Derren Brown: Miracles for Sale – Tonight 9pm
With the cameras in hot pursuit, Derren faces his toughest project yet, going in search of an unsuspecting member of the British public prepared to adopt the guise of a pastor and miracle worker.
His chosen one then has six months to learn the trade and flourish across the pond as a convincing pastor.
The final phase of the volunteer’s extraordinary challenge sees them attempt to perform faith healing miracles live in Texas, but will Derren’s new recruit be accepted as a faith healer or cast away as fake healer?
The show will air tonight at 9pm on Ch4, 10pm on Ch4+1 and will be available on 4oD here.
Feel free to leave comments below.
im glad you did what you did at the end no one should pay for a gift that’s free to them they ppl are not true healers i am a spiritualist healer i work with god and spirit i do not take money and it’s agent the code of conduct to tell ppl to stop there medication.
if i were to pick any thing up i would tell you to go see your doctor. spiritual healing dose not cure you it helps you eases the pain i am not a doctor so cant tell you what is wrong with you but i can pick up on it. we do not get ppl to fill out forms in our church before hand.
i would like it if you were to come to a normal spiritualist church see them work and stay for a real healing
Totally awesome – have been watching this evening – about time crackpot faith-healers were debunked and this TV program given the air time that is much deserved. Dont get me wrong, I believe that Jesus can and does heal (if only you believe!), but only in His terms and not as some charlatans would have folks believe by parting with their hard earned cash. It is always very sad, and how angry we should be, when the house of prayer/faith becomes a den of thieves!
Many thanks to Derren and the production team.
On Derren Brown “miracles for sale†channel 4 programme, 25th April 2011
• I’m Toni May Kinnear, I’m 17, I’m from Bath and I wanted a chance to talk back at the programme because it seems like it was very one sided…
• The people that he’s “healed†aren’t really healed [as he explained] but when people are truly healed in the name of Jesus Christ, like I’ve witnessed, it’s real and not just some crappy trick being pulled and suggesting “Christians†are pulling too.
• What really pisses me off is that all these programmes find the few random “Christians†who aren’t really Christian at all and then claim that the whole religion is exactly like those people, as if they are the norm.
• God doesn’t heal through deceit. I’m not going to deny that mass hysteria and the tricks being shown c
making that program must have taken some serious courage…
Thanks for doing this programme! I was told while I was at a youth club that the reason why i had chronic pain and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (proven genetic dissorders) is purely becuase I didn’t pray hard enough to God. This youth club now has 2 groups in one town and is expanding they are also against the gay community. I am 18 but was much younger at the time, it is worrying as next to their church they have also set up their own playgroup.
Interesting! However, even if the ‘preacher’ is fake, and Darren succeeds in deceiving someone, a suffering person with genuine faith in God may well still receive a healing.
That was simply mindboggling on so many levels. That such seemingly amateur parlour tricks can convince an audience hyped up on adrenalin. The real miracle is all in the presentation.
I think Nathan was a star for coping with the moral ambivalence of his role as well as he did (minor outbursts aside) and I was watching through my fingers when the faith healer from the other ministry watched on during Nathan’s closing address. Almost felt sorry for him too until I reminded myself of his prior performance.
But it was a fantastic worthwhile show and well done to everyone involved for pulling it off. I only hope they show it in the States (though you might want to check with the legal team first!)
I just watched your show, “MIRACLES FOR SALE”, and I would like to personally thank you and Nathan for all the work you put into this.
I was raised a Christian and I even joined a Theological Seminary at the age of 18, ready to dedicate my life to God.
But after a couple of years of watching the church I was in becoming greedier and greedier I left, disillusioned. I have witnessed the atrocities you exposed first hand, and I have seen good people be sucked in by the fake promises of god’s blessings and healing in exchange for cash.
There are amazing people in the church. It is such a shame that they are being treated like sheep by conmen who care more about lining their pockets than they do about the message they are supposed to be delivering.
God doesn’t want your money but Mr Derren Brown does. If you’ve such a conscience Mr Brown then rid yourself of all your riches you’ve made through being a conman and practice what you now preach. Money will never buy you happiness. It’s obvious your dying inside and just need someone such as myself to make you see this. The good lord will forgive you so its not too late to make amends for all the greed you’ve had to contend with in your life.
Well done Darren, Nathan & Team.I’ve been Christian since 28yrs old. After few yrs went2 new church.Happy 4 few years then Toronto Blessing hit town.I was sucked in like everyone else.Nearly lost my faith. Was very disolusioned.Left church, studied bible & received solid Biblical Teaching.30yrs later my faith is more balanced.I do believe in miracles,hav witnessed answers to prayer 4life situations of others.I had no influence in their lives at all. My prayer is those in UK false churches will have seen programme and will come out & seek help many will need to be de-programmed I believe. Jesus and writers of New Testament makes no bones about what will happen to these false teachers & healers. Congratulations on a brilliant expose of false churches. Thanks once again, & may my God bless u
Dear Darren Brown,
I rarely watch television, but I put my TV on tonight to watch your Miracles for Sale programme.
