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Uncategorized Tuesday, May 17th 2011 at 9:00 am

Stephen Hawking: Heaven Is a “Fairy Story”

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Physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking may believe in extraterrestrial intelligence and the theoretical possibility of time travel, but for him, the notion of life after death is a fiction too fanciful to accept.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Hawking referred to heaven as a “fairy story” and spoke in support of a humanist ethic that emphasizes making the most of our time on Earth rather than the promise of a hereafter.

Hawking:

I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I’m not afraid of death, but I’m in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first… I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.

In the interview, Hawking also lobbed this profound mindbender: “Science predicts that many different kinds of universe will be spontaneously created out of nothing. It is a matter of chance which we are in.”

(Guardian via Doc Searls)

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  • Me.

    In March I received a call from my Aunt in Texas. The remaining members of my family, my brother and I, had not spoken to her in 10 years. My Aunt told me she was compelled to call because she had a visit to a Medium in which my Mother and Daughter came through and were adamant that she (my aunt) contact me and tell me how proud they were of me for taking up piano as this was very healing for me, having lost my daughter. I was never a musical person so taking up an instrument would be a ‘bad guess’ for a phony Medium, especially since she did not know me, or my mother or my daughter. She would have to take a massive gamble and throw all these unlikely pieces together and hope beyond hope she was ‘right’ and live to fool another day. Anyone out there want to quit their day job and take up that occupation? I don’t believe the all knowing Stephen Hawking would last an hour before being found out to be a fake and being punched in the face because of it.

    Was the medium right? Did I take up Piano in January? What do you think and why? Why would a medium provide information that my Aunt would not even know? And so specific with no room for error with so many opportunities for her guess to go array. Apparantly this lady has been providing improbable information and been making a living at it for over 30 years. 
    Either her intellect is far greater than Mr, Hawking’s or she can do what she claims she can do – communicate with energies that have left the earth and provide comfort to their loved ones of there continued existance. Either way, she is brighter than Mr. Hawking. She has found a way to deceive in a way that he never could, or she’s brighter in knowing that that life carries on which he has yet to figure out.

    So, could she be right that I am now playing piano?  Check out ‘Solitude in E Minor’.
    Check out Jennifer farmer while you’re at it.    

      

  • Me.

    In March I received a call from my Aunt in Texas. The remaining members of my family, my brother and I, had not spoken to her in 10 years. My Aunt told me she was compelled to call because she had a visit to a Medium in which my Mother and Daughter came through and were adamant that she (my aunt) contact me and tell me how proud they were of me for taking up piano as this was very healing for me, having lost my daughter. I was never a musical person so taking up an instrument would be a ‘bad guess’ for a phony Medium, especially since she did not know me, or my mother or my daughter. She would have to take a massive gamble and throw all these unlikely pieces together and hope beyond hope she was ‘right’ and live to fool another day. Anyone out there want to quit their day job and take up that occupation? I don’t believe the all knowing Stephen Hawking would last an hour before being found out to be a fake and being punched in the face because of it.

    Was the medium right? Did I take up Piano in January? What do you think and why? Why would a medium provide information that my Aunt would not even know? And so specific with no room for error with so many opportunities for her guess to go array. Apparantly this lady has been providing improbable information and been making a living at it for over 30 years. 
    Either her intellect is far greater than Mr, Hawking’s or she can do what she claims she can do – communicate with energies that have left the earth and provide comfort to their loved ones of there continued existance. Either way, she is brighter than Mr. Hawking. She has found a way to deceive in a way that he never could, or she’s brighter in knowing that that life carries on which he has yet to figure out.

    So, could she be right that I am now playing piano?  Check out ‘Solitude in E Minor’.
    Check out Jennifer farmer while you’re at it.    

      

  • Me.

    In March I received a call from my Aunt in Texas. The remaining members of my family, my brother and I, had not spoken to her in 10 years. My Aunt told me she was compelled to call because she had a visit to a Medium in which my Mother and Daughter came through and were adamant that she (my aunt) contact me and tell me how proud they were of me for taking up piano as this was very healing for me, having lost my daughter. I was never a musical person so taking up an instrument would be a ‘bad guess’ for a phony Medium, especially since she did not know me, or my mother or my daughter. She would have to take a massive gamble and throw all these unlikely pieces together and hope beyond hope she was ‘right’ and live to fool another day. Anyone out there want to quit their day job and take up that occupation? I don’t believe the all knowing Stephen Hawking would last an hour before being found out to be a fake and being punched in the face because of it.

