James Randi offers new $1m challenge

[Bendy Demon]

I was reading articles on Homeopathy and I have to agree that it IS bunk.

Of course it has already been addressed that there is a distinction between Homeopathy and Naturopathy , the latter is where actual herbs and extracts are used.

At first I could feel my hackles rising until Vitruvian mentioned the two and that is where it gets sticky, it seems because the term "Homeopathy" is used as a

blanket term for herbal medicine.

But I suspect that "Randi" doesn't make that distinction either, in his mind anything that doesn't come from Merck or Pfizer is obviously a scam.

In fact I do not view Randi as a skeptic or even a "budding" scientist as he lovingly likes to refer to himself as...he is a bitter old man who feels threatened by anything that doesn't mesh with his world view.

He has yet to present anything "scientific" to back up his claims other than "It is bunk!"

He may have been successful in debunking a few scams and frauds like Uri Geller but I suspect he let that go to his head and now he thinks he is here to save the rest of us poor, deluded peasants from anything that he personally has a gripe with.

[ShadowSot]

But I suspect that "Randi" doesn't make that distinction either, in his mind anything that doesn't come from Merck or Pfizer is obviously a scam.

In fact I do not view Randi as a skeptic or even a "budding" scientist as he lovingly likes to refer to himself as...he is a bitter old man who feels threatened by anything that doesn't mesh with his world view.

Why? I've viewed his blog and saw some of the protests and speeches he's given about homeopathy, he has only spoken about homeopathy as homeopathy, not naturopathy.

I have problems with it as herbs have been offered as a cure for everything, with no oversight whatever.

He has yet to present anything "scientific" to back up his claims other than "It is bunk!"

Each of his experiments I have viewed so far have been done in a scientific fashion, backed up with assistants knowledgeable in the field.

He may have been successful in debunking a few scams and frauds like Uri Geller but I suspect he let that go to his head and now he thinks he is here to save the rest of us poor, deluded peasants from anything that he personally has a gripe with.

So far he's gone after frauds and scams like homeopathy and holographic/magnetic bracelets.

These are hoaxes and scams because people are falling for them, some in a fairly large number.

In the case of homeopathy, people turn to this scam instead of medicine.

In fact, exposing scams like homeopathy are part of the policies of JREF and CSI.

That's not to say I fully support Randi. His views on global warming and his statements in regard to it I find questionable, especially as he's stated he's done no research into it.

[Parture]

Regardless of any ALLEGED sexual proclivities, what does that have to do with the snake oil that is homeopathy?

Randi is a scam artist. I have officially sent him the 4 Step Perfect Proof for God in multiple formats (including the NEW 4 Step Proof) all of which are perfect. He owes me $1 million dollars. Besides I need the money. I am almost broke.

**EDIT**

**Do not post large amounts of irrelevant information. As a one-shot, you can link to an existing thread (though don't make a habit of bumping your own threads either.**

Edited February 14, 2011 by aquatus1

[vitruvian12]

Randi is a scam artist. I have officially sent him the 4 Step Perfect Proof for God in multiple formats (including the NEW 4 Step Proof) all of which are perfect. He owes me $1 million dollars. Besides I need the money. I am almost broke.

**EDIT**

**Do not post large amounts of irrelevant information. As a one-shot, you can link to an existing thread (though don't make a habit of bumping your own threads either.**

Awww

now we dont get to see the proof of god in 4 parts

[aquatus1]

Sure you can. It has its own thread.

Of course, this being a thread about Randi's challenge, I would be interested in how Parture "officially" submitted his challenge.

[Nitty]

Hmm,we shouldn't ridicule and well from my view though I am certain I am wrong,to assume he is stupid because of what he post.Proof now comments later.Parture please show us that you got him to owe you 1 Mil please.And that you were successful.Please do not ridicule or insult for writing this,my perspective is merely an opinion.

[Nitty]

And well if no evidence the answer seems straight.

[The Paranormal Skeptic]

Randi is a scam artist. I have officially sent him the 4 Step Perfect Proof for God in multiple formats (including the NEW 4 Step Proof) all of which are perfect. He owes me $1 million dollars. Besides I need the money. I am almost broke.

Well that really isnt how the challenge works. You dont send Randi a document and say here is proof, give me my million. First of all you have to fill out an application. Second what you are claiming has to be testable and I am sorry but saying "The Resurrection Proves Jesus is God" which is I believe step 3, is not proof. Some Bible scholars still debate if Jesus even existed, though most say he did, there are still some who doubt he was even a man. Thats a totally different topic, but your 4 Steps is far from proof, sorry.

