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Can psychics be atheists?

I'd imagine that many psychics are generally spiritualists, who don't subscribe to any particular religion, and probably say that there's some truth to all religions, or something to that effect. That might qualify for agnostic. I'm sure there are a few psychics who very much do not believe in any gods, but only in various spirits and ghosts, making them atheists.

I'm kind of surprised that only the most extreme Christians disapprove of psychics on religious grounds. Sure they don't go around stoning adulteresses and gays to death these days either, but I'd expect at least a bit of wariness; it is, after all, spelled out in no uncertain terms.
 
Yes, atheists can believe in psychic powers. I know a few who do.

Being an atheist gives absolutely no immunity from woo-beliefs. I know many religious people who are, on balance, far better critical thinkers than some atheists in my life.
 
MattusMaximus said:
Yes, atheists can believe in psychic powers. I know a few who do.

Being an atheist gives absolutely no immunity from woo-beliefs. I know many religious people who are, on balance, far better critical thinkers than some atheists in my life.
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It's notable that the USSR was a huge exporter of psi garbage during their atheistic communist era. To some extent, the naturalistic explanations of psi spliced quite nicely with their belief that science will help humans achieve new potential.
 
blutoski said:
It's notable that the USSR was a huge exporter of psi garbage during their atheistic communist era. To some extent, the naturalistic explanations of psi spliced quite nicely with their belief that science will help humans achieve new potential.
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Not only that, but Russia is also a treasure trove of "alternative medicine" woo. Just watch Randi's Secrets of the Psychics to see evidence of this.
 
I was an atheist psychic.
The closest I got to any belief system was taoism, but was moving away from that as I got more involved in new age stuff, then back toward it as a refuge when the psychic stuff wasn't working out.

... and away again.
 
Yubi said:
It's probably partly a cultural issue. In a society where religion is common or required, more of the psychics will claim their ability emanates from God, whereas in a society where religion is not so important, it is more decoupled from religion. Although I'm sure there are some, I can't recall any Swedish psychics who claim their abilities come from God, but they still claim to be psychics. The word "spiritual" ("andlig" in Swedish) seems to be used a lot, but not in a religious meaning.
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When I went to church, I was told in no uncertain terms that psychic powers were black magic and came from Satan. Psychics and clairvoyants were unquestionably satanists.
 
sg1985 said:
Can psychics be atheists?
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Yes, precisely because most believers do not follow a consistent line of thinking and they only believe in what they want to believe. They'll tell you it's perfectly reasonable that there is no Santa or no Tooth Fairy but when referring to God, then wait: that HAS to be true because.... I mean.... how else could everything that we know of, exist?

So cherry picking and arguments from incredulity are the basic grounds upon which most theists and most believers decide that some things are imaginary and others aren't.
 
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I wonder if The Biggest Douche in the Universe can really believe in the god (Catholic brand) he was raised to believe in while consciously ripping off grieving people.
 
arthwollipot said:
John Edward.

Heck, I haven't even seen the South Park episode and I know that. Geez.
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Damn my bilingualism. That had me confused, too. I thought you were calling somebody a shower (or maybe some sort of lawn sprinkler).
 
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