Quote:
Originally Posted by JoelJohnson
If anyone could have done it, Harry Houdini would have.
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More about that under my second point, below.
1. James Randi, who was a stage illusionist (magician), became convinced that "Psychics" and "Mediums" were fakes who used tricks similar to the "magic tricks" of other stage magicians for the purpose of deluding people into believing in Psychic abilities, usually for the purpose of making money and gaining fame.
Accordingly, he raised $1,000,000 (one million dollars) which he offered to anyone who could "demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event under test conditions agreed to by both parties." Although many people made the attempt, including on live television, no one ever was able to claim the prize.
At the bottom of this page I am linking a 17 minute video in which Randi discusses phony Psychic abilities, as well as the farce of homeopathic medicine.
It is worth your time to view this video.
Incidentally, there are videos on youtube in which Randi debunks James Hydrick, Maureen Flynn, Uri Geller (the spoon bender) and Faith Healer Peter Popoff. The trickery used by Popoff is reproduced in the Chevy Chase movie Fletch Lives.
2. Now about Harry Houdini. Like Randi, Houdini was a professional illusionist, and also an escape artist. Unlike Randi, Houdini wanted desperately to believe in being able to communicate with the dead. That is why he started going to Mediums. However, as a professional illusionist, he quickly saw through their deceits, and became disillusioned. Thereafter, he undertook to determine the methods of each Medium so he could expose them.
Houdini had his appendix ruptured in a freak accident. Knowing that he was dying
he told his wife that if there were any way possible he would communicate with her after his death. He never did.
3. My examples above might lead you to believe that I don't believe that it is possible to communicate with the dead. Well, hold that thought for a minute.
I am a Christian. The Bible tells me that we should not consult mediums or attempt to communicate with the dead.
a. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or
a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. - Deut. 18:10-11
b. "
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for
you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God." Lev. 19:31
MY CONCLUSION is that
either:
Psychics and/or Mediums are phony, skillful illusionists who use trickery to deceive people, either for fame or for financial gain,
or
There
are Mediums who have occult powers,
but God forbids having any interaction with them.
James Randi: Homeopathy, quackery and fraud | TED Talk | TED.com