Sylvia Browne
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{{Psychic}} | {{Psychic}} | ||
| − | '''Sylvia Browne''' is one of the most popular, self-serving, and blatantly callous "[[psychic]]s" out there. <ref>[http://www.stopsylvia.com Stop Sylvia Browne] is a site containing many, many exposes on Sylvia</ref> She is the leader of an allegedly [[Gnostic]] church called the Society of Novus Spiritus, based around the teachings of her [[Channelling|channeled]] "spiritual guide" [[User:Francine|Francine]]; she promotes both a mother and father [[God]], and claims to teach [[Christianity]] the same way [[Jesus]] did. She publicly espouses both | + | '''Sylvia Browne''' is one of the most popular, self-serving, and blatantly callous "[[psychic]]s" out there. <ref>[http://www.stopsylvia.com Stop Sylvia Browne] is a site containing many, many exposes on Sylvia</ref> She is the leader of an allegedly [[Gnostic]] church called the Society of Novus Spiritus, based around the teachings of her [[Channelling|channeled]] "spiritual guide" [[User:Francine|Francine]]; she promotes both a mother and father [[God]], and claims to teach [[Christianity]] the same way [[Jesus]] did. She publicly espouses both [[Afterlife]] (and afterlife communication) as well as [[reincarnation]]. |
==Career highlights and problems== | ==Career highlights and problems== | ||
Revision as of 18:37, 9 December 2012
| The wonderful world of |
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Sylvia Browne is one of the most popular, self-serving, and blatantly callous "psychics" out there. [1] She is the leader of an allegedly Gnostic church called the Society of Novus Spiritus, based around the teachings of her channeled "spiritual guide" Francine; she promotes both a mother and father God, and claims to teach Christianity the same way Jesus did. She publicly espouses both Afterlife (and afterlife communication) as well as reincarnation.
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Career highlights and problems
Sylvia was a regular on the Montel Williams syndicated TV talk show, until it was cancelled by CBS, where she was known for claiming to speak with the dead and famous for several notorious flameouts (including mis-predicting the outcomes of the Shawn Hornbeck case and, on the syndicated radio show Coast to Coast AM, the Sago Mine Disaster). Her method of "psychic" operation seems to be simple cold reading.
Browne attempted to claim James Randi's Million-Dollar Challenge, [2] but after agreeing to the initial terms she has made no further effort since 2001. In addition, those who have consulted with Sylvia ($850 is the current going rate for a phone call) have stated that she seems quite fond of lecithin supplements for some reason.
Due to her disproportionate fame for her cold reading ability, she managed to attract the attention of a Robert S. Lancaster, an anti-bullshit writer who started a two-year exposure campaign to point out just how crap a fraud she is.
According to Quackwatch Browne gives inaccurate and dangerous medical advice that she is not qualified to give. [3]
A 2010, Skeptical Inquirer article examined 115 missing person and murder cases Browne commented on, and discovered she was correct zero times.[4]
The Sago Mine Disaster
Sylvia Browne made a spectacular mistake after a mining accident happened while she was on television. First reports suggested all but one of the miners had survived so Browne said convincingly this was not a "gloomy moment" and they would all be found. Later when it became clear in fact all but one of the miners had been killed she changed her story and said the dead miners were crazy to report they were alive and she meant their bodies would be found. Most people would consider finding bodies a very gloomy time.
Browne’s fans will probably still believe in her psychic powers despite this and other errors. [5]
Runs in the family
Browne's son, Christopher Dufresne, is also in the business of psychic readings. Sylvia claims that her son's psychic abilities are equal to her own. While Sylvia charges $850.00 for a 30 minute phone reading, Christopher charges $500 for a 30 minute phone reading.[6]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Stop Sylvia Browne is a site containing many, many exposes on Sylvia
- ↑ http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/component/content/article/3-newsflash/1404-randi-foundation-responds-to-qpsychic-nikki.html
- ↑ Sylvia Browne: Psychic Guru or Quack?
- ↑ Psychic Defective: Sylvia Browne’s History of Failure
- ↑ Sylvia Browne reveals she’s a hypocrite as well as a fraud. ;TV Psychic Misses Mark on Miners
- ↑ http://readings.sylviabrowne.com/