Beyond Healing, Or Beyond Belief?

Last week on the Sacred Division Radio Show, Bishop James Long welcomed guest John Lucas, who apparently claims he can heal any pain instantaneously.

Well, sort of.

Mr. Lucas made a rather big show of repeating over and over, "I make no claims. I am not a healer." What did he claim? It was difficult to pin him down on that little detail, but he used the words, "deletion" "protocols" and "quantum" a lot.

I had the honor of being the first caller to the show. I really didn't believe for a moment he could heal me of my chronic pain (diagnosed CMP, possible undiagnosed FMS), but apparently belief on my part was not required (unlike in the case of most faith healers). John, (may I call him John?) said he "erased" pain via quantum physics. When pressed for more details, he rattled off something or other about his fingers and flicking and... I don't know, it was all very difficult to follow and he was very good at something bordering on doublespeak.

So what, exactly, did happen that night? Great question. I called in, and told him that I was diagnosed with CMP, which is Chronic Myofascial Pain, and that I dealt with pain on a daily basis. Before I could even complete my first thought or sentence, he was interrupting me with a series of rapid-fire questions. While the following discourse is not verbatim, it's darn close.

Are you in pain now? (Yes) Where was the pain? (All over, I can't pin-point it to one area) Are you in pain now? (Yes, I'm always in pain) Where does it hurt the most? (It's difficult to describe, because it's not localized. If I had to point to one area, I'd have to say my back and neck) But you're in pain now? (Yes)

He then proceeded to mumble a bit. Something about, "Let me try this." And then 4 or 5 seconds later, "How do you feel now?"

Me: About the same.
John: (more mumbling) And now?
Me: Truthfully, I feel some warmth and (I test my neck by bending it forward, chin touching chest) there was some pain at the very top of my neck, at the base of my skull.  That appears to be gone. But the rest of my body feels about the same
John: (mumble mumble) And now?
Me: (honestly trying here) Uhm, yeah... about the same.
John: Well sometimes these things take more than a day to fully manifest. See how you feel over the next couple of hours and days. (man, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that excuse in the faith healing circles, I'd be a rich woman... except I probably would have spent it all already, on yahoos like this guy)
Bishop Long: Anna Marie, would you be willing to call back later in the show and give us an update?
Me: Absolutely

The rest of the show consisted of people calling in, claiming the same warmth I had felt, and then being amazed that their pain was gone. Even Bishop Long, who had the beginning of a headache, was amazed when the pain melted away.

Now, as some of you know, I spent a good number of years in the Word of Faith/Evangelical World. I, myself, had the apparent ability to "heal" people of simple things like headaches and "emotional and spiritual" issues. How was this possible? I believe it was the power of suggestion, more than anything supernatural.

How was John able to remove pain from the listeners? Again, I think it boils down to power of suggestion, more than anything.

Toward the end of his interview, I called back in and gave an update. I reported that the pain at the top of my neck was still gone, but that the rest of me still hurt. John said that I should wait a couple more days, and suggested that the pain might dissipate over the coming days, or even weeks. In the mean time, I had looked up his prices from his website and to coin a Utah phrase, Holy Heck! Now I have absolutely zero issue with people charging for their services. Doctors charge for theirs. Nail techs charge for theirs. I am a tarot reader, I charge for mine, and I know a good many excellent psychics who charge (as well they should) for their services too. Our time is money, as they say, and that is basically what you're charging for, in addition to the service.

But again I say, Holy Heck! This guy's fees, based on the amount of time he spends per person offering said "service" roughly equates to $3840 per hour. And that's on the low end. His cheapest "protocol" is $320. Based on the fact he spent maybe 45 seconds with each guest on the call, I think I'm being more than generous in saying he might spend a whopping five minutes with you on the phone. His most expensive service? $33,000. No, that is not a typo.

