Browne says "One dollar, one step"

[RSLancastr]

I have received email from several folks notifying me of a fund-raising email Brwne has sent out. here is the bulk of it:

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
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready to send a check (in the amount of Zero and no/100 dollars) to Browne, and I'm confident that I will receive a thousand times that amount as a result!

I guess the theory is: plant a "seed" in the manure that is Browne's organization, and it will grow!

[desertgal]

???

Is there any evidence that Browne is the "sole support" of Novus Spiritus? I was under the impression that the individual churches are self supporting.

[Reno]

Does Browne incur any handling fee on a cheque sent to her? If so, I'm more than happy to send her multiple cheques for less than the handling fee she'll have to pay.

[Sasha]

She sounds rather pathetic and begging doesn't she?

I like that.

[kuroyume0161]

I'm reminded of failing banks where I said, "Let them fail." That same warm-fuzzy feeling comes over me when reading this. :)

[Bitter Monk]

I guess the theory is: plant a "seed" in the manure that is Browne's organization, and it will grow!

Well you know what it takes to grow mushrooms. ;)

[Jeffexor]

According to Browne and Linda Rossi, every cent that Sylvia makes supposedly goes back into her church...I find that VERY hard to believe... I think Sylvia just now proved (herself) that that is BS. If Sylvia truly was giving every cent of her profits to that church, then she wouldn't be begging for a dollar from people.

[Olowkow]

Does Browne incur any handling fee on a cheque sent to her? If so, I'm more than happy to send her multiple cheques for less than the handling fee she'll have to pay.

Careful, if she is out $.10, then you could be returned the 1000 fold blessing as a $100.00 loss. :D RSL has the right idea.

[ExMinister]

Is this a current letter?

If so, she sent one out just like it last year.

And yes, it's hard to believe that supporting the small church in Campbell (the only one she might be supporting by paying the mortgage/rent) could be so expensive. All of the other churches are self-supporting and required to send a percentage of their tithes and fees for other services offered (such as hypnosis) back to her. The ministers, unless they're working as office staff, don't get paid. The study group books are not free. Ministers have to pay several thousand dollars, last I heard, to be ministers (though mine was free, happily).

Ah, but if she solicits this money claiming it's for her church, which is non-profit, maybe it's tax exempt?

[Professor Yaffle]

Someone needs to have a really close look at her accounts...

[Rasmus]

Is this a current letter?

If so, she sent one out just like it last year.

Yes, I seem to remember a thread about it then ... can't seem to find it right now, though.

[fuelair]

She sounds rather pathetic and begging doesn't she?

I like that.

But, she hasn't yet pulled out the Rectal Roberts "god is gonna "take" me if I don't get millions in a few days." thing.:D

[JoeTheJuggler]

And yes, it's hard to believe that supporting the small church in Campbell (the only one she might be supporting by paying the mortgage/rent) could be so expensive. All of the other churches are self-supporting and required to send a percentage of their tithes and fees for other services offered (such as hypnosis) back to her.

Someone needs to have a really close look at her accounts...

Amen.

Isn't such a false claim in fundraising for a non-profit a violation of IRS code?

Robert, that follow-up article on SB's finances is one I look forward to on your site! :)

[fuelair]

Browne says "One dollar, one schtup"

Millions throw up their lunch.

[juryjone]

So now she's using the old "thousandfold" prosperity gospel trick?

Color me surprised. :rolleyes:

[negativ]

Send $1 to keep my cult afloat, and you'll get all sorts of rewards, just you wait and see.

My, my. Where have I heard THAT before?

Just as suicide is the most sincere form of self-loathing, my new Church of the Sub-Genius is the most sincere form of Send One Dollar.

-- J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, at the 1978 DobbsCon Stockholder's Meeting, Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

[rjh01]

This is a duplicate thread. See http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=138802

[RSLancastr]

This is a duplicate thread. See http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=138802
Nope, not a duplicate. The other thread is about Browne sending uot a nearly identical letter in the first quarter of the year. I was unaware of this, as I was hspitalized at the time. thanks for pointing the thread out.

[alfaniner]

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.

The implication is that the money will be returned to you by her. I expect many fans would send it in, expecting to say "Oh, I don't want the $1000, but I would like a free reading!"

[mist]

Robert, that follow-up article on SB's finances is one I look forward to on your site! :)

I'll second that.

