Sylvia Browne

Sylvia Browne

[edit] Who is Sylvia Browne?

Is Sylvia Browne a spiritualist? Is she a person of faith? She just might be a world famous psychic. Take your pick. She has been called many things, ridiculed and loved. Some people ask “is Sylvia Browne real?” She has been popularized through the television, as it isn't rare to see Sylvia Browne on Montel Williams. Many people testify to her visions as being the real deal. She has books and a radio show as well.

[edit] Sylvia's Early Childhood

Sylvia was born in Kansas City Missouri as the oldest child to her parents, Bill and Celeste Shoemaker. She was brought up amidst a vast religious rainbow of ideas including Judaism, Episcopalian and Roman Catholicism. To keep the family afloat financially, her father took on various jobs.

Sylvia's visions began as a toddler. It was confusing and sometimes scary for her. She says, in her biography, that one of her most vivid memories of these visions occurred at a family picnic. She saw a family member as a dead person, and not too long after that the very same person died. To help her deal with what was happening to her, she turned to her grandmother, who also claimed to have the same gifts as Sylvia.

[edit] The Early Adulthood of Sylvia Browne

Sylvia was married four times. Her current last name is a small modification of the name she acquired through her third marriage. She was indicted on Security Fraud Charges and has a son, Christopher, who she claims is psychic as well. She served one year probation and hours of community service as a punishment to her criminal conviction.

As far as religion is concerned, today Sylvia states that she is Jewish – the original faith her father followed before the entire family converted to Roman Catholicism. Throughout her adult life Sylvia has made many claims, one being that she knows what it is like in heaven, and has given detailed accounts in a book and through public avenues.

[edit] Sylvia's Professional Career

Sylvia has appeared on television via the Larry King Show. You can also see Sylvia Browne on Montel Williams, as he is one of her biggest supporters. She explains her self proclaimed powers, her life, and then gives short readings to audience members or people who phone in. She had a role on The Young and The Restless, and has also been a guest on many radio shows and programs.

She has also written many books and has created a religion encircling her beliefs and teachings only. Though her religious organization, Novus Spiritus, states belief in Jesus Christ's teachings, it doesn't exclude any other religion as well.

Is Sylvia Browne Real?

There are those who say yes. Many people testify that what she has predicted in their lives have come true. However, everyone has a critic and Sylvia Browne's is James Randi. They have been on talk shows and radio programs together many times. They feud in front of audiences, trying to pull views and listeners to their own side of the fight. Randi claims Browne's predictions and insights are nothing more than a mental trick while, of course, Sylvia claims what she says is real and the absolute truth. You be the judge.