Real "Paranormal Phenomena" What Is It Worth To You?

Beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation: such paranormal phenomena as telepathy; a medium's paranormal powers are just the surfsace. Real aranormal phenomena are those happeninga supposedly due to powers of the mind that go beyond the normal, such as extra-sensory perception, or perception by means independent of the normal use of the senses, telepathy, psychokinesis, precognition or powers of prophecy, and survival of bodily death.

Paranormal psychology, also known as psychical research, is the attempt to establish these phenomena scientifically, and then to theorize about their nature. Philosophers who have interested themselves in this area of investigation include Glanvill, Sidgwick, James, and Broad.

hile parapsychologists look for quantitative evidence of the paranormal in laboratories, a great number of people immerse themselves in qualitative research through participant-observer approaches to the paranormal. Participant-observer methodologies have overlaps with other essentially qualitative approaches as well, including phenomenological research that seeks largely to describe subjects as they are experienced, rather than to explain them.

Participant-observation suggests that by immersing oneself in the subject being studied, a researcher is presumed to gain understanding of the subject. In paranormal research, a participant-observer study might consist of a researcher visiting a place where alleged paranormal activity is said to occur and recording observations while there. Participation levels may vary. In studying a supposedly haunted location, for example, the researcher may conduct a séance or participate in other activities said to cause paranormal activity.

Criticisms of participant-observation as a data-gathering technique are similar to criticisms of other approaches to the paranormal, but also include an increased threat to the objectivity of the researcher, unsystematic gathering of data, reliance on subjective measurement, and possible observer effects (observation may distort the observed behavior). Specific data gathering methods, such as recording EMF readings at haunted locations have their own criticisms beyond those attributed to the participant-observation approach itself.

The participant-observer approach to the paranormal has gained increased visibility and popularity through reality-based television shows like Ghost Hunters, and the formation of independent ghost hunting groups which advocate immersive research at alleged paranormal locations. One popular website for ghost hunting enthusiasts lists over 300 of these organizations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

Paranormal subjects and souces to research

Cryptozoology, Forteana, Ghosts, Haunted locations, Mysticism, New Age, Occult, Paranormal fiction, Paranormal guides (U.S.), Paranormal explanations for UFOs, Parapsychology, Psychics, Supernatural, UFOs, USO, UFO sightings

Authors: Troy Taylor, Mark Nesbitt, Jeff Belanger,Charles Fort, Bernard Heuvelmans, Brad Steiger, J. Francis Hitching, J.B. Rhine,Robert Ripley, Arthur C Clark, Carl Sagan, Bill Sweet, Michael Grosso, Charles J. Adams III, ED Okonowicz, Sallie Ann Glassman, Patty A.Wilson, Rosmary Ellen Guily, Christopher Balzano.

Real Ghost Hunters: The Warren's, Troy Taylor, Tommy Netzband, Gina Lanier, Patti Starr, Greg Myers, Judy Myers, Yvette Feilding, Dale Kaczmarek, Keith Age, Patrick Burns, Harry Houdini, David Wolfe II, Lisa Lee Harp Waugh, Dr. Hanz Holzer, Mark Nesbitt, Loyd Auerbach, Ursula Bielski, Douglas M. Carnahan, Kenneth Deel, Paul F. Eno, John Kachuba, Steve Gonzalves, Tom "Ghost Magnet" Halstead, Todd Bates, Brian Harnois, Richard Senate, Matt Hendrix, John Zaffis, Robert M. Hunnicut, Kim Kowalczyk, Shannon McCabe, Stacey Allen McGee, Jason Offutt, Alan Rupnik, Susan Sheppard, Tim Yancey, Bill Metz, Brian Leffler,Dr. Ed Craft, Starr Chaney, Frank Caringella, Yvonne Brown, Christopher J. Andrews, Pete Haviland, Autumn Kruer.

Skepticism: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Debunking, Ghost Hunters, Hoaxes,

Known Parnormal Skeptics: Harry Houdini, James Randi, Bobby Zoeller.

