Reiki and Christ

Differences Between

Reiki and Christianity

The International Center for Reiki Training (India) has a number of points in philosophy to which many of the Reiki branches also adhere. Christians might readily agree with a few of these principles; for example, having honesty and clarity in one’s thinking and respecting the right of others to form their own values and beliefs. The following four principles, however, should be problematic for Christians: “trusting completely in the Higher Power regardless of the name one chooses to call it”; “basing the value of a theory or technique on the verifiable results it helps one achieve”; “placing greater value on learning from experience and inner guidance than on the teachings of an authority”; and making “the complete expression of Love…the highest goal.”

Christian Response

The Higher Power in whom Christians believe has a name and He has made it quite clear that he does not receive or tolerate the worship of a Higher Power by any other name (Exod. 20:1–6) . The New Testament reminds us that if we are trusting in any other so-called higher power, we really are trusting in Satan, who is the ruler of a whole host of spiritual forces (fallen angels) that work to keep the world under his deluding influence (see, e.g., Eph. 6:11–12; 1 Cor. 10:19–20; 1 John 5:19). In the Old Testament, false prophets apparently were successful at performing signs and wonders (which arguably could have included healing signs and wonders), but they also urged God’s people to go after and serve other gods (Deut. 13:1–4). God’s instructions were clear: His people were to put the false prophets to death, thus purging the evil from Israel’s midst (Deut. 13:5–11).

A theory or practice should be judged not only on results but also on the veracity of the claims on which it rests. To base the truthfulness of a theory or value of a technique solely on the verifiable results it might help one achieve, such as relaxation or pain relief, is not consistent with a biblical worldview; it is not even consistent with sound medicine. A practice may achieve results, but one must examine its effect on the whole person, not just on the presenting problem. The rash of recent lawsuits against drug companies is one reminder that any alternative healing practice, like any drug, can have dangerous and even fatal side effects that can cancel out any of its claims to efficacy. From a biblical standpoint, those side effects can be spiritual as well as physical.

The focus in the practice of alternative therapies such as Reiki is experiential in nature. Reiki literature abounds with advice that encourages trainees to follow their hearts and to be guided by their intuition so that the only valid authority is their inner authority and the only true guide is subjective and self-validating. For the Christian, however, all experience must be subject to the higher authority of the Scriptures (see, e.g., Isa. 8:20)

The Word of God provides the Christian with a true explanation of the world we inhabit and gives us sound principles that define the boundaries of our exploration of it. Reiki is an alternative theory that is not based on the biblical understanding of the world and its practices are well outside the biblical boundaries of exploration

Trusting Christ for Healing

Refusing to Turn to the god's 

of Touch Therapies

The problem that we create  in making use of Alternative Therapies such as Reiki, Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch is that we freely expose ourselves to Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism as well as occult practices linked with those belief systems. Eastern religions venerate and worship millions of god's and goddesses which have no connection to faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, they stand in opposition to the truth as found in Christ and declare their lies to be the truth. The Bible is unequivocal. In John 14:6 Jesus declares, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." The Bible and Eastern religion contradict one another - - one is the truth and one is a lie! Jesus declares that He is the Truth!

To entrust one's self to Reiki, Therapeutic Touch or Healing Touch Therapists is to entrust one's self to the false god's those cultures are devoted too. God forbids his people to commit themselves to any other god but Himself. He writes in Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." God also warns us about being deceived and becoming involved in practices that involvement with other god's. Deuteronomy 11:16 warns us as believers, "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them." The strongest injunction in scripture that commands us to radically turn aside from any practice connected with other gods is found in Matthew 4:10 and comes directly from the lip's of Jesus. "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

If we as Christians attempt to justify using any toxic alternative therapy to seek pain relief and healing then we are not just "dabbling" in Easternism and the occult, we are openly embracing it! That, my friend, is expressly forbidden by the Word of God repeatedly.

