only unbiased, non-judgemental, and from a journalistic perspective. But I feel that you also wrote from the perspective of a concerned and caring friend (of Gigi)! Someone you know well who went to the Medium specifically for the purpose, and in the hopes of gaining some sense of peace and comfort during the stages of grief that she and one can, and most certainly does, go through after losing a “loved one”. Especially a child.

Don’t we all as humans feel the pain and grief in our loss of ANY of our loved ones! But most especially we grieve as parents for the loss of any of our children (To most mothers, no matter what the child's age, they are still our "Baby"!) For goodness sake, all people share the feelings of grief and bereavement when they lose someone they loved! If we didn't we wouldn't be "Human"! I think that in discussing this from an intellectual point of view and also a scientific one (though I am not a Scientist myself), we most probably can agree, that as human beings we also share other human characteristics. Such as emotions and feelings. These characteristics of Human Behaviour (Feelings and emotions) are some of the things that we all share that makes us unique.

And the ability to "feel" their pain-- and to be empathetic and compassionate towards them and those who might be feeling the pain of loss-- is what I think should have been shown to Gigi and Sally!

Think what you want, but couldn't you have been softer in your approach in sharing your thoughts and opinions? Maybe a little less threatening, less hostile words of sympathy for Gigi's pain might have been considered no matter what she chose to do. Yes!

Well, that's my opinion. You may, of course, take it or leave it but at least I put it forth to you in a different manner than so many others here did not. I say, and it's my opinion also, t SHAME ON YOU who weren't thinking morer kindly for each of these ladies.

As for Mediums, I've known spectacular mediums who shocked me with their accuracy. I've known some who didn't at all validate any experience I'd ever had. I do not feel that all Mediums are bad, nor good, just simply better or worse as with any other profession.

Thanks for reading! If you made it all the way through, I congratulate you. I hope maybe some learned something here and will reflect upon some of what I've shared. If you don't or didn't that's your choice, I won't be mad at you for it!

God bless each of you! I have faith in you!

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azmfouxi jhya mdbya svfhncuwg oishpuv cjzripy gqnsxojmt

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what a wonderful piece! and peace!

i keep watching and waiting for my mother. i know one day, she'll come to me.

tell your boy, gina needs her mom. ;)

thanks, and again, a wonderful piece.

what a wonderful piece! and peace!

i keep watching and waiting for my mother. i know one day, she'll come to me.

tell your boy, gina needs her mom. ;)

thanks, and again, a wonderful piece.

what a wonderful piece! and peace!

i keep watching and waiting for my mother. i know one day, she'll come to me.

tell your boy, gina needs her mom. ;)

thanks, and again, a wonderful piece.

Georgianna
I just happenned to read your letter on line. I to have been searching and wanting to die. My Mother passed away on October 11th, and my cousin almost had to pull me off of her to let the EMT's take her body. I have a two year old son, so I know it is not my time, but the grief is almost unbearable.
I was just interested in what authors you were talking about. I had also been interested in finding a medium, but my familly thinks I am crazy, and the few people I know who are healers have told me to let her go on her journey so her soul will heal. I desperately want to do the right thing, but she lived with me, and looking at everything we shared is like a knife in the heart every day.
Any information you wish to share would be greately appreciated.

Thanks, Kelly, for posting that. It's sort of how I feel.

Logic isn't the most effective immediate antidote to some extreme life situations.

I think there are some assumptions being made here about how once the person in grief finds out the truth that there is no afterlife, they will be even further devastated - that it is merely delaying the grief. I disagree with that based on personal experience. In a way, it can be a "buffer" to help the person slowly accept the truth.

I lost someone almost 2 years ago who was so special to me I felt I would never smile again. I wanted to lay down and simply die of a broken heart. I didn't see the point to continuing on with life. To assauge my grief I read everything I could about the afterlife and I allowed myself to believe it. It was all that kept me going. OK so I knew that deep down I probably didn't really believe it but as long as I could buy into it superficially and feel like I beleived it, it got me thru the day.

