CLAIRVOYANCE AND THE CRITICS

                                                                      By
                                                        JOHN G. SUTTON
 

There are currently numerous UK. TV programmes covering the very wide spectrum of the paranormal or supernatural subject. Carol Vorderman's Mysteries is one such programme. In a recent episode Ms Vorderman introduced a story concerning one persons prediction that an aeroplane would crash in a given month, in a given location, killing a given number of people. To within two days this prediction/prophecy was fulfilled. Taking the facts to Dr Susan Blakmore resulted in the learned lady offering an explanation based on her assumption that said clairvoyant had used some ingenious mathematical formula to work out the odds of such an air crash occurring. A rather predictable response I thought, seeing as Dr Blakmore is a professional skeptic.

Now I do not claim to be a prophet, but dear reader it requires no clairvoyant ability to foresee Dr Susan Blakmore's response to the question of prophecy. Yet there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence to support the claim that some people can and do see the future. No doubt many readers of Psychic World will themselves have experienced the truth of practising clairvoyants who have foretold forthcoming events. You will know that prophecy exists as a fact, yet you would not be believed by the aforementioned Dr. no matter how forcefully you argued your case. Condescending is one word that springs to mind whenever I see Dr. Blakmore in action, there are others but that will suffice to make the point that she is talking down to people.

My family have first hand evidence that the power of foretelling the future exists within the range of certain gifted individuals abilities. My own wife Mary visited a clairvoyant called Maria Woods of Predictions in Southport and, in the year 1994 was told that our daughter would marry within the next year and go to live in the Midlands. In October 1995 this actually happened. Maria Woods did not calculate this using any of the aforementioned Dr Blakmore's mythical mathematical formula, she simply 'saw' the forthcoming event clairvoyantly. At the time of her prediction the marriage of our daughter was not planned so she could not have been told of this, at least not by a physical being.

The arguments in respect of the rights and wrongs of such practice are frequently aired in the media. I recently featured on ITV's 'The Time The Place' discussing the matter with a certain 'Pastor Gerrard', among others. The man had mastered the technique of quoting Scripture in a loud booming voice. This skill is well known and used to effect by many of the 'charismatics' who must practice high volume speaking to achieve the level essential to quiet dissenting voices. It is very difficult to argue with someone who is, in effect, shouting at the top of their voice. I found that out in ITN's studio whilst sitting next to the human equivalent of hurricane Bertha. The well worn lines from Deuteronomy were shouted at the audience as Pastor Gerrard preached his own particular brand of hell-fire and damnation. I got so fed up listening to this bigot that I lifted up my psychic pet Sutty dog and placed her on his knee. It certainly shut the tub-thumper up for a moment as he looked in amazement at the Scottish terrier and considered how to continue bellowing with a dog in his lap.

There is a real problem for any who dare to disagree with the likes of Pastor Gerrard, getting a word in edgeways is only one. According to him all who consult mediums are having a curse spoken over them. Now I found this statement, which he made on National TV, to be offensive and insulting to the entire Spiritualist movement. There was no toleration in this man's religious fanaticism, this should concern us all. Charismatic leaders, such as the obviously manic Messianic David Koresh of the Dividian sect, use interpretations of biblical texts to justify the indoctrination and control of those who fall within their power. This is evil, I recognise that, most clear thinking people recognise it and no amount of Bible bashing can alter the fact that such sects/ cults remove the one thing that permits us to fashion our own destinies and progress spiritually, that is our free will. Without free will we become mere automatons, puppets controlled by man made rules interpreted by appointed, perhaps self appointed, individuals.

As I went to leave the studio of ITN one of Pastor Gerrard's flock, a presentable young lady of approximately 25 years, handed me a poorly printed piece of paper headed with the words; 'Your Stars with Lucy Ferr'. Well it at least began with a hint of humour. The rest was a series of selected quotes from The Bible listed under the signs of the zodiac. The whole gist being that clairvoyance was unacceptable, at least according to the quotations used. Yet clairvoyance is a natural gift given to certain individuals. If we accept this then it must surely follow that it can not be evil.

Quite why the critics get so hot under the collar when discussing prophecy is worthy of debate itself. It is a fact that the likes of Pastor Gerrard will not listen to any argument that extends beyond their fundamentalist view of clairvoyance. Listening to the dogmatic unequivocal tone of such hard line tub-thumpers does frighten me a little. With 'God' on their side these modern day crusaders sound as if they are ready to convert each and every one of us, or else. I don't know about you but I just can't believe that heaven can be policed by self-righteous, bombastic bellowers, if it is then I suppose it's 'or else' for me. See you there.