Skeptics aim to debunk the supernatural

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 18

Skeptics aim to debunk the supernatural

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

Barefoot walking over hot coals will be one of the centrepieces of the New Zealand Skeptics’ fourth annual convention in Christchurch in September.

The Skeptics, a group which aims to debunk claims of the superanatural, will offer lessons in palmistry, tea-leaves reading, Tarot, astrology, and Uri Geller-style spoon bending, in efforts to show that none of them requires paranormal explanations. A spokesman, Dr Dennis Dutton, said that firewalking had been widely used in Britain, Europe and the United States as a form of confid-

ence building. Similar courses had also been held in Auckland

Those who taught the courses used the “hook" that they were teaching something supernatural in their pupils’ ability to walk the coals without burning. He said that firewalking courses cost upwards of $5OO when promoted by "paranormal scam artists” but the Skeptics would teach “this astonishing art” for the price of conferdence registration. A guest speaker at the convention would be an Australian magician and active member of the Australian Skeptics, Mr Bea Harris. T)r Dutton said that

while some professional magicians took the view that all tricks should be subject to their code of silence, Mr Harris believed that tricks should be exposed where they were used fraudulently to convince people of the supernatural.