JREF Million dollar challenge

Recently I was watching a show on the travel channel called The dead files. It's a paranormal show starring so called psychic medium Amy Allan and retired NYPD homocide detective Steve DiSchiavi. The team investigates paranormal cases involving hauntings and alleged demonic infestations in various settings such as bars, private homes, and other commercial locations. They approach each case from their two separate perspectives. Steve researches the cases from the perspective of a detective trying to solve a homicide and Amy uses her abilities as a psychic medium to sense what is going on at the location. Amongst her abilities she claims to be able to see and talk to the dead.

The interesting thing about the show is that in a recent episode Amy was asked the standard "why don't you use your gifts to divine the winning powerball numbers?" to which she replied: " It doesn't work that way we are not allowed to use our abilities for personal gain." Fair enough, but this got me thinking. If not for personal game why not take the James Randi Educational Foundations one million dollar challenge for free? Or better yet why not take it and then have them donate your winnings to the charity or charities of your choice?

                                                      James Rani/aka The amazing Randi

According to the faqs section of the website: "The Challenge was first introduced in 1964 when James Randi offered $1,000 of his own money to the first person who could offer proof of the paranormal. When the word got out, donors began stepping forward to help, and soon the prize had grown to One Million Dollars." This challenge has been ongoing since 1964 and to date no one has been able to claim the prize or demonstrate any so called paranormal abilities in a controlled and testable environment.

One of the most famous of psychics that Randi has been trying to take the challenge for years has been noted psychic to the stars and Montel Williams buddy Sylvia Brown. Of course she at one time claimed that she would take the challenge but has never followed through.  Randi has published videos and information about the Sylvia Brown fiasco on his site you can view and read that information here.

The way I see it is that if you are claiming to have psychic or paranormal abilities then just like a theist has the burden of proof of proving the existence of God a claimant of supernatural powers and abilities should be able to demonstrate his/her abilities under any conditions. But it seems that when it comes to psychics, mediums, faith healers, etc. they all are unable to perform when they are asked to provide evidence of their claims. I've heard an abundance of excuses by many of these claimants that simply amount to what we all suspected in the first place: that they are full of it!

Even psychics require that you believe in their abilities just like faith healers and other require that you have faith in their so called divine gifts. It's funny but in the Bible even the fictional Jesus Christ had this same problem. In fact, the Bible states that God also requires that you have faith in order for him to act on ones behalf.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:53-58

Note: All biblical citations are taken from the New International Version of the scriptures. All other sources are liked within the texts themselves.