If a person believes in the sprit world its up to them,my sister lost her son when he was only 5 and believes in the sprit world ,it brings her some comfort,she's been told a lot of things about her son that no-one else knew about so it makes you wonder about it all.

i dont no if i believe in it but a few things have happened,3 times in the last 4 months ive smelt lilies and after each time ive had a phone call to say someone has just passed away

the first time it was my dad

the second time is was my friend

the third time it was my stepmother

what does that prove ???? i just dont no

I am not really a true believer, but at this stage surely every way and avenue should be explored. My heart goes out to all of this family.

I have worked as a clairvoyant for many years but never gone into that area of tracing lost people..Some mediums do do this sort of work and i have a friend who has helped the police with cases,.,I am not sure Kate and Gerry believe in this sort of thing..But i think the situation is so desperate that any help is better than none at all.A genuine medium may be able to help not one who is just out for fame and fortune.

[sarcasm]Well psychics have already solved countless crimes and found so many missing people already, I think it's amazing the McCanns haven't already tried this[/sarcasm]

A psychic has as much chance of finding Maddie as Stevie Wonder.  I'm not implying that Maddie is no longer with us, just suggesting that all psychics are fraudulant or deluded, or both....and I have been in the presence of quite a few self-proclaimed as well as 'renowned' psychics.

ask yourself this, if you thought a psychic could answer the question would you really want to know, all the time Her fate is unknown it still allows that glimmer of hope.

You are about as psychic as my teabag this morning, behave yourself. Excuse for being rubbish ='we are not allowed to see'... This does not help the McCanns.

There is no such thing as a "psychic"

Anyone who claims ESP is simply a fraud.

Besides, you don't need to be a psychic to know that leaving three small children in an open holiday resort alone in a hotel room while you have dinner with a party of friends is a bad idea.

I had thought about this a lot recently having watched John Edward on the Zone Reality channel. If you are sceptical about this sort of thing it's well worth a look. John is a practicing Catholic and has priests and nuns going to him for readings. He believes in the power of prayer and even the use of the rosary. He believes in God. I have been agnostic for the past 20 years but now most of what I was taught as a Christian has begun to make sense thanks to him and has he has removed any fear I had of death. Check him out. Both he and James Van Praagh have been used by police and the FBI in particular to solve murders in the USA. What have the McCanns got to lose? Those who are sceptical about this sort of thing are in for a pleasant surprise when they pass over!

razzamattaz:

I had thought about this a lot recently having watched John Edward on the Zone Reality channel. If you are sceptical about this sort of thing it's well worth a look. John is a practicing Catholic and has priests and nuns going to him for readings. He believes in the power of prayer and even the use of the rosary. He believes in God. I have been agnostic for the past 20 years but now most of what I was taught as a Christian has begun to make sense thanks to him and has he has removed any fear I had of death. Check him out. Both he and James Van Praagh have been used by police and the FBI in particular to solve murders in the USA. What have the McCanns got to lose? Those who are sceptical about this sort of thing are in for a pleasant surprise when they pass over!

I urge you to check out impartial reports and investigations into both Edward and Van Praagh....Wiki and YouTube are good starting places but there are also specialist forums which delve far deeper to expose the claims these people make.  When you analyze their work, it becomes clear that both use cold reading.  The shows you watch are heavily edited in favour of the so called psychics but in real-time, it shows just how many misses these people get in order to get a hit and the lengths they go to in order to get information from extremely vulnerable, gullable or just plain stupid people.

Are you able to provide some proof on your claim that Edward and Van Praagh have solved murders?  I mean proper proof confirmed by the FBI or other law enforcement agencies and not just boasts made by these people?  I would love to find some....but I have been looking for so called proof for a number of years but when push comes to shove, the claims these fraudsters make are not backed up under scrutiny.

