Trouble Down Under

It would seem that checking out Fuller’s claims is a simple matter, when and if he will allow it, which he won’t, and when and if the appropriate authorities will try to do so, which they won’t. But there has been at least one exception to this last general rule. When the 72-year-old Reverend Fuller and his wife visited Australia early in 1986, the Dental Board of New South Wales took him to court and charged him with breaching the Dental Act by falsely advertising himself to be a dentist capable of filling cavities and straightening teeth. The offense was found to be proved, and he was ordered to pay court costs of $435; but, says Fuller, because of his saintly nature and his religious orientation, the conviction was “not recorded.” This is a nice way of saying that they decided to go easy on him. The Fullers left Australia immediately.

Improving the Account

Fuller immediately began rewriting history. In the July 1, 1986, edition of his newsletter, the Lively Stones Fellowship, he exulted that “we issued the order for prayer power and 150 angels to march into the courtroom with us.” He went on to say that he had been “invited to court by the Dental Board,” that “the case was dropped,” and that “the judge read a two page statement as to how ‘the character of the Fullers and their ministry is beyond reproach.’ “ These quotes are simply not accurate. Fuller was not “invited” to court; he was, in the words of the summons issued to him and served on him by a court official, “commanded to appear under penalty of law.” He had no choice in the matter. The case was not “dropped.” It was heard in court in all its detail, from beginning to end. The case against Fuller was proved. And the judge never declared on the character of Fuller; the words Fuller quotes never appeared anywhere except in his newsletter, and he himself invented them. The fact that Fuller claimed, in court and under oath, that he was “living on Social Security” in the United States might have colored the opinion of the magistrate, had the truth been known. As for the crowd of angels in the courtroom, they were not noticed by anyone, nor were they reported in the press.

Dentistry by Alchemy

How can Fuller’s victims possibly believe that God puts crowns made of gold or porcelain, or fillings made of silver, into their mouths? Why doesn’t He restore the original tooth? After all, He made the original, didn’t He? Fuller is credited with a “miracle” when people see in their mouths silver fillings that have turned to gold. First, gold fillings simply are not used in real dentistry. Second, Fuller uses a small, penlike flashlight to look into the victim’s mouth. Its feeble glow is rather yellowish, and could make silver fillings appear golden. In fact, many recipients of this Midas touch complain that the next day the miracle is found to have reversed itself, the gold having degenerated back to silver. How does Fuller claim to perform his magic? His explanation is typically crackpot-style, incorporating basic, accepted facts followed by sheer nonsense. He says:Everything in the universe, including our bodies, is made up of atoms. The atoms can be manipulated, and when you get into the right relationship with God, you have a great source of power at your disposal.