For some time, the James Randi Educational Foundation has offered a challenge to those who claim paranormal powers to put up or shut up.   The challenge is for a cash prize of one million dollars for scientific proof of the paranormal. It all started a long time ago when James Randi himself offered one thousand dollars of his own for anyone willing to step up and prove that their claims of the paranormal are real.

Since then, it has grown to one million dollars.  The money is kept by the foundation in verifiable asserts and a protocol exists for those who wish to apply for the challenge.  To claim the million dollars, one must agree to a test protocol with the foundation.  This test protocol is somewhat flexible, as the claimed powers vary quite a bit.   The challenge consists of two tests.  The first test is a preliminary test, which is intended to have odds of passing by chance alone of no better than one to one thousand.  (Statisticians are consulted when necessary).    If the claimant passes this test, they will move on to the final test, which will have even stricter controls and scrutiny and will be reviewed by the foundation’s resident statisticians and others to assure it is valid.   If the claimant passes this, they will win the million dollars and also challenge the very basic laws of reality as we know them, thus upsetting science from the ground up.

Thus far, only a few have made it to the preliminary challenge.   Despite the efforts of those involved to be accommodating to claimants, and the fact that the challenge is always done in a manner as transparent and fair as possible, most bow out before ever making it to the actual test procedure.   Of those who have made it to the preliminary test, none have passed.

In the past, a few high profile psychics like Sylvia Browne have stated that they would take on the challenge, but this has never materialized.   Those like John Edward, Uri Geller and other well known self-proclaimed psychics and mystics generally avoid this test like the plague.    Despite one million dollars to donate to whatever charity they like and finally shutting up the skeptics, nobody of any status seems to be willing to take on the challenge.  (Gee I wonder why?)

(Photo Credit: Scott Hurst)

At TAM-7 there was an individual, Connie Sonne, who did take the challenge and make it to the preliminary test.  I was lucky enough to be part of the audience to the challenge.   Despite being pretty sure of the outcome, I have to admit I held my breath.   The test was done very professionally and according to the agreed protocol.

PART 1

The rest of the test can be viewed via the links bellow.   I suggest checking out part 4, for those who don’t want to view the entire thing.

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Finally, many claim the challenge is rigged or would be rigged and use this as a means of avoiding being put on the spot over it.   This is simply not the case.  Anyone who reads the rules and protocol will see that the foundation bends over backwards to accommodate those who are willing to take the challenge.   The recent addition of the rule that one must have a “media presence” is not intended to make it difficult to apply but to try to limit the challenge to professional ‘psychics’ and not the every day loonies.

I can personally attest to the honesty and efforts of those who run the challenge.   I know Alison Smith and others involved and they do everything to try to make it as fair and open as possible.   But don’t take my word for it.   Look at the information avaliable online!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 1:39 pm and is filed under Amazing Meeting, Bad Science, Good Science, Paranormal, media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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