James Van Praagh

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James Van Praagh (b. August 23, 1958, Bayside, New York) is a best-selling author, who performs as a psychic and medium. He has written several books dealing with spirituality and spirit communication. From 2002 to 2003, he hosted a syndicated daytime talk show entitled "Beyond With James Van Praagh." He subsequently partnered with CBS to produce several TV-movies and mini-series based on his books, including "Living With The Dead" and "The Dead Will Tell." He is currently the co-Executive Producer of the television series Ghost Whisperer on CBS.

Contents 1 Early Life and Career 2 Career as a Medium 3 Criticism 4 Books by James Van Praagh 5 References 6 External links 6.1 Criticism

[edit] Early Life and Career

Van Praagh was born in Bayside, New York and is the youngest of four children. Raised Roman Catholic he attended seminary at the age of 14, however he has described himself as experiencing spiritual phenomenon from a young age that eventually drew him away from conventional religious practice.

He graduated from San Francisco State University, majoring in Broadcasting and Communications and subsequently moved to Los Angeles. It was there that he first discovered an interest in metaphysics^[1] and began working as a medium following a prediction by another medium who suggested it was his destiny. ^[2]

Van Praagh built his early career performing private readings and quickly graduated to wider audiences with a series of audiotapes, books, and eventually the television appearances that gave him national exposure.

[edit] Career as a Medium

Van Praagh says that through his mediumistic abilities he receives messages from spirits and feelings about their presence that provide "detailed evidential proof that a loved one survived death." ^[3]

In 2002 he hosted his own daytime talk show "Beyond with Van Praagh" ^[4], in which he performs readings with audience members. His work continued to inspire his own brand of successful television shows with CBS and produced the mini series "Living With The Dead", "The Dead Will Tell" and the CBS drama "Ghost Whisperer".

Van Praagh also hosts regular seminars and workshops to assist others in developing spiritual awareness. ^[5]

[edit] Criticism

Critics of Van Praagh accuse him of using the mentalism technique of cold reading to simulate psychic powers. ^[6][7] They point to several incidents in which Van Praagh's claims have been wrong, such as when he suggested to the parents of the abducted Shawn Hornbeck that the boy's body might be found in a railroad car.^[8] Hornbeck was found alive four years later, having been abducted but not killed, and the kidnapper was not a railroad plant worker as Van Praagh had suggested.^[9] Van Praagh has responded by asserting that his messages are often vague and hard to interpret and sometimes he mistakes their meaning, often re-interpreting them after the fact to fit new information.

[edit] Books by James Van Praagh

• Talking to Heaven: A Medium's Message of Life After Death Published March 1999.
• Reaching to Heaven: A Spiritual Journey Through Life & Death Published 1999.
• Heaven & Earth: Making the Psychic Connection Published Sept 2006.
• Healing Grief: Reclaiming Life After Any Loss
• Meditation with James Van Praagh Published March 2004.
• Looking Beyond: A Teen's Guide to the Spiritual World Published Oct 2003.
• Ghosts Among Us Available May 13, 2008 - Publisher HarperCollins

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• James Van Praagh - Official Website
• James Van Praagh at the Internet Movie Database
• James Van Praagh Interview

[edit] Criticism

• The Art of Cold Reading
• Salon.com:James Van Praagh's friendly ghosts
• Does James Van Praagh talk to the Dead
• Michael Shermer Debunks James Van Praagh & Psychics