Edited February 14, 2011 by The Paranormal Skeptic

[Parture]

Anyway here is that post removed,

http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/new_4step_proof.htm

[The Paranormal Skeptic]

Anyway here is that post removed,

http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/new_4step_proof.htm

Sorry man, I re read your steps and none of it is proof of anything. So no Randi doesnt owe you anything, even if you followed the correct procedure on taking the challenge.

[Parture]

Sorry man, I re read your steps and none of it is proof of anything. So no Randi doesnt owe you anything, even if you followed the correct procedure on taking the challenge.

Sorry man, I read your response just now and none of it is proof of anything. So Randi still owes me $1,000,000. Pay up!

[The Silver Thong]

Sorry man, I read your response just now and none of it is proof of anything. So Randi still owes me $1,000,000. Pay up!

Nope, no money for you. You can't prove what you are claiming. Many have tried to but like you they failed.

[Parture]

Nope, no money for you. You can't prove what you are claiming. Many have tried to but like you they failed.

I am glad you can't prove your point.

[aquatus1]

**Back on topic.**

[The Silver Thong]

I am glad you can't prove your point.

My point was very clear. With out something that can be demonstrated and repeatable there is no evidence. You have demonstrated nothing let alone repeatable unless you post it twice Oh and proof of god has been man's goal since we invented him. Can't be done, sorry. I can't prove a negative. It's up to you to supply the proof not me to debunk it as if you had proof I would not be able to refute it now would I?

Edited February 15, 2011 by The Silver Thong

[tipotep]

In the case of homeopathy, people turn to this scam instead of medicine.

And this can be very dangerous .... a friend of mine had been sick for a month or so and his wife ( homeopathy - charman , right against modern medicine ) gave him all sorts of herbs etc to fix him ...... well after another month he was no better so he decided to go see the doctor without her knowing .

Turns out he had eccoli poisoning and they traced it back to a contaminated water tank that him and his family were using as drinking water .

Luckily he went to the doctor because he wouldnt have known the tank water was contaminated and no doubt the rest of the family would have got it also .

Morrell to my story - listen to the people who go to University for many years to learn and understand medicine and modern practices and DONT listen to the crazies that run thru the forrest with a dandelion behind the ear collecting herbs and magic mushrooms

TiP.

[Psukhe]

And this can be very dangerous .... a friend of mine had been sick for a month or so and his wife ( homeopathy - charman , right against modern medicine ) gave him all sorts of herbs etc to fix him ...... well after another month he was no better so he decided to go see the doctor without her knowing .

Turns out he had eccoli poisoning and they traced it back to a contaminated water tank that him and his family were using as drinking water .

Luckily he went to the doctor because he wouldnt have known the tank water was contaminated and no doubt the rest of the family would have got it also .

Morel to my story - listen to the people who go to University for many years to learn and understand medicine and modern practices and DONT listen to the crazies that run thru the forrest with a dandelion behind the ear collecting herbs and magic mushrooms

TiP.

Yikes, lucky that whole family didn't get ill -- if your friend had gotten proper treatment it would have been caught right away and lessened a potentially fatal risk to the family & guests much sooner. Absolutely no substitute for 100s of year of modern medical science.

[Odin11]

Yikes, lucky that whole family didn't get ill -- if your friend had gotten proper treatment it would have been caught right away and lessened a potentially fatal risk to the family & guests much sooner. Absolutely no substitute for 100s of year of modern medical science.

You're absolutely right. I just had a teacher for my Brain and Behavior class who was all for things like homeopathy, brain gym, and herbal remedies. One day he's talking to the class about herbal medicine, (witch had nothing to do with the class) and he says "This stuff(herbal remedies) has been around for thousands of years and modern medicine only for the last 200 or so, so I ask you: What really is the alternative medicine?"

He was saying that modern medicine is alternative medicine because it hasn't been around long. I was struck dumb. I didn't know what to say. But when he went on and said that we should aways try to find alternative ways to heal our illnesses before going to modern medicine. I had enough, put my things in my bag, got up and told him "thats how people die" and walked out the door. Never went back to the class. I did try to get my money back for the class but they wouldn't give it to me.

