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Strange as it may seem, Jesus Christ already had a wife! In Exodus 19 and 24, the LORD of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ Himself (I Cor. 10:4) made a covenant with ancient Israel at Mount Sinai. This covenant was a marriage agreement. Notice Jeremiah 3:14: here the LORD (Christ) commands His wife, “Turn, O backsliding children … for I am married unto you.”

But ancient Israel did not carry out her part of the marriage covenant. She was an unfaithful wife (Ezek. 16). God had made His righteous Law a part of that covenant. But because of sin, which is the transgression of that Law, God had to separate Himself from His wife (Isa. 50:1; 59:1-2). “And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce” (Jer. 3:8).

Though He put her away, the marriage covenant Christ anciently made with Israel was binding until death. Neither party was free to marry another (Matt. 19:3-9). However, Christ’s death on the stake freed Him from that marriage (Rom. 7:1-4).

Human marriages fail as a result of broken laws. Breaking laws again by allowing divorce and remarriage, contrary to God’s law, would only create more misery. To fully understand that God hates divorce, we have to prove and understand from the Bible that human marriage is a type of the coming future marriage to Jesus Christ. Look at what God says in Mat. 19:8:

“He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so,” (Matt. 19:8)

He warns us to be very cautious in our thoughts and dealings with divorce, which is never an acceptable choice to God, not even for reason of adultery, addiction, spiritism, criminal or immoral conduct.

God’s Laws on Divorce Simplified

The laws of God concerning marriage and divorce are really quite simple. Jesus Christ explained them so that even a little child could understand them. “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:4-6).

Here Jesus Christ cut through a lot of chaff and human reasoning. He showed that man was created for marriage and what God had joined together should not be “put asunder.” Some people in Christ’s day did not like His answer. Men still don’t like this answer. But this law is the foundation of the marriage institution and it is the basis of family life. As Mr. Armstrong stated, this “is the Divine law on which the stability—or the fate of a nation rests!” (Ibid).

The intellectuals and lawyers of Christ’s time quizzed Christ a little further on this issue. Remember, they didn’t like His answer. “They said unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry” (Matt. 19:7-10).

This was a stinging answer from Christ. He said that Moses allowed them divorce because of the hardness of their carnal hearts. In other words, ancient Israel could not understand the spiritual dimension to God’s purpose for marriage or live by the spiritual laws concerning marriage. Jesus Christ was essentially putting God’s truth about marriage and divorce “back-on-track.”

Christ was very clear here that God never intended to allow divorce—“from the beginning it was not so!” Christ also stated that to separate what God had joined together and remarry another is committing adultery.

In these verses, Christ allowed an exception to God’s rule—“except it be for fornication.” Simple enough, right? No, we also need to know what the word “fornication” means.

The Porneia Controversy

What exactly does the word “fornication,” as used by Christ in Matt. 19 mean? This word in the Greek language is porneia. It does not mean adultery in marriage, nor does it give adultery as a reason for allowing a divorce. Granted, the Greek porneia has more than one meaning. So does the English word, “saw.” It may mean “did see,” or it may mean an instrument with jagged teeth for cutting through wood. We determine by its use in the sentence, in the context of that sentence, which meaning of the word applies. So it is in the case in which Jesus used the Greek word porneia. The translators of the King James Bible in 1611 knew that Jesus intended the definition “fornication” as an act prior to marriage.

Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 5:32, “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”

Consider that! If in this case porneia should have been translated “adultery” instead of premarital fornication, then, in the English look how absurd would be Jesus’ statement. He would have said, whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of adultery, causeth her to commit adultery. In other words, he divorced her for the sin of adultery, and causes her to commit again the same act for which he divorced her. That would not make sense!

Further, same sentence (verse 32): “whosoever shall marry her” (that is put away for adultery) “committeth adultery.” He who would marry this particular divorced woman would be committing adultery only because she is still the wife of the man who divorced her! To say that Jesus gave adultery as grounds for divorce introduces confusion, and misrepresents what Jesus said to be ridiculous!

The simple fact is that the word “porneia” does describe premarital sexual relations—a capital sin. Jesus Christ used porneia to describe illicit sexual relations prior to marriage—only! He was not describing illicit sexual conduct after marriage.

Marriage not binding in case of premarital adultery

The only way that a man marrying a divorced woman commits adultery is if the woman is still the bound wife of the man who divorced her. But when Jesus gave the only grounds as premarital fornication, that can mean only that the marriage was not binding—God never bound that marriage in the first place. The woman had committed fornication prior to the marriage, had not told the man, and therefore he was defrauded—the marriage was never binding! Why? Because God knew, but the man did not. God never bound that marriage. The man was unknowingly defrauded. If she had told him, and he forgave her anyway, then the marriage would have been bound by God. In that case if he divorced her he did not do so legally in God’s sight, and he caused her, by marrying another, to commit adultery.

In both Matthew 5 and Matthew 19, both the translated English words ‘fornication” and “adultery” are mentioned. In the original Greek the word translated “fornication” was porneia, and a different Greek word was used for adultery, moicheia. If Jesus had meant “adultery” to be the only grounds for divorce and remarriage, he would have used the word moicheia instead of porneia. The very fact He did use the Greek porneia in the same sentence with moicheia shows definitely He did not intend porneia to mean adultery—unfaithfulness after marriage.

So, porneia does not mean adultery. Even God and Jesus Christ show us through the Bible that an adulterous act is not grounds for divorce.  “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD” (Jer. 3:1). Ancient Israel played the harlot with God, and God actually encouraged Israel to return unto him.

A liberal ministry often fails to address two other scriptures related to the laws governing marriage and divorce. Paul wrote to the Romans, “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man” (Rom. 7:1-3). Paul shows here very clearly that only death can sever a marriage bound by God. In essence, if a man and a woman married and could live forever, then their marriage would be forever! Our marriage with Christ will be forever. Christ already is spirit. We will become spirit at the first resurrection. Because we will live eternally, our marriage will be eternal. Our human marriages must picture our marriage to Christ in faithfulness.

Paul also taught, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife” (I Cor. 7:10-11). Paul explains here that if married people divorce, they must either reconcile with their mate or remain single.

Only two reasons for divorce

First, Jesus gave fornication (prior to marriage) as the grounds for nullifying a marriage. This clearly was a form of fraud. When discovered (in nearly all cases) immediately after marriage, it simply meant God, knowing of this fraud, had actually not bound the marriage—and what followed therefore was actually an annulment, not a divorce.

However this did not apply in cases of marriages by unconverted people. God never bound them anyway—they were bound by man’s law, and any divorce and/or remarriage would be according to man’s civil law. But the church would not apply this annulment if the couple had continued living together for a period of time. There could be other types of fraud—such as marriage enforced at the point of a gun.

The second cause for divorce is based on 1 Corinthians 7. Paul there speaks, verses 8-9, to the unmarried and widows. In verses 10-11 he speaks to the married. Beginning verse 12 he speaks to “the rest.” If a converted man has a wife…if she be pleased to live with him, he must not divorce her—he has no grounds for divorce and remarriage.

Likewise the woman in God’s Church, if she has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her despite her religion, she shall not leave him (verse 13).

But if the unbelieving one leaves—cuts off the marriage because of the Church member’s religion—let him or her depart. Now notice this! The believing Church member is not given grounds for breaking off the marriage. It is only IF the unbelieving one leaves—severs the marriage relationship—then and only then is the believer (Church member) no longer bound and free to obtain a divorce (verse 15).

This could occur in at least two ways. 1) The believing Church member has been newly converted, and the mate refuses to live with him or her because of the religion. 2) Both had been in the Church, but one falls away, turns bitter against the Church, refuses to live as husband or wife with the still loyal member. In this case the embittered one, leaving the Church, has become an unbeliever.

