Taking Grief Seriously
Last night I went to a talk on the relevance of Spiritualism in Society today. It is is the second event hosted by Skeptics in the Pub that I have attended thanks to a posting on the London Events calendar (Thank you Li-Kim!).
Emma-Louise Rhodes spoke about the history of spiritualism from its “invention” by the Kate and Margaret Fox in 1848 to the Psychic Sisters service available at Selfridges.
There were many interesting ideas both in the talk and in the discussion afterwards:
a) Because I don’t have a TV, I was surprised at the number of programs e.g. Crossing Over, Sixth Sense and Most Haunted
b) Apparently there are more than 350 Spiritualist Churches in the UK
c) There is Fraudulent Mediums Act
which replaced the Witches Act (1735)
d) Materialisations seemed to stop occurring after the advent of infrared photography
While exploiting people’s weakness and grief is a horrible, horrible thing to do; who else is taking people’s grief seriously? For how long are we sympathetic, before we start using words like “counselor”, “analyst”, “anti-depressants”?
On a lighter note: One of the “sceptics in the pub” suggested that there might be a similar gathering “on the other side” called “Spirits in the Pub” who were similarly dissing the mediums; and perhaps we should form an alliance with this group to ensure that they are more effectively able to communicate with their loved ones.
……………………
“Perhaps she’ll die…”
That song always gave me the creeps! I prefer the alternative poem about fleas having fleas that bite ’em and so on, ad infinitum.
Fancy a mugshot of a flea?
All of the animals in “my rhyme” probably have fleas, so your photo would be very welcome on my blog!
Buy the playset. All the animals, and Menzies Campbell as the Old Woman.
Thanks Matt, this made me smile and highlighted that I had missed out the goat! So in addition to fly, spider, bird, cat, dog and horse, we are going to need a goat and a flea!
PS Please don’t send photos of Menzies Campbell.
PPS Any ideas of what I could write about for “goat”? The only thing I can think of is secondary antibodies and I am not sure how interesting I could make that.
You’re welcome to use my cat
Thank you, Henry! She is indeed suitably spooky. :)
‘Spooky’? Downright evil. shudder