By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
Why are we doing a series on the attributes of God's Word? Because it is God' Word! The bible is the ultimate criterion or authority we look to in ethics and Christian decision making, as well as interpreting His creation.What I want to focus on this time is the authority of God's written Word.
Scripture has unique authority because it is God's Word. Divine authorship is the primary reason the bible is authoritative. The Westminster Confession of Faith states:
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church,; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word Of God. (WCF 1.4)
Its authority is absolute because God's authority is absolute, and Scripture is His personal word to us. It is normative in that it tells us what to do and what not to do...in order to flesh out what loving God and others looks like. Influential evangelical theologians have been downplaying the significance of the normative role of Scripture as well as its inerrancy. These are brilliant men, but they apparently fell asleep in basic logic class...commit more fallacies than you can shake a stick at.
God's authority is His right to tell His creatures what they must do, and not do.7,000 times in the English bible God is referred to as Lord--Jesus tells us that our response to His Lordship is expressed, in large measure, in our bowing before the authority of His Word (John 14:15). God's control is about might; authority is about right. God made us (Gen. 1-3, heck, the WHOLE bible!!)-therefore He has the lawful right to give us norms to govern our behavior. The authority of the Bible is connected with God's Lordship, and HIS absolute authority over us. Let me mention three aspects of God's (and His written Word) absolute authority.
God's authority is absolute...means that we should not doubt or question it. In Romans 4:16-22 Paul says that Abraham did not waver in his belief in God's promise--even though both he and Sarah were way past the age of having children.Nonetheless, Abraham clung to God's authoritative Word, and so should we.
Second, the absoluteness of God's authority means that His Lordship transcends all other loyalties. We are to love our parents, but we are to love and honor Him more (Matt. 10:34-38)
Third, the absoluteness of God's authority means that it covers all of human life. Paul says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31) God has the rightful authority to govern all areas of human life. (we will elaborate on this next time regarding the comprehensiveness of scripture)
Application 1 Regarding paranormal phenomena, we must not doubt or waver in our conviction that it is demonic. No matter how convincing it appears otherwise, we must walk by faith, and not by sight--as Abraham did.
Application 2 The paranormal community is what sociologists call a "plausibility structure"...providing peer pressure which makes demonic deception appear exceptionally plausible. But our loyalty to Christ transcends whatever our friends may think.
Application 3 The absolute authority of God's Word has jurisdiction over all people and over all areas of human life...including what we believe. (as we saw last time) In what you believe about paranormal phenomena, and how you respond to it, are you earnestly trying to glorify God? God's rule over us through His Word is totalitarian. He rules every aspect of our lives,and He wants His Lordship recognized in every nook and cranny of our lives...and of the entire planet. Obviously, His Lordship is totalitarian in a good way--He desires to extend the blessing of His presence throughout the Earth and in every aspect of human life.
Looking inside the spiritual & literary worlds
Friday, June 14, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
House Blessings and Ceremonies to Drive the Demonic Away
By
Lisa Grace
Many people have blessings
and various types of ceremonies to drive demonic entities away, but then you'll
hear from the homeowners that it quieted things down for a while, but they came
back. This is to be expected and is not a surprise for those of us who have
actually read or practice what it says to do in the Holy Scriptures.
Demons cannot be destroyed,
only moved, so it's only natural they come back to places they feel comfortable
in. Some demons seem to act as scouts. Scouting out the territory and then
bringing more powerful evil ones to the receptive places they find. (Job
1:6-7); Jude 1:6; 1 Cor 6:3; Matt 12:43-45)
To drive evil spirits out of
a home you must do the same things you would for a possession, not the made up
things made popular on TV and in books that come from a place of superstition,
but the things that come from the authority of God. You must be saved, which
means not just believing (for the demons believe and they tremble James 2:19),
but repent, which means to turn away from your sin.
Stronger spirits will require
someone who is a true believer to drive them out, who does prayer and fasting. (Matt
17:21; Mar 19:29)
Again, if the occupants are
not saved, the demons will return eventually, as it is the same as leaving a
beautiful mansion unlocked, fully stocked, with an invitation to enter on the
front door.
