Are Ouija Boards Satanic?

Aggie Catholic ^ | 6/9/2010 | Marcel LeJeune

[markomalley]

Q - Is using a Ouija Board ok, if just for fun? Also, what do you think of the comments at the bottom of this website? I can't believe that Hasbro makes this and Toys 'R Us sells them!


A - Thanks for the questions. I think my answers might just surprise some of our readers.

The origin of these boards is not from a game. Rather, they come from a practice of "channeling" or "divination". Channeling is asking the dead to give us answers to questions or power and is an ancient - and dangerous - practice. Thus, the word "occult" = "hidden". The Bible speaks directly to this practice:

Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the LORD, and because of such abominations the LORD, your God, is driving these nations out of your way. - Deuteronomy 18: 10-12

He practiced soothsaying and divination, and reintroduced the consulting of ghosts and spirits. He did much evil in the LORD'S sight and provoked him to anger. - 2 Kings 21:6

And when they say to you, "Inquire of mediums and fortune-tellers (who chirp and mutter!); should not a people inquire of their gods, apply to the dead on behalf of the living?" - Is 8:19

So, the history of divination and channeling is ancient, but it has some more modern forms, which have become popular again from various sources, including - New Age practices, the Occult, fortune-telling, Wicca, astrology, and "games" such as the Ouija Board. All of these have Pagan spiritual origins and should never be practiced by Christians.

Ultimately, this is a dangerous practice because it is an attempt to seek spiritual power from somewhere other than God. If this is the case, then demons or evil spirits are most likely the ones supplying it. We open ourselves up to demonic influence if we do so - to the point of having possession being possible down the line.

Some might think this is an overreaction and that it is just fun. I have heard some say - at most, it is a spooky time for kids to pretend they can talk to the dead. But, demons can work through this kind of attitude to quietly induce someone to their way of thinking and acting.

A personal disbelief in the power of Satan, does not make his power go away. Just ask an exorcist who has had to fight with such demons. They will not beat around the bush in regards to such practices.

The danger is very real.

Thus, the Catechism states:

2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.

So, in answer to your question - I believe the Ouija Board and other kinds of New Age practices to be very dangerous. I also think it is scandalous that they are marketing it as a "game" and so many people accept such things uncritically.

[tired&retired]

“How do you know that you didn’t open the door when you hypnotized them?”

Excellent question... Many people do just that.

I do not like to use hypnosis as I don’t want control over people and that is exactly what happens when a person is hypnotized. I occasionally use hypnosis to help people when they have a spiritual block that is hindering them. The best results are obtained when I merely assist a person in praying while in a hypnotic state and then give the person their power back at that higher level of consciousness. I’ve seen more miracles happen this way. It’s not me, I merely assist them in making the connection.

Incidently, the nasty I spoke of earlier that came out of the woman and in to me, happened when I was saying the Lord’s Prayer with her. Not sure why I said it with her. Had never done it before or since in a session. Was just guided to do it at that moment.

My very first session of spirit release was one where I was helping a 38 year old emergency room nurse manage the pain for what her Dr’s said was severe arthritus. All I did was ask the question..”If that pain in your shoulder could speak, What would it say?” A male voice answered me out of this woman’s mouth and said..”Get out of here!” Shocked, I replied..”Who said that?” He told me his name and all about himself, including where he was killed in the car accident and how he followed his body into the emergency room where he attached to her. After a little discussion, he left and went to the light and her pain was gone... That was when I first realized that memories are stored in the soul and not in the brain. The brain is just a communication device...

[raygun]

I've heard stories that would make the hair stand straight up. It doesn't matter if you're a person of God or not, demonic influence is positively frightening.

A trained paramedic I know said she don't care how much training she's had in psychology, some of the people she's encountered positively chilled her to the core. She said there's no theory or principle of psychology that can explain some of the behavior she's witnessed. She said its pretty lonely sitting in the back of the ambulance by their self with an individual who absolutely needs to be totally restrained. She's been in several situations where her physical safety was in question as a result of them freeing themselves from restraints. I don't know how they do it, she says; superhuman strength is a Scriptural hallmark of demonic possession; there's at least one account of the possessed breaking assunder iron bonds.

I've heard of preachers tell of people who go into utter terrified shrieking fits when coming into close proximity to the preacher. They say that they'll go out of their way to maximise the largest distance seperating them from the preacher. There's no doubt the preacher is indwelt with the Spirit either and devoted to do the Lord's work.