Also, please bear in mind...if these so called psychics were genuine, why is there so many mysteries left in the world..so many unsolved crimes and missing people?  Do you really think that if the FBI and other agencies had great success using psychics, they would not emply them to find the answers to other cases?  It just doesn't make sense that they would not want to solve these crimes and bring the guilty to justice and improve their crime stats.

I await your reply with great interest.

You make some good points, Nickster. I just had a glance at YouTube. There are a lot more opinions in favour than against. Opinons of both sides count for nothing, though, do they,and no-one will know our fate for certain until we all experience what psychics claim for ourselves.

As in all walks of life, there are good mediums and bad ones. I can only go on what I have seen and heard.  Time after time John Edward will get someone who will tell him that (for example) they have no relatives who have a one-eyed terrier called Pebbles. He asks them to use their mobile phones to confirm messages that they couldn't acknowledge and it turns out that he is correct. People will say, "Yes I can take this message" but he tells them that they can't because the message is for the person two rows behind them . Why would he do this if he was conning them? I have seen sceptics from his audience who have received messages who didn't even know they were going to be there until two hours before the programme started and this would negate any "homework" done by him.

 Some of the messages he receives (they contact him, he doesn't contact them) are very detailed. Names such as "Manito" (hardly a common name, is it?). He asked a woman recently if she had a dog who had a religious name. She replied that she hadn't a clue what he was talking about but Edward insisted (as he does regularly) that he was right. Eventually, her sister said that she had had a St. Bernard dog. The audience laughed (it's quite a light-hearted programme-we continue to have a sense of humour even in the next life and why shouldn't we?).

In another programme he asked a man if he knew someone who had died in the snow. This was a message he had received from the man's father. The man said that he himself had while on a hunting trip. He had fallen and hit his head on a rock and had near death experience. He was dead for 20 seconds but he claimed that the experience was more real than the reality we know in this lfie. He had been a sceptic but was now convinced.

In another programme, John Edward told a woman that her deceased husband was showing him a flock of sheep. She laughed...he had always wanted to own a flock sheep, said, so that he could tell his friends to "get the flock out of here!"

 In another programme, he told a yound woman that he was reluctant to tell her the evidence because it was a bit rude. She and her family were laughing at this as it turned out that she made chocolate boobs and willies out of chocolate!

I could go on and on-nothing vague about any of this, is there?

 At the end of each programme, people ask him questions. I was watching him recently when a woman asked him about prayer. He told her that he hadn't had any knowledge if they were of value until one day he noticed a lady sitting in his audience who had rosary beads in her hands. She was clearly praying for one of her friends or relatives to come through. Edward said that he saw what appeared to be musical notes emanating from her body. From then on he believed that "prayers were like musical notes that lift our energies on the other side"

People say, in reference to murders etc "Why would God allow this to happen? There is no answer, of course. However, the one consistent one that I have heard by reading the philosophy of spiritualism is that this is only a temporary life here and when we die we return to the world from which we came. We are here to learn spiritually and that the soul is on a continuous journey towards enlightenmant (ie God). Before we are born, we "sign up" for want of a better expression, for our lives in this worldand those who experience terrible tragedies are the ones who attain heaven sooner.

I offer this as food for thought and not a statement of fact. When someone asked James Van Praagh if he was afraid of death his reply was, "No. I am looking forward to it because I know what to expect." Those who claim to have ahd NDEs have said the same.

Must go............I'm missing Andy Murray!

razzamattaz:

You make some good points, Nickster. I just had a glance at YouTube. There are a lot more opinions in favour than against. Opinons of both sides count for nothing, though, do they,and no-one will know our fate for certain until we all experience what psychics claim for ourselves.

As in all walks of life, there are good mediums and bad ones. I can only go on what I have seen and heard.  Time after time John Edward will get someone who will tell him that (for example) they have no relatives who have a one-eyed terrier called Pebbles. He asks them to use their mobile phones to confirm messages that they couldn't acknowledge and it turns out that he is correct. People will say, "Yes I can take this message" but he tells them that they can't because the message is for the person two rows behind them . Why would he do this if he was conning them? I have seen sceptics from his audience who have received messages who didn't even know they were going to be there until two hours before the programme started and this would negate any "homework" done by him.