It was everyday he would say thing that had nothing to do with the class that was all about alternative medicine, and the other people where sitting there going "oh yeah, thats sounds right". Imo people who push this crap should be held accountable for the pain and deaths of people who do not get proper care because they listen to their crap.

sry for the rant this stuff just really gets to me.

Edited February 15, 2011 by Odin11

[The Paranormal Skeptic]

It was everyday he would say thing that had nothing to do with the class that was all about alternative medicine, and the other people where sitting there going "oh yeah, thats sounds right". Imo people who push this crap should be held accountable for the pain and deaths of people who do not get proper care because they listen to their crap.

I am glad you got out of that class.

[Emma_Acid]

But I suspect that "Randi" doesn't make that distinction either, in his mind anything that doesn't come from Merck or Pfizer is obviously a scam.

An unfounded assumption.

He has yet to present anything "scientific" to back up his claims other than "It is bunk!"

The science in favour of homoeopathy being bunk is there whether or not you chose to ignore it.

He may have been successful in debunking a few scams and frauds like Uri Geller but I suspect he let that go to his head and now he thinks he is here to save the rest of us poor, deluded peasants from anything that he personally has a gripe with.

Do you want to sound any more willfully ignorant? Do some research into the damage to the fight against AIDS that people like Mathias Rath have done in South Africa, then come back and tell me that the fight against homoeopathy is just a "personal gripe".

i don't care whether it's a risk or not. it's his money and if he wants to flash it around like a big shot, so be it.

if he's got so much, i'm interested to know what sort of philanthropic work he does with it

Same goes for you. Trying to get homoeopathy off the shelves is pretty damn philanthropic actually - do some research into the negative social effects this stuff can have.

With all this publicity, someone is getting rich ...

Who?

[The Paranormal Skeptic]

An unfounded assumption.

The science in favour of homoeopathy being bunk is there whether or not you chose to ignore it.

Do you want to sound any more willfully ignorant? Do some research into the damage to the fight against AIDS that people like Mathias Rath have done in South Africa, then come back and tell me that the fight against homoeopathy is just a "personal gripe".

Same goes for you. Trying to get homoeopathy off the shelves is pretty damn philanthropic actually - do some research into the negative social effects this stuff can have.

Who?

Brilliant!!!

[Parture]

My point was very clear. With out something that can be demonstrated and repeatable there is no evidence. You have demonstrated nothing let alone repeatable unless you post it twice Oh and proof of god has been man's goal since we invented him. Can't be done, sorry. I can't prove a negative. It's up to you to supply the proof not me to debunk it as if you had proof I would not be able to refute it now would I?

We observe trillions and trillions of causes and no hard evidence something comes from nothing and that is not good enough? You're trying to be God, for only God could be all-knowing. Let's say there was one last thing you didn't know holding out it could prove God does not exist, that sounds like false humility to the nth degree. A trillion causes is more than good enough.

**EDIT**

**Parture, see the PM I am sending you.**

Edited February 15, 2011 by aquatus1

[Emma_Acid]

We observe trillions and trillions of causes and no hard evidence something comes from nothing and that is not good enough? You're trying to be God, for only God could be all-knowing. Let's say there was one last thing you didn't know holding out it could prove God does not exist, that sounds like false humility to the nth degree. A trillion causes is more than good enough.

I have no idea what you're getting at, only to say that you can't prove a negative.

You're a sinner who is going to Hell because you don't want to be redeemed to God.

And you're a Christian, so forgive us already.

[The Paranormal Skeptic]

You're a sinner who is going to Hell because you don't want to be redeemed to God. He gives you free will to have this choice. You've chosen. How sad for you.

Hmmm Matthew 7:1 comes to mind here and in case you dont know it off hand you amazing Christian you, it simply reads "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Anyway if you can prove Hell, you could win Randi's prize.

[The Silver Thong]

We observe trillions and trillions of causes and no hard evidence something comes from nothing and that is not good enough? You're trying to be God, for only God could be all-knowing. Let's say there was one last thing you didn't know holding out it could prove God does not exist, that sounds like false humility to the nth degree. A trillion causes is more than good enough.

You're a sinner who is going to Hell because you don't want to be redeemed to God. He gives you free will to have this choice. You've chosen. How sad for you.

I am the one saying we don't know, I'm admitting that we don't know. You are assuming that your god exists and that you know it with out proof. As far as me going to your imaginary hell, I would check yourself before condemning others you don't know.

Edited February 15, 2011 by The Silver Thong