- •Table of Contents
- •Also by James Randi The Truth About Uri Geller Houdini: His Life and Art (with Bert Sugar) Flim-Flaml Test Your esp Potential
- •Inquiries should be addressed to Prometheus Books, 59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, New York 14228-2197, 716-691-0133, ext. 207. Fax: 716-564-2711. Www.Prometheusbooks.Com
- •1. Spiritual healing—Controversial literature. 2. Healers—Controversial literature. I. Title.
- •Isbn 0-87975-369-2
- •Foreword by Carl Sagan
- •Acknowledgments
- •Introduction
- •The Origins of Faith-Healing
- •A Plethora of Religious Flotsam
- •The Royal Touch
- •Valentine Greatraks, the “Stroker.”
- •The Most Famous Christian Shrine
- •Virgins Galore
- •The Afflicted Visionary
- •There Is a Baby in the Bath Water
- •The Problems of Examining Claims
- •A Remarkable Case from Lourdes
- •The Search for Evidence on Micheli
- •The Latest Official “Miracle”
- •Faith-Healing in Modern Times
- •The Pattern Is Established
- •A Similarity to Witchcraft
- •An Orthodox Service
- •It’s Magic
- •Sacred Babble
- •A Minor Test
- •The Most Important Ingredient
- •A Trick with Biblical Roots
- •The “Gift of Knowledge”
- •A Smooth Act
- •The Family Bible Tells All
- •A Disclaimer
- •The Art of Mnemonics
- •All Sorts of Trickery
- •The Church View
- •More Orthodox Views
- •How Do Their Associates Feel About the Faith-Healers?
- •Caution: Demons at Work
- •Send in the Demons
- •The Roman Catholic Bestiary
- •Christianity and Voodoo: Are They That Different?
- •An Early Skeptic
- •Anointing by the Anointed
- •A Lutheran Point of View
- •The Financial Aspects
- •God as Terrorist
- •Saved from the Unthinkable
- •Gold Bars and Cut Diamonds
- •A Very Private Matter
- •The Mail Operation
- •Living High on the Hog
- •Religion, Texas-style
- •Revelations of a Decorator
- •More Real Estate
- •High Living in Texas, Too
- •A Bold Admission
- •The Mail Operations of Faith-Healers
- •I Have a Little List
- •The Biggest Little Mail Room in California
- •The Eagle’s Nest Mail Room
- •The Tulsa Postman’s Burden
- •Copying a Good Idea
- •Faulty Computer Programming
- •A. A. Allen and Miracle Valley
- •A Disclaimer—Just in Case
- •A Colorful Start
- •A Tough Customer
- •The Evidence for Healing
- •The Dream Ends
- •The King Is Dead
- •A Fortuitous Encounter
- •Trouble in Paradise and a Touching Defense
- •Suspicious Signs and Wonders
- •A Man with a Lot of Enemies
- •The Preacher in Prison
- •Enter a New Character, the Reverend Peter Popoff
- •Caught in the Act
- •Back in the Saddle Again
- •A Simple Act to Follow
- •W. V. Grant and the Eagle’s Nest
- •The Big Operator from Big d
- •Diversity of Operations
- •The Elusive Truth
- •Miracle Time
- •How Blind Is “Blind”?
- •A Careful Observer
- •The Wheelchair Trick
- •A Theologian’s Opinion
- •Behind the Scenes
- •Does Grant Ever Heal Anyone?
