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Is the brain the creator of psychic phenomena? [or is a paradigm shift inevitable?]
Mar 12, 2022 02:35:06   #
Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...
 
The National Center for Biotechnology Information
Ernesto Bonilla

Every day new scientific information is appearing that cannot be explained using the classical Newtonian model and is calling for the emergence of a new paradigm that would include the explanation of such phenomena as telepathy, clairvoyance, presentiment, precognition, out of the body experiences, psychic healing, after-death communication, near-death experiences and reincarnation.

A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline... or it is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing anything is replaced by a new and different way.

The "materialist" paradigm which considers the brain as the sole cause of consciousness and psychic phenomena has been challenged by a new paradigm that seems to demonstrate that there is not a cause-effect relationship between brain activity and psychic phenomena but only a correlation between them, since these phenomena can be experienced without the body and appear to have an extra-cerebral origin (cosmic field, cosmic consciousness?).

Of course, the brain is intensely involved in the manifestation of consciousness in our daily life but this is not equivalent to affirm that the brain creates consciousness.

Recent findings force us to consider a non-physical, spiritual and transpersonal aspect of reality.

The transpersonal is a term used by different schools of philosophy and psychology in order to describe experiences and worldviews that extend beyond the personal level of the psyche, and beyond mundane or routine worldly events.

The transpersonal has been defined as experiences in which the sense of identity or self extends beyond (trans) the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche or cosmos.[1]

On the other hand, transpersonal practices are those structured activities that focus on inducing transpersonal experiences.[1]

Note(s)

1. Walsh, R. and F. Vaughan. "On transpersonal definitions". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. Vol. 25, No2, pp. 199-207, 1993.

National Center for Biotechnology Information,
U.S. National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA


Parapsychological phenomenon (also called PSI phenomenon), refers to any of several types of events that cannot be accounted for by natural law or knowledge apparently acquired by other than usual sensory abilities. The discipline concerned with investigating such phenomena is called parapsychology. It is considered to be pseudoscience by a vast majority of mainstream scientists.

Parapsychology research is largely conducted by private institutions in several countries and funded through private donations, and the subject almost never appears in mainstream science journals. Most papers about parapsychology are published in a small number of niche journals. Parapsychology has been criticized for continuing investigation despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.

Parapsychological phenomena of two types have been described. They may be cognitive, as in the case of clairvoyance, telepathy, or precognition. Here one person is believed to have acquired knowledge of facts, of other people’s thoughts, or of future events without the use of the ordinary sensory channels - hence the term extrasensory perception (ESP), often used to designate these phenomena.

Alternatively, parapsychological phenomena may be physical in character: the fall of dice or the dealing of cards is thought to be influenced by a person’s “willing” them to fall in a certain way; or objects are moved, often in a violent fashion, by poltergeists (see poltergeist). The term psychokinesis is often used in this connection. The general term psi has become established to denote all kinds of parapsychological phenomena.

Scientific interest in the subject is of relatively recent origin, but belief in the reality of such phenomena has been widespread since the earliest recorded times. Before the rise of modern science and its so-far vain attempt to determine the causation of all complex physical phenomena, appeals to nonmaterial agencies (ghosts, sorcerers, demons, mythological beings) took the place of a causal, scientific explanation.

Even then, there were widespread debates about the reality of phenomena that obviously transcended the bounds of everyday happenings, such as veridical prophecies, as by the oracle of Delphi, or the revival of the dead.

The existence of parapsychological phenomena continues to be a subject of dispute, although societies for the study of psychic phenomena, made up of scientists and laymen, have been in existence for over a century. In 1882 the Society for Psychical Research was founded in London, followed six years later by the founding of a similar society in the United States, partly through the efforts of psychologist William James.

Such societies were founded later in most European countries, and active work is carried on, particularly in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Russia, and Japan. Universities have been slower to recognize psychical research as a serious subject for study. The activities of the parapsychological laboratory at Duke University, Durham, N.C., under the American parapsychologist J.B. Rhine from the 1930s to the 1960s attracted considerable interest. A department of psychical research later was opened at the University of Utrecht under W.H.C. Tenhaeff.

