EHE Book Reviews

Skeptical/Critical Approaches Record Type: Review ID: 1151
The Faith Healers Randi, James
Magician James Randi herein exposes the deception and exploitation practices by the major televangelists, including Peter Popoff, W.V. Grant, Pat Robertson, and Oral Roberts. He also investigated A.A. Allen, Leroy Jenkins, Willard Fuller (the "psychic dentist"), and Ralph DiOrio. Chapter 14, "The Lesser Lights," such as Danny Davis, Kathryn Kuhlman, Daniel Atwood, David Epley, Al Warick ("Brother Al"), David Paul Ernest Angley, and Frances and Charles Hunter ("The Happy Hunters"). Randi exposes the tricks used by some of the healers, supported by evidence he and some colleagues gathered over a four-year period. He also emphasizes the gullibility and misplaced faith of the victims, which plays a part in their victimization and exploitation. Randi demands that legal action be taken against the exploiters. There is a chapter on "Practical Limitations of Medical Science," in which he points out that people expect too much of traditional medicine, and when disappointed, they turn to unorthodox methods of healing. A chapter is devoted to his unsuccessful efforts to obtain evidence of successful cures. This lack of evidence leads him to question whether any cures actually took place. A brief chapter reviews legal issues involved in aspects of unorthodox healing.
Publisher Information:	Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1987. 314p. Bibliography: 307; 6 figures; 33 illustrations

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The Faith Healers