I guess it's fortunate Sylvia is an old woman and does not have much longer to exploit people.

[Tumblehome]

She doesn't actually say a thousandfold in dollars. I doubt she'd let a single dollar slip through her claws, let alone a thousand...

"Oh, I never said they'd get it in money. I returned a thousand good wishes to improve their lives cuz that's so much more meaningful than money. Yeah."

You better watch out, Santa Claws is coming to town...

[kuroyume0161]

"Send me real money and I'll send you whispy nothings."

That is about right for Syliva.

[VisionFromFeeling]

What I think "psychics" should do, is to offer their "services" for free. Because if truly they have something unique and special to offer to people, it should be offered as a gift. "Psychics" should have a real job and earn their money by normal means, and then do "readings" or "healings" free of charge on their spare time. Of course what they offer is more than likely useless, but at least many people appreciate some counceling and a friendly chat during fortune telling, or a nice good placebo effect from useless healing.

Of course then there is always the risk of psychics taking away people's faith in conventional science and medicine, which can lead them to harm if they stay away from actually effective medical treatment, and all the other countless of possible harm that psychics can cause when what they offer fails.

But above all I think psychics, since they more often than not pose to be some sort of spiritual, loving and caring individuals, should certainly offer their services for free.

[steve s]

She's also probably cognizant of the fact that few people are going to write a check for just one dollar. Most people will bump it up to five or ten dollars. This way Sylvia gets to sound like she's not greedy, but still rake in some decent bucks.

Steve S.

[desertgal]

What I think "psychics" should do, is to offer their "services" for free.

You also think you can see into the human body.

Because if truly they have something unique and special to offer to people, it should be offered as a gift.Since psychic ability has never been proven to exist, that's a moot point.

"Psychics" should have a real job and earn their money by normal means, and then do "readings" or "healings" free of charge on their spare time. Of course what they offer is more than likely useless, but at least many people appreciate some counceling and a friendly chat during fortune telling...Well, that's not what "psychics" claim to do, is it? They don't say "Come to my house for some counseling and a friendly chat while I give you a completely useless reading." Do you understand, at all, the fraud inherent in psychic readings? Whether money changes hands or not doesn't alter that.

What you are suggesting is a way for psychics to justify their actions to themselves, so that they can be more comfortable with defrauding people.

...or a nice good placebo effect from useless healing. People don't need useless healing, and a placebo effect doesn't go very far in solving a legitimate medical problem, if one exists.

Of course then there is always the risk of psychics taking away people's faith in conventional science and medicine, which can lead them to harm if they stay away from actually effective medical treatment, and all the other countless of possible harm that psychics can cause when what they offer fails. Apparently, by your standard, that's okay as long as the psychic doesn't get paid. :rolleyes:

But above all I think psychics, since they more often than not pose to be some sort of spiritual, loving and caring individuals...As you do.

...should certainly not offer their false services for free.Fixed it for you.

Shawn Hornbeck's parents didn't pay Sylvia Browne to tell them their son was dead when he wasn't. Opal Jennings' family didn't pay Sylvia Browne to tell them Opal was alive when she wasn't. I guess that's okay with you, since they didn't pay her for those readings?

In any case, the OP is about Sylvia Browne fraudulently soliciting funds to "reimburse" her for being the "sole support" of her church, not whether psychics in general should charge for "readings" and "healings". Try to focus on the topic.

[bethysunport]

Sylvia Browne makes me think of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9t5ZqeHcYk&feature=related
Woody's right this is ludicrous.


This woman is more than ego maniacal, and the really sad part is that after she's gone her son will take over.

[psychicuk]

Nope, not a duplicate. The other thread is about Browne sending uot a nearly identical letter in the first quarter of the year. I was unaware of this, as I was hspitalized at the time. thanks for pointing the thread out.

Best of health in 2010 my friend.

[aggle-rithm]

She doesn't actually say a thousandfold in dollars. I doubt she'd let a single dollar slip through her claws, let alone a thousand...

"Oh, I never said they'd get it in money. I returned a thousand good wishes to improve their lives cuz that's so much more meaningful than money. Yeah."

You better watch out, Santa Claws is coming to town...

Actually, Sylvia only needs to claim that all the money contributors would have made anyway (salary, etc.) are the direct result of the contribution, and would not have happened otherwise. Difficult to disprove.