What is the answer to chronic pain, incurable disease and failed medical treatments? It is not seeking relief from alternative therapies -- it is seeking the healing power of God. I have experienced the miraculous healing power of God in my life when my condition baffled the medical establishment and I can point to hundreds of other believers who have experienced the same healing power of the Holy Spirit for themselves. Jesus is the answer for chronic pain, Jesus is the answer for failed medical treatments and Jesus is the answer for incurable disease. He is the compassionate healer, the one who created us and has given himself for us. It is because of his love for you that he makes the personal promise, "I am Jehovah Rapha, the Lord thy God which healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26) For all those who suffer in pain and sickness today, I urge you to turn to the Cross and He who is the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1) He will heal you.

Healing and 

Occult Connections
Similarities Between Touch Therapies

On the surface Touch Therapies appear to be separate therapies that were developed independently without relationship to one another. However, as one takes an more in-depth look at each Touch Therapy, they will be surprised at just how many similarities they have in common. The following list of similarities between Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch may greatly surprise you:

1. All are based in eastern religion
2. All counterfeit the gift of laying on of hands
3. All are Energy Therapies
4. All channel the "Universal Life Force"
5. All practice Spiritism: necromancy, animism, spirit guides, "angels", clairvoyance, clairaudience, Higher Sensory Perception, telepathy, telekinesis
6. All are Touch Therapies
7. All target nurses and health care
8. All are attempting to gain medical validity as medical modalities
9. All deny Christ: the Atonement, the Resurrection, the Trinity, Salvation, and Healing
10.All are based on religions with specific belief system: chakras, meridians, qi, animism, "Vital Life Force"
11.All are opposed to Christianity and should not be practiced by Believers.

The work of the Enemy of our souls has always revolved around deception. The Bible states that "he is a Liar and was a Liar from the beginning" (John 8:44). Touch Therapies are based on deceit and it should not surprise us that Satan's lies are nothing but further examples of his deceit. His lies are restatements of the same pseudo-promises that he first used to deceive Adam and Eve in the Garden . . . "You shall be like God" (Gen. 3:5). Since healing is the sovereign work of God, and the laying on of hands is the Biblical means of healing for the Church to exercise this gift, it is no wonder that Satan uses Touch Therapies to deceive people. His lie that promises God-likeness through healing is still just as tempting today as it ever has been.

Reiki and Channeling
Alternative Medicine or Spirit Guides

In Reiki the recipient is introduced to the concept of Reiki “spirit guides”. Those who use Reiki spirit guides believe that there is a group of spiritual beings who were once human, who now reside in the non-physical realm, but can interact with, and to assert and extends influence, in the physical world. They are said to be Reiki practitioners from the past ages, not simply Usui Reiki practitioners who have crossed, but those from the ancient origins of Reiki. Once attuned to Reiki, you are part of a vast network, and when you are attuned, the Universal Life Force assigns to you a Reiki guide to help you with your Reiki healing experiences.

As with all spiritual work, some people believe that they are just talking to an aspect of their own consciousness and giving it a shape, form, voice, and personality. That could be true. Many, however, truly believe that they are spirits from the past guiding the future, like spiritual ancestor spirits. In either case, the practitioner gets a sense of guidance, of not being alone in a situation, of having a spiritual support person or, in some cases an entire team to guide the

Identifying Spirit Guides

Who are all the guides? Some believe they are the spirits of Hayashi, Takata, and Usui , like a divining Trinity, to guide their sessions and classes. We can also look to the Reiki Masters of the modern era who have passed from this world as potential spirit guides, as well of the souls of ancient Reiki practitioners from Lemuria, Atlantis, and other mystical lands.

Another popular concept in new age lower is the idea of Ascension. The session material is often tied into the Reiki world, and although they are complementary in many ways, they are not the same. The word ascension means different things to different people. In its more basic interpretation, it means that the consciousness of sense to a higher level of spirituality and love, or one achieves what other cultures would call enlightenment, Nirvana, Buddha-hood, Christ-Consciousness, sainthood, or personal Mastery.

The most popular form of guide for those in the general public is the angel. Practitioners call upon Guardian Angels, Archangels, and the like to aid in the healing work. Angels are not considered Reiki guides, specifically, but many who are involved in Reiki are also involved in angelic lore. Although they seem to be specifically from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, the concepts of angels can be found in the texts of Sumer, Egypt, and India. We are most familiar with the Angels Hebrew names and Judeo-Christian lore the best-known Angels are the archangels Michael, Rafael, Gabriel, and Uriel.