We must take special note of several facts:

“Fornication” or premarital sex is grounds for annulment, not divorce. With this understanding the only cases for allowable divorce and remarriage within God’s Church are: the case of an unconverted mate departing the marriage over religion; or the case of a member becoming an unbeliever and then departing the marriage. The converted mate is then free to remarry, but only within God’s Church. Why? See II Cor. 6:14:

“Do not keep company with those who have not faith: for what is there in common between righteousness and evil, or between light and dark?”

Believers should not marry unbelievers, as this scripture shows. it creates confusion and disharmony.

We must remember that God hates “putting away.” If a Christian is already married to an unbelieving mate who is please to dwell with him, it would be a grave sin for a that member to manipulate an unconcerted mate to leave a marriage. Living with an unconcerted mate can be difficult at times, even if that mate is kind and supportive. But that is not a valid reason for “pushing” that mate out of a marriage.

Again, we must look at marriage to an unconverted mate from God’s perspective:

Now Paul gives an important reason for the converted mate continuing in the marriage, IF the unbelieving one is willing. Notice I Corinthians 7:14: “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now they are holy.”

To thoroughly understand this we need to go clear back to Adam and Eve. When God drove them out of the Garden of Eden, and with sword-flaming angels barred anyone from going back in—or having access to the tree of life (the Holy Spirit)—God said, in effect:

“You have made your decision. You have rebelled against me, denied me as your God, your Revealer of knowledge, your Ruler. Therefore I sentence you and the World that shall be born from you to 6,000 years of being CUT OFF from me—except for the VERY FEW I shall specially call into my service to prepare for the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus confirmed this when He said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44).

Now the nation of ancient Israel was specially called by God the Father for a special purpose—even though they were still cut off from receiving the Holy Spirit.

But the unconverted mate is put in a special category—not called necessarily to receiving the Holy Spirit or spiritual conversion—but simply NOT CUT OFF from God. They are free to seek God, if they will, and to become converted. They are placed in a special category, neither converted, or CALLED for God’s special duty in conversion—but, on the other hand, NOT actually CUTOFF—not in the category Jesus spoke of, saying no such unbeliever CAN come to Jesus, except by special call to salvation by God the Father. They are free to seek God and to seek conversion IF THEY WILL—not CUT OFF!…

If the husband or wife who is IN the Church divorces the unbelieving nonmember who is willing to continue the marriage, that Church member puts the unconcerted mate in the CUTOFF category—whereas such nonmember mate might have been saved for eternal life in God’s Kingdom.

We must never forget that the only way to fully understand the Bible on the issue of divorce and remarriage is by seeking God’s will.

Christ will soon marry again. Only this time He will marry a repentant, forgiven, sinless “spiritual Israel.” This is the New Testament Church soon to enter the Kingdom of God. Read Revelation 19:7: “The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”

www.ghosttruth.com

Can men actually communicate with departed spirits? What about the witch of Endor? What does the Bible say of spiritism?

Granted, there is trickery and deception. Houdini, one of the greatest trick artists of modern times, exposed numerous frauds. So also have Thurston, Walsh, Gearson and many others. Some leading spiritists have been convicted of plain dishonesty or common fraud and imprisoned. Yet not all spiritism is fraud or sleight of hand!

When all the frauds, the tricks, the deceptions are carefully and scientifically sifted out, there remains something to be accounted for—some real supernatural events that cannot be explained away!

Wicked spirits in control

Whether or not human beings like to admit it, the Bible plainly teaches that supernatural powers control and operate this world. The apostle Paul was inspired to write that human beings must struggle “against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places” (Ephesians 6:12, Authorized Version, marginal reading).

Jesus Christ never contested Satan’s claim that all the nations of the world were his. Said Satan: “All this authority” —the control of the nations—”I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be yours” (Luke 4:6-7). Little wonder, then, that spiritism should be manifest in a world controlled and operated by spirits in high places!

Modern spiritism had its birth at Hydesville, N.Y., in 1848. It began with the famous Rochester knockings heard by the Fox sisters. Now, spiritism has obtained millions of followers. It is a religion masquerading under the name of Christianity.

The dead cannot talk with the living

Notice what Jesus said about the dead: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth . . . to the resurrection” (John 5:28-29). This scripture clearly points out that the dead are still in their grave and cannot communicate with the living! But Satan has to perpetuate his lie! He must make it appear that the dead can communicate with the living. That is why the manifestations of spiritism exist—to perpetuate a lie!

Spiritism is a work of darkness! Paul warns us, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

Millions of dollars have been filched from unthinking people who have lost loved ones and who have sought to contact them in the darkness of spiritist seances. GOD’S blessings come without price. But it costs money to fellowship spiritism’s darkness!

Extorting money from innocent victims on behalf of the dead is a racket almost 6,000 years old! Spiritism, however, is not its only form. This racket even manifests itself in powerful denominations. Sorrowing relatives are asked to pay to relieve their loved ones from suffering supposedly occurring on the other side of death!

Two kinds of angels

Since not all spiritism is trickery, and since the dead cannot communicate with the living, then what power causes the phenomena of spiritism?

Remember that this world is controlled by supernatural spiritual powers. Satan is called the ruler of this world in three distinct scriptures—John 12:31, 14:30 and 16:11. He is the god of this age whom the world worships in ignorance! Paul said, “The god of this world [or "age"] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Corinthians 4:4, AV).

The Bible reveals that there are only two classes of spirit beings created by God. Man is not spirit. He is mortal flesh. Paul wrote of man, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:53).

Here are the two classes of spirits:

1) Obedient angels of God. Paul wrote: “But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14). Obedient angels are spirits sent to minister to mortal, fleshly human beings who are heirs to salvation—heirs to immortality!

2) Demons or fallen angels, subject to the princely authority of Satan the devil. Satan is the “ruler of the demons” (Mark 3:22). We read of Satan and his angels in Revelation 12:9, AV: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” The apostle Peter wrote of them: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (II Peter 2:4).

The two classes of created spirit beings are both angels. The only difference is that one class is obedient, the other class disobedient.

The spirits manifesting themselves through spiritism are of the second class—WICKED spirits.

Cause of demon possession

The demons manifest their powers in various ways— sometimes in the darkness of spiritist seances, sometimes through possessing the mental and physical attributes of human beings. This latter form is often termed demon possession. There are several interesting cases recorded in the Bible. Turn to Acts 16:16-18 and notice one example:

“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.”

Notice that evil spirits can possess the mental and vocal faculties of human beings. They impersonate or pretend that they are human beings. They often manifest their powers in connection with religion to deceive innocent victims or to bring reproach upon the name of God by their misconduct, as in the example of Acts 16.

In other instances they utilize human faculties in a violent manner. Institutions for the insane are filled with helpless human beings possessed with spirits of violence. Notice the example found in Matthew 8:28-32:

“When He [Jesus] had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’ Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, ‘If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.’ And He said to them, ‘Go.’ So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.”

Here is an example of the power of evil spirits—the very evil spirits impersonating lost loved ones in spiritist seances.

God condemned spiritism centuries ago. Here are His words: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31, AV).

A familiar spirit is a particular spirit who associates itself with a spiritist medium, who is usually a woman. A familiar spirit is often called a guide because it guides or controls the seance for the medium. A wizard is a male human being who acts as an instrument of wicked spirits.

In this verse in Leviticus, God warns His people not to attribute divine power to women or men who act as slaves of evil spirits, not to regard what they say. We are to regard what God says and to attribute power to Him! He is the Eternal your God!