However as we all know, time is a great natural healer. And so as time passes and I am learning to live without my boy (will never "get over" him), I am slowly able to accept my boy is truly gone. And at some point, started reading the "other side" of the view of afterlife - the skeptics view. Yes, some skeptics go too far and yes some are hypocritical - just like any other group of people. And some are busybodies who in my opinion go a little far in "protecting" the public and seem to forget adults have a right to their own choices. But they are also essential in uncovering the Sylvia Browne's of this world and ensuring proper controls are in place for the psi experiments - or exposing when they are not.

I also went to a "communicator" to contact my beloved. I felt they were rather accurate and some things were even a little startling. However after dissecting the session and putting a lot of thought into it, I contend it could have been pulled off by clever cold reading. But I do beleive the communicator truly felt they were making contact. And I have no regrets about the $100 I spent on it and would do it again in a similair situation.

So yes I am coming back to where I am regaining logic and reasoning in my life. But I have no regrets about allowing myself to beleive differently for awhile. I truly believe it was the only way I could cope. I admit I am probably a weak person to have needed that, but for me using a temporary belief in the afterlife as a "band-aid" to be able to get thru the coming days helped. I don't see anything wrong with that.

Anonymous, if your "challenge" consisted solely of telling a reporter to tell Randi... well, no wonder he didn't bother responding to you! Psychics wishing to accept Randi's challenge must agree to be tested under precisely controlled conditions to insure there's no possibility of cheating. Very few are willing to do so -- but those who have agreed have all failed.

Georgianna - I can only assume the last few days have been a roller coaster for you - posting this essay, receiving kind support and harsh criticism - sometimes from the same person. It would make anyone vulnerable and you're already vulnerable because of your son's death.

I'd like you to consider seeing a good psychotherapist - someone who specializes in grief issues. Get referrals from people you trust. Make sure the therapists are fully credentialed - it doesn't matter if they are MD, Ph.D or MSW - as long as they're experienced, credentialed licenced from the state and come highly recommended.

I told the reporter for a major news network to tell Mr. Randi that I would challenge him to a reading and to bring the attache case with the million dollars and the reporter who interviewed me spoke to him and said that "Amazing Randi" DECLINED my offer.

Lastly, he's in the same exact news segment I am in, with his million dollar offer and this is after the reporter mentioned my offer to him. He's all talk and no action just looking for his 15 minutes of fame.

You people need to write to him and ask him why everytime a psychic or medium is willing to do a reading for him, he declines yet continues this challenge like an informercial.

I will say there are many people who claim to be psychics and Mediums and many of them
sadly do take advantage of people and it is spiritually wrong. We all have to be responsibile for our thoughts,actions and deeds.

There are so called "good" & "bad" by the terms we use as a society here on Earth in every aspect of life, careers, families so forth and so on not just pertaining to my work. Look outside of the box just as the comment from Dogs Best Friend wrote.

I am thinking about Jesus and all the good works he did and people persecuted him calling his works blasphemous and since then people have come to accept him as "The Chosen One". By the way, he was A Prophet, A Healer, A Rabbi & A Teacher. He was all about loving unconditionally without judgement and I do the same for those I work with. I in no way am comparing myself to Jesus but we all have Jesus in our hearts if we truly want him there and learn from him.

In Light...

Do you suppose it's safe to assume that when "Anonymous" "challenged him [James Randi] back" that "Anonymous" was unable or unwilling to meet some one or more of the fairly clear conditions of the challenge rules?

I don't particularly worship Randi (although I really liked his book "The Mask of Nostradamus") but I believe that the "Amazing" part of his moniker is merely a jab at the folks in the spirit/magic/occult business who DO sometimes use such appellations, as well as being a nod toward the fact that he's a reasonably accomplished stage magician himself.

And this claim coming from "Anonymous" is worth...? Absolutely zero. Tell us who you are and what the challenge was and THEN we'll have some basis for judging your claim.

James Randi challenged me for this million dollars in a TV interview & when I challenged him back he declined a session with me. And anyone who uses a verb such as "amazing" before their name isn't so amazing!

Dear Giorgianna -

I appreciate your staying in this discussion. I know it can be difficult. Set aside your personal situation, no one likes to be attacked for their views. Stick around here long enough, and like me, you'll wear such attacks as a badge of honor.