Science: Anomaly, Fringe science, Pseudoscience, Scientific method.

Ghost and Spirits

For believers, ghosts are generally seen to be the spirit or soul of a deceased person. Alternative theories expand on that idea and include belief in the ghosts of deceased animals. Sometimes the term "ghost" is used synonymously with any spirit or demon , however in popular usage the term typically refers to a deceased person.

The belief in ghosts as souls of the departed is closely tied to the concept of animism, an ancient belief which attributed souls to everything in nature. As the nineteenth-century anthropologist James Frazer explained in his classic work, The Golden Bough, souls were seen as the creature within that animated the body. Although the human soul was sometimes symbolically or literally depicted in ancient cultures as a bird or other animal, it was widely held that the soul was an exact reproduction of the body in every feature, even down to clothing the person wore. This is depicted in artwork from various ancient cultures, including such works as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which shows deceased people in the afterlife appearing much as they did before death, including the style of dress.

A widespread belief concerning ghosts is that they are composed of a misty, airy, or subtle material. Anthropologists speculate that this may also stem from early beliefs that ghosts were the person within the person, most noticeable in ancient cultures as a person's breath, which upon exhaling in colder climates appears visibly as a white mist. This belief may have also fostered the metaphorical meaning of "breath" in certain languages, such as the Latin spiritus and the Greek pneuma, which by analogy became extended to mean the soul. In the Bible, God is depicted as animating Adam with a breath.

Numerous theories have been proposed by skeptics to provide non-paranormal explanations for ghosts sightings. Although the evidence for ghosts is largely anecdotal, the belief in ghosts throughout history has remained widespread and persistent.

UFO's

The possibility of extraterrestrial life is not, by itself, a paranormal subject. Many scientists are actively engaged in the search for unicellular life within the solar system, carrying out studies on the surface of Mars and examining meteors that have fallen to Earth. Projects such as SETI are conducting an astronomical search for radio activity that would show evidence of intelligent life outside the solar system.[30] Scientific theories of how life developed on Earth allow for the possibility that life developed on other planets as well. The paranormal aspect of extraterrestrial life centers largely around the belief in unidentified flying objects and the phenomena said to be associated with them.

Early in the history of UFO culture, believers divided themselves into two camps. The first held a rather conservative view of the phenomena, interpreting it as unexplained occurrences that merited serious study. They began calling themselves "ufologists" in the 1950s and felt that logical analysis of sighting reports would validate the notion of extraterrestrial visitation.

The second camp consisted of individuals who coupled ideas of extraterrestrial visitation with beliefs from existing quasi-religious movements. These individuals typically were enthusiasts of occultism and the paranormal. Many had backgrounds as active Theosophists, Spiritualists, or were followers of other esoteric doctrines. In contemporary times, many of these beliefs have coalesced into New Age spiritual movements.

Both secular and spiritual believers describe UFOs as having abilities beyond what is considered possible according to aerodynamics and physical laws. The transitory events surrounding many UFO sightings also limits the opportunity for repeat testing required by the scientific method. Acceptance of UFO theories by the larger scientific community is further hindered by the many possible hoaxes associated with UFO culture.

List of prizes for your personal evidence of the "Paranormal Proof Being Real!"

So you have collected all your real paranormal proof and you think it is notably valuable but tangible then what do you do Do you just post it on a web site? Contact the news media? How about submitting it for prize money!

In 1922, Scientific American offered two US $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." Harry Houdini was a member of the investigating committee. The first medium to be tested was George Galantine, who claimed that in his presence spirits would speak through a trumpet that floated around a darkened room. For the test, Galantine was placed in a room, the lights were extinguished, but unbeknownst to him his chair had been rigged to light a signal in an adjoining room if he ever left his seat. Because the light signals were tripped during his performance, Galantine did not collect the award.