Spiritism condemned in Bible

Again, notice God’s condemnation of spiritism in Deuteronomy 18:9-12, AV:

“When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

“For all that do these things are an ABOMINATION unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them [the gentiles] out from before thee.”

Spiritism is an ABOMINATION to God. He drove out the gentiles in the days of Joshua for permitting spiritism.

And the same punishment is coming upon our nations for permitting spiritism and its kindred arts to flourish!

Notice that God condemns the witch, a woman who pretends to contact the “spirit” of a beloved one who has recently died— and a consulter of familiar spirits, usually a woman who contacts a particular spirit for information—and a wizard and a necromancer, one who professes to predict the future by the art of communicating with the dead.

These are all forms of spiritism. All these forms are condemned by God Almighty. Spiritism is evil. It is a direct instrumentality of the devil. Because it is so evil, God condemns those who practice spiritism and those who seek to contact the dead in its seances!

God means business. It is a question of following spiritism and rejecting eternal life or of rejecting spiritism and obeying God in order to receive eternal life.

Spiritism perpetuates the devil’s lie that the dead are not really dead. God says we must come to Him to obtain eternal life: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Spiritism is condemned as one of the products of human carnality—as a fruit of the flesh. Paul wrote: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in times past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Saul’s experience with a witch

One of the most noted portions of Scripture—yet one of the least understood—is the case of Saul and the witch at Endor. This story is found in I Samuel 28. Notice verse 3 of this chapter: “Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city.” Notice that Samuel was dead and buried. He was not alive.

Continuing: “And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land. Then the Philistines gathered together . . . when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [through the high priest] or by the prophets” (verses 3-6).

God would not listen to Saul because he had been disobedient. Samuel had been inspired to tell Saul, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (I Samuel 15:23).

What did Saul do? “Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him, ‘In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor’ ” (I Samuel 28:7).

Remember that Samuel was buried in Ramah, located in the territory belonging to the tribe of Ephraim (I Samuel 1:1, 19). But the Philistines and Saul were now near Lake Galilee, in Mount Gilboa, near Endor, about 50 miles from the place in which Samuel was buried.

The night before the battle “Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, ‘Please conduct a seance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you’ ” (I Samuel 28:8).

Saul sinned by seeking a witch. If God would not answer Saul by a prophet because of Saul’s disobedience in government administration, how much more would God refuse to answer Saul by a prophet when Saul sought to a witch! Remember that Samuel was a prophet (Acts 13:20) and a judge (I Samuel 7:6, 15-17). And God would not use a prophet to answer Saul!

In other words, God would not use Samuel the prophet to answer Saul; neither would God use any other means, for that matter. God absolutely refused to listen to Saul because of his rebellious attitude.

But notice what happened: “Then the woman said, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ ” (I Samuel 28:11). Notice that the woman spirit medium claimed to contact the dead by supernaturally bringing them up from the grave through the familiar spirit. This form was practiced in times past when the people believed that the dead were in their graves. Today spirit mediums have the familiar spirit produce a voice from the air, because it is commonly believed today that the dead are not in their graves but somewhere else!

Saul replied to the woman, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

The spirit masquerades as Samuel

Instead of the familiar spirit appearing first, and then the visionary form of a dead person, the woman saw first a form that looked exactly like Samuel!

“When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, ‘Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!’ And the king said to her, ‘Do not be afraid. What did you see?’ ” (I Samuel 28:12-13).

Notice that the familiar spirit did not manifest itself first at Saul’s seance. Instead, the familiar spirit produced the form of Samuel that only the woman saw! Saul did not see it! He asked the woman what she saw!

“And the woman said to Saul, ‘I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.’ ” This is an incorrect translation. The word translated “spirit” is elohim in the Hebrew. It can mean either the true God, pagan gods or judges. In Exodus 22:8-9, the Hebrew word elohim is translated judges. In I Samuel 28:13, the verse should have been translated, “I saw a judge ascending out of the earth.” This is proved by what follows: “So he said to her, ‘What is his form?’ And she said, ‘An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.’ And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down” (verse 14).

A deception

Notice that Saul still did not see anyone! He only perceived by reasoning from what the woman said that the form the woman saw was that of Samuel!

Here we have a perfect illustration of the impersonation of human beings by evil spirits. The familiar spirit produced an illusion that only the woman saw. To her the illusion was that of a judge rising out of the earth. Remember that Samuel was actually buried about 50 miles away, not at Endor where the seance was occurring! Samuel was not resurrected. The whole thing was a supernatural fraud! While impersonating Samuel, the spirit spoke to King Saul thus: “Now Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’ ” Notice the lying spirit.

“And Saul answered, ‘I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, either by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.’ “

The spirit continued to impersonate Samuel by reprimanding Saul for all his evil deeds. Finally the spirit concluded by saying: “Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines” (verse 19).

How did the spirit know what was to happen? Because God often makes His plans known to evil spirits! Notice I Kings 22:22-23 and II Chronicles 18:21-22. God permitted “lying spirits” to know His plans.

God rules over all. But He has allowed Satan and his demons to control and influence this entire world. The familiar spirit of the witch at Endor must have known that God would deliver Saul that next day. So it told Saul what would happen in order that its impersonation of Samuel might seem real!

Saul’s punishment

Now read what happened to Saul because he inquired about the future from a spirit medium: “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (I Chronicles 10:13-14).

That is exactly how serious God regards spiritism! He took the life of Saul for seeking information at a seance!

TODAY we are warned, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (I John 4:1). We need to prove whether spirits are good or evil.

Notice what Isaiah wrote: “And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19-20).

Evil spirits pretend to bring light

The spirits who masquerade as human beings at spiritist seances pretend to bring light and knowledge.

James tells us what to do when the influence of wicked spirits is present: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

You must not obey the devil by yielding to his temptations. Instead, ask God for help. Refuse to yield to satanic influence. Submit to God’s correction. Let Him guide you.

The most important chapter in all the Bible relating to our combat with evil spirits is found in Ephesians 6, beginning with verse 10. Here is what we read:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in high places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand . . . stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth”—Jesus said the truth shall make us free (John 8:32). God’s Word— the Bible—is truth. We need to understand it.

Continuing in Ephesians 6:14: “Having put on the breastplate of righteousness”—righteousness is defined as keeping all God’s commandments (Psalm 119:172). “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace”—we must all work, that the good news of the Kingdom of God may reach the whole world.

“Above all, taking the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” —absolute trust in God for deliverance despite all obstacles—”and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God”—use the Bible to know what to do and what to resist. The Word of God is the only sword that can vanquish evil spirits, and that can help you overcome sin and produce self-mastery!

Source: Good News August 1984

In aceasta emisiune stiintifica, tanarul crestin Mihail, maestru spiritual, vorbeste despre fortele paranormale, yoga, reiki, ezoterism, bioenergie, telepatie, telekinezie si alte miracole pe care clasa ignoranta (Einstein, Dawkins, Alexandru Mironov si alte scursuri) refuza sa le accepte, ei servind Diavolului. Priviti si va minunati de Adevarurile prezentate, Romania fiind din fericire una din tarile in care astfel de discutii pot avea loc si pot fi tratate la adevarata lor valoare, fara a li se aduce vreo acuza marsava cum ca prostesc lumea pe fata:

Am zis să public ceva mai interesant decât un post scris din plictiseală. M-am uitat la The Haunting in Connecticut, zice-se că-i bazat pe o poveste reală, dar unele chestii sunt exagerate, în timp ce altele nu par prea dezvoltate. Do I make sense here?

Anyway, am remarcat ceva interesant. Atât în film, cât şi în următorul articol (preluat din revista Paranormal, anul V, nr. 12, adică din 2001) se vorbeşte despre ectoplasmă, iar în ceea ce urmează sunt detaliate câte ceva despre acest misterios lucru.

