Psychic Kids and then some

I'm going to do my best to answer this without peeking at my DH's answer because I have a pretty good idea where he stands. Let's just say that this is yet another area where we agree to disagree :)


So, the questions regard a new show on AE Network called Psychic Kids. Don't feel bad if you've never heard of it. It sure was news to me. Here we go.

Do you think this show ispotentially harmful to the children taking part? Do you think it'spossible they have some kind of extra-sensory perception that others don't? What about their senses being more developed (or less squelched) becausethey're children? Would you let your child be on this show? Do you thinkthe parents are exploiting their children or letting them have a rareopportunity for fame? Finally, can you contrast your answers to the abovein re: to this show vs. the boy on Jesus Camp who was "saved" at age fivebecause he was looking for "something more from life" and wanted to becomean evangelist? Do you feel the experiences these children will have (beingon a psychic show and getting attention and recognition for that and beingan evangelist and getting attention and recognition for that) are differentor similar? If different, do you feel one is better than the other? Why or why not.


First things first. I want to believe in the paranormal. That's me. Is it valid? I truly believe so. It is beyond arrogance to presume that the world we experience through our 5 senses is all there is. Forget for a minute the more sensational claims of telepathy, spirit contacts, psychkinesis etc. What about the woman who dreams her sister is in danger only to wake and find that she was just in an accident. How about the twin whoses finger hurts when 5 miles away his brother just slammed his in the door. These certainly aren't normal occurances but they do happen. Same goes for deja vu, hunches, intuition. How many people pursue a certain course of action based on a feeling. Yes, some of that is attributable to experience. Not all.

Science, as of yet, cannot concretely explain away these things.

Now, what about the more sensational claims. I just don't know. I've never met anyone who claims to possess these abilities. We've all seen plenty of roadside and TV advertisements for palm-reading, tarot reading, and the like. It doesn't take ESP to read someone and figure out what they want or need to hear; just time, practice and charisma. But I try not to let the obvious bullshit take away from my belief in the possibility of more. And it makes a kind of sense to me that children may be more open to whatever else is out there. They haven't yet been taught how to see the world or how to interpret what they are seeing and feeling.


As for the show itself. The way I understand it (having not actually seen the show), the hosts, a psychic and a clinical psychologist bring together 3 children with some form of psychic ability and attempt to help them explore and come to terms with their gifts. Sounds like a great idea. But do they have to do that on television???. If these children are indeed receiving input from something beyond the 5 senses, this cannot be the best method to help them come to terms with it. It is exploitation plain and simple. I have a hard time believing in any altruistic motives when it takes place in front of the camera. Are the hosts willing to work with these children if there wasn't the publicity for themselves involved? Tv is about selling, ratings, noteriety. I have to wonder what the hell their parents were thinking!! Childhood is hard enough but do these kids need the added burden of their peers bullying and teasing; and you know that will happen. I can definately say there is no way I would allow sweet pea on any kind of show like this. It's exploitive and potentially harmful.

Regarding Jesus camp. Again, I only know what I've read about it, having neither the desire or interest to watch. My gut reaction is these children are being indoctrinated. I won't go quite so far as brainwashed but it seems pretty damn close. I can easily say that I was indoctrinated into religion--12 years of Catholic school will do that for you. These kids have been taken to the extreme by, I'm assuming, the profoundly fundamentalist adult influences in their lives. It doesn't appear that they are receiving a well-rounded world view but instead are focused so narrowly in their education that their attitudes and beliefs have been pre-programmed. I have to wonder how much of what they say is actually coming from them.

Now, as for the boy who was "saved". I don't know what he means with that. Again, it seems like something he was told, not necessarily came up with for himself. Hell, my brother called himself "saved" and at the time that meant accepting Jesus as his Saviour (I'm fairly certain he's lost again)--Sidebar, do you think that's what JJ Abrams is getting at ? Anyway, so I really can't compare it in any meaningful way with the PK's show. As for the noteriety the children will experience. I think the JC kids will have a much easier time of it. The majority of them are home schooled, they are raised in a household and more than likely a community which espouses the same "values" that are touted in the show. However, the PK kids are exploring something that is mocked, ignored, and/or sensationalized. Whatever positive, if any, experience they get from their 5 minutes of fame will likely be dwarfed by the negative that will follow. And just a sidenote--It's shameful to realize that those people who look at their children with pride for being devout charismatic Christians will turn to the PK kids and accuse them of conversing with demons. The double standard is ridiculous.