The Scriptures only talk
about oil with spices for anointing, prayer, and fasting as being effective.
Incense was used in the
temple on the altar (Ex 30: 1, Ex 30:7-9; Ex 31:1) and I only found one
reference to Holy water (Num 5:17) where dirt must be taken from the temple
floor and be added with the water into an earthen vessel, where the water is
used in a jealousy ceremony to make sure the woman will be faithful or left
barren. It wasn’t used in house blessings.
To do a blessing upon the
occupants, here is an example: (2 Sa 7:29).
There are also blessings on a
house and its occupants that come from tithing, which is giving the first tenth
of your production to the LORD. (Eze 44:30;
Zec 8:13; Mal 3:10)
You can't ask a God you don't
believe in to honor you and your house. (Is 1:15; 2 Ch7:14)
Many people will willingly
take your money, and make promises they can't keep, because the demons and evil
angels are not under their authority. These people may make the house
uncomfortable for the evil spirits for a while, but they will return, that much
I can guess from what Scripture says.
To learn more how angels and
demons work, you can pick up the first book in my Angel series for free from
any major ebook retailer or here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236544
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Issue 121 – The Eye on the Paranormal is Coming to the Radio June 19th!
By Kirby Robinson
The Eye On the paranormal has a new radio show
starting next week. Plus, a new book is coming out about the Long Island
Medium, Theresa Caputo.
EYE ON THE PARANORMAL the radio show launches June 19 at 7
PM [PST] on the God Discussion Show.
Rumors have been flying that there wasn't going to be
a show. Let me put the rumors to rest. Starting Wednesday, June 19 at 7 [PST] 10
PM [EST] on the God Discussion Show [Blog Talk Radio] you can join me as I'll host
the Eye on the Paranormal. The God Discussion motto is: "A place for
seekers who do not want to go to church." Here is the link: http://www.goddiscussion.net/2013/06/15/the-life-of-a-christian-paranormal-investigator-and-exorcist-wednesday-june-19-2013/
We'll start with 90 minute-long shows every Wednesday,
and then expand to 2 hours [and maybe more] as we get used to doing the show. One
thing is certain: paranormal radio will never be the same.
Topics that will be covered: religion, paranormal news
and views, demonology, fake psychics, book and film reviews, cults, false prophets,
the end times. There will be guests joining the show from the paranormal field
and from other fields.
Here is a list of upcoming shows:
June 19 - Getting to know just who I am, what
I do, and why.
June 26 - Communion with the Devil is coming to a
church near you. This frightening new false communion fad is rapidly growing. We'll
help expose it and explain what genuine communion consists of during the show.
July 3 - Class on Cyclical Numerology
July 10 -
Ghost Hunting Certification /Licenses --
Do you need them to hunt ghosts? Tune in and find out!
Our topics are going to take us to places where no
paranormal show has gone.
Have You Written a Paranormal Book?
Our radio show will be featuring a segment on books
and films. If you've written a paranormal book or eBook and would like to hear
it reviewed, please contact us for details at: freeallspirits@live.com
Got Questions or Tips?
If you have a paranormal question that you would like
us to respond to then contact us. No topic is off limits.
If you got a news tip about things going on in the
paranormal good or bad we'd like to hear it we will protect your identity. Contact
us at freeallspirits@live.com
The Moment of Truth is Back & We're Asking
Para-Celebs to Take the Test
Back in 2008 when we started to expose the fraudulent
activity in the paranormal field, we issued the Paranormal Moment of Truth Challenge. It was an invitation to all
para-celebrities to appear on a Fox network show called The Moment of Truth. Guests on the show were hooked up to a lie
detector and asked 21 questions. Those who lied didn't win the money, and those
whose answers the lie detector agreed with could earn up to $1,000,000.
This fall a new show called The Test makes its debut. It allows people to settle conflicts so
if you've been labeled as a fake you can appear on national TV and settle that
issue for good.
We ask anyone connected to the following shows as on-air
talent to take the lie detector test:
Paranormal State
Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal
Ghost Hunters
Haunted Collector
Ghost Adventures
Ghost Lab
If you can prove that nothing was staged, nothing was
faked, that every bit of evidence you collected was real, and nothing was
reshot, then contact us. If you can pass The
Test, we'll issue an apology.