 Some of the messages he receives (they contact him, he doesn't contact them) are very detailed. Names such as "Manito" (hardly a common name, is it?). He asked a woman recently if she had a dog who had a religious name. She replied that she hadn't a clue what he was talking about but Edward insisted (as he does regularly) that he was right. Eventually, her sister said that she had had a St. Bernard dog. The audience laughed (it's quite a light-hearted programme-we continue to have a sense of humour even in the next life and why shouldn't we?).

In another programme he asked a man if he knew someone who had died in the snow. This was a message he had received from the man's father. The man said that he himself had while on a hunting trip. He had fallen and hit his head on a rock and had near death experience. He was dead for 20 seconds but he claimed that the experience was more real than the reality we know in this lfie. He had been a sceptic but was now convinced.

In another programme, John Edward told a woman that her deceased husband was showing him a flock of sheep. She laughed...he had always wanted to own a flock sheep, said, so that he could tell his friends to "get the flock out of here!"

 In another programme, he told a yound woman that he was reluctant to tell her the evidence because it was a bit rude. She and her family were laughing at this as it turned out that she made chocolate boobs and willies out of chocolate!

I could go on and on-nothing vague about any of this, is there?

 At the end of each programme, people ask him questions. I was watching him recently when a woman asked him about prayer. He told her that he hadn't had any knowledge if they were of value until one day he noticed a lady sitting in his audience who had rosary beads in her hands. She was clearly praying for one of her friends or relatives to come through. Edward said that he saw what appeared to be musical notes emanating from her body. From then on he believed that "prayers were like musical notes that lift our energies on the other side"

People say, in reference to murders etc "Why would God allow this to happen? There is no answer, of course. However, the one consistent one that I have heard by reading the philosophy of spiritualism is that this is only a temporary life here and when we die we return to the world from which we came. We are here to learn spiritually and that the soul is on a continuous journey towards enlightenmant (ie God). Before we are born, we "sign up" for want of a better expression, for our lives in this worldand those who experience terrible tragedies are the ones who attain heaven sooner.

I offer this as food for thought and not a statement of fact. When someone asked James Van Praagh if he was afraid of death his reply was, "No. I am looking forward to it because I know what to expect." Those who claim to have ahd NDEs have said the same.

Must go............I'm missing Andy Murray!

Again, I would like to stress that the shows you watch are heavily edited.  The original sittings with Edward and most other psychics last for a few hours at least then are condensed down to between 30 mins to an hour.  Also, another point worth mentioning is that his show has a lengthy waiting list and people are required to submit information when they're added to the list.  John Edward's show is a multi-million dollar business with lots of resources to hand, so finding out tidbits of information based on names, addresses, date of births/deaths etc is straightforward...especially in this day and age.

When put to the test under independent conditions, these psychics fail each and every time..without exception but give them their TV show with sympathetic editors and they're suddenly blessed with magical powers :)  There are so many examples of cold reading available online and when you compare examples of people who readily admit they're conning you to people who claim to speak to the dead, there is no difference in technique and the success rates stay the same too.  Have a look at some of the videos of Edward and Van Praagh cold reading (Van Praagh's 'Guessing Game' is a perfect example).  You'll start to think that the 'spirit world' are extremely unhelpful and vague in the sense 'they' mention a few dozen names or events before one hits the spot.  Of course, the 'pyschics' have that one covered too by admitting they can't be right all of the time and sometimes the voices are distorted.  Pure comedy if it wasn't such a callous manipulation of peoples grief.