At the opening I feared this was going to be just one more attack on Christianity. Instead it was a much needed exposure of the exploitation of Christianity by unscrupulous US preachers (I lived in Texas for many years and saw those people in action on US TV) who thereby denigrate the compassionate, loving message of that religion and defraud the simple faith of those who believe in it.
The young man who played Pastor James was obviously a sincere and decent man, racked by scruples about what he was doing least he upset the faith of genuine believers. And his statement at the end, still in the part of Pastor James, was wonderful. I punched the air with delight.
Just finished watching the program. It was an excellent team effort in revealing the damaging and hypocritical practices of “faith healers”. Nathan, you were a hypocrite with integrity. Not many can boast that. I mean that in every positive way possible. Without that integrity, the confused and thoughtful faces in that small crowd at the end may not have heard your message of truth. A message they desperately needed to hear. For even the few, it was worth it. Derren, thanks again for another delicately exposed faith fraud.
JESUS CHRIST HEALS and just because Derren Brown doesnt believe in God , doesnt mean God doesnt exist and heals. The BIBLE warns us that fake pastors will come so derren brown didnt discover anything new (more like a reminder for the few Chistians left out there!). It is written that some will expect to enter heaven yet Christ will cast them away (Matthew 7:13-23) so con-men ARENT sent by God. Let derren carry on mocking Christ and the Holy Spirit and he better pray that when he dies, he doesnt end up before the ONE he’s been denying his whole life…… oops! will i b prosecuted bc maybe unbelievers might be offended for the amount of times I stated Christ and God.I forgot everybody is allowed to express their belief except Christians bc it might offend some1. Sincere Apologies guys
Tony, did you listen to what Derren said at the end of the programme? It was not about Christianity, about faith or religion (Nathan was, after all, himself a Christian). It was about exposing the ways in which fraudulent healers convince people to part with their money, endangering them at the same time because they believe they have been truly healed. He never said all Christians do this.
I love everything Derren Brown does, he is pure genuis. Continue with your fanatasic productions.
I have not ever commented on an individual or programme, hey, that shows how good you truly are Mr Derren Brown, please keep up the great work that you do!!! x
Well I am what could commonly be called a born again Christian and , although I admire Derren Brown and his ethical motives – I agree that this is dangerous territory for Christians and non- Christians. As if tru faith and belief and love is not hard enough to explain to a spiky sceptic at the best of times I still find myself questioning my faith and some of the people I have come into contact with here in the UK. Very hard to watch.
I’m a pastor and I think Derren did a good job exposing charlatans who are just money grabbing. I would like to see a show where Derren visits substantiated and genuine example of healing to bring a bit of balance. I’d love him to do some training for Christians who want to avoid looking like a fake.
Ridley – Derren has never ever claimed to be a psychic, in fact, he is very open about his shows using a mix of “magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship”.
Just watched the program, at times was uncomfortable to see but got the point across so well – didn’t ‘James’ do well?! Really glad to see Derren display the integrity and warm heart we all know he has, a true gentleman. Like Nathan said, if this can help just one person it will have all been worthwhile, but, Mr.Brown, I think it has helped many people. Amazing, just fantastic! Derren, you are a super star 🙂
“when people are truly healed in the name of Jesus Christ, like I’ve witnessed, it’s real”
• Evidence please?
“What really pisses me off is that all these programmes find the few random “Christians†who aren’t really Christian at all and then claim that the whole religion is exactly like those people, as if they are the norm”
• Nowhere in the program was this claimed.
Just finished watching Miracles for Sale. Wow. I thought it was absolutely superb! It made a case against faith healing that’s too powerful to be stifled or ignored, and everyone involved should be very proud of themselves. Faith healers are cunning human predators who spend their days scheming and conniving ever more efficient ways to grift hard earned money from sick and desperate people. This show will undoubtedly save a great many such people from giving away money which they cannot afford to spend. It may also save some lives. Very, very well done.
Matthew 12:31
Brilliant use of tv to educate, entertain and get me yelling ‘THINK!!!’ at those poor deluded souls who believed this claptrap! Well done, Derren, a great expose.
God is the healer . He is still healing today. The bible is true and when Jesus came to earth as a man, he healed many of their diseases and he said greater works, we will also do. John 14: 13-14 says we can ask anything in the name of Jesus and it will be done for us (paraphrased) Faith is key in Christianity and Jesus died that we might be made whole. We shall lay hands on the sick and they will recover.