    Was the medium right? Did I take up Piano in January? What do you think and why? Why would a medium provide information that my Aunt would not even know? And so specific with no room for error with so many opportunities for her guess to go array. Apparantly this lady has been providing improbable information and been making a living at it for over 30 years. 
    Either her intellect is far greater than Mr, Hawking’s or she can do what she claims she can do – communicate with energies that have left the earth and provide comfort to their loved ones of there continued existance. Either way, she is brighter than Mr. Hawking. She has found a way to deceive in a way that he never could, or she’s brighter in knowing that that life carries on which he has yet to figure out.

    So, could she be right that I am now playing piano?  Check out ‘Solitude in E Minor’.
    Check out Jennifer farmer while you’re at it.    

      

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob

     Mediums are frauds.  You were scammed out of your money.

  • http://twitter.com/PestControlCtr Pest Control Center

    I find it fascinating that Dr. Hawking can’t fathom the idea of a creator and an afterlife, yet he can accept the fantasy that scientists engage in when they predict that entire universes being born out of nothing.  It’s completely illogical.

  • Me.

    Rob, what money? I did not see the Medium, my Aunt did. Please tell me how she could have been right? She did not know of me, nor my Mother, nor my Daughter, nor that i began playing piano 2 months before I received the call from my Aunt who only called at the pleading from my ‘dead’ mother. Why would the medium take such a risk and tell my Aunt information my Aunt would have to ‘research’ to find out was true. 

    The only frauds are those who believe they have all the answers and therefore see no reason to look at all the presenting evidence. You are a bonehead, and so is hawking.

  • Me.

    Yup, there can exist nothing greater than Man. It’s time Humans kept their over-inflated intellectual ego’s in check and began to understand that we are but one species, no greater or more important than any other. We are a part of, and not seperate from the the spark of creation that gave us life. We have an obligation to see oursees in this light so we can truely appreciate creation and all the potential possibilities and probable outcomes that we have been given and opportunity to explore – with gratitude and humility and for the greater good of all life, not just our own. Hawkings cannot see this. Doesn’t even come close. Cannot see that everything that does exist has always had the potential to exist, even well before the Big Bang. The potential reality of Man flying to the Moon did not begin when Man 1st walked the Earth. It began before the Earth was born; before the Universe came into existance. It had to have, or it could never have happened. And where does this ‘potential’ exist? Where all potential exists – in the Mind of its creator, whether that creator be God, or one of God’s creations like man.

    To believe this is true one would have to believe in something that is impossible to prove – the ‘MIND’.  We cannot prove the existance of the mind because we cannot see the mind, touch the mind, smell the mind, yet no one will deny the existance of the mind.
    Not such a stretch when you think about it.

    No Stephen, I do not believe in continual life because I am afraid of death. Time for you to ge back to school. 

  • Me.

    If Hawking thinks people only believe in heaven because they are afraid of death, then his simple mind may have concluded there is no God because God made him a cripple. He might just be peeved at God so he needed to make him go away. Based on his juvenile logic I cannot rule out it is as simple as that.  

  • Muhammad Aiyoob

    I believe that last messenger of God Muhammad’s (pbuh)cousin and fellow Ali (RAa), said true, that when knowledge exceeded the granted wisdom and conscious, the brain of man flip (turn over), then he speak crazily, same is with Mr. Howking, a disappointed man, which is paralized since the last many years, have lost his hope. May be he didn’t read the Holy Quran of Islam. which proved many scientific facts in this era…while it was revealed 1400 years back. and many doctors, scientists, physicists were amazed after reading its marvellous verses. some of them converted to Islam. http://www.islamtomorrow.com 

  • Muhammad Aiyoob

    Its my humble request to Mr. Howking please watch these clips, just for knowledge, may be your belief will come back over Creator of the worlds, and towards life after death. [Holy] Quran : Top Scientists Comments on Scientific http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=miracles+of+quran&aq=f
    Miracles in the Quran * # Faith and Science # 

    christian scientist and embryologist confirm Quran is true!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOYpjZywUPA&feature=related

  • Muhammad Aiyoob

     If Mr. Howking needs more evidences, then please visit Dr. Ian Weber from UK converts to Islam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA3wcKYcTfw&feature=grec_index
    Dr.Maurice Bucaille (France) ( why i’m muslim) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zs6z6E_Oik. my mail muhdayub_60@yahoo.com 

  • Anonymous

    In these comments…

    Massive amounts of theological fail.

