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Definition:
It has long been an central facet of spiritualism that a person might be able to allow
a spirit to have limited control over their body and actually speak to the living.
Becoming such a conduit for the dead is called "channeling," and it has been a popular
means of supposedly learning higher truths about our purpose in life. People who do
this, usually known as "channelers," are sometime also called "spirit mediums." James
E. Alcock described channeling thus:
Its essence is hassle-free religion. One gains meaning in life and escape from anxiety from predigested 'wisdom' without any commitment or sacrifice.
Channeling spirits began with the very origins of the American spiritualist movement and remains popular even today. A number of media celebrities have helped popularize the use of spirit guides and couple, like Seth and Ramtha, have achieved recognition through the wider culture. One of the most famous channelers, Helen Schucman, claimed to have channelled Jesus Christ and recorded his messages to her in her book A Course in Miracles.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
Skepticism & Critical Thinking
This is the main index for issues dealing with skepticism, critical thinking, logic and arguments. The first section is Critical Thinking itself - how to think about claims and arguments you hear, how to critique arguments, and how to formulate your own arguments such that they are more likely to be sound and valid. The second section is about Skeptical Investigations - the practical application of the critical thinking skills covered in the first section. Here you will find critiques of things like astrology, alternative medicine, parapsychology, the New Age and more.
