Can a Catholic study the paranormal?

[Lowyoyo]

i know it’s wrong to try to see into the future or use ouija boards or to try to summon spirits, or seek their help, etc. but i was wondering if it is considered to be against the Church to simply study paranormal topics and events, try to record them, debunk or acknowledge them, etc.

also, a separate question- is it wrong if during these experiments to try to invoke a response from them, for the sake of getting a recorded response, not using it as a means to ask questions about the future or advices, etc.

is it rational to see this as a type of scientific event that may or may not occur here on earth, and is it wrong to pursue discoveries in this area? specifically, the study of different types of energy, how it manifests, where it’s drawn from, etc. and of course, if it has anything to do with the afterlife or different spiritual energies.

the last time i asked this question i didn’t really get a response, so i’m crossing my fingers!

thanks in advance!

 

[Barbkw]

Paranormal.

As in the blue light tv specials where a camera person runs around filming the inside of a person’s nose as they stand screaming at some “apparition” ?

Those camera angles were very effective on the Blair Witch Project. They’ve been copied more often than Meg Ryans’ fake orgasm to sell hair shampoo.

 

[Walter_Casler]

Hey,
These shows are great to watch, but you must remember, that many times they come across dark forces, These forces can and will find a way into your heart, mind and even could make your life a “living hell”. They will do things to distroy your faith in God, even split up your family.
So please play it safe, before you do anything, do talk to a priest. Trust me on this.

God Bless

 

[nickybr38]

I am not the Church and I cannot speak on behalf of the Church but here are my thoughts on this.

I don’t feel it’s wrong to read books about paranormal activity and/or to try to debunk something that is seemingly paranormal (by searching the house when you hear a strange noise, or trying to figure out what caused that shadow on the wall).

However, I do feel very strongly that any attempt AT ALL to communicate with these ‘entities’, ‘energies’, etc is wrong. I also feel trying to ‘manipulate’ the energy around us is wrong. I would argue that if there IS energy around us that it is up to God how it is used, not us.

EVP (electronic voice phenomenon), video recordings in the dark to try and capture ‘spirits’… these things are attempts at communication. Whether you are using it to debunk paranormal activity or to try and capture some proof of an afterlife is immaterial. Either way it’s forbidden in the Bible.

This is just my personal opinion (and speaking from some experience - if you DO manage to communicate with something you’ll really wish you hadn’t. Some doors are hard to close once you open them).

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

What is the paranormal? Can it be separated from the Occult?

Most of these types of investigations are trying to see if there is a “lost soul” present.

The Teaching of the Catholic Church goes against that possibility. Here is what the Catechism says.
1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, – or immediate and everlasting damnation.
So right after death the soul either goes to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell. There is no way for a soul to stay on earth to “haunt” a place or to be present to provide any sort of response that you try to provoke.

So what can this be if it is the supernatural? Demons. Demons are not something that anyone should try to deal with. If a place seems “haunted” a priest should be called in to bless the place as soon as possible. If more is needed he should know how to contact the priest that is the exorsit of the diocese.

There is nothing to investigate here.

 

[nickybr38]

What is the paranormal? Can it be separated from the Occult?

Most of these types of investigations are trying to see if there is a “lost soul” present.

The Teaching of the Catholic Church goes against that possibility. Here is what the Catechism says.
1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, – or immediate and everlasting damnation.
So right after death the soul either goes to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell. There is no way for a soul to stay on earth to “haunt” a place or to be present to provide any sort of response that you try to provoke.

So what can this be if it is the supernatural? Demons. Demons are not something that anyone should try to deal with. If a place seems “haunted” a priest should be called in to bless the place as soon as possible. If more is needed he should know how to contact the priest that is the exorsit of the diocese.

There is nothing to investigate here.

Nicely stated.

 

[PJM]

=Lowyoyo;7230265]i know it’s wrong to try to see into the future or use ouija boards or to try to summon spirits, or seek their help, etc. but i was wondering if it is considered to be against the Church to simply study paranormal topics and events, try to record them, debunk or acknowledge them, etc.

also, a separate question- is it wrong if during these experiments to try to invoke a response from them, for the sake of getting a recorded response, not using it as a means to ask questions about the future or advices, etc.

is it rational to see this as a type of scientific event that may or may not occur here on earth, and is it wrong to pursue discoveries in this area? specifically, the study of different types of energy, how it manifests, where it’s drawn from, etc. and of course, if it has anything to do with the afterlife or different spiritual energies.

the last time i asked this question i didn’t really get a response, so i’m crossing my fingers!

thanks in advance!

