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VICTOR ZAMMIT'S CROSS-EXAMINATION OF CLOSED MINDED SKEPTIC J RANDI.

PART 1

A significant number of people said that the very successful cross-examination of closed-minded skeptic Prof Stephen Hawking by litigation lawyer Victor Zammit (cross-examination script placed on the internet) was a lot of fun and very witty. They strongly suggested a cross-examination of that closed minded skeptic J Randi.

Below is a very brief cross examination on just a few issues. To cross examine that closed minded skeptic Randi - who is on record for organizing hoaxes to fool, cheat, mislead and deceive innocent people. This is a cross-examination on just some of the things he has said, done and implied.

This would be fairly close to a real cross-examination- the information is taken from what Randi has ALREADY STATED ACCEPTED and IMPLIED. Some very minor flexibility and embellishment consistent with Randi’s beliefs and record have been used for easier reading and understanding of the script. Words in caps are there for emphasis - which is critical during cross-examination.

PART 1

Victor: Tell us Mr Randi, you claim to have a one million dollar challenge?

Randi: Yes, I have …

Victor: You have publicly conceded your expertise in deception and hoaxes; is this one of your very grand hoaxes?

Randi: No, it’s not …

Victor: So what does the applicant have to do to get the alleged million dollars?

Randi: He or she has to demonstrate some psychic skill, mediumship or any other phenomena which cannot be explained by science …

Victor: I have here a copy of the conditions of your challenge … I am now handing a copy to the judge … Tell us how long have you had this challenge?

Randi: My first challenge was in the mid sixties … for a thousand dollars …

Victor: Is your challenge an honest one?

Randi: Yes, it is …

Victor: For the record, are you a scientist or qualified in science?

Randi: No not a scientist, not qualified in science ...

Victor: Since you admit you are not a scientist, you are not academically informed in scientific methodology, you know nothing about what amounts to a technically successful scientific result, what method do you use to ascertain whether a psychic test has been successful or not?

Randi: It would be for every body to see if it’s been successful … it would be self-evident …

Victor: So what’s going to happen in the very likely situation when the applicant with his/her experts tell you that the psychic demonstration WAS successful and you will of course say it was NOT successful?

Randi: The matter will be sorted out …

Victor: HOW?

Randi: I’ll ask for a repeated demonstration …

Victor: In other words you are telling the applicant to ‘TRUST YOU’, to trust your judgment, to trust your discretion … right?

Randi: Kinda …

Victor: Trust someone with a PROVEN RECORD – something you admitted in public - for organizing PUBLIC HOXES where you instructed skeptics to MISREPRESESNT, TO LIE, CHEAT, to be DISHONEST, to NEGATIVELY MANIPULATE the results to cause CHAOS and CONFUSION? I put it to you that you do NOT have the skills, the competence and the ability to identify a successful psychic result when you see it … DO YOU?

Randi: Yes, … I do …

Victor: We’ll see about that… How long have you been involved in the paranormal?

Randi: Over forty years ….

Victor: And you are known as a closed-minded skeptic ..?

Randi: Just a skeptic…

Victor: No, I did NOT ask how you see yourself, but how you are known. I put it to you that you are known as a closed-minded skeptic - especially to those scientists and paranormal investigators who have accepted the evidence for the paranormal – are you known also as a closed minded skeptic, YES or NO!

Randi: Yes ….

Victor: Now, in the last forty years, have you properly investigated the paranormal?

Randi: Yes …

Victor: In forty years, have you ever accepted any aspect of the evidence for any paranormal phenomenon and the afterlife?

Randi: No, never because … because my investigations show the paranormal and the afterlife do not exist …

Victor: Could you speak a little louder and repeat the last part you said after because …

Randi: I SAID THAT THE PARANORMAL AND THE AFTERLIFE DO NOT EXIST… did you hear that?

Victor: Very clearly THANK YOU! In the last forty years have you come across information that highly professional scientists – physicists, biologists, chemists and other professional paranormal and afterlife investigators came to the conclusion that the paranormal is valid and the afterlife exists?

Randi: The paranormal and the afterlife are for people who believe in fairies ..

Victor: THAT’S NOT WHAT I ASKED. ANSWER THE QUESTION ….

