Peter Poppoff

[Showmeproof]

I found something on youtube about Peter Poppoff. Basically, it stated that he went bankrupt after Randi OWNED him, and now in 2007, his ministry racked up 23 million. Now, I do not know much about politics, but can't the government step in and do something about Popoff? Maybe shut him down since he was proven a fraud and is milking people out of SO much money. Does the gov't have the right to draw the line somewhere against people like this?

[Apology]

Well, here's the thing. If Popoff isn't making the same claims that he was making in 2003 or doing the same act, he's free to preach all he wants. I don't know why anyone would want to listen to him, after he's been proven to be a fraud, but nevertheless they do. If he starts faith-healing again, I'm sure he'll run afoul of James Randi again. As a matter of fact, we don't know that Randi doesn't have plans to confront Popoff again in the future. These things take time to arrange.

[Geocat]

I feel like the network stations are just as guilty as popoff is in all this, I mean, They take his money and air his commercials, knowing his history, and where did he get that money from? Scamming people, but the networks happily take that money and air his commercials, which scam yet even more people, and thus more money for them as well. Its a vicious circle. (edit: the commercial I was talking about is "miracle" spring water)

[wahrheit]

The last I heard was he's making money by selling "holy" tap water in tiny plastic bags he mails to the gullible. And with each follow-up letter he's asking for more "donations". As long as there are people falling for these scams, there will be Popoffs.

Hey Geocat, registered June 2004 and just made your first post? Welcome! You definitely are not a forum spammer, are you? ;)

[Geocat]

The last I heard was he's making money by selling "holy" tap water in tiny plastic bags he mails to the gullible. And with each follow-up letter he's asking for more "donations". As long as there are people falling for these scams, there will be Popoffs.

Hey Geocat, registered June 2004 and just made your first post? Welcome! You definitely are not a forum spammer, are you? ;)

Yea I kinda signed up, lurked for a bit, forgot about the site, but recently started lurking around again. :)

[ShowerComic]

That may be it, that he's got a new scheme. So yes he isn't doing the Faith Healing anymore. Can Randi have an effect here? Hard to say -- what claims , if any , is he making about his 'holy water'? -- are they for instance even less than the claims made by homeopathic remedies?

ex: 1: this memory water will cure cancer --> Homeopathic claim .

ex: 2: this holy water will bring you happiness, and joy in an upcoming relationship.
-> (is that 'relationship' romance, job, retirement , children, ...)
job -> (co worker, boss/underling, customer / server)
will bring -> when, happiness -> how much ?

Still how many people simply want to make something symbolic? Baptismal water, wine and crackers, a Sacred Chalice, the 'Holy Torah' - There's nothing supernatural about any of it. -- But listen to the words of the priests rabbis, and ministers they (and society/your parents if you come from a religious background) want to make something sacred.

-- So Jews buy Menorahs, and special dishes for passover. Christians buy Christmas trees, and easter eggs. Everyone does birthdays, funerals, and anniversaries (with some more special than others. -- 40th birthday silver anniversary etc.)

[dudalb]

Poppoff is very careful to stay within the bounds of the First Admendment guarantee of Freedom of religon.
Here's hoping he get careless and steps outside the bounds and gets his butt put in jail.

[Autolite]

Poppoff is very careful to stay within the bounds of the First Amendment guarantee of Freedom of religion.

I was thinking the same thing. It would probably be political suicide for anyone in the government to go head to head with these jesus freaks unless they start sacrificing new born babies on prime time live television or something ...

[Showmeproof]

I was thinking the same thing. It would probably be political suicide for anyone in the government to go head to head with these jesus freaks unless they start sacrificing new born babies on prime time live television or something ...

"unless they start sacrificing new born babies on prime time live television or something"

LOLOL

[Ladewig]

what claims , if any , is he making about his 'holy water'? -- are they for instance even less than the claims made by homeopathic remedies?

ex: 1: this memory water will cure cancer --> Homeopathic claim .

ex: 2: this holy water will bring you happiness, and joy in an upcoming relationship.
-> (is that 'relationship' romance, job, retirement , children, ...)
job -> (co worker, boss/underling, customer / server)
will bring -> when, happiness -> how much ?


Yes, he is very careful about the claims. He never says, "this water will cure your illness." He says "here is a letter from a woman who says that her illness completely disappeared after using this water."

[Apology]

I was kind of stunned when Jim Bakker went back to preaching after he got out of prison too. How do these guys get new congregations? I'm all for forgiveness, but I wouldn't hire a former bank robber to guard the bank vault. :confused: They've both been caught outright conning their parishioners, yet there's new victims lined up to join the fold. It's really sad.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I was kind of stunned when Jim Bakker went back to preaching after he got out of prison too. How do these guys get new congregations? I'm all for forgiveness, but I wouldn't hire a former bank robber to guard the bank vault. :confused: They've both been caught outright conning their parishioners, yet there's new victims lined up to join the fold. It's really sad.

Same way Dubya got to be president. Being "born again" or repenting or whatever has a lot of cachet in certain religious thinking.

I guess it's another way of saying, "There's another born every minute."

[Sir Robin Goodfellow]

Sadly, the public has a short collective memory, at least about stuff like religion and other flim-flam.

[politas]

Same way Dubya got to be president. Being "born again" or repenting or whatever has a lot of cachet in certain religious thinking.

I guess it's another way of saying, "There's another born every minute."

They don't even need to repent, most of the time. There are plenty of deluded fools who will continue to defend these scum even after they've been thrown in gaol for stealing/misusing the fools' own money. It's all down to Satan, obviously.

[ravdin]

No politician will ever go after the likes of Popoff and his ilk. Conning gullible people out of their money is a game that they play as well. Popoff will be left alone as a professional courtesy.

[hgc]

Well, here's the thing. If Popoff isn't making the same claims that he was making in 2003 or doing the same act, he's free to preach all he wants. I don't know why anyone would want to listen to him, after he's been proven to be a fraud, but nevertheless they do. If he starts faith-healing again, I'm sure he'll run afoul of James Randi again. As a matter of fact, we don't know that Randi doesn't have plans to confront Popoff again in the future. These things take time to arrange.


About 0% of Popoff's current customers have even heard of Randi, and not many more than that have even a vague notion that he was debunked some time in the past.

[Apology]

About 0% of Popoff's current customers have even heard of Randi, and not many more than that have even a vague notion that he was debunked some time in the past.

That doesn't mean that Randi isn't keeping an eye on him. ;) However, if he sticks to preaching and stays away from healing and mindreading, there's nothing than Randi or anyone else can do.

Popoff already knows he's being watched by those who remember his first takedown. It was on national television. I doubt he'll mess up again. Then again, that's what I said about O.J.

[Richard]

If you want to see the cr*p Popoff sends people, watch the 2nd half of the TANK for the 2 Nov, 2007

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