But while on the phone with him this second time, I was attempting to discuss his pricing system with him. He jumped down my throat and insinuated that I was asking him to offer his services to me for free. The thought had not even crossed my mind. There was more I wanted to discuss with him, but he wouldn't let me speak. I was constantly interrupted so I finally manged to squeeze in, "John, John," (had to get his attention), "It's obvious I'm not going to get a word in edge-wise, so I thank you for your time. Have a wonderful evening." He laughed at this and after I hung up, continued to defend his position on not giving his service out for free. Again, I never asked or even insinuated that I wanted his pseudo-healing "deletion" service for free. He jumped to that conclusion all on his own.

Now here's the kicker. Not everyone was healed (he even did a "mass healing" of everyone in the chatroom... no one claimed to feel better after that). All those that called in, with the exception of ONE person "lost" their "deletion" with 24 to 48 hours. In other words, the pain came back, in most cases, within hours of the show. Thank goodness we didn't pay him. As to the one who still claims no pain five days later, she had back and hip pain. She said it "melted away" and hasn't returned. She is the only one I can find who still has no pain after said "deletion."

John was proudly claiming a 99% success rate on the show that night (I was the 1%, but then I'm always that 1%. It's my lot in life). From what I can gather, based on my subsequent follow-up of those in the room, he actually had a 1% success rate, not failure rate. Stick that in your pain pill and ... uhm... swallow it.

Here are some quotes from those who initially claimed healing:

"I called and was in the chat for the 'mass healing'... I felt better during the call, but the pain came back and I ended up putting on my Tens Unit (electro-shock therapy thing that the dr's use) and I'm feelin okay this morning..."

"well 'healed' at the time i felt better... but today is a new day. (I feel the) same as i did before the show yesterday..."

"no results with me and mom"

Even Bishop Long told me that while he was initially shocked to realize his headache was gone, by the time he took his co-host home, his headache was coming back. He had to take his migraine meds in order to stave it off.

So, having clearly established this guy is a hack, let me point out a couple other things from his website: Aside from charging ridiculous fees (to which he kept responding that he drove an '89 car.... and?? that just means no one is buying into his load of crap), he also insists on cash only. That's right. No PayPal, no checks, no credit cards, no paper trail. I wonder if the IRS knows about his little hobby.

No refunds after services are performed, though he claims he will return your cash if you change your mind before said services take place. *smacky lips noise*  Yeah.

He also has a fairly complex set of rules regarding contacting him. They involve a series of steps with email, voice mail messages, a slide ruler and an abacus. Good luck.

What he claims he can do (from his Bio page): After 30 years in the so-called Wholistic or Natural Health Field I have developed an ability and a system using the laws of physics, intention and non-contact muscle testing to access anyone or groups of people anywhere in the world and delete the frequency or energy cause of any problem they may have whether physical, mental or emotional. This includes and is not limited to virus, bacterial infections, fibromyalgia, post traumatic stress syndrome, pain of injuries, migraines, etc. The results are generally instant and immediately verified by the person being treated.

Then turns around on his "Disclaimer page" and says: The protocols listed on this web address and/or any other protocols are not meant to nor do they claim to treat, mitigate, cure, diagnose or in any way refer to or access in anyway any disease or treatment of disease or disease processes, injuries, damage, symptoms of any kind, allergies or anything or any physical, mental, psychological, or emotional problems of an kind or any such thing or anything which in any way should, could be, or might be considered to be diagnosed or treated in any way by a physician or therapist of any kind anywhere or at any time. This is and only is a deletion of possible frequencies using distance-non-touch methods and a suggested possible input of harmonious frequencies for a possible harmonic or harmonious response claim made only by the individual or individuals receiving such possible frequency deletion and/or input in/at a non-physical/non-biological format or level. An individual or individual or individuals who require, or think, or believe that they require, or who have been advised by their advisors should seek any required, recommended, or desired care of their professional whether medical, dental, psychological, emotional or otherwise.

So, can ya do it, or not? I'm a little confused.

Oh wait... right. Not.