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Unmasking the Masquerade: Three Illusionists Investigate Deception, Fear, and the Supernatural
Three internationally-known illusionists boldly reveal the powerful secrets behind the supernatural, psychic ability and the limits of - Do some humans have supernatural powers? - Is it possible to read minds? - How do psychics get their secret information? - Could the miracles of Jesus have been an illusion? - Should we be afraid of Satan? Solid answers and amazing personal stories make this a fascinating read. Unmasking the Three Illusionists Investigate Deception, Fear, and the Supernatural is well documented and endorsed by notable experts in the field, including André Kole, Founder and Director, André Kole Outreach and world-renowned illusionist and inventor of illusions. Kole summarizes in his The three illusionists you're about to read--Rod Robison, Adrian Van Vactor, and Toby Travis--put forth a convincing case that prominent beliefs in the paranormal are erroneous and without merit. You'll explore with them some of the history of alleged paranormal activities that were later found to be fraudulent or simply misunderstood. Some of these incidents had enormous impact on our culture and still do, years and even centuries later. You'll delve into what the Bible has to say about Satan's true powers and lack thereof, and how the scriptures have been misunderstood and even, in some cases, manipulated to lead people down dangerous paths to deception and unwarranted fear. And you'll discover why Jesus, who has been accused by ancient and modern-day skeptics and critics of being a magician or even a myth, was, in fact, the One who really did accomplish the impossible, laying legitimate claim to being 'God with us.' --André Kole, Founder and Director, André Kole Tempe, Arizona
274 pages, Hardcover
Published January 13, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 24, 2018
Three illusionists, mentalists or stage magician set forward to write to write a book that debunks psychic phenomena and occult magic. They say it is all false and they build powerful arguments that will have you walking away convinced. Now here is the thing all three of them are devout Christians and have been involved in Christian outreach. Now might not be the time for me to appear to be preaching Christianity since I am a Jew who has dabbled in paganism and a Christian missionary was killed doing something stupid.
No less the book makes sense. The first writer discusses the phenomena of faeries, spiritism etc. the first writer even offered thousands of dollars to anyone who could do a legi psychic act in laboratory situations. Thus far no one has come forward. He explain how the the mediums who supposedly spoke to the dead. Their helpers or gimmicks would make wrapping noises and certain tricks would make the table much move. Cold readings were done by reading a persons body and making vague questions comments that lead the psychic to the right answer. Sometimes they got it wrong and tried to cover it up. The cottingly faeries was another hoax,later admitted to later by the girls that they were fakes. Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle bought into it. The Lincoln family bought into spiritism.
The second author discusses the biblical definition of magic and what exactly Satans powers really are. He is not as strong as he is made out to be. Most people, devout Christians included have their beliefs about the occult that are derived from movies. Satan cannot cause sickness, hurl curses or even raise the dead. Humans do not have this power either. Only God does. Satan is actually gods servant. His job is to tempt men to sin, to test them. Most tricks that the magicians did in biblical times were just thst trickery and deception. Pharaoh magicians could not keep up with Moses because Moses had real power while they had trickery.
The last part is more ideological and in this part the author lays claim that Jesus is the Messiah and he was no mere magician. It states that the miracles he pulled off could not be mere tricks because to walk on water or multiplication of fish and loaves could not be faked and any magic trick needs to be set up in advance.
Regardless if you are Christian or not if you are the type drawn to spiritual movements then this is a book you want to read. There are plenty of fakes out there, psychics, mediums,faith healers, Hindu saints. They will make things materialize out of thin air, this is stage magic. They may heal someone but belief is strong and it could be psychosomatic.
No less the book makes sense. The first writer discusses the phenomena of faeries, spiritism etc. the first writer even offered thousands of dollars to anyone who could do a legi psychic act in laboratory situations. Thus far no one has come forward. He explain how the the mediums who supposedly spoke to the dead. Their helpers or gimmicks would make wrapping noises and certain tricks would make the table much move. Cold readings were done by reading a persons body and making vague questions comments that lead the psychic to the right answer. Sometimes they got it wrong and tried to cover it up. The cottingly faeries was another hoax,later admitted to later by the girls that they were fakes. Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle bought into it. The Lincoln family bought into spiritism.
