Sylvia Begging For Money

[PastBrowneFan]

I must admit I had to laugh at this one: reminds me of the Televangelist. Next she'll be selling junk on paid programming shows like her former bff Montel. Though I must say I'm glad that I did not write this one, as I still regret writing the one on the Novus Site http://www.novus.org/home/support_novus.cfm

************************************************** ************************************************** *

I need your help and I expect it to be
returned to you a thousand-fold!

In these dire economic times, I am asking for your help to keep my church, the Society of Novus Spiritus alive. It has become overwhelmingly difficult for me to be nearly the sole support of this representation of our belief and philosophy. I am asking for only $1.00 (or more) as seed money and as such, expect it to be returned to you a thousand-fold. God bless you for your help in our time of need.

God love you,
I do,
Sylvia

Use your credit card for your * tax-deductible donation by visiting our secure servers at www.novus.org and use the input box at the bottom of the page or click here to download a word document that you can print, complete and mail or fax to us.

* Society of Novus Spiritus® is a nonprofit religious corporation as defined by the IRS Code 501(c)(3), which was granted on September 7, 1990. In addition, we are a religious corporation under California code RTC 23701d, which was granted on May 8, 1990. Donations are tax deductible. Each donation of $250 or more will receive a letter for the IRS. Society of Novus Spiritus® was originally founded under the name the Church of Novus Spiritus by Sylvia Browne in July 1986.

Society of Novus Spiritus® · 1700 Winchester Blvd. Suite 100 · Campbell , CA 95008 · (P) 408-379-7070

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

Amazing. If they are a nonprofit religious organization, they should be the ones helping others in times of need.

You have to feel sorry for the true and sincere members of this organization who joined because they really felt Sylvia' message was a great one, she was an alternative to things they didn't like in other religions and she was helping people and so on and so forth.

[rjh01]

What is the minimum amount that can be spent via credit card? Can I donate $1 by this method? If so then there is no problem, otherwise the e-mail is a bit misleading.

I suggest they are losing supporters. Their forum appears to be slowing down a bit.

[SirPhilip]

I must admit I had to laugh at this one It always surprises me how frequently spiritualism and life are used in conjoined context. Considering spirits (which encompasses shades of mortals to sky gods)are people that are no longer alive - keeping a spiritual institution "alive" is oxymoronic.

[EHocking]

"I am asking for only $1.00 (or more) as seed money and as such, expect it to be returned to you a thousand-fold."

So, I invest $1.00 and Sylvia guarantees $1,000 in return?

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority would be all over this claim like a rash.

I hope you informed RSL of this latest development.

[Hokulele]

"I am asking for only $1.00 (or more) as seed money and as such, expect it to be returned to you a thousand-fold."

So, I invest $1.00 and Sylvia guarantees $1,000 in return?


Nah, she is saying "I am only asking for $1 now, but if you can do this, expect me to return and ask for another $1 at least a thousand times."

;)

[desertgal]

I was under the impression that each chapter? church? of Novus Spiritus is self supporting, and Browne personally contributes very little, if anything, to subsidize them. Is that incorrect?

[Horatius]

"I am asking for only $1.00 (or more) as seed money and as such, expect it to be returned to you a thousand-fold."

So, I invest $1.00 and Sylvia guarantees $1,000 in return?

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority would be all over this claim like a rash.

I hope you informed RSL of this latest development.


Ah, but "expect" isn't "guarantees", is it? You can expect things all you want, but they may not turn up. Also note, as further wiggle room, she hasn't said when you can expect it to return. "Oh, darn, you died yesterday, just before the $1000 returned to you!"

[EHocking]

Damn - and I forgot to mention RSL's site Stop Sylvia Browne (http://stopsylvia.com/) at http://stopsylvia.com/ when I commented on the deceiptful nature of Sylvia Browne's (http://stopsylvia.com/) advertising for funds for for her Novus Spiritus (http://stopsylvia.com/) "church". That should do it (http://stopsylvia.com/).

[headscratcher4]

All, of course, begs the question of what she's done with all the money she raised for all of these years? Invest in Madoff? BTW, is she selling her home, her car, what have you to keep the church going -- it would seem to me she'd want that 1000X profit that the universe will deliver back for such faith in SB.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

With a little bit of Googling I see that churches registered under IRS Code 501(c)(3) don't pay taxes but do have to file an annual report. Anyone know what this is supposed to contain, whether one(s) have been filed and if they are a public document?

There are also a lot restrictions on what non-profit organizations can do, for example:


No distribution of financial gains to directors, officers or members.



Corporate assets may only be distributed to another tax exempt organization upon dissolution of the nonprofit corporation

Any lawyers around? It seems to me that there is some potential for validating the compliance of the Spirits with the law. :)

[ExMinister]

What is the minimum amount that can be spent via credit card? Can I donate $1 by this method? If so then there is no problem, otherwise the e-mail is a bit misleading.

I suggest they are losing supporters. Their forum appears to be slowing down a bit.

There appears to be no minimum purchase via credit card unless the merchant decides there should be one.

"I am asking for only $1.00 (or more) as seed money and as such, expect it to be returned to you a thousand-fold."

So, I invest $1.00 and Sylvia guarantees $1,000 in return?

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority would be all over this claim like a rash.

I hope you informed RSL of this latest development.

