CROSSING OVER TOO FAR?

Psychic John Edward purports to communicate with the dead. His necromancy has gained popularity through Crossing Over With John Edward, a television show which airs on WCBS-TV in New York, on the Sci-Fi cable network, and on other outlets nationwide. On the broadcast, Edward professes to deliver messages to audience members from their dead relatives. This past fall, his program gained even more success when it was launched into syndication.

In October, the show announced that Edward would attempt to communicate with victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Steve Rosenberg, Studios USA domestic syndication president, claimed that relatives of the victims approached Edward to do the programs. Rosenberg also said the shows "would be done tastefully" and that "it seemed wrong not to do it." Some considered the planned broadcasts as an attempt to increase ratings during the "November sweeps."

However, within hours of the initial announcement, Studios USA stated that it was canceling its plans to air the programs. Rosenberg said the decision came as the result of "a reaction that none of us expected." Segments with Edward and family members of the terrorist attacks had already been recorded, but will not be broadcast. Studio executives feared that the programs would offend many people and, in the long run, harm—not help—ratings.

Critics of Edward claim the accuracy rate of his communications from the dead is about 20 or 30 percent. That rate is likened to the principles of slot machines: just enough to keep people interested and involved. Others conclude that Edward uses the classic technique of "cold reading," which employs assumptions, generalizations, and subtle manipulations.

For the Christian, Scripture is clear about avoiding all forms of necromancy.

—MKG

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