I've heard of preacher / missionaries who either moved into a haunted house or were cursed by somebody. They had to vacate the home they lived in because of the events that were occuring in the home. At first they were innoccuous, easily dismissed, but subsequently grew to become mischevious. They ended having to leave when the seriousness of events became significant enough that their malicious intent was no longer in doubt and they outright feared for their physical safety.

I've heard anecdotes of people in the congregation who become absolutely incenced as a result of something delivered in the sermon. These people become totally outraged, hostile and offended concerning some portion of the message. Seriously. Totally disproportionate behavior with regards to what would be considered rational. The Gospel is truly offensive to principalities, powers and wickedness in high places. The offense lies not fundamentally with the person in question, but by something else entirely.

Scripture is replete with anecdotes concerning manifestations of the Angel of the Lord, or angels of the Lord. Each situation describes those being visited as being struck down as if in terror. Howver, in each such case the command given is "fear not" and the people regain their composure. Such is indeed not the case with people who encounter UFO's. In virtually every case of 'close encounters' people suffere significant emotional distress and are psycho9logically traumitized long-term. No good whatsoever comes from alien abductions or encounters of any kind. This I find to be compelling to consider UFO phenomenon to be supernatural manifestation of demonic influence.

Scripture tells us that we should be aware that Satan himself can manifest himself as an angel of light. The difference is that he wants you to worship him ot of fear, while the Lord wants you to worship Him out of love. Morover, angels will refuse to recieve worship directed at themselves; that is quite appalling to their nature. They'll insist you don't do that.

There's stories where people have visited 'haunted' sites, e.g. Tombstone, AZ, and 'forces' followed these people home. I want to stay as far away as physically from the occult in any form whatsoever. When the Ammityville Horror movie came out I was taking physics in high school. The teacher told us that we'd learn what he knew to be the truth. He made no claim that it was absolute Truth, but it was the closest approximate to truth concerning the physical sciences that he knew of. He described it akin to a limit in calculus, the more sphisticated the model and the math the closer to the truth one comes, but it at best will only be an increasingly accurate approximation.

As far as the supernatural, that was something he wanted to have no part of it. We were taliing about rational explanations for ghosts and stuff and supernatural phenomenon. He merely said he didn't want to be involved in that in any way, shape or form; neither researching, debating, and especially not experiencing it.

[raygun]

That’s just scratching the surface, there’s tons more from where that came from. The gamut sums to avoidance like the plague. The language is quite clear. There are only two topics having comparable connotation: Jesus’ discourse on
hell and its nature, and the Lord’s revulsion about lukewarm fence sitters: I spew you from my mouth like vomit.

[johngrace]

You mean fasting.

[raygun]

Sorry, I disagree. The highway to hell is paved with the best of intentions.

The first thing that must be ascertained: does it actually work as claimed. If it does, then on what physical principle does it operate? From where does the power originate for its functionality?

Scripture is clear: the Lord doesn't lie; He is Truth. Therefore, if the source of the power is from the Lord, then one's prophecy can never be wrong. If a prophet is ever wrong, then none of what they ever said was of the Lord; they should be put to death for having the audacity in speaking in His name.

What I'm saying is that one's intentions notwithstanding, one doesn't want to be toying with forces that can destroy one's soul. Man is not infallible, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely; one's intentions can be perverted by the evil nature of supernatural forces being employed.

What's that big name astrolger from a few decades back? Jean Dixon? She gave an anecdote about a vision she had concerning her mission in life. She took suggestion from a snake coiled up one of her bedposts. Oh, yeah, I'm right there with you: taking advice from a talking snake. NOT.

[70times7]

An Ouija board can initiate contact with entities. One has no control over what answers. I believe that when used they can provide an opportunity for charges of Satan to make contact with people. It is a very bad idea to open oneself up to deception and possibly attack.

[Republic]

A Christian friend, long ago, spoke with me about the game and said that if we had a board to throw it out, and to ignore horoscopes and anything dealing outside Biblical spiritual notice.

We threw the game out. Never regretted doing it, either.

[Terry Mross]

Satan does not want you to know he is real. That’s his most powerful weapon. And he is the father of lies. If he knows you know and are a worshipper of Christ he will only mess with you when you start to move away from Christ. He then goes after you. Fortunately for me, he has always overplayed his hand and runs me right back to the Lord. Man, don’t you know that upsets him! In the end I know God used me to beat the devil when He certainly doesn’t need my help.

