Posted on 10/20/2017 8:50:31 PM PDT by Simon Green
When Coco Layne, a Brooklyn-based producer, meets someone new these days, the first question that comes up in conversation isn’t “Where do you live?” or “What do you do?” but “What’s your sign?”
Interest in spirituality has been booming in recent years while interest in religion plummets, especially among millennials. The majority of Americans now believe it is not necessary to believe in God to have good morals, a study from Pew Research Center released Wednesday found. The percentage of people between the ages of 18 and 29 who “never doubt existence of God” fell from 81% in 2007 to 67% in 2012.
Meanwhile, more than half of young adults in the U.S. believe astrology is a science. compared to less than 8% of the Chinese public. The psychic services industry — which includes astrology, aura reading, mediumship, tarot-card reading and palmistry, among other metaphysical services — grew 2% between 2011 and 2016. It is now worth $2 billion annually, according to industry analysis firm IBIS World.
Melissa Jayne, owner of Brooklyn-based “metaphysical boutique” Catland, said she has seen a major uptick in interest in the occult in the past five years, especially among New Yorkers in their 20s. The store offers workshops like “Witchcraft 101,” “Astrology 101,” and a “Spirit Seance.”
“Whether it be spell-casting, tarot, astrology, meditation and trance, or herbalism, these traditions offer tangible ways for people to enact change in their lives,” she said. “For a generation that grew up in a world of big industry, environmental destruction, large and oppressive governments, and toxic social structures, all of which seem too big to change, this can be incredibly attractive.”
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Evil is real and it hides under the guise of “pagan religion”.
“It’s so hard to believe in anything anymore. I mean, it’s like, religion, you really can’t take it seriously, because it seems so mythological, it seems so arbitrary...but, on the other hand, science is just pure empiricism, and by virtue of its method, it excludes metaphysics. I guess I wouldn’t believe in anything anymore if it weren’t for my lucky astrology mood watch.”
-Steve Martin
Witchcraft isn’t real to any Christian. Do Wiccan’s have any power? I honestly can not understand how anyone who claims belief in Christ gives any merit to this crap.
_______________________________________________________
Are you for real? Do Wiccans or anyone who who practices any form of paganism have the ability to lead people astray from the teachings of Jesus?
A couple more questions: Do you believe in spiritual powers that are hostile to God? Why would they NOT seek to influence anyone who is willing?
I mean if you really don’t want to practice Christianity, then that’s fine. But people really do try and commune with spiritual entities. The only way you can dismiss this is if you don’t believe in those powers and/or don’t believe people can be influenced by them. Either way your view seems unsupported by both Church Tradition and Scripture.
I went to Disney in Orlando. I loved Animal Kingdom, but thought the rest was waaay overrated.
As for Disney flicks...meh...they have some true classics, but lately they’ve been producing some real stinkers. I love the original Star Wars trilogy, but everything since then (including the latest Disney pictures) are snooze-fests.
At the end of the day, Romans 1 will always exist.
However, the majority of human history is one of being at war with God, or even the idea of a single all powerful and authoritative God. At some level, we all desire to be our own boss.
However, man was not created as a robot, but rather given a will, as well as an basic inherited conscience of right and wrong. Again, while spelled out in numerous text, the message is wrapped up well in Romans 1.
As many know, secular humanism did not start in the 1800’s with the publication of the “Humanist Manifesto I” (the core faith and belief system and foundation of most socialists/communists including Marx), or later in HM II, it began in Genesis, when Adam and Eve decided to cave in to the temptation of The Lie, that *the creature is greater than the creator. Adam and Eve desired, believed, and decided to replace God’s authority with their own, rebelling against the one single command God gave them, simultaneously becoming their own gods and authority on right and wrong,(morality). They wanted and temporarily decided to dictate their own morality, just as we are seeing become prevalent in our own society today!
We are also told in numerous texts, in the last days, also referred to as “the time of Christ”, “The day of the Lord” (the time period of Christ’s return), also synonymous with the time when Isreal would be reborn or brought back from around the world to the land of Israel (where God had spread them because of there rebellion against Him), men would become as evil as in the days of Noah.
Any cursory look at the “days of Noah” is explicit, and literally states: “and every man did what was right in his own eyes”. Also, witchcraft, paganism (worship of the creatures and beasts, and the earth itself), and worship of demons and Satan were rampant in “the days of Noah”.
Again, as a society, and societies globally, we are rapidly moving toward the fulfillment of the numerous warnings given about the immorality which will exist in an unbelievably horrific time before the return of Christ. In fact, Scripture even states, “if the Son of God did not intervene, man would destroy himself”.
In many of the same text’s, we are warned in detail that while religiosity and ecumenicism will grow very popular, there will be a “great apostasy” by those societies which once specifically had large segments of society which believed in the gospel of Christ. Most people will reject the message, validity, and authority of the Gospel of Christ specifically.
