Psychic claims the same as religion?

[Questioninggeller]

An interesting case:

Judge skeptical of claim from 'Psychic Sophie'‎ -
Richmond Times Dispatch
July 30, 2010

A federal judge in Richmond seemed unmoved yesterday by a self-described spiritual counselor's claim that Chesterfield County officials violated her religious rights by subjecting her to onerous licensing requirements imposed on fortunetellers.

U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne said it appeared Patricia Moore-King filed a lawsuit against the county before exhausting all her options for obtaining a business license and proper zoning for her office.

"She's the author of her own misfortune," Payne said during a two-hour hearing.

King's lawyer, Roman P. Storzer, said his client, who operates as "Psychic Sophie," applied for a business license as a counselor. King says her counseling methods include Tarot card readings, energy healing, astrology, clairvoyance and psychic abilities.

Storzer said county officials looked at King's website and told her she would have to apply for a license as a fortuneteller, which requires a criminal-background check. King demanded the decision in writing but never got it.

King did not apply for the fortuneteller permit because she felt the background check requirement violated her rights by subjecting her to tougher scrutiny based on her viewpoints and expressive conduct, her lawyer said.

Payne said the government has good reason to check fortunetellers' background.

"Fortunetellers have fleeced people in the past," the judge said. " . . . For all we know, she's been involved in chicanery elsewhere in the United States and doesn't want her background checked."
...

and

Va. woman fights 'fortune teller' label ‎
Washington Post
July 30, 2010

A Chesterfield County, Va., woman claims county officials have violated her religious rights by defining her as a fortune teller rather than a spiritual counselor.
...
King says her counseling methods employ Tarot, energy healing, astrology and psychic abilities. But she insists she's not a fortune teller because she doesn't predict the future.

 

[Nursefoxfire]

Well, to her credit she actually IS a lot like a "spiritual counselor". Both deal in hokum and chicanery, and fleece their customers using faith.

I think, in order to prevent this sort of misunderstanding in the future, ALL religious and fortune-telling counselors should get the same background checks.

 

[GrandMasterFox]

A federal judge in Richmond seemed unmoved yesterday by a self-described spiritual counselor's claim that Chesterfield County officials violated her religious rights by subjecting her to onerous licensing requirements imposed on fortunetellers.

Sorry for a possible derail, but the bolded part is the thing I find even more interesting. What license requirements are there for fortunetellers?

Is this the "entertaiment only" portion?

 

[eerok]

Reclassify all religious professionals as fortune tellers and require a background check for them as well. Inequity averted. Problem solved.

 

[Fnord]

Well, according to the moderators of the Enya fansite (unity.enya.com), discussions of spirituality (psychics, ghosts, UFOs, Atlantis, et cetera) have nothing to do with religion, that members who wish to discuss any topic of or related to spirituality are not spreading ignorance, and that allowing them to do so does not make the 'Unity' website a travesty.

I whole-heartedly disagree on all counts.

Religious and 'Spiritual' groups should be licensed as any other corporation, with no special privieges granted with regard to regulation, taxation or hiring practices.

 

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

How do licenses for psychics work?

Wouldn't they be awarded to no one as such a thing doesn't exist?

Doctors have to prove they know how to practice medicine before they are licensed. Lawyers have to prove they know the law. Pilots have to prove that they can fly planes. People who want firearms have to prove they can shoot guns. Even hair dressers have to prove that they can cut hair.

Psychics can't prove anything. They can't do it.

They can never do it. No one could.

Why is there a license for something that can't be done? A service that doesn't exist?

What's next, licenses for capturing chupacabras and Bigfoots?

 

[EHocking]

...What's next, licenses for capturing chupacabras and Bigfoots?

Bigfoot Hunting Permit.

 

[Maldon]

Good one!

 

[paiute]

There is such a thing as a Spiritualist Church:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualist_Church

They do many of the same things that your average Madame Zelda, Professional Gypsy might do in her horse-drawn parlor but in their respectable Protestant-like churches:

http://www.plymouthspiritualistchurch.net/

By the way, I know this because I was married by a woman who had just been ordained in the First Spiritualist Church.

How many other JREFers were married by psychics?

Don't scoff. There is no more powerful card to play when arguing with someone defending a woo position than to be able to say, "Yeah? Well, I was married by a psychic. Were you?"

 

[Fnord]

How do licenses for psychics work? Wouldn't they be awarded to no one as such a thing doesn't exist?

It's called a business license. Every psychic who wants to run their service as a business is required to have one, just like any other type of business.

Psychics can't prove anything. They can't do it. They can never do it. No one could.

If they can prove their identity and pay the fee, then they are licensed.

Why is there a license for something that can't be done? A service that doesn't exist?

If they can license Herbalife salespeople, then they can license psychics.

What's next, licenses for capturing chupacabras and Bigfoots?

Sure! Gimme a minute while I design one...