Psychics vs Skeptics

Last night on Larry King Live it was the Psychics vs. the Skeptics.

Three rather famous psychic/mediums/intuitives - Sylvia Browne, James Van Praagh, and Char Margolis - up against two formidable skeptics – Rabbi & author Shmuley Boteach, and Dr. Bryan Farha.

The skeptics came out of the gate running and the psychics were playing defense the entire hour. The skeptics came prepared and it didn't appear the psychics did. I'm not sure if that is because they've each reached a certain level of notoriety now so thought they could wing it.

The psychics really have nothing quotable to present, so I’ll quote a few things from the skeptics.

From Rabbi Boteach:

You know, Larry, every single psychic medium who I have conversed with always offers the information along the lines of your grandfather forgives you for accidentally mowing him down with your Hummer. Well, that's nice but it's always the same.

I have yet to find a single psychic medium who can offer any information of any public utility or real personal usefulness. For example, where's Osama bin Laden? Why can't anyone on our panel tell us where Osama bin Laden is? I mean this guy killed 3,000 Americans. If they have the power to see and speak to the dead who are all knowing and omniscient, then it's almost criminal for them to withhold that information.

When is the next roadside bomb going to go off in Iraq and kill our soldiers? Tell us now because these are fathers and husbands and we don't want them to die. James, can you please tell us, share some of that information on this show right now where is Osama bin
Laden?

I think the above is the most common feeling among skeptics. Because they don't provide information to allow us to divert a major catastrophe, they are charlatans.

From Rabbi Boteach:

But let me just tell you, Larry, that I mean I'm pretty insignificant. A year ago this week, Larry, 300,000 people were killed in a tsunami. Dr. James Van Praagh says to us that he feels energies. Do you realize how much energy it took to move trillions of gallons of water but not a single psychic felt that?

Hurricane Katrina, we didn't know if it was going to hit New Orleans, it was going to turn left or right or Hurricane Wilma. Do you know how much energy that is and not a single
psychic felt it? Why is it that only the smallest blips on the screen, the mother who died with a bit of a -- she was upset at you because you didn't visit her on her deathbed they can channel that but not something of real public usefulness.

Once again – Dr. Boteach finds that a psychic/medium must warn of a catastrophe or it doesn’t count.

A Dr. Farha comment:

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI both state that a psychic has never helped them solve one case or find one missing child. You know, conjecture. They make dozens and dozens of psychic detective readings, if you will, and some of them hit, but that doesn't mean it's because of psychic ability.

It could be because they're doing extra detective work. Detectives solve crimes, too.

Because they're doing extra detective work? Surely he doesn't really believe this. That was a huge stretch to try to explain away some 'hits'.

The skeptics believe psychics are preying on the vulnerable. Taking advantage of them during emotional times. After all, if they are truly psychic why aren’t they warning about tsunami’s, earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorist acts. Why not give us useful information as opposed to saying "grandmother likes the new furniture’.

When a medium gets a spirit they will give validating information to the client - things that only that person would know. It could be an incident that happened many years ago... it could be something in their current life. It could be as Dr. Boteach said above "grandmother likes the new furniture" - and it turns out the client purchased new furniture just last week. This validates for the client that the medium is really communicating with their loved one that has passed. The skeptics argument is - this is useless information!

To me it is the most important information we could have. A medium basically proves that our spirit does indeed exist even after we leave our physical bodies. What could be more important and uplifting than that?

As to why they don't give information to divert catastrophes - that is not the purpose. I don't believe anyone can live our lives for us. I don't believe psychics/mediums will get information 'from the other side (or wherever)' and give us advice to make our decisions for us. It's called free will and we have to make our own choices whether they cause us pain or not. How we deal with these situations whether they are good or bad is what we're here for. Some say we're here to learn lessons - if that is the case there are no shortcuts. So, if skeptics choose not to believe because they want something BIG, i don't think they'll ever get it. And, i think this statement from Dr. Boteach is very revealing:

No, the only blessing, Char, the only blessing is the truth. It's not enough to comfort her. She has to know the truth. The only thing that brings real closure is the truth.

That was in reference to Char Magolis offering to help a caller who phoned in about her missing father. Dr. Boteach thought she should call in the police and/or FBI. The man has been missing for 14 years.

Personally, I'd go for the comfort.