Randi: Yes … yes … I know there are those who claim that …

Victor: Being made aware of the fact that scientists confirmed that the paranormal is valid, ON WHAT BASIS then do you NOT accept any of the claims by scientists that there is an afterlife and that the paranormal exists?

Randi:The afterlife is for people who believe in Santa Clause …

Victor: Now, would that be your answer when the applicant says she should have passed the initial test of the challenge? …

Randi: (... hesitates ... then in a whisper) ... No ...

Victor: The jury heard that I'm sure ... Tell us, in some forty years you had this challenge, how many passed the initial test ?….

Randi: (Remains quiet)

Victor: Did you understand the question yes or no?

Randi: Yes, yes I heard the question … no one passed the initial test ….

Victor: NO ONE! In some FORTY YEARS?? Does not that confirm IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS THE INITIAL TEST?

Randi: This is because no one has demonstrated anything psychic …

Victor: What do you say about the results attained by scientists who have objective and repeatable evidence for the validity of the paranormal when there was independent expert assessing the paranormal activity?

Randi: I say they are all wrong ...

Victor: All of them?

Randi: Yes ALL OF THEM ….

Victor: Even those Nobel Laureates who investigated the paranormal?

Randi: Yes, even those …

Victor: Have you ever stated specifically, WHERE, WHEN, HOW and WHY these scientists are wrong about their positive results of the paranormal?

Randi: … (Hesitates …)

Victor: ANSWER THE QUESTION!

Randi: I don’t remember …Maybe I did that in the past sometime …

Victor: I PUT IT TO YOU THAT YOU NEVER DID - OTHEREWISE WE’D HAVE A COPY OF IT, RIGHT? – I remind you - you are on oath here.

Randi: No, I never stated where, when, how and why the scientists were wrong…

Victor: Have you ever read the afterlife scientific evidence which amounts to absolute proof by that brilliant Professor of physics Dr Jan W Vandersande …

Randi: No …

Victor: NO? Did he not try very hard to take up your challenge? And as soon as you realized he was a physicist who had scientific proof for the paranormal and the afterlife – SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING TO BURST YOUR HOAX BUBBLE - you just SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT IN HIS FACE so that he’d go away and save you embarrassment and a million dollars?

Randi: I don’t remember!!!

Victor: Always the very famous line, “I don’t remember”. Do you remember the name of John Benneth who wanted to apply for your challenge but you slammed the door in his face because he showed the potential to beat the challenge?

Randi: Can’t say I remember him …

Victor: Naturally enough … Remember Chris Robinson the pre-cognitive medium who demonstrated on television he could prove psychic phenomenon? When he tried to apply for your Challenge you SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT IN HIS FACE.

Randi: I don’t remember him ….

Victor: Naturally enough!!! Did you read the afterlife scientific classics proving the afterlife by Sir Oliver Lodge?

Randi: NO …

Victor: Have you read and studied the afterlife scientific objective and repeatable evidence of the most brilliant scientist of his time Sir William Crookes?

Randi: No …

Victor: Have you ever heard of the empirical paranormal research of Dr Dean Radin …

Randi: Yes, I have … but he’s wrong about what he says.

Victor: Why is he wrong?

Randi: Because the paranormal does not exist, THAT’S WHY!

Victor: But have you shown WHY his evidence is not valid?

Randi: I couldn’t be bothered …

Victor: … For the purpose of the record I would like to enter into evidence the following highly valued scientific studies I submit proving the paranormal and the afterlife.