One of the reasons for interest in psychical research in the last half of the 19th century was the rise of the spiritualist movement that grew out of the acceptance of spirit communication as real and the use of this as the basis of a new religion. Some of the early psychical researchers were also spiritualists, as, for example, British spiritualist F.W.H. Myers and the British physicist Sir Oliver Lodge. Other psychical researchers (such as the French physiologist Charles Richet) accepted paranormal activity as real but rejected the spiritualist explanation, while others were not committed to either view.

Apologist's Warning to Christians on the Paranormal: "Once You Open a Door to the Demonic It's Hard to Close."

Dave Hunt, CPA, Christian Apologist: “Many of our younger scientists seem to be turning to the East [Eastern Religious Mysticism], and parapsychology is giving them a big push in that direction.”

Psychics, mediums conjuring the dead, and ghosts have become a sensation in our culture today. As a result, there are many confusing and deceptive beliefs being presented to the unwary and the undiscerning. Paranormal activity is an encompassing term that includes not only ghosts and hauntings and demonic activity, but also other unexplainable phenomena such as unidentified flying objects and extrasensory perception.

Pop culture has a growing fascination with the occult. From zombies and vampires, to Hogwarts and horoscopes, and even witches and Ouija boards — the mystical, unknown and undead seem to dominate TV and movie screens.

The Bible strongly condemns spiritism, mediums, the occult, and psychics (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). Horoscopes, tarot cards, astrology, fortune tellers, palm readings, and séances fall into this category as well. These practices are based on the concept that there are gods, spirits, or deceased loved ones that can give advice and guidance. These “gods” or “spirits” are Satan's demons (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15).

The Bible gives us no reason to believe that deceased loved ones can contact us. If they were believers, they are in heaven enjoying fellowship with a loving God. If they were not believers, but those who chose to rebel against their Creator, and rejected God's Salvation, they are in hell, suffering unending torment.

So, if our loved ones cannot contact us, how do mediums, spiritists, and psychics get such accurate information? There have been many exposures of psychics as frauds. It has been proven that psychics can gain immense amounts of information on someone through ordinary means. Sometimes by just using a telephone number through caller ID and an internet search, a psychic can get names, addresses, dates of birth, dates of marriage, family members, etc.

However, it is undeniable that psychics sometimes know things that should be impossible for them to know. What is their source of information? The answer is from Satan and his demons. “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15).
Acts 16:16-18 describes a fortune teller who was able to predict the future until the apostle Paul rebuked a demon out of her.

Satan pretends to be kind and helpful. He is practised at appearing to be as something/someone good. Satan and his demons will provide information to a psychic about a person in order to hook that person into spiritism, - something that God forbids. It appears innocent at first, but soon people may find themselves addicted to psychics, and in doing so, unwittingly allow Satan to control and destroy their lives.

They convince themselves that visiting this psychic is okay because he or she is advertised to be a “Christian psychic.” The truth behind ghosts, Mediums, and all psychic phenomena is that at the heart of all occult activities are dark spiritual forces that God does not want His people to engage with or to play with in any manner.

Encourage Christians to look to the Lord and not to psychics, with a special warning against those claiming affiliation with Christianity. The Truth of God's Word applied to Ghosts, Mediums & Psychic Phenomena is vitally important information for Christians, enabling then to engage in spiritual warfare with Satan's hordes through prayer and with God's armor. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The Apostle Peter proclaimed, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1st Peter 5:8).

In some cases, the psychics themselves are deceived, not knowing the true source of the information they receive. Whatever the case and wherever the source of the information, nothing connected to spiritism [spiritualism], witchcraft, or astrology is a godly means of discovering information, for it willfully and disobediently bypasses Him.

God's Truth says - this enemy we face, no matter how cruel and vicious his schemes, can never chain our spirits that have been set free by Christ. The Apostle Paul was not silenced by the attacks from dark forces.
Neither should we be.

How does God want us to discern His will for our life? God’s plan is simple, yet powerful and effective:
1) study the Bible (2nd Timothy 3:16-17) and 2) pray for wisdom (James 1:5).


References:

Occult Invasion, by Christian Apologist Dave Hunt
The Truth behind Ghosts, Mediums and Psychic Phenomena, by Dr. Ron Rhodes
Got Questions?