***

În timpul şedinţelor de spiritism, mediumurile – fiind în transă – emană o substanţă amorfă vaporoasă, uneori solidă, care este denumită ectoplasmă. Termenul este de origine greacă (ektos – în exterior şi plasma – produs biologic).
Modul straniu în care se materializează fenomenul, cât şi natura materiei au generat mai multe teorii. O parte din specialiştii care studiază fenomenele oculte au afirmat că ectoplasma este o realitate, în timp ce alţii consideră rezultatele experimentelor o simplă iluzie sau o înşelătorie a mediumurilor.
Faptul nu pare supranatural sau de neînţeles dacă este comparat cu alte manifestări fizice bine-cunoscute, cum ar fi lumina produsă de insecte şi de majoritatea vieţuitoarelor subacvatice sau de electricitatea degajată de anumiţi peşti.
Curiozitatea fenomenului constă mai ales în forma sub care se produce ectoplasma.
În cazul ectoplasmei vaporoase poate fi observată o ceaţă mai mult sau mai puţin fosforescentă care învăluie capul mediumului. Ea poate fi asemuită cu aureola cu care personajele sfinte sunt desenate în operele de artă.
În situaţia ectoplasmei solide se poate vorbi de o materie de culoare albă, foarte luminoasă, care este degajată de întregul trup al mediumului. Această substanţă prezintă aspectul unei paste, a unor fire întinse sau a unei membrane. Ectoplasma solidă se poate deplasa de-a lungul corpului persoanei aflate în transă. De multe ori, apariţiile (asemănătoare cu scânteile) şi dispariţiile se succed într-un ritm variabil.
Cercetătorii fenomenului au ajuns la concluzia că ectoplasma este în strânsă legătură cu sensibilitatea mediumului.
Când şedinţa de spiritism s-a terminat, substanţa se retrage în trup. Există şi momente când ectoplasma capătă o formă bine determinată, putând fi observate mâini sau figuri care au caracteristicile anatomice şi fiziologice ale organelor care le reprezintă. Substanţa amorfă a devenit fragmentul unei fiinţe, fiind însă în strânsă legătură cu mediumul, ea pare o prelungire a lui.
În timpul experimentelor au fost executate mulaje după ectoplasmele materializate, realizându-se ulterior şi fotografii.

Cristiana Ţiţeica

Hi guys. This installment deals primarily with links to a selection of pages on the subject of the early days of paranormal research in the age of spiritualism, before the term ‘paranormal’ was even coined by Joseph Banks Rhine of Duke University.

This was a time, now long past, when mainstream science actually did involve itself in exploring the world of the Psychic, attempts at empirical investigation of so-called spiritualists and mediums, especially the physical manifestations they allegedly brought forth during the seances they performed, and some of the better known groups that were organized to both promote and to investigate these seemingly inexplicable phenomena.

As you might expect, some of the pages linked to are critical, some not so, concerning the societies, events, and dramatis personae of the time. Nonetheless, I’m attempting to put these pages concerning the early crossover between Science and the Psychic in some context to illustrate why the modern scientific community has its current misgivings about involving itself in this sort of enterprise…all over again.

[1] on the Skeptic’s Dictionary, here’s a Short History of Psi Research…

[2]…a bit on Wikipedia on Spiritualism, and on the same at the Skeptic’s Dictionary…

[3]…a piece on Psychic or Spirit Photography… and on Automatic Writing…

[4]…a piece on Mediums, and one on Ectoplasm…

[5]…here’s a piece on Wikipedia on the Society for Psychical Research…

[6]…and another at the same on the Theosophical Society…

[7]…a page on the NCAS website on the 1877-1878 Slade/Zoellner Investigation…

[8]…a bio-piece on the Stanford Encyclopedia for William James…

[9]…a capsule biography on Alfred Russel Wallace…

[10]…a page on Arthur Conan Doyle, Spiritualism & Faeries…

[11]…a Wikipedia entry on Rufus Osgood Mason…

[12]…an entry on the same for Helena Blatavsky… one of the Theosophical Society’s co-founders…

[13]…a page on Wiki for Michael Faraday…

[14]…another on the same for Oliver Joseph Lodge…

[15]…Wiki entries for Sir William Crookes… medium Daniel Dunglas Home… and his nemesis William Makepeace Thackeray…

   In autointitulatul „primul ziar crestin din Romania”, la rubrica Biografii luminoase, sub semnatura lui Adrian AGACHI, apare articolul Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, folcloristul unui neam întreg, din care citez:

   „Preoţia literară

   Asemenea lui Miguel de Unamuno şi Virgil Gheorghiu, Hasdeu a considerat misiunea scrisului drept una sfântă. Dacă există o preoţie sacerdotală, există şi una literară, iar cei mai importanţi reprezentanţi ai scrisului sunt cei care o îndeplinesc. Cuvintele sunt un dar făcut de Dumnezeu omului, iar literatura este un mod în care omul răspunde dragostei Creatorului. De aceea, Hasdeu avea dreptate să spună, într-o cuvântare ţinută la Ateneu: „Sunt trei locuri în care îmi dă mâna de a lua cuvântul. Este Academia, este Universitatea, şi aici, la Ateneu. Dar la Academie sunt fotolii, sunt fotolii în toate Academiile din lume, şi orice fotoliu te îndeamnă a moţăi; la Universitate sunt catedre, de pe care profesorul e dator a discuta controversele, ferindu-se de orice dogmatism; aici, la Ateneu, nu e fotoliu, nu e catedră; aici este un amvon, un amvon pe care se urcă un sacerdot, un preot, nu pentru a dormita după uzul academic, nu pentru a conversa după modul universitar, ci pentru ca, din baierele inimii sale, să reverse în inimile ascultătorilor o credinţă caldă şi roditoare“. (Noi în 1892, p. 36-37).”

   Articolul nu spune insa nimic despre faptul ca după moartea singurei sale fiice, Iulia, în 1888, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu (1836-1907) a devenit mistic şi fervent practicant al spiritismului, scop în care a construit Castelul Iulia Hasdeu de la Câmpina.

   Iata cateva fragmente dintr-un articol ce-l puteti citi la http://www.masonicforum.ro/ro/nr89/iulia.html:

   „Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu se retrage la castelul din Câmpina. Părăsit de toti, poate si dintr-o însingurare voită, va sta aici până la moarte, în lungi convorbiri cu spiritul fiicei sale.

   În luna august, nefericitul tată pleacă repede în Moldova pentru a-si aduce fiica acasă. Hasdeu notează: “Se milostiveste, oare, Dumnezeu? Ce este fără putintă la Atoate Creatorul? Fie si o minune: ” Dar, pe 29 septembrie, Iulia Hasdeu moare. Se împlineau 19 ani de când, în casa din strada Iuliu Maniu nr. 14 din Bucuresti (casa există si astăzi), Hasdeu îsi tinuse pentru întâia oară în brate fetita abia născută.

   Hasdeu începe să practice spiritismul. Încearcă zi de zi să dialogheze cu fiica sa din lumea umbrelor. Si într-o zi, Iulia îi răspunde: “Sunt fericită. Te iubesc. Ne vom revedea. Asta ar trebui să-ti ajungă.” Din acea zi, destinul lui Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu avea să străbată doar o singură si ciudată cale.

   Hasdeu pretindea că a proiectat întreaga constructie urmând comunicările spiritiste ale fiicei sale.