Reiki and channeling Reiki has not only become inexorably linked to spirit guides, but also to the phenomena of channeling, since many people involved in channeling are also involved in Reiki. Channeling is the psychic practice of letting a spiritual entity speaks to a person. Such people are referred to as channels, but in the past they were often called mediums. Now, people usually use the word medium to refer to a channel who talks exclusively to the dead. Channeling has become so common in the Reiki world.

As Christians. it is obvious that Reiki has nothing to do with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God's Word the Bible or with Christian teaching in specifics. If anything, Reiki isolates itself from the truth in Jesus Christ and illustrates the imperative for believers to avoid it's practice. The Bible says that a "little yeast leavens the whole dough". Let us not attempt to syncretize any aspects of Reiki with Christianity because the two just don't mix. Like oil and water, they cannot co-existence.

Paranormal Uses of Reiki
Contacting Spirits

Sometimes people need help in acquiring closer to heal and move on in life and their loved ones or friends have crossed over. Closure may be difficult for some people because they did not get a chance to say goodbye, if the crossing was said. One of the best ways to augment this need people express is to contact spirits. We want to examine several aspects used in the process of contacting spirits:
 
The first important thing is to distinguish spirits can be angels, or people who have died and crossed over to the other side. But, there is a difference between the two. Angels have never had a human form on earth and are here to help, protect, and guide us, it is said we all have at least one guardian angel. People who have died in crossed over have been in human form. There is a belief that they can also help and guide us when contacted.
 
The Spiritual Connection
Spiritual connection is when you go to a higher state of awareness. You are then receptive to spirits and are able to communicate with them. It's this state of awareness that you are going to enhance the use of the Reiki.
 
My Contact Spirits
As previously mentioned, people want to make spiritual contact for many different reasons. They can be for guidance, closer, healing, giving and receiving messages, finding lost objects or it could be as simple as saying hello or goodbye. Spirits can help you in all areas of your life.
 
Spirit Contact
At various times throughout our lives spirits do contact us. It's a matter of being aware, listening, seeing and understanding the science of communication. Once you open up your spiritual connection, you will start becoming more aware of these contacts. You will be able to understand and accept the information and guidance to help you in your life.
 
How Do Spirits Communicate?
Spirits communicate through intuition, sound, touch, voices, color, hunches, déjà vu, thoughts, symbols, visions, dreams, feelings, smells, writing and other creative ways. A small percentage of the time they may even appear in front of you. Once you become aware of the way you personally received communication from spirits, that's usually the way you will receive it from then on.
 
Receiving Answers and Messages
You will always receive answers and information in some form when you make spiritual contact. The challenge is to be aware of and understand it. Sometimes you will instantly understand what is being sent to you. This process must be developed with practice, patience, and at your own pace.
 
 
Understanding Your Answers And Messages
There are many different ways you may receive messages and answers when you make spiritual contact. This information is filtered through your own belief system for your interpretation and understanding. Spirits are aware of this and communicate with you in a way your belief system will be able to understand.
 
 
Spirit Personality
Spirits have personalities. You will discover angels will have their own unique personalities when they communicate with you. When you contact spirits of people who have died in crossed over, you will find they still have their same personality, including quirks and sense of humor unique to them.
 
For Meditation
In part, usually you are asking for something. In meditation you are listening for the answer or guidance in contacting spirits you use a combination of both.

Increased Awareness
Once you start contacting spirits your awareness will keep increasing and expanding in all levels of your life. On occasion, you will discover spirits are sending you messages in your everyday life.
 
Your Connection in A Different Place
Sometimes when you have a spiritual connection you will be taken to a different place other than the room you are in. It could be an out of the body experience or you will, sense, or see yourself in this different place. Don't be alarmed. Just flow with it and receive the information and messages sent. Most of the time you will be contacted where you are.
 
What to Do During a Spiritual Connection
During a session, when you are receiving information in messages sent from spirits, it is extremely important never to analyze or judge. Just witness and experience it. If you start analyzer judges information arrives, you will soon get stuck in miss the rest of the information and message. Or it will still stop flowing altogether.
 
