SCEPCOP Forum

if this should be in the religion section please move it - but anyways a question that has always puzzled me :

i wonder how many PsKeptics whilst denying the existence of paranormal phenomena - practice religion and believe in a "god " ( or gods ) ??

this to me smacks of "double standards " as how can one believe in an entity that there is NO actual proof of ( endowed with various abilities ) , other than various writings which have been corrupted and altered by MAN for their own purpose over time , and yet steadfastly refuse to believe that there are any other entities and powers ??

after all we have many in the world claiming to be able to communicate with this being ( or at least ways claiming to "know " its will - so logically they must have some sort of contact with it to "know" this ) yet mention anything under the loose heading of "psychic " ability and it is dismissed

so CAN one believe in god and be a Pskeptic ??

discuss please

Hi Brett.

Most sceptics I know define themselves as Atheists or Agnostics.

However, I have encountered some Theists of the "fundy" type who, with breathtaking hypocricy will invoke "science" to their aid when attacking paranormal research and yet in the same breath will tell you that the theory of evolution is a "lie!"

So short answer to your question:

Most definitely one can believe in god and be a Pskeptic at the same time.

I think it's rather common myself.

Most pseudoskeptics I know are atheists. Almost all of Randi's supporters are too.

The Christian fundies believe that Satan is behind the paranormal, and since Satan is a real being to them with supernatural powers, then in that sense they believe that there is a "real effect" happening in paranormal phenomena.

I think one can believe in the paranormal and still be a skeptic. Granted, when some people tout Randi to debunk the paranormal, but not listen when he or some of his followers rip into at least the Christian god is somewhat mind blowing.

I feel that if you are not skeptical at least of much of the stuff that is out there, *cough* SB or Buckland *cough*, then you are setting yourself up there to be amazed everytime they are wrong.

However, on the flip side to claim that everything is false, including deities, one must remember a quote. "Absense of evidense is not evidense of absense." Which means, just because it can not be proven or disproven with actual evidence yet, does not mean that in the future, the evidence will/won't be there.

Too many people say the Big Bang Theory disproves God or any creation deity, when in fact, it was a Catholic who created the theory to explain how God did it. And Catholics support the theory of evolution.

sorry if I went off in a tangent.

yep
i dont understand neither
skeptics that are into a major religion...
feels like a contradiction to me