Reply
Mar 12, 2022 02:53:55   #
Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall
 
Zemirah wrote:
The National Center for Biotechnology Information
Ernesto Bonilla

Every day new scientific information is appearing that cannot be explained using the classical Newtonian model and is calling for the emergence of a new paradigm that would include the explanation of such phenomena as telepathy, clairvoyance, presentiment, precognition, out of the body experiences, psychic healing, after-death communication, near-death experiences and reincarnation.

A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline... or it is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing anything is replaced by a new and different way.

The "materialist" paradigm which considers the brain as the sole cause of consciousness and psychic phenomena has been challenged by a new paradigm that seems to demonstrate that there is not a cause-effect relationship between brain activity and psychic phenomena but only a correlation between them, since these phenomena can be experienced without the body and appear to have an extra-cerebral origin (cosmic field, cosmic consciousness?).

Of course, the brain is intensely involved in the manifestation of consciousness in our daily life but this is not equivalent to affirm that the brain creates consciousness.

Recent findings force us to consider a non-physical, spiritual and transpersonal aspect of reality.

The transpersonal is a term used by different schools of philosophy and psychology in order to describe experiences and worldviews that extend beyond the personal level of the psyche, and beyond mundane or routine worldly events.

The transpersonal has been defined as experiences in which the sense of identity or self extends beyond (trans) the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche or cosmos.[1]

On the other hand, transpersonal practices are those structured activities that focus on inducing transpersonal experiences.[1]

Note(s)

1. Walsh, R. and F. Vaughan. "On transpersonal definitions". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. Vol. 25, No2, pp. 199-207, 1993.

National Center for Biotechnology Information,
U.S. National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA


Parapsychological phenomenon (also called PSI phenomenon), refers to any of several types of events that cannot be accounted for by natural law or knowledge apparently acquired by other than usual sensory abilities. The discipline concerned with investigating such phenomena is called parapsychology. It is considered to be pseudoscience by a vast majority of mainstream scientists.

Parapsychology research is largely conducted by private institutions in several countries and funded through private donations, and the subject almost never appears in mainstream science journals. Most papers about parapsychology are published in a small number of niche journals. Parapsychology has been criticized for continuing investigation despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.

Parapsychological phenomena of two types have been described. They may be cognitive, as in the case of clairvoyance, telepathy, or precognition. Here one person is believed to have acquired knowledge of facts, of other people’s thoughts, or of future events without the use of the ordinary sensory channels - hence the term extrasensory perception (ESP), often used to designate these phenomena.

Alternatively, parapsychological phenomena may be physical in character: the fall of dice or the dealing of cards is thought to be influenced by a person’s “willing” them to fall in a certain way; or objects are moved, often in a violent fashion, by poltergeists (see poltergeist). The term psychokinesis is often used in this connection. The general term psi has become established to denote all kinds of parapsychological phenomena.

Scientific interest in the subject is of relatively recent origin, but belief in the reality of such phenomena has been widespread since the earliest recorded times. Before the rise of modern science and its so-far vain attempt to determine the causation of all complex physical phenomena, appeals to nonmaterial agencies (ghosts, sorcerers, demons, mythological beings) took the place of a causal, scientific explanation.

Even then, there were widespread debates about the reality of phenomena that obviously transcended the bounds of everyday happenings, such as veridical prophecies, as by the oracle of Delphi, or the revival of the dead.

The existence of parapsychological phenomena continues to be a subject of dispute, although societies for the study of psychic phenomena, made up of scientists and laymen, have been in existence for over a century. In 1882 the Society for Psychical Research was founded in London, followed six years later by the founding of a similar society in the United States, partly through the efforts of psychologist William James.

Such societies were founded later in most European countries, and active work is carried on, particularly in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Russia, and Japan. Universities have been slower to recognize psychical research as a serious subject for study. The activities of the parapsychological laboratory at Duke University, Durham, N.C., under the American parapsychologist J.B. Rhine from the 1930s to the 1960s attracted considerable interest. A department of psychical research later was opened at the University of Utrecht under W.H.C. Tenhaeff.