Step By Step
I always recommend if possible for those wishing to contact spirits, to take a psychic Attunements sometime in your life though not mandatory, it will help you with your connections.

From:

Murray, S. (2003). Reiki The Ultimate Guide

Reiki Contacting

Spirit Guides
Channeling Spirit Guides

Reiki and channeling new sentence Reiki has not only become inexorably linked to spirit guides, but also to the phenomena of channeling, since many people involved in channeling are also involved in Reiki. Channeling is the psychic practice of letting a spiritual entity speaks to a person. Such people are referred to as channels, but in the past they were often called mediums. Now, people usually use the word medium to refer to a channel who talks exclusively to the dead. Channeling has become so common in the Reiki world.

Identifying Spirit Guides

Who are all the guides? Space some believe they are the spirits of Hayashi, Acosta, and Usui , like a divining Trinity, to guide their sessions and classes. We can also look to the Reiki Masters of the modern era who have passed from this world as potential spirit guides, as well of the souls of ancient Reiki practitioners from Lemuria, Atlantis, and other mystical lands.

Another popular concept in new age lower is the idea of Ascension. The session material is often tied into the Reiki world, and although they are complementary in many ways, they are not the same. The word ascension means different things to different people. In its more basic interpretation, it means that the consciousness of sense to a higher level of spirituality and love, or one achieves what other cultures would call enlightenment, Nirvana, Buddhahood, Christ-Consciousness, sainthood, or personal Mastery.

The most popular form of guide for those in the general public is the angel. Practitioners call upon Guardian Angels, Archangels, and the like to aid in the healing work. Angels are not considered Reiki guides, specifically, but many who are involved in Reiki are also involved in angelic lore. Although they seem to be specifically from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, the concepts of angels can be found in the texts of Sumer, Egypt, and India. We are most familiar with the Angels Hebrew names and Judeo-Christian lore the best-known Angels are the archangels Michael, Rafael, Gabriel, and Uriel.

As Christians, we know that the only spirit we are to be guided by is the Spirit of God. The Bible states that "He shall lead us into all truth." ( John 16:13). All other spiritual guidance is tampering with the occult, everything from Taro Cards, horoscopes and the Zodiac are all means to seek paranormal guidance. These are forbidden in scripture. Let's learn to trust God with our future. Jeremiah 29:11 declares that "God has a plan for our future a plan for hope and for a future."

New Dimensions
in Touch Therapies
Reiki for for Pets

  

Of course those of us who are familiar with the practice of Reiki are aware of its use with people. But did you know that Reiki is now being used with animals and that it is big business. Two women from California offer "Care for the Physical and Mental Well-being of animals" through Reiki. Remember Reiki is a primary energy or touch therapy discussed in my book, "The Occult Invasion of Health Care". This business is called Reiki - Fur- Babies. It is operated by two women from Southern California and is advertised throught the Internet. They report that during one recent session with Reiki being used on a pet that they saw the Archangels Michael and Raphael join them in theses sessions". The Bible does not speakof the agnel Rahpael, but Raphael is a mythological character from the Apocrapha written during the Intertestamental period.

 

 The business owners report that they can:

 

• Hear what your animal is saying
• Hear the last words of pets before they die
• Pinpoint disease and pain
• Send angels for healing. he calls this Warrior Reiki
• Are open to the connection between you and your pet during sessions

 

The owners insist that they have used Reiki with a cat with a malignant tumor, used it with guardian angels for pets, for tooth extractions, surgery and more. They are especially delighted in using Reiki over long distances. Of course all of these treatments come with a price tag.

Reiki is growing in popularity. It is being used in more and more ways: for individual therapy, animal therapy and even business and personal issues. Reiki is growing. The occult is real and as Christians we must wake up to the turth and educate, inform and set people free from its occult power.If you want to learn more about reiki and animals please google reikifurbabies.com.

 

Biblical Healing
Challenging Touch Therapies
It has been noticed, in relation to other spiritual experiences, that God is a God of variety. His methods are not stereotyped by any means. This is true also in relation to the manner in which Divine Healing is administered. The following are six different ways in which people receive healing from the Lord.