I'm still looking for evidence of a psychic solving a murder or missing persons case...if you have some, I would love to read about it.  I have found plenty of instances where well known psychics like Sylvia Browne, Edward, Van Praagh, Colin Fry etc etc claim they have advised the police where to find bodies or give details on deaths etc and each time, they have been inaccurate.  Sometimes to the extent of advising where a missing persons body can be found only for that person to be found alive and 'well'.  Now if psychics were genuine, surely solving such cases would be a doddle for them?  Also imagine the sheer joy of being able to find a missing person or to convict a barbaric murderer/rapist/evil scumbag...you think these psychics would be queueing up to get a piece of that...they'd even do it for free as the miracle tag would take care of itself...in fact the only sure thing linking 'psychics' to missing people or murder cases is £££ and lots of it.  These people charge hundreds of pounds for readings to bereaved and desparate parents who have suffered endless pain...they then compound that pain by either giving false hope or false closure.  It's beyond reproach imo...utterly shameless.

I used to approach psychic phenomena with a reasonable amount of open-mindedness but that has been completely overtaken after years of research and personal experience from visiting so called psychics.  I'm yet to see any credible evidence to suggest any psychic is genuine and that goes for the multi-million dollar US network TV megastars, the two bit crazy grannies who read tea leaves for a £5 and the 'kind hearted' ones who offer their services for free so that they can boost that self belief.

Anyway, glad Murray won...I knew he would and i'm not even psychic ;)  Excellent news that Nadal is out too as that would've been a potential semi final opponent for Murrey if he wins his quarter final match (I think).

Re the editing. I presumed that all Edward's programmes were edited. Most programmes are. If a programme is scheduled  to run for half an hour and it takes three hours to work with the audience in the studio then the programme would have to be edited. I understand the point you are making, though, but, like any programme, you would expect them to play the best bits.

However, what you see is what you get with him. I suppose it's a question of trust. If he is lying then he is brilliant at doing it and the speed with which he delivers messages is so fast that surely he couldn't memorise it all. Psychics like Edward say that, as with all lines of communciation, not all are clear. He also admits to getting things wrong and admits it on stage. What he does, if he is doing what he says he is, must be very difficult, especially in front of a live audience. As I said previously, people have been on his programme and received messages who didn't know they would be there until two hours before the programme started because someone had given them a ticket. He's got two hours for someone to travel across the States  to ask questions about the man to whom he is talking. Why go to all this trouble? Why ask people to use their mobile phones to verify messages when he doesn't have to and how do you account for the really detailed stuff? For example, Edward refuses to refer to jewellery unless there is something specific about it, something detailed (eg a butterfly brooch with yellow tipped wings attached to a green purse etc )

  Again, I think that this is just a question of trust. A lot of the points you raise are brought up in his book entitled "One Last Time." I am absolutely sure, however, that he is totally honest. Re other pyschics, I tend to keep an open mind as there are a lot of frauds, obviously. However, Edward for me is the real deal and because I trust him then I have to start believing that others have this ability as well. Perhaps the human brain has simply evolved to be able to do this.

If anyone else is undecided then you would have to see him on the Zone Reality channel between 10 and 11pm  (146 Sky) repeated 11-12pm on 147 and judge for yourself. However, watch him over a period of a week or so and then read his book. Most libraries stock it if you don't want to spend your money on it. We could debate this all day but no-one can either prove or disprove it. Hopefully, one day we will know....otherwise it's curtains for us all! Fascinating subject, though, isn't it?

 Yes, it was a surprise to see Nadal losing. Del Potro stands  a great chance now and Safina to win the womens!

razzamattaz:

Re the editing. I presumed that all Edward's programmes were edited. Most programmes are. If a programme is scheduled  to run for half an hour and it takes three hours to work with the audience in the studio then the programme would have to be edited. I understand the point you are making, though, but, like any programme, you would expect them to play the best bits.

