Back in 1986 James Randi caught a faith healer, one Peter Popoff, using a radio transmitter to, well, do this:
Peter Popoff, like many faith healers, calls out the names, illnesses, and sometimes addresses of people at his crusades, then "lays hands" on them and prays for their healing. The impression given at such services is that the information comes directly from God; indeed, a magazine distributed by Popoff's organization described an audience member being "called out by the Spirit for healing". Those in the audience are so impressed by Popoff's "Gift of Knowledge" that they break into applause. The subjects picked are so overwhelmed that they often break into tears. One woman who was "healed" at one of the meetings and later interviewed by CSER stated: " know he is real from the way he talked. He actually knew my address and had no notes to look at! he is real, all right!"
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When world-famous magician and psychic investigator James Randi and his close magician friend Steve Shaw first attended a Popoff healing, they noticed that Popoff "called out" people from the audience fast and accurately. He gave their ailments, named relatives, and even threw in an occasional street address for good measure. After Randi and Shaw had observed Popoff dealing with twenty or so people, it was obvious to them that Popoff was not using some mnemonic device. Shaw told Randi, "He's got something else going for him, and I think I know what I have to do." Randi agreed and sent Steve to get a closer look at Popoff. Steve noticed that Popoff was wearing a hearing aid in his left ear. (That device is somewhat unusual for someone who claims to be able to perform miraculous healings.) You can see the shiny plastic in there, clear as can be, Shaw told Randi.
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Alec Jason and his assistant, Bob Steiner, had hardly set up the tape recorder and turned on the scanner before the scanner zeroed in on frequency 39.17 Megahertz (MHz). The feminine voice boomed loud and clear over their private earphones, "Hello, Petey. I love you! I'm talking to you. Can you hear me? If you can't, you're in trouble, 'cause I'm talking as well as I can!" (Her voice suddenly becomes business like.) "I'm looking up names right now." Jason and Steiner knew that they had struck pay dirt! The funny thing about it was that it turned out that God was a woman; God spoke on frequency 39.17 MHz (in a band width normally used only by police and fire departments); and God sounded exactly like Popoff's wife Elizabeth.With the help of the scanner, Jason and Steiner were able to hear and record the entire conversation. Elizabeth: "Way over to the other side on the other balcony is Josephine Parino. Run all the way over to the right side now. Josephine Parino. Josephine Parino." Popoff asks the assembled worshipers: "Who's Josephine?" Elizabeth" Parino. Popoff Parino. Josephine Parino identifies herself. "Elizabeth: She's got cancer of the stomach." Transcribing the tape later on, Randi, Jason, and Steiner heard such comments as: "I have a hot one for you. Robert Kaywood. He's got a chest condition that needs surgery. Robert Kaywood. Kaywood. Kaywood. He needs surgery. His veins aren't formed. He prays that God will heal him today. Later on, they heard: "Dear, she...no, she should be there on your right side. Right side. No, that's not her! No, that's not her! In the blue... Oh! That might be here. Okay. She lives at 4267 Masterson, and she's praying for her daughter Joy, who's allergic to food." This was followed by laughter from Elizabeth and Pam, the wife of Reeford Shirrell (Popoff's number two man). Elizabeth Popoff was out of the audience's view but apparently able to see her husband via TV monitors.
The story goes on. If you think you've heard it before, you probably have. Randi appeared on Johnny Carson's show and told the world.
You might think that would be enough to ruin a preacher's career, but Popoff is still at it. You can buy his book, Prosperity Thinking, and a sample of 'Miracle Spring Water' here.
Kind of reminds me of Horatio Alger, that guy.
Posted by Walter at August 27, 2005 10:01 PM