A. Pray for Yourself.
James 5:13 says: “Is any among you afflicted, let him pray.” Apparently, it is scriptural to pray for yourself when afflicted.

B. Ask Someone Else to Pray for you.
James 5:16 instructs: “… pray one for another that ye may be healed.” Any sincere Christian who believes can pray for another. No ministerial credentials nor special gifts of the Spirit are necessary.

C. Call for the Elders of the Church. James 5:14-16 has often been called the New Testament Healing Covenant.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for an other, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

This should be the regular procedure for those in fellowship with a local church. These verses clearly teach that God is no respecter of persons, but that all may be healed. The promise stipulates “Is any sick among you?” There is no discrimination whatever. It is God's Will to heal any and all who will call. “The prayer of faith” would be that prayer offered by the elders. There is a responsibility resting upon them. The sick exercises his faith when he calls for the elders. The elders pray the prayer of faith. Some have gone so far as to say that the elders were supposed to “massage” the sick person with oil, and this was the cause of his recovery. There certainly is no oil known to medical science which can guarantee healing, regardless of what the affliction is.

The text does not say that the oil healed the sick; it was “the prayer of faith,” “and the Lord will raise him.” We believe the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Who quickens our mortal body (Rom 8:11). Some associate the oil, as the means of healing, with Hezekiah's poultice of figs (2 Kings 20:7). It is amazing how people can have more faith in a little oil, or in a bunch of figs, than they do in the Power of God!

D. By Laying On of Hands.
“These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17,18). It should be carefully noted here, that no mention is made of anointing with oil, or of praying for the sick. All that is said is that those who believe shall lay their hands on the sick in the name of Jesus. This is the method which Jesus used on a number of occasions. In the following scriptures Jesus is said to have touched the sick, or laid His hand or hands upon them: Matt 8:15; Mark 6:5; 8:23,25; Luke 4:40; 5:13; 13:13. Today, when the believing one lays his hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, it is as though the hands of Jesus were laid thereon.

E. Special Miracles Through Handkerchiefs and Aprons.
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11,12). These were “special miracles” in that there were no scriptural instructions concerning them. Paul must have simply been guided by the Holy Spirit in this matter. Many churches have followed a similar pattern and have given out small pieces of cloth, over which prayer has been made, and sometimes they have been anointed with oil. Some most remarkable miracles have been reported from the use of this method. It is understood that the “prayer cloth” has no virtue in itself, but provides an act of faith by which one's attention is directed to the Lord Who is the Great Physician.

F. Spiritual Gifts of Healing.
“For to one is given by the Spirit … to another the gifts of healing …” (1 Cor 12:9). “God hath set some in the church … then gifts of healings …” (1 Cor 12:28). Inasmuch as this subject is covered thoroughly under the Gifts of the Spirit, it will not be elaborated on here. Two things are of special interest. First, this is the only gift of the Spirit which is in the plural. Suggested reasons for this are given in the study of the gifts. Second, in the list of healings wrought through the Apostles as recorded in the book of Acts, previously listed in this chapter, it is of interest that in no case did the apostles pray for the sick to be healed. In several cases, there was prayer about the sick person; but, the healing seemed to be administered by the power which had been given them for this ministry. They probably had the “gifts of healing.”

Touch Therapies attempt to counterfeit the miracle working power of God with a Satanic imitation. Just as Moses challenged the magicians in Pharaoh's court and was not afraid, so too can we be confident in the healing power of God!

Mediums and Channeling
Flirting With the Devil


The term "mediumship" denotes the ability of a person (the medium) to experience what they or others believe is contact with spirits of the dead, angels, demons or other immaterial entities. The role of the medium is to attempt to facilitate communication with spirits who have messages to share with non-mediums.

Mediums claim the abilities to listen to and relate conversations with spirit voices; go into a trance and speak without knowledge of what is being said; allow a spirit to control their body and speak through it; relay messages from the spirits to those who wish to contact them with the help of a physical tool, such as a writing instrument.