  • Dirkr

    You’re assumption is proposterous.  The medium simply read body signals from your aunt.  Also, you didn’t hear what the medium said.  You got the information second hand through your very impressionable aunt!!  Now, don’t be a fool. 

  • Me

    Nope, that’s not it Dirky ol boy.

    I had a 10 year falling out with my Aunt previous to her call. She knew nothing of my doings for 10 years. All information about me was provided to her by the Medium whom I did not know existed. She did not know I existed, let alone my Mother and Daughter had passed away nor that I took up piano 2 months before which is the message mommy dearest conveyed to medium and onwards to a bewildered Aunt who tracked down my number; called me and then found out about my about my extraordinary piano playing abilities I had discovered’just’ months before. 

    So dufuss, what ‘body language’ could the Medium have picked up on that my Aunt was showing her that told her such detailed information that my Aunt was oblivious to?

    Why are you so opposed to believing the most obvious and logical answer to what really happened? Why do you look for alternative explanations that are less plausible and that you have zero proof or evidence for them?

    Why do you not apply your own skepticism to your own explanations before tossing them out as a desperate ‘Hail Mary’ and stand beside them with such condesending arrogance? I have had it with you and the likes of you. Ignorant, stupid, arrogant, condescending to the very end.

    Open your eyes dimwit. No need to be ‘fraid. There is no Boogey Man at work here. It’s ok if we are just a small part of a very big life force far greater than we are able to understand. be strong, wimp.

    Big deal if there is an afterlife. Why does that frighten you so much? Big deal if there is God. So what? So Man is not the greatest thing in the universe. I know this terrifies a lot of people but we need to learn to step back in line and take our humble little place in the universe. The time of repulsive self-congratulatory master’s of the universe thinking are long gone. Far too much evidence in existance and growing in leaps and bounds everyday that that demonstrate we are in for a far greater ride than we can ever imagine.

    So get over yourself. There’s greatness out there, but it is not Man. I have no problem with that, but you do. Why? You have to bury your head real deep in the sand to believe your “Hail Mary’s' for most ‘skeptics’ responses are increaingly lacking and realy embarrassing if you want the truth.

    Grow up. Man is not God. The Sun does not revolve around his ego. Swallow a big dose of humility and open your eyes to the wonders of possibilities. In short, stop being such a dork.

     

      

  • Me

    Thanks for providing point by point clarity to support your claim, or should we just take your almighty opinion on ‘faith’?

    Do you expect us just to ‘believe? you. If so, then we should expect you to take our word that there is a God. Is this acceptable to you?

    Everything that does exist has ALWAYS had the potential to exist, as this potential lies outside time and space. The potential for Man to fly to the Moon was present before Man walked the Earth.

    The potential for there to be an Earth for man to walk on was present before there was a Milky Way. This had to be or the potentail that existed could never have been realized.

    Can a Monkey build a rocket and fly to the Moon by its own intelligence or by chance? Would you bet on it?  Why could a Monkey not fly to the Moon – even by chance?

    Could man fly to the Moon by chance – or by the intellectual potential that exists in his brain and mind.

    The fact is that nothing can happen unless there is the potential for it to happen. Man can fly to the moon because man has the potential to do so and a monkey does not.

    Man could never have walked the Earth unless there was the potential for man to walk the earth and this potential lie within the mind as well.

    To believe this all one has to de is believe in the existance of the mind. Do you believe in the existance of the mind? Can you prove the existance of the mind? Can you show me a mind? Can you photograph it? Can you touch it? If not, why do you believe in it?

