David Copperfield

[Lewis]

Levitating magician: How magicians use science to deceive

Levitating magician: A viral Pepsi ad shows an English magician apparently levitating alongside a double-decker bus. How are we so easily fooled by magic?
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0627/Levitating-magician-How-magicians-use-science-to-deceive

 

[KevinK]

^^^The old "support rod hidden inside a fake arm" trick. Please, Dyna, you're wasting my time here.

 

[Gary]

Here's one for the skeptics.

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[Edward]

Here's one for the skeptics.

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Now that's what I'm talking about. Did you hear him talking about "the spirits" and getting them to do things for him? He wasn't talking about God, that's for sure. That is literally inviting them into you.

From the audience perspective, one who is merely watching the show, the danger would seem to be less...but how would we know for sure?

Check me on this, Scripture tells us to 'think on these things' Philipians 4:8 and also to cast down and take captive imaginations and evil thoughts, these magic shows give no glory to God, therefore exalteth it against God.

2 Corinthians 10:5
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;/(KJV)

Anyone can have an unrighteous thought, but it's what we do with it that matters. It is not sin to have a thought. If the thought comes to you, I could take that money and no one would know... or, I'd like to push that nice looking lady down... this is the important time, what do we do with that thought? Reject it, cast it out of your mind and think about something else. Then there is no sin. If we do not, and we think about doing (what the thought tempted us with) it, then at some point in thinking about it, it does a 'whoosh' and goes down into our heart and spirit man, and affects us, and is sin. This is why Jesus said if one looks upon a woman with lust, he has sinned with adultery.

So I wonder how long one would have to think about something bad for it to do this and become sin? If you're watching the magic show, can you accidentally invite a spirit into you by thinking about it in a positive light? Would it become sin then?

If you're not sure, then it seems to me that you're basically playing russian roulette. This is a spiritual war with real spirits and should be taken seriously.

 

[Edward]

I bet the girls (and audience members who participate) who are levitated are in danger also. Within their heart, they invite the spirit to come touch her and lift her up in the air...

That's more dangerous than playing dodge car on the freeway.

 

[Karl]

I bet the girls (and audience members who participate) who are levitated are in danger also. Within their heart, they invite the spirit to come touch her and lift her up in the air...

That's more dangerous than playing dodge car on the freeway.

Absolutely!!!

His criteria for choosing a participant, ...a woman that dreamed of flying, the stage is set, the sub-conscience is prepared, ...I wonder what happened after the show, if it had been me, before Jesus, I would of wanted to know how he did it and would look for some book or person that could teach me.

As to inviting a demon inside, just look at the children that were demon possessed in the Bible, probably from the curiosity of the parents dabbling with forbidden things, ...that's why God, the Word that became flesh, our Jesus, gave the command to kill all witches, ...Jesus is serious and so should we be.

 

[KevinK]

He may be invoking demons, and they may be responding, but is that the basis for the physical illusions? Edward, what do you think?

 

[Gary]

He may be invoking demons, and they may be responding, but is that the basis for the physical illusions?

If it's not, then the magician really does know magic, because I don't see how those illusions can be replicated with props from a magic store.

.

 

[Gary]

Now that's what I'm talking about. Did you hear him talking about "the spirits" and getting them to do things for him? He wasn't talking about God, that's for sure. That is literally inviting them into you.

From the audience perspective, one who is merely watching the show, the danger would seem to be less...but how would we know for sure?

Check me on this, Scripture tells us to 'think on these things' Philipians 4:8 and also to cast down and take captive imaginations and evil thoughts, these magic shows give no glory to God, therefore exalteth it against God.

2 Corinthians 10:5
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;/(KJV)

Anyone can have an unrighteous thought, but it's what we do with it that matters. It is not sin to have a thought. If the thought comes to you, I could take that money and no one would know... or, I'd like to push that nice looking lady down... this is the important time, what do we do with that thought? Reject it, cast it out of your mind and think about something else. Then there is no sin. If we do not, and we think about doing (what the thought tempted us with) it, then at some point in thinking about it, it does a 'whoosh' and goes down into our heart and spirit man, and affects us, and is sin. This is why Jesus said if one looks upon a woman with lust, he has sinned with adultery.

So I wonder how long one would have to think about something bad for it to do this and become sin? If you're watching the magic show, can you accidentally invite a spirit into you by thinking about it in a positive light? Would it become sin then?

If you're not sure, then it seems to me that you're basically playing russian roulette. This is a spiritual war with real spirits and should be taken seriously.

Finally, someone besides me and Karl who gets it.

Good post.
.

 

[Karl]

He may be invoking demons, and they may be responding, but is that the basis for the physical illusions? Edward, what do you think?