   Dorind întâlnirea cu Iulia si voind să înfrângă limitele mortii, Hasdeu se dedică total experimentelor spiritiste. În prologul celebrei sale cărti despre spiritism, Sic cogito, afirmă că scrierea lucrării s-a produs sub dicteu transcendent, la sase luni după moartea fiicei, în urma contactului cu spiritul acesteia. Tatăl crede că fiica îl veghează si îi dictează în întregime comportamentul. Sustinea, de asemenea, că fiica lui avea însusiri spiritiste înainte chiar de a fi murit si se lasă condus de ea. Bătrân si sensibil, ipostaza de medium îl oboseste până la epuizare, el neputând înregistra mai mult de zece cuvinte din cele communicate de Iulia. Cu timpul, sedintele de spiritism ale lui Hasdeu găsesc adepti, cu predilectie între intelectualii vremii. Chiar pictorul Nicolae Grigorescu, ce locuia în ultimii ani ai vietii destul de aproape de castel, participă la sedinte. În cadrul lor se fac fotografii inedite, în încercarea de a surprinde si imortaliza misterul. O izbândă o reprezintă imaginea bunicului lui Hasdeu, Tadeu Hasdeu, fotografiat pe o placă sensibilă “Lumiere 6684″.

   În camera de spiritism, câteva obiecte originale încearcă să refacă atmosfera initială, încărcată de mister. O măsută de spiritism, cu incrustatii de sidef, trei scaune de formă triunghiulară (din fier si plăci de marmură), un vas oriental din bronz, cu animale fantastice. Pe buza vasului se află un fel de coroană de acelasi diametru, cu un dragon în relief. Cele trei trepiede amintesc de scaunele oraculare din antichitate, închinate spiritelor; prin numărul 3, trepiedul reprezintă imaginea focului si a cerului; ele au la mijloc, tot în triunghi, numele Hasdeu, lăsând ca bază cele trei litere, DEU, amintind de Deus – Dumnezeu. Literele sunt frânte, alcătuite din câte trei linii fiecare, astfel că numele devine dificil de citit. De ce triunghiulare? Pentru că 3 e număr mistic, e temeiul, el “exprimă o ordine intelectuală si spirituală, întru Dumnezeu, în cosmos sau în om” (Dictionar de simboluri) Si aici, ca si în celelalte încăperi, atârnă din tavan o lampă de fier în cruce, care odinioară avea, nu întâmplător, si mărgele de chihlimbar. “Chihlimbarul reprezintă firul psihic ce leagă energia individuală de energia cosmică, sufletul individual de sufletul universal. El simbolizează atractia solară, spirituală si divină.” Prin grija a doi oameni pasionati, Mircea Colosenco si Jenica Tabacu, au văzut lumina tiparului Protocoalele sedintelor de spiritism – texte inedite, mărturie extrem de fidelă a preocupărilor bizare din ultimii ani ai vietii lui Hasdeu. Participantii, datele, practicile, confirmările sedintelor de spiritism din această odăită se regăsesc în notatiile lui Hasdeu

   Pe plăci de marmură, de-a stânga si de-a dreapte intrării în castel, ar fi trebuit să figureze celebrul credo spiritist, apartinând Iuliei (deocamdată poate fi citită numai placa din stânga):
   Legea religioasă:
   Crede în Dumnezeu · Crede în nemurirea sufletului · Crede în darul comunicării cu cei dusi
   Legea morală:
   Iubeste si ajută · Iubeste si ajută neamul · Iubeste si ajută pe cine te ajută si te iubeste · Iubeste si ajută fără a precugeta la folosul tău.
   Se regăsesc aici simbolurile numerelor 3 si 4 si al figurilor geometrice (pătrat, triunghi) păstrate si în templul de la cimitir.”

   Cititi va rog si:

ADAM A FOST UN MAIMUTOI? Ziarul Lumina promoveaza evolutionismul

GRAV: Ziarul Lumina rataceste credinciosii cu traditia Ramakrishna …

Dilema in ziarul Lumina: „CINE L-A UCIS PE GOLIAT? – Redeschiderea unui dosar”

Guy de Maupassant, elogiat in ziarul Lumina

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18 Responses to “Spiritismul si ghicitul”

1. edit this on 03 Jul 2009 at 8:46 am1Cristina

   

   Buna ziua, Gabriela. Am retinut “un ultim sfat” . Bine si frumos spus.
   Iti recomand si eu ” Atacul PSI, intre stiinta si magie” si ” Arta razboiului PSI – PROTECTIA” sunt scrise de Maestrul meu, Dragos Argesanu. Le gasesti la Editura DAO PSI. Vorbim dupa ce le citesti.

2. edit this on 03 Jul 2009 at 8:49 am2Igalis

   

   Multumesc Cristina!

3. edit this on 03 Jul 2009 at 11:43 pm3diana

   

   Am citit ultimul tau articol…lucruri frapante ai scris. Eu care nu credeam in asa ceva,uite ca am inceput a crede,citind mesajul tau. MA mir cum de ai reusit sa faci legautura cu tatal tau,pt mine ramine ramine a fi o mare dilema. Citind, m-am simtit ca as fi trait o poveste. Despre harul tau de a ghici in cafea,ce sa zic? esti talentata. Scuza-ma,chiar ca nu mai gasesc acum cuvinte,am ametit fiind uluita de tine, de darul tau si de puterea ta de a incerca ceea ce multi ignora. MUltumesc. Pup, o zi buna, ai grija de tine.

4. edit this on 06 Jul 2009 at 8:58 am4Andrei

   

   Offtopic: Te laudai cu forumul ala

5. edit this on 06 Jul 2009 at 10:27 am5Igalis

   

   Da Andrei, si nu m-am tinut de cuvant?
   La mine e o problema de incompatibilitate de retea si server, imi ia extrem de mult timp sa postez ceva acolo, dar alti copii nu au problema asta. Din cate stiu, nu prea se perinda lumea pe forumul creat de mine. Ma insel?

   Cu drag,
   Igalis

6. edit this on 06 Jul 2009 at 3:06 pm6Andrei

   

   Eu m-am perindat pe acolo… tu nu

7. edit this on 07 Jul 2009 at 7:45 am7Igalis

   

   Draga Andrei,
   M-am perindat si eu acum si iti multumesc ca mi-ai incredintat cu sinceritate acest post. Pana acum am alergat pe drumuri, dar in secunda asta voi intra pe forum sa iti raspund.

   Te rog sa ma ierti daca intarzierea asta te-a dezamagit. O sa ma revansez pentru ca esti un om foarte inteligent si stiu ca vei intelege.

   Cu drag,
   Igalis

8. edit this on 07 Jul 2009 at 9:09 am8Igalis

   

   Gata, ti-am scris!

9. edit this on 08 Jul 2009 at 4:32 pm9Andrei

   

   Ar fi frumos daca ai putea raspunde din nou.. stiu ca n-ai nici o obligatie si ca probabil de plictisesc, insa momentan esti singura persoana care stie prin ce trec si care mi-a zis o vorba buna

10. edit this on 09 Jul 2009 at 3:22 am10Igalis

    

    Draga Andrei,

    Ti-am raspuns la ambele subiecte.

