To think psychics are all fakes?

[LambinsideaDuckinsideaTrout]

I don't like that they take peoples money when they are in a vulnerable place, lost loved ones etc. It's immoral. Just my opinion.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Well, does Superman have to sleep with Katie Holmes...who's been with Tom Cruise (allegedly)?

Check.
Mate.

Freudian I don't think there is, no.

I have hunches that some things are true without proof - like aliens out there somewhere. But, I think all my actual beliefs are supported by evidence.

But we all have so many beliefs, in varying degrees of sureness, that it's hard to say.

There was a book I read once, written by scientists, called "Things I believe but cannot prove" (or something like that).

The only one I can remember was Martin Rees (Astronomer Royal) who said he believed that we are the only life in the universe. He made quite a good case, I think. Life has to have begun somewhere - and we might be the very beginnings. Weird thought.

Yes, mainly I do.

i can understand that

just myself i do not need to have scientific proof for everything and i think there is probably quite a bit we all believe in (or not given it much thought) where there is no actual proof and we have been sold it as a truth

geniune psychic mediums = oxymoron.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c_pre_2011/evolution/theoryevolutionrev1.shtml

hettie this mentions the possibility that life actually or the "ingredients" that began very early life on earth , could cruelly have come from outer space.

It is possible is it not then, that this happened on other planets. And other life forms may have once existed on another planet.

Cruelly? Ffs actually

Can you give me some examples Freudian?

Hettie do you remember the author? I need a new book! I can recommend the A C Grayling one and The Geek Manifesto (which I'm coming to the end of sadly).

medicine is constantly advancing as is the understanding how our brain works

is there any such thing as the unconscious mind, do those who are depressed really have a chemical imbalance, are certain drugs that we are told are non addictive really addictive

we get fed so much information that and especially when spoken about in a scientific way we tend to take it as a truth just i am asking is it really, do we research ourselves (of course not everything) and who has given this information out

tired can not think of any other examples

Really enjoyable thread, I've just spent fecking hours reading it all the way through.

I am a sceptic and in the logical part of my brain don't believe at all in the woo stuff as it's clearly daft; BUT I find it all hugely fascinating and have been on a few ghost hunts, had my tarot done, had my palm read, seen a couple of psychics etc - because a small part of me thinks "wouldn't it be cool if there was something in it all" (even though I know that its a load of rubbish).

The point for me though is that people like me who do these things do so with no emotional need - I'm doing it because it can be fun, maybe a bit interesting and a bit daft, it's sort of suspending reality for a wee while as a grown up and believing in fairies again for a night (iyswim). I am not being conned in any way and am doing it on my terms.

The people that these 'psychics' really make their money from though are those with emotional need and that's wrong and sad because they are exploiting them. Then again, there have been posters on this thread who have mentioned feeling comforted by the idea that there may just be something after life, so is it wrong that they get some reassurance when they are in need? I really don't know.

And btw, I am in awe of Red's tarot marvellousness!!!

It's THIS one, Okay. It's lots of different thinkers.....Rees, Dawkins, Pinker and so on.

Think I've read the Grayling one - but the Geek Manifesto looks superb. Sticking it on my Santa list.

Yes, Giles - it's called Panspermia. Does make a lot of sense. Might explain abiogenesis.

Yep, I believe that not only medicine but everything is advancing and our beliefs are changing as we gain greater understanding. It is because we can assess, test and evidence these things that gives me belief in them.

The unconscious mind is a term used to describe the part of our brain in which primitive decisions are made (such as 'fight or flight' in the amygdala). We have scans to demonstrate this.

Depression (as in the mental illness) is definitely a chemical imbalance in the brain whereby the levels of serotonin, dopamine and another chemical (sorry, it's late) are lower. Again, scans of the brain have shown this. I have seen such scans.

Cheers Hettie, I think I may have to order that! I do love a bit of Pinker

is there any such thing as the unconscious mind I think this is pretty much established, isn't it?

I suspect that the next 50-100 years will be phenomenal in terms of medical discovery.

And I also suspect that they are right when they say that the first human to live to 150 has been born.

It's more of a dip-into book, Okay, IIRC - essays. Some better than others.

Marcus Chown is my fave science author at the moment HERE.

I only just noticed this.

What do you cynics think about Dowsing? Dowsing has been scientifically proven to work.

Since when and who by? was it in the last 20 minutes because I think I'd have noticed the international coverage.

How can panspermia explain abiogenesis?

a lot of mental health care professionals would disagree about the chemical imbalance theory in regards to depression (royal society of psychiatry, mind and other mh care organizations do not go along with this anymore, not that is is not the case but it has not been proved)

and the unconscious mind we may be advancing our knowledge on what our brain does but there is still once again different theories on how it works, do we suppress memories there, is it there, does our instinctual drive come from there

lots of drugs have been given to people over the years with no side effects and sadly it is found out years later there are

the truth is forever changing

How can panspermia explain abiogenesis?

I'm a twat. It doesn't, of course.

Very tired. Sorry!

I meant - explains how life got started here.

Back

HERE

Thanks Hettie. I thought you meant real dowsing for a moment. :) That is skilful but not magic.

Superman beats Batman - Batman has no superpowers, and is therefore not actually a superhero, just a vigilante with access to some really good gadgets.

But why can't people choose to believe in something if it gives them comfort? Even if deep down they know it's probably not real. As far as I know, most people on this forum are not philosophy graduates, scientists etc, so why be so bloody judgemental and black and white. Anyone can google, it doesn't make you an expert. Why not leave people to their own beliefs or if you feel really strongly, go and protest outside churches, mosques and synagogues. I don't get what makes a bunch of people in a mothering forum qualified to know everything about absolutely everything from their armchairs in surburbia.

Okay theodorus

Firstly I am not in an armchair in suburbia.

Secondly, even though it gives them comfort to ponder on etc, if deep down they know it's not real then they don't believe do they?

I sit in this camp. It would be really nice if it were true. But I'm quite convinced it's not.