Kevin, I know you addressed your question to Edward, but I want to add something, ...our first family doctor (he has passed on now), I'm talking about a licensed physician, years of schooling and internship, visited India, he said levitation was a common practice there and not on some stage, but out in the market square, in public, men sitting in the lotus position levitating and transporting themselves to wherever they wanted to go, ...and he filmed it, that wasn't some magic trick or an illusion, I'm not against your scientific explanations, in fact bro I agree with you on some of them, ...for the man walking on water I would of said he used a mini submarine with a plastic platform on top, ...but we are in the end times and Jesus Himself said demonic activity would be every where, we must stay alert like He said.

 

[KevinK]

Kevin, I know you addressed your question to Edward, but I want to add something, ...our first family doctor (he has passed on now), I'm talking about a licensed physician, years of schooling and internship, visited India, he said levitation was a common practice there and not on some stage, but out in the market square, in public, men sitting in the lotus position levitating and transporting themselves to wherever they wanted to go, ...and he filmed it, that wasn't some magic trick or an illusion, I'm not against your scientific explanations, in fact bro I agree with you on some of them, ...for the man walking on water I would of said he used a mini submarine with a plastic platform on top, ...but we are in the end times and Jesus Himself said demonic activity would be every where, we must stay alert like He said.

Levitation is a common illusion performed in India. It's usually done with a supportive platform (magicians call it a "suspension"). Look at most of the pictures of people levitating- almost always, something is touching the ground. Take a look at these pics (and note also the alms bowl):

That said, I am not saying levitation by paranormal means is impossible; I'm saying that's not the way David Copperfield performs it.

 

[KevinK]

Finally, someone besides me and Karl who gets it.

Good post.
.

Why haven't you answering my trolling question, Gary?

 

[Karl]

Levitation is a common illusion performed in India. It's usually done with a supportive platform. Look at most of the pictures of people levitating- almost always, something is touching the ground. Take a look at these pics:

That said, I am not saying levitation by paranormal means is impossible; I'm saying that's not the way David Copperfield performs it.

Kevin, can you explain, scientifically, the amount of force that man has to have in his had to hold himself in that position?

 

[KevinK]

Kevin, can you explain, scientifically, the amount of force that man has to have in his had to hold himself in that position?

Yes. It's exactly 0 pounds. He's sitting on a hidden platform. Is pic #2 not displaying properly?

 

[KevinK]

Here's one for the skeptics.

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OK, folks. I want you to see something. Look at the levitation Copperfield performs at 10:00. Look at the bench, ladders, and especially the mat on the floor. Now follow this link: http://www.52magic.net/1819_Ladder-Levitation.html This is the stage illusion that David Copperfield uses (it's called a Blaney). He purchased the trick, and for a couple thousand, so can you (Paypal preferred). You can order it right over the internet, DEMONS NOT INCLUDED. How much more do you people need?

 

[Gary]

That said, I am not saying levitation by paranormal means is impossible; I'm saying that's not the way David Copperfield performs it.

Explain the dancing ties.

.

 

[Karl]

Yes. It's exactly 0 pounds. He's sitting on a hidden platform. Is pic #2 not displaying properly?

Thanks for explaining Copperfield's levitation trick, but if it's true that is kid's play.

Okay, now I understand what you are saying, so then everyone saw him climb onto the platform, ...what's the point of that, not arguing, just questioning, ...if you claim to be levitating and everyone sees you climb on and sit down, ...what's the point?

I can see how that can be done, you set up before dawn with no one around and wait 'til dark, with no one around to climb down (I'll bet he fasted a lot), ......but I said our doctor had film of them sitting on the ground in the lotus position, the hands on the knees and then levitating up and transporting themselves wherever they wanted to go, across the market place and even out of sight, ...no hidden platform there.

Okay, I wasn't going to say this, but it's pertinent to the discussion, the doctor filmed these men, not in populous cities, but out in the secluded jungle villages, he also filmed a living woman with six arms (remember he's a doctor), the Indians worship a supposedly mythical goddess of liberation named Kali, that was the reason for his trip, to see if she was real, ...and she was alive.

There are documented births of boys and girls being born in India in the last 15 years with multiple arms and legs, ........Nephilium???

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Gen 6:4

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Mat 24:37

 

[Gary]

You can order it right over the internet, DEMONS NOT INCLUDED.

What about the big rings that allow solid objects to pass right through them? Are they included with the kit.

 

[KevinK]

What about the big rings that allow solid objects to pass right through them? Are they included with the kit.

Yes, as a matter of fact they are. http://www.walterblaney.com/illusions/levihoop.html

 

[AirDancer]

Alrighty then. Let's all take a few deep breaths (be sure to exhale in between!), and consider how the conversation in this thread is not quite flowing the way it should.

In the meanwhile, CFnet's Terms of Service (ToS) makes for wonderful reading. Please do so.

*Note: This message isn't aimed at anyone in particular, yet to everyone in general.