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[[File:JAMES RANDI.jpg|thumbnail|170px|right|James Randi]]

[[File:JAMES RANDI.jpg|thumbnail|170px|right|James Randi]]

'''James Randi''' is a Canadian stage magician who is famous for investigating claims of paranormal, and for exposing pseudoscience. He founded the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) which investigates [[paranormal]] claims and [[pseudoscience]] and does related research.

'''James Randi''' (August 7, 1928 – October 20, 2020) was a Canadian stage magician who is famous for investigating claims of paranormal, and for exposing pseudoscience. Among his notable exposes is that of Peter Popoff, who claimed to perform miraculous healings and to receive "words from God" about people (Randi exposed that Popoff had a hidden earpiece where he heard information from an associate).

 

He founded the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) which investigates [[paranormal]] claims and [[pseudoscience]] and does related research. James Randi is a [[Weak Atheism|weak atheist]].<ref>[https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/14497-the-amazing-james-randi The Amazing James Randi]</ref> See also: [[Celebrity atheists]])

He received multiple awards including Joseph A. Burton Forum Award from American Physical Society and Philip J. Klass Award, and he was twice featured in the ''Guinness World Records''. The asteroid 3163 Randi discovered in 1981 by astronomer Charles T. Kowal is named in honor of James Randi.<ref>Patricia Orwen, The Amazing Randi, ''Toronto Star'', August 23, 1986</ref>

He received multiple awards including Joseph A. Burton Forum Award from American Physical Society and Philip J. Klass Award, and he was twice featured in the ''Guinness World Records''. The asteroid 3163 Randi discovered in 1981 by astronomer Charles T. Kowal is named in honor of James Randi.<ref>Patricia Orwen, The Amazing Randi, ''Toronto Star'', August 23, 1986</ref>

==View on religion==

==View on religion==

Although Randi is a scathing critic of the [[New age movement]], he is a prominent atheist and equally virulent critic of [[religion]]. In his essay ''Why I Deny Religion, How Silly and Fantastic It Is, and Why I'm a Dedicated and Vociferous Bright'', he critiqued religion and claimed religion is the cause behind many major tragedies of humanity.<ref name=Randi>[http://www.randi.org/jr/072503.html Why I Deny Religion, How Silly and Fantastic It Is, and Why I'm a Dedicated and Vociferous Bright.]</ref> He writes:<ref name=Randi/>

Although Randi is a scathing critic of the [[New age movement]], he is a prominent atheist and equally virulent critic of [[religion]]. In his essay ''Why I Deny Religion, How Silly and Fantastic It Is, and Why I'm a Dedicated and Vociferous Bright'', he critiqued religion and claimed religion is the cause behind many major tragedies of humanity.<ref name=Randi>[http://www.randi.org/jr/072503.html Why I Deny Religion, How Silly and Fantastic It Is, and Why I'm a Dedicated and Vociferous Bright.]</ref> He writes:<ref name=Randi/> "We find religion in so much of our history, our philosophy, our everyday lives, and our legal system. Miscegenation was banned based on Biblical rules, slavery was justified by the same book."

{{cquote|We find religion in so much of our history, our philosophy, our everyday lives, and our legal system. Miscegenation was banned based on Biblical rules, slavery was justified by the same book.}}

JREF is a leading atheist activist organisaztion and is behind the annual atheist TAM conferences held around the world.  Although JREF has lost some of its prestige in the atheist community over the last couple of years, Randi himself is universally admired and respected by the likes of  [[Richard Dawkins]], [[PZ Myers]] and [[Penn Jillette]]

JREF is a leading atheist activist organisaztion and is behind the annual atheist TAM conferences held around the world.  Although JREF has lost some of its prestige in the atheist community over the last couple of years, Randi himself is universally admired and respected by the likes of  [[Richard Dawkins]], [[PZ Myers]] and [[Penn Jillette]]

== James Randi and deception ==

== James Randi and deception ==

The ''Daily Grail'' declared:

The ''Daily Grail'' declared:

{{Cquote|Just a few months later, the previously Teflon-coated James 'The Amazing' Randi was caught at the center of his own scandal when his partner of more than two decades, Jose Alvarez, was caught and pleaded guilty [http://dailygrail.com/Skepticism/2011/9/Randis-Partner-Arrested-Identity-Theft to identity theft], after overstaying his visa in the 1980s. Though many felt sympathy for both Randi and his partner's dilemma, there were also questions over how much Randi knew or was involved in the crime - a not-particularly-good look for the much celebrated champion of truth and honesty.

{{Cquote|Just a few months later, the previously Teflon-coated James 'The Amazing' Randi was caught at the center of his own scandal when his partner of more than two decades, Jose Alvarez, was caught and pleaded guilty [http://dailygrail.com/Skepticism/2011/9/Randis-Partner-Arrested-Identity-Theft to identity theft], after overstaying his visa in the 1980s. Though many felt sympathy for both Randi and his partner's dilemma, there were also questions over how much Randi knew or was involved in the crime - a not-particularly-good look for the much celebrated champion of truth and honesty.

