Friday, September 08, 2006
Old news but still relevant: James Randi Debunks Peter Popoff
Like James Randi, I want to stay in the real world. I don't want to be influenced by poor reasoning. I think that God has revealed himself historically and supernaturally in Scripture, and I depend on divine guidance. There are thousands of Biblical manuscripts which speak of the same God dealing with his creation, and it is reasonable to accept his inspired word.
As stated with my comments on Hinn and Angley, in the Bible healing and the supernatural did take place. I myself have witnessed the power of the supernatural by seeing an exorcism of a person I know. However, personal experience is not my primary reason for being a Christian, rather I trust in God's guidance, and revelation, and I accept that God is hyper-rational, not illogical, and able to make truth known to me.
Clearly, in the case of Popoff and his wife, deception has taken place. Is his wife going to claim that the Holy Spirit guided her to know the information that she passed on to her husband? I never want to judge the inner motives of anyone, but from both the Randi clip and the wikipedia article in the comments, it can be seen that the Popoff's have made a lot of money from their racket, and this is likely an obvious motivation.
Although these healing ministries appear fraudulent, they still preach some type of gospel message. Philippians mentions in 1:17-19 that some preach Christ out of selfish ambition, and not from pure motives, but Paul rejoices that Christ is still being proclaimed. To many in the Church perhaps these phony healing ministries are fraudulent, but not the threats to Christianity that pseudo-Christian cults are. In posting Hinn, Angley, and Popoff, I hope to share a satirical laugh, but also point out that these type of ministries are not in line with the Biblical New Testament model. Jesus and the Apostles did not attempt to perform phony healings for selected people, but from Scriptural evidence were empowered by God. I believe that God can empower someone to perform a healing, but so often I think certain people want to make supernatural things happen and for this reason I think scepticism is healthy in regard to healing and miracles.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The following is an article on Popoff and his comeback:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Popoff
Peter Popoff is a U.S. televangelist who has spent most of his career claiming to treat physical ailments through the use of faith healing. He has asserted that he has the power to channel God and that God works through him to cure various ailments, and many of his crusade services have involved him working alleged miracles by laying his hands upon members of the audience. Popoff is also known for sending packets of Miracle Spring Water to his viewers. He claims that the water is a solution to physical and financial problems.
Contents [hide]
1 Early career
2 Current activities
2.1 Financial details on Peter Popoff Ministries
3 References
4 External links
Early career
At appearances in the 1980s ministry conventions, Popoff routinely and accurately stated the home addresses and specific illnesses of his audience members, a feat he allowed them to believe was due to divine revelation and "God given ability".[1] His actual methods were discovered in 1987 when noted skeptic James Randi visited a show and discovered radio transmissions of Popoff's wife off-stage reading information which she and her aides had gathered from earlier conversation with members of the audience.[2] Popoff would simply listen to these promptings with his in-ear receiver and repeat what he heard to the crowd. After tapes of these transmissions were played on the United States TV program The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Popoff's popularity and viewing audiences declined sharply, and his ministry declared bankruptcy later that year.
Popoff's shows also featured audience members who were brought on stage in wheelchairs and then rose dramatically to walk without support. These were some of Popoff's most incredible healings, but what believing audience members and television viewers did not know is that wheelchairs were used by Popoff to seat people who were already able to walk.[3] He no longer "heals" people in this way.
Popoff wrote several paperbacks in the early 1980s that were published by Faith Messenger Publications but are now out of print.[4]
Current activities
Popoff has recently appeared on late-night U.S. television as a priest and also in infomercials. He has promoted his "Miracle Spring Water" as a "point of contact" for divine healing. He has also preached a form of prosperity theology under the slogan "Go into business with God", claiming that God will make "divine transfers" into a viewer's "divine account". One infomercial states, "A divine transfer is a supernatural event. This is not money you're going to make from your job... God is going to supernaturally put money into your account."
Within four weeks of submitting one's address to Popoff's automated phone service, subscribers receive in the mail from Popoff (now calling himself "Prophet Peter Popoff") a three-page essay filled with elaborate biblical language and red-ink imitation handwriting. Instead of the promised "Miracle Water", included is a tiny plastic "Golden Tablet" and a "Miracle Band" (a cardboard bracelet marked simply with "JIREH", Hebrew for "see" but sometimes ranslated "provide"[5]). Popoff purports that the "Golden Tablet" was made by God and intended to create immense wealth for the subscriber. Popoff then insists that the subscriber wear the "Miracle Band" while posting him a check for $28.30 (related to Exodus 28:30 in some way), in order to receive further instructions on how to use the "Golden Tablet".