However, what you see is what you get with him. I suppose it's a question of trust. If he is lying then he is brilliant at doing it and the speed with which he delivers messages is so fast that surely he couldn't memorise it all. Psychics like Edward say that, as with all lines of communciation, not all are clear. He also admits to getting things wrong and admits it on stage. What he does, if he is doing what he says he is, must be very difficult, especially in front of a live audience. As I said previously, people have been on his programme and received messages who didn't know they would be there until two hours before the programme started because someone had given them a ticket. He's got two hours for someone to travel across the States  to ask questions about the man to whom he is talking. Why go to all this trouble? Why ask people to use their mobile phones to verify messages when he doesn't have to and how do you account for the really detailed stuff? For example, Edward refuses to refer to jewellery unless there is something specific about it, something detailed (eg a butterfly brooch with yellow tipped wings attached to a green purse etc )

  Again, I think that this is just a question of trust. A lot of the points you raise are brought up in his book entitled "One Last Time." I am absolutely sure, however, that he is totally honest. Re other pyschics, I tend to keep an open mind as there are a lot of frauds, obviously. However, Edward for me is the real deal and because I trust him then I have to start believing that others have this ability as well. Perhaps the human brain has simply evolved to be able to do this.

If anyone else is undecided then you would have to see him on the Zone Reality channel between 10 and 11pm  (146 Sky) repeated 11-12pm on 147 and judge for yourself. However, watch him over a period of a week or so and then read his book. Most libraries stock it if you don't want to spend your money on it. We could debate this all day but no-one can either prove or disprove it. Hopefully, one day we will know....otherwise it's curtains for us all! Fascinating subject, though, isn't it?

 Yes, it was a surprise to see Nadal losing. Del Potro stands  a great chance now and Safina to win the womens!

My first reply was removed by a mod..can't think why but it may have been due to the fact I added some external links for reference although they were very much on topic, unlike some of the other external link and hotlinks which get through???  Anyway, will post again, minus the links:

I appreciate your responses razzamattaz and I also respect your personal opinion, but nothing you have said has offered anything in the way of credible evidence to suggest Edward, or anyone else for that matter is a genuine psychic.

As you say, it's a question of trust but when the methods used are scrutinized that trust falls to pieces.  In response to your comment "Why go to all this trouble?"  Well the answer to that one is extremely simple, Edward et al are very wealthy people and they're preying on a basic human desire to be able to communicate with people who have died.  Since the dawn of time, people have made such claims which they haven't been able to back up, but yet some people still need to believe.  It is indeed a fascinating subject, much in the same way as religion.  There are many similarities between the two as they're both belief systems which some people live their life by.  Plus there's not really much to back each system up with without leaving significant doubt.  It's all based on generations of trust, faith and fear indoctrinated through the ages.  I'm not debating the existance of a God, as an agnostic, I believe that is impossible to prove or disprove.  Psychic phenomena on the other hand can be proven under the right conditions but it's still waiting to happen and until we get to that day, you can be sure a lot of people will continue to make money manipulating basic human traits.

My opinion would probably be instantly changed if one of these guys went the extra mile by backing up their claims.  Perhaps by finding a missing person such as Madeleine McCann or by solving any of the countless unsolved serious crimes which keep our police forces constantly busy and our tax pennies from being spent where they're really needed such as education, NHS and other public services.

They could also try taking on James Randi's million dollar challenge which has been up for grabs since the '60s but as yet the money is still unclaimed...although about a thousand people have tried to pass the test and not one has been able to prove they are psychic.  When well known psychics are put on the spot to take the test, some such as Sylvia Browne agree when they're live on air but when push comes to shove, they pull out and refuse to take the test.  Why on earth would they do that?  Why wouldn't they once and for all end the skepticism and criticism and just prove their skills?  It would be fair to say that the test itself is fairly stringent but there is a lot of money at stake so it's only right that certain conditions are met, but if someone is psychic these conditions would be easily met and they could spend the money any way they wish.  They could keep it or donate it to charity..anything.

