Many would say Spiritualism is all smoke and mirrors and desperate people; but, so too would many describe Christianity, Islam, Paganism, Buddhism and all the rest in far from flattering terms as well. The critics may be atheists or they may simply be involved with opposing groups. All religions and spiritual beliefs have their saints and sinners, their gullible and vulnerable, their bullies and their predators; every human being is capable of acting like… a human being.
Whatever we may think of Spiritualism, if the government’s intention is to tackle charlatanism within the Spiritualist and so-called New Age communities, it wades into dangerous, inconsistent, ill-thought-out and hypocritical waters yet again. Christianity and Islam have their share of faith healers, as do most other religions and spiritual beliefs. And you can’t prove faith—that’s what faith is, belief without quantifiable evidence to justify the belief, only personal conviction. Faith healing is arguably always going to be impossible to prove the efficacy of.
This law must be stopped. Would I be able to sue the Catholic Church if it proved itself unable to provide me with absolute proof not only of Jesus Christ’s historical existence, but his resurrection as well? Because, surely, advocating salvation if we believe is to peddle a kind of healing? Could someone sue me if I refused to wave a wand and rustle them up some magic sparks and maybe a rabbit or two? Might I land in court if I were unable to produce on demand the Peacock God* in all His splendour?
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Crazy eh! I think it is ok to insure “hired psychics” use a disclaimer such as “for entertainment purposes only” but to go after an entire religion? Here in Canada they ask for no more than any other church such as a collection box etc. How does one prove what they believe? It is unfortunate that so many charlatans have spoiled the public’s view, but is that not true of all major religions. Good though provoking post as always