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Conflicting theories. First, as previously noted, palmistry is not a science but a dubious method based on conflicting data. Different theories conflict with one another (e.g., ancient vs. modern; modern vs. more modern), and different schools of interpretation also conflict with one another.1 That a general agreement exists among some palmists is hardly sufficient criteria for the practice to be classified as a legitimate science. This is not enough to sift out highly complex variables that supposedly reveal not only a person’s true character but his future as well. If the charts found in palmistry texts (indicating the different features of the hand) don’t always agree, how can the prognostications be considered reliable? If the delineation of the mounts don’t always agree, and a "minor" line in one book may be designated a "major" line in another book, how can their influence be accurate? Even the number of hand "types" varies. 2

Or, put more delicately, "all palmistry, and medical palmistry in particular is still in a transitional state. New insights and data are daily being added to the main body of experimental knowledge already compiled."5 Another standard text states that besides the 14 main lines "there are, in the majority of hands, a certain number of minor lines, almost infinite in their variety and seeming to defy all orderly classification and logical reading." 6 This is one obvious explanation for the different theories and interpretations found in palmistry.

Palmists disagree among themselves so much that one leading proponent has thrown out the vast majority of palmist authorities throughout history, retaining only two authorities as credible. 7 Another argues that divination by the lines in the hands is itself fraudulent because the success in palmistry is not based upon occult intuition but biological fact!8

Subjectivism. Palmistry also endures the Achilles’ heel of all forms of divination: an entrenched subjectivism. As one practitioner confesses, "Undeniably... the palmist makes value judgments based in part upon subjective reactions…." 9 For example, the palmist, like the astrologer, must not evaluate just any single indicator of the hand; all indicators must be carefully assessed and balanced to provide a "general picture." But what if over 100 "indicators" exist? The problem is that this undermines any semblance of credibility because no two palmists will ever agree on even 20 indicators, let alone 100. This means the same person will receive different readings from different palmists. As one text explains:

The subjective nature of palmistry leads to the general and ambiguous characteristics of many of its prognostications. For example, "A certain amount of agreement exists among palmists that, generally, a clearly marked cross on the mount of Mars beneath that of Jupiter denotes a person who is likely to become involved in acts of violence and, if there are supporting signs, to be seriously injured or killed during impetuous clash [sic] with opposing forces." 15 Such predictions are as useless as the failures are rationalized. Thus only "a certain amount of agreement" exists concerning this prediction, and it is only "generally" true after all. Therefore, lack of corroboration is not, finally, damaging to palmistry. The person was only "likely" to become involved in violence. Furthermore, only if certain "supporting" signs are present is the person who is involved in "acts of violence" likely to be seriously injured or killed.

In the end, if palmists disagree because their charts, classifications, theories, and methods of interpretation disagree, then it would seem that palmistry has no more credibility than phrenology, the nineteenth-century study of character traits by the contours of the skull. In fact, when phrenology was in vogue, we find many palmists of the era declaring that the credibility of palmistry was equal to that of phrenology! "Phrenology needs no defender…. [It’s success is a] reassuring omen as to what awaits, within a few short years, orthodox, honest, accurate Palmistry.... The scientific world has finally given a verdict... in favor of the verity of Phrenology, both in theory and in practice.... We are glad to assist in its triumph by demonstrating how accurately Palmistic markings ‘dovetail’... with Phrenological revelations." 16

The errors one discovers in modern palmistry know no limit. For example, "The Lifeline will be found on all hands." 17 But this is not true, for it is not found on John Weldon’s hands. In addition, palmistry "indicators" refer to theories that we can know are false from biblical revelation, such as the concepts of karma and past lives. 18 Biblically speaking, just as alleged karmic "indications" are false, other imagined "signs" in the hand must also be false, such as the one allegedly showing "the union of the person with the higher self." 19

Another falsehood is the notion that "palmar creases" supposedly "break down" at the moment of death because the brain signals, which allegedly maintain them, have now ceased. But a check with a local medical examiner’s office will prove this to be false. 20 The so-called "murderer’s hand" is another falsehood, which is the idea that a particular kind of hand indicates a brutal murderer. 21 The alleged medical correspondences seen in palmistry are also false.22

And all palmists sooner or later run into hands that they simply cannot read, as illustrated in this illuminating advice given to novice practitioners: "If you run into a confusing hand, it is wise to ask what questions the person wants answered.... Then concentrate on answering the questions. A storehouse of tactful remarks is part of your preparation for palm-reading." 23