Archive for the ‘Psychology’ Category.
29th June 2008, 11:23 pm
By Peter Booth
Article ID: 1235
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Mentalism is a form of performance magic that simulates the paranormal, most commonly mind-reading, predicting the future and psychokinesis. Magicians get involved in skepticism because much of the time the so-called real psychics are doing very standard magic tricks. But what makes the difference between appearing to be a magician and appearing to be the real deal? Here I present a few rules for any half-decent magicians who would like to throw away their morals, break all the mirrors in their houses so they don’t have to look at themselves anymore, and most importantly, start making some real money by making the jump to pseudo-miracle worker. Being a cold reader, for example, has an excellent profit margin! Think of it this way: you can charge the same prices per ticket as David Copperfield, or a world-famous rock band, and you don’t even have all that heavy stuff to carry around! It’s just you on a stage. That’s profit!
Continue reading ‘Psychic stagecraft: how to change from magician to miracle worker’ »
29th May 2008, 09:59 pm
By ScienceReasonRationality.blogspot.com
Article ID: 1228
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Do you want to learn how to knock out an opponent without touching them? How about learning the art of fighting ghosts with the power of “The Force“? Well, here’s your chance! Japan’s Yanagi Ryuken can teach you now. He holds a 10th degree black belt in five traditional martial arts, and his system is based on martial arts like Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu and spiritual paths like Qigong. Yanagi Ryuken supposedly won over 200 Vale Tudo competitions (these are “anything goes” fights, involving unarmed combat and minimal rules). According to the author of the video below, you need 500,000 yen (about $5,000 USD) in order to get a chance to fight with Yanagi Ryuken. However, if you win the fight, Yanagi Ryuken will pay you back double: 1,000,000 yen ($10,000 USD)! Good deal, right?
Continue reading ‘The “Bullshido” of martial arts and no-touch knockouts’ »
6th May 2008, 07:39 am
By ScienceReasonRationality.blogspot.com
Article ID: 1223
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It’s been almost ten years since my last supernatural nightmare experience. The last one I’ve had was way back in my late 20’s. This is because I’ve learned a little secret on how to get rid of such nightmares, once and for all. Let me share with you what led to my enlightenment.
Continue reading ‘Supernatural Nightmare Experiences and the Illusion of Prayer’ »
21st April 2008, 11:38 pm
By ScienceReasonRationality.blogspot.com
Article ID: 1221
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Have you ever wondered why only a select few get a “revelation” from God, a ghost, an alien or an angel, and the rest of us do not? Why is it these entities choose just a select few out of billions to receive such “revelations”? Why were you not included? Was it because you weren’t at the right place at the right time? Was it because you and the rest of us are not good or special or “holy” enough? What other excuses will you give in order to rationalize an irrational claim?
Continue reading ‘Religious revelations are religious delusions’ »
20th April 2008, 12:09 pm
By Rodrigo Neely
Article ID: 1220
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As skeptics, we seek to promote science, scientific thinking, scientific fact and reason. These wonderful nouns have historically sprung from one place above all: universities. Universities can be referred to collectively as “the academy.”
Continue reading ‘Universities and academies fail to teach scientific thought and rationality’ »
1st April 2008, 08:59 pm
By ScienceReasonRationality.blogspot.com
Article ID: 1216
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You’re probably a religious person, or you have some form of a belief system. After much personal research and experience, you are now also convinced by the arguments presented by the skeptics and the atheists. You have somewhat come to realize that the skeptics and the atheists do have valid and strong points for their case and they are not just some ignorant people creating excuses to “sin”.
Continue reading ‘What If You’re Wrong?’ »
31st March 2008, 08:16 pm
Article ID: 1215
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Skepticism is a philosophical commitment to doubt. However, to doubt without end is of no use.
Committed skeptics include Harry Houdini, Penn and Teller, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, James Randi, Christopher Hitchens, and many other intellectual giants.
Continue reading ‘Punk skepticism: A perfect mix of skeptic and rebel’ »
25th March 2008, 06:51 pm
By ScienceReasonRationality.blogspot.com
Article ID: 1214
“What do I do when I see a ghost, feel the presence of a spirit, or make contact with an angel, demon, alien, Jesus, God or anything else?”
Continue reading ‘Faith versus the scientific method’ »
15th March 2008, 10:16 pm
By ScienceReasonRationality.blogspot.com
Article ID: 1211
Let’s go back through time. Remember when you were a child, when your parents or guardians introduced you to a certain belief system. Do you remember your reaction? Was there no reaction at all? It probably seemed like another daily lesson or some kind of extra education from the adults.
Continue reading ‘Tradition supports religion and unhealthy trust in authority’ »
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