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Comment by Kliment | Hacker News Reader

The grin on that image is legendary. I was wondering, why didn't the guru refuse on moral or legal grounds (if his tricks were effective, he would be committing murder)?

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I think most DAs could probably get an indictment for attempted murder if you attempted to kill someone with sorcery, with the probable goal of getting you to plead to assault. Note that "reasonable expectation of success" is not an element of those crimes in the US. (Most of the statutes are specifically written to make impossible murders chargeable.)

Relatedly, you can also be charged with attempted murder for attempting to kill someone who is already dead.

If I were on a jury, I would not convict someone of attempted murder if the person never touched them or initiated any other action (ordering poison, calling his hitman friend, etc.)

Simply put, if I sit here and wish you were dead, and believed my thoughts had the power to kill you, I am not committing attempted murder. I am being an idiot, which is sadly not illegal.

Apparently in Canada you can be charged if you "fraudulently pretend to exercise witchcraft," (which sounds a little redundant to me): http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Witchcraft+charge+laid+T...

What moral? I doubt he understands the concept of moral.

But he could have used it as an excuse so as not to be disproved.

It's always been my one question about charlatans who know they're fake but would take the Randi Challenge (especially when it was televised - see YouTube). If you know you're crap, why do it? Maybe they start believing their own bs after a while?

Or maybe their ego is bigger than their head.

There's a long-held cultural convention that lying isn't morally wrong as long as you successfully lie to yourself first. It may be pitiful, dangerous, or whatever else; but at least it's not evil. This seems to apply to all but a few isolated subcultures.

I think some of them truly believe it. I have a cousin that believes she can talk with virgin Mary. She is educated and I don't think she is trying to trick anybody since she has always been a nice person. I think she is just convinced.

Why wouldn't he understand the concept of morals?

I'm not suggesting he isn't a charlatan, but I don't see what bearing that has to do on understanding the concept of morals.

That "guru"'s particular flavor of religion has very peculiar morals indeed. I don't think I'm exaggerating too much when I say Tantra is basically incomprehensible for the typical Western audience.

What a fraud. A true member of the New Earth Army wouldn't even kill a goat with his mind.

(Yes, I've only seen the movie.)

Probably, he has convinced himself of his own powers.

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