Dogmatic Skepticism and Organized Atheism
Finding Mixed Nuts in James Randi’s Amazing Hat, and
Losing Michael Shermer in the Cave of Patternicity
Part 1 of 2
Edip Yuksel
July 2011
Below is my communication with the renowned atheist magician, the so-called “Amazing Randi”, and my response to the article published by Michael Shermer of Skeptic Society as a reaction to my interview in June 17, 2011
Why did they turn away from this reminder?
Like fleeing zebras… Running from the lion?
(74:49-51)
FROM: Edip Yuksel
TO: Sadie Crabtree
DATE: Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 9:26 PM
SUBJECT: Re: Interview with James Randi
Dear Sadie, thank you for the prompt response:
Enclosed is the letter I received from the director of the upcoming documentary. The group is mainly focusing on my recently published book, NINETEEN: God’s Signature in Nature and Scripture. The book will be advertised heavily with the release of the documentary…
We have two different expectation regarding Randi:
1. The producers are interested in sharing Randi’s skeptical position against religions, paranormal claims, which we believe is very important and necessary to be heard. They are very appreciative of Randi’s work.
2. This involves my personal challenge to his categorical rejection of paranormal phenomena. I would like to respond to his challenge of the so-called 1 million dollar award. Those who know me, know well that I have no interest in getting someone else’s money, especially the money of an honest man like Randy, but I will take the challenge since this case is unique. We have an extraordinary evidence for the extraordinary claim regarding God and the divine message.
If Randi is interested, I could order the book to his address or he could just visit the following site and check the book’s SEE INSIDE feature.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979671590/
There are also a few articles on this subject at:
I also can give him access to the electronic version, which will be the fastest way.
The team will leave in the end of this month. So, we are looking forward to have a wonderful meeting with Randi.
Peace,
Edip
***
FROM: James Randi
TO: Edip Yuksel
DATE: Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM
SUBJECT: 19 — or any other number
I have no interest in discussing numerology. I’m a grown adult, with far more important things to do with my time.
***
FROM: Edip Yuksel
DATE: Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 11:42 PM
TO: James Randi
SUBJECT: Re: 19 — or any other number
James Randi,
You are right, James. As it appears, I was wrong in expecting a magician and a strawman-puncher to engage in a serious philosophical debate that involves math and sciences. Your response demonstrates your paranoia, which appears to be contagious in your group. I assume that your partner, Michael Shermer, warned you about us: “These guys are not the kinds of stupid believers and charlatans that we have been beating and declaring cheap victories. Stay away from them.”
We have the video records of Michael, acting like a bigoted believer, falling into multiple contradictions and ending up with an incriminating confession.
You have time to discuss the primitive trick of spoon-bending, claims of spiritual-healing, or stories of UFO-believers, but you have no time for discussing the claim about a verifiable and falsifiable numerical system in a book! You are a grown adult producing rabbits from your hat, bending spoons, putting up a million dollars challenging silly paranormal claims! In fact, your statement above shows that you consider our argument not to be in the category of the childish claims that you have devoted yourself to.
Though I support your work in exposing hoaxes and fraud in the name of God and the paranormal, I find you acting like a child when you are challenged by rational monotheists. Unlike Michael, you might have barely escaped this “ambush”, but you will one day be caught by monotheistic critical thinkers and your bigotry will be exposed. God willing, we are going to debunk the debunkers. Wait and see. You may encounter us in the least expected places.
Peace (and I mean it)
Edip Yuksel
***
FROM: James Randi
TO: Edip Yuksel
DATE: Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 5:02 AM
SUBJECT: Re: 19 — or any other number
Ooh! Now I’ll have sleepless nights waiting for a misinformed, bigoted, naive, religious nut to jump on me from out of the shadows! Enjoy your well-nurtured delusions, and anticipate the crowd of eager virgins who await you when you arrive in Valhalla — or is it Paradise, Disney World, or some other amusement park…? I can’t keep them all in my mind, there are so many imaginary places that you nut-cases have invented…!
The life of a Grubby is your only path, it seems… Enjoy!
Oh, by the way, the ancient “19” delusion has long ago been falsified, didn’t you know…? No one cares, you see…
James Randi.
***
FROM: Edip Yuksel
TO: James Randi
DATE: Jun 29, 2011 at 6:22 PM
SUBJECT: Re: 19 — or any other number
74:49 Why did they turn away from this reminder?*
74:50 Like fleeing zebras,
74:51 Running from the lion?
6:4 Whenever a sign came to them from their Lord, they turned away from it.
6:5 They have denied the truth when it came to them. The news will ultimately come to them of what they were mocking.
7:146 I will divert from My signs those who are arrogant on earth unjustly, and if they see every sign they do not acknowledge it, and if they see the path of guidance they do not take it as a path; and if they see the path of straying, they take it as a path. That is because they have denied Our signs and were heedless of them.*
15:9 We, indeed We, it is We who have sent down the Reminder, and indeed it is We who will preserve it.*
15:10 We have sent before you to the factions of old.
15:11 Any messenger that came to them, they would mock him.
15:12 We thus let it sneak into the hearts of the criminals.
21:41 Messengers before you have been mocked, but those who mocked were then surrounded by the object of their mockery!
26:5 Not a new reminder comes to them from the Gracious, except that they turn away from it.
26:6 They have denied, thus the news will come to them of what they used to ridicule.
29:47 Similarly, We have sent down to you the Book. Thus, those whom We have given the book will acknowledge it. Also, some of your people will acknowledge it. The only ones who mock Our signs are the ingrates.
45:34 It will be said to them: “Today We will forget you, just as you forgot the meeting of this day. Your abode is the fire, and you will have no helpers.”
45:35 “This is because you took God‘s signs in mockery, and you were deceived by the worldly life.” So from this day, they will never exit therefrom, nor will they be excused.
45:36 All praise belong to God; the Lord of the heavens, and the Lord of the earth; the Lord of the worlds.
45:37 To Him belongs all majesty in the heavens and the earth. He is the Noble, the Wise.
***
FROM: James Randi
TO: Edip Yuksel
DATE: Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 2:05 PM
SUBJECT: Re: Dogmatic Skepticism and Organized Atheism
Sir, you must try to understand. It is very difficult to argue with children and with idiots. They find meaning where there is none, they re-discover patterns that are simply mathematical realities, and they simply react, instead of using reason. Children usually grow out of such ways, idiots may be stuck for life in this trap.
No, we are not fleeing like zebras from a lion. We flee like thinking humans from participating in arguments with a rock, which wastes time and breath. Yes, the truth – facts, evidence, reality – can set you free. Fantasy only traps you more firmly.
James Randi
(For my response to Michael Shermer’s article published at Skpetic.com and his blogs, see the SECOND PART of this article at http://19.org/648/shermer/ )