New Book on the Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo & Her Claims
The Long Island Housewife who changed the psychic
reality TV show has been on our radar for quite some time. We've been working
in the shadows, and soon will release the shocking story of what's been
uncovered. The cover and title will be released next week.
The EYE ON THE PARANORMAL wants you as a blogger!
Want to join the best team of paranormal reporters? Do
you want your blog to get hits and comments? If so, you can blog for us as we
have spots open. Contact: freeallspirits@live.com
Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal
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 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, June 10, 2013
The Natural World
By The Dalai Lama
If there is one area in which both education and the media have a special responsibility, it is, I believe, our natural environment. This responsibility has less to do with questions of right or wrong than with the question of survival. The natural world is our home. It is not necessarily sacred or holy. It is simply where we live.
It is therefore in our interest to look after it. This is common sense. But only recently have the size of our population and the power of science and technology grown to the point that they have a direct impact on nature. To put it' another way, until now, Mother Earth has been able to tolerate our sloppy house habits. However, the stage has now been reached where she can no longer accept our behaviour in silence. The problems caused by environmental disasters can be seen as her response to our irresponsible behaviour. She is warning us that there are limits even to her tolerance.
Nowhere are the consequences of our failure to exercise discipline in the way we relate to our environment more apparent than in the case of present-day Tibet. It is no exaggeration to say that the Tibet I grew up in was a wildlife paradise. Every traveller who visited Tibet before the middle of the twentieth century remarked on this.
Animals were rarely hunted, except in the remotest areas where crops could not be grown. Indeed, it was customary for government officials annually to issue a proclamation protecting wildlife: Nobody, it read, however humble or noble, shall harm or do violence to the creatures of the waters or the wild. The only exceptions to this were rats and wolves.
As a young man, I recall seeing great numbers of different species whenever I travelled outside Lhasa. My chief memory of the three-month journey across Tibet from my birthplace at Takster in the East to Lhasa, where I was formally proclaimed Dalai Lama as a four-year-old boy, is of the wildlife we encountered along the way.
Immense herds of kiang (wild asses) and drong (wild yak) freely roamed the great plains. Occasionally we would catch sight of shimmering herds of gowa, the shy Tibetan gazelle, of wa, the white-lipped deer, or of tso, our majestic antelope. I remember, too, my fascination for the little chibi, or pika, which would congregate on grassy areas. They were so friendly. I loved to watch the birds: the dignified gho (the bearded eagle) soaring high above monasteries and perched up in the mountains; the flocks of geese (nangbar); and occasionally, at night, to hear the call of the wookpa (the long-eared owl)
Even in Lhasa, one did not feel in any way cut off from the natural world. In my rooms at the top of the Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, I spent countless hours as a child studying the behaviour of the red-beaked khyungkar which nested in the crevices of its walls. And behind the Norbulingka, the summer palace, I often saw pairs of trung trung Oapanes blacknecked cranes), birds which for me are the epitome of elegance and grace, that lived in the marshlands there. And all this is not to mention the crowning glory of Tibetan fauna: the bears and mountain foxes, the chanku (wolves), and sazik (the beautiful snow leopard), and thesik (lynx) which struck terror into the hearts of the normal farmer - or the gentle-faced giant panda (thorn tra), whi.ch is native to the border area between Tibet and China.
Sadly, this profusion of wildlife is no longer to be found. Partly due to hunting but primarily due to loss of habitat, what remains half a century after Tibet was occupied is only a small fraction of what there was. Without exception, every Tibetan I have spoken with who has been back to visit Tibet after thirty to forty years has reported on a striking absence of wildlife. Whereas before wild animals would often come close to the house, today they are hardly anywhere to be seen.
Equally troubling is the devastation of Tibet's forests. In the past, the hills were all thickly wooded; today those who have been back report that they are clean-shaven like a monk's head. The government in Beijing has admitted that the tragic flooding of western China, and further afield, is in part due to this. And yet I hear continuous reports of round-the-clock convoys oftrucks carrying logs east out of Tibet. This is especially tragic given the country's mountainous terrain and harsh climate. It means that replanting requites sustained care and attention. Unfortunately there is little evidence of this.