One of the reasons for interest in psychical research in the last half of the 19th century was the rise of the spiritualist movement that grew out of the acceptance of spirit communication as real and the use of this as the basis of a new religion. Some of the early psychical researchers were also spiritualists, as, for example, British spiritualist F.W.H. Myers and the British physicist Sir Oliver Lodge. Other psychical researchers (such as the French physiologist Charles Richet) accepted paranormal activity as real but rejected the spiritualist explanation, while others were not committed to either view.

Apologist's Warning to Christians on the Paranormal: "Once You Open a Door to the Demonic It's Hard to Close."

Dave Hunt, CPA, Christian Apologist: “Many of our younger scientists seem to be turning to the East [Eastern Religious Mysticism], and parapsychology is giving them a big push in that direction.”

Psychics, mediums conjuring the dead, and ghosts have become a sensation in our culture today. As a result, there are many confusing and deceptive beliefs being presented to the unwary and the undiscerning. Paranormal activity is an encompassing term that includes not only ghosts and hauntings and demonic activity, but also other unexplainable phenomena such as unidentified flying objects and extrasensory perception.

Pop culture has a growing fascination with the occult. From zombies and vampires, to Hogwarts and horoscopes, and even witches and Ouija boards — the mystical, unknown and undead seem to dominate TV and movie screens.

The Bible strongly condemns spiritism, mediums, the occult, and psychics (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). Horoscopes, tarot cards, astrology, fortune tellers, palm readings, and séances fall into this category as well. These practices are based on the concept that there are gods, spirits, or deceased loved ones that can give advice and guidance. These “gods” or “spirits” are Satan's demons (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15).

The Bible gives us no reason to believe that deceased loved ones can contact us. If they were believers, they are in heaven enjoying fellowship with a loving God. If they were not believers, but those who chose to rebel against their Creator, and rejected God's Salvation, they are in hell, suffering unending torment.

So, if our loved ones cannot contact us, how do mediums, spiritists, and psychics get such accurate information? There have been many exposures of psychics as frauds. It has been proven that psychics can gain immense amounts of information on someone through ordinary means. Sometimes by just using a telephone number through caller ID and an internet search, a psychic can get names, addresses, dates of birth, dates of marriage, family members, etc.

However, it is undeniable that psychics sometimes know things that should be impossible for them to know. What is their source of information? The answer is from Satan and his demons. “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15).
Acts 16:16-18 describes a fortune teller who was able to predict the future until the apostle Paul rebuked a demon out of her.

Satan pretends to be kind and helpful. He is practised at appearing to be as something/someone good. Satan and his demons will provide information to a psychic about a person in order to hook that person into spiritism, - something that God forbids. It appears innocent at first, but soon people may find themselves addicted to psychics, and in doing so, unwittingly allow Satan to control and destroy their lives.

They convince themselves that visiting this psychic is okay because he or she is advertised to be a “Christian psychic.” The truth behind ghosts, Mediums, and all psychic phenomena is that at the heart of all occult activities are dark spiritual forces that God does not want His people to engage with or to play with in any manner.

Encourage Christians to look to the Lord and not to psychics, with a special warning against those claiming affiliation with Christianity. The Truth of God's Word applied to Ghosts, Mediums & Psychic Phenomena is vitally important information for Christians, enabling then to engage in spiritual warfare with Satan's hordes through prayer and with God's armor. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The Apostle Peter proclaimed, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1st Peter 5:8).

In some cases, the psychics themselves are deceived, not knowing the true source of the information they receive. Whatever the case and wherever the source of the information, nothing connected to spiritism [spiritualism], witchcraft, or astrology is a godly means of discovering information, for it willfully and disobediently bypasses Him.

God's Truth says - this enemy we face, no matter how cruel and vicious his schemes, can never chain our spirits that have been set free by Christ. The Apostle Paul was not silenced by the attacks from dark forces.
Neither should we be.

How does God want us to discern His will for our life? God’s plan is simple, yet powerful and effective:
1) study the Bible (2nd Timothy 3:16-17) and 2) pray for wisdom (James 1:5).