Mediumship is also part of the belief system of some New Age groups. In this context, and under the name channelling, it refers to a medium who claims to receive messages from a "teaching-spirit".

Channeling

There are two main techniques mediumship developed in the latter half of the 20th century. One type involves psychics or sensitives who can speak to spirits and then relay what they hear to their clients. One of the most noted channels of this type is clairvoyant Danielle Egnew, known for her alleged communication with angelic entities.

The incarnation of non-physical mediumship is a form of channeling in which the channeler goes into a trance, or "leaves their body" and then becomes “possessed” by a specific spirit, who then talks through them. In the trance, the medium enters a cataleptic state marked by extreme rigidity. The control spirit then takes over, the voice may change completely and the spirit answers the questions of those in its presence or giving spiritual knowledge. The most successful and widely known channeler of this variety is J. Z. Knight, who claims to channel the spirit of Ramtha, a 30 thousand year old man. Others claim to channel spirits from "future dimensional", ascended masters, or in the case of the trance mediums of the Brahma, God himself. Channeling is popularly parodied in the "Doonesbury" cartoon where a ditzy female character is occasionally taken over by "Hunk-Ra," an assertive 21,000-year-old warrior. based on Ramtha. Other notable channels are Jane Roberts for Seth, Margaret McElroy for Maitreya and Serge J. Grandbois for Kris, Lee Caroll for Kryon.

Types of Mediums

•  Physical Mediums
• Curing Mediums
• Intellectual Mediumship Works
• Seeing Mediums
• Hearing Mediums
• Speaking & Writing Mediums
• Intuitive & Inspired Mediums
• Somnambulic Mediums

 Channeling and Mediumship are nothing more than attempts to communicate with the dead. It is quite normal for those in grief to miss their loved ones and even to wish that they could talk with them just one last time. Satan's counterfiet is that the spirit's they contact are not those of deceased loved ones, but are in fact demonic spirits imitating the dead. The Bible clearly states that "it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) The spirits of the deceased are not in some kind of limbo waiting to be contacted. The Bible is clear that after death all are judgeed, either to eternal life or eternal damination. There is no such thing as communication with the dead. It is only another of Satan's manifest lies.

Tampering with the Paranormal
Record of a Live Seance

Dr. Marcus Bach was one of the first paranormal activists to record an actual seance. Dr. Bach records one more confrontation and see us which certainly bears close study and analysis because it was of closely personal nature. He described it this way:

I was making minute mental notations of all that was happening-the hovering, swaying motion of the spiritists, the rhythm of life, like the rise and fall of a tie, as many as four speaking simultaneously in whispered voices, excited, hurried persuasive. Suddenly the galaxy of spirits melted away. For a long still moments nothing happened. Then the swirling ectoplasmic effluvia glowed from the floor and quickly took on the form of a girl. Before the figure was complete, it spoke.

"Marc, dear-Marc, dear-Marc, dear."

Those who know me well call me Marc; those who know me better call me Marc, dear, so I knew this must be a familiar spirit! I got up and walked over until there was a space of less than 4 feet between us. "Yes I said who are you?"

The answer was fraught with disappointment. "Don't you know me?

I did not. I had no idea who this might be. I had really been much to absorb to think very much about personal contact with the spirits.... Nor did I propose to offer any hints of whom I thought she might represent. No leads, I determined.

"I do not know you. Who are you?"

"Paula," came the soft answer.

The name is soft manner in which it was under drop the sudden unfolding of a forgotten drama. 20 years ago my sister Paula had died at the age of 23. Her child Janette had died shortly before. These deaths had been among the deep sorrows of our family, but time and travel reduced the past into forgetfulness. No medium or spirit had plucked this name out of my mind because I wasn't thinking of Paula. I had not thought of her even once during a séance.

I looked at the presence before me closely.
"How do I look?", She asked.
"You look fine," I replied.
"Right height?" She whispered.
"Do you think I should be taller?"
"No. You are about the right height I remember."
"I wanted to do a good job," she told me earnestly. "Do I look all right?"

