Is James Van Praagh for real?
I received emails in response to James Van Praagh’s appearance Thursday at 8. He’s the guy who claims he can talk to your deceased grandmother. You may remember he had a show on WGN a few years back. I can see it now. Van Praagh asking the audience, "My sixth sense tells me there’s a John here? There is? A-ha!"
There is no shortage of people trying to make a fortune reading your fortune.
You might think that with the cameras rolling on a “psychic” TV show, we’d finally find out once and for all whether this legendary power exists. But don’t be fooled.
Jim Underdown of the Center for Inquiry-West and hsi team of investigators did an expose of Van Praagh’s and John Edward’s syndicated TV shows a few years ago.
"We recorded everything in studio and compared it to what aired. They were substantially different in the accuracy. They’re getting rid of the wrong guesses," Underdown said. "Once you pull back the curtain and see how it’s done, it’s not impressive at all."
While some psychics are clearly frauds, there are many others who believe they have some power—though they never have been tested under controlled conditions.
If self-proclaimed psychics have any real ability, they should contact Underdown. His organization will award $50,000 to anyone who can demonstrate psychic ability under scientific testing.
Psychics don’t seem to rely on their "powers" to detect their own cancer--they go to the doctor, like the rest of us. They don’t predict when the train will arrive--they look at the train schedule. And even psychics (along with everyone else) can guess correctly now and then. But under scientific scrutiny, and incorporating statistical probability, no psychic has met the test.
In the end, the psychic phenomenon you see on TV will only be an illusion, much like it is in real life.
Comments
What was he like off screen? Did he predict things in the greenroom?
Posted by: Jessy | June 2, 2008 6:41 AM
To Whom it may concern,
I must say, I am a bit surprised at your critique of these types of shows. Not that I am surprised that you are a skeptic (which I think is healthy) but that you truly do not understand the workings of a psychic.
First, I must say that any TV show, whether it be based on psychic ability or not, edits for the sole purpose of entertainment. But that by no means takes away the validity of the actual psychic him or herself, only the TV show.
Psychics/ mediums are allowed to be wrong. In fact most admit that they are not always the most accurate depending on how they are receiving information. Most mediums are sent info through symbols which means they must interpret these symbols. This is open for human error. What you have to understand is psychics are only conduits. They are given information, they have to interpret it and then translate it correctly to the sitter. Now, this info most of the time comes in extremely fast, like a flash. Sometimes it is in picture form, like an image in the minds eye (like a dream), sometimes in the minds voice (our inner voice like a thought), sometimes a feeling, (like a gut feeling) etc. So yes, sometimes psychics interpret these things wrong. After all, they are human.
So over all, I do not believe the psychics themselves are misleading at all. They tell what they are given...
The only thing that is misleading is the show itself, but what part of television isn't?
You say Psychics don't detect their own illnesses.
No, most don't! You have to understand, there are only certain things psychics are given. They only convey what they are given. And if they are not told or are not supposed to know they have Cancer or whatever the illness...then they won't know. Psychics usually use their gift to help people not to tell people what they are going to do with the rest of their life. They tell them bits and pieces to get them through rough times, to guide them.
If they had the answer to everything, they'd be God. They are only messengers.
BTW, many psychics with TV shows have done scientific interviews. John Edward has. Read his book, "Crossing Over." It explains the process in detail and mentions all who were involved in the study.
I have been to many of these readings first hand and never had the experience you had. The Psychics were very accurate and had very few blunders.
You have to go into these sessions realizing these people are human...and going into it believing in God. If you do neither, you will get absolutely nothing out of it. You have to go into them throwing expectation out the window. The things you expect may not be the things you get. The psychic may mention a special blue ring and although it may mean nothing to you, it may mean the world to the sitter.
I would love it if you'd research the Psychic's themselves and not a TV show or you will be disappointed every time.
Thanks for your time!
J
Posted by: Jess | June 3, 2008 3:48 AM
Thanks for very interesting article. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more.
Posted by: Pharmacy | August 11, 2008 4:59 AM