Dear Editor:
A young Australian Aboriginal man who I lived with came in contact with a baptist congregation in Brisbane, Australia. The pastor was a firm believer in witchcraft claiming to have seen Solomon Islander's bend coconut trees to the ground using only incantations, so that the nuts could be picked. The young man who I'll call Georgie, had a history of alcohol abuse and also abuse at the hands of the police who frequently arrested him. George was quite disturbed and had frequent sleepless nights where he sat on his bed and rocked violently whilst trying to read the bible. He also reported that he could smell stinking dead bodies outside his window and that he saw angels.
He underwent extensive 'counseling' by the elders of the church and on more than one occasion was subjected to traumatic exorcism rituals either in the church hall or on the premises of the Christian bookshop run by the church elders. On one occasion I heard a female member of the congregation say that George's skin color had become a lot lighter since he'd found Jesus.
The pastor was convinced that evil native spirits had possession of him. Eventually he came to the attention of the health department and was diagnosed as schizophrenic. It was an example of superstition leading to psychological abuse mixed with a dollop of racism.
~R.P.
A young Australian Aboriginal man who I lived with came in contact with a baptist congregation in Brisbane, Australia. The pastor was a firm believer in witchcraft claiming to have seen Solomon Islander's bend coconut trees to the ground using only incantations, so that the nuts could be picked. The young man who I'll call Georgie, had a history of alcohol abuse and also abuse at the hands of the police who frequently arrested him. George was quite disturbed and had frequent sleepless nights where he sat on his bed and rocked violently whilst trying to read the bible. He also reported that he could smell stinking dead bodies outside his window and that he saw angels.
He underwent extensive 'counseling' by the elders of the church and on more than one occasion was subjected to traumatic exorcism rituals either in the church hall or on the premises of the Christian bookshop run by the church elders. On one occasion I heard a female member of the congregation say that George's skin color had become a lot lighter since he'd found Jesus.
The pastor was convinced that evil native spirits had possession of him. Eventually he came to the attention of the health department and was diagnosed as schizophrenic. It was an example of superstition leading to psychological abuse mixed with a dollop of racism.
~R.P.
I just read your article about Psychic Medium, Chip Coffey. I have been a fan and have enjoyed him on Psychic Kids and Paranormal State. I recently saw that he was going to be doing a gallery reading in Springfield, Ohio, and was so excited. I bought 3 tickets for my husband, teen daughter and I to attend his show. This show was held in a part of the town that I had never been to before and we heard sirens almost the entire time we waited for the doors to open. When I had purchased the tickets, I was told that I was the first person to buy them. However, once inside, they were not assigned seats and there were several rows that were reserved in front of us. I didn't even realize reserved seats were an option. Then I heard a guy behind us talking about a meet and greet. Again, didn't know anything about this, but apparently that was extra.
Once his show started, he spent the first 40 minutes or so with his psychic "off" while he just talked about other people's encounters. He had some flippant remarks that were most unhelpful for people who thought they had spirit in their house. Basically, if you feel it is malicious, spray it with holy water and say "Bitch be gone". Really?! As far as the readings go....he was so off! I can't say that he seemed to hit on anything correctly except one older lady who wanted to hear from her mother and he guessed that she liked to cook pork chops and sauerkraut. He would throw random stuff out there and if it didn't hit for your loved one, it could be piggybacking for somebody sitting around you. That's a good one. I went into this hoping to become more of a believer but instead, we left more skeptical. As we left, my fifteen year old daughter says to me, "I call bullcrap!". I think she is more psychic than he was.
~M.W.
Once his show started, he spent the first 40 minutes or so with his psychic "off" while he just talked about other people's encounters. He had some flippant remarks that were most unhelpful for people who thought they had spirit in their house. Basically, if you feel it is malicious, spray it with holy water and say "Bitch be gone". Really?! As far as the readings go....he was so off! I can't say that he seemed to hit on anything correctly except one older lady who wanted to hear from her mother and he guessed that she liked to cook pork chops and sauerkraut. He would throw random stuff out there and if it didn't hit for your loved one, it could be piggybacking for somebody sitting around you. That's a good one. I went into this hoping to become more of a believer but instead, we left more skeptical. As we left, my fifteen year old daughter says to me, "I call bullcrap!". I think she is more psychic than he was.
~M.W.
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