Posted on 06/16/2013 5:47:16 PM PDT by workerbee
I am currently reading The Day Satan Called by Bill Scott.... somewhat interesting, but at this point (about a quarter into it) not very well-written or even believable. I'm interested in your opinions or suggestions for non-fictional accounts of demonic possession, Satanism, and the like -- I'm considering Malachi Martin's Hostages of the Devil. I'd also be interested in your thoughts on these topics as they relate to ouija boards, Enneagram charts, or even yoga, as well as any personal experiences you may have with said topics. I'm especially concerned with a Roman Catholic or Orthodox point of view but any Christian viewpoint will be appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you all for your replies. You’ve given me a lot to consider.
Too many people who get involved with this stuff completley underestimate the dangers. They think they can handle it...researching it etc.
It can and will pull you in....and you won’t know it’s happening at the time.
While investigating a cult a family member was involved with ...another family member and I spent hours researching what he was involved....the question that quickly became apparent....did he “believe” in this?....Was it changing his faith to something we knew him as otherwise?
But what we both became aware of was the “pull” ...even though it was obvious a bunch of hocus pocus....it was ‘draining’ researching it.
Your husband needs to change his spiritual advisor.
Thank-you for your info.
Your husband needs to change his spiritual advisor.Why is that?
Yoga is not neutral as some are saying and would have him believe......That’s why.
You’re correct about the “spirt” behind yoga, but the actual exercises (without meditation of any sort) are harmless is what he was told.
This might be helpful...
One of the early pioneers of Hatha Yoga, Richard Hittleman,stated:
....” that as yoga students practiced the ‘physical positions’, they would eventually be ready to investigate ‘the spiritual component’ which is “the entire essence of the subject”’
There is no yoga that is strictly aimed for the physical body, it is essentially spiritual because of its purpose.
There is absolutely no problem in stretching exercises in and of themselves. What would be wrong is taking yoga positions ‘assuming’ they are stretching exercises and non-religious, when in fact they are worshipful poses to Hindu gods.
There are numerous exercise programs that incorporate stretching that in no way relates to yoga (and it’s worldview) that one can substitute.
Religious syncretism is probably the most dangerous we can involve ourselves in because we can rationalize its purpose.....
From the Hindu viewpoint nothing is merely physical, because in Hinduism the physical is merely maya, an illusion, so when you practice yoga it is not a physical exercise for the body but a spiritual exercise.
http://www.letusreason.org/NAM1.htm
Essentially one cannot practice a portion of Hinduism and continue to walk with the true Christ who is not a Hindu Guru.
Wow, sounds like something certainly got to him. Thanks for the heads up.
Yeah well, you have to be very sure of your footing to look into the abyss. It does, as they say, look back...
An excellent book is “Doing the Supernatural Works of Jesus” by Everett Cox. He has been involved in deliverance ministry for over 30 years.
I take it you don’t believe in God?
You do bring up an outstanding point regarding psychotherapy as it manifests projection.
Heb 10:26-29
(26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(28) He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
We both know God exists. Unlike some in this thread, we also well know the Adversary and his minions exist aka fallen angels.
We know that as soon as we step out of His Plan, our intuition is not to look at God from a perspective of righteousness, but from a perspective of guilt.
While in guilt, we have a propensity to think arrogantly.
The arrogant frame of mind simply anticipates His fiery indignation. Soulishly, we also know every human after the fall in the garden has a natural propensity to hate the Adversary.
The arrogant though, can either return to God, so He returns to them, or they can remain rebellious. If they remain rebellious to God, and naturally hate the Adversary, then in their own volition, the natural tendency is to reject God and the Adversary, even to the point of ignoring their existence. This is the natural course of the coward, to ignore brute truth, hide in his arrogance, then he will attempt to arrogantly confront all who oppose him, as a counterfeit substitute for facing truth.
It is a soulish way of thinking. It isn’t limited to a few people lacking courage, but it is a very common way of thinking. In Scripture it is referred to as PSUCHIKOS or the natural man. The natural man is unable to perceive the true spirit life because he is DEAD to the Living Spirit.
The natural path for an arrogant person who seeks to dabble in the occult is to expect a fiery indignation from God, and they can either cowardly run away from God or they can face Him.
He provides something nobody else can ever provide. In Scripture it is called PNEUMATIKOS or the spirit filled life. When we are reborn, we are reborn spiritually with a new human spirit, not to be confused with the soul, but discernible from the soul, with perceptions which are true spiritual perceptions, not soulish occultic dabblings attempting to substitute a spirit life with mystical counterfeit thinking.
Until we suffer the first death, we have a marvelous opportunity because of the death of Christ on the Cross to be able to return to Him and He provides for us. Nothing can interfere between our relationship with God if we simply place faith in Him. Should we fail to return to Him prior to the first death, then consequences will be irreversible.
The issue of sin has been settle once and for all with respect to our fellowship with God the Father. Through faith in Christ, nothing can hinder or interfere our relationship with Him.
Sin might still have consequences on our freedom and our personal human relationships, but through faith in Christ, we all have a direct way to Him.
Angels exist. The are very real beings with volition, just as humans have volition, but they don’t out-trump God, His authority, nor His love for us through faith in Him.
Unfortunately Hardraade...people get pulled over that edge when they ‘can’t see’ where the edge is...nor how weak-footed they really are.
I’ve heard Pastors say that even those who are well grounded and understand the dark side.....are very careful where they tread and when. These are seasoned and learned individuals that do not underestimate the tactics of the enemy.
Some would and do say God is with them as they seek understanding and investigating the dark side. But what I have seen is they are changed as they go...bit by bit the begin to doubt the truth....claiming they are simply looking for the truth...when in fact they have denied the truth they already knew.
The enemy can make himself and his demons appear very benevolent and friendly....”said the spider to the fly”.
Very true. And they shouldn’t think the abyss isn’t real. It is.
Well.....there’s also plenty of people who WANT certain things to be real even if not...who have very active imaginations which also plays into the equation. Especially those who are seeking “experiences”.
That’s true. But many people fail to understand what the Ouija board actually is/does. People who would not necessarily make an invitation to a demon might very well play around with a Ouija board thinking its just a toy.
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