The Faith Healers

by James Randi

Book Overview

James Randi, the celebrated magician, has written a damning indictment of the faith-healing practices of the leading televangelists and others who claim divine healing powers. Randi and his team of researchers attended scores of "miracle services" and often were pronounced "healed" of the nonexistent illnesses they claimed. They viewed first-hand the tragedies resulting from the wide-spread belief that faith healing can cure every conceivable disease...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879755350
• ISBN13: 9780879755355
• Release Date: April 1989
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating from cover to cover!

I read a lot of science and skepticim books, so I don't usually get to "into" books, emotionally speaking. But this book is much, much different... so many times, i was absolutly infuriated at how evil people can be. The amount of physical, emotional, spiritual and financial pain that is caused by faith healers is unforgivable. Randi produces an overwhelming amount of evidence for each faith healer he investigates, showing without a shadow of a doubt that it is a giant scam. Unfortunatly, the truly faithful are never bothered by any such evidence... they believe Randi to be "of the devil." This is a truly remarkable book, that will open everyones eyes to the absolute nastyness of faith healers, their unsatiable greed, and the faithful that throw thousands of dollars at them, hoping to recieve God's blessings. Unfortunatly, I doub't that anyone that needs to hear the information that Randi has in this book will ever read it.

This is not an anti-religion book

As 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.

Kudos from a Clergyman

I 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 Jame

One of the best by Randi

I love James Randi books (even if sometimes he repeats a certain point several times, like trying to get it through our head by hammering it). This one, and "Flim-Flam", are my favorites.In "Faith Healers" he exposes the tricks of those who claim that are able to cure in name of the Lord. The book is not only an eye opener, but sometimes works as an excellent detective story (as how he exposed Popoff).Some critics of this book -and other by Randi- express that there is such things as miracles, that we need the Lord, etc... If you read carefully, you will find that Randi is never oppossed to our liberty to select a religion. He is strongly against all those people who take advantage of faith to take other people money and their possibilities of getting appropiate medical attention. Hey, religious people, even the Bible talks against people claiming falsely to have powers from God. Skeptic or believer, you have to support Randi and his causes!

Randi exposes "faith-healing" frauds

It is almost impossible to read this book and not be outraged by the callous and reprehensible behavior of the so-called "faith healers." Not only does Randi reveal the methods and tricks used by these charlatans, but he provides example after example, including actual documents, to back up his findings. He demonstrates just how disgracefully these individuals use every underhanded trick they can come up with to wring money out of people who honestly believe that their hard-earned dollars are going to support a good cause; they believe they are doing the right thing, when in actuality their donations are used to purchase sports cars, clothes, and new homes for these supposed "men of God."It is unfathomable how someone like the previous reviewer can accuse Randi of being jealous of the money earned by the "faith healers." Randi is unfailingly respectful of those whom he sees as honestly pursuing their convictions, even though he feels they are misguided; for example, he bears no ill will towards Earnest Angley, one of the most famous faith healers of all, because he feels that Angley is sincere. But as for the charlatans and deceivers who prey upon the weak, Randi spares none of his wrath, and rightfully so. Why shouldn't he take off the kid gloves when dealing with people so vile that they would exploit the honest religious faith of good people for their own monetary gain?Does the previous reviewer feel that it is legitimate for a minister to mail out packages of kool aid, call it the "blood of Christ," and ask for donations in excess of $100 from simple, hard-working people? Is it legitimate for them to concoct one so-called "crisis" after another in their ministry, in order to solicit funds which will go not towards any good cause, but rather, to support the extravagant lifestyle of the "minister?" This book has nothing to do with "the power of faith;" it is about dishonesty and criminal behavior being perpetrated by frauds. And in spite of what the reviewer below has to say, Randi shows very clearly, with exhaustive examples, that such faith healing does NOT work. Thanks again, Randi, for having the courage to stand up to evil.