Healing is free, not to be paid for, yet there is a biblical concept of sowing financially to be a blessing for the gospel to reach nations.
The bible says not everyone who calls him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. God knows those who are His. There is the need to pray for discernment by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture tells us to test all Spirits & be prayerful
@Toni kinnear: Did you even watch the program? Throughout the entire thing Derren was saying how he’s not attacking anyone’s faith.
@ Toni. If what you say is true, then encourage these “healers” to prove it.
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge.html
Well done on the programme Derren. Very entertaining and probably your most worthwhile work.
Hi Derren and Nathan. Great work you guys. Great programme tonight. Keep up the good work. xxx
You did again Derren, very deserving of all the nice things said about this one. Glad it worked for you all, D, Iain, Nathan and co! X
miracles for sale, nothing short of a brilliant expose of con -men (and woman) which hail from the usa, but uk public, this stuff is watched in the uk on freesat type tv, your sons, daughters, parents are sending these thieves money. Why is this not treated as criminal fraud.speak out people against these lie mongerers!
Fantastic. It just goes to show what a fabulous artist Derren is if, despite being entirely transparent about everything he does (I think!?), everything he does is still so entertaining and engaging – and this time with a good moral intent! Exposing those charlatans for the money makers they really are. Well done Derren.
praise the lord for slip on shoes…
@toni. I dont think you have understood this program. Derren said himself that the show is not about the faith people have in god but the people who abuse this faith for money. I was shocked to hear that a 14 year old girl killed herself after being told that she wasnt healed because of secret sin! It wasnt one sided at all people who take money for miracles are awful people and should be exposed. Anyone watching derren brown shows are smart enough to see that its not about christianty(well most of them!)
Interesting, I have to say. The final show didn’t have much attendance though…
just saw comments from ‘real’ christians…you guys should be making the most noise about these thieves, why do you all sit quietly in the background…oust them out and take a stand…what about the only one god stuff, what about the fals prophet stuff, can you only sing “this little light of mine”? Stand up and be counted – make a class action against them legally for fraud…wake up!!!
Great show, thought nathan was a complete star and so brave and loved all the behind the scenes research that went into this.
I knew that essentially any Christian watching the programme and feeling challenged would either think:
a) Even though neither the guy Derren picked to be a faith healer nor Derren himself was a real and true faith healer, Jesus decided to heal those people through them – Jesus can heal through anyone, even atheists like Derren, in order to prove atheists are wrong etc.
or
b) Derren just happened to expose the con men who are not ‘real’ faith healers, and that Jesus does perform miracles through people, and that Jesus does in fact exist….though not the naked eye, naked smell, naked sound, naked touch, naked taste….
What Derren has shown is how people become convinced/mindtricked by faith healing, especially if their faith gives them a cognitive bias/emotional need towards it.
Well done Derren. Informative, entertaining and an amazing end speech as always. Your best disguise ever. Keep up the good work.
Nt sur wat to say…wt I kno is that a lot of wat I seen is very sound, like these guys askin for money and it goin into ther houses& cars, that’s nuts. Bt I believe God does stil heal today. One of the things that has confused me, is y more ppl haven’t discerned the difference in the gud guys frm the not so gud and I find that pretty scary.
Great idea, the best of intentions, and you found a great bloke to go through with it. However I can’t escape the feeling that you bottled it somewhat by not going with the Christian PR company. This company (presumably) is paid by the organisations you set out to discredit to promote their ruses, therefore they are part of the problem irrespective of whether or not they seem like nice people. Why did you make this decision from only a telephone conversation? They may well honestly believe that they are doing a good thing, or equally possible they may be in on the whole thing (or don’t care either way). So by not taking on their services you didn’t get an audience the final show deserved and probably missed out on making a splash in the local media. A shame & a missed opportunity.
I thought tonight’s show was wonderfully informative, insightful and a really interesting watch. Yes, I kind of knew what went on with faith healers but perhaps not to the extent and to such a manipulative degree.
Nathan was indeed very good at the task appointed to him (when he could so easily have walked away one or two times I thought) and showed a lot of courage.
I did like the light-hearted moments, which whether I should or I shouldn’t, found myself laughing at.
But overall, this was a great piece of TV which has really opened my eyes to those unfortunate people who are having their faith abused in such a fashion.
Well done to all involved.
LC x
As always, a great show.
Profound and compelling.
…but I still can’t for the life of me understand why people still submit to this?
I appreciate people are caught up in their own turmoil and situations but with access to so much information these days, can they not see the truth right in front of their eyes?
It’s a real and devastating shame.
Keep this type of ‘exposing’ shows coming Derren.
Your ‘truths’ are more compelling and important than many may give credit to.
