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From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: the Temptations (not a singing group)
Message-ID: <450@cybvax0.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Apr-85 14:41:17 EST
Article-I.D.: cybvax0.450
Posted: Fri Apr  5 14:41:17 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Apr-85 09:35:42 EST
References: <238@cvl.UUCP> <439@cybvax0.UUCP> <4539@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Distribution: net
Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Lines: 29

In article <4539@umcp-cs.UUCP> mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) writes:
> In article <439@cybvax0.UUCP> mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) writes:
> >It's very interesting to consider that these are precisely the responses we
> >would expect a fraudulent miracleworker to use to explain why he won't
> >work a miracle right here and now to show you.  Of course he'll be happy
> >to tell you of the miracles he worked when you weren't there....
> 
> Perhaps so, but this is more a comment on the tendency of frauds to co-opt
> the legitimate statements of others.  Jesus did go on to do many miracles;
> to light up this episode as representing excuses is to ignore its context.

Uri Geller went on to convince quite a few people of his "powers" long after
he was convincingly exposed by several authors (some of whom can reproduce
his tricks.)

Here is a scenario.

I ask JC to show me a miracle NOW.  He says that he doesn't produce
performances on demand but that I should have seen miracle number 27 in
the previous town.  JC travels to the next town and reports that I was
convinced by his miracle number 28, but that he's not going to do another
miracle right now.

Yes, frauds do co-opt statements of others.  However, it would be odd for
honest people to appear to use the same techniques it fraud would, as JC
does.
-- 

Mike Huybensz		...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh