Psychic Abilities and Religion

[AFWife]

Forgive me if this thread has been done and beat to death....I kinda didn't check the archives.

With all of the psychic and dream interp threads in TAO it got me thinking.


How does your religious affiliation/choice/view perceive psychic abilities? Gift from God? Devil's work? Natural part of life?


I'm just curious to hear from all sides...and I'll post my views when I'm a little more coherent.

[Liquesce]

As a sham, mostly. Any level of psychic accuracy is viewed as the result of either intuitive or just plain luck-of-the-draw guesswork, the result of answering vaguely to people determined to believe, or the result of the whisperings of unseen beings who seek to exploit and compound the sin of those who claim the ability. Claiming the ability is seen as sinful and just plain wrong though. As is seeking the aid of people who make such a claim.

Um. My posting in one of the the TAO threads notwithstanding.

Oddly enough, dream interpretation to the same ends is viewed as plausibly legitimate and one of god's gifts to very select individuals. The story of Joseph and all.

[Bluegoat]

I don't actually know what my church thinks about psychic abilities, though they do have ideas about trying to know the future.

I guess I wouldn't assume all psychic abilities are impossible, though I have never seen any at work. I don't think we know everything about ourselves as humans.

I do think that demons could pretend to give these kinds of abilities for some foul ends, but I don't know if that is common or not.

I think dreams can be revealing, simply by putting a persons unconscious mind into their conscious awareness, and that is based on my own experience. I think God could send a dream, but so could the Devil, so one would have to be careful. I read a novel once where this was a feature, it was very interesting. (The Cunning Man, I'd recommend it.)

I think being preoccupied with contacting the dead and knowing the future is a negative thing, even if it is really possible. I think in some cases what people giving such readings are really doing is a kind of psychotherapy, which would be ok except that it tends to make people focus on these areas that are unhealthy.

Readings with cards are sometimes used as a way to examine the present rather than the future. That might be ok as long as it were done with full understanding of the purpose and it was not done self-indulgently.

[JamieCatheryn]

I mostly agree with Bluegoat. I do think some people are more in-touch with spiritual gifts and insights than others. And that God can give people insights directly or vaguely. But chasing after them or pre-occupying oneself with them is trying to take hold of what's best left to God. That kind of thing can leave an opening for nasty energies or demons or Satan or what have you, IME.

And yes I asked bigeyes something in TAO, rather lightheartedly inquiring though.

[onelilguysmommy]

i think it can be seen as either a) prophetic b)devils work c) something else entirely..luck, guessing, just a lie, whatever.

i think it depends on the method in which people are getting the information....

also some just plain think its bad or not real, period.

[hquest_98]

It depends on who you ask, but I would venture to say that at least in Christianity, most people view these "gifts" as the Devil's work. There are a few passages in the Old Testament (in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, I believe) that say that practicing soothsaying is forbidden. However, I think that the passages in Acts in the New Testament where the apostles are performing obvious psychic powers to the church elders. But that's ok because Jesus gave them the power through the Holy Spirit to perform these "miracles?"

Anyway, I have found that the only religious groups that readily accept people with psychic powers are pagan-based faiths such as Wicca, Druidism, etc.

[hquest_98]

What about people that can't help their abilities and are forced to seclude themselves for fear of being ridiculed by people from their church? What if some of them are not charlatans just trying to get attention and/or money from people? Maybe they don't have these abilities from the Devil because they only use them to help their loved ones - not do them harm. Do you think that such innocent people as these exist?

[genifer]

What about people that can't help their abilities and are forced to seclude themselves for fear of being ridiculed by people from their church? What if some of them are not charlatans just trying to get attention and/or money from people? Maybe they don't have these abilities from the Devil because they only use them to help their loved ones - not do them harm. Do you think that such innocent people as these exist?

Now, I would still say that was a gift from God. God gives gifts whether we ask for them or not. Im beginning to wonder if in those cases, the person needs to seek God sincerely for guidance on how to use those gifts. I personally believe that they are meant to be used for God's glory and to use it outside of God's will would be wrong. There were times when Jesus didnt heal, he listened to His Father and obeyed either way. Ive only just begun to understand this sort of thing, having met someone who believes they have psychic abilities and her partner has 'healing powers'. Getting to know her, I actually think she is genuine. I believe these things are gifts from God, but not always used by those who possess the abilities for God's glory, for his purposes. This is why/what incidence it is forbidden. Also, in the incidence you mentioned in Lev. I think it is possible to 'contact the dead', but that it is very dangerous, and just wrong. Paul and the apostles used them and gave God the glory, they didnt take it for themselves. They were walking and doing according to God's will.

I also believe it is impossible to convince everyone that its all meant for God's glory.