Introduction by Richard G. Howe, Ph.D.richardghowe.com/indexc_htm_files/Occult1Introduction.pdf · earth or mother nature ... Scott Cunningham 1956-1993. 42 You even see this

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A Christian Perspective on

the OccultIntroduction

by Richard G. Howe, Ph.D.

The Many Faces of the

Occult

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Extreme Occultism: Satanism Moderate Occultism: Witchcraft

Mainstream Occultism: New Age "Christian" Occultism: Word of Faith

Extreme Occultism: Satanism Moderate Occultism: Witchcraft

Mainstream Occultism: New Age "Christian" Occultism: Word of Faith

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Scriptural Background

"Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from

every form of evil."1 Thes. 5:21-22

Scripture Sound Reason

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Satan is able to appear as

righteous and holy.

"For such are false apostles, deceitful

workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder!

For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it

is no great thing if his ministers also transform

themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to

their works."2 Cor. 11:13-15

Evil can hitchhike on the good.

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl

possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought

her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed

Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the

servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly

annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the

name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that

very hour.

Acts 16:16-18

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The Meaning of 'Occult'

The term 'occult' should not to be confused with the similar sounding

word 'cult'.

'Occult' comes for the Latin 'occultus' meaning "hidden or secret."

Other terms one might encounter related to the occult include:

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Witchcraft Paganism

Esoteric beliefs

Hinduism Eastern philosophy Daoism

Mysticism

Satanism Shamanism

Sorcery Spiritism magic

Zen

Witchcraft Paganism

Esoteric beliefs


Mysticism

Satanism Shamanism


Zen

Though there are very important differences among these belief systems, there is

a very important common ground which makes them all

properly called 'occult.'

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Witchcraft Paganism

Esoteric beliefs


Mysticism

Satanism Shamanism


Zen

Each of these groups hold some basic ideas that they regard as "hidden or secret" from the general population.

Spiritual "Law"

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Spiritual "Law" is the notion that the spiritual or non-physical

realm operates according to laws or regularities like

the physical realm does.

Much of occult practice is

mastering these "laws" in order to

manipulate the spiritual realm to

get physical results.

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This is often referred to as

"magic."

Whereas the cause and effect

(action and reaction) aspect of the physical

world is the philosophical foundation of

all modern science ...

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... applying the same paradigm to the non-physical

realm is the essential element

of occult philosophy.

Natural ScienceMastering the laws that describe

the behavior of the physical realm to enable us to control physical things and forces for

the purpose of manipulating the physical world

OccultismMastering the "laws" that

describe the behavior of the non-physical realm to enable us

to control non-physical things and forces for the purpose of

manipulating the physical world

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Natural ScienceMastering the laws that describe

the behavior of the physical realm to enable us to control physical things and forces for

the purpose of manipulating the physical world

OccultismMastering the "laws" that

describe the behavior of the non-physical realm to enable us

to control non-physical things and forces for the purpose of

manipulating the physical world

Isaac Bonewits1949-2010

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Anton Szandor LaVey1930-1997

"Magic... is... the change in situations

or events in accordance with one's will, which

would, using normally accepted methods, be unchangeable."

[Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible (New York: Avan Books, 1969), 110]


"Magic... is... the change in situations

or events in accordance with one's will, which

would, using normally accepted methods, be unchangeable."

[Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible (New York: Avan Books, 1969), 110]

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"Magic is never totally scientifically

explainable." [LaVey, Satanic Bible, 110]

There is "balance in nature, a natural order. That's God. And that's

Satan. Satan is God. He is the representation of the state of flux; he is

the action-reaction; he is the cause and the effect;

he is all the elements interwoven in what we

call evolution." [LaVey, in Lawrence Wright, “Sympathy for the Devil,” Rolling Stone no. 612 (September 5, 1991): 105]


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There is "balance in nature, a natural order. That's God. And that's

Satan. Satan is God. He is the representation of the state of flux; he is

the action-reaction; he is the cause and the effect;

he is all the elements interwoven in what we

call evolution." [LaVey, in Lawrence Wright, “Sympathy for the Devil,” Rolling Stone no. 612 (September 5, 1991): 105]


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Mechanical vs.

Personal

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Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the

LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much

fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is

warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

The "Force"

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There is a hidden force or energy which one can tap into to use for

healing or harm.

Exactly what this force is, according to the occultists,

and what is the best way to tap into it, are what make the

differences between different occult groups.

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This notion of the force serves as the basis of all occultism.

You will hear both personal and

impersonal terms to refer to this force.