I firmly believe in demonic possession. And the most dangerous is those who are possessed but show no clear signs. And of course it’s dangerous for those who don’t believe. And those who don’t believe and “play” with it are in for a rude awakening.

[firerosemom]

Neal Lozano does wonderful work in this area: He has a book called Unbound that has been influential in helping many people free themselves and others by understanding the power and meaning of one’s baptism in Jesus Christ. I recommend it highly.

http://heartofthefather.com/

[DBrow]

“or an observer of times”

What does this refer to? I have asked several people and never gotten a good answer.

[WVNan]

Sorry I had to cut out to go to my Bible Study class. Yes, I do know that story about the man who got beat up. If you read my account you would notice that this particular demon did beat me up. My 90 year old Mom did not have that kind of strength. I was bloodied and bruised before I finally got mad enough to get beyond my fear and command it out in the name of Jesus, and expected Jesus to get the evil thing out of my Mother and my house. And when it was gone, I praised God loud and clear. I had my Mom back for the first time since I was 12 years old.

[WVNan]

Observers of times. Some say that means we should not observe Christmas or Halloween, etc. I think it probably means believing in the power of certain times of day or certain days. Believing that certain days are lucky or unlucky. Believing that a certain time of day you have to get down on your knees and pray toward Mecca. God is in control of our destiny.

'A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:3. ... Isaiah 30:21 says, 'Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it. ...

[Grunthor]

Yeah, they are probably pretty dangerous. I’ve never heard a good story start off with “Well, we were using this spirit board and...”

They are always horrible stories.

[Quix]

INDEED.

[Irisshlass]

Polish are the best weddings..IMO LOL

[Salvation]

YES!

[Irisshlass]

It can lead to possession.

[raygun]

observe time from the Hebrew root וש (Strong's Hebrew #06049) `anan (aw-nan'), a primitive root; to cover; used only as a denominative from #6051, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practise magic:--X bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe(-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.

Strong's Hebrew #6051, ``anan, (aw-nawn') refers to a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud:--cloud(-y).

According to Zodhiates Lexical Aides to the Old Testament Strong's #6049 is a root intimating 'to cover'; gather clouds (Gen 9:14); to act covertly, to practice magic (Deu 18:10,14; II Kgs 21:6; Isa 2:6; 57:3; Mic 5:12); to soothsay, to divine (when used as a part.) a sorcerer, an enchanter. Belief that there's any connection between occultism and clouds has generally been abandoned.

Strong's #6050 `anan (an-an') is the Aramaic correlate to the Hebrew #6051 meaning cloud and it use is exclusively restricted to Dan 7:13.

Strong's #6051 is a noun having origin in #6049 and is a cloud (covering the sky), a thunder cloud, a crowd, a host, a very large army (Eze 30:18; 38:9) A morning cloud was used as a timage of something transient (Hos 6:4; cf. Job 7:9). About 3/4 of the occurance of #6051 refer to the pillar cloud that directed the Israelites through the desert. It represented the presence of God over the tabernacle (Exo 13; 14; 16; 33; 40; Num 9-12; 14; 16) In Num 9:15-22 alone, #6051 is used eleven times. The cloud was present in or over the Temple of Solomon (cf. I Kgs 8:10,11; II Chr 5:13,14). Clouds accompanied God's presence at Mt. Sinai (Exo 19:9, 16; 24:15,16,18; Deu 4:11; 5:22; Psa 97:2). They have eschatological importance (Eze 30:3; 32:7; Joe 2:2; Zep 1:15, cf. Dan 7:13; Mat 17:5; 24:30; 26:64; Act 1:9; I Cor 10:1,2; I Ths 4:17; Rev 1:7; 10:1; 11:12; 14:14-16)

According to Adam Clarke's Commentaries re: Lev 19:26, Nor observe times גגשה אל (alw velo teonenu), ye shall not divine by clouds, which was also a superstition much in practice among the heathens, as well as divination by the flight of birds. What these prohibitions may particularly refer to, we know not.

It is obvious, given two of Satan's titles, e.g. god & Prince of this World, and Prince of the power of the air, its clear that diviniation based on meteorological phenomena, e.g., clouds, rainbow, sundog, sun & moon halo, sun pillars, arc, etc. would prudently be shunned.

Furthermore, I believe that the context would intimate that divination of the timing of anything would be included in this admonition, e.g., the appearance of eclipses, or astronomical phenomenon such as comets & meteor showers, conjunction of planets, etc., including earthquakes, plagues, abundance or famine as being auspicious omens and portends.