    What are the limitations of the mind? trapped in the body? Lots of evidence says no. personal experiences in NDE’s have conclusively proven to individuals that there is life after death and there is a God, and there is nothing you can do or say that will sway them fromwhat they KNOW to be true.

    And where does this alternative MIND reality exist? Outside of time and space. Precisely where the Mind of the creator would have to reside with all of its incrediable potential to create all things (and manifest through the joyful explosion called the Big Bang) and yes, through evolution (which is God composing – finding the ‘right notes’  for the composition to match the circumstance).

    So that’s why things are the way they are. That’s why there’s evolution. That’s why there is a Universe. That’s why there is life after death. That why there is and always will be.

    Man sees himself seperate from everything else. Wrong! Man is a part of everything else but with an ego too big to see it that way. That’s why people like you cannot see God. That’s why Hawking cannot see God. Life is not meant to be a secret. Life is simplicity made difficult because Man will not accept reality because it is not the reality he wants to see.

    Our biggest mistake is to expect scientists to decide whther or not God exists. Scientists are the last people we should turn to to determine this profound truth, for they have the biggest, self-congratulatory egos of all which represents the polar opposite of what God is.

    God created man in His own image, then man created God in his own image. No wonder people like you are bloody confused.

    If you want proof of God, do not ask a Scientist. Hawking has no clue. If you want proof, look at your dog. Your dog will jot win any Nobel Prizes, but will place 1st when it comes to loyalty and  unconditional love, No wonder Dog is God spelled backwards. They are one and the same.

     

  • Anonymous

    tl;dr

    umad?

  • Mcvagina

    i liked the bit about god being dog, very insightful

  • Bungle

     What are your credentials again? I’d like to see your thesis refuting Hawkings claim.

  • Me

    What claim? That I am afraid of the dark? That I believe in continual life because I am afraid to die? For that is the claim hawkings is making. Where are his credentials to show that he can read into the mind of every single person who believes in an afterlife of which there are Billions, and state that every last one of them without exception believe in heaven because they are afraid of the dark – because they are afraid to die and for no other reason than that. Now’s the time to distance yourself from this twit because as any dimwit knows making vast broad generalizations about anything is the argument of fools.

    I was shocked by his statement as i was expecting so much more. Instead, he has shown himself to ne mere mortal with his immature generalization and appeared to have a bone to pick with those of opposing views. His argument was childish. His emotional development was no doubt stunted due to lack of opportunity for social opportunities in early life. His parents may have over-compensated for this by spoiling him, I do not know.
    I just know that his statement was juvenile and shocking and not in the least bit thought provoking.

    BTW, if I wanted to have the question answered as to whether there is a God or not, I would not ask a scientist. They would deny God even if the Almighty himself came down and slapped Hawing in the face.  

  • Me

    Hawking sounds like he has a bone to pick with people who do not share his world view. He os not the best one to answer whether or not there is a Heaven. He is entitled to his opinion, but he basically unilateraly declared there is no such thing and if anybody does believe in heaven it’s because they are afraid of the dark.

    A scientist is not best to solve the mystery of whether or not God exists. God exists outside time and space and science cannot physically prove the existance of a non-physical reality.

    God is mind, and we know that mind exists. It does not take a tremendous leap of faith to believe in God.

    Mr Hawking should make some enquiries in other disciplines that has done a great amount of research into this topic which obviously Mr. Hawking feels is not worthy of reviewing.

    Unfortunateyl, his reputation will take a big hit by making this declaration and in such a way that it comes across as immature and childish. But if these are his true colors then maybe its best. He obviously is not brilliant across the intellectual and social spectrum, and he would be well advised to stick to what he knows and tread more carefully in realms that are beyond his area of expertice.

  • prajwal ganorkar

    steaphen hawkins is the geneast scientist.i want to be like him in my future.
       