You can read more about the test by searching Wiki for the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Unfortunately, the challenge will be stopped in 2010.  The reason cited for this is that the high profile psychics such as Edward, Browne, Van Praagh, Altea etc refuse to take it.  That to me speaks volumes.  However, there are many other tests with financial rewards attached being offered by quite a few other organisations around the world and so far, that money and the worldwide acclaim attached to it is safe.

You can find an easy to understand explaination of Edward cold reading a guest on his 'Crossing Over' show by Googling John Edward Revisited and it should be the first result you find.  It is from a skeptics point of view but it perfectly illustrates cold reading and the result of only 3 hits out of 23 really puts things into perspective.

Also, i'm not sure if you have been able to check out Van Praagh's guessing game but if you haven't all you need to do is search YouTube for James Van Praagh - The Guessing Game By Jose Alvarez.  It's a two part special totalling about 15 minutes but definitely worth a watch.

If the human brain has 'evolved' to finally do something that people have claimed for centuries, I sincerely hope these people's brains go on to develop the conscience to put that skill to a proper use by finding missing people and bringing the guilty to justice instead of concentrating on furthering their own profile with TV shows and private readings for obscene amounts of money.  Is that evolution or is that the same greed that has plagued mankind for far too long?

Anyway, gonna get back to the tennis now....hope Federer pulls through, would be good to see him do well this year, though obviously not at Murray's expense.

EDIT: At time of reposting, Federer has indeed won.  He did very well to bounce back from 2 sets down but it was clear that Haas ran out of steam and just had no answer for Fed's skill.

I'm reading a book at the moment entitled "I Remember Dying" by Paul Roland. It's a very academic book, for want of a better description and is extremely philosophical, describing how religions such as Buddism, Hinduism, Judaism, Kabbalah have varying beliefs about what happens to us when we die and the progress of the soul from the time it leaves the body. Here is a paragraph or two from it that you will give you a taste of it's content:

 "Blind faith alone cannot sustain a human being through the trials of life. There has to be an intuitive sense that what we have been told awaits us in the afterlife is, in essence at least, true. As Dr. Carol Zaleski of Harvard University has noted, " A conviction that life surpasses death, however intensely felt, will eventually lose its vitality and become a mere fossil record, as alien as any borrowed doctrine, unless it is tested and rediscovered in daily life." (I reckon that we both fit into this category otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion!).

"It is my contention that it has been and continues to be rediscovered by an increasing number of "ordinary people" in every country and culture around the world each and every day. Of course, there are many people who are equally convinced that there is no afterlfe and that when they die they cease to exist. Such convictions serve to prove the power of the ordinary mind or ego which rationalises its existence by denying a greater reality." (I reckon this is you!).

I think this sums up the debate we are having to some extent. Until I saw John Edward I was agnostic but not now. Just as sceptics say that what he does cannot be proved, conversely no-one can explain some of the detail that I described in an earlier message. I hadn't watched  him much over the past few weeks so last nigth I thought I would tune in and try to be as sceptical as I could but it's difficicult for me to understand how he would get, from last night's programme, the following:

1. A woman's cat  that had just had an operation to remove an intestinal blockage 

2. A daughter who wanted to work at Carvell's (wherever that is, I don't think he knew himself! Indeed, last night he got a few things but he hadn't a clue what they referred to. As he said, "I'm just the messenger.")

3. A German Shepard (a lot of stuff from his deceased brother about the dog from the spirit world that was with him.

4. The fact that bagpipes were played at a man's weddding

These were directed at the people he was talking to.

Mediums know that they would be wasting their time with the $1m challenge as sceptics would dismiss anything that was given them in evidence or say that it proved they are only in it for the money. (by the way, John Edward gave up a well paid job in a hospital to devote his life to reassuring people about the existence of the soul and our survival after death at a  time when he was getting paid nothing for it. Look at the examples of John Edward that I have given so far. There is no alternative that I know of to explain them. By the way, Nick, just out of curiousity, have you read his book and how many times have you watched him on TV?