I can only speak for myself, but as a critic of mediums, I go by what I have learned of them in the past. Your experience - far from being unique - is the norm.

In your case, it starts with your being predisposed to believe in an afterlife, a fact you reveal when you say you contemplated suicide because you "wanted to be with Justin." Having two kids myself, I can't quite comprehend a grief so overwhelming that I would contemplate suicide if I were to lose one of them, thereby abandoning the other, but that's just me. But what I can say with some certainty is that I wouldn't believe that my death would reunite me with that child in some afterlife. My feeling would be that my wife and surviving child had just had their grief compounded by another senseless and purposeless death.

I believe this predisposition is an important factor in this experience for you, possibly THE factor driving your trip to the medium. You're looking not only for confirmation that your son's spirit lives on, but for confirmation of the afterlife at all. These are things that I can pick up from you on this blog. Is it any wonder a medium could pick up on this and use it to convince you he had some connection to the afterlife?

As far as the always-smoking tall guy with big ears, that phrase perfectly describes BOTH of my grandfathers and could also describe my dad except that he wasn't thin. BTW - older people often have ears that look "big" when compared to the proportions of their skulls. Hair loss alone can make ears appear to be over-sized. The medium's description is perfectly suited to millions of older men who chain smoke, especially those who smoke as a weight-control habit.

As far as you mother's death: Rebecca hit this right on the nose. You're just not seeing it. Go back and read her analysis. And, again, the "fly on the wall" statement is hardly unique. You're the one reading the uniqueness of your situation into an extremely common concept.

All things considered, the medium did his "job" - you walked away happy, believing something unique had happened to you, something so spiritual that you felt the urge to write about it on this blog. To the medium, he simply opened his usual bag of tricks, pointed you in a direction you already wished to go and let you fill in the blanks.

Again, I wish you luck in dealing with this horrible event in your life.

BTW - I hope you don't consider that I'm "dishing out" anything here.

Dear Rebecca and Mr. Mark:

I said I wouldn't blog here anymore, but I had to look one more time. I'm glad I did.

You said, Rebecca, that Glenn was just sort of schoozing me, or something, when he saw Justin taking a bow and accepting what looked like an Emmy award. The fact is, Justin had posthumously won the Best Director Award after one of his short films was shown at a prominent New York Film Festival in July.

I had forgotten to mention that.

Also, you say Glenn assumed my mother was dead, because I'm middle-aged. But, as I've said before, he had no idea she'd died when I was six--this is something no one ever assumes---and the image he got was perfect---the fly on the wall all my life.

He had a lot of lucky hits, Rebecca. I'm sorry, but the tall thin guy smoking a lot with big ears---come on. That's no generalization. And neither is the exactly yay-high child with the unusually spelled name.

No, I don't suppose they drink beer over there---but Justin was being humorous. I've read that generally, the spirits are. I've read that they say things like that just to show us who they are.

As for Glenn not knowing Justin's name or who he exactly is---mediums aren't suppoed to. They're not even really psychic. They simply see the spirits. You see people all the time...do you know their names or who they are???

And to those of you who say I'm attacking---PUH--LEASE. It's ONLY because I'VE been attacked so much, as "weak", "naive", crazed by grief, etc. If you're going to dish it out, you'd better know how to take it.

Gigi

Rebecca - Ditto Bill and Mr Mark. I bet a lot of people reading your deconstruction will get it.

When people are just as open to the house of cards that religion is based on, we'll be making some real progress.

Maybe you could address that on your website? Maybe do a similar deconstruction with religious belief? The idea just came to me - in a flash - no details -- but I bet you could fill them in.

Bill writes:

"Just what we need is the Washington Post giving tacit approval to still more irrationality. I firmly expect the next subject to be dealt with in "On Faith" to be alien abductions."

Not to be paranoid, but I wonder if the WAPO is deliberately trying to drive off the rationalists who post on this blog by hosting such inane topics and discussions. Look at any topic and the highest response counts are always to the columns written by the atheists/non-believers. They also feature the most-engaging and engaged discussions. And, they are always won in a landslide by the rationalists whose debating acumen generally mops the floor with the posts by the religionists.

