J
Jesusrocks
Guest
What is the Church’s teaching on psycics? Does anything Catholic related say that psycics can tell the truth?
- Status
L
LilyM
Guest
Well the devil can sometimes tell truth - after all, he quoted scripture accurately to Jesus. However the REASON behind his doing so is always to lead us into sin. In this case the sin is pride - seeking knowledge of the future and the afterlife that properly belongs to God and the dear departed alone.
M
Malcolm_McLean
Guest
Catholics believe that the soul, or psyche, is a real entity. So almost by definiton it cannot be entirely subject to noraml physical laws. We also believe that demons are real, and that it is possible to communicate with them.
However it is hard to nail down what those who believe in “psychic phenomena” are actually asserting. Sometimes they claim to be making purely empirical claims about information transfer, other times they have a woolly concept of “energy” that seems to be based on a fundamental misunderstanding of physics, other times their claims are openly demonological.
It is hard to say where wild scientific speculation, which is legitimate, and superstition, which is not, meet. Generally educated Catholics are very sceptical of all actual psychic claims, whilst reserving judgement on whether the phenomena claimed are actually possible.
T
thistle
Guest
Basically, we have to stay away from them!
CCC 2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
S
smog
Guest
But what about Catherine of Sienna? She was psychic or a mystic and had visions. From The Catholic Encyclopedia:
“consulted by the papal legates about the affairs of the Church, and set herself to heal the wounds of her native land by staying the fury of civil war and the ravages of faction. She implored the pope, Gregory XI, to leave Avignon, to reform the clergy and the administration of the Papal States, and ardently threw herself into his design for a crusade, in the hopes of uniting the powers of Christendom against the infidels, and restoring peace to Italy by delivering her from the wandering companies of mercenary soldiers. While at Pisa, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, 1375, she received the Stigmata, although, at her special prayer, the marks did not appear outwardly in her body while she lived.”
It seems to me that based on her experiences she was in fact a psychic and was not only accepted, but utilized by the church.
Personally I think anything can be viewed or used as evil, but like anything, it’s how you take it. I think any “talents” are God given, such as the ability to paint or play an instrument or a gift for numbers etc., and the gift of vision to me seems nothing less than a gift. Of course I’m more of a liberal Catholic than most.
“consulted by the papal legates about the affairs of the Church, and set herself to heal the wounds of her native land by staying the fury of civil war and the ravages of faction. She implored the pope, Gregory XI, to leave Avignon, to reform the clergy and the administration of the Papal States, and ardently threw herself into his design for a crusade, in the hopes of uniting the powers of Christendom against the infidels, and restoring peace to Italy by delivering her from the wandering companies of mercenary soldiers. While at Pisa, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, 1375, she received the Stigmata, although, at her special prayer, the marks did not appear outwardly in her body while she lived.”
It seems to me that based on her experiences she was in fact a psychic and was not only accepted, but utilized by the church.
Personally I think anything can be viewed or used as evil, but like anything, it’s how you take it. I think any “talents” are God given, such as the ability to paint or play an instrument or a gift for numbers etc., and the gift of vision to me seems nothing less than a gift. Of course I’m more of a liberal Catholic than most.
J
johnnycatholic
Guest
I don’t know how you’ve concluded St. Catherine was psychic. She talked to God. He talked to her. He asked her to do stuff. She didn’t tell the future or move stuff with her mind. She served the sick and the poor and when God asked her to, she dictated a letter to the Pope imploring him to move the papacy back to Rome. What is your definition of psychic and how would St. Catherine be one?
I think another way you can tell modern day “psychics” are evil is that they either claim their knowledge comes from their own “gift” or from the dead with no judgment upon whether these “departed spirits” are good or evil. Holy people with infused knowledge give credit to God for the gifts He gives them. They usually don’t seek attention and charge money, either.
I think another way you can tell modern day “psychics” are evil is that they either claim their knowledge comes from their own “gift” or from the dead with no judgment upon whether these “departed spirits” are good or evil. Holy people with infused knowledge give credit to God for the gifts He gives them. They usually don’t seek attention and charge money, either.
