[Echolima]

The rescue by police of Shawn Hornbeck, a Missouri boy who went missing from home four and a half years ago, has proven beyond any possible doubt that both these so-called mediums/psychics are totally fake.

Both claimed that Shawn was dead. Both gave clear details of the individual who had killed him. Both gave clear details of where the body could be found. Both were completely wrong.

I'm sure that someone on here will now tell me that mediumship or psychic abilities aren't an exact science, and that messages can be a little difficult to get completely right, or they can be rather blurred.

Someone will probably say that just because these two got things so very wrong, it doesn't mean that every psychic or medium is a fraud, so please note that I am not saying that it does.

Is there anyone who can offer a defence for either of them? I would really like to know.

Emma

[Sibyl]

Nope

luv
vi

[Nat]

If they were proven wrong, then they were proven wrong. Personally I do think Sylvia Browne is as dodgy as they come so I am not surprised. I don't know enough to make a judgement call on Van Praagh between being a fake or simply just wrong.

[Echolima]

Originally Posted by Nat

I don't know enough to make a judgement call on Van Praagh between being a fake or simply just wrong.

I've just read a very interesting article about John Edward and James Van Praagh.

If you go to the Cut, Cut, Cut and Print segment you'll find this:

We saw James Van Praagh stop tape during a one-on-one, prearranged reading after missing all but one of his first six or seven guesses. He then restarted the tape and used the one correct guess at the beginning of the new session. I think most people would call that cheating.

Emma

[purplemoon]

I have heard some hilarious things about Sylvia Browne, apparently she says when we go to the spirit world we automatically become 30 years old (how the physical age holds any relevance in spirit completely baffles me) So to hear any bad press about her doesnt surprise me in the slightest. I have read a few of James Van Prague's books and watched his TV program and he has always appeared to be genuine and has had some good publicity.
I personally do feel that it is a bit harsh to say that any psychic/medium is "totally fake" judging on one investigation (I realise that this is not your opinion) I would prefer to see a percentage of cases dealt with over a period of time. Then I think that we could comment on their work in a way that was fair.

Love and Light
Jo xx ********** xx

[Echolima]

I understand your stance, **********, but in this particular instance would you say it was fair of Van Praagh to have added to the parents' terrible ordeal?

He told them specific information about how their son was murdered, where, and by whom. When the police checked, there was, of course, no sign of the boy. He was totally wrong, and his huge error caused the parents more heartache.

In my opinion he should have gone to the police with the 'information'. They would have checked and found nothing, and the parents need never have known. Instead he spouts rubbish on television, then again to the family.

I've been onto his website, looking for an apology, or an attempt at an explanation, but in vain. He is, however, embarking on an expensive cruise to Tahiti with some of his followers!

Emma

I have to say I am not a fan of Sylvia Brown. But I just wonder if maybe she wasn't picking up on one of the others boys that is still missing from that area. These are not the only two boys who have been abducted from that area. As for Van Praagh I have watched him for years. I have also seen him do a spirit read of a young man I had personal knowledge of and he was very accurate....GrandmaSue

[jojosgran]

I absolutely believe that James is for real; can't speak for Sylvia, although to me she is like fingernails on a chalkboard. I had a reading at a seminar in West Hollywood in January 1998, there were about 400 people there, no nametags to identify us, and I went there hoping to hear from my youngest son who passed away the previous year. My oldest son, a sceptic prior to the reading, went with me. My son came thru for the 3rd reading of the night, and James was very specific and read for me and my son for probably 15 minutes, even telling us things we had forgot until James brought them up. My son had committed suicide, and the first thing out of James mouth was "your son is saying he did something very stupid". I understand peoples sceptiscm with mediums if they do not understand how they work, how they receive messages through spirit energy. Because I have received messages myself from spirit I understand better, although there were several times where I questioned whether the message I was receiving was from spirit or was my own created thought. Mediumship is definetly not 100% accurate, no question, and the best of mediums are going to give bad readings at time. If the medium is honest and has integrity, as I believe that James is and does, (and I also believe this of John Edward and George Anderson), they will give the message as best they can, knowing full well that they are under tremendous scrutiny and criticism, but believing enough in the good that their work can also bring to people that they are willing to accept this.

Thank you,

Sandy

[Echolima]

As someone who once trained in mediumship with the Spirituatlist Church, I'm not out to destroy anyone's beliefs, but I do have to question.

Jojosgran wrote:

the first thing out of James mouth was "your son is saying he did something very stupid".

Did he know before that point that your son was dead? I'd be really interested to know how you answered it.

You see, doing 'something very stupid' covers numerous possibilities. It could be that he crashed a stolen car. Perhaps he ran to catch a train and didn't look as he crossed the street. Or maybe he flew his own plane and took a chance on flying through a thunder storm.

Unless the medium knows absolutely nothing in advance, and is told nothing when they make statements such as "your son is saying he did something very stupid", then I'm afraid sceptics will continue to question.

Emma

[Echolima]

Originally Posted by M+GrandmaSue

I have to say I am not a fan of Sylvia Brown. But I just wonder if maybe she wasn't picking up on one of the others boys that is still missing from that area.

If you were right about that - and I'm not sure you are, from what she apparently said - then surely it shows that mediumship is far too inaccurate to be used in those circumstances.

As in any other walk of life, people should be able to trust those they are dealing with, and judging from her innumerable 'mistakes' it seems that she cannot be trusted.

Emma