* Association for Skeptical Enquiry is offering a £13,000 prize.
* Australian Skeptics offers AUD $100,000 for proof of psychic or paranormal powers.
* Abraham Kovoor's challenge, an award of Rs. 100,000 for proof of supernatural or miraclous powers.
* The Independent Investigations Group offers $50,000 to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event.
* Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge Indian Rupees 100,000 ($2,500). Sponsored by Basava Premanand.
* Prabir Ghosh of India is offering $50,000.
* Tampa Bay Skeptics $1,000 Challenge US $1,000.
* North Texas Skeptics Paranormal Challenge US $12,000.
* The late Philip J. Klass offered US $10,000 for proof of an extraterrestrial visit to the Earth.
* After investigating psychic phenomena in 1922, Scientific American made two US $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." (Christopher 1975:180).
* The Swedish Humanist Association is offering a prize of SEK 100,000 that will be awarded to anyone who can demonstrate beyond doubt that they possess a paranormal or supernatural talent that cannot be explained by conventional science.

For a decade, James Randi, 79, has offered a million dollars to anyone who can demonstrate a paranormal occurrence under controlled circumstances. Not surprisingly, high-profile TV psychics won't touch the offer with a ten-foot dowsing rod.

For a decade, James Randi, 79, has offered a million dollars to anyone who can demonstrate a paranormal occurrence under controlled circumstances.

Since then, many individuals and groups have offered similar monetary awards for proof of the paranormal in an observed setting. These prizes have a combined value of over $2.4 million dollars.

#	Organization	Prize money	Details
1	Abraham Over's challenge	R's. 100,000 (Sri Lank an Rupees)	Abraham Over's offered the prize money starting in 1963.(US$883 apron)
2	Alfredo Barrage's Bet	€50,000	(US$75,000 apron)
3	Association for Skeptical Enquiry (United Kingdom)	£13,000 award	(US$23,000 apron)
4	Australian Skeptics	AU$100,000	(US$90,000 apron) for proof the existence of ESP, telepathy, or telekinesis.
5	Cassava Remained	100,000 (Indian Rupees)
6	Center for Inquiry West	US$10,000
7	Fayetteville Freethinkers	US$1,000 award
8	Finnish Association of Skeptics	€10,000	(US$15,000 apron) (Money partially from Hanna Argument and Biro EPA)
9	Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge	100,000 Indian Rupees	(US$2,500 apron)
10	James Rand Educational Foundation	One million US dollars	Largest prize money in US dollars.
11	Kazakhstan Commission for the Investigation of Anomalous Phenomena (KCIAP)	US$1,000
12	Les Sceptiques du Quebec (Canada)	CA$10,000	(US$10,000 approx)
13	New York Area Skeptics	US$2,000	Awarded to the successful completion of the James Randi Educational Foundation prize winner.
14	North Texas Skeptics	US$12,000
15	Philip J. Klass (now deceased)	US$10,000	For proof of an extraterrestrial visit to the Earth.
16	Science and Rationalists' Association of India	Rs. 20,00,000	Prabir Ghosh will pay Rs. 20,00,000 to anyone can demonstrate a supernatural power in his presence. (US$50,000)
17	Scientific American	$2,500	Two US$2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." (From 1922)
18	Sima Nan (China)	10,000,000 yuan	(US$1,200,000 approx) Can be won in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation prize.
19	SKEPP (Belgium)	€10,500	(in association with the Sisyphus project) award (US$15,000 approx)
20	Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World	NZ$50,000	(US$35,000 approx)
21	Swedish Humanist Association	SEK 100,000	(US$15,000 approx)
22	Tampa Bay Skeptics	US$1,000
23	Eesti Skeptik (Estonia)	10,000 Estonian Kroons	(US$1,000 approx)
24	Eng. Sanad Rashed and Dr.Ahmed Khaled (kuwait)	5000$	for proof Ouija boards function as claimed.

Chris Angel offered $1,000,000 of his own money to Uri Geller and Jim Callahan if they could psychically determine the contents of an envelope he held in his hand. The offer was in response to Callahan's claim that his performance of a trick on a TV show called "Phenomenon" was aided by spirit guide.