How can all that be good for a blog that is supposedly a place to discuss faith, not necessarily the lack thereof?

Yes, the recent topics are enough to make one throw up one's hands and dive into the nearest bottle of spirits. Then again, I thought I had seen all the lunacy I ever needed to see until THIS particular topic reared its head.

Maybe this is turning into THE place to experience things unimagined...at least, unimagined in a major newspaper.

Rebecca,

Nice job. Our country's going down the tubes because we have a faith based foreign policy, faith based economic policy, faith based approach to medicine, etc. Just what we need is the Washington Post giving tacit approval to still more irrationality. I firmly expect the next subject to be dealt with in "On Faith" to be alien abductions.

Rebecca -

Thanks for deconstructing that cold reading. You show in good detail the way a "psychic" uses general statements to draw out specific information from their mark with the mark imagining the info came from the psychic.

Georgianna took me to task for seizing on the German Shepherd issue in this reading. I did so because it was obvious and I didn't have time to do an extensive review as did you. I think your analysis shows that the same deception used in the German Shepherd remarks is used throughout the process. As you point out, the medium stuck with the German Shepherd because he knew there was a high probability that the mark would have had some contact with a GS, and this particular mark filled in the blank, even though she had to think back decades in her past to do so.

Now, if the medium had fixated on, say, an Otterhound (ie: the rarest breed found in the USA) and he had had an instant hit, that might give one pause. But it never works that way with mediums, does it?

Good write up Rebecca! Obviously it would be great if we had access to the full transcript of the tape, but you did a very good job with what was made available.

If anyone's interested, I've created an analysis of the cold reading technique used by Glenn Klausner, based on the information Gigi provided about her session with him.

It's here:
http://www.rebeccahartong.net/?p=1552

“For the "goats" (nonbelievers in parapsychology):”

Please refrain from personal attacks on those who do not share your beliefs.

“Here's another take on your beloved Randi:”

I do not love Randi, please get your facts straight.

"...However, the bias of people like Randi and the organization of skeptics that calls itself Psicop, is worrying for another reason. These are people who, while claiming to be scientists, are actually approaching the entire subject with a deep
bias that has nothing to do with Science whatsoever.”

Perhaps the person who wrote this should learn to check their facts. It was not “Psicop” it was “Csicop” or “Committee for Skeptical Inquiry of Claims of the Paranormal.”

Also, James Randi never claimed, as far as I’m aware, to be a scientist.

“They are skeptical, because they are skeptical. That's all. They are believers in "Disbelief". It's just the opposite end of the spectrum of Belief. That's all.”

They’re skeptical because they have been provided no evidence for the existence of the paranormal.

“There is no scientific reason for it whatsoever. While they pretend to be scientific, their approach is more akin to a religious dogma; that of treating Science like a religion. It is
often called "Scientism" for this reason.”

Again, the world of science, evidence is required for theories. There is no evidence for the existence of the paranormal.

“They might claim that there is no proof that psychic phenomena exist. Yet, it can be stated with equal validity that there is no proof that they do NOT. That is a totally equivalent statement. As we have seen earlier, Science cannot PROVE a negative statement. It can only talk about probabilities and likelihood. And, as we have discussed, many psychic manifestations are intrinsically rare or fragile in their very essence.”

Which is why in Randi’s challenge he tests people who make specific claims. Such as Glenn Klausner, who claims he can talk to the deceased.

Also, are we to believe that Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, Leprchauns, and other beings exist without any evidence?

“Like any good evangelical, these skeptics like Randi and Psicop have a hidden agenda in "proving" that the world functions the way they think it does. Frankly, a major motivation is FEAR. More
people than would like to admit it are terrified of the possibility of psychic phenomena. What if someone really COULD read your mind? Every dirty little secret. What if YOU too could
develop psychic powers?”

I am not terrified of psychic powers because there is no evidence that such a thing exists. Also, just a reminder, it's not "Psicop."

“Just imagine what sort of world THAT would be!

