Skeptical Atheist

Posted by Anthony at July 3rd, 2006

A large number of billboards and bus stops in NYC have been recently occupied by this poster promoting the new Court TV series about psychic detectives. Since the subject matter seems to be popular with the masses, the question one needs to ask is: “How many crimes have real life psychic-abilities actually helped solve?”. As Court TV’s own crime library suggests it’s, ummm 0. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, there isn’t a single proven case on the record where a psychic who’s not been been an accomplice in a crime actually helped solve it. Sure, there is plenty of anecodal accounts, but you’d think with all those years of hard work there’d be at least one well-documented case? Well, there are a few of them to be sure, like this gem where a psychic has demonstrated his supernatural ability to ground the planes. In this case, I actually wonder who is more gullible the psychic, or the TSA officials who actually listened.

In conclusion. Since Court TV’s pitch for the show is “America’s most wanted meet America’s most clairvoyant” - I’m betting on the most wanted. At least their abilities are fairly well-documented.

Posted by Anthony at June 6th, 2006

“Here is wisdom. Let he who has understanding calculate the number of the Beast; for his number is that of a man; and his number is 666″. (Rev:13:18)

Well now, today is June 6th, ‘06, and it seems that I’m still here. In fact, if you are reading this - chances are that you are still here too. The end of the world hasn’t happened, yet again. Granted, this date had a lot less fanfare attached to it compared with say Y2K, which just goes to show you that the doomsayers are finally learning, or at least they are playing it safe nowadays.

When it comes to doomsday [- or rapture, or the second coming as it’s known in some of the more popular mythologies] there seems to be no consensus on how to calculate the actual date. Homer Simpson thought that number of Filipinos in the Bible [- it’s zero, btw] had something to do with it. Most doomsayers got it so wrong so many times they hardly bother anymore.

Moreover, there are some dissenting folks out there who think that “666″ doesn’t even mean what we think it does. John Marshall, a professor of Early Christianity at the University of Toronto thinks the number refers to a roman emperor that the writer of Revelations particularly disliked:

“It seems very clear . . . from a historical point of view, the Book of Revelation is alluding to something in its time,” Marshall said. “It certainly doesn’t concern 2006 North America in a direct way.” (The London Free Press)

Wow. A statement from the ancient book does NOT.. concern 2006 North America.. in any direct way? B–b-But. Umm.. oh.. My world’s just gone topsy-turvy. But everything else in Revelations … must be true, right? RIGHT? I mean they wouldn’t call it “Revelations” if it didn’t reveal anything, that much I’m certain of.

So where does all of this leave us? Does today’s only significance lie in the fact that it helps to sell terrible movie flops? Or will we witness some supernatural, heavenly act, after all? There is still time until midnight. I don’t know about you, but I’m not holding my breath.