America's Psychic Challenge

America Psychic Challenge is a competitive reality TV series on the Lifetime Television Network [1]. The show originated in the UK with the title Britain's Psychic Challenge. Bunim-Murray Productions created the American version for Lifetime TV.

During a national search of thousands, sixteen self-professed psychics each gained a spot to compete on television. For the program, tests were created by the production company with the stated goal of assessing contestants' supernatural abilities. As each psychic is tested he or she is awarded points based on the results of the tests. At the end of every show the two psychics with the highest scores move forward to continue in the competition, and the low scored contestants leave the series. Ultimately the final two psychics face off to compete for the grand prize of $100,000 and the title of 'America’s #1 Psychic.'

The show premiered on the Lifetime Television Network on October 12, 2007 . Eight episodes aired with John Burke as the show host . The winner of the first season was Michelle Whitedove. She beat her challenger Jackie Barrett by only two points in a closely fought final. Other competitors were Tori Allah, Jeff Baker, Sloan Bella, Jamie Clark, Silvana Fillmore, Joseph McBratney, Lynn Miller, Naryza, Catherine Powell, Karyn Reese, Zenobia Simmons, Kim Stempien, Joseph Tittel, and Robin Zodiac.

A Bulgarian version of the format is currently on air on bTV. Similar TV shows are being conducted in Russia (on the TNT channel) and Ukraine (STB channel).

The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

In 1968, James Randi was working on a radio program with his friend and parapsychologist Stanley Crypter. During one of the programs, someone challenged him to "put his money where his mouth is", and Randi offered $100 of his own money (even though he wasn't sure if he had $100 at that time) to the first person who could provide objective proof of the paranormal. Eventually this grew to $1,000 and then $10,000. Later, Lexington Broadcasting wanted him to do a show called the "$100,000 Psychic Prize", so they added $90,000 to the original $10,000 raised by Randi. Finally, years later a rich investor told Randi that he "should have more teeth" to his challenge and offered him the current $1,000,000 prize. As the prize fund grew, the rules that surround claiming the prize became more official and legal.[10]

To claim, one must agree to a protocol for testing, must show in a preliminary test before a foundation representative that they are likely to succeed, and finally make a demonstration in a formal test in front of independent witnesses. To date, over 1,000 applications have been filed but no one has passed a preliminary test, which is set up and agreed upon by both Randi and the applicant.

In the conditions and rules governing the one million U.S.-dollar challenge, Randi plainly states that both parties (himself and the party accepting the challenge) must agree in advance as to what conditions of the test constitute a "success" and what constitutes a "failure." He also refuses to accept any challengers who might suffer serious injury or death as a result of the test they intend to undergo.

Since April 1, 2007 only those with an already existing media profile and the backing of a reputable academic are allowed to apply for the challenge. The resources freed up by not having to test obscure and possibly mentally ill claimants will then be used to challenge high-profile alleged psychics and mediums such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward with a campaign in the media.

Dennis Rawlins claims the challenge is insincere, and that Randi will ensure he never has to pay out. In the October 1981 issue of Fate, Rawlins quoted him as saying "I always have an out". Victor Zammit interprets this to mean Randi will never let his organization lose such a challenge. Others, noting this magazine article grew out of political infighting among the members of CSICOP, believe this quote is being misapplied, and that it refers to the fact that Randi employs safeguards against cheating. Randi has stated that Rawlins did not give the entire quotation. Randi actually said "Concerning the challenge, I always have an 'out': I'm right!" Which carries a quite different meaning. Randi claims that the phrase "I always have an out" refers to the fact that he does not allow test subjects to cheat, and others have interpreted it to mean that Randi regards the chances of him having to pay out as zero due to his a priori assumption that so-called "paranormal phenomena" do not exist. However, on Larry King Live Randi stated he did think such phenomena were possible but had no real evidence and so "just did not know".

On Larry King Live March 6, 2001 Larry King asked Sylvia Browne if she would take the challenge and she agreed. Then Randi appeared with Browne on Larry King Live on September 3, 2001 and she again accepted the challenge. 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. In an appearance on Larry King Live on January 26, 2007, Randi challenged Rosemary Altea to take the one million challenge. On Altea and Randi's June 5, 2001 meeting on the same show, Altea refused to take the challenge, calling it "a trick". 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."