References:

Occult Invasion, by Christian Apologist Dave Hunt
The Truth behind Ghosts, Mediums and Psychic Phenomena, by Dr. Ron Rhodes
Got Questions?
The National Center for Biotechnology Information ... (show quote)


Interesting read... Thanks

Reply
Mar 12, 2022 03:54:09   #
RascalRiley Loc: Somewhere south of Detroit
 
Zemirah wrote:
The National Center for Biotechnology Information
Ernesto Bonilla

Every day new scientific information is appearing that cannot be explained using the classical Newtonian model and is calling for the emergence of a new paradigm that would include the explanation of such phenomena as telepathy, clairvoyance, presentiment, precognition, out of the body experiences, psychic healing, after-death communication, near-death experiences and reincarnation.

A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline... or it is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing anything is replaced by a new and different way.

The "materialist" paradigm which considers the brain as the sole cause of consciousness and psychic phenomena has been challenged by a new paradigm that seems to demonstrate that there is not a cause-effect relationship between brain activity and psychic phenomena but only a correlation between them, since these phenomena can be experienced without the body and appear to have an extra-cerebral origin (cosmic field, cosmic consciousness?).

Of course, the brain is intensely involved in the manifestation of consciousness in our daily life but this is not equivalent to affirm that the brain creates consciousness.

Recent findings force us to consider a non-physical, spiritual and transpersonal aspect of reality.

The transpersonal is a term used by different schools of philosophy and psychology in order to describe experiences and worldviews that extend beyond the personal level of the psyche, and beyond mundane or routine worldly events.

The transpersonal has been defined as experiences in which the sense of identity or self extends beyond (trans) the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche or cosmos.[1]

On the other hand, transpersonal practices are those structured activities that focus on inducing transpersonal experiences.[1]

Note(s)

1. Walsh, R. and F. Vaughan. "On transpersonal definitions". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. Vol. 25, No2, pp. 199-207, 1993.

National Center for Biotechnology Information,
U.S. National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA


Parapsychological phenomenon (also called PSI phenomenon), refers to any of several types of events that cannot be accounted for by natural law or knowledge apparently acquired by other than usual sensory abilities. The discipline concerned with investigating such phenomena is called parapsychology. It is considered to be pseudoscience by a vast majority of mainstream scientists.

Parapsychology research is largely conducted by private institutions in several countries and funded through private donations, and the subject almost never appears in mainstream science journals. Most papers about parapsychology are published in a small number of niche journals. Parapsychology has been criticized for continuing investigation despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.

Parapsychological phenomena of two types have been described. They may be cognitive, as in the case of clairvoyance, telepathy, or precognition. Here one person is believed to have acquired knowledge of facts, of other people’s thoughts, or of future events without the use of the ordinary sensory channels - hence the term extrasensory perception (ESP), often used to designate these phenomena.

Alternatively, parapsychological phenomena may be physical in character: the fall of dice or the dealing of cards is thought to be influenced by a person’s “willing” them to fall in a certain way; or objects are moved, often in a violent fashion, by poltergeists (see poltergeist). The term psychokinesis is often used in this connection. The general term psi has become established to denote all kinds of parapsychological phenomena.

Scientific interest in the subject is of relatively recent origin, but belief in the reality of such phenomena has been widespread since the earliest recorded times. Before the rise of modern science and its so-far vain attempt to determine the causation of all complex physical phenomena, appeals to nonmaterial agencies (ghosts, sorcerers, demons, mythological beings) took the place of a causal, scientific explanation.

Even then, there were widespread debates about the reality of phenomena that obviously transcended the bounds of everyday happenings, such as veridical prophecies, as by the oracle of Delphi, or the revival of the dead.

The existence of parapsychological phenomena continues to be a subject of dispute, although societies for the study of psychic phenomena, made up of scientists and laymen, have been in existence for over a century. In 1882 the Society for Psychical Research was founded in London, followed six years later by the founding of a similar society in the United States, partly through the efforts of psychologist William James.

Such societies were founded later in most European countries, and active work is carried on, particularly in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Russia, and Japan. Universities have been slower to recognize psychical research as a serious subject for study. The activities of the parapsychological laboratory at Duke University, Durham, N.C., under the American parapsychologist J.B. Rhine from the 1930s to the 1960s attracted considerable interest. A department of psychical research later was opened at the University of Utrecht under W.H.C. Tenhaeff.

