The mentalists: myth or magic?
Re Fortune sellers, March 19 Looking at psychic scams is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to desperate people being conned out of their money. There are bigger fish to fry.
What about tax-exempt televangelists who ask for money promising it will result in riches for the donor? These people have their own jet planes, mega mansions and routinely solicit money from distressed people who are dealing with a severe illness or family problem.
It should be illegal to solicit money for otherworldly cures for financial, social or health problems. Russell Pangborn, Keswick Many people have had positive experiences with psychics. When we had a sudden family tragedy 20 years ago, I was advised by others in our community to try the local psychic for help with my grief. Her compassion, insight and advice were extremely valuable and predictions she made at the time subsequently came true.
The help she gave me was better than any other help I received, and I have continued to be comforted by what she said for the 20 years since then.
This psychic had an upfront fee, taped the interview so I could listen to it afterwards and did not ask for any other money. I do not think I could have received better help than hers. I would not, however, on her account, go to any psy- chic or fortune teller and expect the same good outcome. Every business has charlatans, and people need to use their common sense. I don’t believe every newspaper I read, either. Martha Gould, North Bay ESP and other psychic powers have been studied ad nauseam with little or no effect found. The James Randi Foundation has a standing prize of $1 million for anyone who can show psychic powers in a proper double-blind experiment. No winners, no takers. The list of debunkers of this nonsense are legion. Joe Nickel, Derrin Brown, Penn and Teller, etc.
So why do you position some psychics as good; others as fraudsters? And how would anyone know the difference from your articles? Why present uninformed, unchallenged and untestable opinion under the guise of science?
Why not put pressure on the legislature to ensure that no one ever pays for this completely phoney “service” again? Make it illegal. Or at least ensure that practitioners are required to state unequivocally that their service is for entertainment purposes only and to regulate both the charges and quantity of “service” they provide. Make them receipt every transaction so there is a paper trail. Bruce Van Dieten, Markham Thanks for your joint investigation with W5on fortune tellers. Here’s a prediction of my own. A sign will be appear- ing on many of their premises: “Closed due to unforeseen circumstances.” Alan Mason, Toronto Is there a difference between being fleeced by a glib fortune teller, and falling under the spell, amid shouts of “Praise the Lord!” of some well-heeled silvertongued Bible thumper? At least the former spends time with the gullible bumpkin.
Evangelical soothsayers who boast the Midas touch in saving souls appeal to the multitude to pray together, and then to donate to the Lord. Those who are quick to part with their hard-earned money, either to the psychic, or to the reverend, think alike. They believe in a deity, somewhere out there, that really cares about their mundane lives.
Sadly, this supreme entity seems helpless in helping the countless millions on Earth who are truly suffering. Superstition? Faith? They’re the same thing. The bottom line is blatant stupidity. Garry Burke, Oro-Medonte It is difficult to believe that in this day and age people could still be duped by these supernatural charlatans and professors of parlour tricks.
On the other hand, religious institutions work to keep these archaic and equally ludicrous superstitions alive in peoples’ imaginations. It is equally difficult to believe that these purveyors of superstitions are afforded a special pro- tected status, publicly funded education and tax exemption in our secular nation — particularly considering that the Vatican is wealthy far beyond need and comprehension.
The pattern of monetary distribution may be different, representing more of a pyramid than a small enterprise. However the transactions for the services are no different and the prescribed exorcism is definitely paid for.
The assortment of religious organizations works in concert to keep mankind rooted in senseless superstition, and together have caused or justified more human suffering than is generally acknowledged. These are the wolves in sheep’s clothing and have ill-served mankind by limiting free thought and promoting divisions among humans. Tom Whent, Sault Ste Marie