 

[Lowyoyo]

well no, not exactly like that. it does require some onsite experimentation, but not very similar to what’s on TV. and no “psychics” or “sensitives”. 80% of the research is done offsite, in an office, and there’s a lot of historical and geographical research involved as well, among other things. it’s actually a very complex, often uneventful study, not an attempt to mirror a TV show that was bent towards couch riding thrill seekers.

Ghost hunting TV shows are to paranormal research, what Lego’s are to architectural research. If that.

I am curious because I am studying Catholicism and would like to know if this is something that would be an issue.

 

[PJM]

=Lowyoyo;7230265]i know it’s wrong to try to see into the future or use ouija boards or to try to summon spirits, or seek their help, etc. but i was wondering if it is considered to be against the Church to simply study paranormal topics and events, try to record them, debunk or acknowledge them, etc.

also, a separate question- is it wrong if during these experiments to try to invoke a response from them, for the sake of getting a recorded response, not using it as a means to ask questions about the future or advices, etc.

is it rational to see this as a type of scientific event that may or may not occur here on earth, and is it wrong to pursue discoveries in this area? specifically, the study of different types of energy, how it manifests, where it’s drawn from, etc. and of course, if it has anything to do with the afterlife or different spiritual energies.

the last time i asked this question i didn’t really get a response, so i’m crossing my fingers!

thanks in advance!

par·a·nor·mal   /ˌpærəˈnɔrməl/ [par-uh-nawr-muhl]
–adjective
of or pertaining to the claimed occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation, as psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, or other purportedly supernatural phenomena.

THESE events MOST Likely are not from or OF God. Therefore they should be avoided. Spnd the effort in learning and sharing your faith instead.

 

[Barbkw]

At the end of all of your study on the paranormal, where will this knowledge take you? What is it that you hope to find?

Time here is short, we never know which day will be our last. I’d suggest spending it on more worthwhile endeavors, with Christ as your guide.

 

[Lowyoyo]

Thanks for the replies, they are very helpful.

Do you think that it could be possible that the “spirit world” could be traces of the souls in purgatory? Who’s to say that purgatory couldn’t be spiritually on earth? it is kind of a half-way point, and the “spirits” seem to be… kind of… “half here”.

 

[Lowyoyo]

I’m going to reflect on this a bit more. some of what you guys have said does make rational sense, but i feel like so much can be learned about different uses of and types of energy, and there are very real and unexplained events happening all around us… it’s a shame that it may be on the Catholic blacklist. Not that there’s any contest if one had to choose between the two.

 

[Barbkw]

You must have missed this:

“The Teaching of the Catholic Church goes against that possibility. Here is what the Catechism says.”

1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, – or immediate and everlasting damnation.

“So right after death the soul either goes to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell. There is no way for a soul to stay on earth to “haunt” a place or to be present to provide any sort of response that you try to provoke.”

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Thanks for the replies, they are very helpful.

Do you think that it could be possible that the “spirit world” could be traces of the souls in purgatory? Who’s to say that purgatory couldn’t be spiritually on earth? it is kind of a half-way point, and the “spirits” seem to be… kind of… “half here”.

The Church does not understand it in this manner.

EVP is just a modern form of attempting to contact the dead which is proscribed by the Church.

 

[BluesPicker]

Here is a link to “Ask an Apologist” forum here at Catholic Answers and discusses 3 types of spirits:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=14715

    It is my understanding that to make a test to communicate  or test for the presence of  spirits is a   mortal sin.    This is clear to me.  Even pictures taking pictures with the "intention" of seeing a demon is a sin.   Furthermore  a very bad sin.

    This  can and may well open you to the extraordinary attacks of the devil.  Life is hard enough without this kind of trouble.

 

[Lowyoyo]

Well I guess i need to start thinking about a new hobby.

I’m sure the old hens at the knitting circle will be happy to have me.

seriously though. BoO0oO0oO0o… not in a scary way, in a disapproving way.

Thanks for the insight.