One of the reasons for interest in psychical research in the last half of the 19th century was the rise of the spiritualist movement that grew out of the acceptance of spirit communication as real and the use of this as the basis of a new religion. Some of the early psychical researchers were also spiritualists, as, for example, British spiritualist F.W.H. Myers and the British physicist Sir Oliver Lodge. Other psychical researchers (such as the French physiologist Charles Richet) accepted paranormal activity as real but rejected the spiritualist explanation, while others were not committed to either view.

Apologist's Warning to Christians on the Paranormal: "Once You Open a Door to the Demonic It's Hard to Close."

Dave Hunt, CPA, Christian Apologist: “Many of our younger scientists seem to be turning to the East [Eastern Religious Mysticism], and parapsychology is giving them a big push in that direction.”

Psychics, mediums conjuring the dead, and ghosts have become a sensation in our culture today. As a result, there are many confusing and deceptive beliefs being presented to the unwary and the undiscerning. Paranormal activity is an encompassing term that includes not only ghosts and hauntings and demonic activity, but also other unexplainable phenomena such as unidentified flying objects and extrasensory perception.

Pop culture has a growing fascination with the occult. From zombies and vampires, to Hogwarts and horoscopes, and even witches and Ouija boards — the mystical, unknown and undead seem to dominate TV and movie screens.

The Bible strongly condemns spiritism, mediums, the occult, and psychics (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). Horoscopes, tarot cards, astrology, fortune tellers, palm readings, and séances fall into this category as well. These practices are based on the concept that there are gods, spirits, or deceased loved ones that can give advice and guidance. These “gods” or “spirits” are Satan's demons (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15).

The Bible gives us no reason to believe that deceased loved ones can contact us. If they were believers, they are in heaven enjoying fellowship with a loving God. If they were not believers, but those who chose to rebel against their Creator, and rejected God's Salvation, they are in hell, suffering unending torment.

So, if our loved ones cannot contact us, how do mediums, spiritists, and psychics get such accurate information? There have been many exposures of psychics as frauds. It has been proven that psychics can gain immense amounts of information on someone through ordinary means. Sometimes by just using a telephone number through caller ID and an internet search, a psychic can get names, addresses, dates of birth, dates of marriage, family members, etc.

However, it is undeniable that psychics sometimes know things that should be impossible for them to know. What is their source of information? The answer is from Satan and his demons. “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15).
Acts 16:16-18 describes a fortune teller who was able to predict the future until the apostle Paul rebuked a demon out of her.

Satan pretends to be kind and helpful. He is practised at appearing to be as something/someone good. Satan and his demons will provide information to a psychic about a person in order to hook that person into spiritism, - something that God forbids. It appears innocent at first, but soon people may find themselves addicted to psychics, and in doing so, unwittingly allow Satan to control and destroy their lives.

They convince themselves that visiting this psychic is okay because he or she is advertised to be a “Christian psychic.” The truth behind ghosts, Mediums, and all psychic phenomena is that at the heart of all occult activities are dark spiritual forces that God does not want His people to engage with or to play with in any manner.

Encourage Christians to look to the Lord and not to psychics, with a special warning against those claiming affiliation with Christianity. The Truth of God's Word applied to Ghosts, Mediums & Psychic Phenomena is vitally important information for Christians, enabling then to engage in spiritual warfare with Satan's hordes through prayer and with God's armor. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The Apostle Peter proclaimed, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1st Peter 5:8).

In some cases, the psychics themselves are deceived, not knowing the true source of the information they receive. Whatever the case and wherever the source of the information, nothing connected to spiritism [spiritualism], witchcraft, or astrology is a godly means of discovering information, for it willfully and disobediently bypasses Him.

God's Truth says - this enemy we face, no matter how cruel and vicious his schemes, can never chain our spirits that have been set free by Christ. The Apostle Paul was not silenced by the attacks from dark forces.
Neither should we be.

How does God want us to discern His will for our life? God’s plan is simple, yet powerful and effective:
1) study the Bible (2nd Timothy 3:16-17) and 2) pray for wisdom (James 1:5).