"Yes, I assured her", recalling that once. Materialization is at the spirit takes the ectoplasmic fashions according to his memory the human form which closed it on hers. Did this form in these features resemble Paula I must admit they did. Very much. The outline of the figure was recognizable and convincing it was like a false front, a flat, two-dimensional body with a semblance of arms clothes and a shadowy gray white film, the face, was typically mask-like, with strikingly reminiscent. There was no illusion of long blond hair. I cannot say whether the voice was Paula or not. After 20 years I would not remember. Just now, however, it was Paula returned.

But why shouldn't it be, I asked myself as I stood there. The spiritualists at Chesterfield knew I was coming. If, as some people say, they have a well laid system of espionage they could easily have traced my family and to Paula's description. If this was someone dressed up, playacting, if this was a marionette using the voice of a ventriloquist, naturally it would be constructed as to represent Paula. This thought haunted me more than the presents. I wished I could convince myself some way. The impulse to reach out and touch the figure became stronger. I moved closer. I moved slightly to one side so that the red light would strike the spirit space more directly. We were about 3 feet apart now. Paula was talking about life in the Spirit world. I was asking hasty questions: have you seen Jesus washing Mark was heaven really like? What about the element of time? Can you be everywhere at once? Our terms like Methodists, Reformed, Presbyterian, Catholic ever use where you are?

Her voice seemed to laugh. She answered, no, no, to all questions save the one about heaven. It was like speaking to a living person secretly, clandestinely, knowing that time was running out. Her features seem to become clearer. Perhaps it was my mind playing tricks.

Another thought came to me.

"Paula," I said, "do you remember the catechism we learned at home?"
"Of course!"
"Paula, do you remember the first question in the catechism?"
"I remember."
"What was it?" I asked that almost fearfully.
The answer came at once, "what is your chief comfort in life and in death?"
"Go on," I urge.
"That high, with body and soul. Both in life and in death I am not my own-"
she erupted herself. "Here words have greater significance and meaning!"

Then quickly, breathlessly, she told me that, "serving God means personal development. Life on the spirit plane is involvement. Like the breaking of a chrysalis. I just sent in a spiral. Like the growth of moral affection to higher and higher heavens."

Several times she interrupted herself with, "Do you understand?" "Is that clear?" As if she felt her message was vital, all absorbing. Death, she insisted, was not a violent result of of sin. It had no staying. It was neither friend nor enemy. It was part of the divine purpose, a purpose without beginning or end.

The whispering grew fainter. "I can no longer stay. I must go now."
"Paula, one more thing. Can you put your arms around me?"
"I'll give you a kiss, said. Come closer."

"You come close to me." I want her to come nearer the red light. Her face was luminous, seemingly transparent, and without depth. I leaned forward and lowered my head. The web like texture of ectoplasmic arms encircled my neck. Something soft and flaxen brushed my four head. Then Paula vanish-into the floor, it seemed. I walked back to my chair and sat down... the séance was over.

The occult is real. Things really do "go bump in the night". Christians must be wary of the realities of the occult and the paranormal, recognize their source and choose to completely avoid participating in them. Many of us would never attend a seance because we know better. However, what other ways do you see the occult and the paranormal trying to worm its way into your life through popular culture. This is a question worth examining.

Spiritism and the Occult
In Popular Culture
Film, TV and the Occult


Despite being little known by the population at large; many works or art contain allusions to facts, circumstances and concepts that are perfect examples of spiritist beliefs:

Films


• Ghost, with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze was perhaps one of the earliest depictions of an after-life moderately similar to Spiritist teaching. It was highly popular among Brazilian Spiritists too. Swayze plays the role of a man that is killed by a petty thief, leaving his wife (Moore). He, as a ghost, makes contact with a "psychic" played by Whoopi Goldberg and manages to help his wife before finally leaving earth.


• The Sixth Sense, starring Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis, is perhaps the better known film approaching the thematic of Spiritism. Cole Sear (Osment's role) is an infant medium facing the disbelief of everyone.


• Shutter, depicts a passably accurate situation of obsession, complete with physical manifestations and materialization of a spirit.


• The Others, (2001) depicts what happens to spirits who do not realize that they are actually in spirit form, resembling Spiritist doctrine.


• Passengers (2008) with Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson. Very similar to "The Sixth Sense" in spiritist themes.


