I’m in favor of drawing a sharp line of distinction between those who would foster humanity’s progress and those who insist upon clinging to our childhood, and doing it in a particularly vicious manner – very likely destroying us in the process. We’re in deep trouble after a mere three decades of giving them even partial reign. Where would I stop? Where will they stop?

I was only half serious about everything else I said the other day. This, I stand by.

Sorry, I wouldn’t want to live in your version of America any more than I would want to live in the Dominionists’ version.

I am 51 years old. I have been watching things move inexorably in this direction since I was a small child. It was during the Reagan years (which most of you don’t even remember) that everything really began to change dramatically for the worse. It became fashionable to be greedy and stupid. Then, Gingrich came along, flooded the House with young Republicans and bumped it up a few notches (it didn’t take them long to turn on him and force him out – for not being reactionary enough! – yet he still doesn’t get it). Now, we have an imbecile in the White House, whose strings are being manipulated by a man who may very possibly be evil incarnate. The Bible is being taught as science, and we’re billions of dollars in debt from defending ourselves against the “terrorist onslaught”. Not to mention the cost in human suffering. And conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists have made this possible every step of the way. I’m vehemently opposed to empowering them any further.

Brother Cipher, I sympathize, but I would also point out two things: first, change for the better sometimes takes a while, and second, notice how the Republican brand has been aviled. We may be seeing a shift in the country that could undo a lot of wrongs and perhaps reverse the trends. “Keep hope alive!”

In order to have a truly authentic film they need to have at least one scientist that doesn’t agree with views of the film-makers. Otherwise the information would be biased. Notice Albert is complaining about the misrepresentation of his views, not his facts.

For instance, Salon.com did an interview with David Albert, the Columbia physics prof in the movie. Here’s what he said:

I was edited in such a way as to completely suppress my actual views about the matters the movie discusses. I am, indeed, profoundly unsympathetic to attempts at linking quantum mechanics with consciousness. Moreover, I explained all that, at great length, on camera, to the producers of the film … Had I known that I would have been so radically misrepresented in the movie, I would certainly not have agreed to be filmed.

Jen: I’m very sorry to hear about that. I brought up the medium topic because my weblink contained one. Then it was discredited. I’m only advocating that people do their research before tossing mine out as quantum pseudoscience. Your aunt’s medium experience does sound like a shame.

I would want to go because if she were to tell me something no one could know – that would be evidence that life continues after death

No it wouldn’t.

By the way, have you ever been to a medium? Why don’t you try going to one yourself. Make sure she/he’s a medium (not just a psychic). And well-respected. Ask her to tell you something no one else could know. This way you can get the evidence first hand and just decide for yourself.

My grandmother died recently. My aunt, who changes religion like other people change their socks, went to a medium right afterwards. We gathered for the funeral, and my aunt told me what the medium says.

A bit of background: my aunt is in her 50s, my grandfather was involved in WWII.

The medium, who was a friend of a friend, told my aunt that my grandfather had seen his best friend blown up. Now, as far as we know, this didn’t happen, because my grandfather did not see combat. Where, then, would his best friend have blown up? It is not hard to believe that a woman in her 50s had a father in WWII. The medium also told her that my grandfather had “anger issues”- again, that is true, but not exactly a stretch, given his generation. When my aunt agreed, the medium went on to say that my grandfather was bipolar. He (the medium) said that my grandparents were appearing to him in their “preferred bodies” which was during their engagement, which had to be pre-40s. Yes, again, they were engaged prior to the war, but that is not exactly something he couldn’t have guessed. He also told my aunt that my grandmother’s death was instant- also true.

There was nothing from the reading that he couldn’t have guessed based on my aunt’s age. I also don’t know what he might have gotten wrong- she isn’t going to tell the skeptic what was flat-out wrong from the reading, if she even remembers. And my aunt has a vivid set of facial expressions, so while she may claim it would be hard to do a cold reading on her, it would not- her facial expressions would easily give away how hot or cold he was to the truth.

My aunt believed the guy. I look at it this way: my family now believes that my grandfather was a bipolar man who lied about going to combat. We will never know, because he is dead. Eventually, this will filter into the family history even though we have no way to test this or fact-check it. I think that is a shame, because it is going to eclipse actual facts about him.

My aunt paid this guy to destroy our memories.