The $1 million challenge
The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) currently offers a prize of one million U.S. dollars to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. Similar to the paranormal challenges of John Nevil Maskelyne and Houdini, in 1964, Randi put up $1,000 of his own money payable to the first person who could provide objective proof of the paranormal. Since then, the prize money has grown to the current $1,000,000, and the rules that surround claiming the prize are official and legal. No one has progressed past the preliminary test which is set up with parameters agreed to by both Randi and the applicant. He also refuses to accept any challengers who might suffer serious injury or death as a result of the testing they intend to undergo.
Randi's 1995 Paranormal Encyclopedia.
Randi's 1995 Paranormal Encyclopedia.
On Larry King Live March 6, 2001 Larry King asked Sylvia Browne if she would take the challenge and she agreed.[31] Then Randi appeared with Browne on Larry King Live on September 3, 2001 and she again accepted the challenge.[32] However, she has refused to be tested and Randi keeps a clock on his website recording the number of weeks that have passed since Sylvia accepted the challenge without following through.
During Larry King Live on June 5, 2001 Randi challenged Rosemary Altea to undergo testing for the million dollars. However Altea would not even address the question.[33] Instead Altea, in part, replied "I agree with what he says, that there are many, many people who claim to be spiritual mediums, they claim to talk to the dead. There are many, people, we all know this. There are cheats and charlatans everywhere."[33] Then on January 26, 2007 Altea and Randi again appeared on Larry King Live. Once again, she refused to answer whether or not she would take the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge.[34]
Randi has recently challenged David R. Hawkins to win the prize with Hawkins' "arm-pressing technique" (applied kinesiology), suggesting it would only take thirty minutes of easy work, but believing that Hawkins would not even attempt to apply for the challenge for "obvious" reasons.[35]
Starting on April 1, 2007 only those with an already existing media profile and the backing of a reputable academic would be allowed to apply for the challenge.[36] The resources freed up by not having to test obscure and possibly mentally ill claimants will then be used to more aggressively challenge notorious high-profile alleged psychics and mediums such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward with a campaign in the media.[36]
Critics say that Randi has set up the system so that the million-dollar challenge cannot be passed, despite the fact that contestants are required to participate in establishing the conditions for success and failure. Randi himself states that "What if someone wins the million dollars? ... I think it's very highly unlikely", but bases this on the unlikelihood of the paranormal.[37] For details of the disputes, see James Randi Educational Foundation. So far, no one has passed even the preliminary testing procedures, let alone been awarded the prize money.
JREF maintains a log of past participants for the "Million Dollar Challenge" for public access.[38]
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