Again, let me say this is just my humble opinion on the subject of EVP's. I've witnessed serious consequences from someone having a unhealthy obsession and doing those a lot. I pray before each one I have to do for a case or investigation however, that is the only time I resort to EVP's. I'm aware this subject has been discussed and many feel they are harmless. Maybe these cases I speak of just had bad luck but it's no different than attempting communication via ouija board or automatic writing. Just because you left a location with nothing going wrong doesn't mean all is well. Demons are very patient and I can assure you they will make themselves known at the worst possible time in your life. This is pure evil, why would anyone risk this? I had a case where said person was constantly doing these. She lost her friends and some family as she only seemed to care about was doing EVP's. At that point she could not be helped. She refused to stop doing them at any cost.
What Are Demons Believed To Be?
A demon is believed to be a force that can be conjured and controlled. They are also believed to have the ability to possess or inhabit the body of humans and the only way to rid the person of them is to conduct deliverance and/or Exorcism. Demons are portrayed differently in different cultures. Some believe demons to be actual physical beings that can take the form of anything, including animals. Others consider the real demons as more of a spiritual force of evil battling for one's soul. They have been feared and written about in almost every culture in one form or another for as long as history has been recorded.
What Is Demonic Possession?
Demonic possession is a common belief involving demons. It involves the act of a demon inhabiting the body of a mortal, living thing. Because Demons are believed by many to be fallen angels and the opposite of all that is good, a priest is usually called upon to perform the ceremony. Skeptics have blamed pre existing mental conditions for reported cases of possession, as opposed to demonic influence. Some cases have baffled everyone. People who are said to be possessed have been reported speaking in foreign languages that they had never even been exposed to. They often become very ill while their faces and bodies will sometimes appear to change. Possessed individuals have been known to speak in reverse dialog and injure themselves and or others.
Demons are “angels that sinned,” spirit creatures who rebelled against God. (2 Peter 2:4) The first angel to make himself into a demon was Satan the Devil, whom the Bible calls “the ruler of the demons.” Matthew 12:24, 26.
Written by Jennifer Auld
Looking inside the spiritual & literary worlds
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Bad Bad Thing Award Goes to Son Who Digs Up Dad’s Body
By Kirby Robinson
When we have to say good bye to a loved one,
especially a parent, that can very difficult. Vincent Bright of Detroit,
Michigan, dug up his dad's body and put it in a freezer. That’s not too bright,
in fact, that’s a bad bad thing.
Read about the man who dug up his dad’s body:
Do you know of a para-celeb, psychic, ghost hunter,
demon chaser, or false teacher who’s eligible for the award? You can take part
by sending us a name and why you think they should receive the BAD BAD THING
award. Contact freeallspirits@live.com
for more information.
Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal
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EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website, forum or blog you can set up an Amazon
Associates Affiliate Program link and sell the Kindle version of our books. "Is the Long Island Medium the Real Deal?"
[also in paperback!], "Never Mock God: An Unauthorized Investigation into
Paranormal State's 'I Am Six' Case" [also in paperback!],
"Investigating Paranormal State," "Paranormal State
Exposed" and "Paranormal Teachings: The Best of Shedding
Some Light" and earn money. You can also sell other books and products
that Amazon offers. Here's the link: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Worldviews ... Different Ways of Seeing
By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
In my last very long blog, I asked if you would try to watch
a TV show/movie or read a novel through a biblical worldview...knowing that it
is best to just start doing it as a means of grasping what a biblical worldview
is. Anyway, it is possible to have a ton of biblical knowledge but not have a
biblical worldview. All that knowledge is not brought together in a coherent
system of thought. I was turned on to thinking worldviewishly in 1974 when I
was 18 years old and a new Christian, and have been enormously blessed by 40
years of consciously viewing all of reality through biblical spectacles.
We live in times when discernment is of paramount
importance, and thinking with a biblical worldview equips us to think with
maximum discernment. The more closely our thinking follows this worldview, the
more we will see reality as it really is. Unbelievers reject the biblical
Creator and replace Him with idols (Rom. 1:18ff)--which entails creating a
dream world--the more a person moves away from a biblical worldview the more
they will be distorting reality AS IT REALLY IS. That is the sheer wonderment
and beauty of thinking this way, is that it enables us to view God's world the
same way He does.
If you look through pink glasses you will see a pink world,
if you look through blue tinted spectacles then reality will appear bluish, but
if you view the world through the spectacles of a biblical worldview, then you
will see God's world as God sees His world (obviously not exactly as He does
because He is infinite, but truly nevertheless) Fundamentally, the Word of God
is all about application to our lives, and thinking worldviewshly enables one
to apply the bible in an extraordinarily rich and comprehensive way.
Everyone has a worldview, including those who say they have
no worldview! However, for most folks it is held unconsciously, but it is still
having a profound effect upon how they think, act, and feel.
How do folks acquire their worldview? It is a process over a
period of time--where their views of God, the universe, and our relation to
both--are formed. Some of the contributors to worldview formation are: how we
were raised, our experiences, our schooling, books we have read and movies we
have watched, and just being in the world--being exposed to all messages that
bombard us all day and night. The result is usually a mishmash of various
beliefs.
Okay, so this does not become like a chapter in a book, as
in last time, let me shift gears and just do it! (Nike would be proud...hehe) I
mentioned that I had recently read "Adam and Eve" by Sena Jeter
Naslund. I will basically review/analyze the book by sifting it through a
biblical worldview grid. And we do that by asking how the book answers the
seven components of a worldview...this is to teach you by practice HOW to do
this kind of thinking.
First, just a few words of introduction to the book...Thom
Bergmann, a world renowned astrophysicist, is married to Lucy Bergmann, an art
therapist. Lucy was born into an evangelical family, but her parent left her
with grand mom when she was a mere ten years
old in order to be missionaries to Japan. She felt betrayed and
abandoned and she turned against the faith of her parents. Hence, there is an
overt, hostile attitude toward biblical Christianity. Theirs is a lovely
marriage...true devotion. He has been researching for other life forms
"out there" and one day Thom shares with Lucy that he has found
conclusive evidence of alien life in deep space. Along with this earth-shaking
discovery, another one occurs as an archaeologist finds evidence that Moses was
not the author of Genesis. Both finds are seen by them as victories over the
dangers of moronic religious "literalism" (read, bible believing).
Thom dies in a suspicious accident and Lucy becomes the literal bearer of the
evidence of both of these discoveries. What follows is gripping plot which was
thoroughly entertaining, and as one reviewer put it, Naslund writes "lush
and luminous" prose. As I put the book down after finishing it, I said to
myself, "Wow, that book will significantly shape of the worldviews of
those who read it." As a best-selling author, I am sure of it...Time for a
quick analysis.
1.
What is God or ultimate reality like? Instead of an infinite/personal Creator,
who is revealed in Scripture and supremely in Jesus Christ, Lucy tends to see
God as ineffable. As I mentioned last time, she and her husband had a distaste
for the arrogance of claiming we "have access to the mind of God."
Sadly, the result is that He then becomes totally unknowable. In the end, she
embraces some form of energy as ultimate reality. In that regard, and many
others, this is a thoroughly modern novel.
2.
What is our purpose in life? The Great Commandment---loving God with all of our
being--is supposed to be our main priority. However, without access to the mind
of God via His revelation to us, then we have no way of deciphering what our
purpose is. Lucy, who is the narrator in the book, seems to assume that
relationships with other people are our purpose. While hers is more noble than
many, still it is idolatrous--as I read I could not help but feel like she was
lost in more ways than one.
3.
What is the nature of reality? There are two types of reality in biblical
worldview--the Creator and His creation-- the latter including the visible and
invisible. In Lucy's mind, energy plus time plus chance, has produced only one
form of reality...the "creation"...but again, energy is the prime
component of reality.
4.
Where is history going? Biblically, history is His-story, the unfolding of the
drama of redemption in space and time...it is moving meaningfully toward the
The Second Coming. According to this novel, there is no meta-narrative (big
story) to history. Earth is not the palace of the Great King, but space and
time are mere products of the evolutionary forces of energy. History is going
nowhere.
5.
What is the basis for right and wrong...how do we determine morality? God's
unchanging character and His revelation to us, forms the foundation for
Christian ethics. Lucy has imbibed long and deeply from the post-modernist well
of deconstructionism...words and morals can be defined according to our own
interpretation. Lucy proceeds to affirm the beauty of love as the guiding
principle for her life choices.. Right and wrong are subjective and relative,
and they are human constructs. Without the law of God to define love, then
she/we are left to our devices to what love looks like in each situation (a
form of situation ethics).
6.
What is the essence of being human? We have enormous dignity and worth which is
extrinsic in nature. Only God has intrinsic worth and He made us in His image,
and assigned immense value to us....we are God's highest creation! However, in
a sense, the main point of the book is that we are nothing but the products of
energy, plus time, plus chance. In one place Lucy mentions that all of us are
damaged, which mirrors a biblical view of the fallenness of all reality, which
much modern "happy preaching" ignores. The two discoveries (alien
life and non-Mosaic authorship of Genesis) herald that man is NOT special after
all. And she finds this liberating....but she can only feel that way by being
inconsistent with her presuppositions.
7.
What happens to us after we die? Scripture teaches that after death, we are
immediately ushered into our eternal destinies, after judgment. When
contemplating the death of her beloved, she is agnostic regarding where his
consciousness is, but oddly optimistic anyway.
I would say that her worldview is generally that of optimistic
humanism, which is irrational. Why? According to this view, the cosmos has a
meaningless beginning, and an equally meaningless end, but somehow between
these two poles of meaninglessness, she imbues deep meaning into the present
moment! That, my friends, is an irrational leap of faith.Compare this with the
more realistic assessment of life without God in Ecclesiastes.--"vanity of
vanities..." The atheistic existentialists Sartre and Camus were brilliant
in their sensitive portrayal of the meaninglessness of modern man.
I read this book with a notebook at hand, with the seven
components written down...consciously searching for an explicit or implicit
message relating to each worldview component. When I saw one, I made note of
it...page number and so on. Please consider doing something similar this
week....homework! I need to add that when I read or watch a movie, I do so on
two levels: on the one hand, I read/view simply for enjoyment, but
simultaneously, on the other hand, sifting the unfolding sequences and verbiage
through the grid of a biblical worldview. It makes the experience all the more
rich and stimulating...and I believe, glorifying to the Lord.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
The Separation Of Church And State Of Mind
Correspondent: Michael O'Brien
According to a recent CNN poll 1 in 4 young American people are currently, "unaffiliated," with religion. Additionally, a staggering 59% of young adults ages 18 to 29 with a solid Christian background have left the church all together.
When asked why, the most common responses cited by today's youth (depending of course upon their individual belief system) regarding their choice of theological separation were that:
● "The church is anti-gay."
● "The church is anti-doubt."
● "The church is anti-female."
● "The church is anti-science."
● "The church is anti-abortion."
● "The church is too judgmental."
● "The church only wants my money."
● "The church is anti-sexual education."
Upon my interviews with the 18-30 demographic (which was in no way scientific with less than 150 subjects) I noted the same criticisms. However, I was afforded clarifications. Here are some expansions offered by our participants I felt noteworthy due to their repetition and consistency. Out of respect and professionalism I've excluded the profanities.
● "As a good Christian I was told by my Bishop at 14 that I needed to actively shun homosexuals, liars, thieves and adulterers but pray for them. That they alone were the root of all evil. At 16 we found out that my Bishop was every one of those. It knocked the wind out of me, and the religion too." Karen D., 19
● "If I'm forced to demand proof in my work, my field, science, I'm going to demand it in a religion. "Believe it because I said so," just doesn't fly anymore." Devon M., 28
● "It has been my experience that the more religious, especially political and religious you claim to be the more corrupt you are." Peter P., 22
● "Christianity (prayer) never offered me any real answers to my issues. However doctors, psychiatrists and pharmaceuticals did. Science saved me, a deity
did not." Sam R., 25
● "I am sick to death of all of this puritanical BS! Where are all of these religious people at the local shelters or local food banks that I volunteer at every weekend and twice during the weekdays? Not there that for sure!" Tracy O., 24
● "I was raised Mormon. My family was expected to faithfully offer the church 10% of our gross earnings even when we couldn't. Now 20% is required to remain in good standing. Someone please tell me, why does it cost money in order for (this) God to like, accept or respect me?" Tammy A., 22
● "I can't come to grips being force fed that I'm supposed to worship a God who is more consumed with who I've chosen to love instead of who I've chosen to hate or harm. Why is it that I'll be forgiven for deliberately hurting or even killing another if I find Christ and ask for forgiveness but not for being gay?" Melinda Z., 21
● "Personally I'm bored with tradition and ceremony. I don't enjoy it at all. Besides, I think the only difference between being a religious person or being a spiritual person is that one person who is more willing to give up a Sunday." Timothy K., 27
● "My parents were hell fire Baptists. Every Sunday I remember thinking, am I the only person who thinks it's weird to force a kid to believe in an all powerful, unseen yet ultimately anthropomorphic entity who I should fear at all times with every fiber of my being? Also one who can't cure my MS but can apparently take Sunday attendance? Get real." Katelynn B., 24
● "The second I find out that someone is a preacher, priest or bishop I'm automatically suspicious. I don't mean to be but I can't turn on my TV anymore without hearing about one of these guys lying, manipulating, cheating, stealing money or molesting a child. If that's the godly level I'm supposed to be striving for then it's no wonder I'm a freaking atheist." Jacob L., 25
● "If I'm to understand this racket, God only focuses on what I do wrong and how he'll eventually punish me in eternal hell. And this is supposed to motivate me how?" Ally G., 18
● "I really don't get this whole Christian or Catholic thing. I think it's about a bunch of self righteous zelots who pick & choose what biblical passages we should all live by. But then gloss right over those passages that allow me to own slaves & beat adulterous women to death with rocks. I especially don't get the part where their God says do not judge, that's my job, but they ignore him anyway. Isn't HE supposed to be their authority? I swear they're more confused than I am. #toomanychiefs" Victoria R., 19 (this portion was extracted from an extended email by the author).
In the studies on atheism I'm familiar with it would appear many younger people are literally screaming the church is suspect if not outright hypocritical and outdated. With that, they seem to feel they are being forced to choose between their intellectual integrity, ideology and their faith. Unfortunately, at 59% intellect may be winning that battle.
I should quickly add this compilation of data gathered isn't offered solely by pollsters but by churches as well. Churches themselves report a substantial decline in attendance based upon baptismal records and their current congregational attendance. Some churches have even reported a variance as substantial as 69%.
We're all aware of the strict traditional stances of the church so what is fueling this sudden separation between church and the newest generation's state of mind? Are our youth seeking a greater education and spiritual understanding while the church seems content resting upon their standard catechism? Or are our youth genetically programmed to question everything about the generation before them? After all, there is substantial evidence that each generation brings with it deeper philosophies and greater knowledge. Evidence to that would be found in how even our generation (40+) perceives the generation of the 1960's.
While there are countless reasonings offered, I believe the true premise to this epidemic is that men of God are no longer respected leaders in our moral and ethical universe. And those that are have been undeniably sullied by the others.
Based upon documented hypocrisy, most have failed in their calling to become a moral compass for any of us. It's also unfortunate that these well known, so called, "spiritual leaders," have become the poster boys of modern religion. Listed below are only a few examples of my hypothesis.
● Westboro Baptist Church - who's premise is anti-gay and regularly frequents military funerals to mock the deaths of fallen heros.
● Reverend Gerry James - charged with misapplication of insurance funds of $450,000.00, DUI and possession of marijuana.
● Pastor Mark Driscoll - who commonly proclaims that women are “inferior vessels.”
● Pastor Rick Warren - who has consistently preached a disparaging anti-gay agenda.
● Pastor Ed Young Jr. - accused of living an overly opulent lifestyle courtesy of low income church member contributions.
● Pastor Eddy Long - an anti-gay preacher who won the top 10 Worst Pastors In America for underage homosexual assault and misuse of funds by The Preacher Bureau of Investigation.
