h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hehehe.

*Finds new soapbox, and climbs upon it*

There is obviously a market for mediums and the like. Some people believe. But they want to find out good things, not the truth.

If you were a medium, a proper one [avoiding debates about whether they exist, I'll say a proper medium is one who believes she is really finding the truth through mystical means] and always saw your customer's deaths, or the deaths of those close to them, would you be very popular? Yet we'll all die. It's one of the few things a medium can be certain on. So mediums have to bring good news, even if it's not the truth.

*Gets splinter from soapbox, and runs off in search of tweezers*

yes but then they lull the client into a false sense of security and they get angry and something bad happens. in this case someone got angry and posted personal details in an effort to name and shame, and thus this thread was born.

Taking mediumship to its logical extreme, if everyone's in some kind of paradise after they die, we might as well all kill ourselves now and have done with it.

I'm not saying it's good, I'm just saying it happens.

Last year I met a lad who had certain 'Talents' which were genuine, he helped me unravel a few stories about the kitchen I work in and a few more haunted places in the hospital, how did I know he was genuine, because he pointed out spooky goings on that only the catering staff knew were happening. he also knew things about me and my family nobody, not even my other half, knew

could have been a stalker.

mediums don't promise paradise, that's what religions do. mediums perform psycic readings and act as a means of contacting deceased people.

paradise is exactly like
where you are right now
only much, much better.

"language is a virus" by Laurie Anderson
from "Home of the Brave" cd and movie.

"if you want happiness live in the now. if you're always waiting for happiness it will never come." me, just now.

Sometimes we need to be told things so badly that we abandon our commonsense

Midgetmogget, my "" wasn't directed at you; I was just jumping on the soapbox you had kindly vacated.

As for the paradise thing, it's just that mediums always seem to say one's loved ones are in a very good place and are very happy. Religions have bad places too, and levels of heaven and hell.

yes but with most religions you can't avoid going to the bad place i.e. hell. think about it, how difficult must it be to get into heaven without cheating and saying sorry on your deathbed.

Yes, but if you accept the whole "omnipresent/omnipotent/omniscient" idea of god & the heaven & hell bit, then even if you repented at the last minute on your deathbed (assuming you have the luxury of this rather than "oops, i just died!"), if "it" is that powerful "it" would surely say "hey, who you trying to kid with all this repentance stuff, let's take a really good look at what you did back there huh? Then we will decide! Too late now mate! Can't cheat me!"

So it's all down to individual conscience. All religions say the same stuff "just try & be good as you can in your own best interests & those of everyone else & if poss try & spread the word." It's the last bit that causes the problems.

IMHO

zdt

actual repenting on the death bed might get you in.

but just claiming to say sorry wont they know

yeah but the bible says if you say sorry you will be forgiven.

i don't like religions. Firstly, the bible was written by man, not by god, and therefore is open to scrutiny just like any other historical document. however we're not allowed to prove it wrong because it's 'holy', whatever that means.

secondly, the religious leaders and all those who take it literally won't allow proper emotional and spiritual growth because they're afraid of 'sin', whereas if they believed that they would be forgiven they shouldn't be so uptight about it anyway.

thirdly, the new pope said aids and the condition in Africa at the moment is caused by god to purge them of sins. personally i think it's a bit harsh to say that children starving to death because their parents have died of aids is justified. and technically this is the church's fault because they forbade the africans to use contraception that could have prevented the spread of STD's and also helped to reduce the population so there would be more food per head.

aaahh, that was a very satisfying rant.

*gets off soap box*

Don't know what the rest of you are doing in the afterlife, but I'm definately coming back as a tom cat

No rent -no responsibilities - as much fun as I can get (and being a cat, that wouldn't be difficult). And I wouldn't have to take any troubles home, either.

After a few years of the Fs - fun, fighting,food and etc, it'd be small hardship to trade in the gonads for a little old lady and regular shelter and fussing, now wouldn't it?

Thats me sorted, thanks!

If re incarnation is an option in your beliefs, what would you choose to return as?

An heroic demon fast bowler, who finally helps us win the Ashes back!

Which century do you intend returning, then?

A tree slouth.

think as much appathy as you can handle.

Why do people assume that spirits have to be in a place?

Programs have to be in a place while they run; flames have to be in a place while they burn. Souls inhabit bodies (let's say) but why should they need a "where" after the program has been deleted, the candle blown out?