http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sq-YUdq1OI&mode=related&search=

Basically, in this video, this guy who plays mind games supposedly instantly converts several atheists and then deconverts them again. I thought it was pretty interesting to watch, I dunno if it's true or not, but it certainly raises questions about these people who feel God.

...because if it's in a movie it must be true. :rolleyes:

...because if it's in a movie it must be true. :rolleyes:

I'm not saying it's true, but it's still interesting and may spark conversation. He's a quite popular mentalist over here in the UK and has done a live show or two, one where people phoned in after seeing/hearing weird things during the show. I'm very sceptical myself and don't generally watch his show, because he makes me uncomfortable, but, once again, is interesting but possibly fake (even though he says he uses no actors or stooges, I question this too).

Wow, interesting stuff.

Having once been catholic (now, athiest) I now what she means when she says "inner hug". I always felt it was a feeling of belonging, or being cared for. I would get this after I prayed or read the bible or something religious. Now that I'm athiest I think it was more a feeling of being together with something bigger than myself.

He was lucky in that he initially picked a suggestable person. After that, a full half of the audience left, disbelieving it.
Only the ones that had the capability to believe, and so were prepared TO believe it, stayed.
Brilliant.

great find, very interesting

could this just be an example of the placbo effect?

could this just be an example of the placbo effect?

Uhm... it's meant to be fake, that's the whole point: that it is this easy to 'convert' someone with basic mentalist tricks and make them feel things that aren't really there.

Haha, that's so retarded it's funny.
Good actors though.

Good actors though.

Eh, I'm not denying the possibility of them being actors because they very well could be, but at the start of each episode he says he uses magic (tricks), illusions, cold reading and psychology and that no stooges or actors are used in the show. Also, he does live tours where he selects people from the audience (although I admit they could be stooges) and I think has written a book or two on how a lot of the mind games work.

who gives a shit he hypnotized them, big whoop! but it was kewl when he made that one acter guy from shawn of the dead want a bmx bike!

they are not actors he just knows what to do to create the experience that happens in and around people when they 'see the light' and convert or whatever or have some intense religious experience.