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The current popularity of occult practice and philosophy should be alarming to Christians for several reasons: 1. Satan and his forces are behind it. 2. He does not have our best interest in mind. (I Peter 5:8). 3. It is a sad commentary on the state of Western civilization. 4. Occult practices are strictly forbidden in the Bible (Deut. 18:9-14; Jer. 7:30-31; Ezek. 8). C. Many times in history a society has turned to the occult as a last resort in search of a thread of hope in the face of impending doom. Examples: 1. Israel when they were besieged by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. 2. Rome in its decline: the collapse of the Roman empire led to an aptly named period: 3. The Dark Ages--known for its occult activity. 4. Germany in the 1920s, and the entire Nazi regime. 5. Today, with the bomb, the ecological crisis, and the spiritual vacuum, people are turning once more to the occult, the mystical, and the irrational. 6. The former Soviet Union and its satellites. Its citizens are currently enthralled with the occult. D. In the past, occult practices were almost always associated with the poor and uneducated. Today its popularity is among the young, the middle class, celebrities, and the academicians. Courses on witchcraft are offered on many college campuses. Parapsychology is one of the most popular subjects on campus. Campus bookstores report occult themes as among the most popular sellers. II. The Origin of Occult Philosophy A. Occultism is most assuredly older than recorded history. Many occult practices, thousands of years old, are still performed in essentially the same manner. B. Some Biblical commentators believe occult doctrines were first propagated prior to the Genesis Flood by the "sons of god" (Gen. 6)whom they believe to be fallen angels (demons). C. After the Flood, Nimrod, a grandson of Ham, organized these false beliefs (authored by the fallen angels) into a religio-political system known today as the Babylonian mystery religions (see the book TWO BABYLONS by A. Hislop. Note: We do not endorse the conclusions of this book). Because this totalitarian society prevented the dissemination of the truth, God sent the judgement of the confusion of tongues at the tower (ziggurat) of Babel. This broke the religious monopoly of this false religious system, but as the language groups formed new cities and nations, the occult philosophy of mystery Babylon spread and evolved. It is this writer's opinion that all false religious systems have as their ancestor this Babylonian religious heritage. This seems to be the teaching of Rev. 17:5. III. Factors Behind the Current Popularity of the Occult A. The decline of rationalism 1. The Reformation held that the occult was real but wrong. 2. The rationalists during the Enlightenment and after said the occult was meaningless and unverifiable. 3. Today's philosophical trend is toward the irrational and the mystical. For a good analysis of this trend see ESCAPE FROM REASON by Francis Schaeffer. a. The existentialist says your mind is your enemy. b. Modern science and technology are viewed in disgust by many as evidenced by these quotes from TIME magazine (April 23, 1973, p.83-86): --Harvard Biologist, Everett Mendelsohn: "Science as we know it has outlived its usefulness." --Historian, Theodore Rozak: "Reason is a limited skill, ...there is also spiritual knowledge and power." --Psychologist, Abraham Maslow: "Equally important are mystery, ambiguity, illogic contradiction, and transcendent experience." B. Reaction to materialism and a search for a transcendental experience. Through this search young people are looking for proof that man is more than a machine. This search has taken many forms: drugs, meditation, Eastern religions and its cults, proof for life after death, etc. C. The influence of Eastern Religions Occult practice is an inescapable part of Eastern thought. They gained much popularity initially in this country through the medium of rock music, i.e. the Beatles. D. The acceptance of parapsychological research. 1. The work of J.B. Rhine at Duke U. 2. The work of Hans Bender in Germany. 3. The Russians have outspend the west in Parapsychological research. (See PSYCHIC DISCOVERIES BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN, by Ostrander and Schroeder. 4. Currently, see also the work of Steve Fishman at Princeton U. E. The Complexity and Chaos of Modern Society. 1. Liberalism in the major denominational churches created a spiritual vacuum in the 60's. 2. Secular and naturalistic humanism provided only pessimism about finding answers to man's moral problems. 3. The occult offers a short-cut to happiness and fulfillment. It offers proof of the spiritual dimension through authentic experiences. IV. Four Major Ingredients of Occult Practice and Philosophy A. The Paranormal: The mystical, experiences beyond the five senses. B. The Supernatural: events contrary to of natural law. C. The Esoteric: that which is hidden or secret, use of symbols. D. A Pantheistic and monistic outlook on life: all is God; all is unity. This is usually seen in the more sophisticated occult treatises where attempts are made to explain reality. V. Three Types of Occult Activity A. Forms of Divination: also known as fortune-telling, soothsaying, or augury. The most prevalent form in America is astrology. Others are: waterwitching, palmistry, tarot cards, numerology, etc. These are all strictly forbidden in the Bible (See Dt. 18:10-14, 20). B. Types of mystical experiences: Experiences that transcend the bounds of the ordinary physical world or the five senses. Examples would be: out-of-body experiences, remote viewing, telekinesis, necromancy, trances, psychic healing, altered states of consciousness, etc. C. Magical Manipulation: It is an attempt to manipulate people or nature by employing secret spiritual forces through various secret rites and ceremonies. A practitioner is known as a sorcerer, witch, or wizard. In the Bible such activity was strictly forbidden and punishable by death. (See Exodus 22:18; Dt. 18:10,11; Isa. 47:9-15.). VI. Reasons Why the Occult is so Appealing A. The occult offers knowledge (gnosis) to the initiates. "You shall be as god knowing good and evil." (Gen. 3:5). B. The occult offers power to manipulate and control the environment and events around you which may seem out of control. "You will be like God" (Gen. 3:5) C. People are curious about the bizarre and the supernatural. VII. How People Get Involved in the Occult Trap A. Heredity: Affinity for the occult can be passed on from parents or grandparents (See THE HAUNTING OF BISHOP PIKE, by Merrill F. Unger). B. By subscription: by consciously becoming involved. C. Through indirect means: a few examples which may seem innocent to some are: Ouija boards, automatic writing, seances, fortune-tellers, Eastern forms of meditation, Martial Arts, submitting to spiritualistic healing, drugs, hypnosis, acupuncture, cartoons and comic books, fantasy games, and rock music. VIII. An Encouraging Word A. Satan is a defeated foe (Col. 2:15). He is out on bail now, but punishment has been prepared for him and his demons (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10). B. The power of the Holy Spirit can break the chains of the occult (Luke 10:17-26). C. Satan is more powerful and more intelligent than you. Recognize this! Depend on the Lord for victory. Become discerning of the counterfeit by becoming intimately acquainted with the original. Study the Word (I John 4:1-2; I Cor. 12:3). D. Destroy all occult paraphernalia (Acts 18:8-20). E. Resist Satan (James 4:9). Christian Information Ministries is a non-profit ministry and is dependent on gifts from God's people in order to operate. If you receive a benefit from our materials would you consider giving a tax-deductible gift to CIM. We suggest $25. a year minimum. Send to: Christian Information Ministries 2050 N. 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