Pay very close attention to the names I am going to mention. I ask you Mr Randi, have you read any of the paranormal and afterlife works and evidence by these scientists and empirical afterlife investigators who accepted the afterlife and/or the parnormal? Dr Peter Bander, Dr Julie Beischel, Dr Robert Crookal, Professor John Bockris, John Logie Baird, Professor Arthur Ellison, Dr Peter Fenwick, Professor Festa, Dr Edith Fiore, Professor David Fontana, Dr Amit Goswami, Professor Gustav Geley, Professor Ivor Grattan-Guinesss, Professor Stanislav Grof, Dr Arthur Guirdham, Dr Glen Hamilton, Professor Charles Hapgood, Professor Sylvia Hart-Wright, Professor James Hyslop, Professor William James, Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Drs Jeff and Jody Long, afterlife investigator Mark Macy, Engineer George Meek, Dr Raymond Moody, Dr Melvin Morse, Dr Morris Nertherton, Dr Karlis Osis, Dr Peter Ramster, Lawyer Edward C Randall, Dr.Konstantine Raudive, Drs J.B. and Louisa Rhine, Nobel Laureate Professor Charles Richet, Dr Kenneth Ring, Lawyer Dr Aubrey Rose, Professor Archie Roy Dr Michael Sabom, Dr Hans Schaer, Professor Marilyn Schlitz, Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, Judge Dean Shuart, Dr Ian Stevenson, Dr Claude Swanson, Emmanuel Swedenborg, Professor Jessica Utts, Dr Pim Van Lommel, Professor J.W. Crawford, Professor Wadhams, Prof. Alfred Wallace, Dr Helen Wambach, Dr Carl Wickland, Dr Carla Wills-Brandon, –

Have you studied any of these substantive scientists’ paranormal and/or afterlife evidence?

Randi: No and I will not read or study them.

Victor: Why not?

Randi: Because the paranormal and the afterlife don’t exist! I am not going to read or study something I know does not exist …

Victor: How do you know the paranormal and the afterlife do not exist when you never investigated the evidence of the paranormal?

Randi: I just know …

Victor: Your INTUITION tells you?

Randi: I just know …

Victor: Since you are not supporting your evidence by science or empiricism or logic or rationale, aren’t you in fact and in practice being SUPERSTITIOUS about your beliefs?

Randi: No, I’m not superstitious …

Victor: YOU may not think you are not superstitious, but when you are using BLIND FAITH – your intuition - ARE YOU NOT, in practice, BEING SUPERSTITIOUS the way suicide bombers have superstitious faith that some 70 virgins are waiting for them when they blow up innocent people?

Randi: It’s silly for anyone to say I’m superstitious ….

Victor: We’ll leave that to the members of the jury to consider … now tell us for the purpose of the record – since you deny your reliance on your intuition is superstitious .. Have you ever come across the procedural formula that ALL scientists around the world accept: (Victor hands formula to judge and to Randi and to the judge):

Victor: Let me briefly explain to you what it is using very simple language then I’ll ask you if you agree with it …

S.R. stand for Successful Results. P stands for phenomena. R stands for repeatability. VC stands for keeping variables constant. And T is for time and S is for Space.

In other words, successful results come about when a phenomenon is repeated keeping variables constant over time and space. All scientists around the world agree with that. Do YOU AGREE with that?

Rand: … Yes …. But what kind of phenomena are you talking about?

Victor: the formula applies to ANY phenomenon. BUT it must be repeated over time and space, keeping variables constant and it must yield the same result – as I said, ALL SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD AGREE WITH THAT. Now, do you agree with that?

Randi: In theory yes I agree with that … but the phenomena MUST BE REPEATED over time and space AND MUST YIELD exactly the same results …

Victor: ABSOLUTELY! You realize you’ve just accepted the evidence for the paranormal and the afterlife?

Randi: No, I haven’t …

Victor: There are independent HIGHLY QUALIFIED EXPERTS who stated that there is much paranormal and afterlife evidence that is objective and which has been repeated over time and space that yielded exactly the same results when tested by independent experts… have you tested any psychic phenomena yourself?

Randi: No …it doesn’t exist so how I can I test it?

Victor: Considering the brilliant scientists I mentioned who actually investigated the paranormal and the afterlife, would it not be quite appropriate for you to accept that there is objective and repeatable evidence for the paranormal and the afterlife?

Randi: There is no evidence for the paranormal or the afterlife …

Victor: How on earth can you say that when you just stated YOU NEVER investigated the paranormal?

Randi: I just know there is no evidence ….

Victor: What’s your evidence to support your personal, subjective beliefs that there is no evidence for the paranormal and/or the afterlife?

Randi: (Remains quiet …)

Victor: You HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR BELIEFS RIGHT?

Randi: I don’t have to prove anything …

Victor: You mean to say all these brilliant scientists including Nobel Laureates have PROVED that the paranormal and many aspects of the afterlife are objective and repeatable and YOU, WITHOUT any evidence, let me repeat for the purpose of the record, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER continue to say there is no paranormal or the afterlife?

