Rick Warren seems like a nice guy. Rick is an evangelical pastor that preaches at one of those mega-churches. A lot of people are familiar with his book “The Purpose Driven Life.” He’s a fairly uplifting guy with a good message and, seemingly, a good heart. Not to get too personal, but the book even helped me out in a difficult time.
But Rick’s latest endeavor – a diet based on the Bible – leaves a lot of credibility on the table. He’s call it The Daniel Plan.
First and foremost, Rick dedicates an entire chapter to claiming that modern breeds of wheat are the root cause of many of today’s major health problems, including obesity. But as dietitian and farmer Jennie Schmidt explained on her blog, that’s a bunch of baloney. She wrote an excellent piece explaining why Rick is wrong (and a great explanation on why people need to chill on the whole gluten fad) here.
But even that might not be Rick’s biggest problem and the thing that makes The Daniel Plan dead upon arrival. Rick also chose a number of alleged experts in the field to craft his diet plan. Unfortunately, he didn’t vet the panel very well.
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| Rick Warren’s “experts” that helped him craft The Daniel Plan. |
“Dr.” Oz, of course, is the guy that parades around acting like a doctor on his hit daytime television show and the most well known of Rick’s “experts.” In fact, Oz uses his show as a spring board for most of his money making schemes and agendas, including his bias against biotechnology. His family is financially invested in scaring consumers about GMOs and he’s been chided by scientists for his deceptive broadcasts. Why he would be included, besides being a celebrity, on such a panel is well beyond any logical answer.
Also on the panel is Dr. Daniel Amen. Amen has made millions discussing the “soul-brain” connection, specifically using a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). He alleges that SPECT can “help diagnose and manage cases of brain trauma, underachievement, school failure, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, aggressiveness, cognitive decline, and brain toxicity from drugs or alcohol.” (Source: QuackWatch) He’s also been derided by several in his field about the technique and his “love affair” with it (but you would have an affair with something that made you millions of dollars too).
Finally, there’s Mark Hyman. I was completely unaware of this guy until I saw him on the website, but his advice contains a bunch of quasi-scientific junk too. For example, he claims that milk is dangerous, despite recommended daily intake guidelines by the FDA, and should be avoided (oh, and you should never drink cow’s milk). Hyman has been called out on a lot of his ridiculous ideas, including on Science Blog (where he apparently tried to claim the science showing him wrong was wrong because, well, science isn’t always right; right?).
As a respected and well-known pastor, Rick needs to choose those he associates with on his projects carefully. Picking “Dr.” Oz as a cohort on this endeavor costs him a lot of credibility. And the other two aren’t much better. He also needs to check on the information he’s willing to sign his name to — it isn’t hard to check with a few dietitians to find out the fear of wheat is completely unfounded.
While I’ve never doubted the sincerity of Rick’s teachings, books, faith, and programs, The Daniel Plan reeks as a quick money making scheme. Instead of picking leaders in the field of nutrition, Rick grabbed the three biggest quack “doctors” available to help him write a book and, essentially, make a quick buck. If he really wanted to help those that follow him lose weight and grow in their faith, he wouldn’t pick the biggest celebrity scam artists available.
The whole thing is so disappointing because Rick Warren was better than this sham.
I wonder why you would think some Bible thumping, mega church pastor would be sincere in the first place? He is just showing his true stripes IMHO.I just discovered your blog and love it.
Bruce — Admittedly, while I am a person of faith, the "Bible thumping, mega church pastor" is not my cup of tea and I am generally skeptical of it. However, I had read Rick's book "The Purpose Driven Life" and, while I didn't agree with all of theologically, it was a profound book for me. But, you're absolutely right, he is showing his true colors and that's a BIG disappointment.
There are many a gullible people out there and misinformation is definitely a money maker.
I totally and completely agree with everything you say. However, you make it sound like Mehmet Oz isn't really a doctor. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon, on the faculty of the Columbia University School of Medicine. He used to be extremely well regarded, but even the chair of his department at Columbia has said he wouldn't want Oz operating on him, because he simply doesn't do it much any more. Why he took a fine reputation and trashed it the way he has, is beyond me.
money always follow the money
Long before Warren published his diet, my mother tried "Daniel's diet". She lost a lot of weight. But she didn't have to give up gluten. If it is in the Bible I trust it. If man has altered what the Bible says and added his own opinions, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. That goes for anyone's book, not just this diet plan.
Well this isn't really a Biblical discussion, but I don't think there actually IS a "diet" (as we use the term) in the Bible, nor is that really the point of the Bible. Nonetheless, Warren's book isn't credible and he's obviously embraced the misinformation of these other quacks.
I’ve only bought a few diet books: French Girls Don’t Get Fat, The Fat Fallacy and The Maker’s Diet by Jordan Rubin. I liked his book but haven’t read it for a few years. I find his Garden of Life products way over priced and won’t buy any of it, but I think his book is good.
Why do the blog write ups, articles, etc. that are against the Daniel Plan only discuss their issues being with the people/authors behind the book itself and NOT whether the actual plan really works for those committed to it? The plan encourages clean eating, and working exercise into your life, al while drawing closer to God
Because those guys never stick to anything scientific, so it’s a pretty good chance they didn’t do that here either. Plus, I’m not really sure what “clean” eating even means. Is it the opposite of “dirty” eating?
Kind of agrr with uou. Enjoyed purpose life but poor choice of people to work with this time.
I found your blog while looking for people doing Pastor Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan diet. I was shocked that you would call this wonderful man a scammer. I also noticed that you make many sweeping generalizations not well supported by serious scholarly research.Rick Warren is a Christian man trying to give everyone the right path to living the Christian life. God wants us to use food for health and energy and Pastor Rick is emphasizing this point in his diet. Nothing scamming about that.
Except he hooked with a bunch of scammers to create and advertise his diet. You are the company you keep.