References:

Occult Invasion, by Christian Apologist Dave Hunt
The Truth behind Ghosts, Mediums and Psychic Phenomena, by Dr. Ron Rhodes
Got Questions?
The National Center for Biotechnology Information ... (show quote)

It is certain that we have more to learn.

Reply
 
 
Mar 14, 2022 01:23:22   #
Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...
 
Canuckus Deploracus wrote:
Interesting read... Thanks


You did notice it is a "read" in two sections... although I didn't feel it necessary to elaborate.

The first creates a dichotomy, a further source demanded by Science' failure to produce an explanation for Paranormal Psychic Phenomena.

The 2nd actually requires none, for God revealed and named the source of all Occult Phenomena.

There are only two sources of supernatural power, God and Satan.

"There is a common source 
behind all occult phenomena,
 including UFOs, 
that seems to be intelligently 

and deliberately orchestrating 
a clever deception 
for its own purposes; 

and [ancient] hypnosis, 
or the power of suggestion, 
is at the very heart of this scheme."


(a researcher in observations concerning 
why he would classify hypnosis as part of the occult)

Hypnotism has been an integral part of the occult for thousands of years, used by witch doctors, spirit mediums, shamans, Hindus, Buddhists, and yogis. The hypnotic trance being done through medical doctors now is not significantly different from occult hypnosis.


Being in a hypnotic state is an open door to the demonic
.
The subject in an hypnotic trance can and does spontaneously plunge into the danger zone and the whole range of occult phenomena, including....

Out-of-body experiences/disembodied state/sense of separation from the body
Clairvoyance--“Part of the larger phenomenon know as extra sensory perception (ESP), clairvoyance is the ability to discern images not readily detected by the five senses.

Those with this ‘sixth sense’ receive messages transmitted over both temporal distances — visions of events occurring in either the past (retrocognition) or future (precognition) — and geographic distances — events happening simultaneously but in different locations.

Other terms for clairvoyance include second sight, shadow sight, prophecy, and spiritual communication.”
Hallucination
Mystical states similar to those described by Eastern mystics
Demonic possession
Spontaneous psychic powers
NDE So-called clinical death
Spontaneous “memories” of past and future lives and former identities, about one-fifth involving existence on other planets (the Bible clearly contradicts past lives and reincarnation -- "It is appointed unto man once to die", Hebrews 9:27)
Seeing future events, solving murders, revealing the future fates of well-known personalities, etc (aka the “future life hypnotic therapy” that some practitioners are doing)
“Memories” (by persons who have never had any contact with UFOs) of UFO abductions that conform in detail to those described by supposed genuine abductees
Release from identity with one's own self to “merge with the universe”
The feeling that they are everything and have no limitation upon what they can experience or what they may become: i.e., God-consciousness
Supposed transcendence of time and space “leaving pure awareness of the primal nothingness from which all manifested creation comes."
Psychic experiences
Satanic possession


By making the promises of a false god, Hypnotism perfectly blends into today's landscape of promises:

Self-fulfillment
Self-mastery
Personal well-being
Quick fixes for problems of living
Union with God
Life-transforming results

"All Occult involvement breaks the first commandment and invokes God's curse. There are but two sources of hidden information and knowledge, or supernatural help, guidance and healing: God, or to a much less powerful degree, Satan, a.k.a., the Deceiver, Abaddon (Hebrew for "destruction"), the Accuser, and/or the Adversary.

"Because God repeatedly condemns astrology, and all forms of Occult knowledge and practice, we are informed, with no alternative, that this power is from the demonic realm.

"The Bible speaks out strongly against all practices of false religion and the occult.
God desires His people to turn to Him in need, not to those who practice sorcery, divination, or enchantment.
God warns His people about following after mediums, wizards, enchanters, charmers, and those who have a familiar spirit (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).
Hypnosis, as it is practiced today, is identified as "enchantment" in the Bible (Leviticus 19:26).

"Against all the allurements of the occult stands Jesus Christ, the embodiment of all God's revelation.
Faith takes its stand on the sufficiency of His revelation and seeks no outside secret knowledge.
Faith lays itself open to the power of God through Jesus Christ alone and seeks nothing more.
One may, in Spirit and in Truth, through prayer in Jesus’ Name, seek such help from God."