While it is true, almost nothing moves in a straight line, as individuals and society generally move away from the authority of God, they simultaneously and generally become their own authorities on right and wrong. Has anyone ever met two people with the same morality? If we do not believe in Gods existence and the subsequent authority of God, then ALL men simply become subject to the ever changing (devolving) morality of men, or in time a man.
As we have biblical warnings of how men (society) would be as evil as in the “days of Noah”, where “every man did what was right in his own eyes”, we are explicitly told during this same period of time just before the return of Christ, there would be real escalation of - murder of the innocent (babies and young children), and “they (both men and women) will give up the natural for the unnatural”, (homosexuality), and people would become lovers of themselves and pleasure and evil. Scripture literally states this.
Drawing from the same warning, BOTH the morality and beliefs of men and women would be increasingly dictated by their own “lust”, or ever increasing desire for self gratification!
As well, during this same time, the period leading to the time of Christ return, people will have the desire to hear what makes them feel good about themselves! Regardless of how immoral they become!
This means people will not accept hearing the truth, or any warning their positions and activities are destructive and hurt their own children. Rather, they will go to war with anyone who they perceive will get in the way of their rejection of all moral boundaries and horrific trajectory.
These are specific details, which coincide with the rejection of God’s authority and His word being simultaneously replaced with the shifting morality, or immorality of individuals.
This article truly reflects what happens to individuals and society when men rule themselves and society!
Also, this entire subject absolutely drives home the warning George Washington gave to our nation:
“And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure – reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens.” – George Washington, Farewell Address, Sept. 19, 1796
The rejection of God and His blueprint for successful individuals and society and morality, and the corporate rejection of God’s moral code and truths found in the Bible, actually have corresponded with the break up of the home, violent crime, infanticide, euthanasia, loss of work ethic and debt, the near total rejection of all moral boundaries and simultaneous acceptance of all forms of moral perversion and sexual gratification by society, and a real war against Christianity and conservatism.
This war can only result in chaos and anarchy, denial of real justice and recourse against harm, and ironically, the inevitable result of the loss of freedom.
It is true and a bit ironic, as our society has already proven, the generational rejection of individual moral boundaries has resulted in; The break up of the American family, the need for more and larger prisons, stronger and more numerous laws, more law enforcement, loss of work ethic and massive entitlements (theft), loss of population and future tax base (abortion), massive and ever increasing size and authority and tyranny of government, and a debt broken system!
Paraphrasing a member of Woodrow Wilsons cabinet - The greatest impediment to a sovereign authoritative world government, was the American family and their faith in God. America was a nation of lions, and needed to be turned into a nation of dependent sheep. It was necessary to use the education system and all forms of communication to “demoralize”, to bring about the belief that God did not exist, and to cause the individual to reject morality. This would then result in the break up the family and neutralize patriotism, result in anarchy, and cause society to reject who we were.
William Penn once wrote: “Either men would be ruled by God, or he would be ruled by tyrants!”
Oh 50 Shades of Grey...fanfic. Fanfic dot com before the author pretended to be a real writer. And it was made into a movie with a sequel. Sub-Dom. Porno-Erotica.
You want or need to worry about your kids or the youth of this country? Worry about what they are learning for 181 days in their schools. Public, Catholic, and Private. Take a look at the curriculum as it’s public and OPRA in NJ.
Stop worrying about the so called occult that is a tiny minority and worry about the institution of ed that is grooming our kids to be liberal dems.
My 4 kids managed to come out of k-8 Catholic school and 9-12 public school as conservatives/libertarians. I doubt they’d be able to do that today. I have been working in education for 29 years and never thought I’d see affluent districts bomb their high skills accelerated programs and go all special ed, all to the lowest common denominator, with parent approval, as I’ve seen the last few years. Obama’s admin made an impact like nothing I’ve ever seen in education. Bush and Kennedy’s NCLB certainly helped that along.
Every tv show, every movie, and yes every fanfiction written by some unknown who is obsessed with fake characters/actors, hollywood, is pushing an agenda. And the masses eat it up. That’s fine. It’s entertainment, and even the NFL is a part of it. However, what is going on in our public, private and catholic education system is horrific.
Students on bouncy balls, bouncing all damn day (I want to poke my eyes out and can’t even imagine what their classmates think and how they concentrate during all this) or on bike chairs. And peace chairs to discuss issues. No consequences at all for behavior. A third to half of the students in spec ed. Rewards for behaving correctly. A third to half the day spent on character development (dem talking points). Calling the students friends. Class class yes yes. Money as rewards for behaving normally. No consequences for behaving badly. I never thought I’d see the day when one of the best districts in the state resorted to this.
Disrespectful kids because they are allowed to be that way.
Books, movies, tv shows, THAT is NOTHING. The education system, with the approval of PARENTS, is allowing this to happen. Books, TV, Movies, and fanfiction is the LEAST of our problems.
I left a good paying job for a crap paying job because I thought the affluent district would have parents that would demand the best education for their kids (like the one my kids were in, but that isn’t the case there anymore either).