Randi's credibility devolved further earlier this year when Will Storr's book The Heretics brought Randi's Social Darwinist-like philosophies into the spotlight, as well as Randi's own confession that he sometimes lies to win his arguments.<ref>[http://www.dailygrail.com/Skepticism/2013/8/Is-the-Week-Organized-Skepticism-Imploded Is This the Week that Organized Skepticism Imploded?]</ref>}}

Randi's credibility devolved further earlier this year when Will Storr's book ''The Heretics'' brought Randi's [[Social Darwinism|Social Darwinist]]-like philosophies into the spotlight, as well as Randi's own confession that he sometimes lies to win his arguments.<ref>[http://www.dailygrail.com/Skepticism/2013/8/Is-the-Week-Organized-Skepticism-Imploded Is This the Week that Organized Skepticism Imploded?]</ref>}}

According to ''The Daily Telegraph'':

According to ''The Daily Telegraph'':

{{Cquote|Following a burst of publicity for [Dr. Rupert] Sheldrake, Randi told a journalist, “We at JREF have tested these claims. They fail.” But when I met Sheldrake, at his Hampstead home, he made a serious charge. “Randi’s a liar and a cheat,” he said. “When I asked him for the data, he had to admit he hadn’t done any tests.”  

{{Cquote|Following a burst of publicity for [Dr. Rupert] Sheldrake, Randi told a journalist, “We at JREF have tested these claims. They fail.” But when I met Sheldrake, at his Hampstead home, he made a serious charge. “Randi’s a liar and a cheat,” he said. “When I asked him for the data, he had to admit he hadn’t done any tests.”  

According to Sheldrake, his direct requests for data were twice ignored. After appealing to others at the JREF, Randi eventually wrote back, explaining that he couldn’t supply the data because it got washed away in a flood and that the dogs he tested are now in Mexico and their owner was “tragically killed last year in a dreadful accident.”

According to Sheldrake, his direct requests for data were twice ignored. After appealing to others at the JREF, Randi eventually wrote back, explaining that he couldn’t supply the data because it got washed away in a flood and that the dogs he tested are now in Mexico and their owner was “tragically killed last year in a dreadful accident.”

Unusually for Randi, he was polite. “I over-stated my case for doubting the reality of dog ESP based on the small amount of data I obtained,” he wrote. “It was rash and improper of me to do so. I apologise sincerely.”

Unusually for Randi, he was polite. “I over-stated my case for doubting the reality of dog ESP based on the small amount of data I obtained,” he wrote. “It was rash and improper of me to do so. I apologise sincerely.”

“And sometimes lie. Get carried away.”

“And sometimes lie. Get carried away.”

“Oh I agree. No question of that. I don’t know whether the lies are conscious lies all the time,” he said. “But there can be untruths.”<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11270453/James-Randi-debunking-the-king-of-the-debunkers.html James Randi: debunking the king of the debunkers], ''The Telegraph''</ref>}}

“Oh I agree. No question of that. I don’t know whether the lies are conscious lies all the time,” he said. “But there can be untruths.”<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11270453/James-Randi-debunking-the-king-of-the-debunkers.html James Randi: debunking the king of the debunkers], ''The Telegraph''</ref>}}

== Randi publicly declares he is a homosexual. Report of sexual immorality by Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation Outreach Coordinator==

== Randi publicly declares he is a homosexual. Report of sexual immorality by Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation Outreach Coordinator==

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued...

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued...

I’m tired of this. I’m tired of hearing about sexual predators like Mr. Bicycle Shorts, who has yet again been invited to speak at the JREF’s annual conference.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ When will this situation improve?]</ref>}}

I’m tired of this. I’m tired of hearing about sexual predators like Mr. Bicycle Shorts, who has yet again been invited to speak at the JREF’s annual conference.<ref name="When will this situation improve">[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ When will this situation improve?]</ref>}}

 

Thompson also indicated that heard a report that Randi acted in a sexually inappropriate manner in a car and then Randi said "he would be 'presidentially displeased' if [redacted] didn’t give my old boss a kiss."<ref name="When will this situation improve">[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ When will this situation improve?]</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are some e-books, videos and lesson plans on subjects such as fairies on their website. They organise an annual fan convention. James Randi, over that period, has been paid an average annual salary of $195,000. My requests for details of the educational foundation’s educational activities, over the last 12 months, were dodged and then ignored.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11270453/James-Randi-debunking-the-king-of-the-debunkers.html James Randi: debunking the king of the debunkers], ''The Telegraph''</ref>}}

 

Thompson also indicated that heard a report that Randi acted in a sexually inappropriate manner in a car and then Randi said "he would be 'presidentially displeased' if [redacted] didn’t give my old boss a kiss."<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ When will this situation improve?]</ref>

[[File:James Randi Google Trends 2004 to 2020.png|800px|thumbnail|center|According to Google Trends from 2004 to 2020 there has been a significant decline in web searches for the term "James Randi" in the United States.]]

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Biographies]]

[[Category:American People]]

[[Category:Atheists]]

[[Category:Atheists]]

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Biographies]]

[[Category:Biographies]]

[[Category:Atheists]]

[[Category:Atheists]]