None of this is to say that, historically, we Tibetans were deliberately 'conservationist'. We were not. The idea of something called 'pollution' simply never occurred to us. There is no denying we were rather spoiled in this respect. A small population inhabited a very large area with clean, dry air and an abundance of pure mountain water. This innocent attitude toward cleanliness meant that when we Tibetans went into exile, we were astonished to discover, for example, the existence of streams whose water is not drinkable. Like an only child, no matter what we did, Mother Earth tolerated our behaviour. The result was that we had no proper understanding of cleanliness and hygiene. People would spit or blow their nose in the street without giving it a second thought. Indeed, saying this, I recall one elderly Khampa, a former bodyguard who used to come each day to circumambulate my residence in Dharamsala (a popular devotion). Unfortunately, he suffered greatly from bronchitis. This was exacerbated by the incense he carried. At each corner, therefore, he would pause to cough and expectorate so ferociously that I sometimes wondered whether he had come to pray or just to spit!
Over the years, since our first arriving in exile, I have taken a close interest in environmental issues. The Tibetan government in exile has paid particular attention to introducing our children to their responsibilities as residents of this fragile planet. And I never hesitate to speak out on the subject whenever I am given the opportunity. In particular, I always stress the need to consider how our actions, in affecting the environment, are likely to affect others. I admit that this is very often difficult to judge. We cannot say for sure what the ultimate effects of, for example, deforestation might be on the soil and the local rainfall, let alone what the implications are for the planet's weather systems. The only clear thing is that we humans are the only species with the power to destroy the earth as we know it. The birds have no such power, nor do the insects, nor does any mammal. Yet if we have the capacity to destroy the earth, so, too, do we have the capacity to protect it.
What is essential is that we find methods of manufacture that do not destroy nature. We need to find ways of cutting down on our use of wood and other limited natural resources. I am no expert in this field, and I cannot suggest how this might be done. I know only that.it is possible, given the necessary determination. For example, I recall hearing on a visit to Stockholm some years ago that for the first time in many years fish were retUrning to the river that runs through the city. Until recently, there were none due to industrial pollution. Yet this improvement was by no means the result of all the local factories closing down. Likewise, on a visit tei Germany, I was shown an industrial development designed to produce no pollution. So, clearly, solutions do exist to limit damage to the natural world without bringing industry to a halt.
This does not mean that I believe that we can rely on technology to overcome all our problems. Nor do I believe we can afford to continue destructive practices in anticipation of technical fixes being developed. Besides, the environment does not need fixing. It is our behaviour in relation to it that needs to change. I question whether, in the case of such a massive looming disaster as that caused by the greenhouse effect, a fix could ever exist, even in theory. And supposing it could, we have to ask whether it would ever be feasible to apply it on the scale that would be required. What of t_e expense and what of the cost in terms' of our natural resources? I suspect that these would be prohibitively high. There is also the fact that in many other fields-such as in the humanitarian relief of hunger-there are already insufficient funds to cover the work that could be undertaken. Therefore, even if one were to argue that the necessary funds could be raised, morally speaking this would be almost impossible to justify given such deficiencies. It would not be right to deploy huge sums simply in order to enable the industrialized nations to continue their harmful practices while people in other places cannot even feed themselves.
All this points to the need to recognize the universal dimension of our actions and, based on this, to exercise restraint. The necessity of this is forcefully demonstrated when we come to consider the propagation of our species. Although from 'the point of view of all the major religions, the more humans the better, and although it may be true that some of the latest studies suggest a population implosion a century from now, still I believe we cannot ignore this issue. As a monk, it is perhaps inappropriate for me to comment on these matters. I believe that family planning is important. Of course, I do pot mean to suggest we should not have children. Human life is a precious resource and married couples should have children unless there are compelling reasons not to. The idea of not having children just because we want to enjoy a full life without responsibility is quite mistaken I think. At the same time, couples do have a duty to consider the impact our numbers have on the natural environment. This is especially true given the impact of modern 'technology.