- •An Unhappy Customer
- •The Pretending Game
- •Not Blind Enough to Be Deceived
- •The Media Attitude
- •A Devastating Exposé in Rochester
- •An Odd Coincidence
- •The Story Starts Falling Apart
- •The Haitian Orphanages
- •W. V. Grant Replies to wokr-tv
- •A Brother in Trouble
- •Another Well-Informed Reporter
- •The Trash Detail
- •A Sad Record of Problems with No Solutions
- •The Written Evidence
- •The “Leg-Stretching” Miracle
- •Celebrities at His Feet
- •A Disillusioned Employee
- •A Brooklyn Encounter with Grant
- •The Interior Decorator Tells All
- •Peter Popoff and His Wonderful Machine
- •A Rellglous Entrepreneur
- •A Major Exposure
- •The Leaflet Campaign
- •Revelations
- •Sophisticated Technology at Work
- •An Intended Deception
- •Case for the Defense
- •A Valuable Colleague
- •The Electronic Evidence
- •A Different Brand of People
- •They’ll Believe Anything
- •The Popoff Camp Answers by Mail
- •Backs to the Wall
- •An Unhappy Toiler in the Vineyard
- •And Then There’s the Other Sherrill Family
- •An Important Character
- •One Broken Promise Too Many
- •Electronics to the Rescue
- •The “Russian Bibles” Vandalism Scam
- •The Plot Thickens
- •The Vandals Strike
- •The Appeal to Repair the Devil’s Work
- •The Smoking Videotape
- •Selling the Snake Oil
- •The Damning Evidence of Popoff’s Personal Involvement
- •The Mail Campaign
- •No Refunds in the Religion Business
- •A Plea from a Colleague
- •A Similar Case in Chicago
- •Expert Advice Is Sought—and Ignored
- •High-Powered Mail
- •Oral Roberts and the City of Faith
- •A Losing Proposition
- •Divine Financial Advice
- •Get Thee Behind Me, Poverty
- •The Canvas Cathedral
- •Economy-Size Miracles
- •The Midas Touch
- •A Few Paradoxes and Second Thoughts
- •The Ultimate Presumption
- •A Word of Knowledge from Pat Robertson
- •The Political Power of the Evangelists
- •Other Wonders, Too
- •A Sour Note from a Colleague
- •A Redefinition
- •The tv Special to End Them All
- •The Psychic Dentist and an Unamazing Grace
- •Skimpy Evidence
- •Going to the Top
- •Trouble Down Under
- •Improving the Account
- •Dentistry by Alchemy
- •A Serious, Direct Health Hazard
- •The Shirley Temple of Faith-Healing
- •Six More Failed Examples
- •An Amazing Lack of Evidence and Loss of Memory
- •The Gift of Knowledge Backfires
- •Father DiOrio: Vatican-Approved Wizard
- •Down Syndrome “Cured”
- •A Superior’s Opinion
- •More Incredible Claims, But No Evidence
- •Sidestepping the Question
- •The Heavy Burden of Guilt
- •The Lesser Lights
- •Danny Davis
- •Kathryn (“The Great”) Kuhlman
- •Daniel Atwood
- •David Epley
- •Brother (Reverend) Al (Warick)
- •David Paul
- •Ernest Angley
- •The Happy Hunters
- •Practical Limitations of Medical Science
- •What Does Medical Science Offer?
- •The Attitude of Orthodox Physicians
- •The Experts Speak Up
- •The French Attitude
- •An Interested Anthropologist Looks at Faith-Healing
- •Evangelists as Friends
- •The Aim of Medical Science
- •Where Is the Evidence?
- •Ancient Precursors
- •What You See Is Not What You Get
- •An m.D. Refuses to Answer
- •A Nlneteenth-Century Case and Its Conclusion
- •Willful Blindness
- •The Case of Rose Osha
- •So What Harm Is Done, Anyway?
- •The Nature of the Ailments
- •The Elusive Proof
- •The Mystery of the Discarded Crutches
- •A Personal Experience in Canada
- •The Anthropologist’s View
- •Many Similar Conclusions
- •A Proudly Quoted Miracle
- •A Physician Answers My Request
- •The Newspapers Have a Go at It
- •Why Do They Continue to Believe?