Spititualists, as do many religions, believe that the next life is a sort of paradise but that it is only temporary. Most of us will be be reincarnated because we haven't learned what we need to in order to progress to a much higher level or astral plane. The book I referred to earlier describes this in more detail.

We've gone a long way since my first message, haven't we? I hope we're not boring anyone who is looking at this and thinking what on earth are they talking about, this is supposed to be about Madelaine! My bottom line would be that the McCanns (who live in Liverpool, as I do!) have nothing to lose and perhaps something to gain from seeing John Edward (they may have done already, who knows?) and I guess you would say that they shouldn't because they would have their hopes raised through means that couldn't be validated. I can accept everything that sceptics say about Edward but I would defend his honesty and integrity.

(Still think Del Potro will win it!).

razzamattaz:

I'm reading a book at the moment entitled "I Remember Dying" by Paul Roland. It's a very academic book, for want of a better description and is extremely philosophical, describing how religions such as Buddism, Hinduism, Judaism, Kabbalah have varying beliefs about what happens to us when we die and the progress of the soul from the time it leaves the body. Here is a paragraph or two from it that you will give you a taste of it's content:

 "Blind faith alone cannot sustain a human being through the trials of life. There has to be an intuitive sense that what we have been told awaits us in the afterlife is, in essence at least, true. As Dr. Carol Zaleski of Harvard University has noted, " A conviction that life surpasses death, however intensely felt, will eventually lose its vitality and become a mere fossil record, as alien as any borrowed doctrine, unless it is tested and rediscovered in daily life." (I reckon that we both fit into this category otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion!).

"It is my contention that it has been and continues to be rediscovered by an increasing number of "ordinary people" in every country and culture around the world each and every day. Of course, there are many people who are equally convinced that there is no afterlfe and that when they die they cease to exist. Such convictions serve to prove the power of the ordinary mind or ego which rationalises its existence by denying a greater reality." (I reckon this is you!).

I think this sums up the debate we are having to some extent. Until I saw John Edward I was agnostic but not now. Just as sceptics say that what he does cannot be proved, conversely no-one can explain some of the detail that I described in an earlier message. I hadn't watched  him much over the past few weeks so last nigth I thought I would tune in and try to be as sceptical as I could but it's difficicult for me to understand how he would get, from last night's programme, the following:

1. A woman's cat  that had just had an operation to remove an intestinal blockage 

2. A daughter who wanted to work at Carvell's (wherever that is, I don't think he knew himself! Indeed, last night he got a few things but he hadn't a clue what they referred to. As he said, "I'm just the messenger.")

3. A German Shepard (a lot of stuff from his deceased brother about the dog from the spirit world that was with him.

4. The fact that bagpipes were played at a man's weddding

These were directed at the people he was talking to.

Mediums know that they would be wasting their time with the $1m challenge as sceptics would dismiss anything that was given them in evidence or say that it proved they are only in it for the money. (by the way, John Edward gave up a well paid job in a hospital to devote his life to reassuring people about the existence of the soul and our survival after death at a  time when he was getting paid nothing for it. Look at the examples of John Edward that I have given so far. There is no alternative that I know of to explain them. By the way, Nick, just out of curiousity, have you read his book and how many times have you watched him on TV?

Spititualists, as do many religions, believe that the next life is a sort of paradise but that it is only temporary. Most of us will be be reincarnated because we haven't learned what we need to in order to progress to a much higher level or astral plane. The book I referred to earlier describes this in more detail.

We've gone a long way since my first message, haven't we? I hope we're not boring anyone who is looking at this and thinking what on earth are they talking about, this is supposed to be about Madelaine! My bottom line would be that the McCanns (who live in Liverpool, as I do!) have nothing to lose and perhaps something to gain from seeing John Edward (they may have done already, who knows?) and I guess you would say that they shouldn't because they would have their hopes raised through means that couldn't be validated. I can accept everything that sceptics say about Edward but I would defend his honesty and integrity.

