[abbondanzieri]

(bad form, replying to your own post 'n all, i know...)

from the OP,

Can you prove that you are a skeptic?

if someone was to join jref would they get a membership card? could this count as proof of a person's skepticism? when can i expect my cheque?

[DABhand]

What I mean is, no matter what evidence you bring forward to them (even if it was the ultimate proof), they would just deny it and come up with some weird logical explanation for it.

Its a no-win situation, I dont think they are really planning on paying out $1 million when you really think about it.

[abbondanzieri]

if it was a logical explanation, why would it need to be weird? i understand the aim of the test is to have a straight yes/no outcome, with no room for interpretation by either 'side' - no explanations required, weird or otherwise.

i think jref would pay out the $1M - think of the publicity!!! :wink:

[Nat]

I should have made a correction yesterday when looking for Victor Zammit's url, ... but upon finding it I got side tracked listening to the audio files on his site. So, for those who don't use the above link to have a look for themselves (tho I'd reccommend dropping in as it looks like there is heaps of interesting stuff on it) the challenge was not to prove mediumship wrong per se`, but to under the same test conditions reproduce the phenomena demonstrated through the mediumship of David Thompson, and in doing so score themselves the 1/2 million, ....or, ...pay up 1/2 a million to the medium if they could not. Sounds rather simple, and an even easier challenge than Randi's, ...they don't technically even have to prove mediumship is real or not, ...it only asks that under the same conditions, the same sort of phenomena be produced. Some skeptics out there claim they can duplicate ANY phenomena seen in mediumship, ...if so, if they think they have some magic up their sleeve that would achieve the same effect, under the same conditions, ...then I for one would sure like to see it.

[RobsonB]

If a psychic is truely psychic then surely the Million Dollar Challenge would be a easy earner and more to the point prove without a doubt to the world, that Psychic mediums are genuine. Not doing so, doesnt it just strengthen the case where people feel it is a complete fiction rather than fact.

If I knew without a shadow of about I had psychic abilities, I would take on the Million Dollar Challenge, not for the money, but more on the basis to show the world, that psychics are not hoax.

As for my personal experiences, I have been open minded but with the readings I have received, including psychics from this site. Has resulted in being inaccurate and disappointing.

I am a little sceptic, but with the like of Colin Fry, where on the face of it, sincerely has an outstanding psychic ability, especially since he has no aids of Tarot cards. I have had a number of Tarot card readings, where again resulted in a disappointing outcome, nothing mounted up.

OK a psychic may not wish to take the Million Dollar Challenge, but if why not use Psychic abilities to aid in the capture of Bin Laiden. Unless of cause they do not poses the psychic ability to be able to give that information.

I would be extremely happy to receive information on accurate psychic reading, who can give me some accurate information to my answers. Please can anyone recommend a reader for me to contact or offer me a reading.

Many thanks

[Sibyl]

Hi

Mediums in the uk are not allowed to use psychic tools such as tarot cards. Mediums link to spirit and give evidence of survival and as a Spiritualist and a medium I have no desire to defend either my religion or my ability to link to spirit for any amount of money. As far as I am concerned if other ppl have difficulty with what I do, then that is their problem, not mine. We are all different and have to find our own pathways thru life and no matter how much evidence I, or anyone else, gave to a sceptic, they would rationalise it to fit within their own thinking.

Mediums have produced materialised forms in the past, discarnate voices in a room, objects levitating etc etc; the most amazing spirit phenomena it is possible to have, and all has been pooh-poohed with the words "any good magician and/or ventriloquist can do that". I am waiting for the 'good magician' to produce my mum's face, voice and talk to me of memories that are strictly personal between her and I. Then I might believe in their ability to reproduce spirit phenomena, but until then, I am afraid I am very sceptical!!!!!!

rofl \/

[Echolima]

Why, oh why is it that those who believe in mediumship, the paranormal, the efficacy of crystal, et al, are unable to comprehend the meaning of the word 'sceptic'? In 999 times out of 1000 what they actually mean is 'non-believer' or 'cynic'.

As the Wikipedia article states, a sceptic questions. That is the meaning of the word. No sceptic worth his salt would say there's no such thing as tigers. If they doubted their existence, they would ask to see one.

As for proving a person is a sceptic - well, I believe that I am one. I question things that does not appear to make total sense to me *. In some cases - Derek Acorah and 'Simon Peters' spring to mind - I ask the questions, I find the answers, and I become a cynical non-believer in those cases.

* I am not just referring to mediumship here, but also everyday life.

[Echolima]

Originally Posted by Sibyl

I am waiting for the 'good magician' to produce my mum's face, voice and talk to me of memories that are strictly personal between her and I.

Sibyl, may I ask if any medium has been able to do that for you? If so, could you please put me in touch with them - it sounds like someone who could help me? Thanks.

Emma

[Sibyl]

There are still physical mediums working who can produce materialised forms or faces, together with independent voice but they are not as prolific now as they used to be and while I have seen a spirit person materialise in front of my, and 80 other people's, eyes, the mediums producing such phenomena tend not to advertise it.

Read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's History of Spiritualism, Vols I and II, there is quite a lot of information there regarding physical mediumship which you will find very interesting.

luv
vi

[Echolima]

Hi Vi,

Thanks for that. Actually, I've read History of Spiritualism - in fact, I read it about thirty years ago, along with everything I could find from Oliver Lodge to Doris Stokes and Harry Edwards. In other words, been there, done that, and got a couple of t-shirts.

Perhaps you have to be part of a sort of 'inner circle' in order to get to see a good physical medium work?

Emma