S
smog
Guest
I believe I said psychic OR mystic which she is actually referred to both ways in a lot of things I’ve read. I’ve only just begun reading about her so forgive me if my question offended you in some way.
Psychics by the way don’t move things with their minds, that’s telekenesis.
Your statement about
“telling that modern day “psychics” are evil is that they either claim their knowledge comes from their own “gift” or from the dead with no judgment upon whether these “departed spirits” are good or evil.”
is a little vague. I’ve actually had several friends who were psychic as well as met others who did this as their job. Every single one of them attributed their “gift” to God and were very thankful to him for their gift. In discussions with them they were very strong in their beliefs that in order to find happiness one should be in service to God.
Have you met many psychics who are evil?
As for charging money that’s a fine line. The people I do know with these gifts find the gift all encompassing. Meaning to be around other people they see, feel and hear things so regular jobs can be difficult for them. And honestly in my opinion (no offense intended) feel that if God gives you a gift for painting, then paint and sell your paintings. If you’re given a gift of healing, then be a doctor, etc.
I feel like you’ve taken my original question out of context and may have been offended by it. It was not my intent at all. I’m only looking to learn and the only way I know how to do that is to ask questions.
I
InTheWilderness
Guest
I have had at least one experience that some would think of as “psychic”. I don’t really think of it that way. I just chalk it up as something odd I can’t really explain. I don’t know where it came from, how it came about, or why. I certainly didn’t do anything to control it or ask for it.
In general, those things dealing the “psychic” or “paranormal” are quite possibly dangerous. Everyone should be extremely careful with these things. I was once fascinated by all sort of ideas like this, but of late I have realized that many of them are dangerous. While some are not exactly evil in and of themselves, some are. Some of that which is not evil can easily be a stepping stone into things that are.
There is a reason that the Church has a process for discerning when visions and such are from God. That is because many of them are not.
Keep in mind that Satan can appear as an angel of light, and can even use parts of the truth to lead us away from the real truth. I can’t remember the particular part, but there is a case in scripture where a woman who tells fortunes or some such proclaims that Christ is “A way”. This is an example of how we can be mislead by what appears to be the truth. (The worst lies are always perversions of something true.) Christ is The Way, not A way, there are no other ways. Also, not all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Just because they claim to have gift of the spirit, doesn’t always mean that is what it is.)
In general, those things dealing the “psychic” or “paranormal” are quite possibly dangerous. Everyone should be extremely careful with these things. I was once fascinated by all sort of ideas like this, but of late I have realized that many of them are dangerous. While some are not exactly evil in and of themselves, some are. Some of that which is not evil can easily be a stepping stone into things that are.
There is a reason that the Church has a process for discerning when visions and such are from God. That is because many of them are not.
Keep in mind that Satan can appear as an angel of light, and can even use parts of the truth to lead us away from the real truth. I can’t remember the particular part, but there is a case in scripture where a woman who tells fortunes or some such proclaims that Christ is “A way”. This is an example of how we can be mislead by what appears to be the truth. (The worst lies are always perversions of something true.) Christ is The Way, not A way, there are no other ways. Also, not all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Just because they claim to have gift of the spirit, doesn’t always mean that is what it is.)
P
pagan_soul
Guest
I want to comment on the validity of psychics. I don’t think they do anything beyond entertaining people.
If you read up on any attempt to scientifically prove that anyone can read minds, read cards, the future…they all fail.
The illusion of something like tarot card reading works because:
If you read up on any attempt to scientifically prove that anyone can read minds, read cards, the future…they all fail.
The illusion of something like tarot card reading works because:
*]The tarot reader reads other people’s body cues either unconsciously or consciously.
*]The client takes the generalized information given by the tarot card reader and drops anything that isn’t applicable and keeps and emphasises anything that sort of is applicable. Usually their take on what the tarot card reader says isn’t what she said at all.
If it could be proven then it would be used all over by people to win the lottery, avoid accidents, etc. There’s many places that offer huge rewards for proving you can do anything close to what psychics claim.
But I understand that this has no bearing on whether or not it is acceptable for Catholics.
- Status