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Bohm_Bawerk
Guest
Are these supposed to be angels? Are “good spirits” from God? What is meant by “good spirits”?
Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
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MtnDwellar
Guest
Need context and source.
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Bohm_Bawerk
Guest
You usually get it from people in the Occult, that there are “good spirits” and “bad spirits”. As of recent however, I’ve heard some Catholics mention this. Are there really “good spirits”? What makes them different from angels? What is their relationship with God? Are they even from God?
I am quite certain that I’m not the only person on CAF to have heard this term used before.
Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
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His_Daughter
Guest
In the spiritual realm, there is: God, angels, demons, the devil, and the souls of people who have died. There are no other “spirits”. Often when those in the occult contact “good spirits”, they are demons in disguise (it’s the same with “spirit guides”, or contacting people’s dead relatives). The real good spirits are Angels 
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MtnDwellar
Guest
Have I mentioned on any of the other threads that you post great questions?
Yes, the terms good and bad spirits are used on many occasions by various people. We have all heard the terms. When the bible mentions spirits it is usually in the context of being beguiled or tempted by them. It is referring to demons.
Then, of course, there is the Holy Spirit, which is a totally different kind of spirit.
The bible refers to ghosts, which we have come to know as disembodied human spirits. When the resurrected Christ first appeared to the apostles, they thought they were seeing a ghost. The most famous reference is from the old testament, when Saul goes to a medium who conjures up the ghost of the prophet Samuel for purposes of discussion. Some people interpret the story as the medium evoked a demon instead of the ghost of Samuel. In any case it is made clear, by Samuel rebuking Saul, that conjuring spirits of any kind is not a good idea.
The answer from His_Daughter is the RCC basic stand. The Church has acknowledged the possibility that a soul from purgatory may manifest on earth while it is seeking prayers for its own redemption. There you have it, God, angels, demons, and souls from purgatory. Which of these are good? You have to think only God and angels.
His_Daughter is probably correct when stating that occultists who claim to be in some form of contact with spirits are communicating with demons. They misunderstand because the demons are consummate deceivers.
St. Thomas tells us that every angel is an individual species. They are as different from each other as possible and still be called angels. The variations shouldn’t be surprising. If we look at God’s creation around us, we can see that He has a great imagination and an eye for detail. Given that we have broken down the study of our world into many sciences, with specialties within, and sub-specialties within them, and one man can only thoroughly understand but a small part of God’s creation on earth, should we expect to understand the spiritual kingdom built by the same Creator?
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Impertinens
Guest
Apart from the angels, the Saints are spirits (well, souls, to be precise) and they are obviously good, but I do not think this is what people mean when they use the expression “good spirits”…
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kenofken
Guest
For my money, “good spirits” is a 12-16 year old single malt scotch or vsop cognac!
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jazzbaby1
Guest
LOL!
OP, are you by chance confusing “good spirits” with “Holy Souls”? The souls of those in Purgatory are referred to as the Holy Souls. And I must agree that you ask great questions!
Have a blessed day!
OP, are you by chance confusing “good spirits” with “Holy Souls”? The souls of those in Purgatory are referred to as the Holy Souls. And I must agree that you ask great questions!
Have a blessed day!
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Bohm_Bawerk
Guest
No, I really do mean “good spirits”. You often hear it in the Occult, but in recent times I’ve heard some Catholics mention it too. I’m a little bit aware of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. . .how they can’t pray for themselves, but they can pray for others and we can pray for them. I sound a little bit crazy now, but I really do mean “good spirits”.
Thank you,
**Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
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