The second author discusses the biblical definition of magic and what exactly Satans powers really are. He is not as strong as he is made out to be. Most people, devout Christians included have their beliefs about the occult that are derived from movies. Satan cannot cause sickness, hurl curses or even raise the dead. Humans do not have this power either. Only God does. Satan is actually gods servant. His job is to tempt men to sin, to test them. Most tricks that the magicians did in biblical times were just thst trickery and deception. Pharaoh magicians could not keep up with Moses because Moses had real power while they had trickery.
The last part is more ideological and in this part the author lays claim that Jesus is the Messiah and he was no mere magician. It states that the miracles he pulled off could not be mere tricks because to walk on water or multiplication of fish and loaves could not be faked and any magic trick needs to be set up in advance.
Regardless if you are Christian or not if you are the type drawn to spiritual movements then this is a book you want to read. There are plenty of fakes out there, psychics, mediums,faith healers, Hindu saints. They will make things materialize out of thin air, this is stage magic. They may heal someone but belief is strong and it could be psychosomatic.
December 2, 2018
Three illusionists, mentalists or stage magician set forward to write to write a book that debunks psychic phenomena and occult magic. They say it is all false and they build powerful arguments that will have you walking away convinced. Now here is the thing all three of them are devout Christians and have been involved in Christian outreach. Now might not be the time for me to appear to be preaching Christianity since I am a Jew who has dabbled in paganism and a Christian missionary was killed doing something stupid.
No less the book makes sense. The first writer discusses the phenomena of faeries, spiritism etc. the first writer even offered thousands of dollars to anyone who could do a legi psychic act in laboratory situations. Thus far no one has come forward. He explain how the the mediums who supposedly spoke to the dead. Their helpers or gimmicks would make wrapping noises and certain tricks would make the table much move. Cold readings were done by reading a persons body and making vague questions comments that lead the psychic to the right answer. Sometimes they got it wrong and tried to cover it up. The cottingly faeries was another hoax,later admitted to later by the girls that they were fakes. Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle bought into it. The Lincoln family bought into spiritism.
The second author discusses the biblical definition of magic and what exactly Satans powers really are. He is not as strong as he is made out to be. Most people, devout Christians included have their beliefs about the occult that are derived from movies. Satan cannot cause sickness, hurl curses or even raise the dead. Humans do not have this power either. Only God does. Satan is actually gods servant. His job is to tempt men to sin, to test them. Most tricks that the magicians did in biblical times were just thst trickery and deception. Pharaoh magicians could not keep up with Moses because Moses had real power while they had trickery.
The last part is more ideological and in this part the author lays claim that Jesus is the Messiah and he was no mere magician. It states that the miracles he pulled off could not be mere tricks because to walk on water or multiplication of fish and loaves could not be faked and any magic trick needs to be set up in advance.
Regardless if you are Christian or not if you are the type drawn to spiritual movements then this is a book you want to read. There are plenty of fakes out there, psychics, mediums,faith healers, Hindu saints. They will make things materialize out of thin air, this is stage magic. They may heal someone but belief is strong and it could be psychosomatic.
November 14, 2017
I didn't recognize the author, and got a free download, so took a chance on this joke book. Long segments of rehashed history of spiritualism simply pack this thing with unoriginal material. Perhaps they know that most of their readership is not known for their ability to read, and thus, do not know that history. As soon as one opens the book and sees that Andre Kole is a motivator for the publication, the game is up. This is another starry-eyed apologetic xian scree. While citing, and laughing at examples of people deluded by poorly researched strange events, they launch into equally improbable and poorly documented examples that we are supposed to believe simply because they believe them... and that they are proof of the truth of xianity. Strange logic.
I still do not understand the logic of xian magicians. If you are deluding the public for entertainment purposes, you are deluding the public. To pretend to have some kind of xist-like powers, despite all protestations to the contrary, you are lying to your gullible public. Mohammed Ali was fond of magic. He carried a thumbtip and small silk everywhere. After his routine, however, he completely exposed the trick, because it was against his religious belief to lie to people. More xians should adopt that attitude.
If you are a magician with a modicum of logic, this is not the book for you.
I still do not understand the logic of xian magicians. If you are deluding the public for entertainment purposes, you are deluding the public. To pretend to have some kind of xist-like powers, despite all protestations to the contrary, you are lying to your gullible public. Mohammed Ali was fond of magic. He carried a thumbtip and small silk everywhere. After his routine, however, he completely exposed the trick, because it was against his religious belief to lie to people. More xians should adopt that attitude.
If you are a magician with a modicum of logic, this is not the book for you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews