Diskeptics vs. Believers

The following are typical diskeptic (scientific skeptic rather than just skeptic) comments and my rebuttal.

Believer: That's like saying: If a F/X special effects technician can replicate blood than blood can not exist.

Diskeptic: Prove to us that what you do works.

Believer: Proving to others is a shadow activity. It’s better to receive validation internally.

Diskeptic: I don’t believe in psychic powers.

Believer: Neither do I. We all have power that many have taken away from them. Power is a self possessing ability that everyone has.

Diskeptic: I don’t believe psychics are gifted.

Believer: I believe psychics have a gift but then so does everyone else that does something well or different from the majority. In other words, everyone has a gift.  Everyone is talented.

Diskeptic: Psychics are scam artists.

Believer #1: While there are people out there who scam others, it can happen in every profession. What’s important here is to be self-responsible and put these people out of business. Be more skeptical and discerning and understand what your needs and desires are. If it’s too good to be true and you don’t need to work for your desire, than it’s probably a scam.

Believer #2: There’s not much credibility in that statement since a lot of de-bunkers are magicians who are scamming and tricking people on a regular basis.

Diskeptic: Believe includes the word “lie”.

Believer: This is an etymology issue. Up until the 17th century, “Beleeve” was the common spelling. This basically meant to be in like, love, or desire.  Then during the scientific revolution, everything that couldn't be tested by the scientific method was removed.  Did you know that mathematics predecessor was numerology, chemistry was alchemy, psychology was tarot and I-Ching, dermatoglyphics was palmistry, and so on...?  So the change in word from beleeve to believe suited the changes of outlook during the time from belief to science.

Diskeptic: If they were truly psychic they shouldn’t charge for what they do..

Believer: What psychics do is energetically demanding. Also if they were doing something else for money, they may not have the time, energy, or ability to read for others on a professional basis anyway. And it’s senseless to me to tell someone to work at something they may be less capable of doing just because you say they shouldn’t charge for their so called “gift”. That means a lot of people shouldn’t be charge for the fine services they offer. *senseless*  Or maybe those that make this statement are frustrated because they are unable to afford a psychic and don't want to work towards being able to either!

Diskeptic: Psychics use cold reading.

Believer: So do normal people. Using cold reading is looking at someone and making judgements about that person. When a psychic makes these judgements it’s often much more than an average person would make which is what makes them so fascinating. For example: Face reading is a form of cold reading that tells a lot about the person that much of the population is not consciously aware of nor would they be able to professionally talk to someone about their findings either. Also most professional psychics do not use cold reading as their sole form of divination or insights.

Diskeptic: Psychics use general statements that apply to everyone.

Believer: General statements apply to most everyone because most everyone experiences the same common experience. However, if you are a professional psychic you are going to say some very specific things related to the past, present (rather than just the past), or knowable future that only applies to the person you are reading for. Further to this, I'm just an Interpretor.  I get a lot of messages and information coming through and if I had a framework to express them in than it won't be as general.  That's why questions (with little background) are helpful to a psychic.  So if you are asking about your child and the psychic sees yellow, the psychic may interpret that (depending on what they attribute to the colour yellow) as "your child is happy and play is all they have on their mind".  And then when a toy comes in and starts taking shape of a truck, the psychic might say:  "you child likes working with his hands, does he have lego or mechano set?  He could grow up to be an engineer or inventor." Also general paper horoscopes are not specific to an individual but rather a group of people. It’s a horoscope for a sun sign but not an individual so it may or may not apply.

Diskeptic: Psychic ability or tool use is not a science.

Believer: The information possessed is coming from ancient wisdom and heightened conscious ability. If we are to consider the dictionary definition of “science” (the study of the natural world, a branch of knowledge using objectivity and involving observation and experimentation, etc.) to be true, then psychic ability and tools such as tarot, astrology, and numerology is a science that was honed by the ancient peoples of the world.

Diskeptic: A psychic shouldn’t charge until predictions have come true.

Believer#1: Predictions are not the only reason to go to a psychic.

Believer#2: What are the chances that someone is going to come back years later to pay the psychic or even remember that the psychic made the prediction that came true?

Believer#3: Freewill or Godwill can affect a prediction. A prediction is based on the past and present conditions to divine the future. It may or may not come true, and sometimes that’s a great thing! Consider weather and sports forecasters.