Randi: That’s right …

Victor: For the record, if there is an inconsistency between SCIENCE and personal subjective BELIEFS, which one prevails?

Randi: remains quiet … (Victor looks sternly at Randi) … Science …

Victor: Can you ever PROVE that your subjective personal beliefs prevail over science?

Randi: No because I am not stating anything exists or cannot exist ..

Victor: This means those who state the paranormal exists have to prove it ..

Randi: Absolutely ..

Victor: THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THESE SCIENTISTS HAVE DONE IN THEIR BOOKS – THEY ALL STATE THE PARANORMAL AND/OR THE AFTERLIFE EXIST - and you admitted that you have not read any of their works! In professional debate once the evidence is presented the onus shifts onto you – the one who disagrees - to show WHERE, WHEN, HOW AND WHY the evidence cannot be accepted. And you have NOT done that HAVE YOU?

Randi: I just remembered … no skeptic can prove anything because ‘no one can prove the negative’ …

Victor: Oh yes, you’re the one who stated “nobody can prove there’s no green cheese on the moon” for the last thirty years, right?

Randi: Yes, yes, yes, I said that …

Victor: Has any scientist on earth ever said there is green cheese on the moon?

Randi: … No … of course not …

Victor: Afterlife investigators are NOT asking you to prove the negative. They are asking you to rebut the mountain of evidence of those who are stating the paranormal and the afterlife exist. That is the law of professional debate. BUT you said you have not done that … again, why not?

Randi: I can’t find any evidence for the afterlife … and the paranormal …

Victor: But MILLIONS of other people around the world have found the evidence! Every heard of Neurolinguistic Programming known as NLP?

Randi: Yes, vaguely …

Victor: NLP says that whenever a skeptic receives evidence fundamentally inconsistent with his deeply cherished negative beliefs, the skeptic’s mind will automatically DELETE that evidence … because that information will give him huge, unbearable anxiety … Is that what happened to you?

Randi: No …. NLP is wrong …

Victor: Back to the challenge … So you expect an applicant to believe you and to trust you to be objective - when all your life you NEVER found in favor of the paranormal, when in a closed minded way for some forty years you keep on saying there is no evidence notwithstanding that scientists produced objective and repeatable evidence for the paranormal and the afterlife?

Randi: I expect the applicant to trust me …

Victor: That's very amusing … Pay very close attention to this question: is it not an attempt by you to trick the applicant for your challenge when you do not include in your conditions an agreement in advance of the levels of statistical significance required for the results to show whether the applicant obtained a successful result by his/her skills or by chance?

Randi: I don’t think statistical significance you talk about is necessary …

Victor: Are you qualified to do statistical analysis of experimental results, YES or NO?

Randi: No …

Victor: Do you not think that your omissions show why so many professional scientists, psychics and mediums think your challenge IS JUST A SKEPTIC’S HOLLOW PROPAGANDA - A REALLY BAD JOKE, THE GREATEST HOAX IN PARANORMAL HISTORY?

Randi: (Does not answer …) …

Victor: Is it not on record that Professor Dennis Rawlins exposed your challenge repeating in public that you, James Randi, told this Professor, to quote, “I will always have a way out of paying …” in relation to the challenge?

Randi: Yes, but you also have to mention that Professor Dennis Rawlins did not mention what I said after that … I said I always have an out – because I’m right.

Victor: OH YOU’RE RIGHT? So when you said “I always have an out – I’m right” were you saying that the paranormal and the afterlife do not and cannot exist?

Randi: … Yes … the paranormal and the afterlife don’t exist ..

Victor: Is that what you say to when an applicant demonstrated some psychic phenomena of the first test?

Don’t bother to answer that …. and you say that without a shred of evidence … That’s why you said you will never pay a cent … But Professor Dennis Rawlins did NOT support this claim of yours. I put it to you that you are not telling the truth when your claim “I’m right” … trying to justify your stubborn denial and your huge blunder of your life ADMITTING that you WILL NEVER pay a cent regarding the challenge?

Randi: No that’s not right …

Victor: I also put it to you that this is ANOTHER reason why your alleged challenge is being treated as a joke, a very bad disgusting joke around the world and the greatest HOAX in PARANORMAL HISTORY ...

Part two next week: July 24th 2011