Hardly the boringly predictable,ltra-conservative, Newtonian "scientific" universe that these people inhabit. For them, it's a possibility too terrible to contemplate.”

Only a mind with limited imagination would consider the world we live in to be boring and without wonder.

“In conclusion , it's vital not to be too credulous in examining a psychic phenomenon, or in rushing to accept the claims of the"professional" investigators in this field. Nevertheless, we must also be extremely wary of the skeptics who, while pretending to be scientific, are often better viewed as ideological fanatics than even mediocre scientists."

In other words, you want to sound like you’re being somewhat skeptical to appeal to those who may have their doubts about psychic phenomena, but reject skeptics who demand evidence. That’s like trying to have your cake and eat it too.

Norrie: while it is perfectly OK to simply invoke faith as support for anything (it is not for mortals to ever prove or disprove the existence of any subject of pure faith), it is not legitimate to fall for the circular babble you quote. "They can't disprove it" is not a criticism of a scientist. Scientists can't disprove anything the proponents of which can invoke a faith based response to any evidence of non existence (it's so ephemeral that existint tests can't detect it). Scientists can only rebut attempts at evidence based support for same by debunking same, which they have done for centuries. Believe what you will, but don't do so because you think what you have read is persuasive or scientific. It is lousy logic and pathetic science - but salesmanship of the first order.

Norrie: while it is perfectly OK to simply invoke faith as support for anything (it is not for mortals to ever prove or disprove the existence of any subject of pure faith), it is not legitimate to fall for the circular babble you quote. "They can't disprove it" is not a criticism of a scientist. Scientists can't disprove anything the proponents of which can invoke a faith based response to any evidence of non existence (it's so ephemeral that existint tests can't detect it). Scientists can only rebut attempts at evidence based support for same by debunking same, which they have done for centuries. Believe what you will, but don't do so because you think what you have read is persuasive or scientific. It is lousy logic and pathetic science - but salesmanship of the first order.

For the "goats" (nonbelievers in parapsychology):

Here's another take on your beloved Randi:

"...However, the bias of people like Randi and the organization of
skeptics that calls itself Psicop, is worrying for another
reason. These are people who, while claiming to be scientists,
are actually approaching the entire subject with a deep
bias that has nothing to do with Science whatsoever.

They are skeptical, because they are skeptical. That's all. They
are believers in "Disbelief". It's just the opposite end of the
spectrum of Belief. That's all.

There is no scientific reason for it whatsoever. While they
pretend to be scientific, their approach is more akin to a
religious dogma; that of treating Science like a religion. It is
often called "Scientism" for this reason.

They might claim that there is no proof that psychic phenomena
exist. Yet, it can be stated with equal validity that there is
no proof that they do NOT. That is a totally equivalent
statement. As we have seen earlier, Science cannot PROVE a
negative statement. It can only talk about probabilities and
likelihood. And, as we have discussed, many psychic manifestations
are intrinsically rare or fragile in their very essence.

Like any good evangelical, these skeptics like Randi and Psicop
have a hidden agenda in "proving" that the world functions the
way they think it does. Frankly, a major motivation is FEAR. More
people than would like to admit it are terrified of the
possibility of psychic phenomena. What if someone really COULD
read your mind? Every dirty little secret. What if YOU too could
develop psychic powers?

Just imagine what sort of world THAT would be!

Hardly the boringly predictable, ultra-conservative, Newtonian
"scientific" universe that these people inhabit. For them, it's a
possibility too terrible to contemplate.

In conclusion , it's vital not to be too credulous in examining a
psychic phenomenon, or in rushing to accept the claims of the
"professional" investigators in this field. Nevertheless, we
must also be extremely wary of the skeptics who, while
pretending to be scientific, are often better viewed as
ideological fanatics than even mediocre scientists."

Copyright 2006 Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved.

Jozevz:

Do you post anything that makes sense?

“Do yourself a favor and learn to read something thoroughly, and not see just what you want to see. You missed just about everything. You jumped onto the German shepherd thing like a rabid dog---it was the only decent point you could make---and you generalized about the beer, missing the beauty of what actually happened. You missed the uncle, the niece, and everything else...you remind me of a religios fanatic or something.”