Adaptation from Occult Invasion

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Mar 14, 2022 05:00:56   #
Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...
 
RascalRiley wrote:
It is certain that we have more to learn.


Indeed, Riley!

A single Bible verse "It is appointed for men once to die, and after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27) tells us five facts about death...

1 "It is appointed..." —Death is Unavoidable

In the phrase "It is appointed for men once to die..." we find our first fact, that death is unavoidable.

When Hebrews 9:27 says, that death "is appointed", it might be stating the obvious, yet most people live as if death is unlikely!

We have birth control, but not death control. It is inevitable that "the silver cord is loosed and we fly away" (Ecclesiastes 12:6 Psalms 90:9-10). Such language as that, is usually reserved for funerals, yet it expresses a fact of everyday life: All of us, sooner or later, must keep a personal, unavoidable, appointment with death.

2 "For men..." —You Are No Exception

In the phrase "It is appointed for for men once to die..." we find our second fact, that you are no exception.

When Hebrews 9:27 says "it is appointed for men once to die...", it does so generically, with no sense of gender. In other words "men" here stands for all humankind —man, whether male or female.

You could replace the word "men" with your own name, because the scripture applies to you individually as well as to mankind in general.

Nevertheless, as we said before, most people live their lives as if they were exceptions to the rule of death!

Unless the second coming of Jesus Christ occurs in your lifetime, you personally cannot be excepted from death. In all of human history, the Bible tells of only two exceptions. One was Enoch (Genesis 5:23-24). The other was Elijah (2Kings 2:1,11). [Compare John 21:17-23]

Anyway, were you to escape death only to face judgment, the stale cliche might find fresh meaning: "out of the fryingpan into the fire."

3 "...once to die..." —You Only Die Once.

In the words "it is appointed for men once to die..." we have our third fact, that you only die once.

When Hebrews 9:27 says, "once" it brings home the fact that you don't get a second chance at life and death. It's a one-off.

When people say, "You only die once!" they usually mean that you might as well be reckless. But surely, since we live and die but once, we should make of our life what we were meant to make of it. Surely we should not waste our one life, but live it as pilgrims in this world (1st Peter 2:11-12, James 4:13-17).

The words "once to die" contradict the theory of re-incarnation (that we live successive earthly lives). The statement, "You must be born again" is no support for re-incarnation. Jesus made it clear that the rebirth of which he spoke was spiritual not physical (John 3:1-21).

4 "...and after this..." —Death is Not the End

In the words "...and after this comes judgment" we have our fourth fact, that death is not the end.

When Hebrews 9:27 says, "after this" it puts life and death into perspective, and supplies the wonderful hope in what otherwise would be a fatalistic and depressing statement.

An old wireless advertisement used to say, "Death is so permanent!" But in one sense death is not permanent at all. There is something after death. This is why Christians speak of death as a "sleep" because it is a temporary state (John 11:11, 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18).

For those who seek and follow Jesus, there lies beyond death "an inheritance imperishable... reserved in heaven" (1st Peter 1:3-9).

5 "...the Judgment" —Death is Your Destiny’s Door

In the words "and after this the Judgment" we find our fifth fact, that death is your destiny’s door.

There is no second chance after death. Hebrews 9:27 is telling us precisely what there is after death -- "the judgment". But those who are "in Christ" need not fear. "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). How do you get "into Christ"? By faith in Jesus' propitiatory death, according to Galatians 3:26-29:

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was predicted by John the Baptist (Mark 1:8) and by Jesus before He ascended to heaven: “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5). This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4).

Those who refuse to believe, or find that too simplistic, too unsophisticated for their discriminating palate, and thereby neglect by their own hand, God's only plan of Salvation, are counted as irretrievably lost. They have everything to fear (John 5:28-29 Matthew 25:31-46).

Conclusion

"It is appointed for men once to die and after this the judgment." Death is appointed, and you are no exception. You only die once, and death is not the end; it is your door to the Eternal destiny you have chosen.

"He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return" (Psalm 78:39).

simplybible.com

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