● Reverend Travis Smith - who was charged with raping two teenage girls.
● Priest Eric Dejaegar - who served a five-year sentence beginning in 1990 for nine sexual assault charges of boys and girls ages 9 to 14.
● Pastor Matthew Kidd - charged with homosexual molestation of children.
● Preacher Travis Smith - charged with the molestation of under aged girls.
● Bishop Anthony Jinwright - who will spend the next decade in prison as punishment for more than 2 million in tax fraud.
● Reverend Peter Popoff - a televangelist found wearing an earpiece so that his accomplices could feed him personal information on people in his audience while he was claiming to get those personal messages directly from God.
Now scramble this knowledge in the mind of a spiritually confused or emptied person. Just look at the messages they send and what children may take from them. Obviously I could have gone on for pages with documented accounts of clergy gone bad but I won't. However, I will say the behavior of Catholic clergy alone would have turned this report into an exhausting novel.
This is what our youth are dealing with daily so is it any surprise that like untamed energy they've decided to take the path of least resistance? Again, I'm reminded of Karen D., age 19 who submitted:
"As a good Christian I was told by my Bishop at 14 that I needed to actively shun homosexuals, liars, thieves and adulterers but pray for them. That they alone were the root of all evil. At 16 we found out that my Bishop was every one of those. It knocked the wind out of me, and the religion too."
Face it, the youth of today not only out educate these false prophets on the pulpit but when it comes to purity, social equality, fairness and open mindedness, they obviously feel confident being their own spiritual guides. In their epiphanies they have chosen to abandon organized religion and have either opted for apathy, atheism or to simply exercise their spiritualism independently. Religious home study and volunteerism appear to be an option since both are steadily on the rise.
Apparently this isn't just an unfortunate U.S. movement. In 2005, a WIN-Gallup International poll was submitted and was based on interviews with 50,000+ people from 57 countries and 5 continents. In this poll participants were asked, "Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not, would you say you are a religious person, not a religious person, or a convinced atheist?"
This poll entitled, "The Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism," found that the number of Americans who say they are "religious" dropped sharply from 73% to 60%. Listed below is some surprising and interesting additional information on what their study returned.
● Besides Vietnam, Ireland had the greatest change in religiosity, down from 69% to 47%.
● China has the most "convinced atheists," at 47%, followed by Japan at 31%, Czech Republic at 30% and France at 29%.
● The most religious countries are in Africa (Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya), South America (Brazil and Peru) and Eastern Europe (Macedonia, Romania and Armenia).
● Countries with the same percentage of atheists as the U.S. are Poland, Moldova and Saudi Arabia.
Each of these reports are disturbing to say the least and they would seem to ask these questions.
● "Are we becoming a godless nation?
● "Is religion itself the problem or is its representation?"
● "Can the youth of today return to a salvationist belief and abandon their fringe philosophies? If one can call the absence of faith a philosophy."
For what it's worth, my answers are, "Yes." - "Yes." - "I certainly hope so."
When asked why, the most common responses cited by today's youth (depending of course upon their individual belief system) regarding their choice of theological separation were that:
● "The church is anti-gay."
● "The church is anti-doubt."
● "The church is anti-female."
● "The church is anti-science."
● "The church is anti-abortion."
● "The church is too judgmental."
● "The church only wants my money."
● "The church is anti-sexual education."
Upon my interviews with the 18-30 demographic (which was in no way scientific with less than 150 subjects) I noted the same criticisms. However, I was afforded clarifications. Here are some expansions offered by our participants I felt noteworthy due to their repetition and consistency. Out of respect and professionalism I've excluded the profanities.
● "As a good Christian I was told by my Bishop at 14 that I needed to actively shun homosexuals, liars, thieves and adulterers but pray for them. That they alone were the root of all evil. At 16 we found out that my Bishop was every one of those. It knocked the wind out of me, and the religion too." Karen D., 19
● "If I'm forced to demand proof in my work, my field, science, I'm going to demand it in a religion. "Believe it because I said so," just doesn't fly anymore." Devon M., 28
● "It has been my experience that the more religious, especially political and religious you claim to be the more corrupt you are." Peter P., 22
● "Christianity (prayer) never offered me any real answers to my issues. However doctors, psychiatrists and pharmaceuticals did. Science saved me, a deity
● "I am sick to death of all of this puritanical BS! Where are all of these religious people at the local shelters or local food banks that I volunteer at every weekend and twice during the weekdays? Not there that for sure!" Tracy O., 24
● "I was raised Mormon. My family was expected to faithfully offer the church 10% of our gross earnings even when we couldn't. Now 20% is required to remain in good standing. Someone please tell me, why does it cost money in order for (this) God to like, accept or respect me?" Tammy A., 22
● "I can't come to grips being force fed that I'm supposed to worship a God who is more consumed with who I've chosen to love instead of who I've chosen to hate or harm. Why is it that I'll be forgiven for deliberately hurting or even killing another if I find Christ and ask for forgiveness but not for being gay?" Melinda Z., 21
● "Personally I'm bored with tradition and ceremony. I don't enjoy it at all. Besides, I think the only difference between being a religious person or being a spiritual person is that one person who is more willing to give up a Sunday." Timothy K., 27
● "My parents were hell fire Baptists. Every Sunday I remember thinking, am I the only person who thinks it's weird to force a kid to believe in an all powerful, unseen yet ultimately anthropomorphic entity who I should fear at all times with every fiber of my being? Also one who can't cure my MS but can apparently take Sunday attendance? Get real." Katelynn B., 24
● "The second I find out that someone is a preacher, priest or bishop I'm automatically suspicious. I don't mean to be but I can't turn on my TV anymore without hearing about one of these guys lying, manipulating, cheating, stealing money or molesting a child. If that's the godly level I'm supposed to be striving for then it's no wonder I'm a freaking atheist." Jacob L., 25
● "If I'm to understand this racket, God only focuses on what I do wrong and how he'll eventually punish me in eternal hell. And this is supposed to motivate me how?" Ally G., 18
● "I really don't get this whole Christian or Catholic thing. I think it's about a bunch of self righteous zelots who pick & choose what biblical passages we should all live by. But then gloss right over those passages that allow me to own slaves & beat adulterous women to death with rocks. I especially don't get the part where their God says do not judge, that's my job, but they ignore him anyway. Isn't HE supposed to be their authority? I swear they're more confused than I am. #toomanychiefs" Victoria R., 19 (this portion was extracted from an extended email by the author).
In the studies on atheism I'm familiar with it would appear many younger people are literally screaming the church is suspect if not outright hypocritical and outdated. With that, they seem to feel they are being forced to choose between their intellectual integrity, ideology and their faith. Unfortunately, at 59% intellect may be winning that battle.
I should quickly add this compilation of data gathered isn't offered solely by pollsters but by churches as well. Churches themselves report a substantial decline in attendance based upon baptismal records and their current congregational attendance. Some churches have even reported a variance as substantial as 69%.
We're all aware of the strict traditional stances of the church so what is fueling this sudden separation between church and the newest generation's state of mind? Are our youth seeking a greater education and spiritual understanding while the church seems content resting upon their standard catechism? Or are our youth genetically programmed to question everything about the generation before them? After all, there is substantial evidence that each generation brings with it deeper philosophies and greater knowledge. Evidence to that would be found in how even our generation (40+) perceives the generation of the 1960's.
While there are countless reasonings offered, I believe the true premise to this epidemic is that men of God are no longer respected leaders in our moral and ethical universe. And those that are have been undeniably sullied by the others.
Based upon documented hypocrisy, most have failed in their calling to become a moral compass for any of us. It's also unfortunate that these well known, so called, "spiritual leaders," have become the poster boys of modern religion. Listed below are only a few examples of my hypothesis.
● Westboro Baptist Church - who's premise is anti-gay and regularly frequents military funerals to mock the deaths of fallen heros.
● Reverend Gerry James - charged with misapplication of insurance funds of $450,000.00, DUI and possession of marijuana.
● Pastor Mark Driscoll - who commonly proclaims that women are “inferior vessels.”
● Pastor Rick Warren - who has consistently preached a disparaging anti-gay agenda.
● Pastor Ed Young Jr. - accused of living an overly opulent lifestyle courtesy of low income church member contributions.
● Pastor Eddy Long - an anti-gay preacher who won the top 10 Worst Pastors In America for underage homosexual assault and misuse of funds by The Preacher Bureau of Investigation.
● Reverend Travis Smith - who was charged with raping two teenage girls.
● Priest Eric Dejaegar - who served a five-year sentence beginning in 1990 for nine sexual assault charges of boys and girls ages 9 to 14.
● Pastor Matthew Kidd - charged with homosexual molestation of children.
● Preacher Travis Smith - charged with the molestation of under aged girls.
● Bishop Anthony Jinwright - who will spend the next decade in prison as punishment for more than 2 million in tax fraud.
● Reverend Peter Popoff - a televangelist found wearing an earpiece so that his accomplices could feed him personal information on people in his audience while he was claiming to get those personal messages directly from God.
Now scramble this knowledge in the mind of a spiritually confused or emptied person. Just look at the messages they send and what children may take from them. Obviously I could have gone on for pages with documented accounts of clergy gone bad but I won't. However, I will say the behavior of Catholic clergy alone would have turned this report into an exhausting novel.
This is what our youth are dealing with daily so is it any surprise that like untamed energy they've decided to take the path of least resistance? Again, I'm reminded of Karen D., age 19 who submitted:
"As a good Christian I was told by my Bishop at 14 that I needed to actively shun homosexuals, liars, thieves and adulterers but pray for them. That they alone were the root of all evil. At 16 we found out that my Bishop was every one of those. It knocked the wind out of me, and the religion too."
Face it, the youth of today not only out educate these false prophets on the pulpit but when it comes to purity, social equality, fairness and open mindedness, they obviously feel confident being their own spiritual guides. In their epiphanies they have chosen to abandon organized religion and have either opted for apathy, atheism or to simply exercise their spiritualism independently. Religious home study and volunteerism appear to be an option since both are steadily on the rise.
Apparently this isn't just an unfortunate U.S. movement. In 2005, a WIN-Gallup International poll was submitted and was based on interviews with 50,000+ people from 57 countries and 5 continents. In this poll participants were asked, "Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not, would you say you are a religious person, not a religious person, or a convinced atheist?"
This poll entitled, "The Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism," found that the number of Americans who say they are "religious" dropped sharply from 73% to 60%. Listed below is some surprising and interesting additional information on what their study returned.
● Besides Vietnam, Ireland had the greatest change in religiosity, down from 69% to 47%.
● China has the most "convinced atheists," at 47%, followed by Japan at 31%, Czech Republic at 30% and France at 29%.
● The most religious countries are in Africa (Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya), South America (Brazil and Peru) and Eastern Europe (Macedonia, Romania and Armenia).
● Countries with the same percentage of atheists as the U.S. are Poland, Moldova and Saudi Arabia.
Each of these reports are disturbing to say the least and they would seem to ask these questions.
● "Are we becoming a godless nation?
● "Is religion itself the problem or is its representation?"
● "Can the youth of today return to a salvationist belief and abandon their fringe philosophies? If one can call the absence of faith a philosophy."
For what it's worth, my answers are, "Yes." - "Yes." - "I certainly hope so."
Issue 132 – Murder Bordello Parts 1-3 & Amityville Horror, Haunting in Connecticut & The Conjuring DEBUNKED
By Kirby Robinson
Doubtful News.com has now picked up the Murder Bordello
story. We’ve been told that other websites will be issuing their reports on
this whole scandalous affair.
Here are parts 1-3 of the Murder Bordello:
In the short history of our show, we’ve already brought
into question the credibly of some well known psychic-mediums like Theresa Caputo
and Sylvia Browne, and TV ministers like Jim Bakker and Cindy Jacobs. We’ve
also shown the fakery of PRS [Paranormal Research Society] and the exorcist
Andrew Calder.
Tonight we’ll go where few, if any, radio programs
have ever gone. We’ll shine the spotlight on what most consider one of the most
compelling cases of demonic and ghostly activity in recent history and the case
has spawned numerous books, movies and TV specials. The case is the Amityville Horror/Haunting.
In 1976, the world was gripped by the news coming out of Amityville, New York
as the Lutz family fled from their home after living there for 28 days. They’d
become victims of such severe demonic attacks the whole story could not be told.
Noted ghost hunters and demon chasers Ed and Lorraine Warren became part of the
story. Due to the popularity of The Exorcist,
the public couldn’t get enough. The legend grew as countless movies and books
came out. But the truth was buried and the lies were told to cover up the fact
that nothing paranormal happened in the house.
The two other cases, The Haunting in Connecticut and
The Conjuring, will probably be discussed next week due to the amount of
material there is to cover.
Over the course of our 2 hours together, we’ll study
as much information as we can. This is information that the supporters of these
hoaxes DON’T want you to know.
Tune in learn the truth and make up your own mind.
Showtime begins at 7 PM [PST] or 10 PM [EST]. See this page for more information: http://www.goddiscussion.net/2013/08/24/amityville-haunting-in-connecticut-the-conjuring-debunked-wednesday-august-28-2013/
EARN EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website,
forum or blog you can set up an Amazon Associates Affiliate Program link and
sell the Kindle version of our
books. "Is the Long Island Medium the Real Deal?" [Now in paperback],
"Never Mock
God: An Unauthorized Investigation into Paranormal State's 'I Am Six' Case"
[also in paperback!], "Investigating Paranormal State," "Paranormal
State Exposed" and "Paranormal Teachings: The Best of Shedding Some
Light" and earn money. You can also sell other books and products that
Amazon offers. Here's the link: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
Monday, August 26, 2013
Dalai Lama Explores Concept of Soul
Tibetans in traditional garb filed into the 6,000-seat arena to mingle with AU students, Western Buddhists, and hundreds of curious Washingtonians who came to the see the spiritual leader and head of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
“Every time I see him, it’s like seeing him for the first time,” said Tsering Lamo, of Vienna, Va., of the self-described “simple monk” who has won the Nobel Peace Prize and U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. “He’s inspirational. He’s a role model. Because of him, many Tibetans go to non-violence.”
Lamo, who is Tibetan, came to the AU teaching with a friend from China, Vicki Wang. All political differences aside, “there is no border in Buddhism. It is such an honor to see him,” said Wang, spinning a Buddhist prayer wheel.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, sat cross-legged on a large gold armchair under a towering thangka, or painted religious banner, that stretched from the ceiling of Bender Arena to the floor of the dais. Around him sat dozens of monks in maroon and saffron robes. It was the Dalai Lama’s second time at AU, where he also gave a teaching in 1998.
The teaching, “The Heart of Change: Finding Wisdom in the Modern World,” began with chanting in Sanskrit, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tibetan.
“To build religious harmony, we must know different traditions and their concepts, and through that, we can develop respect, which is the foundation for harmony,” said the Dalai Lama, who spoke mainly in English but sometimes with the help of a Tibetan translator.
He explored the concept of a soul, which in the Buddhist tradition, cannot be viewed separately from the body and mind, but also cannot be said to have a beginning or an end. The talk revolved around what he called the three fundamental questions: What is the “I”? Does it have a beginning? Does it have an end?
“This, my body, now is over 70 years old,” he said, but it is not the same body he had as a child. Just as the body has changed, so has the mind. Even on the atomic level, the physical self is in constant flux.
The self exists due to the body and mind, yet “we could trace material continuity of our body to conception, and then back to the big bang. We can find material causes of our body even at the beginning of the universe,” he said.
Buddhism calls on its followers to recognize the self as impermanent as “an antidote to reduce extreme self-centeredness.” Other religions have different beliefs, but aim towards a similar effect by different . . . In each case, the philosophical framework serves to move the faithful away from self-absorption.
Yet, he said, there are contradictions between religions and within religions. Buddhism has multiple sects, and the world’s major religions have different notions of an afterlife, soul and creator. This serves the purpose of addressing the “different mental dispositions” of the world’s people. “There are six billion human beings. Just one religion is simply not sufficient,” he said.
Becoming educated about other religions helps to develop tolerance without undermining faith, because understanding and belief are different, he said. “All people in this room should know (about other religions), so we can develop respect for all traditions. But faith is a different thing. I’m Buddhist, my faith is Buddhist,” he said, yet that doesn’t keep him from respecting other traditions or seeing similarities.
For most people, it is best to keep to the faith of their birth, he said, because they have a deeper understanding of it. A few people may be convinced that another religion suits them better and may be moved to practice it seriously, but for most, “it’s very important to keep one’s own tradition.”
As he spoke, the arena was bright with hundreds of strands of prayer flags created by children at the Katzen Arts Center or in projects at D.C. public schools with teachers mobilized by AU’s School of Education, Teaching and Health.
The morning’s teaching was followed by a symposium with leading Buddhist thinkers.
Dolma Tsering of Derwood, Md., who grew up in Nepal as the child of Tibetan refugees, saw the day as a time for people from many backgrounds to learn from the Dalai Lama’s example.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for not just Tibetans, but for Washington to learn about peace.”
By Sally Acharya, October 12, 2009, American University, Washington, DC
Amityville, Haunting in Connecticut & Conjuring DEBUNKED– Wednesday, August 28, 2013
By Kirby Robinson
In the short history of our show, we’ve already brought
into question the credibly of some well known psychic-mediums like Theresa Caputo
and Sylvia Browne, and TV ministers like Jim Bakker and Cindy Jacobs. We’ve
also shown the fakery of PRS [Paranormal Research Society] and the exorcist
Andrew Calder.
This week we’ll go where few, if any, radio programs
have ever gone. We’ll shine the spotlight on what most consider the most
compelling cases of demonic activity and ghost haunting in recent history.
The Amityville Horror/Haunting. In 1976, the world was
gripped by the news coming out of Amityville, New York as the Lutz family fled
from their home after living there for 28 days. They’d become victims of such
severe demonic attacks the whole story could not be told. Noted ghost hunters
and demon chasers Ed and Lorraine Warren became part of the story. Due to the popularity
of The Exorcist, the public couldn’t
get enough. The legend grew as countless movies and books came out. But the
truth was buried and the lies were told to cover up the fact that nothing paranormal
happened in the house.
The Haunting in Connecticut case focuses on demonic
activity taking place in a house that had formerly been a funeral parlor. It
was surmised that workers took part in necrophilia [sex with dead people] and
necromancy [raising the dead]. When the parlor went out of business the spirits
of the dead stayed along with a host of demons.
In the 1980s, the Snedekers moved into the home so Carmen,
the mother, could take her cancer stricken son to a nearby hospital for daily
treatment. Almost as soon as the family moved in the haunting began. Ed and Lorraine
Warren along with John Zaffis were called in to investigate the case. It was
brought to a close once an exorcism was performed.
Unlike the Amityville case, this one had the benefit
of the internet and the growing interest in the paranormal to help build up
lots of smoke. The books and a successful movie stoked the fires but has the
truth ever been told? Have independent researchers ever had a chance to look at
the evidence?
The case behind The
Conjuring. Not since The Exorcist
has a horror film that had any ties to a real case [outside of maybe the Texas Chainsaw Massacre] captured the
attention of America. The Perron family moved into an historic home in rural
Rhode Island, enduring 10 years of haunting by dark spirits.
Ed and Lorraine Warren once again play a part in it.
How legit are the case notes? Are the Warrens even
legit?
Over the course of our 2 hours together, we’ll study
as much information as we can. This is information that the supporters of these
hoaxes DON’T want you to know.
Tune in learn the truth and make up your own mind.
NOTE: Due to the overwhelming amount of information,
this may be a 2-part series.
As a weekly feature, Kirby will also share some book
reviews and recommendations, as well as his infamous incredible "BAD BAD
Thing Awards."
Showtime begins at 7 PM [PST] or 10 PM [EST]. See this page for more information:
Here’s last week's
show—Bad Psychics – with Even Worse Intentions:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/god-discussion/2013/08/22/bad-psychics-with-even-worse-intentions
EARN EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website,
forum or blog you can set up an Amazon Associates Affiliate Program link and
sell the Kindle version of our
books. "Is the Long Island Medium the Real Deal?" [Now in paperback],
"Never Mock
God: An Unauthorized Investigation into Paranormal State's 'I Am Six' Case"
[also in paperback!], "Investigating Paranormal State," "Paranormal
State Exposed" and "Paranormal Teachings: The Best of Shedding Some
Light" and earn money. You can also sell other books and products that
Amazon offers. Here's the link: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
Saturday, August 24, 2013
"Angelology" What Are Angels And What Do We know About Them?
Please note that this is Biblical/my opinion. There are so many sub topics to go over in order to produce “Angelology” in a nut shell. I could go on for days and days. Many people view the Bible differently or not at all. I’m just barely putting a knot in it.
Angels are spirit beings created by Christ. They were created holy and with the ability to choose to remain in that state or to follow Satan (Lucifer, the morning star, son of the dawn) in his fall. Demons came from among the group of angels that fell with Satan and they are actively at work in the world today working against God and Christians. Angels are very active in the Bible and God used them as messengers, warriors, and servants. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger." Angels are spiritual beings without bodies of flesh and bones, though they seem to have the ability to appear in human for (GEN 19 1-22). Angels had many functions. ), and were sometimes instruments of God's judgment (Matt. 13:49-50).
The Bible tells us that God created the angels and that at some time in the distant past there was a rebellion in heaven and many of the angels fell. Apparently, it was the elect angels that did not fall (1 Tim. 5:21). The Bible says that angels were created by Christ (Col. 1:16), that they carry out the will of God (Psalm 103:20; Matt. 6:10), they worship God and Christ (Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:6), are The angels who remained faithful to God are confirmed in their holiness and they act as God's messengers being involved with believers. The angels learn from believers and have a ministry with those who shall be heirs of salvation. Someday believers will take part in judging the angels (I Corinthians 6:3).wise (2 Sam. 14:20), mighty (Psalm 103:20), holy (Matt. 25:31), and innumerable, (Heb. 12:22). However, angels are not to be worshipped. Believers in Christ has their own angel. Many have even encountered angels and not even known about it. Hebrews says, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it“(13:1-2)
Written by Jennifer Auld
Angels are spirit beings created by Christ. They were created holy and with the ability to choose to remain in that state or to follow Satan (Lucifer, the morning star, son of the dawn) in his fall. Demons came from among the group of angels that fell with Satan and they are actively at work in the world today working against God and Christians. Angels are very active in the Bible and God used them as messengers, warriors, and servants. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger." Angels are spiritual beings without bodies of flesh and bones, though they seem to have the ability to appear in human for (GEN 19 1-22). Angels had many functions. ), and were sometimes instruments of God's judgment (Matt. 13:49-50).
The Bible tells us that God created the angels and that at some time in the distant past there was a rebellion in heaven and many of the angels fell. Apparently, it was the elect angels that did not fall (1 Tim. 5:21). The Bible says that angels were created by Christ (Col. 1:16), that they carry out the will of God (Psalm 103:20; Matt. 6:10), they worship God and Christ (Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:6), are The angels who remained faithful to God are confirmed in their holiness and they act as God's messengers being involved with believers. The angels learn from believers and have a ministry with those who shall be heirs of salvation. Someday believers will take part in judging the angels (I Corinthians 6:3).wise (2 Sam. 14:20), mighty (Psalm 103:20), holy (Matt. 25:31), and innumerable, (Heb. 12:22). However, angels are not to be worshipped. Believers in Christ has their own angel. Many have even encountered angels and not even known about it. Hebrews says, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it“(13:1-2)
Written by Jennifer Auld
Friday, August 23, 2013
Deliverance versus Exorcism
By Evangelist Stephen Piersall
God's Preservation Ministry, sfprs.org
First thing to identify is exorcism is Catholic based, and non-Catholics do deliverance sessions. Both provide the same result in removing demons from people’s lives, by the name of Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior. Deliverance has more focus on the inner healing, starting with Salvation, and ending with Christian counseling with follow-up of how your life is revolving around God.
An exorcism occurs by following the “Ritual Rite of Exorcism – 1999." Turn 1999 upside down and you can see 666. Things that make you go Hmmmmm?
Approval is required at the highest level of the Catholic chain of command before this procedure is accomplished. An exorcism is a specific ritual and is already composed so that the Priest and his assistants can follow in the systematic process.
Only one case has transpired that a person has died during this procedure. Most often referred to as “The Exorcism of Emily Rose," which is the true story of Anneliese Michel from the mid 1970’s. Because her exorcism was heavily indwelled with many top demons, many Priests had been involved over the years, and unfortunately, she eventually died of malnutrition and pneumonia.
Sometimes with difficult cases like this, the Bible tells us, we must pray and fast for a period, until God gives us the wisdom and discernment of how to proceed. Here is a partial list of common symptoms of diabolical possession contrary to psychological sickness; Ineffectiveness of medicine, opposition to what is sacred, susceptibility to holy water and blessings, violent, furious and aggressive reactions.
If a psychiatrist is taking too much time to heal the mentally sick and his medicines seem to be ineffective, it is better for the psychologist to recommend the patient to see an exorcist. Sometimes, demons can impair an individual, which creates a mental illness. The only other option, which is rarely used, is to seek out a Priest.
Since involving yours truly with Deliverance ministry since 2010 and have accomplished many cases since, that evidence bears out that often cases are different from another. Deliverance ministry gets into the root of how it started. With God’s Preservation Ministry (sfprs.org/), we believe in research first. We have every potential client complete a consent form to protect us legally and a lengthy questionnaire of their past. This gives us a solid foundation to start to commence. Often there are hidden issues that are deeply buried within the client and do not appear until the Deliverance session.
Today, because of Satan’s influence with the media: TV, movies, music, literature, video games, etc. We endanger ourselves to evil and on many levels, and you can get your five minutes of fame by becoming one of many Para-celebrities. Which in 1984, the movie “Ghostbusters” came out and everybody wanted to do ghost hunting despite Deuteronomy 18:9-15 showing us it is sinful.
Because of all that, “we” have to be careful and have some certainty with clients coming forward asking for help. Are they seeking fame? Are they mentally ill? Are they really possessed or oppressed? Thus, the in-depth research we do with every single case. Most importantly, we must be right with God, and prepare ourselves with prayer, fasting, and using all of our senses and working with a minimum of two people at all times.
Demonic spirits are all around us every day looking for an opportunity to start trouble. The most common method is they have a “Legal Right” to be within a person. This is a direct violation of the laws of scripture. This “entry point” is because the person is emotionally or spiritually weak. In the case of a person not being a Christian, they are large targets for the demonic to possess them. Christians can only suffer from oppression by evil because of their sins.
If the person decides they need deliverance, they will have to make some lifestyle changes. Daily habits of praying, reading the Bible, forgiving others, doing the best they can at their stage of a relationship with Jesus, try to be Christ like, etc. The person must deal with these areas of sin by closing these entryways, and receive inner healing from God before we can perform a deliverance session.
God loves us, and wants us to demonstrate adulation to him too. Completing the deliverance session and continuing the pursuit of a Christian lifestyle will bring about life changes in our attitude, spiritually, mentally in life. The rewards are many for those who walk the straight and narrow. The main goal of deliverance, or any healing ministry, is not simply to experience the power of Jesus or even to fight against and defeat evil. It is to minister the love of God. Jesus used his power to show his love as illustrated in the four Gospels. Jesus is a great role model for us on how we should conform.
God's Preservation Ministry, sfprs.org
First thing to identify is exorcism is Catholic based, and non-Catholics do deliverance sessions. Both provide the same result in removing demons from people’s lives, by the name of Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior. Deliverance has more focus on the inner healing, starting with Salvation, and ending with Christian counseling with follow-up of how your life is revolving around God.
An exorcism occurs by following the “Ritual Rite of Exorcism – 1999." Turn 1999 upside down and you can see 666. Things that make you go Hmmmmm?
Approval is required at the highest level of the Catholic chain of command before this procedure is accomplished. An exorcism is a specific ritual and is already composed so that the Priest and his assistants can follow in the systematic process.
Only one case has transpired that a person has died during this procedure. Most often referred to as “The Exorcism of Emily Rose," which is the true story of Anneliese Michel from the mid 1970’s. Because her exorcism was heavily indwelled with many top demons, many Priests had been involved over the years, and unfortunately, she eventually died of malnutrition and pneumonia.
Sometimes with difficult cases like this, the Bible tells us, we must pray and fast for a period, until God gives us the wisdom and discernment of how to proceed. Here is a partial list of common symptoms of diabolical possession contrary to psychological sickness; Ineffectiveness of medicine, opposition to what is sacred, susceptibility to holy water and blessings, violent, furious and aggressive reactions.
If a psychiatrist is taking too much time to heal the mentally sick and his medicines seem to be ineffective, it is better for the psychologist to recommend the patient to see an exorcist. Sometimes, demons can impair an individual, which creates a mental illness. The only other option, which is rarely used, is to seek out a Priest.
Since involving yours truly with Deliverance ministry since 2010 and have accomplished many cases since, that evidence bears out that often cases are different from another. Deliverance ministry gets into the root of how it started. With God’s Preservation Ministry (sfprs.org/), we believe in research first. We have every potential client complete a consent form to protect us legally and a lengthy questionnaire of their past. This gives us a solid foundation to start to commence. Often there are hidden issues that are deeply buried within the client and do not appear until the Deliverance session.
Today, because of Satan’s influence with the media: TV, movies, music, literature, video games, etc. We endanger ourselves to evil and on many levels, and you can get your five minutes of fame by becoming one of many Para-celebrities. Which in 1984, the movie “Ghostbusters” came out and everybody wanted to do ghost hunting despite Deuteronomy 18:9-15 showing us it is sinful.
Because of all that, “we” have to be careful and have some certainty with clients coming forward asking for help. Are they seeking fame? Are they mentally ill? Are they really possessed or oppressed? Thus, the in-depth research we do with every single case. Most importantly, we must be right with God, and prepare ourselves with prayer, fasting, and using all of our senses and working with a minimum of two people at all times.
Demonic spirits are all around us every day looking for an opportunity to start trouble. The most common method is they have a “Legal Right” to be within a person. This is a direct violation of the laws of scripture. This “entry point” is because the person is emotionally or spiritually weak. In the case of a person not being a Christian, they are large targets for the demonic to possess them. Christians can only suffer from oppression by evil because of their sins.
If the person decides they need deliverance, they will have to make some lifestyle changes. Daily habits of praying, reading the Bible, forgiving others, doing the best they can at their stage of a relationship with Jesus, try to be Christ like, etc. The person must deal with these areas of sin by closing these entryways, and receive inner healing from God before we can perform a deliverance session.
God loves us, and wants us to demonstrate adulation to him too. Completing the deliverance session and continuing the pursuit of a Christian lifestyle will bring about life changes in our attitude, spiritually, mentally in life. The rewards are many for those who walk the straight and narrow. The main goal of deliverance, or any healing ministry, is not simply to experience the power of Jesus or even to fight against and defeat evil. It is to minister the love of God. Jesus used his power to show his love as illustrated in the four Gospels. Jesus is a great role model for us on how we should conform.
The Foundation of a Biblical Worldview
By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
Last time we asked the question: is it possible to access
the mind of God? We noted that the beautifully staggering truth is "yes,
we can"--that is precisely what the bible is...God revealing some of His
mind to us. I wonder, as bible-believing Christians, if we sufficiently
appreciate the astonishing wonderment of God speaking to us...revealing His
mind to us? As we shall see, this self-disclosure of God provides the
foundation for everything--certainly everything pertaining to our worldview.
A provisional definition of a worldview is best conveyed
like this: to see with a biblical worldview is to see all of reality through
God's eyes...to see it as He does. Or we could put it like this: a worldview is
how we view God and the universe, and our relationship to both. I suppose if
there is one thing unique about my book, it is that it teaches about the nature
and importance of worldviews. Worldviews are like spectacles through which we
view the world, and it effects how we think, feel, and behave. We almost always
hold them unconsciously, unless we systematically discuss them as we are now.
This is not secret knowledge, like gnosticism/occult, but it is rare, even
among pastors, to know how to think with a full-orbed biblical worldview
In my book I list what I consider the seven components of
any worldview...
1.
What is the nature of God or ultimate reality?
2.
What is your purpose in life?
3.
What is the nature of reality?
4.
Is history going anywhere?
5.
What is the basis for morality?
6.
What does it mean to be human (essential traits of
being human)?
7.
What happens to us after we die?
Let me ask three questions: do you see how utterly basic
these questions are...how divergent the answers would be depending upon whom we
asked...and how seriously impoverished and "lost" one's life would be
if they lacked certitude regarding them? Sometimes stating a thing negatively
can have some shock value which is conducive to learning...like this. "I
have no clue as to what God is like...no idea why I should get out of bed
because I have no clear purpose...I think reality is all in my head...morality
is whatever feels right to me....humans are just apes with little hair...we are
annihilated when we die...I think..." Get my point??!!
Before I proceed any further, I believe that one of the best
ways we learn is just by doing. So, the next time you read a novel, go to an
art gallery, watch a TV program or movie, and so on, please ask yourself how
they/it are "answering" each of the above seven questions. Obviously,
the movie director is not going to have one of his cast say, "Hey, this is
the worldview of this film...god is energy, pleasure is our purpose...and so
on...!" It takes listening carefully to dialogue, and other factors, to
pick up the explicit or implicit expressions of the seven worldview components.
That is, put into practice the habit of viewing everything through a biblical
worldview. But that involves being able
to spot the distortions in one's worldview spectacles,as they are presented on the
silver screen or in the novel, ect...After awhile it becomes second nature. We
need to develop a distinctively Christian mind if wish to have a substantive
impact on our culture (Rom 12:1-2)
I want to introduce a philosophical term--epistemology--a
branch of philosophy which deals with the validity, nature, and extent of human
knowledge. Put another way--it deals with how we know, and how we know we
know..Christians should know this term because it lies at the heart of what
ails our country We are not experiencing a generation gap, but instead we are
experiencing an epistemological gap (which at root is spiritual in nature).
Which has led to what some call "culture wars"Let me explain.
One-hundred years ago there was a basically Christian ethos
in our country.. If you were to ask the average person off the street any/all
of the seven questions above, most would have given an answer that was roughly
based on the bible. If someone disagreed with them in conversation, it was
understood that one of them was wrong...or both were. Today the responses to
the above questions would be all over the map, leaning heavily toward New
Age/neo-gnostic beliefs. And to even gently assert that someone is wrong is
taken as an offense...absolute truth lies bleeding in the street. Yes, it is an
epistemological gap. How we acquire knowledge regarding basic issues has
radically changed.
The seven questions above, which comprise one's worldview,
are either answered by God's revelation or man's autonomous speculation. These
differing presuppositions lead to radically differing conclusions..as we shall
see. Is it not instructive that the first temptation was epistemological in
nature? Says Satan/serpant, "C'mon Eve, use your autonomous mind to
determine right and wrong...and you'll also discover that YOU are the real
god....be a big girl and THINK FOR YOURSELF." How we gain knowledge is the
key to everything...we either fear God and attain true knowledge of reality or
we trust in ourselves and distort reality.
Where do you go to answer these questions? What is your
final court of appeal in answering life's most basic questions? Do you look
inward...to your intuition...your experience...what your heart says--or do you
look outside of yourself to the Living God who created heaven and earth, who in
His kindness and love, has spoken true-truth to us in His written Word?
Let's go to Psalm 119 to get just a glimpse into what the
biblical worldview is. Our epistemic assumption is that we can access the mind
of God, and this is done via His special revelation in the bible. ALL
knowledge, certainly all the knowledge pertaining to the seven questions above,
can only be answered by accessing the mind of God--because we are incapable of
ascertaining the answers autonomously...
Please read these verses carefully, and in light of these
basic questions. As a philosophy major, it was a beautifully stimulating
experience to see the basic questions philosophers had been asking for
millennia, and how the bible fit like hand-in-glove in answering them!
"Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the
day." (119:97)
"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for
Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep
your precepts." (vv. 99-100)
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path."(v. 105)
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it
according to Your Word." (v.9)
"I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not Your
commandments from me." (V.19)
"Righteous are You, O Lord, and right are Your rules."
(v. 137)
"The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your
righteous rules endures forever. (v.160)
"Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me
understanding that that I may learn Your commandments." (v. 73)
"Forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly fixed in the
heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the
earth, and it stands fast. By Your appointment they stand this day, for all
things are Your servants." (vvs. 89-91)
Please forgive my repetition, but these concepts are new to
some, and they are vitally important for us to understand (for a whole slew of
reasons) Epistemology accents the wonderment of having God's personal
revelation to us--explaining who He is....who we are....the nature of the
universe--and our relationship to both. Using just Psalm 119 let us give a
brief review of a biblical worldview.
1. What
is the nature of God or ultimate reality? (119: 89-91, 137) The word used for
God throughout the psalm is LORD....which is Yahweh in the OT--this is the
covenant Name of God. He is infinite/personal God who created the heavens and
earth...all creation is His servant. Energy is not ultimate reality.
2. What
is our purpose in life? Frankly, had Yahweh not revealed this to us, our lives
would be utterly meaningless. (v.97) speaks of loving the bible of God, and the
God of the bible..the Great Commandment is our noble purpose as redeemed
humans. (v.73) God Himself made and fashioned us...we are not cosmic accidents
or descendants of monkeys. And of course Jesus Himself declares that loving God
is the greatest commandment. Think of all the alternatives we have come up with
to replace loving God as our purpose (or dominant life value, as some put
it)...as Calvin said, we are idol factories.
3. What
is the nature of reality? It is not an illusion. Matter/energy is not eternal.
(v.89-91) Again, we see that there is a distinction between
the Creator and His creation. There are two basic types of reality--the self
existent and eternal Creator, and His creation which He created ex nihilo. The
physical world is not the full circumference of reality--there is an unseen,
spiritual dimension as well. I finally saw The Conjuring movie last
night--about Ed and Lorraine Warren who were pioneer demonologists. The movie
did a surprisingly good job of expressing the reality of supernatural evil.
4. Where
is history going? LORD...Yahweh is the faithful God of the covenants--the flow
of history (including your personal history) has meaning because history is
His-story. The whole psalm points to a God who will hold us accountable for our
thoughts, words, and deeds. (v. 19) that we are sojourners here, means that we
are preparing to go home! Eastern thought tends to see history as moving in
endless, meaningless cycles..NO!
5. What
is the basis for morality...or how do we distinguish right from wrong? (v 9,
137, 160) A young person can discover right and wrong by meditating on God's
word, which is entirely truthful. Because God is righteous, His laws are
righteous..forever. We know that right and wrong are based on the unchanging
character of God, as expressed in his written Word. If energy is ultimate
reality, then there is no adequate basis for morality. Or if we base it on
anything other than God's Word, then it is not a sufficient basis for morality.
6. What
does it mean to be human (essential traits)?
v.73 God made us and fashioned us in the womb ( see Ps. 139--fearfully
and wonderfully made!) Human beings are not self-referential...As John Calvin
said, knowledge of ourselves and knowledge of God are inextricably bound
together in a thousand different ways, since we are made in His image. We are
certainly not animals or glorified monkeys. We are noble, but we are sinners as
well.
7. What
happens when we die? Again, we are called "sojourners on earth" (v.
19) We are just passing through this time/place before we enter our eternal
rest. We are a body/soul composite, and when we die our soul immediately goes
before the Holy Judge of heaven and earth. Death is determinitive of our
eternal destiny--either eternity in heaven or hell. At the Last Judgment we
will be reunited with our glorified bodies. Hence, any notion of "trapped
souls" is repugnant to scripture and to God's holy character. Ed and
Lorraine Warren got this issue wrong--unfortunately. Annihilation is also
wrong-headed.