Religious fanatic? I read through Mr. Mark’s message several times and no where does it read like it was written by a religious fanatic. He calmly laid out his points, noting that the German Sheppard is one of the most popular breeds of dog in America, and that it is common for people in their 20’s to be associated with beer. None of the skeptics here are angry/mad with you. We all sympathize with the pain of losing someone very close to us.

That is why it is all the more heartbreaking for us to see you waste money on a man who has no more contact with the deceased than you or I.

“I'm done with this blog. If you respond, I won't see it. I've had enough of you tunnel-visioned people. Sure there are fakes out there...but you can't handle the truth...which is that some of the mediums are not fake.”

I’m sorry you feel you must leave this blog. No one here is attacking or criticizing you. We’re attacking the psychics/mediums whom prey on grieving and vulnerable persons.

However, if you feel that some psychics are real, perhaps you can convince them to take the James Randi challenge and win $1,000,000. Surely they would want the publicity and money that comes from establishing that the paranormal is real.

“It would just kill you to wrap your mind around that possibility for one second, wouldn't it?”

It doesn’t kill me to consider the possibility that psychics could be real. In fact, I once believed they were. However, after research, and careful study, I came to realize that what psychics/mediums do is not distinguishable from cold reading. They throw out many guesses and rely on the person to supply the answers.

After all, psychics do not give out the specific names of lost loved ones. They rely on techniques such as “I’m feeling that someone with a ‘Ja’ or a “Jay” sound is coming through. Such as a ‘Jared’ or ‘Jaime.’” Or they say “I’m seeing someone who is a grandmother figure coming through.”

They don’t say “Your grandmother Jaime, who had a birthday on April 29, 1918, is coming through to me.”

If these people could really talk to the dead, you’d think they’d be able to supply EXACT information.

“Cowards.”

I understand you are grieving, but that does not give you leave to resort to personal attacks.

Dear Norrie -

Your "A REALITY" is not a slice of reality, it is a slice of fantasy.

It's very difficult to hold an intelligent conversation with people who invent meanings for words that don't exist. Your belief in paranormal things in no way qualifies such things as "a" reality.

By your measure, Santa Claus and fairies are also "a reality."

DBF wrote:

"Wouldn't you think its easier to exhibit love than to hate."

Did you ever stop to think that those of us who point out the fraud of mediums are doing so out of something besides hate?

BTW - thanks for the laundry list of bad people who populate our world, but you left out the mediums.

Mr. Mark,

I wrote:

"Turbocramb and Mr. Mark,

"I'm afraid you two "goats" (and all the other "goats" on this thread) are butting your heads fruitlessly against a reality you won't let yourselves see."

You then wrote:

"Dear Norrie -

"Please check the dictionary for the definition of the word "reality." Then, get back to me."

Well, I'm back, and I don't need a dictionary.

"REALITY" is the total of things as they actually are.

Note that I spoke of "A REALITY", not "REALITY".

"A REALITY" is a small slice of REALITY, which is what you get when you look at reality through a particular prism, in this case the prism of "paranormal events".

It's the reality of paranormal events that you are blind to.

As per the Blake poem set out above, your sands of "rationality" have blown back into your eves and blinded you to the existence of the paranormal.

Actually, of course, "the paranormal" is simply normal happenings that we can't yet explain with today's science.

All good wishes to you.

Att B L O O M @ TenThirty_One PM:

gOOD RIDDENCE LIKE_WISE!

HAOOY: "Day Of The Dead"

Please see "WIKIPEDIA DOT COM AT"

MEMENTO MORI & DAY OF THE DEAD respectfully! Ya Ya!

Huggs n kisses to ALL good ECLATi_Ons! Never the Offs!

Happy Every day!

REMEMBER Siatar(s) & Brethren(s) : WE NEVER WAS CREATED NOR CAN WE EVER BE DESTROYED! Just try to be nice & never deliberateley knock the "Light of Love" out of someones frontal+lobe! AKA knockig out the IMMORTAL HEURISTICao (aka Eternal Spirit)!

