Speaking with Dr. Sherrill Sellman on his show, Bakker said, “This influenza, that is now circling the globe, you’re saying that Silver Solution would be effective?” Sellman — who is not a medical doctor but “a naturopath who boasts of having ‘simple solutions to complex issues’” — replied, “Well, let’s say it hasn’t been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it’s been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours.”“Totally eliminates it. Kills it. Deactivates it,” she said. “And then it boosts your immune system, so then you can support the recovery, ’cause when you kill the virus then your immune system comes into action to clear it out. So you want a vibrant immune system as well as an ability to deactivate these viruses.”
In a test-tube, colloidal silver might kill the virus. But in a living organism?
No!
And there is plenty of evidence to show that, when taken by mouth, colloidal silver can have serious side effects. According to the National Institutes of Health, one of the most common effects is “argyria, a bluish-gray discoloration of the skin, which is usually permanent” (see ‘before/after pictures on the right).
Furthermore, it can also cause “poor absorption of some drugs, such as certain antibiotics and thyroxine (used to treat thyroid deficiency).”
Question: is it really ‘Christian’ to promote bogus treatments to desperate people?
14 Responses to Colloidal silver for coronavirus – as promoted by the televangelist Jim Bakker
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Well… many people seem to consider it “Christian” to extract money from their fellow citizens.
Jim Bakker has always been bogus. “Bogus” is his product. Selling bogus treatments for financial gain is par for the course for him.
Putting aside the God debate, if, by Christian, you mean is he a decent person? That would be an emphatic no. Isn’t, wasn’t, never will be. He is not just a fraudster (like chiropractors, homeopaths, naturopaths, etc.), he is a convicted fraudster.
Question: is it really ‘Christian’ to promote bogus treatments to desperate people?
If you are an Evangelical “prosperity doctrine” Christian minister it is almost obligatory. How else will you be able to afford that new and bigger private jet?
Honestly, I am surprised it took this long for the CS quacks to come out into the open with their (carefully couched – after all, it hasn’t been tested specifically on THIS particular virus) claims. Sherrill Sellman paid attention during the marketing and business development portion of her Certified Traditional Naturopath education, that is obvious.
A perusal of Bakker’s site shows that he sells lower-middle range storage foods at greatly inflated prices, along with mediocre quality gear that is focused on fears more that utilitarian value. His medical products consist of CS, hemp derivatives, and the odd B-vitamin supplement. IOW nothing needing a medical license or proper education to deal in.
In answer to the stated question, no. There is nothing “Christian” about marketing snake oil to people in desperate straights. Jim Bakker is a modern day Pharisee, nothing more.
Quote: “is it really ‘Christian’ to promote bogus treatments to desperate people?”
I consider it unfortunate when “Christian” is used as a synonym for “moral” or “ethical” (even if used in brackets).
Belief in supernatural entities has per se nothing to do with an ethical, humanistic mind-set. Of course, many religious people are “good”, ethical persons. But the same is true for many non-religious atheists.
From an anti-theistic standpoint, the provocative answer to the question would be:
Bogus “treatments” (e.g. exorcism), absurd rituals (e.g. prayer), and exploitation of desperate people (often very poor and uneducated, e.g. in third world countries) have long traditions and can be considered core elements of most religions, Christianity included.
So: yes.
“The Old Testament is history become myth…the New Testament is myth become history”. (Nietzsche).
Christianity’s first bogus treatment was given to history. It’s second was to reason. The Jim Bakkers of the world are simply following the lead…too stupid, too entrenched or to well heeled to break ranks. A lot like Chiroquackery, homeopathetic and inaccurate-puncture practitioners.
Dear Michael Kenny,
Quote:” “The Old Testament is history become myth…the New Testament is myth become history”. (Nietzsche).“
Do you have a reference for the Nietzsche quote? I would like to read it in German. Maybe there´s something “lost in translation”, because it sounds really stupid to me.
Since when are the stories from the Old Testament even remotely based on history?!
For example, let´s take the Exodus, one of the most important stories of the OT. Even the majority of bible scholars today agree that this is just another myth and does not describe an historic event. The whole story is not supported by any archaeological evidence, which would certainly be present if the story was true.
Did you see this Professor?
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/indian-authorities-propose-use-of-homeopathy-to-prevent-coronavirus-67075
yes, thank you
Is it Christian? Just try to find in the New Testament how much charged Jesus or his apostels for their healing…and it sure was kind of alternative medicine, too 😉
Homeopathy has been very popular with the Queen & the German people for a long time to treat more minor ailments. They of course would choose traditional surgery & therapies for serious complaints.
Homeopathy worked for my younger son’s eczema & even for our rescue pet dog who had digestive & chronic diarrhoea issues.
I have found herbals like echinacea efficacious in warding off colds & alleviating flu symptons.
After having Lymes the doctors eventually, after a blood test proved positive, prescribed Doxycycline which helped but afterwards I consulted free of charge a top herbalist in Cornwall who prescribed herbs which enabled a full recovery & return to my former energies, as I was still experiencing lethargy & some ague.
perhaps you ought to inform yourself about the difference between evidence and experience
https://edzardernst.com/2012/11/what-is-and-what-isnt-clinical-evidence-and-why-is-the-distinction-important/
@Veronica Bendall
Remove the power of the mind (placebo effect) and the power of time (the result would have happened over time, anyway) and you have little foundation left upon which to support your claims, I’m afraid.
Water and sugar pills (homeopathy’s go-to-treatments) may cure your thirst and satisfy a sweet tooth, respectively, but that’s about it.
@Veronica Bendall
You wrote
Perhaps you’ll be kind enough to spell out for me where the borderline lies between “minor ailments” and “serious complaints”. I’ve asked this question many times before without ever getting a straight answer. Let’s get specific — we spend too much time on these threads uselessly hurling around insults instead of discussing specifics.
Here’s a list of diseases homeopaths claim to be able to “treat”, “help” or “cure”. They all appear in a Wikipedia list of incurable diseases. The list is in alphabetical order. Which of them do you regard as a “serious complaint”, so I’ll know not to consult a homeopath if I’m seeking a cure.
Ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes (types 1 and 2), epilepsy, glioblastoma, leukemia(s), macular degeneration, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, pre-eclampsia, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, Tourette’s syndrome.