  • You.

    why was your aunt on the phone instead of making sandwiches? this all seems highly suspicious…

  • God

     I am God. I command you to stop talking shit

  • Me

    Stephen Hawking makes silly childish generalizations and his followeres follow suit in their defense of him. This is what it means to be an Atheist. Ignorant, arrogant, condescending and childish. Given this, it is very likely that Hawking is peeved at Gog for making him a pudge faced cripple. I have to conclude it can be as simple as that. He’s peeved at God so he has to make him go away. It’s personal and Mr. Hawking is having a tantrum. Look out folks, little Stevie is angie. “Heaven is a Fairy Tail and people who believe in it are afraid of the dark. They are afraid to die”. Brilliant! Genious!  Donate this man’s brain to science and do it today before it deteriorates any further.

  • Me

    Dirkr, your silence is baffling. You made a claim you were absolutely certain was true because you are a condescending dick but your claim was ignorant and void of the facts. Get the stick out of your butt because it is obviously impeding your ability to generate rational thought. 

  • Me

    It’s not shit that hawkings is peeved at God because God made him a pudge faced cripple. Little stevie is angie. That’s not shit. That’s pathetic.

  • Me

    It’s not shit that hawkings is peeved at God because God made him a pudge faced cripple. Little stevie is angie. That’s not shit. That’s pathetic.

  • Me, not you.

    Who to believe – Hawkings or Jesus Christ? Who is more famous? Who will continue to be more famous? Why will Christ continue to be more famous than a brainiac? Because intelligence and wisedom do not go hand in hand. stevie is smart, but not wise. Those who live on in name and are most revered are the wise ones, of which little angie stevie is not one, although stating that “people who believe in heaven are afraid of the dark” is right up there with “do unto others” (lol).
    Oh stevie, you need to know when to keep that talking board quiet. 

  • Anonymous

     He can fathom it, he just doesn’t believe it because of a laughable lack of evidence. Scientists actually have a surprisingly large amount of evidence for things that seem impossible to those who don’t understand them, like multiverse theory. You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.

  • Bungle

    I’m sorry, you are scholar indeed and this comment you have provided me will go down in history alongside some of the great works like ‘A Brief History of Time’.

    We will remember this momentous occasion and if everyone upon this comment board could take note ready to provide the relevant references then rest assured your place within whichever academic institution you deem worthy of your advanced intellect is safely secured.

    Forget black holes, the real truth lies within the miraculous words you have provided me.

  • Anonymous

     His brain already belongs to science. Any “generalizations” can be summarized thusly: Religion makes extraordinary claims without providing similarly extraordinary evidence. It is therefore probably false. If you’d like to disprove that, I and all other atheists are all ears.

  • Anonymous

     Who to believe – someone who you can see or someone who is only referenced in a single, millenia-old book that cites not only no credible resources but none at all?

  • Bungle

    If this was a major Hollywood picture about someone ‘overcoming all odds’ when faced with life as a cripple after they ‘find god’ you’d be all ears but when told your a wimp because you can’t comprehend death, (which is what all evolved species should be able to do by now), you attack him.
    Who’s going to remember you anyway, an anonymous poster and who’s going to remember Mr Hawking…?

  • Psychic Medium Scammer

    Thanks for your money douchebag.

  • Bobby

    People are only upset with the fact that they believe in God and someone out there does not. They are upset because he believes in something different than them. They are upset because he has the ability to question ones beliefs. They cannot accept another persons opinions or beliefs because they are all crazy Jesus freaks. I am not quite sure, but for some reason a good portion of these Jesus freaks are all trying to force their beliefs on other people. I think that believing that we are all here today because someone with super powers put us here is just completely ridiculous. And I think that having an afterlife in Heaven or Hell is ridiculous as well. And scientists have proven and found that a small part of human DNA comes from space. And I think that all plays a part in where we come from and how we got here. I agree with Stephen Hawking, regardless on whether or not he is right. Because I don’t know how it would be possible for anything to happen to you after death. I read a comment that said something like it would be more logical to say that God is the reason why we are here today and they said it is illogical that we came from nothing. I do not believe we came from purely nothing. But I still I feel as if it is more illogical to say that God exists and created us than to say that we are here because of evolution. You can prove a lot more in terms of science than you can religion. I also saw that someone stated that “Stephen Hawking makes silly childish generalizations and his followers follow suit in their defense of him.” Alright, now normally I would not say this because I have the ability to accept opinions whether I believe them or not, but that person is an idiot. What is more childish, saying that there is no life after death or that magic and God exist? I do not think that I need to say anything further to prove that guy wrong. Now look people, I am not one of those people that think God completely does not exist and that is that. I have said my whole life, I do not know what to believe and if proof of God ever turns up, I will believe. But until then, it is more logical that science explains everything. And that’s what I stick with because I believe life is more simple than religion. Religion only exists to “explain” the unexplained. I do not call myself Atheist or really anything at all, just because there is no 100% solid proof on either side. I avoid religion all together the best I can. I’m not trying to have a conflict and get people stirred up. This is my opinion and I’m not forcing it on anyone, like most people are doing in the comments, all I am doing is stating the opinion. So now, I just want to say that if anyone wants to tear in at me about any of this they should not even bother because chances are it is going to be someone without any evidence to prove me right or wrong. And if you do comment telling me I am wrong or that I am right, then that is just stupid because neither side can be proved. But if anyone wants to discuss opinion rather than argue and try to say who is right and who is wrong, then they should feel free to do so.