I'm not sure there's any way to inform RSL these days, other than the possibility that he may be following these threads. He's not available by email as far as I know, since he's been in the hospital, and I wouldn't want to load Susan down with this stuff. Does anyone know if I'm wrong about this?

I was under the impression that each chapter? church? of Novus Spiritus is self supporting, and Browne personally contributes very little, if anything, to subsidize them. Is that incorrect?

Correct.

[ExMinister]

All, of course, begs the question of what she's done with all the money she raised for all of these years? Invest in Madoff? BTW, is she selling her home, her car, what have you to keep the church going -- it would seem to me she'd want that 1000X profit that the universe will deliver back for such faith in SB.

Make that homes.

[ravdin]

With any luck, I will see SB on the street corner holding out a tin cup and muttering to herself.

[headscratcher4]

With any luck, I will see SB on the street corner holding out a tin cup and muttering to herself.

Not likely, I doubt she risks anything to raise money for this cause, save future earnings...

[learner]

"I am asking for only $1.00 (or more) as seed money and as such, expect it to be returned to you a thousand-fold."

So, I invest $1.00 and Sylvia guarantees $1,000 in return?

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority would be all over this claim like a rash.

I hope you informed RSL of this latest development.

I believe that in the UK you need to be a licensed financial advisor before dishing out a x1000 return recommendation. Don't know about the US.

[FramerDave]

It always surprises me how frequently spiritualism and life are used in conjoined context. Considering spirits (which encompasses shades of mortals to sky gods)are people that are no longer alive - keeping a spiritual institution "alive" is oxymoronic.

Good start, but it could use a little editing. If I may:

Keeping a spiritual institution "alive" is moronic.

Ah, much better.

[desertgal]

I was under the impression that each chapter? church? of Novus Spiritus is self supporting, and Browne personally contributes very little, if anything, to subsidize them. Is that incorrect?

Correct.

Sorry? Correct that my impression is incorrect, or correct that Browne doesn't financially support Novus Spiritus?

[Steelmage]

Great, you got her on the run.

[ExMinister]

Sorry? Correct that my impression is incorrect, or correct that Browne doesn't financially support Novus Spiritus?

Browne doesn't financially support Novus Spiritus. The ministers and churches outside Campbell are self-supporting and pay 10% back to Browne. I would think Browne owns or rents the facility for the church in Campbell. I doubt the ministers are paid to hold the Sunday church services there either, beyond whatever they are paid if they are on staff.

[RSL's better half]

I just saw this thread. I'll show it to Robert tomorrow. Has anyone shared this with Randi?

[Jackalgirl]

I highly suspect that Browne's statement about returning the investment "a thousand-fold" does not mean that she is promising to return $1000 to people for every $1 they donate.

I suspect that it is more along the lines of the Threefold Law (everything you do comes back to you threefold). In other words, Sylvia is promising that people will feel good (or that good things will happen to them) that will feel like $1000 worth of goodness. It's not a concrete promise, but rather a promise of abstracted goodness down the road.

I am not defending Sylvia Browne. I am pointing out that this is, as always, more in the way she attempts to take money for giving people good (or "saccharine" might be a better word) feelings (among other, more nefarious stuff that she does).

[EHocking]

I just saw this thread. I'll show it to Robert tomorrow. Has anyone shared this with Randi?
I found some guidelines at the Federal Trade Commission on advertising, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/resources/guidance/adv.shtm they also have an (online) complaints section.

I've yet to trawl the site for a particular guideline on this type of advertising, but thought others might enjoy some detective work. Perhaps some of us here could do some groundwork on behalf of Robert and James?

[ExMinister]

Some of you may be reading too much into this seed money thing. It's just a New Agey request for money based on the tithing myth that if you give money (usually 10% of your income) in support of God's work (church, etc), God returns it back to you ten-fold. Some pastors/televangelists go so far as to claim this may come back to you in cash (you give $100, you'll get that back ten-fold). She has exaggerated this to a thousand-fold but the point is that it's not a guaranteed return and she has a church and that's what she's doing. Most people who read it will understand that she is claiming exactly that.

[Ashles]

It's things like this that almost make you believe there is a God.

[desertgal]

Browne doesn't financially support Novus Spiritus. The ministers and churches outside Campbell are self-supporting and pay 10% back to Browne. I would think Browne owns or rents the facility for the church in Campbell. I doubt the ministers are paid to hold the Sunday church services there either, beyond whatever they are paid if they are on staff.

Thank you. And I agree with ExMinister about the tithing myth. That is the way I have always understood such 'ten fold' statements.

Is there any evidence that Sylvia Browne died as a child and came back as the undead? I don't believe in the undead, but it does come to mind when contemplating her complete lack of conscience, honesty, and compassion.

[Ashles]

Is there any evidence that Sylvia Browne died as a child and came back as the undead? I don't believe in the undead, but it does come to mind when contemplating her complete lack of conscience, honesty, and compassion.
And her face.

[Earthborn]

I've heard there is some guy called Pandi or Sandi or something, who gives a million dollars to any genuine psychic. Why doesn't she try that first? :p

[Reno]

I've heard there is some guy called Pandi or Sandi or something, who gives a million dollars to any genuine psychic. Why doesn't she try that first? :p

She already said she will. She is a liar.