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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 Rani is an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref>[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/deepak.chopra.offers.1.million.atheists.who.can.explain.thought.formed/38931.htm Deepak Chopra offers $1 million to atheists who can explain how a thought is formed], Christianity Today</ref>

'''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 ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and deception]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheist scandals]]

The ''Daily Grail'' declared:

The ''Daily Grail'' declared:

“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>[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>

 

 

 

== The Daily Telegraph on the James Randi Foundation ==

== The Daily Telegraph on the James Randi Foundation ==

{{Cquote|More recently I’ve begun to wonder about his educational foundation, the JREF, which claims tax exempt status in the US and is partly dependant on public donations. I wondered what actual educative work the organisation - which between 2011 and 2013 had an average revenue of $1.2 million per year - did. Financial documents reveal just $5,100, on average, being spent on grants.

{{Cquote|More recently I’ve begun to wonder about his educational foundation, the JREF, which claims tax exempt status in the US and is partly dependant on public donations. I wondered what actual educative work the organisation - which between 2011 and 2013 had an average revenue of $1.2 million per year - did. Financial documents reveal just $5,100, on average, being spent on grants.

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>[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>}}

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>}}

 

 

{{Clear}}

==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]]