Rewards offered for paranormal 'proofs'
- 1 May 1987
Any medium who demonstrates communication with spirits under controlled conditions will be able to collect $232,000, Dr David Marks, the chairman of New Zealand Skeptics said yesterday.
For a “psychic” who demonstrates ESP clairvoyance or divination under controlled conditions the reward is $160,000.
These awards are the total money prizes on offer world-wide for any person who can “prove” paranormal powers.
“This prize money is a genuine offer being made collectively by sceptics in several countries.”
New Zealand Skeptics is holding its first annual convention at the University of Otago this weekend. Its full name is the New Zealand Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. The group includes scientists and investigators with special training in the detection of fraud and fakery.
The challenges have been arranged in association with sister organisations in the United States, Britain and Australia.
Dr Marks himself is offering $25,000.
Others included in the challenge list are United States magician James Randi and the Australian electronics entrepreneur Dick Smith.
Dr Marks, who is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Otago, said if psychics feel they would rather not perform for the money, it can be given to charity.
Good Investment
“I would be willing to part with this much money to be associated with what would have to be the scientific discovery of the century,” Dr Marks’ said.
“And since the persons making such a revolutionary discovery would be strong candidates for a Nobel prize, I would consider it a jolly good investment.”
Those with “genuine” claims would apply. They would pass preliminary tests in New Zealand and then be invited to the United States or Britain to demonstrate their ability in front of an international committee of investigators.
“Based upon our experience with self-proclaimed psychics such as Israeli Spoon-bender Uri Geller and New Zealand Tarot Reader Colin Amery our money is quite safe.”
Delusion
Dr Marks himself “discovered” how Uri Geller bent spoons and Mr Emery was tested at the University of Otago.
“The tests revealed Mr Amery mistakes confidently formed guesses for ESP. He suffers from what I call the ‘Psychic’s Delusion.’
“The normal label for a person who claims to have psychic powers should be self-proclaimed psychic.’
“When television, radio or newspapers describe a person as a ‘psychic,’ this is poor journalism because it presumes the claim is a valid one.
“If a person without proper credentials masquerades as a doctor or lawyer it would be considered a serious matter. On the other hand, anybody can claim to be a psychic or medium and charge consulting fees and nobody seems to care.
“Yet the consequences for the client may be just as dire. Isn’t this just as fraudulent as the uncredentialed doctor or lawyer setting up in practice.?”
The group this week asked a Dunedin “medium” to be tested on a claim that she could contact spirits. She declined.
Totals for rewards are: Any paranormal claim, $160,000; spirit communication $232,000; dowsing $163,000; UFOs $180,000; and writing with a pencil inside a sealed container, $220,000.