Power of God? Stars? or Suggestion? by
Davy Russell
POSTED: April 98
With the increased interest in the paranormal, it is becoming less of a
mystery and more of a lucrative enterprise. There are the countless telephone psychics
who regularly air ads on television promising 10-30 free minutes of positive, accurate
predictions of one's future. There are Christian evangelists who promise healing and
blessings, often in exchange for a product they're selling, or large donations. And there are
those who claim that they can communicate with your deceased relatives, guardian angel,
or other spiritual beings...all for a price! And don't forget the psychics who will coax and
persuade a disruptive poltergeist to leave one's home. These kind of "vocations" are easy
for anyone who can act to be successful at and are surprisingly well supported. But is it
worth shelling out $4.95 a minute talking with a psychic after they have used up your
free minutes?
I have spent a number of hours talking with people who regularly read horoscopes and
consult in psychics. I have also viewed a number of promotional ads for well known psychic
hotlines. What I noticed, and what many skeptics have been observing for years, is that
the "predictions" or "precognitive revelations" are always general, generic things that
pertain to the vast majority of people. Such displays of false psychic power is often
mistaken as an accurate "hit". Psychics use a variety of tactics to learn about the caller
or customer, without them realizing the wealth of information they are giving away by
stating their age, by their facial expressions, or giving away seemingly unrelated bits
of information.
A prime example was when a woman told her psychic that she had a teenage daughter.
The psychic then revealed to the lady that she knew that there were conflicts in values,
and difficulties relating to each other due to the generation gap. This statement could
describe the majority of parents with teenage children! Another tactic used
often by mediums and psychics is broadening questions to increase the likeliness of a
correct answer. For example, a psychic may say, "You or someone close to you is
suffering from an illness".
I often wonder why psychics or mediums appear to only predict good futures. Where are
all the negative "death by cancer", "you'll loose your job, your house, your wife", etc...
And why do you think the words, "For entertainment purposes only" appear on every
psychic hotline add?
I recently watched a documentary on astrology where they attempted to prove the
accuracy of star charts using ones from President Kennedy and other past historical
figures. This proves nothing as star charts can be open to interpretation and the
"predictable" events already happened. Astrology has been around since the beginning of
humankind and can be accurate for some, but are you trying to tell me that everyone born
in the same month is supposed to have the same character and personality traits?
Since seeking advice from psychics and mediums is strictly forbidden in the Bible,
Christians have their own version of psychic healers and soothsayers. Countless
Christian leaders have come forward announcing the exact date of the end of the world.
Still others have interpreted Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and other militant dictators as the
anti-Christ, all of which have not or have yet to bring about the destruction of Earth.
Evangelistic healers such as Benny Hinn display a lot of the same tactics which psychics
use to determine various "secret" information about certain individuals who approach
them for healing.
Evangelist Benny Hinn recently had a crusade in Melbourne, Australia. I watched part of this on TV
the other night. There was a woman brought on stage by his two assistants. Hinn looked
at the woman and stretched out his arm. Down she went, shaking and crying as Hinn
proceeded to "chit-chat" with God, whom he told his huge audience was standing right
next to him on stage. Of course he was the only one who could see him. He then
described two "pig-like" demons exiting the woman’s side as she convulsed on the floor,
thrashing her head from side to side.
Now these dramatic and entertaining displays almost never happened in the Bible. It is
as if the evangelist spices up the whole healing procedure, "conjures down" God himself,
all for the entertainment of the huge, packed auditorium. The Biblical book of Exodus
describes a situation where God had to shield Moses' face as he passed, because no
mortal could see God's face. And in the New Testament, Jesus healed many individuals
without the theatrical atmosphere. But then, Jesus was a teacher, not a showman.
There are some who display extraordinary, accurate psychic or extrasensory abilities, but
these well studied cases are extremely rare, few and far between. And all evidence is,
you guessed it...inconclusive! Psychics, mediums, and most prophets have always had a
history of hoaxing, or false predictions, and often times more misses than hits. What I
see in the whole divination and psychic scene is a group of observant business people
who take advantage of those prone to gullibility.