Fortunately, more and more people are coming to recognize the importance of ethical discipline as a means to ensuring a healthy place to live. For this reason I am optimistic that disaster can be averted. Until comparatively recently, few people gave much thought to the effects of human activity on our planet. Yet today there are even political parties whose main concern is this. Moreover, the fact that the air we breathe, the water we drink, the forests and oceans which sustain millions of different life forms, and the Climatic patterns which govern out weather systems all transcend national boundaries is a source of hope. It means that no country, Be matter _either how rich and powerful or how poor and weak it may be, can afford not to take action in respect of this issue.
As far as the individual is concerned, the problems resulting from our neglect of our natural environment are a powerful reminder that we all have a contribution to make. And while one person's actions may not have a significant impact, the combined effect of millions of individuals' actions certainly does. This means that it is time for all those living in the industrially developed nations to give serious thought to changing their lifestyle. Again this is not so much a question of ethics. The fact that the population of the rest of the world has an equal right to improve their standard of living is in some ways more important than the affluent being able to continue their lifestyle. If this is to be fulfilled without causing irredeemable violence to the natural world-with all the negative consequences for happiness that this would entail-the richer countries must set an example. The cost to the planet, and thus the cost to humanity, of ever-increasing standards of living, is simply too great.
Excerpt from Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium by Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Published by Little, Brown and Company, United Kingdom J 999. (pp 2 J 3 -220).
It is therefore in our interest to look after it. This is common sense. But only recently have the size of our population and the power of science and technology grown to the point that they have a direct impact on nature. To put it' another way, until now, Mother Earth has been able to tolerate our sloppy house habits. However, the stage has now been reached where she can no longer accept our behaviour in silence. The problems caused by environmental disasters can be seen as her response to our irresponsible behaviour. She is warning us that there are limits even to her tolerance.
Nowhere are the consequences of our failure to exercise discipline in the way we relate to our environment more apparent than in the case of present-day Tibet. It is no exaggeration to say that the Tibet I grew up in was a wildlife paradise. Every traveller who visited Tibet before the middle of the twentieth century remarked on this.
Animals were rarely hunted, except in the remotest areas where crops could not be grown. Indeed, it was customary for government officials annually to issue a proclamation protecting wildlife: Nobody, it read, however humble or noble, shall harm or do violence to the creatures of the waters or the wild. The only exceptions to this were rats and wolves.
As a young man, I recall seeing great numbers of different species whenever I travelled outside Lhasa. My chief memory of the three-month journey across Tibet from my birthplace at Takster in the East to Lhasa, where I was formally proclaimed Dalai Lama as a four-year-old boy, is of the wildlife we encountered along the way.
Immense herds of kiang (wild asses) and drong (wild yak) freely roamed the great plains. Occasionally we would catch sight of shimmering herds of gowa, the shy Tibetan gazelle, of wa, the white-lipped deer, or of tso, our majestic antelope. I remember, too, my fascination for the little chibi, or pika, which would congregate on grassy areas. They were so friendly. I loved to watch the birds: the dignified gho (the bearded eagle) soaring high above monasteries and perched up in the mountains; the flocks of geese (nangbar); and occasionally, at night, to hear the call of the wookpa (the long-eared owl)
Even in Lhasa, one did not feel in any way cut off from the natural world. In my rooms at the top of the Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, I spent countless hours as a child studying the behaviour of the red-beaked khyungkar which nested in the crevices of its walls. And behind the Norbulingka, the summer palace, I often saw pairs of trung trung Oapanes blacknecked cranes), birds which for me are the epitome of elegance and grace, that lived in the marshlands there. And all this is not to mention the crowning glory of Tibetan fauna: the bears and mountain foxes, the chanku (wolves), and sazik (the beautiful snow leopard), and thesik (lynx) which struck terror into the hearts of the normal farmer - or the gentle-faced giant panda (thorn tra), whi.ch is native to the border area between Tibet and China.
Sadly, this profusion of wildlife is no longer to be found. Partly due to hunting but primarily due to loss of habitat, what remains half a century after Tibet was occupied is only a small fraction of what there was. Without exception, every Tibetan I have spoken with who has been back to visit Tibet after thirty to forty years has reported on a striking absence of wildlife. Whereas before wild animals would often come close to the house, today they are hardly anywhere to be seen.