(((( Peace_Love_Rock_n_Roll_n_Rap Mitt_ROMNEY for Prez Thank You ALL! )))))))))))))))))))

To all of you attacking Gigi as well as the Psychic Medium. Everyone has the right to their opinion but I have this question for each of you. Do you truly know GOD or Jesus? By the posts I've read I tend to think some of you don't know. Jesus did not preach the choir and tell people if you don't believe in him you're going to hell. He loved everyone as an equal to him without judgement.

Dogs are amazing. They are non- judgemental. Only if people lived by the examples of dogs.

It seems so many people have a constipation of ideas and a diarreah of the mouth.
Living is easier with eyes closed. Misunderstanding is all you will see. Hopefully you will never know what its like to have lost a child no matter how they passed away.

I think you all need to take a deeper look at the World you live in and the deep rooted issues you have inside of you or that has been instilled and drilled in to you.

Look at the paparazzi who make a living off of hounding people like the late Princess Diana and many other celebrities making money especially off of a deceased person.

Look at the Entertainment Industry(TV/Film/Music) that pollutes the minds of so many with shows like Jerry Springer or the idiotic reality shows that do nothing positive for society. This is what you pay a cable bill for? Do you speak out about it. I highly doubt it.

Look at our Government who have sent our sons and daughters off to fight a war for what... Oil?
Do you say NO to war as oppose to anti-war.
Look at the Banks, Mortgage Brokers, Realtors, Insurance Agents who rip people off when their homes are destroyed in Hurricanes. This happens to be an actual fact. There are frauds in many occupations. Look at the Priests who molest children. People have scam artists right in their own family who will sell their own family member out for crack.

So whether someone like Gigi went to a Clergy person, Therapist or Psychic Medium and got some comfort and healing that's all that matters.

Many Doctors are frauds. Did you know that they get kick backs from giving you prescription drugs? I bet you didn't know that. To keeping people medicated on harmful drugs that eventually shut down major organs- what do you say to that?
Putting a bandaid on someone's problem is not the answer to healing.

What gives a Doctor the right to tell a patient with Cancer that they have 30 days to live? Who are they to play GOD and decide someone's fate?

When you go to a house of worship, you will see the people who work there going up and down the aisle collecting money. Does the money go to mainting the house of worship or in someone's hands?

You have rising gas prices and yet people do nothing about it with the Government. You let the Government dictate to you when you are the tax payer and live in the USA.. land of the free.

Wouldn't you think its easier to exhibit love than to hate. Energy always comes back to you like a mirror reflection in either form and the latter tends to cause dis-ease in you.

I can go on and on about this but I think I made my point clear.

To all of you attacking Gigi as well as the Psychic Medium. Everyone has the right to their opinion but I have this question for each of you. Do you truly know GOD or Jesus? By the posts I've read I tend to think some of you don't know. Jesus did not preach the choir and tell people if you don't believe in him you're going to hell. He loved everyone as an equal to him without judgement.

Dogs are amazing. They are non- judgemental. Only if people lived by the examples of dogs.

It seems so many people have a constipation of ideas and a diarreah of the mouth.
Living is easier with eyes closed. Misunderstanding is all you will see. Hopefully you will never know what its like to have lost a child no matter how they passed away.

I think you all need to take a deeper look at the World you live in and the deep rooted issues you have inside of you or that has been instilled and drilled in to you.

Look at the paparazzi who make a living off of hounding people like the late Princess Diana and many other celebrities making money especially off of a deceased person.

Look at the Entertainment Industry(TV/Film/Music) that pollutes the minds of so many with shows like Jerry Springer or the idiotic reality shows that do nothing positive for society. This is what you pay a cable bill for? Do you speak out about it. I highly doubt it.

Look at our Government who have sent our sons and daughters off to fight a war for what... Oil?
Do you say NO to war as oppose to anti-war.
Look at the Banks, Mortgage Brokers, Realtors, Insurance Agents who rip people off when their homes are destroyed in Hurricanes. This happens to be an actual fact. There are frauds in many occupations. Look at the Priests who molest children. People have scam artists right in their own family who will sell their own family member out for crack.