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getting in touch with mother earth or mother nature (Witchcraft, Wicca or

Paganism)

the life force (eastern philosophy)

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the prana (Hinduism)

the ki or chi (martial arts)

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adrenal and emotionally induced energy

(LaVey's Satanism)

the "right brain" (pop psychology)

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the universe (New Age)

the Force (Star Wars)

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getting in touch with my higher self, my deeper self, or

my subconscious (pop psychology)

the collective unconscious (Jungian psychology)

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inner counselors (Silva Mind Control and

dozens of "self-help" programs)

spirit guides or the spiritual hierarchy

(New Age and Shamanism)

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extraterrestrials or ET's (UFO cults, Whitley Strieber's

book Communion)

Nevill Drury1947-2013

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Stewart Farrar1916-2000

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Scott Cunningham1956-1993


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You even see this notion of the force making its way into the entertainment

media.

George Lucas on Star Wars

"When I did Star Wars I consciously set about to re-create myths and the

classic mythological motifs and I wanted to

use those motifs to deal with issues that existed

today."

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George Lucas Bill Moyers

"Ultimately, doesn't it take, particularly in religion,

a leap of faith? Kierkegaard's leap of faith?


"Yes. Yes. Definitely. And that's, that's ... you'll

notice Luke uses that quite a bit through the films.

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"Not to rely on his senses, not to rely on the

computers, not to ... but to rely on faith.


"That is what 'Use the Force' is, is a leap of faith,

that there are mysteries and powers larger than we

are ...

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"... and you have to trust your feelings in order to

access these things."

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Human Divinity

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The goal of occultism is to realize one's own divinity or godhood.

One's "godhood" is actualized by the application of various occult

techniques in the attempt to manipulate occult powers.

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Richard Cavendish1930-2016

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Margot Adler1946-2014

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Bruce R. McConkie1915-1985


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Sun Myung Moon1920-2012

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Benny Hinn

God came from heaven;Became a man; Made man into little gods; Went back to heaven as a

man. He faces the Father as a

man. I face devils as the Son of

God.

Benny Hinn

Do you see what I'm talking about?

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Benny Hinn

You say "Benny Hinn, am I a little God?"

You're a son of God, aren't you?

[audience] "Yes."You're a child of God, aren't

you?[audience] "Yes."You're a daughter of God,

aren't you?[audience] "Yes."

Benny Hinn

What else are you?[audience indistinct]Quit your nonsense.What else are you?[from the audience] "I am."

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Benny Hinn

If you say "I am" you're saying "I'm a part of Him." right?

[audience] "Right."Is He God? [audience] "Yes."Are you His offspring?[audience] "Yes."Are you His children?[audience] "Yes."You can't be human.[audience applause]

In our quest for deity, the occult attempts to deceive humans into thinking that we can be like God in His

fundamental attributes.

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Counterfeiting God's Omniscienceclairvoyance, fortune-telling, mind reading, ESP, Ouija Board, Tarot Cards, crystal balls, dowsing

rods, palm reading, spiritism, necromancy, channeling, etc.

Counterfeiting God's Omnipresenceastral travel, out-of-the-body experience,

time travel, remote viewing

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Counterfeiting God's Omnipotencepsychokinesis, mind power, mind control, spells, incantations, visualization, creative imagination,

guided imagery

The Doorway into the Occult:

Altered States of Consciousness

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yoga or meditation relaxation or breathing exercises

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hypnosis

yoga or meditation relaxation or breathing exercises

psychoactive drugs

visualization or imagery

The Techniques of the Occult:

Thinking, Speaking, Visualization

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The Power of Positive Thinking

The Power of the Spoken Word

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The Power of Creative Visualization

The Antiquity of the Occult:The Garden

of Eden

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There are two doctrines commonly found in the occult that were taught

by Satan in the Garden of Eden.

The Denial of DeathGen. 3:4

"Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.'"

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"It is appointed unto man to die

once, and after this the judgment."

Heb. 9:27

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"It is appointed unto man to die

once, and after this the judgment."

Heb. 9:27

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Human DivinityGen. 3:5

"For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing

good and evil."

The Problem with the Occult

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The beliefs and practices of the occult involve a false view of the nature of reality.

The beliefs and practices of the occult serve as a substitute in

one's life for the true God.

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The beliefs and practices of the occult

can open one up to demonic influences.

The Truth about the Occult

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The Bible teaches that the spiritual realm is real but not in the way

the occult teaches. (Acts 8:9, 11; 13:6-8; 16:16; Rev. 18:23)

The Bible teaches against dabbling in this spiritual realm.

(Deut. 18:10-12)

The Bible teaches that these occult "powers" and teachings are from Satan.

(Gen. 3:1-6; 2 Thes. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 4:1)

Documents

Introduction by Richard G. Howe, Ph.D.richardghowe.com/indexc_htm_files/Occult1Introduction.pdf · earth or mother nature ... Scott Cunningham 1956-1993. 42 You even see this