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Sylvia Browne

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Sylvia Browne
Born (1936-10-19) October 19, 1936 (age 89)
Kansas City, Missouri
OccupationsSelf-described psychic and medium
ChildrenChristopher Dufresne, Paul Dufresne
Websitesylvia.org and spiritnow.com

Sylvia Browne (born Sylvia Celeste Shoemaker October 19, 1936) is a best-selling American author on the subject of spirituality and performs as a psychic and medium.[1]

She was a weekly guest on The Montel Williams Show and hosts her own hour-long show on Hay House Radio, discussing paranormal issues and giving callers advice in her role as a psychic.

Critics such as James Randi have argued that Browne uses mentalist techniques to produce the illusion of mind reading and clairvoyance. Reports about her failed predictions and claims have appeared in several newspapers.[2][3][4]

Biography

Browne was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Bill Shoemaker and Celeste Coil; she is the eldest of two daughters.[5] Her father was Jewish and had many jobs including mail delivery and jewelry salesman, and was vice president of a major freight line. Her mother was Episcopalian,[6] and her maternal grandmother Ada Coil was a devout Lutheran.[6] To establish stability; the family decided to convert to Roman Catholicism and they were all baptised together when Browne was a young girl, [citation needed] but Browne said in 2001 that she was Jewish. [7]

Browne says that visions started appearing when she was five years old and that her grandmother Ada Coil, who she said was a psychic medium, helped her understand why she had them. Browne also asserts that her great-uncle also says to be a psychic medium and was “rabid about UFOs.”[8]

Browne started to give claimed psychic readings in 1974 and has attracted followings of supporters and detractors.[5] She has given thousands of one-on-one readings and with a wide variety of groups and individuals; as of 2008, she charges $850 for a 20-30 minute telephone reading.[9] Browne claims to have provided information to police departments and the FBI. [7]

Marriage and children

She was married to Gary Dufresne from April 1959 until 1972, and is divorced from Kenzil Dalzell Brown. Sylvia acquired the surname Brown during the third of her four marriages, and enhanced it with a final e after she was indicted on Security Fraud charges.[10] In September 2002 she and Larry Lee Beck ended their marriage.[11]

Sylvia says her son Christopher is psychic, and attributes this to a genetic predisposition.[12] Her website says "If Sylvia is the best psychic around - then Chris is the second best."[13]

Paranormal claims

Browne says she knows what it is like in heaven. In her book The Other Side and Back, she says the temperature is a constant 78°F (25.6°C), that there are no insects–-unless one wants there to be, that pets go to heaven, and that one can build one's house wherever one wants unless it obscures the view of a river or some trees, in which case one needs permission.[14] She asserts that the "other side" exists approximately three feet above ground level and at a "higher vibrational level" and so is difficult for humans to perceive. However, like other psychics, she claims to have been born able to perceive a wider range of "vibrational frequencies".

Browne declares that she can see angels and that they look similar to depictions in paintings, but have different traits depending on their "phylum". She has also claimed that they do not speak. Her granddaughter, who is purportedly psychic, claims to have witnessed the angels that Browne states surround humans.[15]

Browne professes the ability to speak with her spirit guide, "Francine," and has given details of fifty-four of her own former lives as divined by her.[16]

Media

Browne is a frequent guest on US television and radio programs. She has appeared numerous times on Larry King Live as well as the Montel Williams Show and Coast to Coast AM. In 2005 Browne told Newsweek that Larry King, a believer in the paranormal, asked her to do private psychic readings.[17] During these appearances she usually discusses her abilities with the host and then performs readings of audience members or callers.

On some occasions other guests at her appearances have included skeptics, with James Randi being one of the more frequent. These shows often feature verbal sparring between the two, with both trying to convince the audience that the other is wrong. One such Larry King show, in 2001, involved Browne agreeing to be tested by Randi to verify if her abilities were true. However several years later she has not yet conducted the test. In March 2004, their feud escalated on the popular St. Louis radio program The Paul Harris Show when Randi came out and called Browne a liar.[18]

Browne has also appeared on the television soap opera The Young and the Restless as herself in December 2006.[19]

In April 2008, Sylvia Browne launched a new website billed as "an online spirituality destination that includes articles, blog postings, and videos from Sylvia."[20]

Books, business, and church

Browne is the head of the Sylvia Browne Corporation, Sylvia Browne Enterprises, and the founder of a church in 1986 in Campbell, California, known as the Society of Novus Spiritus.

According to its website, the church employs forty ministers, though only a small number are actually paid employees. Those that are paid also work for Sylvia Browne Corporation and Sylvia Browne Enterprises, and are members of the Board of Directors of Novus Spiritus.

Novus Spiritus refers to itself as "Gnostic Christian."[13] It states that it follows the same traditions and teachings which Jesus himself followed, yet does not exclude Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism. The society teaches the Biblical works of Jesus Christ while also incorporating the Gnostic Gospels (ex: Gospel of Mary Magdalene), and says that while the Bible is a "marvellous book" and should be used as a teaching tool, it is not the "unaltered word of God".[21]

Novus Spiritus Study Groups and Churches are not allowed to teach anything other than what Sylvia Browne has written, thus excluding any other religious or spiritual texts.

