Anyone who has seen the circus of the daytime talk show circuit will be familiar with the self-proclaimed "psychic", Sylvia Browne. Her too-often-vague readings and disastrously misguided attempts at locating missing persons has never deterred her from a prolific and successful career as an author of schlocky new-age spirituality books full of light, hope, and God. The following re-release, that I was so fortunate to receive for review, gives the true story of Jesus straight from Francine, Sylvia's "spirit guide".
Yes, I said her spirit guide. From the introduction we are told by Ms. Browne that the life of Jesus was quite different then what we have been led to believe and that she can prove it. She offers verifiable scholarly and archaeological proof where she can and where she can't... Francine has verified the information to be accurate. I'm not kidding, folks.
After this unsettling introduction the reader is taken through Bizarro-Jesus world. She covers everything from his birth, through his childhood to the "missing years" before he began his ministry. I don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone but it seems that Jesus spent some time in the East. Francine didn't say if he picked up anything in the Tantric tradition though I'm sure Mary Magdalene would have appreciated that, being his wife and all. And she was, according to Francine. For anyone familiar with the Gospel of Mary and the much-vaunted verse that says "He used to kiss her often on the -- ", according to Francine the ripped piece does indeed say mouth. God bless Francine and her all-knowing ways. Francine also tells us that after the Crucifixion (which Jesus survived!) the Holy couple fled to what is now France where they eventually had four children. They both lived to ripe old ages and their legacy was carried forward by generations of heretics and Cathars. At least, that's what Francine says.
As must be painfully obvious to you by now Francine figures very largely in this book. I'd say it's about 99% Francine and 1% actual scholarship and that's being generous. The book itself has a massive typeface and the style is very "See Jesus walk. See Jesus heal the leper." It's not intellectually challenging in any way and it's not supposed to be. It's supposed to make you believe that if you open your heart and accept it, then you're a good person.
Unfortunately, Sylvia Browne is the last person you should be accepting this kind of lesson from. Her own church, which she continually talks about, is nominally Gnostic. The very basis of Gnosticism is seeking knowledge however in her church, which she has founded, the study groups and teachers are only allowed to use and teach what she has written. All outside religious and spiritual texts are excluded. This alone makes everything she says completely invalid.
There is no way I would recommend this book to anyone.
For more information on Sylvia Browne please visit:
Criticism of Sylvia Browne - Wikipedia
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Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade; Reprint edition (November 6, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0451222229
ISBN-13: 978-0451222220
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