the legitimacy of Tarot cards

I think it is partially how they devise these card systems.
The people who write these interpretation books know enough about the nature of human feelings to be able to make what they say about what the cards mean appear as if they were the truth. The rest is then dependent upon the person who participates. The statements are made so ridiculously general that it is easy to convince yourself that it is correct.

I do think that you are not being critical enough about the whole thing. Let us take a look at these cards, one by one:

1) Past: Grief, loss, regret, etc. These are without a doubt the most common feelings anyone ever has in regards to the past. Everyone has done something in their past that, when prompted to think about them (such as a tarot card that says you feel regrets), they can come up with something.

2) Present: Wish, dreams coming true, etc. I seriously cannot help but laugh here. There is NO correlation that I can see between what you are saying about your current life and what the card is supposed to say. You described your life as being currently very stressful and hectic. But the card says that everything is going perfectly for you right now. If it were telling you that things would work out fine for you in the future, then that would be the duty of the "future" card. But this card is for the present and says that everything is hunky-dory, and you should just take time to enjoy this situation. Obviously this is not the case at all.

3) Future: Disappointment, dissatisfaction, move on with life, etc. Once again, this seems like another card that is over general, enabling one to interpret whatever is going on in their life to apply to this card. There is almost no one who consults with tarot cards who feels perfect contentment with their current situation and is not looking for answers for the future. Additionally, are you REALLY feeling disappointment and dissatisfaction with your life as it stands right now? This card is so overtly general and ambiguous that almost anyone who reads that will pull something out of it. Few people don't look to the future with the hopes of moving on or somewhere.

I am sorry, but it seems like you are duping yourself.
You have to critically analyze stuff like this, and it doesn't seem like you are.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It's your mom's money, not mine.

I just gave my input.

BTW, thinking critically involves viewing the situation from the perspective that it is wrong, and analyzing how it can possibly be wrong. If the reasons and possibilities for why the aforementioned thought could be wrong (in this case, "are these tarot cards legit?") overwhelms the reasons and possibilities for it to be right, then one would have to logically conclude that it is more likely wrong than right.
In this case, people make cards that generalize as much about human experience as they can, almost literally boiling it down to a science, so that consumers will believe the cards as authentic, and thus buy more, and get other people to buy more. There are certain givens which you must start with:
1) The people who make those cards are making them as a business. To make profit.
2) Human experience and emotions are a very diverse pot, and as such it is possible for several general statements to be given for any such prediction which will inevitably be self-fulfilling in the mind of the consumer.

Anyways, keep us updated on whether your "deepest desire is granted" and "your problems are solved" and you get "satisfying sexual relationships, emotional peace" all of your "goals are achieved, dreams come true" and you achieve "physical fitness and beauty."

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by FallDragon

So what exactly is your case against the possiblity of Tarot cards really working? Do you have a case for logic against supernatural powers working in cards? This argument boils down to, is it more likely a supernatural explanation is true or a natural exlanation is true? If you hold the preconcieved notion that there are no supernatural connections with Tarot cards, you'll obviously lean towards the natural argument whether or not a better case can be made for the supernatural in this specific instance - which is what you're doing. I myself think this case is fairly supportive of a supernatural possiblity if looking at it without bias. If we accept both spiritual divination and natural probability as two EQUAL, legitimate causes, don't you agree that this specific outcome would lean more towards the supernatural?



The people who make the cards now have no connection with the origins of Tarot. The cards weren't created 50 years ago in the blooming age of consumerism.

I agree with your statements in regards to naturalistic notions versus preconcieved notions, and how that will affect your criticism of certain things and events. However, I do not think that there are any supernatural forces that are ultimately at our very beck and call, whenever we have a question. The only supernatural forces I can concieve of participating in the manner in which you attempt to utilize would be of satanic origins for the sole purpose of distracting humans from what is really important.
Not assuming a theistic standpoint, I find it very hard to believe that some supernatural force(s) would participate in such a petty human ritual such as divination through cards. Why do/does they/it give a shit about whether you are happy with your life or not?

And you are right as well, the cards were created before the big rise of capitalism, but if you even DARE say that there was no such thing as swindlers, liars, and cheats before that time, then you are very gravely mistaken. Throughout history, people have had to make money. This is an inevitable fact of society. Magicians, fortune tellers, story tellers, gymnasts, etc. All travelling shows with their own tricks, for the intent of making money.
Nonetheless, I am not referring so much to the cards themselves being made by the people of today, but the books which tell you how to interpret what you have drawn.

I guarantee you that there is no consistency in interpretation throughout history here, and there is no longstanding tradition of psychics writing down the fortunes in these books for the benefit of all peoples the world over.
More than likely, it is a collection of sociologists, psychologists, or just a bunch of other people clever with words and minds, who write down these "fortunes."

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Yes, I believe that satan and gang will attempt to use whatever means at their disposal to lure people away from God. However, it seems like in the majority of cases nowadays, his direct participation isn't needed anymore as it was, because of the self-perpetuation of the systems he has devised. Like tarot cards, or "psychics" and "fortune tellers." These things perpetuate themselves through people's greed and desire to get things and information the easy way. Life feels so much easier when you can shuffle around some cards and ask whatever spirits to tell you stuff.

The only thing that I feel worthwhile to say here is that I do not think that tarot cards are legitimate at all; at least, not how you think they are.
They will tell you stuff, yes. But they will only tell you what you already know, because all it does is feed you some vague suggestions, and your mind inevitably fills in all of the gaps. And then you praise the cards for being so amazingly insightful about your life, and tell all of your friends the wonders it can do.

I think there is little, if at all, that was supernatural in its origins to begin with, and I don't think that you, above all other people, will be special enough to manage to get to the roots of tarot cards(if there are any), and not just be another victim of commercialization.
I don't intend to sound mean; I just think you are wasting your time and brain cells, and you would be remiss to not stop messing with such frivolity.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It seems your thread was ridiculously over generic, and thus it had no potential but a waste of space.

Nonetheless, here is a question for you:
What do you consider to be the essence of "spiritual?"

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by FallDragon

I couldn't help but realize how this is completely opposite of Christianity's recruit-a-thon philosophy.

Except that this "recruit-a-thon philosophy" that you talk about is not a "I'm right, you are wrong, see how right I am" sort of thing(although some people act like that).
Nor is it a philosophy, for that matter.
It is a command given by Jesus himself to his followers to spread the gospel to the entire earth. We would be shirking our duties if we refused to do that.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?