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.

As an April Fool's prank on April 1, 2008 at the MIT Media Lab Seth Raphael and James Randi performed a demonstration of Seth Raphael's psychic abilities which was awarded the prize.

New qualification rules

In April 2007, the JREF made several changes to the testing procedure in an effort to streamline the process and refocus it to target high-profile and professional paranormalists. The foundation now requires a demonstrated media profile as well as the support from some member of the academic community before it will discuss the challenge with claimants. The foundation has also stated that these qualifications can be essentially met by anyone who can win any of the smaller and more regional skeptics prize challenges.

Randi and his associates have stated two primary reasons for the change:

* In the opinion of the JREF, the vast majority of the applicants for the existing challenge appeared to be either mentally ill or unable to demonstrate their powers even to their own satisfaction. Many were unable to successfully fill out the application forms or coherently and consistently describe their alleged abilities. The foundation has stated that treating these applications seriously has both required an immense amount of time as well as doing a disservice to the applicants.
* The true intent of the challenge has always been to aggressively pursue the most prominent paranormalists and force them to subject their claims to scientific scrutiny in a controlled setting. Randi said that this mission had been sidetracked by the complicated and costly application process, and the foundation wished to refocus its promotional and rhetorical approach to aggressively pursue top psychics in the media, making it difficult for them to be evasive or provide an adequate reason for not accepting the challenge.

Discontinuation

On January 4, 2008 it was announced that the prize would be discontinued on March 6, 2010 in order to free the money for other uses. In the meantime, claimants are welcome to vie for it. One of the reasons offered for its discontinuation is the unwillingness of higher profile claimants to apply.

Exploring psychic powers television show

Exploring Psychic Powers Live! was a television show aired live on June 7, 1989, wherein Randi examined several people claiming psychic powers. The show offered $100,000 (Randi's then $10,000 prize plus $90,000 put up by the show's syndicator, Lexington Broadcasting ) to anyone who could demonstrate genuine psychic powers. The show is a good illustration of how claimants and Randi agree to test protocols and how no "judging" is required.

* An astrologer claimed that he was able to ascertain a person's astrological sign after talking with them for a few minutes. He was presented with twelve people, one at a time, each with a different astrological sign. The people could not tell the astrologer their astrological sign or birth date, nor could they wear anything that would indicate it. After the astrologer talked to the people, he had them sit in front of a sign that the astrologer thought was theirs. By agreement, the astrologer needed to get ten of them correct to win. He got none correct.

* The next psychic claimed to be able to read auras around people. The psychic claimed that auras were visible at least five inches from the people. The psychic chose ten people who had a clearly visible aura. The people were to stand behind screens and the psychic agreed that the aura would be visible above the screens. The screens were numbered 1 through 10, and people were selected whether or not to stand behind their screen at random. The psychic was to tell whether or not a person was standing behind each screen, by seeing the aura above. Since random guessing would be expected to get about five correct, the psychic needed to get eight of the ten right. The psychic stated that she saw an aura over all ten screens, but people were behind only four of the screens.

* A dowser claimed that he could locate water, even in a bottle inside a sealed cardboard box. He was shown twenty boxes and the dowser was to indicate which boxes contained a water bottle. He indicated that eight of the boxes contained water, but only five did.

* A psychometric psychic claimed to be able to receive personal information about the owner of an object from the object. In order to avoid ambiguous statements, the psychic agreed to be presented with a watch and a key from twelve different people. The psychic was to match keys and watches belonging to the same person. According to the prior agreement, the psychic had to match nine out of the twelve sets, but she succeeded in only two of the cases.

* During the program, another psychic was doing a run of 250 Zener cards, guessing which of the five symbols was on each one. Random guessing should result in about fifty correct guesses, so it was agreed in advance that the psychic had to be right on eighty-two cards. Her actual score was fifty correct guesses (Polidoro 2003:19-24).