His "point" is the typical cynical magician's point of view that is all so frequently taken by those who are as pure as the driven snow. In short, those that do not like or appreciate Readings or those that do them; they tend to do all they can to paint such practices in the negative, even though they have little to no honest leg to stand upon when it comes to the issue.
But, as I explain to all of my students and those that read any of my books and a good score of my articles,
larceny is not something that automatically happens when one does Readings. If however, you are prone towards such manipulations and predatory actions, you will exploit said skills just as we find young magicians using "stage" pick-pocketing skill, Hypnosis and other antics as a way to run hustles and run with the cash.
The idea that (for an example)
I am "abusing" folks and their beliefs, I think you would find that such an assumption is very far from the truth. Most legit Readers are quite empathetic, especially those of us that understand both sides of said fence. When I do Readings or even when I'm doing workshops on Psychic Development I am telling people the truth and encouraging them to set the rainbows, butterflies and boogiemen off to the side and understand it all from a more down to earth point of view. Oddly, the magic world refuses to see how, for instance, a broad chunk of the methods taught for generations for cultivating psychic abilities are IDENTICAL to what we so arrogantly take credit for "discovering" and smugly regurgitate as some form of intellectual proof of superiority.
Yes, there are those instances in which someone in my position MUST work with a client that possesses exceptionally strong religious and cultural superstitious or traditional views. In order to help such people you have to speak in a
language they can understand and accept rather than speaking down to them, mocking them or blatantly telling them they are stupid because of such things... this latter course creates (or expands, as it were) the rift between believer and skeptic; the primary result being that the people of faith will dig their heels in deeper and cling to the "archaic" more because of such insults and lack of understanding/compassion.
As to the line about
"Readings for Entertainment Purposes"... you will never hear me use that cop-out (I loathe it!) I'm
AM a Reader, end of story. I don't need some sort of silly linguistic clap-trap to quiet my conscience about such things in that I know I do no harm at any level. Further more, I am at least 5th generation in my family line that does Readings, Dowsing and "Healing" work. Like several others (some of note) I have studied and been initiated into several Shamanic as well as Magickle traditions but I likewise have more than a hint of "seminary-ish" training under my belt an a heck of a lot of history, a counseling degree amongst other qualifiers, including certification in Grief Counseling and induction to a shamanic tradition of "Death Walking"
My familiarization with Magick/the Occult and folklore allows me to prescribe the proper
placebos to those that cannot accept anything other. Like it or not, most of the world is composed of people that have faith in some sort of omnipotent thing that is beyond mortal comprehension. In many of these cases these same sane and educated folks also believe in spirits, energy fields, angels, and a myriad of other things that NO ONE has the right to tell them is bogus. Yet, we do have an obligation to "nudge" them towards alternate explanations and/or scenarios in a manner that is not threatening or demeaning.
When it comes to the issue "Super Natural" anything... I don't believe it.
Nothing can exist that is beyond Nature. However, there are things that exist that do go outside our present ability to understand, prove the existence of, explain, etc. There are likewise those that can bring about some very amazing things as well as circumstances in which the "miraculous" does happen. To coin a phrase,
"been there, done that and have the T-Shirt to prove it."
I have and will continue to seek out and exploit those that wrongly take advantage of the public regardless of what vehicle they use but most especially when they are using the idea of religion, spirituality and magick as their front. In my book there is nothing more contemptible other than perhaps, a child molester.
I have pointed out here and on other forums the fact that I have had my life and that of my family, put in peril as the result of my investigations into corrupt Psychic situations and assistance in helping local law enforcement agencies in California, Nevada and now here in Massachusetts, prosecute and completely break-up such confidence rings. I likewise educate both, the general public as well as professional law enforcement in awareness and evaluation tactics when it comes to this sort of situation as well as potentially dangerous cults... that includes doing FREE talks in area schools, libraries and senior's homes.
I do find it ironic how I tend to be a Reader and "believer" and yet I do more physically in educating folks about this problem than those cynics within the magic community that would like to see my head on a platter; those that have to pump themselves up on the JREF, CSICOP and of course Skeptical Inquirer sites and yet most wouldn't know a real charlatan if they walked up and bit them (let alone having the balls to bust them).
Fortunately there is a difference between Skeptics & Cynics and too, I am in the company of some very good people who are likewise targeted by that ignorant as what a charlatan is and is not... but then what do people like Richard Webster, John Riggs, or Jerome Finley know about Mentalism?
Each of them have been horribly treated by the very people they've reached out to share their knowledge and insights with.
I'm far from being a hypocrite when it comes to this issue. I know the difference between those that are legit in their work and claims vs. those that are running a razzle. Like most of my peers from within that world, I know how to identify those that need the sort of help I cannot give them and yet, because I am credible, I have licensed mental health professionals that will refer clients to me (and other Readers) because they are wise enough to know that we can go places with that client they can't. They understand that when it comes to counseling and dealing with things, that the majority of folks will go to their bar tender, barber/beautician, a cab driver, or psychic
before they go see a priest (clergyman) or shrink; sometimes the order varies slightly, but there remains the ironic fact that more people trust the Reader & Priest over those pedigreed double-talkers, many of whom love getting their wealthier patients hooked on drugs rather than helping them find, even a fantasiful solution to the problems they are juggling and the lessons they are trying to learn.
The issue I spoke about regarding organized religion is how it tends to usurp and implement the very things it was damning and disfellowshipping people over a generation previous (or less). It has nothing to do with the things offered in Farlsborough's post and what I had to explain (yet again) in this one. His knee jerk it would seem, dealt with my charge that the "church" is founded on pure hyperbole in that less than 5% of its membership seems even half-way capable of coming close to being what the rest keep raising hell about being
the way everyone else must be and live.
Understand however, my animosity towards religion is directed towards ALL forms of "organized" faith; it is all fickle in that it is "guided" by silly mortals who are influenced by all kinds variables, such as greed, a lust for power, ego, being at the top of the proverbial heap... just look at how many Popes died of poisoning or assassination and the backroom shenanigans pulled by this and that influential family (or kings) seeking to control that particular seat of power over the past 1750ish years. Trust me God is nowhere in that picture nor is the divine purity of said individual... and that goes for a plethora of Protestant schmucks (a.k.a. Evangelists) as well.
That said let me screw with your head on one other front...
I'm a firm believer that every soul should read and study the scriptures... ALL OF THEM! That means kids should know the bible and the history behind its compilation, the books that were omitted and to what lengths Constantine & Co (and I am aware that he wasn't around for the entire canonization process, but he did set the spark to the flame) went to destroy any and all religious or philosophical ideology that might challenge this "invented" thing. But they should know the Koran as well as the Bhagavad Gita, the teachings of Buddha, Confucius and all other great leaders and teachers that were viewed as the voice pieces of the Divine. I'll go so far as to say that it should be taught in our Public Schools.
Why?
Well, this reply has been long enough so I'll not start down that route. But I bet less than a dozen of you will have a clue as to what my answer would be.
yea... I'm thinking out loud... John Lennon was right 
I believe you were saying something about hypocrisy being a cornerstone...