To sum up. Both shows deal with children looking for guidance, looking for answers from an adult authority figure. MISTAKE!! I don't think there are definitive answers. There are thoughts and ideas. Anyone who tells a child, or anyone else for that matter that he/she has the answers that they are looking for, is delusional. Give the child the means to find their own answers. Support them, don't try to control them. In that respect, the PK show has the better idea; the form it uses is totally screwed up.

I'm off to post this and read DH's reply.

I am perfectly convinced that I have both seen, and heard in a manner which should make unbelief impossible, things called spiritual which cannot be taken by a rational being to be capable of explanation by imposture, coincidence, or mistake." — Augustus De Morgan

Make of this what you will.

I just liked it.

To a Soul in Need

Oh, I am so glad you came to me for help!!



I'm feeling that you are a little lost and confused right now. THAT"S OK. You're reaching out and that's what matters. But I'm afraid you might not be ready for some of the hard truths I'm going to tell you. So prepare yourself.



My sister has had back pain and stomach issues for some time. She has seen doctors about it and the pains go away, and return. sometimes they go away for years sometimes weeks. Recently see went to what she refers to as "her voodoo doctor". This guy tells her not to drink milk or any single dairy product (she is not lactose intolerant and has no allergy to milk), so her back pain has not returned for a few months (like all those times before when it didnt return). She assigns the relief to the voodoo doctor.



Aren't we being a wee bit condescending, refering to this person as voodoo ( and the proper term dear, is vodun). Can you say with any certainty that this person has not helped your sister? Let it go dear, and be happy for her.



My wife think homeopathic means good. Despite the fact that there is literally no ingredients in the homeopathic remedy. We arent talking about natural rememdies, such as aspirin or aloe. We are talking about things that are so heavily diluted that there is literally nothing in there.



All right, let's take a look at this. I'll grant you that the overall efficacy of homeopathic treatments are not as encouraging as some of the more traditional remedies. However, practitioners will tell you that it is also a more time consuming process and requires great patience to find the proper remedy. Those looking for a quick fix are bound to be displeased. Does this mean we should just chuck it out the window??? Please, if a problem is plaguing us, should we not give every possible solution a chance



Most of the poeple around me beleive in some form of a being that is all knowing, all powerful, and all good (or any partial combination of those). For them to be right there has to be some creature that is capable of manipulating every single electron in the universe, they have to be able to read every single mind and/or has to always be looking out for all of us. Despite the fact that this creature has never been detected directly, or even indirectly. They claim this thing exists despite and feel that it is not their onus to prove it.



First of all, if 90% of the population believe in something (and I think that may be a conservative estimate), who are you to tell them they are wrong. Why don't you just admit that they may be right and try to belive what they do. I couldn't hurt, could it. After all, you must admit that Pascal had the right idea.

My final piece of advice today. Open you mind and your heart to the wonder of the world around you. There's much more than meets the eye. Let your skepticism go and embrace the now!

Now, I do wish I had more time to address your other issues, but I must really go and re-align my chakras.

[/snark]

Your Humble Christian Consultant

Okay, a little history about me. Imagine if you will, a young, naive Catholic girl falling head over heels in love with a Pentecostal raised boy. They do the usual pre-canna teaching as required by her church, get married in that church (as she wanted) and go on to live a, for the most part, very happy life together. They have wonderful discussions about hopes, dreams, life, beliefs. And then on day, several years later, her DH (darling husband) tells her that after much soul searching, he no longer believes in God.
This had caused our youngish, not quite so innocent woman (me) to do her own soul searching. After some time, I realized that I can't in good faith call myself Catholic. It's the way I was raised, but there's too much church doctrine that I don't believe is right. This is why my part of the post labels me a Christian.. Because for now, I believe in Christ and his teachings. I say for now because I am in a constant state of self-exploration and discovery. For me, God is...it's as simple as that, it's what I feel. And this, I believe, is a large part of the differnece between those who believe and those who don't. Logic vs. feeling.
Anyway, fast forward to a few months ago when I jokingly say to DH that any advise he gives could be a he said/she said. Well, I thought he forgot about it. Then about a week ago he brought it up again and wanted to know if I was in. So here I am, willing to give anyone who wants it, my opinion. And that's all it is...what I think and feel. And please be patient with me, I am nowhere near as blog savvy as my other half:)