  • Anonymous

    PHILOSOPHIA PERENNIS.

    The Old Lady’s TORTOISE (Hinduism)
    and DRAGON (Taoism) are symbols for
    WAVE (energy), both are analog with MAGEN
    DAVID (Judaism). “Snow White and
    the Seven Dwarfs” is the metaphor, and also similar with allegory of
    rituals Thawaf circling around the
    Ka’ba and Sa’i oscillating along “the
    sinus” Marwah-Shafa (seven times) during
    the Hajj pilgrimage (Abraham). CROSS (Christian) and SWASTIKA (Buddhism) are symbols for “Balance of
    Nature.”

    “A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME – From the Big Bang to Black
    Hole” by Stephen W. Hawking is the best scientific interpretation of AL
    QUR’AN by a non believer. It is a “test case” and also a “genuine bridge stone”
    for comprehensive study of Theology. Surprise, this paradox is a miracle and
    blessing in disguise as well. It should be very wise and challenging for Moslem
    scholars and others to verify my discovery, for then we should know the Mind of GOD.

    I am just “ordinary people,” so would you mind correcting my point
    of view. Thank you.

    Please, see pictures:
    http://neosufi-tato.blogspot.com

  • schmetterling

    Your grammar is appalling – call yourself an intellect – bird brain

  • Anonymous

    Apart from a few minor inflections the grammar looks fine to me… what a typical non-existent comment from someone who has no argument.

  • No

    Learn to paraphrase your ideas you dumb long winded bastard!

  • Noone

    This story smells.  Someone who obviously wants to believe in mediums is telling a story ‘proving’ that at least one of them could be right in at least one case. 

  • T Vocke

    Youre story is very compelling, but I must say I find it funny that you talk about proof and evidence. If there is one thing that your story does not contain it is proof. I dont know this for sure, but I’m guessing a tape or recording of the medium, with a verifiable date, and proof of the fallout with your Aunt for instance doesnt exist.

    It does not really matter because if you want to believe this, that is your right and Im in no possition to judge. But since the existence of God or the afterlife cannot be proven, and the stories of them are based on a book written by man, translated numerous times, I would say an explanation for your story as “She guessed it right” would be just as probable.

    If you believe in the explanation that God or some other force was responsible, that is fine. But you have to admit that it is not unreasonable for people to choose not to believe this.

    The way I see it Stephen Hawkin has provided numerous proofs for many of his theories, and has provided us with a greater understanding of the world around us. Since we do not yet fully understand everything around us, there is no way for us to prove that there is or is no afterlife. That makes Stephen’s guess about the afterlife as good a guess as any, and I see no reason why you should try to fight this statement with a none verifiable story, explaining it with a non verifiable force or power, and then get angry when people dont share youre views. At least prof.Hawking is working towards finding out what is really going on.

    Best Regards,

    Tom

  • Pilin

    I know it’s been a while since this discussion took place, but it just seems that you got really riled up about a relatively simple matter: beliefs that are different from yours.

    I’m a very proud and arrogant skeptic myself, but even I can relate to what you’re saying, about Man’s arrogance and some greatness in the world, all those things…

    Perhaps Dirkr’s failure in this debate stems from 1) not paying attention to the story you told and 2) keeping his replies way too short and under-elaborated.

