My sister gave me a ouija board

[Kal2012]

A lot of people simply don’t want to acknowledge that evil spirits are real.

Ouija boards creep me out.

Just because something bad doesn’t happen to you when you use it doesn’t make another person’s experience less valid.

I don’t assume that everything in the world is something I can physically see or hear or touch.

Most priests will tell apparition witnesses to test the spirit and see if it’s really “Mary” (or whoever) because the devil will use religious images to trick us into false belief.

Also, a priest has to go through a lot of training to be a certified exorcist. Apparently, the classes are in Italian and in Rome. (According to the biography of an American exorcist I read). Also, this particular priest had a hard time finding someone he could 1) apprentice with and 2) understand because he wasn’t fluent in Italian.

(I wish I could remember the name of the book, but I can’t…sorry).

There’s also an extensive process that people go through to determine whether they actually need an exorcist or extended time with a psychologist.

However, that’s way off topic and I apologize to OP.

However, I find it arrogant when we deny the supernatural. Science can’t and will never explain everything.

 

[Cupofkindness]

To the OP:

I think the larger issue is discerning the relationship you wish your sister to have with your children. Given that she is lving in darkness (and of course is someone you would want to evangelize), it is important to talk to your children extensively about their aunt and her religion, which is rooted in lies. How to handle this with your little ones, I do not know. But I do believe that you must watch the sister carefully. Especially if she is longing for a family of her own or partial to one of your kids, she might brain wash them over time. Be very careful of her, never leave your children alone with her.

Do you and your husband have a will? If not, please get one so that this woman does not have or will ever have, guardianship over your children. Appoint good Catholics as legal guardians if you do not have any in either of your families.

Pray for your sister, but keep her away from your children as much as you can. She will confuse them greatly and weaken your Catholic parenting.

 

[Gullveig]

To the OP:

I think the larger issue is discerning the relationship you wish your sister to have with your children. Given that she is lving in darkness (and of course is someone you would want to evangelize), it is important to talk to your children extensively about their aunt and her religion, which is rooted in lies. How to handle this with your little ones, I do not know. But I do believe that you must watch the sister carefully. Especially if she is longing for a family of her own or partial to one of your kids, she might brain wash them over time. Be very careful of her, never leave your children alone with her.

Do you and your husband have a will? If not, please get one so that this woman does not have or will ever have, guardianship over your children. Appoint good Catholics as legal guardians if you do not have any in either of your families.

Pray for your sister, but keep her away from your children as much as you can. She will confuse them greatly and weaken your Catholic parenting.

Wow. I have Catholic relatives that basically disowned my mother when she joined another faith and refuse to have anything to do with my brother and I as a result. Now I sort of wonder if something like this is the reason. Ugh.

Anyway, OP, as a pagan, I agree that it’s sort of in poor taste to give a religiously sensitive gift to family members with a different faith. It sounds like you think your sister just didn’t about it and goofed. Since you know your sister better than we do, if you think she didn’t mean any harm, she most likely didn’t. If you don’t want your kids to play with the quija board, get rid of it or give it back to her and politely explain that it’s against the rules of your faith and, while you appreciate that she was trying to be kind to your children by giving them a gift, you just really can’t allow them to play with it. No apologies necessary for what you believe. If she’s a reasonable person, she’ll understand, probably be a little bit sheepish for not having made the connection, and it won’t be a big deal.

 

[Dorothy]

A lot of people simply don’t want to acknowledge that evil spirits are real.

Ouija boards creep me out.

Just because something bad doesn’t happen to you when you use it doesn’t make another person’s experience less valid.

I don’t assume that everything in the world is something I can physically see or hear or touch.

Most priests will tell apparition witnesses to test the spirit and see if it’s really “Mary” (or whoever) because the devil will use religious images to trick us into false belief.

Also, a priest has to go through a lot of training to be a certified exorcist. Apparently, the classes are in Italian and in Rome. (According to the biography of an American exorcist I read). Also, this particular priest had a hard time finding someone he could 1) apprentice with and 2) understand because he wasn’t fluent in Italian.

(I wish I could remember the name of the book, but I can’t…sorry).

There’s also an extensive process that people go through to determine whether they actually need an exorcist or extended time with a psychologist.

However, that’s way off topic and I apologize to OP.

However, I find it arrogant when we deny the supernatural. Science can’t and will never explain everything.

I agree with your post. I believe the book you are referring to is The Rite, by Matt Baglio. Informative book.

 

[constantconvert]

“Thanks, but I don’t want to teach my children to believe in superstitions. Bringing this board into my house… opens the way for irrational thinking… I’m afraid the kids will believe that the Ouija board has supernatural powers, despite all evidence to the contrary.”

What evidence are you referring to which proves that it doesn’t summon spirits? Yes, I realize it may be complete fiction, but why take the risk? People’s experience with demonic oppression via the ouija board may be anecdotal; it may be impossible to p(name removed by moderator)oint causality. Let’s say it IS strictly a parlor game, if you are a Christian why would you even **pretend **to summon, be possessed by, or otherwise try to glean information from spirits other than the Holy Spirit? As you yourself said, the Bible says we shouldn’t do it regardless of whether it works or not.

Get it out of your house now. Put it in the bottom or your garbage can or burn it. Seriously. Don’t mess around with those things.

She took it with her, so it’s gone.

 

[constantconvert]

I talked to her today, and told her that I was sorry that I didn’t show appreciation for her thoughtfulness. I told her that Tarot, runes, the ouija board etc, drew a lot of negative energy, and I didn’t want my kids exposed to it, but that I really appreciated her thinking of us and her generosity.

She was very gracious, and understood.

 

[rayne89]

I talked to her today, and told her that I was sorry that I didn’t show appreciation for her thoughtfulness. I told her that Tarot, runes, the ouija board etc, drew a lot of negative energy, and I didn’t want my kids exposed to it, but that I really appreciated her thinking of us and her generosity.

She was very gracious, and understood.