    O zi buna sa ai!
    Igalis

11. edit this on 15 Jul 2009 at 7:35 am11laimeea

    

    O sa va povestesc o intamplare stranie…inca ma mai intreb ce a vrut sa insemne acea intalnire…o minciuna nevinovata, o gluma proasta sau cu totul altceva… asta o sa imi spuneti voi cei care cititi aceste randuri. Era intr-o frumoasa dupa-amiaza de primavara din anul 2009. Ma indreptam grabita spre gura de metrou, sperand ca o sa ajung suficient de repede la Gara de Nord ca sa prind trenul. Hm, ati ghicit, actiunea are loc in Bucuresti, mai exact in Regie. In dreptul caminelor de la medicina statea un tanar. L-am zarit din departare, asa cum zaream si blocurile din fata mea, si masinile care treceau pe sosea, si oamenii care mergeau ca si mine pe trotuar, adica fara sa imi atraga atentia in vreun fel sau altul…stiam ca e si el acolo, facand parte din peisaj. Cand am ajuns in apropierea sa, dintr-o data a devenit impacientat. De-aici incepe distractia. El catre mine:
    - Te rog mult, poti sa ma ajuti?
    - Nu prea am timp, ma grabesc, …dar…
    - Ma poti vedea? ma intrerupe acesta.
    - Da, te pot vedea, ii raspund eu zeflemitor, nu am timp de glume proaste.
    - Trebuie sa ma ajuti. Nu stiu unde sunt. Sunt un spirit.
    - Nu mai spune! Trebuie sa recunosc ca esti original.
    Desi eram putin nervoasa ca pierdeam timpul aiurea cu un individ pus pe sotii, incepuse sa ma amuze…auzi, un spirit!
    - Nu intelegi! Am murit, sunt o fantoma! uite, pune mana pe mine! Ceilalti nu ma vad! incepu acesta sa gesticuleze.
    M-am uitat si mai amuzata ca la un nebun, apoi brusc mi-am dat seama ca o sa pierd trenul. Si, m-am hotarat sa pun capat discutiei, devenise deja ridicol.
    - Ba te vad si ceilalti la fel de bine ca si mine, ba chiar le stam in drum, m-am rastit eu, uite pun mana pe tine! Vezi?
    Dar in momentul acela am simtit un fior din cap pana in picioare, o senzatie atat de stranie…careia pe moment nu i-am acordat atentie. Am plecat pe data, hotarata sa iau taxiul pentru a ajunge in timp util la gara. “Totusi, de ce oare tanarul ala continua cu gluma aceea stupida…Te pomenesti ca o fi nebun!”ma gandeam eu. Totusi parea un om normal, era imbracat normal, vorbea normal, nu se lega de lumea din jur, nu vorbea singur…Ce sa caute un nebun in Regie? Mai degraba era un glumet, de-astia se gasesc pe toate drumurile, cu-atat mai mult aici, printre studenti. Dar de ce m-a inghetat asa de tare acea atingere? Ciudat…glumele nu au o astfel de influenta asupra mea. Nu l-am mai vazut de atunci niciodata pe acel individ.

12. edit this on 15 Jul 2009 at 7:37 am12laimeea

    

    Ah, am uitat sa mentionez…am reusit sa prind si trenul :d

13. edit this on 15 Jul 2009 at 12:10 pm13Igalis

    

    Draga Laimeea,

    Pacat ca te grabeai, la cat sunt eu de curioasa as fi oprit si pe altcineva sa intreb daca stafia se vede cu ochiul liber! Daca raspunsul ar fi fost “da”, l-as fi pasat in grija celui de-al doilea “salvator de suflete ratacite” si as fi plecat la gara. Daca rspunsul ar fi fost “nu” as fi dat trenul pe o asemenea experienta. Dar cum tu te grabeai… nu vom stii niciodata daca era doar un glumet inspirat (trebuie sa recunoastem ca e bun tipul!) sau… ceea ce se pretindea a fi.

    Faptul ca ai avut senzatia de inghet… poate ca avea doar o circulatie periferica deficitara si cum afara era primavara… ii era friguţ.

    Imi place cum scrii!

    Cu drag,
    Igalis

14. edit this on 17 Jul 2009 at 12:11 pm14Alex

    

    Dupa cate stiu o parte din tine a murit in jurul varstei de 40 de ani iar cauza a fost tot o boala incurabila ,oricum cancerul datorat fumatului apare dupa varsta de 50 de ani,ma rog sa te fereasca Maica Domnului si Sfantul Nectarie de aceasta boala nenorocita.
    Sincer iti spun ca si eu am cazut in acest pacat al ghicitului in tineretile mele nu ca acum as fii un dinozaur, curios fapt ca o parte din ele sau implinit altele “cica” urmeaza ,dar am primit aceleasi informatii din doua surse ,o data mi-a ghicit mie o persoana ,iar la diferenta de ani i s-a “comunicat”bunici mele despre mine de la alta persoana .Problema mare vine din interpretarea acestor informaţii venite de la aceste duhuri necurate. Curios sa aflu totusi cum se intampla acest fapt de pot prezice viitorul desi nu este o regula sa se si implineasca, pentru ca numai Dumnezeu care depaseste orice minte rationala din cer si de pe pamant poate decide viitorul omului, si omul cu voia lui Dumnezeu poate schimba viitorul prin propriul arbitru ştii cum e dai vointa iei putere.Am ramas impresionat de scrierile unor sfinti parinti din care rezulta ca aceste duhuri necurate pot vesti evenimente pe baza observatiilor facute asupra oamenilor de la începuturile creatiei noastre si pe baza intelegeri si cunoasterii intr-o anumita masura a proniei lui Dumnezeu ,a vazut cum a raspuns Domnul la anumite atacuri care au fost facute asupra noastra .Diavolul este doar un tolerat care contribuie la mantuirea noastra in fine ca in nebunia lui nu vrea sa cucereasca doar pamantul ci si cerurile .
    Cum ai acest dar de a vedea in viitor interpretand anumite semne, poti vedea nu numai in cafea aceste semne ,se spune ca este bine sa le pastrezi numai pentru tine si ca sa-ti dau o tema, ce ai observat cand mergeai la Biserica la Sfanta Cununie”daca eventual ai reţinut ceva”
    Un inger a tinut sa-te salveze de la acest pacat si la intors cu proprile arme .Daca cineva te contacteaza cu adevarat de dincolo ,iar nu duhurile necurate acest fapt se poate face numai cu voia lui Dumnezeu iar daca ai avut un vis special pastreazal pentru sufletul tau.
    Despre rai din cele ce au spus sfinti parinti spun si eu .Raiul a fost ridicat de pe pamant dupa izgonirea lui Adam si a Evei si a fost pazit de Arhanghelul Mihail pana ce Domnul Hristos a intrat in el.In vechiul testament mortii se duceau in Sheol locuinta mortilor “multi tampiti scriu in Wikipedia” Raiul sau Grădina Eden va exista pana la judecata generala,pentru ca diavolul a reusit sa-l ispiteasca pe om si sa-l alunge din rai dar Dumnezeu in marea lui mila va crea un nou cer si un nou pamant peste frumusetea raiului si va desfinta raiul dupa judecata finala,”cele doua judecati cea particulara cand omul moare si trece vamile si cea finala la invierea mortilor si venirea lui Domnului Hristos pe pamant”.Sfinti parinti daca nu ma insel Sfantul Ierarh Vasile, spunea ca lui Adam, Dumnezeu ii daruise un miros ,o aroma a trupului cand era in rai si orice vietate care se apropia de el cand ii simtea mirosul stia ca este stapanul ,se bucurau si stateau la picioarele lui .
    Sper ca nu te-am plictisit .
    Cu prietenie Alex !

15. edit this on 17 Jul 2009 at 3:54 pm15Laimeea

    

    Draga Igalis
    Hi-hi-hi! Si mie imi pare asa rau ca nu am intrebat un trecator, dar la momentul respectiv chiar credeam ca e un “glumet” senzatia aceea m-a socat… si nu era rece, l-am atins pe tricoul cu care era imbracat :d
    Multumesc pentru incurajari, nu am mai povestit demult, sincer cred ca mi-era dor sa scriu…
    Si imi mai e dor de ceva…sa merg la Biserica…

16. edit this on 18 Jul 2009 at 2:33 am16Igalis

    

    Draga Laimeea,

    Fa-le pe amandoua! Dupa ce a sa mergi la biserica de mai multe ori vei simti si o pace interioara care sa te indemne la scris. E frumos ca simti asa!

