The dangers of dabbling in the Occult, New Age, and NeoPaganism

[mommamia]

One problem I see is, define these things. What is Occult, or New Age? Some would claim demons in practicing yoga or meditation. I certainly wouldn’t define either of these as occult.

Energy healing? Reiki? Acknowledging that there is an energy to the body? Chi?

Obviously, anything that leads you to call on spirits, or worship other gods is out of line. But we have to allow for the fact that we don’t know everything.

Using the energy naturally present in the body isn’t evil IMHO…using stretches that help physical pain is good! Meditation is just a continuation of prayer…

It would be sweet if this thread hadn’t degenerated into a silly war of words… And we could truly talk about this subject.

It’s Ok to ignore someone ya know

 

[Daizies]

One problem I see is, define these things. What is Occult, or New Age? Some would claim demons in practicing yoga or meditation. I certainly wouldn’t define either of these as occult.

Energy healing? Reiki? Acknowledging that there is an energy to the body? Chi?

With Yoga, I know it tends to be very controversial. Some people say no, some say yes unlimited, and some say conditionally yes. I fall into the conditional camp. I think if it is done without the spirituality, fine. But I also think that those who are weak and tempted in that area of spirituality (new age) would be best to avoid it altogether.
Meditation - well, each religion has its own form, and I know there are plenty of resources for Christian meditation
Energy Healing and Reiki, personally I think is pushing it, but I have to finish reading that encyclical I posted a link to earlier before I totally commit to a position on it.

It would be sweet if this thread hadn’t degenerated into a silly war of words… And we could truly talk about this subject.

I second that

 

[PumpkinSeed]

Nothing will happen. You cant play with magic because it doesn’t exist

 

[Daizies]

Nothing will happen. You cant play with magic because it doesn’t exist

Maybe in your experience, but not in mine

 

[PumpkinSeed]

Maybe in your experience, but not in mine

I see magic as magic of like harry potter for example.

And while it may look fun (and those are great movies btw), It’s not real.

I do not believe in casting spells or curses or brewing potions and all that. Its childish and fake.

 

[Daizies]

I see magic as magic of like harry potter for example.

And while it may look fun (and those are great movies btw), It’s not real.

I do not believe in casting spells or curses or brewing potions and all that. Its childish and fake.

I would agree that movie “magic” is fake. But again, while you are entitled to believe all magic is fake, I don’t have the luxury of that opinion. But I’m not going to argue with you further - as I said to someone else earlier, I do not expect to change the minds of random strangers on the internet.

 

[Hunter24]

It would be sweet if this thread hadn’t degenerated into a silly war of words… And we could truly talk about this subject.

Third it!

I’ve herd that Hindus actualy find it very offensive that people try to seperate the physical yoga from the spiritual aspect. For a Hindu yoga is a religious experience, not just exercise.

 

[TEPO]

Nothing will happen. You cant play with magic because it doesn’t exist

But that hasnt stopped people from practicing it, and from wanting to “believe” in it. If I remember correctly, women were burned at the steak in Europe and in America because they practiced witchcraft… Or at least they were accused of being witches.

 

[Patavium]

But that hasnt stopped people from practicing it, and from wanting to “believe” in it. If I remember correctly, women were burned at the steak in Europe and in America because they practiced witchcraft… Or at least they were accused of being witches.

That is an important difference between Wicca and Christianity. We do not cast spells thinking we have power or we can talk to gods. We submit ourselves to the Will of God.

I recommend reading Nabooru’s testimonial. This is typical for most people that have such a desire to believe they are powerful, and they can justify themselves through their own acts.

 

[Hunter24]

"pumpkinseed:

Nothing will happen. You cant play with magic because it doesn’t exist

Harry Potter magic is certainly fake, every time I hear someone say Harry Potter makes kids become witches or Wiccan I laugh because Harry’s magic is of a totaly different nature.
Harry’s magic is entirely secular, his books have nothing to do with religion and his magic is for practical purposes (move this over there, change this to that, ect). Wiccan and Occult magic is very different, and very real. It takes alot of work to cast a spell properly, it takes time and alot of energy. You don’t just point a wand and yell “expecto patroneum” (infact most wiccans don’t use wands at all, we use knifes) there is a lot of work that goes into it, and to reach full effect alot of things play in. Proper casting of a circle, astronomy, items or incense, the amount and source of the energy being used, and the will of the caster are all very important. It’s not Hogwarts but it IS real.

That is an important difference between Wicca and Christianity. We do not cast spells thinking we have power or we can talk to gods. We submit ourselves to the Will of God.

I recommend reading Nabooru’s testimonial. This is typical for most people that have such a desire to believe they are powerful, and they can justify themselves through their own acts.

I thought Christians talked to god when they pray? Talking to god seams to be a common thread in Christianity. As for this power stuff, there are plenty of people everywhere who are on an ego trip, religiouse or otherwise. I have alwase maintained that I am a man, nothing more. For a true Wiccan, rather than a “fluffy bunny” magic and the ultimate reality are intertwined, they are omnipresent and we are all part of it. Master Obi-Wan said “It’s an energy field made up of all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, binds the galaxy together”. Now he is talking about the force but that is an almost perfect description of the Wiccan god. Wicca isn’t a quest for power it’s a quest for oneness with existence. Magic is just one way of communing with this “force” (but it is not as some say, equivalent to prayer, which is a submissive act)