Everything is spec ed. The curriculum is dumbed down. Bright note, teacher wants me to do enrichment for accelerated math kids...I’m excited. group of kids in my class are excited.This is a good thing. This shouldn’t be enrichment this should be the norm. This should be the star. How did our bright kids become the afterthought?
Yes homeschooling is great but this affects them too and they don’t see it. The new testing affects them. Maybe not everywhere yet.
There will always be cult like people and they are the dregs of our society, whether they are white trash or illegals or some minority that is setting the agenda or parents with spec ed kids or allergies or disability or some other person or people with a grievance. It never ends. We just give them a platform now.
Maybe I should worry about some fantasy literature rather than real life? Some of you people kill me with your nonsense about a freakin book and your occult nonsense. You want to worry about a cult...study islam. All this other stuff is BS.
It’s not about having good morals.
Good morals aren’t going to get you any brownie points with God.
You need forgiveness through Jesus Christ and people would rather continue in their sin.
Stuff like Harry Potter and those vampire stories are nothing but gateways into the occult.
It’s desensitizing people to the demonic and sometimes indoctrinating them into it.
You cannot mess around in those spiritual areas without inviting its presence into your life.
They do not know the seriousness and consequences of what they are opening themselves to.
It is NOT harmless fun.
Sure. And all the guys in Sodom and Gomorrah were "normal". For that culture.
However, your admitted involvement in the occult sure explains a lot.
Additionally, many millennials and others today regurgitate that morality, beliefs, and ethics are NOT related to economics and prosperity, or are separate and unrelated subjects, so they do not have to worry about the consequences of their moral decisions.
This is a real disaster in the making.
They are either lying, or just dumb and blind!
And we will all pay...
The problem is, ALL magic is evil and a dorrway to the demonic.
Humans do not have the ability to engage in the demonic. They will quickly be overcome by the evil of it.
Even Christians who treat it lightly are in danger.
Ann Rice is known for The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy although Interview With A Vampire was made into a movie.
Read up on it.
It’s disgusting regardless of her so called conversion.
Last I read, she denounced her conversion to Christianity because Christians didn’t accept homosexuals and birth control. Again, least of her worries.
Yeah but I also don’t hold people like Ann Rice as anything.
I keep Jesus and Mary and Joseph for that.
With my reading of history I believe this to be true.
The two largest governments to try to abolish religion USSR and Communist China were governed by a despotic government.
But one of the two largest religions on the planet, Islam, is also a despotic government where it is in the majority. And where it is not in majority its adherents chose to live in self-imposed ghettos where they live under a self-imposed religious dictatorship and refusing to live under the law of the land.
So not just any religion will free men of tyranny.
It appears only the God of the New Testament will free men of permanent subjugation to the whims of other men. Only the power greater than any man can free man kind.
The real problem with modern secular thought is that it requires the rejection of the wisdom of the ages that has been distilled in the Bible.
For the modern scholar of the humanities it is necessary to reject the greatest repository of human wisdom on the planet.
The Bible in not just morality. The Bible is a collected store of wisdom that gives instruction on how man can live in peace with his fellow men.
Well, thankfully, I disagree.
What you claim has nothing to do with the bible or Christianity.
Sure Wiccans do what wiccans do but anyone who believes they have any power don’t believe in Jesus.
I’m not responsible for people who believe that stuff. Not responsible for people who do drugs or engage in sodomy either. People have free will, choices.
Everyone could do anything that could lead people astray. Free will and choice. It’s on the person who chooses. Free Will. Life is hard. Lots of things lead people away from God. But, Wiccans or any other freakish cult have no power, they can’t cast spells to make people do things.
That’s your opinion and I disagree. Doesn’t make you more Christian than me. My faith is in God. I’m Catholic. I don’t really care what you are or what you believe or what you think about my beliefs.
Then she’s a piece of crap, just like Rowling.
Totally lost me with that.
Ephesians 6 is powerful.
I have spoken with witches and Satanist on several occasions.
I once walked into a Taco Bell full of witches and Satanist together. They had young children with them. It was quite disturbing. It was the first time I saw a 2-3 year old with a pentagram tattoo on their neck. I chose to stay a bit and they tried to scare and chase me out. In this one instance, I spoke with some of them. The children looked anemic and sick, and seemed to want me to hold or stay with them, and had numerous body piercings. One of the men them threatened the managers family. It was a horrible atmosphere. They also demanded the manager play death metal with Satanic lyrics while I was there.
While I am not claiming all Satanist and witches believe in the existence of God, which is hard to follow when one thinks about it, one thing has stood out to me in my experiences - they all believed God existed.
A couple were a bit informed about subjects in theology.
Many mock Christians for believing in God, but in my experience it is because they are at war with God.
It became clear with just a couple of questions, they actually believed and did not argue about God’s existence.
While dead now, the founder of the First Church of Satan in San Francisco, Anton Levay, also the author of the Satanic Bible, and famous for working with the ACLU to establish their right to be a 501 c3 organization, took a position of outright war and rebellion with God! I believe they were also involved in heavy drug trade.
Anton Levay espoused mass global rebellion and war against God, Christianity, and all moral boundaries!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.