    Cu drag ,
    Igalis

17. edit this on 18 Jul 2009 at 3:41 am17Alex

    

    Daca te-am ranit facand referire la o problema prea personala imi pare rau!

18. edit this on 18 Jul 2009 at 1:34 pm18Igalis

    

    Nu Alex, nu m-ai ranit, dar eram tare pe fuga si nu am apucat sa iti raspund. Nu ma tem de destin, ci de pierderea credintei si de slabiciunea mea in fata ispitelor. Nu te gandi la ispite grosiere ca de furat nu voi fura niciodata, nici n-am sa insel, sper sa nu imi pierd mintile sa ajung sa ucid fizic pe cineva, dar atunci cand nu pot ierta niste oameni care mi-au facut rau se numeste tot ca ucid. Ucid iubirea pentru acei oameni! Sau ma preamaresc si de aceea nu pot sa intorc si obrazul celalalt. Uneori ma intreb daca bucuria de a stii ca am facut un bine cuiva nu e tot preamarire. Nu eu ii ajut pe oameni, ci Dumnezeu. Ispitele sunt cu atat mai grele cu cat sunt mai rafinate!

    Pe una dintre manastirile din nordul Moldovei este o fresca unde e pictata o scara spre cer pe care niste omuleti se catara. Niste diavoli mici si naiv pictati ii impung cu furca. Unii cad de la primele trepte, dar m-a inspaimantat sa vad ca erau altii care cadeau de pe ultima treapta! Deci… niciodata nu esti pus la adapost de ispite, nici macar atunci cand crezi ca ai atins desavarsirea.

    Apoi, hai sa fim seriosi, eu nu am reusit sa ajung nici la jumatatea scarii! Tot cad, ma ridic si alunec iar, dar asa cum am mai spus-o si altora, nu poti cadea cu mult mai jos decat ai urcat pic cu pic. Pentru ca inveti lucruri, pentru ca Dumnezeu te intelepteste si nu mai poti sa te prefaci ca nu stii ca ai pacatuit. Atunci cand alegi pacatul ori o faci deliberat si alegi definitiv raul, ori te caiesti sincer si o iei de la capat cu stradania.

    Nu conteaza cand imi va muri trupul, grija mea e sa nu imi moara sufletul in timp ce corpul inca mai umbla. Am vazut morti de-astia si se credeau tare vii! Si mie mi s-a intamplat! Stii ca invierea se face prin durere? Poate de-aia a murit ceva din mine la 40 de ani…

    Cu prietenie,
    Igalis

    P.S. Intra la pagina “despre mine”, am postat acolo un filmulet de cand eram pe podium. Mie mi-a facut bine sa ma revad in ipostaza aia. Toata viata am fost autocritica, nu m-am placut. Dar acum, dupa ceva ani, m-am privit cu placere.

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Reincarnation is a concept which is common to many religious beliefs and spiritual practices. Those who believe in this theory teach that after death a person’s “soul” is reborn in a new body, which is sometimes referred to as the “transmigration of the soul” or metempsychosis.

The abundance of reincarnation myths around the world finds appeal in the idea that a fundamental part of themselves will live on after death, even though their bodies may decay.

The immortality of the soul doctrine (especially prevalent in the West) is basic to the belief in reincarnation. But, that doctrine is false! The classic inquiry “Who am I?” is being replaced by the puzzling question “Who was I?”. The Bible plainly shows that one’s soul is NOT immortal. Notice Genesis 3:19:

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust [not another body] shalt thou return.”

Also notice Ecclesiastes 3:19-20:

“For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast …. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”

Psalm 146:4 states that when a man dies “his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts
perish.”

We can further this concept for those who say the body is irrelevant to the concept of reincarnation by quoting Heb. 9:27, which states that  a man “is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. In other words, he is NOT reborn to die over and over again.

So if this belief is not biblical, how did it start?

What is reincarnation?

“Reincarnation, literally “to be made flesh again”, is a doctrine or metaphysical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. This essential part is often referred to as the spirit or soul, the “higher” or “true” self, “divine spark”, or “I”. According to such beliefs, a new personality is developed during each life in the physical world, but some part of the self remains constant throughout the successive lives.” [wikipedia]

Answers.com terms reincarnation as rebirth of the soul in another body. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia terms it as the doctrine of the rebirth of the soul in one or more existences. Oxford University Press expresses it as existence of a soul that is periodically reincarnated in a body. And Columbia Encyclopedia references it as occupation by the soul of a new body after the death of the earlier body.

The teaching of reincarnation (a religion of the east) is making heavy inroads into Western society today. However, it is important to understand that it is in no way a scientific or religious truth.

Reincarnation in Hindu art

The concept of this belief can be stated as follows: after death, the human soul leaves the body and passes into either 1) a plant body, an animal body, another human body, or even an extra-terrestrial body.

Belief in reincarnation has ancient roots. This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religious traditions, such as Hinduism (including Yoga, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism).

It also appears in Jainism and Sikhism, two faiths that grew out of Hinduism and are still practiced in India. Jainism shares with Hinduism a belief in many gods. Sikhism, a monotheistic religion, combines some elements of Islam with Hinduism.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism all began in India, where the idea of rebirth first appears in texts dating from about 700 B.C. They share a belief in samsara—the wheel of birth and rebirth—and karma—the idea that an individual’s future incarnation depends on the way he or she lived. People who have done good deeds and led moral lives are reborn into higher social classes; those who have not are doomed to return as members of the lower classes or as animals. Only by achieving the highest state of spiritual development can a person escape samsara altogether. (Mythencyclopedia)

The idea was further entertained by some ancient Greek philosophers, the Egyptians and Greeks,  among the Celts and Druids, and in various “mystery religions” of the Near East. It spread somewhat among the Hebrews, before the time of Christ, and has survived among various Hasidic groups in the world today.

Many modern Neopagans also believe in it, as do some New Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism, practitioners of certain African traditions, and students of esoteric philosophies such as Kabbalah, and Gnostic and Esoteric Christianity. The Buddhist concept of Rebirth although often referred to as reincarnation differs significantly from the Hindu-based traditions and New Age movements in that there is no unchanging “soul” (or eternal self) to reincarnate.

People apart from ancient Israel had no concept of a personal God,  so  reincarnation took hold as a way of explaining many of the mysteries of this life. The perpetual state of karma (as a primitive form of retribution) supposedly helps to  “expiate’ the sins of previous incarnations.

Does the Bible mention reincarnation?

While the Bible does not mention the term reincarnation, it does condemn it in context in speaking of John the Baptist. In the Gospel of John, Christ is asked about a blind man: Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind? In other words, he must have done something wrong in a previous life, or he wouldn’t have been born with blindness. To which the Savior replied: Neither he nor his parents sinned…but that the works of God might be manifest in him (John 9:2-3r).Jesus Christ here clearly refuted the idea that the existence of evil can be explained by reincarnation. Why? Because reincarnation undercuts the gospel message in three ways.

1. First, it assumes that God is impersonal and is therefore unknowable.
2. Second, reincarnation denigrates the Atonement of Christ.
3. Third, it denies the fact that Jesus physically resurrected from the dead.

