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James Randi |
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A HAPPY CONVERT
From James Randi's weekly newsletter (09-12-05):
During a flight a couple weeks back on my way into Fort Lauderdale, I sat by
a young chap who got into conversation with me and revealed that he’d been
studying “energy healing” and could demonstrate it by means of “applied
kinesiology.” See
www.randi.org/encyclopedia/applied%20kinesiology.html.
Well, that got my rapt attention, as you might imagine, and I
told him that he could apply for the JREF million-dollar prize. He agreed to
meet with me at the JREF, and a few days later he showed up. Kramer and I
tested him, and he was quite shaken when he became aware of how easily he’d
been fooling himself. As he left, I gave him one of my books, and some other
literature.
I share with you now the follow-up to this event. I received this e-mail:
This is Brendan (your neighbor on the airplane) I just wanted to take the
opportunity to thank you for having me come by the foundation while in Fort
Lauderdale. I found it to be a highly educational experience...a much needed
wake-up call. I know that the goal of your organization is to promote
critical thinking...and this initiative has been a resounding success in my
life since our meeting.
In the past, I admit I was blindly trusting people, which is unfortunate
because there are no laws to protect the public from various forms of
misinformation. After having met with you, read your book, and watched your
video, I am now quite skeptical about the information I accept, and am
careful to critically analyze the information. In fact, a number of times,
when people have made claims, I informed them of the great news...that they
can make an extra million just by proving it with a controlled test through
the James Randi Educational Foundation. You can probably guess what happens
next!
At this point, things are really starting to take off in my career. Last
week I was chosen to the Canadian Health Care Team for the 2006 Olympics in
Italy, and I have been recruited as the personal trainer for a segment on a
TV makeover. Your guidance came just in time, and has "killed the monster
while it was little."
I am still in search of "truth," and continue to devote my free time to
reading books and listening to audio programs. But everything I take in is
now carefully filtered with a healthy dose of skepticism, thanks to your
generous influence.
Sincerely, Brendan Fox
P.S. If you are ever interested in debunking the effectiveness of
chiropractic medicine and orthopedic inserts, I have a great deal of
information I can contribute. Just let me know if I can be a help!
Brendan can expect a call….!
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Mystics offered million dollar challenge
Skeptic: Principles not based on science 'nonsense'
CNN
Dec 2004
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Reuters)
A sworn enemy of superstition, Canadian-born magician James
Randi has thrown down the gauntlet to mystics, promising $1 million to
anyone who can prove supernatural powers or a phenomenon beyond the reach of
science.
An arch-skeptic who demonstrates with his own sleight of hand how easily it
is to dupe the gullible into mistaking trickery for the supernatural, the
bearded 76-year-old has written nine books and lectured at the White House,
NASA and several top universities.
The million-dollar "paranormal challenge" lends publicity to Randi's
life-long mission.
His pursuit of skepticism was sparked by a visit to a spiritualist church in
his native Toronto when he was just 15.
Already an amateur magician, he was upset at seeing "common tricks" pass for
divine intervention. But his attempts at enlightening the churchgoers cost
him four hours questioning at the police station.
Sixty years on, Randi is still trying to persuade people to give up their
belief in mystic forces beyond their control.
"It's a very dangerous thing to believe in nonsense. You're giving away your
money to the charlatans, you're giving away your emotional security, and
sometimes your life," he explained in an interview before giving a lecture
in Stockholm.
A man obsessed
Deeply concerned with the spread of beliefs not based on the principles of
science, Randi is especially worried about the growing popularity of exotic
cures and therapies catering to sick people who are then lured away from
effective treatments.
"It's a mission, and also an obsession," he said.
The challenge also serves to dent the image of professional psychics, as
they so far have balked at the chance to win the million.
"They offer all kinds of strange excuses," he said.
On a European tour of Germany, Italy, Ireland, Belgium and Sweden, Randi
tested people who wanted to go for his million. Most applicants sincerely
believe they have supernatural gifts, the vast majority claiming to possess
the power of dowsing -- the ability to detect water with the help of a cleft
stick.
Dowsing has never been proved to work in a controlled setting, said Randi.
"But no one ever changes their mind," he said, recalling only one single
case throughout the years where a man backed down from his claim after being
tested.
At a lecture to promote critical thinking, a Swedish audience of about 300
applauded and laughed as Randi blasted away at astrologers, homeopathists,
faith healers and psychic mediums, accusing them of defrauding the sick and
the desperate.
Riddling his performance with tricks -- divining the symbols on cards put in
an envelope by an apparently randomly chosen audience member -- Randi says
his own expertise at "magic" helps him expose fraudsters.
"As a magician I know two things -- how to deceive people and how people
deceive themselves."
Offending the spoon benders
On one particular night Randi was in the company of hundreds of cheering
fellow skeptics, but not everyone appreciated seeing their beliefs
shattered.
"I get threats all the time. I don't answer the door unless I know who's
there," he said.
His most famous adversary is Uri Geller, the Israeli psychic who became a
celebrity in the '70s for bending spoons. Geller sued him for libel for his
book "The Truth About Uri Geller." It has cost Randi a fortune in legal
fees, but he has not yet been able to get the book removed from the shelves.
Randi demonstrated to a reporter how he too is capable of mystically
mistreating cutlery, but as a magic trick.
He carefully pointed out that he does not deny Geller might have
supernatural talent -- just as he does not rule out the existence of
supernatural phenomena.
"If Geller does it by divine power, he does it the hard way," he said.
Randi said he would be happy to hand over the prize if presented with solid
evidence.
"That would be such an advance for our knowledge of the universe that it
would be well worth $1 million," he said. "The possibility is very, very
small, but it's there."
The prospects for the mystically minded don't look too rosy, though. The
James Randi Educational Foundation, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has
tested hundreds of applicants. But no one has ever passed even the
preliminary tests.
On the lapel of his jacket, Randi wears a pin with the mascot of the
organization, a winged pig called Pigasus.
"We say that we will give away the million dollars when pigs can fly."
Originally from:
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/12/06/supernatural.skeptic.reut/index.html
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