Loved tonight, I lived in Brownsville TX and on the television i seen some faith healers and found it funny that people can think such things are a miracle, A phone # 1-800-pledge and they wanted you to call with your credit card details then they would real a prayer on TV for you.
Love to know why this practice is so strong in America and not so popular in other country’s
I do not believe in . religion but one thing i would like to know what is God ? Science is looking for the God particle so would that be God ? Personally religion is a man made myth that goes back many many years to try and answer things that people did not understand like why we have rain (so they would do a rain dance)
That was such a good show and it had true meaning behind it it’s so sad that there are people out there who think its ok to prey on the sick and exploit there faith for there own selfish needs well done derren you showed the world there true colours
I am a Methodist Minister and as such I have taken part and led healing services, which are not meant to be ‘curing’ sessions, there is a great deal of difference between healing and curing. I watched Derren this evening. I don’t normally watch his shows as I don’t like magic shows, however, this was different. He was showing how charlatans are making big money from vulnerable people. He was not saying that God doesn’t heal or indeed cure; he wasn’t saying anything against the Christian faith. He was just showing how wrong it is that these ‘So Called’ healers make their millions. Yes God heals, but He doesn’t charge for it!
Yes, I agree it must have taken some serious courage to do this for him, Nathan and the team. I hope that it opens up the way to expose more. Derren Brown has gone up in my estimation….and well done Nathan
Toni Kinnear wrote:
“The people that he’s “healed†aren’t really healed [as he explained] but when people are truly healed in the name of Jesus Christ, like I’ve witnessed, it’s real and not just some crappy trick being pulled and suggesting “Christians†are pulling too”
It’s always “some crappy trick”. Always. If it wasn’t, if there was a preacher who could genuinely shrivel cancer with a holy touch, he would be able to perform this miracle under laboratory conditions. Strange how these people can never cut the mustard when they’re put to the test, isn’t it?
Rewatch the program (if, indeed, you watched it all the way through the first time). Derren goes to great lengths to emphasise that the program isn’t an attack on faith per se, merely an exposé of lying, unscrupulous “healers”
Just saw your program on tv and immediately I felt I ought 2 share my thoughts on your site as my feelings totally echoed with the matter you were successful in airing. I should say I am in awe of the massive task you undertook in order to shed light on an area in christian realm that is never questioned, I believe its because of the fear of ridicule and peer pressure that one would have to face when confronting people with such doubts. I am an Indian(south)and currently studying in UK and to be honest I have personally felt and have thought about these issues for last 4 years without having n e 1 to share with. For this reason alone I was amazed on how precisely you and your team handled the issue barring the fact highlighted by Toni Kinnear above about the people who are in fact healed.
I certainly second sinders opinion regarding the christian PR company.
Great show – charlatans need exposing.
Many corrupt healers out there. There are genuine healers also who do not charge for their services – nor blame the person recieving the healing if they are not healed.
It is definately treated as a business which it should not be! Also healers come in more forms that just christians. Many christians in the UK are anti healing as this stems back to seeing healers as witches.
It is unethical and dangerous to tell people to stop taking their medication as if they are healed this will show in medical tests.
Oh my Derren, I would of loved to of been in your head for those few minutes you were on that Stage having your “4inch” leg healed… On my word… The things you could of done! Thank God (lol) you had the power to soak it all up. I would of loved a close up of your face. I bet it was a picture xXx
What an incredible programme. I was so sickened by the “so called healer†asking for credit card details…could you get any lower for **** sake!!
Kudos to Nathan for taking on such a massive task and seeing it through till the end. Six months work but my goodness it was worth it…gripping stuff without a doubt. Well done to everyone involved x
Fascinating program tonight Mr Brown & Team.
As an amateur magician of many years I share Derren’s love of things ‘deceives the eye’, his interest in the mind, & have admired his cleverness since he was aired on tv. As a Christian and pastor here in the UK, and one that prays for the sick regularly I was interested in tonight’s subject. I have prayed for many people seen some situations remain unchanged, but have seen many improvements, including some very dramatic (eg my wife who was diagnosed with leukaemia – immediate remission, a stroke victim able to walk without crutches immediately after prayer – please note I don’t charge for my prayers!)
As well as the very real health benefits that the Bible clearly describes to having a healthy mindset, I believe that there is also the spiritual arena, which obviously Derren doesn’t. That being the case I found it fascinating that the team used a GENUINE worship team on the program. My understanding is that for the real believing congregation, worshipping the God who is real to them, didn’t help the idea of ‘the con’ as Jesus himself is recorded as saying on some occasions that individual’s faith made them well. That being the case, it wouldn’t really matter what Nathan aka Pastor James said or did, but if they were already at a genuine place of receiving from God, then Nathan could potentially just could have read the alphabet over people and coast on what was already there (God’s presence in my humble opinion).