The Paranormal and The Church

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I have always been entertained by television shows like, Ghost Hunters or Destination Truth which I usually take with a grain of salt and merely just entertainment but I recently ran into some Youtube channels that are way more authentic, I believe, in presentation. They use technology such as EVP Recorders and FLIR Cameras and even a radio like thing that I can’t really describe. I know, in a basic sense, what the Church teaches on these matters. My main question is on Electronic Voice Phenomenon. I heard someone say that the Church has supported research into EVPs. Is there anything to back it up because it sounds a lot like Divination to me. Also is it a sin to simply document supposed paranormal events in order to better understand the unknown without any direct contact with demons or malevolent spirits? Does it go against reason and faith? I know St. Thomas believed in ghosts as well as Dr. Kreeft yet St. Augustine said that there can be no such thing. I know this is a lot but this has been bothering me for a while.

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The entire interest in, or fascination with the dark/frightening side of the paranormal (supernatural) is not healthy, IMO. Search for the occult and you are guaranteed to find it. What then?

Rather, should the occult find you, the Church has strong medicine available.
 
I’m not frightened nor am I searching for the Occult. Why accuse me of such? I am just asking an innocent question and I would appreciate an answer. Not pointing fingers…
 
Are you saying its wrong for me to even bring up these questions? Have I opened up some grave sin by doing so?
 
Yshua02 said:
I heard someone say that the Church has supported research into EVPs. Is there anything to back it up because it sounds a lot like Divination to me.
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Did you do your own search? I’ve never heard of anyone in the Church doing anything like that.
Yshua02 said:
Also is it a sin to simply document supposed paranormal events in order to better understand the unknown without any direct contact with demons or malevolent spirits? Does it go against reason and faith?
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If you did some research into exorcisms and what goes on in them you might find some insight into your question.
 
Yes I did research. Apparently two priests discovered it by accident while recording chants in the 1950s and Pius XII approved it… I dunno what to think about it.
 
Yshua02 said:
I’m not frightened nor am I searching for the Occult. Why accuse me of such?
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I mean, I don’t think anyone’s “accusing”. But the way you wrote your original post, yeah, you do make it sound like you’re searching for the Occult. That is, you’re fascinated with it at least on the level of entertainment. In your own words:
Yshua02 said:
I have always been entertained by television shows like, Ghost Hunters or Destination Truth
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I think the poster you’re responding to is just pointing out, that these forms of ‘entertainment’ don’t seem to have much positive spiritual benefit (and they have plenty of potential spiritual harms, since many people (maybe not you) do go on to try to imitate what they see in the videos, and go “ghost hunting” or play with Ouija Boards to try to “document” paranormal activity).

If God wants to send a spirit to talk to us (aka an angelic visitation), He’ll surely take care of that without us needing to be thinking about it in advance. They’ll just show up like Gabriel to Mary. As for the rest… I don’t have the specific answers to your questions, but I was personally fascinated with the occult as a teenager (I’ll own that totally. The first religion I ever explored was Wicca). And I honestly don’t think it ever adds anything to anyone’s life to teeter on the edge of ‘entertainment’ about it that’s done in a ‘reality’ style (as opposed to, say, a totally fictionalized Hollywood movie like Ghostbusters; that’s less of an issue). There’s plenty to get on with in terms of what God is calling us to in everyday life, and that’s gonna be in the more ‘boring’ category of loving our neighbour, and worshipping God at Mass, through liturgy of the hours, praying the rosary, etc.

There’s a difference between ‘sin’ and ‘near occasion to sin’… But wisdom helps us avoid both. (And also to avoid near occasion to just straight-up harm.) And I’d suggest that avoiding this ‘ghost hunter’ and other ‘paranormal entertainment/alleged documentation’ stuff is probably best for our health.

Not trying to stop anyone from responding to you about your specific EVP question though.
 
I appreciate your response. I feel like no one is going to reply to my EVP question. I hope someday when I’m Heaven that’ll I finally get some answers to all these questions from the source itself. Or maybe the Beatific Vision will be all I need.
 
Do you understand the Church teaching on this. Do you understand what ‘ghost activity’ is attributed to by exorcists?
 
Ok so any interest in the paranormal or curiosity is Occult? That doesn’t make any sense to me. I have listened to Ripperger and all he ever talks about is demons never anything else.
 
I’m assuming you’re talking about demonic entities trying to scare us and lure us in, than yes. I don’t think thats always whats happening though.
 
I think the Beatific Vision will definitely include all you’re seeking, and more. 🙂

And I think there is certainly room to consider the topic of God’s spiritual creatures (that is, angelic beings, and humans in the state we exist in when our body and soul are separated), within a healthy Catholic framework. I wouldn’t necessarily give up Googling what the Church teaches about it – just be aware that the Church avoids declaring ‘how things are’ beyond what she protects of the revelation that’s been entrusted to her. So you may find a number of acceptable types of speculations about paranormal phenomena, and speculative assessments of individual cases – but I don’t know that the Church will ever get so specific as declaring anything about this EVP thing (and personally I’m skeptical about most anything that ends up on those ghost hunter type shows. I honestly think it’s mostly entertainment, static, and possibly even staging things). But yes, it’s not forbidden to be interested – just… oh, a Fr. Mike video comes to mind, about curiosity. One that really helped me (because this is absolutely something I struggle with!) Only you can probably assess whether your interest in the paranormal phenomena you describe is a matter of curiosity, or studiousness, but here’s the clip:

 
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Not spirits themselves but trauma on the areas where people have committed suicide, were murdered or something dark like that. No necessarily demons.
 
Why would any imprint of trauma be left, the person is gone, the soul is gone to its judgement.
 
Again I dunno… I’m not a theologian or something like that… What do you think it is?
 
Demons.

God tells us specifically , in Sacred Scripture, not to mess with this stuff .
 
Cuz I just honestly wanted to see what you guys would say. I now know that CAF is not the place to discuss the paranormal 🤨
 
I think , if you are asking, that you should end your interest in the paranormal and this area and concentrate on Yshua and His teachings 🙂
Discussing the paranormal is discussing the occult and we are clearly told not to engage in it. We are Catholic, this is a Catholic web forum.

You list your religion as Catholic too. Read the catechism on this and even email Fr Ripperger on this issue if you cannot find his youtubes on it, Also look at Fulton Sheen and Fr Hardon you tubes.
 
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