You see, the law of karma is entirely incompatible with the teachings of the Bible. There is no mechanistic “wheel of re-birth” (as taught by Hindus, Buddhists, and their Western equivalents). Those who are now in the grave will NOT go to heaven, as “no one has gone up into Heaven, except He having come down out of Heaven, the Son of Man…., and neither will their consciousness leave the grave:

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)

Esoteric foolishness

Still, many tell of crackpot esoteric experiences which seems real to them, but they conveniently throw out the Scriptures to go with their own impressions and subjective opinions. Such people are attracted by superficial and grandiose nonsense about hallucinatory “memories” of previous lifetimes-often gained through “regressive hypnosis.” That might make for some exciting storytelling, and if good enough, maybe even land them an appearance on Oprah and guaranteed a few book sales. But it doesn’t make for good reality.

...according to the idea of reincarnation, if one is “saved” at all it is only after many lifetimes of working out the consequences of one’s sins. This is the cold and dreary legalism of the pagan religions which was totally abolished by Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. (Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose): The Soul After Death)

The term “Christian” has been rendered nearly meaningless now with people of every bizarre belief and teaching claiming that their views can comport with Christianity. Ignoring the word of God and therefore avoiding being moved by the Spirit of God, such people circumvent the entire process of Christian growth. There is no spiritual maturity, because there is no growing where there is no knowing (II Pet. 3:18).

Christ told us that the way was narrow that leads to eternal life. Anyone who denies the clear teachings of Scripture about the afterlife denies Christ by his rejection of the Word of God.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The real nature of man is something few understand. The teaching of the immortality of the  soul is simply un-biblical and cannot be substantiated by scripture. Those who try do so with limited understanding or false pretenses.

If you can, yet today:

Forget the tribulations and show a bigger smile to those who share life with you;

Give one more touch of happiness and beauty to your home;

Go visit, even for a short time, the sick person you wish to encourage;

Write, even if it’s a simple note, transmitting hope and tranquility, on somebody’s benefit;

Enhance your knowledge on the work area you’re currently employing your time on;

Extend some more optimism and joy to the ones you live with;

Try to forget – but really forget – everything that means a reason for sadness or exasperation;

Read some enlightening page and listen to music that sets peace to your heart;

Dedicate some minutes to meditate and pray;

Practice, at least, one good deed without telling it to anyone.

These indications of spiritual support, if respected, will do a great good to others, but will be good especially to you.

André Luiz (spirit) / Chico Xavier (medium)

From the book « Respostas da Vida », IDEAL Publishing

400. Does the incarnated spirit reside willingly in his corporeal envelope?

“You might as well ask whether a prisoner willingly remains locked up in prison. The incarnated spirit aspires incessantly after his deliverance; and the grosser his envelope, the more desirous is be to be rid of it.”

401. Does the soul take rest, like tile body, during sleep?

“No; a spirit is never inactive. The bonds which unite him to the body are relaxed during sleep; and as the body does not then need his presence, he travels through space, and enters into more direct relation with other spirits.”

402. How can we ascertain the fact of a spirit’s liberty during sleep?

“By dreams. Be very sure that, when his body is asleep, a spirit enjoys the use of faculties of which he is unconscious while his body is awake. He remembers the past, and sometimes foresees the future: he acquires more power, and is able to enter into communication with other spirits, either in this world or in some other.

“You often say, ‘I have had a strange dream, a frightful dream, without any likeness to reality’.

You are mistaken in thinking it to be so; for it is often a reminiscence of places and things which you have seen in the past, or a foresight of those which you will see in another existence, or in this one at some future time. The body being torpid, the spirit tries to break his chain, and seeks, in the past or in the future, for the means of doing so.

“Poor human beings! how little do you know of the commonest phenomena of your life! You fancy yourselves to be very learned, and you are puzzled by the most ordinary things. To questions that any child might ask, ‘What do we do when we are asleep?’ ‘What are dreams?’ you are incapable of replying.

“Sleep effects a partial freeing of the soul from the body. When you sleep, your spirit is, for the time being, in the state in which you will be after your death. The spirits who at death are promptly freed from matter are those who, during their life, have had what may be called intelligent sleep. Such persons, when they sleep, regain the society of other spirits superior to themselves. They go about with them, conversing with them, and gaining instruction from them; they even work, in the spirit-world, at undertakings which, on dying, they find already begun or completed. From this you see how little death should be dreaded, since, according to the saying of St. Paul, you ‘die daily.’

“What we have just stated refers to spirits of an elevated degree of advancement. As for those of the common mass of men, who, after their death, remain for long hours in the state of confusion and uncertainty of which you have been told by such, they go, during sleep, into worlds of lower rank than the earth, to which they are drawn back by old affections, or by the attraction of pleasures still baser than those to which they are addicted in your world; visits in which they gather ideas still viler, more ignoble, and more mischievous than those which they had professed during their waking hours. And that which engenders sympathy in the earthly life is nothing else than the fact that you feel yourselves, on waking, affectionately attracted towards those with whom you have passed eight or nine hours of happiness or pleasure.

On the other hand, the explanation of the invincible antipathies you sometimes feel for certain persons is also to be found in the intuitive knowledge you have thus acquired of the fact that those persons have another conscience than yours, because you know them without having previously seen them with your bodily eyes. It is this same fact, moreover, that explains the indifference of some people for others; they do not care to make new friends, because they know that they have others by whom they are loved and cherished. In a word, sleep has more influence than you think upon your life.

Excerpt from Allan Kardec’s “The Spirit’s Book”, translated by Anna Blackwell, LAKE (Livraria Allan Kardec Editora), Printed in Brazil. Version found at Public Domain.

***

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- Our Spiritist Studies section – published on Tuesdays

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- The version of “The Spirit’s Book” (that is in public domain) is available for free download here (.pdf format)

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- Download the other basic books of Spiritism here (.pdf format). All of the books are on public domain.

PREFACE

Every bad thought can have two origins: our own spiritual imperfection or the action of a harmful influence. In the last case we have the indication of a weakness which exposes us to these influences, and it is for this reason that our soul is imperfect. So that the one who foils cannot offer as an excuse the influence of a strange Spirit, seeing that this Spirit would not have led them to wrongdoing if they were inaccessible to seduction.

When we have a bad thought, we can suppose that it was an evil Spirit which suggested the evil, leaving us complete liberty to accede or resist, just as if we were facing a living person. At the same time, we should make a mental picture of our Guardian Angel or protecting Spirit who from his side combats within us the bad influences and anxiously awaits the decision we are going to make. Our hesitation in acting upon the evil suggestions is due to the voice of our good Spirit, who makes himself heard through our conscience.

One recognises a thought is bad when it draws away from charity which is the base of all true morality; or when it comes laden with pride, vanity and selfishness; or when its realization may cause harm to another person: in short, when we are induced by our thoughts to do to others what we would not like someone to do to us (See chapter 28, item 15 & chapter 15 item 10).

PRAYER:

All Powerful Lord, do not let me succumb to the temptation to fall into error! Benevolent Spirits who protect me, turn this bad thought away from me and give me the strength to resist this evil. If I succumb, then I will deserve the expiation of my failing in this same life and in the next, because I have free will to make my choice.

This prayer can be found on “The Gospel According to Spiritism”, which can be downloaded here.

Please pray with us.

Crestinism, Islamism, Hinduism, Budism, Spiritism, Iudaism, Baha`i, Shintoism, Scientologie, etc, etc, toti discuta despre creatie si numesc factorul creator in fel si chip.

Pentru mine este Dumnezeu, tu poate ii spui altfel, cu totii in aceasta lume ii spunem intr-un fel anume si il descoperim la un moment dat. Daca noi, oamenii nu putem sa il privim in mod unic ca pe un Creator universal, ma intreb, el oare ce parere are despre noi? Se amuza cand vede cat suntem de limitati in intelegerea lui? Se minuneaza cand incercam sa il descoperim… sau oare ce atitudine are? Sunt curios cum este perceput acest aspect de cei ce se intreaba acelasi lucru.