Moderators John317 Posted December 11, 2009 Moderators Posted December 11, 2009 Many Americans haunted by ghosts, look to astrology By Ed Stoddard – Thu Dec 10, 9:23 am ET DALLAS (Reuters Life!) – Although most Americans are Christian and many are devout it hasn't stopped some members of the flock from believing in astrology, reincarnation or the ability of trees to trap spiritual energy. A poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life shows a surprising number of U.S. adults claim to have had supernatural experiences such as ghost sightings or hold beliefs associated with the New Age movement or Eastern religions. And some of them claim allegiance to more traditional faiths such as Catholicism or evangelical Protestantism. "American religious folks hold a variety of views and there is overlap among their beliefs and practices. Many do not fit into simple boxes," said Pew researcher Alan Cooperman. The poll released on Wednesday showed that three-in-ten Americans say they have felt in touch with a dead person and 18 percent say they have seen or been in the presence of a ghost. Other Pew surveys have shown that relatively few Americans would identify an Eastern religion or New Age spirituality as their core faith. But about a quarter of those surveyed say they believe in aspects of Eastern religions. Nearly 25 percent said they believed in reincarnation and 23 percent said yoga was a spiritual practice. Twenty six percent said they believed "spiritual energy" could be found in objects such as trees. A quarter said they believed in astrology, while 16 percent of U.S. adults think that an "evil eye" exists or that some people can cast curses or spells on others. Among black Protestants the evil eye figure is 32 percent. The number of Americans who profess a belief in astrology is about the same as the number who claim to be Roman Catholic. Nearly 30 percent of Catholics surveyed said they believed in astrology. Among Catholics who attended church each week the figure was 16 percent. Much of this would be jarring to -- among others -- many evangelical Protestants, who account for one in four adult Americans and take their Bible very seriously. Still, 13 percent of white evangelicals profess a belief in astrology and about 10 percent accepted the possibility of reincarnation. Although the percentages are lower than in other groups, they are high enough to curl the hair of a Southern Baptist preacher. Researchers said they were careful to stress that reincarnation meant being reborn again and again in this world and did not refer to, say, the resurrection of Christ. Evangelicals, who place a heavy emphasis on spiritual conversions, are much more likely than most Americans to have had "a religious or mystical experience -- that is, a moment of religious or spiritual awakening," according to the poll. About half of Americans claim to have had such an experience but among white evangelicals the number is 70 percent and for black Protestants it is 71 percent. The nationwide survey of around 4,000 adults was conducted in August. Interviews were done in English and Spanish. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Ted Oplinger Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 What was it said? That the unBiblical understanding of the state of the dead would be an eventual Achille's heel for many Christians? I'd like to couple that to the efforts by the paranormal crowd to establish their beliefs using scientific equipment - like on the "Ghost Hunter" and "Ghost Lab" shows.... Astrology can waved off with a snicker...oscilloscopes, and visible light/UV/IR detecters, sensors and camaras aren't so easily brushed aside. Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan
Steve Billiter Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 This is not surprising coming out of babylon. I would expect Adventist numbers to be much lower. Quote
Tallmark Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 All because they believe the doctrine of the immortal soul. Before I became SDA, I probably would have believe that junk! Quote
Sylvia49 Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 At least we would hope so. How many can explain the state of the dead, if asked? And we're going to need to explain it to others. This is just setting the stage for what is to follow, soon. aka 1 Quote
Steve Billiter Posted December 14, 2009 Posted December 14, 2009 Greetings Sylvia! I didn't know you were on here, Happy holidays! God Bless, Steve Quote
Guest Posted December 15, 2009 Posted December 15, 2009 At least we would hope so. How many can explain the state of the dead, if asked? And we're going to need to explain it to others. This is just setting the stage for what is to follow, soon. Amen Quote
BobRyan Posted December 17, 2009 Posted December 17, 2009 Still it would be nice to know what they meant when they gave the answer. For example "have you ever seen a ghost?" could mean 1. Do you believe that dead people come back in this life as ghosts -- and have you seen one? 2. Have you ever seen a supernatural event that people today often call "a ghost" -- regardless of whether you think the dead can even do that? I am guessing that both gropus 1 and 2 are saying "yes" in answer to the question "have you seen a ghost". in Christ, Bob Quote John 8:32 - The Truth will make you free“The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin." COL 316.
Ted Oplinger Posted December 22, 2009 Posted December 22, 2009 I'll refer again to my post for Fri, Dec 11, above. It will soon be fashionable to refer to "scientific evidence" as proof for "life after death" - the presence of "ghosts". All spun contrary to what the Bible has to say about death and the soul...it will be similar to evolution versus creation today. Are we ready to be able to trust the Word only? Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted December 22, 2009 Members Posted December 22, 2009 I hate to admit this, but when my father died I conjured up his spirit. I was so desparate to see him again. I know now it wasn't him, but was a demon pretending to be my father. I won't ever do that again. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
BobRyan Posted December 22, 2009 Posted December 22, 2009 I hate to admit this, but when my father died I conjured up his spirit. I was so desparate to see him again. I know now it wasn't him, but was a demon pretending to be my father. I won't ever do that again. Well the good news is that God is more powerful than demons. Some of my in-laws in Puerto Rico had an early history of calling up spirits and seeing them manifest supernaturally even when not in a seance. They lived in fear and were controlled by superstition. Then they accepted the Gospel and became Seventh-day Adventists - dedicated to lay evangelism and giving Bible studies to their neighbors. God is able to rescue the lost. in Christ, Bob Quote John 8:32 - The Truth will make you free“The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin." COL 316.
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted December 22, 2009 Members Posted December 22, 2009 I didn't really use a seance. I'm an exwitch. I tapped in on powers I had no business dealing with. I'm glad God forgives. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Guest Posted December 22, 2009 Posted December 22, 2009 So you knew how to conjure. I'm glad you're not a witch anymore. Quote
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted December 22, 2009 Members Posted December 22, 2009 Yeah...I keep my broom in the closet now... Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
olger Posted December 22, 2009 Posted December 22, 2009 Don' do it no more. :) Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.."
SivartM Posted December 22, 2009 Posted December 22, 2009 I'm glad you're out of that stuff, rudywoofs. But let's not dwell on the past. What's gone is gone... by God's grace. Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
Ted Oplinger Posted December 27, 2009 Posted December 27, 2009 Amen to that!! Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan
Steve Billiter Posted December 27, 2009 Posted December 27, 2009 I hate to admit this, but when my father died I conjured up his spirit. I was so desparate to see him again. I know now it wasn't him, but was a demon pretending to be my father. I won't ever do that again. Amen! We know from the SOP ( I need to find the quote) apparitions may appear when one is not even seeking the dead, the evil, spirits trying to deceive in the last days. Quote
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