    Regarding mediums and most other supernatural phenomena, I’ve always been perplexed about how they work, and what possible explanations they might have.

    To me, most mediums and psychics are like magicians. You kinda know from the beginning that it’s deception, but unless someone makes you privy to the trick or you have previous knowledge of similar tricks, you’re simply not going to figure it out on your own. While you can’t figure the trick out, you’re amazed and excited and allow yourself to believe all sorts of mystical things, and that’s really cool.

    This is the feeling that gives mediums and magicians credibility, and bring people back to the business months, weeks, or days later. Magic can be a very elaborate art to perform, and so can be some hoaxes.

    I admit that I’m only a small human, and there are many things that I will never understand about the universe, but one thing I know for sure, is that many mediums and psychics are frauds. Note that I’m not saying that you or your aunt are particularly gullible; you might have actually benefited from a sort of ghostly communication, but I gotta say there ARE ways to scam people out of money with this sort of thing.

    Since you are obviously an internet user, you probably know that there is a lot of information that can be acquired online. Even the most careful users leave some evidence of their lives, evidence that can be found, tracked and hacked. Even if you had somehow covered your every track, there are also countless ways to acquire information offline.

    I guess the whole point is that… If us skeptics are supposed to keep open minds about mystical things (and I do, I really, really do), then mystics should also keep an open mind to the things that skepticism proposes.

    It comes down to a matter of logic, really. Saying that all mediums are frauds would be too simple and wrong. The correct statement is that SOME mediums are frauds (this is a fact), and that people should not instantly believe everything a psychic tells them, because, well… they COULD be a fraud.

    To wrap this up, I just want to suggest that MAYBE, POSSIBLY, your aunt’s medium could have learned things about you during your estrangement, and hinted at those things during a session with her medium. The medium herself could have obtained that information through other means, or there could even be a person that is relatively close to you that is leaking information to the psychic for a cut.

    Just saying.

  • B945ww

    Oh yes Stephen hawking must be right because he’s just about the smartest person on earth. Ironic how he spends his life in a scientific profession that theorizes & postulates indeed one that dares to consider the seemingly impossible. Event horizons astro physics and ostensibly events that occur billions of light years away. Theory that probably will never be explained having faith in that but cant comprehend the seemingly impossible events that take place in the bible. THAT to me takes infinitely more faith than the existence of heaven or an afterlife. Yes when the brain (or computer if you will) fails to operate or deteriorates there is no way that we know to fix it but faith isnt about the brain (dogs have brains) its sbout the soul, an individuals conscience, and a belief in something greater than what we experience with the senses. How dissappointing to think yhat our lives will never get any better than this. His problem not mine!

  • Jath554

    Btw( i didn’t really follow this argument very well). But my argument on why our God is real is that The dumb big bang theory is impossible for one BIG reason- where did the force for this explosion to occur come from? Where did the cells come for and how did they magically form together and advance to become what is our modern day human(I don’t believe in cavemen, but our normal human). There is a supernatural force existing that we can’t imagine and bring into perspective with our small intelligence that seems so immaculate(but that is only compared to other humans). Our intelligence is actually what we think of as the brain of a fly in the perspective of God(even though he loves us). One message before I continue this- I say this with love and respect, not to hurt anyone’s feeling. What about our stars? How did they come to be? Answer- God! He is the creator of all of us and he created us in the image of Him! Isn’t that amazing to think about!?!? We have a God who can do anything and wants to have us in His kingdom in heaven! I long to reach my end knowing that I have accepted his love and the factthat he sent his son Jesus to die on a cross and save us from oh sins and from dying and rotting in hell and giving us the ability to live with Him on the golden roads! Praise the Lord God Almighty!!!!!

  • Ra

    I would really like to believe that. Are you sure you did not post that on your facebook? Or talk to someone about your piano lessons with a mutual friend of yours and your aunt’s?

  • non believer

    Hey ME, I think you are completely full of shit. I think you really want to believe in an afterlife and I understand that. But psychics really? Make up a better story. WE have this life in the here and now, whether there is an afterlife does not even matter because those who have left are gone..forever. WE only have today, use it wisely.