- A Very Biased Attack on People of Any Faith other than Atheism...Randi takes cheap pot shots at frauds, which they deserve, but also at believers in the spuernatural powers that be, and that have made the difference between life and death for millions of people. I agree with him on the finer points of fraudulent 'healings' but why must he attack people of faith, particularly Christians? He suggests that Christians are somehow more naive than the general population, and perhaps in some ways that is true, but is it fair to make blanket statements concerning believers across the globe? I found his language propelled by a deep hatred for all things 'Christian' or spiritual, which is certainly not original on his part. He is in good company when it comes to hating God and the people who try to love and serve him in this world. He should write about what he loves, not what and who he hates, it makes for much better writing. This book is his own ranting and raving at the crazy world, which was hard to swallow at times. I'm sorry his experience with spiritually-minded people has been so negative. Mercy to him...
Rating:
- This is not an anti-religion bookAs a Christian who is disgusted with faith healers and televangelists, I applaud Mr. Randi for writing this book. He carefully dissects the "ministries" of the con artists he looks at, showing each to be built on a mountain of lies. He does so with passion and a touch of righteous fury. He is also careful not to disparage people of faith in general, but only those who abuse religion for their own despicable ends.
Whether Randi is an agnostic or atheist, I do not know. But I do know he is a man of conscience, who has sent out a warning message that all should heed. It is a tragedy that more Christians aren't willing to listen.
I fully expect to see Mr. Randi in heaven. I thank God for him and pray for his well-being. I do not have the same sympathies towards the monsters he exposes in this powerful book. Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, and the rest of you scum, be warned: you can't hide behind sheep's garments anymore.
Rating:
- Kudos from a ClergymanI am a United Methodist pastor. I serve a local church and work as a hospital chaplain. To round things off, I am a member of the Order of St. Luke the Physician. James Randi, the author of this tome is none of these things but he is a skeptic with an open mind. This book is long overdue and very well done.
My background before entering the ministry was in math, physics, engineering and biology. I know and understand the scientific method and what it can and cannot do. I also uderstand the limitations of theology and anecdotal reporting. James Randi does as well. He make no claims of being religious but is willing to look and consider each case put before him. I rather suspect him of being an agnostic but that does not prevent his outrage from showing at some of the tricks faith healers have been known to use. His book is a well presented expose and it is a shame that more people, including governmental agencies, broacasters and church members across the CHristian spectrum are not outraged by what is routinely done to people of faith.
Nowhere does Randi claim that healing by prayer is impossible, though he does admit to being skeptical about it. What bothers him is seeing flocks being fleeced unmercifully by people who claim to be God's annointed and seeing those same ministers actually hurt people and perpetrate frauds. I respectfully submit that such behavior should bother everyone. I know it bothers me, especially since it eventually hurts the faith of those most in need of healing.
I do believe in the power of prayer and make no apoligies for it. I believe it does work and is efficacious. I do not believe that prayer always gives the desired results. Modern medicine can cure many things, treat many more and fails in yet others. THe minds who have brought medicine thus far are too the gifts of God. I don't think that the "Amazing Randi" would object to very much of what I said here but he wants proof. That I cannot provide.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. I cannot provide that proof for matter of healing through faith do respond on demand. I have seen miracles of healing. Most often, these take the form of a drug therapy or surgical procedure. I believe these too are gifts from God. On a few, rare occasions, I have seen things that I chalk up to pure "miracle" but I am not advising anyone to dispense with medical treatment nor am I soliciting for funds.
Randi's book is a tirade against abuses of trust and against dishonesty. Too many bad people have tainted the whole concept of faith healing and he takes them to task. His goal is not to rehabilitate faith healing but to expose its misuse and fraud. For that we should all be thankful.
He covers the antics of a few famous "faith healers" in detail and provides sketches of others. In doing so, he gives away some of their tricks and publicizes contradictions, lies and plain old trickery. If more people were aware of these methods, fewer people might be hurt.
God bless James Randi.
Rating:
- I have exorcised the demons!What areas concerning people's beliefs are most easily exploitable by con-artists? Without a doubt it would have to be religious beliefs. Faith Healers tackles this subject and uses investigations carried out by James Randi of many so-called faith healers as its material. Some of the faith healers investigated are W.V. Grant, A.A. Allen, Peter Popoff, Oral Roberts and even Pat Robertson.
Randi starts with a little background into the phenomenon of supernatural beliefs in humans and its origins before the advent of science. Ironically enough, even with the scientific progress we've made many laypeople still denounce it as either an object of Satan or incapable of bringing the blessings of faith. Throughout this book Randi issues a challenge to the faith healers to produce evidence for their so-called healings and have independent doctors make statements regarding the claims etc. Surprisingly enough there is not one faith healer that is able to produce and substantiate claims of healing. In fact, it's very sad to read about people even dying after attending a religious service and believing their affliction was healed by one of these "televangelist" types. I found it also interesting to read about some of the exposures of the practices of these healers. Many of them have lists generated by a computer (with only individual names changed) and sent out to gullible people asking for money. Many times these means are how the healers support themselves. Prey on the public and beg for money that "Jesus needs".
This book serves as a lesson that no matter what are beliefs may be we should never fail to exercise restraint in the face of terrific claims and also always keep our rational abilities intact. By using reason alone a lot of us could avoid being duped and potentially deceived into believing lies which only serve to fatten TV preachers' pockets.
This book I would rate a 4 despite the eye-opening information it contains. The reason is the subject matter is somewhat long (over 300 pages) and I feel many people unless acquainted with who these healers are may lose interest after reading about similar cases. But nonetheless still a good read.
Rating:
- Prophets For Profit: Let Us Prey!If only I could give it 10 stars....
This book by James Randi is a godsend (please excuse the expression) for those skeptics out there. Mr. Randi has written a wonderful work on the parasitical purveyors of the ultimate pseudo-science: faith healing. Whether it's exposing Peter Popoff's spirit-filled earpiece, Oral Roberts' death-defying bid for 8 million dollars, to Donald Grant's literal leg-pulling or Pat Robertson's hucksterism, Mr. Randi has the guts and intellect to stand up for those too gullible (or desperate) to defend themselves. Highly recommended!!!