(89-91, 99-100,160) All of this discussion would be for
naught if it were not for the truth of these verses.The infinite and personal
God of the everlasting covenant is really there, and He has not remained
silent. His Word is true truth (forever His Word is fixed in heaven) Every one
of His righteous rules endures forever. Amen!
Have you ever heard someone say, "I have 35 years
researching the paranormal."? I certainly have, and it is often (not
always) used as a fact to buttress the force of their argument against what I
or someone else has said that contradicted a claim of theirs. Here the psalmist
states that he has more true knowledge than his teachers BECAUSE it is grounded
in the granite of revealed truth, and not in the shifting sands of man's
autonomous speculation.
I have mentioned this example before but it bears repeating:
an unbelieving friend of mine, who specializes in getting rid of spirits who
are hostile (and they stay busy all year), loudly proclaims two things: they
have nearly 40 years of experience, and they have never, ever seen a demon!
This is usually followed by a sarcastic, withering criticism of those who
stupidly believe that all ghosts are demons. This person is my friend and it
grieves me that they are so blind that they cannot even recognize demons when
they are attacking or harassing them. Every classic criteria used to determine
demonic presence has been met many times over, and yet they still refuse to see
reality clearly...tragic, but quite common.If our worldview glasses are
distorting our perception of reality, then decades of experience will only make
one more foolish in their understanding of the world.
There are no answers to the seven questions above if our
epistemology is not grounded in the Word of God. That is, if we do not look to
God's revelation to learn what: God is like, the nature of reality, our purpose
in life, what is right and wrong...and so on, then we have no adequate
foundation for acquiring any knowledge. This may not be exciting, but please
know that this is bedrock foundation for building a biblical worldview...reason
for getting out of bed and not committing suicide. I am baffled by this
optimism which is grounded in a worldview in which impersonal energy is
Ultimate reality....that kind of optimism has both feet planted firmly in
mid-air.
Each question is SO basic...if only one is wrong or even
partially distorted, it will seriously impact ones life. Yet the majority of
people in the world have all of them (seven questions above) partially or
totally wrong! Why? Because their epistemology is wrong. This is not rocket
science...we either humbly look to God to answer life's most basic questions,
or we pridefully look to ourselves...revelation or speculation. We DO have
access to the mind of God through the Holy Bible--and that is the foundation of
a biblical worldview! Please do try to watch and read with these questions in
mind this week...
P.S I still need someone to help revamp my website...please!
Thank you... mark
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Issue 131 – Paranormal Potpourri 3 ~ More Stinky Fake Para-Celebrities!
By Kirby Robinson
The paranormal potpourri keeps getting stinkier! Has
the era of debunking fakes and frauds ended? Lisa Livingston Martin -- master historian or master distorter? The Murder Bordello gets a release date while the public gets screwed.
Listen
to tonight’s radio show Bad Psychics with
Bad Intentions [7 PST/ 10 EST]
Mark Your Calendars ~ August 28 Eye on the Paranormal Radio Show
Special Program
We’ll spend 2 hours on the topics of the Amityville Horror Haunting and The Conjuring. We’ll expose the fakery
behind the Amityville Horror, The Haunting in Connecticut and my
concerns about them.
Tune in and let the truth set you free from the lies
and deceptions.
Paranormal Debunking – the Field Keeps Shrinking
Have 99.9% of the so-called paranormal debunkers lost their
guts? It seems to be the case as more
and more blogs and websites are disappearing or becoming only a tool to make
money from ads and links. Guess it’s like the old adage – if you can’t beat
them, join them.
I understand why. Debunking and exposing lies and
fakery can be a lonely life. You’re not welcome at paranormal conventions. Your
calls are never put through on radio programs. If you share a possible show
topic with many of the radio shows you’ll get no response or if you do it’ll be
“I’d love to but the network’s owner tells me you’re not allowed on the network.”
Inundated with difficulties? Life does tend to pile things
on you: marriages, divorces, kids being born, kids leaving home, the economy’s
far from good. Still you wonder why the falling away?
Some want to be friends to those they have to keep an
eye on. That’s impossible and a clear violation of the ethics of being a good
reporter. Sure, you can exchange emails and say hello, but to become friends
puts one in a perilous ethical position. What happens when you uncover
something less than good on that person…do you report it or let it slide?
Some websites claim they’re still in the debunking
business but if you take a close look at their updates you won’t find it
relates to a para-reality show, fake para-celebrity, fake psychic or a fake
haunting case.
Some have chosen to only go after the almighty dollar
and use YouTube and the website to get hits which equals money while not really
debunking anything.
Others have been scared off by the saber rattling by
the fakers that get uncovered. When they do, they threaten to sue. They refuse to understand that
not only freedom of speech protects them but being a news reporter gives then
additional protection along with the fact that once a person becomes a public
figure the rules change. If you have truth on your side and your facts lined up,
why back down?
Sadly, the giant egos that rule the rest of the
paranormal field also rules the shrinking debunker field. Many times we’ve
reached out to organize the debunkers to create a unified front, but to no avail.
Let others fall to side. Let others sellout. Let
others become just as fake as the ones they report on. Rest assured, the EYE ON
THE PARANORMAL won’t shut, won’t blink or break. There is much more truth to reveal
and deceptions to uncover.
Mockumentary About Galena, KS Murder Bordello Teaser Released
Sadly just about everything in the teaser is a lie. In
the first few seconds, you’ll hear a scripted narration. Note to the Klinge Brothers
you might want to start going to church. You can pray for all your sins of
lying, cheating, and using people, and learn that when one dies they can’t hold
off from going to heaven or hell.
On a side note, we noticed that Mr. Coffey has been
packing on the pounds in the midsection. Due to a concern for his health, we
suggest that he cut back on the baloney a little.
Be Rude to Your Elders!
Carolyn McLean has been around since the middle of the
last century and is the only person in Galena leading the fight against all
these lies have been flying about. Apparently, she’s asked too many questions and
by doing so has received a very rude response from one of the managers of Proof
of Paranormal Society on their Facebook page. Managers Cindy Adams DeRossett and Michelle Shackelford Yancey have a great love for fake para-celebs.
Proof Of Paranormal Society wrote: "Dear Ms. McLean:
2 things I’ve learned from your post: 1) You were hoping for an interview and
didn’t get one 2) You have more time on your hands than most normal people. The
idea that you have SOUGHT OUT our page to address a post from a MONTH AGO to
spew your ugly story so you could be heard is astounding, not to mention sad.
There are people you have named and those associated with the production are
personal friends of ours and as I know my name, know they would not KNOWINGLY
or maliciously deceive the public nor would they go to the time and expense to
produce a ruse (DUH). Could it be, that YOUR facts are not clear? Could it be
that these people WHO INVESTIGATE & UNEARTH HISTORY FOR A LIVING might have
better skills at discovering evidence than you? What is clear to me, ma’am, is
that your slander comes on the heels of being butt-sore for not getting your 15
minutes of fame. Run along now. Your slander has earned you a block from this
page. However, and finally, we send you light and love in hopes you take the
opportunity to seek happiness and positive energy in your life. ~ The POPS Crew
"He who angers you conquers you." ~Elizabeth Kenny "Holding on
to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone
else; you are the one who gets burned." - Buddha"
Lisa Livingston-Martin – Master Historian or Master Distorter?
One of the persons that we’ve yet to take a look at is
Lisa Livingston-Martin, who seems to want her share of the fake para-celeb pie.
She’s written a book called Missouri’s Wicked Route 66:
Gangsters and Outlaws on the Mother Road that after my first read-through has issues. Most cases
she writes about took place prior to the road being built. It seems to be just on
par with a long high school term paper. There is no new research presented, and
little, if any, proof offered to the reader to back up her claims of the alleged
Murder Bordello’s location. She writes that it’s located on Main Street yet she
shows no proof of this.
Now that we know the Klinge Brothers intend to focus
on Route 66 in the DVD series we have to ask what kind of role will she be
playing in the series? How much information did she feed Chip Coffey? Is she
making any money off the nightly ghost hunting fees for the house?
It seems that she’s a ghost hunter and even appeared on
a recent My Ghost Story: Caught on Camera.
Next week we’ll break that appearance down.
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