Mediums

Codswallop!!

I'm in this camp.

The latter. No evidence that any of them can "perform" under test conditions.

Sorry if that all sounds very matter of fact. But I find comfort in my second answer.

Personally i think its a load of rubbish. They tend to pray on the vulnerable who are seeking an answer or looking for comfort. Its all wrong in my opinion.

EWSS!

I'll add a line from Tim Minchin, "People who say they can talk to dead people are either lying or mentally ill".

This! I know if I had a "gift" like that I would want people to be able to contact their loved ones and not charge them for it...

I've always thought that it was a load of rubbish but my H was told something that he could never have known, and it was quite specific so unless he's telling fibs I don't know how to explain that.

I may be wrong here but don't medium type people performing in public have to label their shows as "For entertainment purposes only"?

ETA: From ukskeptics

The fraudulent mediums act (1951) states:

1.-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person
who-

with intent to deceive purports to act as a spiritualistic medium or to exercise any powers of telepathy, clairvoyance or other similar powers, or in purporting to act as a spiritualistic medium or to exercise such powers as aforesaid, uses any fraudulent device, shall be guilty of an offence.

Then in section 5:

(5) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall apply to anything done solely for the purpose of entertainment.

I do like to think there is something after this life but I am not interested in the details. According to the laws of physics - energy can not be destroyed it just changes into something else. I am not saying reincarnation, or ghosts or heaven. Just something.

I do not think you need to see a con artist (medium) to allow yourself to believe in something after death. Faith is just that - Faith, believing in something without having evidence. A medium is just going to try and supply you with evidence which isn't there. Some things are not supposed to be proven.

There are a few who don't charge.

Not saying I believe in it, because I don't, but a friend of mine visits a medium who refuses to charge (something about her 'gift' being from God and therefore not something she believes she should make money from). My friend believes in her, apparently she has said some things it would be 'impossible' for her to know otherwise, but I remain unconvinced.

I read an article (in Nature, I think) some time ago now, that dealt with how scientists view God, religion and so on. Based on a series of surveys, it found that:

1. Scientists were less likely to believe in god than the average population (unsurprising, I think).

2. Many scientists believed in an afterlife (in the absence of a belief in god). Still at a level of belief less than that in a non-scientist population but I thought it a really interesting distinction. For me, the two (belief in god and an afterlife) are inextricably linked but clearly not the same for everyone.

I think it's complete codswallop but for that very reason, I'd be interested in having a reading, just to see what nonsense they come out with.

I've been to a few when I was younger and they were all just making stuff up and yes I think it is codswallop.

I haven't been to one, and I am sure a lot are just a con...however I do believe in the afterlife and don't see any reason why some people shouldn't be able to contact them. I have seen my grandad's ghost, which for me is evidence that he is still about somewhere.

My Nan as a young girl saw a medium who told her that she would have her children far apart (my Dad is 14 years younger than his siblings), and that she would live to 95 (she did). Might be coincidence but I like to believe it!

This horrid specimen bugs the life out of me:

http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/2011/11/refusing-to-take-test-tv-medium-sally.html

Agreed. Also, why oh why is there a page of every magazine dedicated to horoscopes?

I agree with this whole heartedly.

This is worth reading up on before you decide to hand over any money to a "medium"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_reading

I love horoscopes, but then I just read them all and pick the one I like best ?

I think it's codswallop, despite having a late grandmother who would have bet her life savings on there being something in it.

Ultimately, regardless of your position on science v faith, I'm a firm believer in that those who we love but are no longer with us live on in us. You can feel their presence, not in a 'wooooooo, I'm your spiritual guide' kinda way but in the decisions you make that are linked to their influence when they were alive. You dad can remain with you as much a you want or need him to in this way. I'd rather you spent your medium fee on doing something nice for you that would have made your dad smile.

I am definately one of these "scientists" I think your energy goes somewhere but I do not believe in god/heaven etc

Awww bless you thank you that's lovely. [:'(] I have never really thought of it like that, very insightful. A much healthier way to feel I think too.

Xx

I believe there is something after we die, but I don't believe in a God or heaven as such. I don't think its just that their organs are no longer working.

In my job I've been with countless people as they passed and it appears to be so much more than just their hearts and breathing stopped, something else left them in a matter of seconds. Its as if the real person went and they just left their coat behind.

As for mediums, there's too many cranks out there to risk wasting your money

I occasionally (haven't been for over 6 months though) attend a spiritualist church and they have a medium who will provide take the service and offer reading to the audience.

I first went there because I was intrigued by it all and wanted to see what it is about. To be honest I have seen some shocking mediums who very much depict what you have all identified - they use generic information and get people to give them information without knowing they are doing it. BUT after going there a few times (mainly because it was something me and my mum could do together that made us both feel calm and relaxed - there was a lovely atmosphere in the church) - I received a message for someone.... he gave me what I had only ever mentally asked for, a word that would let me know it was him. I'm not here to convince anyone else that the afterlife exists, nor that mediums are a worthwhile service to use (I could do better than some of the people I've seen!!) but I have had my proof and am content with that.

I spent many years looking after dying people and have been present at the moment of death for a few and I am without a doubt that we are more than just flesh and bone.

Trixylou - if you still feel that you would be interested in exploring mediumship you may be able to do it without any cost if there is a spiritualist church near you (just an idea!).