So whether someone like Gigi went to a Clergy person, Therapist or Psychic Medium and got some comfort and healing that's all that matters.

Many Doctors are frauds. Did you know that they get kick backs from giving you prescription drugs? I bet you didn't know that. To keeping people medicated on harmful drugs that eventually shut down major organs- what do you say to that?
Putting a bandaid on someone's problem is not the answer to healing.

What gives a Doctor the right to tell a patient with Cancer that they have 30 days to live? Who are they to play GOD and decide someone's fate?

When you go to a house of worship, you will see the people who work there going up and down the aisle collecting money. Does the money go to mainting the house of worship or in someone's hands?

You have rising gas prices and yet people do nothing about it with the Government. You let the Government dictate to you when you are the tax payer and live in the USA.. land of the free.

Wouldn't you think its easier to exhibit love than to hate. Energy always comes back to you like a mirror reflection in either form and the latter tends to cause dis-ease in you.

I can go on and on about this but I think I made my point clear.

Bottom line - I don't feel psychics are any more "charlatans" than clergy. Like clergy, though what they're selling isn't factual, it can be comforting. Also like clergy, I suspect some psychics are terrible, some mediocre and others benign. A benefit of psychics is that they're usually a one time thing -- you don't spend a life contributing to their business. Sort of like going on a one-time bender, but not being a regular drinker. Beats pledging to a church and subscribing to a whole set of supernatural beliefs and stories for which there is no evidence.

I don't condone psychics and I wouldn't recommend one to a friend, but I don't see them as an unmitigated evil, just a bit of comforting fantasy. Of course the situation you described with your mother was different. She was trying to feign happiness (“My husband is with God). Gigi was seeking comfort and closure (“My baby’s safe”).

ms bloom, if you are still monitoring this blog (and i hope you aren't; i think your instinct to leave is correct), please don't take the skepticism of many of us personally. we don't know you and have no real understanding of your pain or your experience, but we do mourn the loss of one so young and also the horrible pain you must feel.

pop was a preacher and he spent a lot of his time visiting folks in the hospital and dealing with loss and suffering. he became a pretty good boot-strap psychologist and i watched him for half-a-century provide REAL comfort to those in need. made 'em laugh as well.

those who leave us here behind depend upon us to keep them alive in our memories and in our hearts. meaning and purpose will follow from the way that you proceed and honor the memory of your late son. your life is as precious as his and now you must live for yourself AND for him as well.

i hope you have some close friends and, since you seem to be a person of faith, i suggest you seek out a pastor or perhaps a church group that could provide you with some counsel.

it's your choice, but there are sound and healthy ways to deal with grief and loss. please take care of yourself and thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Dear Georgianna -

Of course, you've promised not to read this response, but I would mention that my attacks in this thread were directed at the person who is conning you, not at you personally.

I don't think I can say that about your attacks which have been directed at me and others for whom your reports of contacting the dead are all too familiar and all too easily seen for what they are, ie: con games.

I am sorry for your loss and even sorrier that you have been taken in by this all-too common - and horribly mundane - flim-flam.

Good luck to you.

Dear Norrie -

Please check the dictionary for the definition of the word "reality." Then, get back to me.

I think I owe the religionists at On Faith an apology. I thought they were deluded until I met the posters in this thread carrying water for the mediums.

Unbelievable!

Mr. Mark:

Do yourself a favor and learn to read something thoroughly, and not see just what you want to see. You missed just about everything. You jumped onto the German shepherd thing like a rabid dog---it was the only decent point you could make---and you generalized about the beer, missing the beauty of what actually happened. You missed the uncle, the niece, and everything else...you remind me of a religios fanatic or something.

I'm done with this blog. If you respond, I won't see it. I've had enough of you tunnel-visioned people. Sure there are fakes out there...but you can't handle the truth...which is that some of the mediums are not fake.

It would just kill you to wrap your mind around that possibility for one second, wouldn't it?

Cowards.

If Glenn is such a great psychic, then he should claim the Randi prize, become famous, and we can all happily converse with our dead loved ones. He'll never do this though, because he's a fake who knows he'd be exposed in a minute.