• Sole Survivor, a 1970 TV-film starring Vince Edwards and Richard Basehart, begins with a B-25 bomber crashing in the Libyan desert during WW2 and all crew members onboard dying. Decades later, the wreck is spotted and an Air Force team is sent to investigate the crash site. The spirits of the dead bomber crew, unaware of their disincarnate condition, are still there, waiting for a salvage expedition to find them. The behavior of the dead in this story is in accord with Kardecist teachings and Spiritist theory.


• Yesterday's Children, based on a true story. A Mother's haunting dreams lead her to another place, another time, and a mysterious past... her own. Her past life and memories...children left...based on Jenny Cockle´s book.

Television


• Medium, a medium helps a District Attorney solve crimes.


• Ghost Whisperer, a medium helps spirits with 'unfinished business' 'cross over'.


• Paranormal Investigations, a scientific team investigates paranormal activity.


• Charmed, three young witches who battle evil demons, ghosts and other creatures.


• Crossings, host Jonathan Edwards contacts spirits of dead relatives and friends.

Films and television is so entertaining; most of us watch more of it than we should. Today, more than ever before, its easy to become curious about programs that have to to with the occult. Almost without realizing it, we get "hooked" on programs and movies that portray the demonic dark side. Let's build a new awareness of what we watch so that as Christians we will have the wisdom to discriminate between watching programs and movies that are pleasing to God.

Talking to the Dead
The Beginnings of Spiritism


The Fox Sisters

Spiritism is the practice of talking with the dead, usually through seances. Sisters Catherine (1838–92), Leah (1814–90) and Margaret (1836–93) Fox played an important role in the creation of Spiritism. The daughters of David and Margaret Fox, they were residents of Hydesville, New York. In 1848, the family began to hear unexplained rapping sounds. Kate and Margaret conducted channeling sessions in an attempt to contact the presumed spiritual entity creating the sounds, and claimed contact with the spirit of a peddler who was allegedly murdered and buried beneath the house. A skeleton later found in the basement seemed to confirm this. The Fox girls became instant celebrities. They demonstrated their communication with the spirit by using taps and knocks, automatic writing, and later even voice communication, as the spirit took control of one of the girls.

Skeptics suspected this was nothing but clever deception and fraud. Indeed, sister Margaret eventually confessed to using her toe-joints to produce the sound. And although she later recanted this confession, both she and her sister Catherine were widely considered discredited, and died in poverty. Nonetheless, belief in the ability to communicate with the dead grew rapidly, becoming a religious movement called Spiritualism, and contributing greatly to Kardec's ideas.

Talking Boards

Just after the news of the Fox affair came to France, people became even more interested in what was sometimes termed the "Spiritual Telegraph", later to be called "Quija Boards". In the beginning, a table spun with the "energy" from the spirits present by means of human channeling (hence the term "medium". But, as the process was too slow and cumbersome, a new one was devised, supposedly from a suggestion by the spirits themselves: the talking board.

Early examples of talking boards were baskets attached to a pointy object that spun under the hands of the mediums, to point at letters printed on cards scattered around, or engraved on, the table. Such devices were called corbeille à bec ("basket with a beak"). The pointy object was usually a pencil.

Talking boards were tricky to set up and to operate. A typical séance using a talking board saw people sitting at a round table, feet resting on the chairs' supports and hands on the table top or, later, on the talking board itself. The energy channeled from the spirits through their hands made the board spin around and find letters which, once written down by a scribe, would form intelligible words, phrases, and sentences. The system was an early, and less effective, precursor of the Ouija boards that later became so popular.

Allan Kardec

Allan Kardec, The Father of Spiritism, first became interested in Spiritism when he learned of the Fox sisters, but his first contact with what would become the doctrine was by means of talking boards. Some of the earlier parts of his Spirits' Book were channeled this way.

As Christians, we are to stay clear of all forms of Spiritism. Deuteronomy clearly states that it is "an abomination to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 18:8-10). Playing "games" associated with the occult are not games at all. Ouija Boards, role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons and vido games like Worlds of Warcraft are not games but are open doors to the occult . . . avoid them!