Do you think that illusionists and magicians maybe employing witchcraft and sorcery i
Watching some of the magicians and illusionists perform on television (notably, America's Got Talent), it truly is amazing to watch. I'm at a loss in trying to figure out how they did their magic acts (e.g. - making people appear and disappear on a whim behind a large cloth, etc.).
So, I'm just curious if it's possible that these people are employing supernatural powers in their acts such as deportation. I know it sounds ludicrous, but maybe people like this really do exist in the world, and we're just not being made aware of them; and these 'magicians' are the ones who toe the line by using their super powers, but making sure not to reveal that it's actually real.
Actually, magicians are usually the biggest skeptics - because they know what they're doing is a trick, and they know how easy it is to fool people into thinking it's magic. Harry Houdini, James Randi, Penn & Teller, even Criss Angel have always said it's just a trick and have exposed many frauds claiming to be real (the spiritualism movement, televangelists, Uri Geller). No, they're not actually doing magic. They do those tricks to make money - there's a ton more money in being able to prove you actually DO have supernatural powers, and most of it is being offered by the magicians themselves.
Illusionists do cool things but never claim to have paranormal powers or use "witchcraft". Our brains are programed to get a lot of stuff wrong and is easily fooled.
What people need to learn is how to be critical thinkers. Otherwise they will be gullible to anything that sounds too good to be true.
Some magicians are so amazing it really makes me wonder too! I know they claim it's all an illusion but as you mention how would we know if they aren't actually using some paranormal power in their performance? We wouldn't and unless a skeptic knows exactly how to do the trick they are assuming that it's only smoke and mirrors.
It is a ludicrous idea. A skeptical question for you to work with: Shouldn't people working with the magicians in magic shows have revealed the truth by now? Oh, i know your answer...the magician has a spell called "keep all my secrets" and he casts it upon anyone who happens to see the real magic, right? "I know it sounds ludicrous, but maybe people like this really do exist in the world"
Back to reality:
There's a code within the community of magicians not to reveal how tricks are done because the main part of the entertainment value is that people don't know how it's done. Still, some magicians break that code and we get to see how it's REALLY done. Teleportation? Here's an example of how it can be done by Penn & Teller.
Your question has a false premise because you are assuming that witchcraft, sorcery and supernatural powers are real. This has never been demonstrated even after centuries of research.
This is why big name magicians are typically big name skeptics; they can see how the frauds do their tricks.
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EDIT: @j, the Geller ring trick is pretty easy to do for a practiced magician; but do you have have a citation for this statement: "Materials analysis of the genuinely bent spoons at Stanford showed a different type of structure than ever previously observed, under electron microscopy. It remains duplicated by science."
There are many reports of magicians relating events that happen during their performances that they feel are paranormal, beyond the act.
Jonathan Margolis began as a skeptic but found some of this in Uri Geller's performances: "Uri Geller--Magician or Mystic?" is an interesting book. And here's a quote by professional magician David Blaine: "Uri bent a spoon for me. The first time he did, I thought there must be a trick. The second time I was stunned--completely, completely stunned and amazed. It just bent in my hand. I've never seen anything like it. It takes a lot to impress me. Uri Geller is for real and anyone who doesn't recognize that is either deluding himself, or he is a very sad person."
"Geller has bent my ring in the Pam of my hand without ever touching it. Personally, I have no scientific explanation for the phenomenon." Dr. Werner Von Braun, Director, Marshall Space Flight Center.
Materials analysis of the genuinely bent spoons at Stanford showed a different type of structure than ever previously observed, under electron microscopy. It remains duplicated by science.
"Remote Viewers," Jim Schnabel,
"The Path of the Higher Self," Mark Prophet,
"Man's Psychic Life: Elements and Structures," O. M. Aivanhov, and
"Ethical ESP," Ann Ree Colton, are also worthwhile.
Reviews at http://www.amazon.com
http://www.noetic.org also good.
The whole point of a good illusion is to put the viewer at a loss of ability to explain it. That doesn't mean it doesn't have an explanation.
To answer your question, absolutely not.
Watch this show.
"Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed"
they tell you how most of the big acts over the past couple decades have been done. It might not specifically reveal the tricks of the guy on America's Got Talent, but after watching a few episodes of this, you will probably be able to figure out how the tricks are done pretty easily.
Do you think that illusionists and magicians maybe employing witchcraft and sorcery i