Equally troubling is the devastation of Tibet's forests. In the past, the hills were all thickly wooded; today those who have been back report that they are clean-shaven like a monk's head. The government in Beijing has admitted that the tragic flooding of western China, and further afield, is in part due to this. And yet I hear continuous reports of round-the-clock convoys oftrucks carrying logs east out of Tibet. This is especially tragic given the country's mountainous terrain and harsh climate. It means that replanting requites sustained care and attention. Unfortunately there is little evidence of this.
None of this is to say that, historically, we Tibetans were deliberately 'conservationist'. We were not. The idea of something called 'pollution' simply never occurred to us. There is no denying we were rather spoiled in this respect. A small population inhabited a very large area with clean, dry air and an abundance of pure mountain water. This innocent attitude toward cleanliness meant that when we Tibetans went into exile, we were astonished to discover, for example, the existence of streams whose water is not drinkable. Like an only child, no matter what we did, Mother Earth tolerated our behaviour. The result was that we had no proper understanding of cleanliness and hygiene. People would spit or blow their nose in the street without giving it a second thought. Indeed, saying this, I recall one elderly Khampa, a former bodyguard who used to come each day to circumambulate my residence in Dharamsala (a popular devotion). Unfortunately, he suffered greatly from bronchitis. This was exacerbated by the incense he carried. At each corner, therefore, he would pause to cough and expectorate so ferociously that I sometimes wondered whether he had come to pray or just to spit!
Over the years, since our first arriving in exile, I have taken a close interest in environmental issues. The Tibetan government in exile has paid particular attention to introducing our children to their responsibilities as residents of this fragile planet. And I never hesitate to speak out on the subject whenever I am given the opportunity. In particular, I always stress the need to consider how our actions, in affecting the environment, are likely to affect others. I admit that this is very often difficult to judge. We cannot say for sure what the ultimate effects of, for example, deforestation might be on the soil and the local rainfall, let alone what the implications are for the planet's weather systems. The only clear thing is that we humans are the only species with the power to destroy the earth as we know it. The birds have no such power, nor do the insects, nor does any mammal. Yet if we have the capacity to destroy the earth, so, too, do we have the capacity to protect it.
What is essential is that we find methods of manufacture that do not destroy nature. We need to find ways of cutting down on our use of wood and other limited natural resources. I am no expert in this field, and I cannot suggest how this might be done. I know only that.it is possible, given the necessary determination. For example, I recall hearing on a visit to Stockholm some years ago that for the first time in many years fish were retUrning to the river that runs through the city. Until recently, there were none due to industrial pollution. Yet this improvement was by no means the result of all the local factories closing down. Likewise, on a visit tei Germany, I was shown an industrial development designed to produce no pollution. So, clearly, solutions do exist to limit damage to the natural world without bringing industry to a halt.
This does not mean that I believe that we can rely on technology to overcome all our problems. Nor do I believe we can afford to continue destructive practices in anticipation of technical fixes being developed. Besides, the environment does not need fixing. It is our behaviour in relation to it that needs to change. I question whether, in the case of such a massive looming disaster as that caused by the greenhouse effect, a fix could ever exist, even in theory. And supposing it could, we have to ask whether it would ever be feasible to apply it on the scale that would be required. What of t_e expense and what of the cost in terms' of our natural resources? I suspect that these would be prohibitively high. There is also the fact that in many other fields-such as in the humanitarian relief of hunger-there are already insufficient funds to cover the work that could be undertaken. Therefore, even if one were to argue that the necessary funds could be raised, morally speaking this would be almost impossible to justify given such deficiencies. It would not be right to deploy huge sums simply in order to enable the industrialized nations to continue their harmful practices while people in other places cannot even feed themselves.
All this points to the need to recognize the universal dimension of our actions and, based on this, to exercise restraint. The necessity of this is forcefully demonstrated when we come to consider the propagation of our species. Although from 'the point of view of all the major religions, the more humans the better, and although it may be true that some of the latest studies suggest a population implosion a century from now, still I believe we cannot ignore this issue. As a monk, it is perhaps inappropriate for me to comment on these matters. I believe that family planning is important. Of course, I do pot mean to suggest we should not have children. Human life is a precious resource and married couples should have children unless there are compelling reasons not to. The idea of not having children just because we want to enjoy a full life without responsibility is quite mistaken I think. At the same time, couples do have a duty to consider the impact our numbers have on the natural environment. This is especially true given the impact of modern 'technology.
