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| '''Chip Coffey''' is an American self-proclaimed psychic from ], ], currently living in ], ].<ref name="presskit">{{cite web|url=http://www.chipcoffey.com/presskit.html|title=Chip Coffey's Press Kit}}</ref> He appears as a ] on various ] programs, primarily '']'' and '']''. On ''Psychic Kids'' he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing ]s. | '''Chip Coffey''' is an American self-proclaimed psychic from ], ], currently living in ], ].<ref name="presskit">{{cite web|url=http://www.chipcoffey.com/presskit.html|title=Chip Coffey's Press Kit}}</ref> He appears as a ] on various ] programs, primarily '']'' and '']''. On ''Psychic Kids'' he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing ]s. Coffey's claims of being able to communicate with the dead have been the subject to criticism by ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| According to Coffey, when he was a child, he would tell his parents when the phone was about to ring and who was calling; referring to his ability to read the past, present and future as a "God given talent"<ref name='AJ1'>{{cite web | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10696635DFD8ADE1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title = 'God-given talent' is channeled in mysterious ways | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | date = 25 Nov 2004 | work = Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> Coffey said that when he reached adulthood, he began to see full-body apparitions. He also defines what he feels is the difference between a ghost and a spirit is that "the latter has completed the journey between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Ghosts, on the other hand, are souls that, for whatever reason, have chosen to stick around. They may not know they're dead, or they may fear judgment on the other side."<ref name='WFP'>{{cite web | url = http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/rare-medium-93182394.html | title = Rare Medium Psychic Chip Coffey can communicate with the dead, but he has a degree of skepticism about paranormal activity | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | last = Vesely | first = Carolin | date = 8 May 2010 | work = ]}}</ref> | According to Coffey, when he was a child, he would tell his parents when the phone was about to ring and who was calling; referring to his ability to read the past, present and future as a "God given talent"<ref name='AJ1'>{{cite web | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10696635DFD8ADE1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title = 'God-given talent' is channeled in mysterious ways | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | date = 25 Nov 2004 | work = Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> Coffey said that when he reached adulthood, he began to see full-body apparitions. He also defines what he feels is the difference between a ghost and a spirit is that "the latter has completed the journey between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Ghosts, on the other hand, are souls that, for whatever reason, have chosen to stick around. They may not know they're dead, or they may fear judgment on the other side."<ref name='WFP'>{{cite web | url = http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/rare-medium-93182394.html | title = Rare Medium Psychic Chip Coffey can communicate with the dead, but he has a degree of skepticism about paranormal activity | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | last = Vesely | first = Carolin | date = 8 May 2010 | work = ]}}</ref> | ||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| Coffey has been criticized by scientific skeptics. In 2009, the ] awarded Coffey a ] "For the psychic who tricked the most people with the least effort".<ref> | |||
| {{cite web|last1=JREF|title=The 2009 Pigasus Awards|url=http://archive.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/928-the-2009-pigasus-awards.html|publisher=James Randi Educational Foundation|accessdate=1 March 2015}}</ref> According to skeptical investigator ], Coffey has been accused of hoaxing and "outright deception" involving the television series ].<ref name="Nickell2012">{{cite book|author=Joe Nickell|title=The Science of Ghosts: Searching for Spirits of the Dead|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=oGS67QhECywC&pg=PT264|date=3 July 2012|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn=978-1-61614-586-6|pages=264–}}</ref> | |||
| In September 2014, members of the ] Skeptics attended one of Coffey's seance sessions as part of what they termed a "sting operation" intended to reveal the falsity of his psychic claims. According to ] professor Sheldon Helms, skeptics posing as fans planted stories of fictitious dead family members with Coffey's staff. According to organizer Susan Gerbic, "Coffey claimed to be clearly communicating with our nonexistent family members".<ref name=CSICOP>{{cite journal|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=Operation Bumblebee|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=February 5, 2015|url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/operation_bumblebee}}</ref><ref name=Ohlone>{{cite journal|last1=Walther|first1=Mitchell|title=Ohlone professor 'stings' TV psychic|journal=Ohlone College Monitor|date=October 30, 2014|url=http://www.ohlone.edu/org/monitor/20142015/20141030/page4-5.pdf}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| *{{official website|http://chipcoffey.com/}} | *{{official website|http://chipcoffey.com/}} | ||
| *{{IMDb name|id=1368465}} | *{{IMDb name|id=1368465}} | ||
| {{Authority control|VIAF=78609011}} | {{Authority control|VIAF=78609011}} | ||
Revision as of 15:10, 6 March 2015
| Chip Coffey | |
|---|---|
| File:ChipCoffey.jpg | |
| Born | (1954-08-21) August 21, 1954 (age 70) Elmira, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Medium |
| Known for | Paranormal State, Psychic Kids |
Chip Coffey is an American self-proclaimed psychic from Elmira, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia. He appears as a medium on various paranormal television programs, primarily Paranormal State and Psychic Kids. On Psychic Kids he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing ghosts. Coffey's claims of being able to communicate with the dead have been the subject to criticism by skeptics.
History
According to Coffey, when he was a child, he would tell his parents when the phone was about to ring and who was calling; referring to his ability to read the past, present and future as a "God given talent" Coffey said that when he reached adulthood, he began to see full-body apparitions. He also defines what he feels is the difference between a ghost and a spirit is that "the latter has completed the journey between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Ghosts, on the other hand, are souls that, for whatever reason, have chosen to stick around. They may not know they're dead, or they may fear judgment on the other side."
Criticism
Coffey has been criticized by scientific skeptics. In 2009, the James Randi Education Foundation awarded Coffey a Pigasus Award "For the psychic who tricked the most people with the least effort". According to skeptical investigator Joe Nickell, Coffey has been accused of hoaxing and "outright deception" involving the television series Paranormal State.
In September 2014, members of the Bay Area Skeptics attended one of Coffey's seance sessions as part of what they termed a "sting operation" intended to reveal the falsity of his psychic claims. According to Ohlone College professor Sheldon Helms, skeptics posing as fans planted stories of fictitious dead family members with Coffey's staff. According to organizer Susan Gerbic, "Coffey claimed to be clearly communicating with our nonexistent family members".
References
- "Chip Coffey's Press Kit".
- "'God-given talent' is channeled in mysterious ways". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 25 Nov 2004. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- Vesely, Carolin (8 May 2010). "Rare Medium Psychic Chip Coffey can communicate with the dead, but he has a degree of skepticism about paranormal activity". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- JREF. "The 2009 Pigasus Awards". James Randi Educational Foundation. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- Joe Nickell (3 July 2012). The Science of Ghosts: Searching for Spirits of the Dead. Prometheus Books. pp. 264–. ISBN 978-1-61614-586-6.
- Gerbic, Susan (February 5, 2015). "Operation Bumblebee". Skeptical Inquirer.
- Walther, Mitchell (October 30, 2014). "Ohlone professor 'stings' TV psychic" (PDF). Ohlone College Monitor.
External links
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