Category: J

An ardent exponent of Nazi Racism, claiming scientific grounds for his beliefs and actions: “The blood particles of Jews are completely different from those of a Nordic man. Hitherto one has prevented this fact being proved by microscopic investigation” (from an address in 1935). Although similar xenophobic ideas resurface from time to time, the overwhelming…

Known for her treatment of kidney stones in the 1730s. She claimed to have infallible treatments and in 1738 advertised in The Gentleman’s Magazine that she would reveal her secret if she were to receive £5000 in recompense. Five thousand pounds (roughly the equivalent of 7-8 million dollars today) was a sum beyond the means…

Co-creator and popularizer of the basic principles of Pherenology. Born into a Lutheran farming family in Germany, Spurzheim initially intended to enter the ministry and studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew, philosophy, and divinity in his hometown and at the University of Treves. Although many of his later endeavors retained an evangelical sense of mission and optimism,…

A botanist from Chicago who first became interested in Psychical research after hearing a lecture on spiritualism by Sir Arthur Conan DOYLE. In 1926 he became a research assistant to William McDougall in the psychology department at Harvard, following him to Duke University in 1927. His first published paper, in 1929, was on a mind-reading…

Known as James “The Amazing” Randi, a professional magician and escapologist. Born and educated in Toronto, Canada, Randi moved to the United States and was naturalized a citizen in 1987. Subsequently, he became an amateur archaeologist and astronomer, author, lecturer, and founding member of the committee for the scientific investigation of claims of the paranormal…

Trench naturalist and formulator of a distinctive theory of organic evolution. Lamarck was born in the Picardy region of Prance to a noble family of somewhat declining fortunes. Originally slated for a religious career, Lamarck’s education began in a Jesuit school where he studied ancient languages, logic, mathematics, and scholastic thought. After his father died,…

U S medical doctor, inventor, author, and spa administrator who promoted dietary and other health reforms. Kellogg was born into a large family of Seventh Day Adventists in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he grew up listening to the health-reform teachings of prophetess Ellen White. Adventist leaders pushed Kellogg toward a medical career, and he began…

Popular writer on UFOs and anomalies who believes that such phenomena are demonic entities he calls “ultraterrestrials.” Keel has asserted that such things as UFOs, Bigfoot, and Lake Monsters are inhabitants of another, paranormal, order of existence. Because they easily slip out of normal “consensus” reality, it is not surprising that scientists have difficulty verifying…

Ecstatic Franciscan priest called the Flying Friar. He was born near Brindisi of very poor parents and in his youth was sickly and slow-witted, earning the nickname “the gaper” for his habit of wandering around with his mouth open. He joined the Franciscan order, working as a servant, and was eventually admitted as a novice,…

A form of healing practice developed in Japan in the 1940s by jiro Mirai. Literally the “Art of Universal Energy in Compassionate Man,” Jin Shin Jyutsu is based on acupuncture and is a direct refinement of acupressure. It draws on the perspective of the Chinese idea that the human body is enlivened by chi (universal…