Fortunately, more and more people are coming to recognize the importance of ethical discipline as a means to ensuring a healthy place to live. For this reason I am optimistic that disaster can be averted. Until comparatively recently, few people gave much thought to the effects of human activity on our planet. Yet today there are even political parties whose main concern is this. Moreover, the fact that the air we breathe, the water we drink, the forests and oceans which sustain millions of different life forms, and the Climatic patterns which govern out weather systems all transcend national boundaries is a source of hope. It means that no country, Be matter _either how rich and powerful or how poor and weak it may be, can afford not to take action in respect of this issue.
As far as the individual is concerned, the problems resulting from our neglect of our natural environment are a powerful reminder that we all have a contribution to make. And while one person's actions may not have a significant impact, the combined effect of millions of individuals' actions certainly does. This means that it is time for all those living in the industrially developed nations to give serious thought to changing their lifestyle. Again this is not so much a question of ethics. The fact that the population of the rest of the world has an equal right to improve their standard of living is in some ways more important than the affluent being able to continue their lifestyle. If this is to be fulfilled without causing irredeemable violence to the natural world-with all the negative consequences for happiness that this would entail-the richer countries must set an example. The cost to the planet, and thus the cost to humanity, of ever-increasing standards of living, is simply too great.
Excerpt from Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium by Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Published by Little, Brown and Company, United Kingdom J 999. (pp 2 J 3 -220).
Bad Bad Thing Award Goes to Chip Coffey & Klinge Brothers New Paranormal TV Show
By Kirby Robinson
 |
| Psychic-Medium Chip Coffey The Klinge Brothers |
Psychic-Medium Chip Coffey and the Klinge brothers team
up for a direct to DVD deal and that’s got to be a bad bad thing.
A press release has been issued about the teaming up
of the Klinge Brothers and Chip Coffey. What the press release doesn't tell the
public is that Chip has been trying for years to return to TV but failed to
gather any interest from both networks and production companies.
Brad and Barry, the Klinge Brothers, are coming off what
might be the worst of the worst ghost investigation shows: Discovery Channel's
"Ghost Lab." It was so obviously faked that the Eye on the Paranormal
couldn't bring itself to ever do a report on it.
Chip Coffey tried and tried to work with A&E and
the Bio Channel to host a paranormal show of his own. Kim Russo took over the
show he wanted -- "A Haunting of." With the success of the "Long
Island Medium" it appears that what cable TV wants out of a psychic show has
changed. Unlike Theresa Caputo, Chip doesn't like doing public readings either
individual or group. He tried to get the public to fund a pilot for a new show
but fell about $15,000 short of his goal.
In the near future, the Eye on the Paranormal will
have a more detailed report.
The only bright side of the story is that Chip's new
show will go direct to DVD.
Read the press release here:
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
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 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/
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Child Exorcisms
Exorcism on children by paranormal skeptic Benjamin Radford is well worth a few moments of your time. Here is the link:
http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/07/18833175-exorcisms-often-claim-most-the-innocent-our-children?lite
http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/07/18833175-exorcisms-often-claim-most-the-innocent-our-children?lite
Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal
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 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, June 8, 2013
Bad Bad Thing Award Goes to 'Call of the Wildman' for Staging Snake Scene
By Kirby Robinson
|
| Animal Planet's Call of the Wildman |
Say it's not so A&E along with the BIO Channel
caught faking paranormal shows. Now the Animal Planet hit show Call of the Wildman, caught faking stuff
and that's a bad bad thing.
No, it's not a staged dead time. Some paranormal investigator
isn't caught opening doors and pounding on walls. Instead, Animal Planet has
joined the ranks of networks allowing fake reality shows.
Ernie Brown Jr. a/k/a "Turtleman" host of
the show Call of the Wildman was
caught staging a scene for the sole purpose of ratings. and that's a BAD BAD
THING. Here's the story:
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
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 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/
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