- •A Poor Body of Proof
- •The Devil Known as Science
- •The Refusal to Know
- •A Religious Parallel
- •The Art of Rationalization
- •The Overlap of Magic and Science
- •The Placebo Effect
- •The Endorphin Effect
- •Psychotherapy vs. Faith-Healing
- •Keeping the Victims Dependent
- •Standards of Evidence
- •Oral Roberts Fails Examination
- •An Epilepsy “Cure” by Peter Popoff
- •A Nonexistent Tumor “Cured” by Peter Popoff
- •The Bare Facts
- •A Simple Challenge, Unanswered
- •Legal Aspects
- •Many More Cases of Dying Children
- •A Wise Statement Seldom Heeded
- •A Reluctance to Enforce the Law
- •Other Legal Concerns
- •Final Thoughts
- •An Update
- •Bibliography
- •Appendix Appendix I
- •Appendix II
- •Appendix III
- •Appendix IV
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1 - The Origins of Faith-Healing
A Plethora of Religious Flotsam
The Royal Touch
The Most Famous Christian Shrine
Virgins Galore
The Afflicted Visionary
There Is a Baby in the Bath Water
The Problems of Examining Claims
A Remarkable Case from Lourdes
The Search for Evidence on Micheli
The Latest Official “Miracle”
Chapter 2 - Faith-Healing in Modern Times
The Pattern Is Established
A Similarity to Witchcraft
An Orthodox Service
It’s Magic
Sacred Babble
A Minor Test
The Most Important Ingredient
A Trick with Biblical Roots
The “Gift of Knowledge”
A Smooth Act
The Family Bible Tells All
A Disclaimer
An Old Act
The Art of Mnemonics
All Sorts of Trickery
Chapter 3 - The Church View
More Orthodox Views
How Do Their Associates Feel About the Faith-Healers?
Caution: Demons at Work
Send in the Demons
The Roman Catholic Bestiary
Christianity and Voodoo: Are They That Different?
An Early Skeptic
Anointing by the Anointed
A Lutheran Point of View
Chapter 4 - The Financial Aspects
God as Terrorist
Saved from the Unthinkable
Gold Bars and Cut Diamonds
A Very Private Matter
The Mail Operation
Living High on the Hog
Religion, Texas-style
Revelations of a Decorator
More Real Estate
High Living in Texas, Too
A Bold Admission
Chapter 5 - The Mail Operations of Faith-Healers
I Have a Little List
The Biggest Little Mail Room in California
The Eagle’s Nest Mail Room
The Tulsa Postman’s Burden
Copying a Good Idea
Faulty Computer Programming
Chapter 6 - A. A. Allen and Miracle Valley
A Disclaimer—Just in Case
A Colorful Start
A Tough Customer
The Evidence for Healing
The Dream Ends
The King Is Dead
Chapter 7 - Leroy Jenkins and the $100,000 Challenge
A Fortuitous Encounter
Trouble in Paradise and a Touching Defense
Suspicious Signs and Wonders
A Man with a Lot of Enemies
The Preacher in Prison
Enter a New Character, the Reverend Peter Popoff
Caught in the Act
Back in the Saddle Again
A Simple Act to Follow
Chapter 8 - W. V. Grant and the Eagle’s Nest
The Big Operator from Big D
Diversity of Operations
The Elusive Truth
Miracle Time
How Blind Is “Blind”?
A Careful Observer
The Wheelchair Trick
A Theologian’s Opinion
Behind the Scenes
Does Grant Ever Heal Anyone?