(Still think Del Potro will win it!).

My lack of belief in psychics does not in any way reflect my thoughts on a potential afterlife.  There is so much that simply cannot be proved and the afterlife certainly falls under that bracket for me.  I would never describe myself as being convinced that life after death does not occur in whatever sense, whether it is the soul being lifted to a higher existence for eternity or being reborn in a new human body or one of another species or perhaps even spending eternity attoning for sin.  We simply do not know.

As for the paragraph from the book you quoted, I disagree with the statement that blind faith alone cannot sustain humans.  Blind faith has been the driving force for many religions and belief systems.  The fact that some people believe in these systems without questioning them or doubting them is proof of this and no one can deny that there are many religious people from all sects that fall under that category.  

Again you're citing edited clips from John Edward's shows in which you hold as proof to the powers and foresight this guy has.  You do not know what information has been offered or confirmed before Edward mentioned the cat, bagpipes, the German Shepherd etc.  Also, bear in mind that due to a waiting list for his show, there may well be procedures in which awaiting guests fill out forms providing names, dates, pets etc etc.  This is the pretty much the norm for wating lists and who would blink an eye at that?

In answer to your question, I have spent many, many hours watching Edward at work on various of his TV shows as well as studies into his TV shows plus things like interviews and promo work.  I am yet to read any of his books...perhaps if i'm a good boy, Santa will pop one into my stocking at Christmas ;)  I do believe in Santa by the way so i'm not skeptical about everything 

I don't agree with your comment on the $1 dollar challenge, it sounds like something Sylvia Browne or Rosemary Altea would say in order to avoid taking the test.  If someone is able to talk to the dead or if they have some kind of psychic ability, simply take the test and walk away with your dignity and the cash...easy peesey.  As it stands the big name psychics all refuse to take the test in the knowledge that they would not be able to complete it without destroying their reputations.  Even with all the failed attempts to clarify these so called skills, some people still need to believe without question that those skills are genuine which brings to mind "Blind faith alone cannot sustain a human being through the trials of life."

Getting back on the original thread topic, i'd fully support the McCanns in seeking psychic help but i'd also urge them to go public with the results.  If a psychic tells them Maddie is in a specific place, investigate it and expose it if it isn't true.  People all around the world want to know what has happened to this little girl and according to some, this case could be resolved in a matter of minutes....so what are we waiting for?  This has happened so many times with other cases with high profile psychics but that old thing 'blind faith' still tells some people that these people are genuine.

Please check out the following on YouTube:

Michael Shermer comments on John Edward

This is a special by ABC on Edward.  It features some rather obvious cold reading and low hit rates but it also gives Edward the right to reply as well as skeptics point of view.  An interesting look at Edward's work.

SYLVIA BROWNE- 100% WRONG,Ryan Katcher.

This is a missing persons case with the well known psychic Sylvia Browne.  I'm not quite sure how she could have possibly been more wrong with the advice she gave...perhaps she got confused with another Ryan Katcher from the spirit world or some nasty ghostie was playing tricks with her??  Absolutely callous stuff.

Sylvia Browne DEAD WRONG on CNN 360 Live Anderson Cooper 01

Another missing persons case.  This was a high profile case in the States and Browne was spectacularly wrong again as she went the length of telling the lads parents where the body of their son could be found.  She also described his abductor and 'murderer'.

Psychic busted pt. 1

The amazing Browne again...

Psychic busted pt.2

And again.

I'm not sure how anyone with a shred of intelligence is able to still insist she is psychic...i'm amazed Browne herself has not come clean after these damning stories made the headlines.

This is why a psychic cannot help find Madeleine or anyone else for that matter, but i'd still welcome any of them to prove me wrong.  I'd love to eat humble pie in this instance...I really would.