Popoff's infomercials could be seen late nights and early mornings on the Travel Channel, BET, and Comedy Central.[6] He is also once again buying time on selected local stations in the US. [7]
Nevertheless, since making his comeback to television, there have been several reports of Popoff gaining financially from donations. Some victims have received several letters from Popoff, with each succeeding letter asking for more money than previous. A recent report from Fox affiliate WDAF-TV in Kansas City revealed that Popoff's salary in 2004 was over $500,000, and his assets included a $90,000, 2006 Porsche convertible. Some reporters are urging those who have donated money to Popoff in hopes of receiving "miracles" to report to the Attorney General in their state.[1]
Financial details on Peter Popoff Ministries
As of FYE 2004, Peter Popoff received $548,167 as President of his organization. 36.7% of the organization's total expenses go towards fundraising and administrative expenses.
In total the Peter Popoff Ministries raised $16,220,066 in revenue in FYE 2004. See Charity Navigator [1]
References
^ a b Friedman, Jason, "Reverend Rip-Off", WDAF Fox 4 News, 2006-05-08. Retrieved on 2006-05-21.
^ Randi, James (1989). The Faith Healers. Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-535-0.
^ Seckel, Al (1987). “God's Frequency is 39.17 MHz: The Investigation of Peter Popoff”, Science and the Paranormal. Retrieved on 2006-05-06.
^ Peter Popoff. GoHastings.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
^ Y@hovah yireh. The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon. Crosswalk.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.
^ National Television Schedule. Peter Popoff Ministries. Retrieved on 2006-05-06.
^ Peter Popoff is back. Radio-Info. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
External links
Official site of Peter Popoff Ministries
A video presentation by Randi, the second half of which shows Popoff's use of an-ear radio (Windows Media format)
A Christian apologetics website critical of Popoff and his teachings
Financial Statistics on Peter Popoff Ministries, from Charity Navigator FYE 2004, Peter Popoff received $548,167 as President of his organization. 36.7% of the organization's total expenses go towards fundraising and administrative expenses.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Popoff"
As bad as Popoff is with ripping people off with his "ministry", there are plenty of more dangerous deceivers running around claiming to be Jesus Christ, returned.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this article at the Thomist Tacos blog on Jose Luis de Jesus:
http://www.thomisttacos.com/2006/09/09/the-literal-american-idol-when-a-cult-gets-too-hizzot-to-hazandle/
Blogger deleted comments.
ReplyDeleteThey should be back.
ReplyDeleteӀt is a general miscobception that plumbing only
ReplyDeleterelatеs to the kitϲhen аnd batrooms in ttҺe buildіng.
Althoսgh there ɑre maany reasons that you mаy need a plumber tօ come tto
your home, tҺe beաt plumЬеrs in Wasɦington will provide you with the high quality and
гeliable services that you need, when you need them.
This movie is pгobably the longest infomercial eveг,
becаսse the whole thing was just an ongoing advertisement for Nintеndo
baѕed around Super Maгio Brothesrs 3. Ensure tҺatt clotɦes dryers are vented too the outdоors.
A can greatly helop if iit iѕ spent foг the purpose for which it is
taken. If it tirns out we have your top discomfort, that are necessary to set up with thee sɦopkeeper tto thus more reduuced the potentiаl sɑle expense of the habitat,
rather verіfy pгactical ideas on how thee disease may just be permanent.
If you'гe not in a ruѕh to gget somthing done or the
problem isn't immediate, go tɦrouցҺ a list in the phone bbook or onn the Internet of plumbers in the Deerfield
arеa. What you can do with a career plan is narrow down your options to career paths you'd be willing to take.
They can aѕsist yoou wwith the changing oof coloгing patterns,
the entire interiors d. uk one of tthe famous Trade directοry in UK aand have a
listing of Local Tradesman iin UK and Elecxtrician in UK.
Feel free tߋ vіsit mmү web-site: copper repiping Pompano beach