In 1992, Browne and her estranged husband were indicted on several charges of investment fraud and grand theft.[22] The Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California, found that Browne and her husband sold securities in a gold-mining venture under false pretenses.[22] In at least one instance, they told a couple their $20,000 investment was to be used for immediate operating costs.[23] Instead, the money was transferred to an account for their Nirvana Foundation for Psychic Research.[22] Browne pleaded no contest to securities fraud and was indicted on grand larceny in Santa Clara County, California on May 26, 1992.[24]

Sylvia and her estranged husband Kenzil Dalzell Brown pleaded no contest to a felony charge of "sale of security without permit," made restitution, and received one year probation each.[22] Dalzell's disposition included "County Jail 4 months with credit for time served of 21 days," while Sylvia's included 200 hours of community service.[22]

Wikinews has related news:

Additionally, the airing of one of Browne false predictions in June 2008 caused Ofcom to rule that ITV2 "breached standards with a repeat of the Montel Williams Show in which a 'desperate' couple were told by a psychic their missing son was dead - even though he turned up alive last year."[25] The ruling concerned "breaching rule 2.1 of the Broadcasting Code, which relates to protecting viewers against offensive material."

Criticism and controversy

Main article: Criticism of Sylvia Browne

Sylvia Browne has been involved in numerous controversies regarding her claims and predictions. She has had a long-running feud with skeptic James Randi, who has said that her readings are indistinguishable from those achieved by mentalists using cold and hot reading techniques. In addition, reports about her psychic abilities by independent observers and the press have cast doubts on them.[26] Her first husband, Gary Dufresne, said in a February 10, 2007 interview that he does not think Sylvia has any paranormal abilities, and that she admitted it, saying that the gullible deserve to be taken advantage of.[26] Also supporting this conclusion are several incorrect predictions shown when the actual truth was revealed through other than psychic means, including those of Holly Krewson,[27][28] Opal Jo Jennings,[26] Lynda McClelland,[29] and Shawn Hornbeck.[30]

Browne has often spoken of working with the police and FBI as a psychic detective, but according to The Skeptics Dictionary, in 21 of Browne's 35 cases, the details she gave were too vague to be verified, and in the remaining 14 Browne played no useful role. [31]

Bibliography

See also: Sylvia Browne bibliography

Browne has authored or co-authored dozens of books from 1990 and continues today.

See also

References

  1. ^ Browne, Sylvia. "About Sylvia Browne". Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  2. ^ Roeper, Richard (22 January 2007). "Be not deceived: Psychics are in it for the cash, nothing more". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Boyle, Christina (18 January 2007). "She told them boy was dead: Crystal ball fails psychic in Mo. kidnap". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2007-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) (Link dead as of 8 April 2007)
  4. ^ Wright, Leif (25 January 2007). "Leif Wright column: Dupe or no dupe: Show exposes the superstition in nearly all of us". Muskogee Phoenix. Retrieved 2007-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b Dulin, Dann (December 2005). "Soul Advice". A&U Magazine. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  6. ^ a b Browne, Sylvia; & Antoinette May (1990). Adventures of a Psychic. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 0-7394-0178-5
  7. ^ a b King, Larry (March 6, 2001). "Are Psychics for Real?". CNN/Larry King Live. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Browne, Sylvia (2005). Secrets & Mysteries of the World. Hay House. pp. 94–96. ISBN 1401900852.
  9. ^ "Sylvia Browne". Official website. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  10. ^ Nickell, Joe (September 2005). "Sylvia Browne's Latest: Ghost-Written?". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  11. ^ Santa Clara County Court, Number: 1-02-FL-104268, Larry Lee Beck And Sylvia Celeste Browne, Dissolution Of Marriage/No Minor Children
  12. ^ "Sylvia Browne". Official website. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  13. ^ a b "Novus Spiritus- FAQ". Novus Spiritus, Founder Sylvia Browne. 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-06.
  14. ^ Browne, Sylvia (July 17, 2000). "Life on the Other Side: A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife ISBN 0-525-94539-3". Dutton Adult. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ King, Larry (May 16, 2003). "Larry King Live: Interview With Sylvia Browne". CNN/Larry King Live. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Larsen, Claus (January 2003). "Sylvia Browne: Fast-Food Psychic". Skeptic Report. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  17. ^ Setoodeh, Ramin (January 14, 2005). "Predictions: Jacko Convicted, But Blake Gets Off". Newsweek. Retrieved 2007-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Browne vs Randi March 2003 The Paul Harris Show "Instead, she's been spreading lies about Randi, who has been holding his tongue, but has now decided to fire back at her both on his website and on my radio show -- with no holds barred."
  19. ^ Adams, Diane. "Young and the Restless Recap: [[December 18]], [[2006]]". Retrieved 2007-01-28. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  20. ^ PRNewsiwre. "http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS70713+10-May-2008+PRN20080510" The Ultimate Long Distance Call. Reuters. 10 May 2008
  21. ^ "Novus Spiritus- The Bible". Novus Spiritus, Founder Sylvia Browne.
  22. ^ a b c d e Nickell, Joe (2004). "Psychic Sylvia Browne once failed to foresee her own criminal conviction". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  23. ^ "Spiritualist, Ex-Husband Plead No Contest in Securities Case" by Bill Romano, San Jose Mercury News March 9, 1993
  24. ^ "Psychic Gets 1-Year Probation For 'Good Feelings' About Venture," by Sandra Gonzales San Jose Mercury News December 18, 1993
  25. ^ "ITV wrong over psychic claim repeat". The Press Association. June 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ a b c Is she for real? Saturday October 27, 2007, The Guardian by Jon Ronson
  27. ^ Hughes, Joe (March 24, 2007) Remains found in 1996 finally identified, signonsandiego.com
  28. ^ Turegano, Preston (November 27, 2002) Psychic Wrong?, signonsandiego.com
  29. ^ Fuoco, Michael (March 18, 2003) N. Braddock man held in mother-in-law's killing, post-gazette.com
  30. ^ Sigman, Leroy (2003-02-27). "Psychic's clues lead to new searches, but no luck". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  31. ^ Skeptics Dictionary. "psychic detective, blue sense". Retrieved 2007-02-01.
English Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Criticism

Predictions

Court records

Media and transcripts

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