The Power of Belief
The Power of Belief was an ABC News Special aired on October 6, 1998, hosted by John Stossel. Stossel examines popular claims of therapeutic touch, psychic detectives, faith healing voodoo curses, channelling, and the media's lack of inquiry into pseudoscience.[1]
The show included appearances from famous skeptics Michael Shermer, James Randi, and David Willey. New Age author JZ Knight, who claimed to channel a spiritual entity named "Ramtha", also appeared on the program, along with Susan Miller, John Monti, Ava Kay Jones, and Elmer Glover.
The episode contains video of the "world's longest firewalk" which included Stossel and Willey taking part.[2]
Robert Todd Carroll called it "a very good survey of popular culture's fascination" with the paranormal.[3] James Randi wrote "ABC-TV, in my opinion, did a really excellent job" with the show.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "TBS Report Online". Vol. 11, no. 2. Tampa Bay Skeptics. October 1998. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Noelle, Dan (Jan–Feb 1999). "World's longest firewalk: physicist leads hot trek for science in Pennsylvania". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Carroll, Robert (October 13, 1998). "Mass Media Funk". The Skeptic's Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Randi, James (October 7, 1998). "The Stossel Special". James Randi Educational Foundation. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
External links[edit]
- The Power of Belief (Video clip) from ABC News
- The Power of Belief from Center for Inquiry
- The Power of Belief from ABC News listing
- The Power of Belief Transcript from ABC News (archive.org)
- The Power of Belief (Unofficial transcript)
- The Teaching of Courses in the Science and Pseudoscience of Psychology: Useful Resources