An Unhappy Customer
The Pretending Game
Not Blind Enough to Be Deceived
The Media Attitude
A Devastating Exposé in Rochester
An Odd Coincidence
The Story Starts Falling Apart
The Haitian Orphanages
W. V. Grant Replies to WOKR-TV
A Brother in Trouble
Another Well-Informed Reporter
The Trash Detail
A Sad Record of Problems with No Solutions
The Written Evidence
The “Leg-Stretching” Miracle
Celebrities at His Feet
A Disillusioned Employee
A Brooklyn Encounter with Grant
An On-the-Seene Report
The Interior Decorator Tells All
Chapter 9 - Peter Popoff and His Wonderful Machine
A Rellglous Entrepreneur
A Major Exposure
The Leaflet Campaign
Revelations
Sophisticated Technology at Work
An Intended Deception
Case for the Defense
A Valuable Colleague
The Electronic Evidence
A Different Brand of People
They’ll Believe Anything
The Popoff Camp Answers by Mail
Backs to the Wall
An Unhappy Toiler in the Vineyard
And Then There’s the Other Sherrill Family
An Important Character
One Broken Promise Too Many
Electronics to the Rescue
The “Russian Bibles” Vandalism Scam
The Plot Thickens
The Vandals Strike
The Appeal to Repair the Devil’s Work
The Smoking Videotape
Selling the Snake Oil
The Damning Evidence of Popoff’s Personal Involvement
The Mail Campaign
No Refunds in the Religion Business
A Plea from a Colleague
A Similar Case in Chicago
Expert Advice Is Sought—and Ignored
High-Powered Mail
Chapter 10 - Oral Roberts and the City of Faith
A Losing Proposition
Divine Financial Advice
Get Thee Behind Me, Poverty
The Canvas Cathedral
Economy-Size Miracles
The Midas Touch
A Few Paradoxes and Second Thoughts
The Ultimate Presumption
Chapter 11 - A Word of Knowledge from Pat Robertson
The Political Power of the Evangelists
Other Wonders, Too
A Sour Note from a Colleague
A Redefinition
The TV Special to End Them All
Chapter 12 - The Psychic Dentist and an Unamazing Grace
Skimpy Evidence
Going to the Top
Trouble Down Under
Improving the Account
Dentistry by Alchemy
A Serious, Direct Health Hazard
The Shirley Temple of Faith-Healing
Six More Failed Examples
An Amazing Lack of Evidence and Loss of Memory
The Gift of Knowledge Backfires
Chapter 13 - Father DiOrio: Vatican-Approved Wizard
Down Syndrome “Cured”
A Superior’s Opinion
More Incredible Claims, But No Evidence
Sidestepping the Question
The Heavy Burden of Guilt
Chapter 14 - The Lesser Lights
Danny Davis
Kathryn (“The Great”) Kuhlman
Daniel Atwood
David Epley
Brother (Reverend) Al (Warick)
David Paul
Ernest Angley
The Happy Hunters
Chapter 15 - Practical Limitations of Medical Science
What Does Medical Science Offer?
The Attitude of Orthodox Physicians
The Experts Speak Up
The French Attitude
An Interested Anthropologist Looks at Faith-Healing
Evangelists as Friends
The Aim of Medical Science
Chapter 16 - Where Is the Evidence?
Ancient Precursors
What You See Is Not What You Get
An M.D. Refuses to Answer
A Nlneteenth-Century Case and Its Conclusion
Willful Blindness
The Case of Rose Osha
So What Harm Is Done, Anyway?
The Nature of the Ailments
The Elusive Proof
The Mystery of the Discarded Crutches
A Personal Experience in Canada
The Anthropologist’s View
Many Similar Conclusions
A Proudly Quoted Miracle
A Physician Answers My Request
The Newspapers Have a Go at It
Why Do They Continue to Believe?
A Poor Body of Proof
The Devil Known as Science
The Refusal to Know
A Religious Parallel
The Art of Rationalization
The Overlap of Magic and Science
The Placebo Effect
The Endorphin Effect
Psychotherapy vs. Faith-Healing
Keeping the Victims Dependent
Standards of Evidence
Oral Roberts Fails Examination
An Epilepsy “Cure” by Peter Popoff
A Nonexistent Tumor “Cured” by Peter Popoff
The Bare Facts
A Simple Challenge, Unanswered
Chapter 17 - Legal Aspects
Many More Cases of Dying Children
A Wise Statement Seldom Heeded
A Reluctance to Enforce the Law
Other Legal Concerns
Chapter 18 - Amen!
Final Thoughts
An Update
Bibliography
Appendix