tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post645640676729288757..comments2023-12-01T01:00:34.093-05:00Comments on The Paranormal Pastor: Link: Is the Paranormal Industry self perpetuating?Pastor Swopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16008265694116146151noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post-53250939650143139082011-04-04T21:40:41.385-04:002011-04-04T21:40:41.385-04:00I am curious about the paranormal,but prefer to fi...I am curious about the paranormal,but prefer to find out via safe venues such as your blog on a subject that is basically like a dangerous neighborhood.<br /><br />I remember the words the demons gave to those who tried an exorcism without the proper calling:<br /><br />"Jesus I know,and Paul I know,but who are you?" Acts 19:15p4fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02202463094590354137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post-44914552676393954302011-04-04T11:52:02.811-04:002011-04-04T11:52:02.811-04:00Sorry if I was not clear: Yes, I am Catholic. I ...Sorry if I was not clear: Yes, I am Catholic. I was raised in independent Bible churches and considered myself a Southern Baptist as a young adult, but about 10 years ago I converted. This gives me some insight from two very different perspectives.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734120133883377648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post-19148760600708757952011-03-29T01:50:08.319-04:002011-03-29T01:50:08.319-04:00Thanks Jennae,
Then you are doing what you need t...Thanks Jennae,<br /><br />Then you are doing what you need to do, read broadly and in other topics as well. Perhaps you are called to be an investigative writer? I love researching the paranormal, you get so many odd stories and you begin to see patterns. But the best part for me in writing at this point is meeting or talking to the authors I have really looked up to for years. Good luck with your blog!Pastor Swopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008265694116146151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post-24224710563279139002011-03-29T01:43:43.710-04:002011-03-29T01:43:43.710-04:00Thanks Howard,
I think the cross, Holy water and ...Thanks Howard,<br /><br />I think the cross, Holy water and other icons are a focal point for faith to work. Much like an anointing of oil.<br /><br />After all your comments, I did not realize you were Catholic! Or am I reading into your comment. You seem to be taking the view of a Caatholic. I am familiar with their approach, Ken Deel and I used to talk quite a bit.<br /><br />In the Protestant faith one usually just has the training and a calling. There are lay exorcists of varying quality.<br /><br />Unfortunately the popularity of the paranormal has a lot of people involved with the ceremony or rite without a faith background. <br /><br />I personally feel you need a faith background, training in the rite and psychology/counseling education. When I took the courses in Seminary in the early 90s it was under the pastoral counseling curriculum.Pastor Swopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008265694116146151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post-17602880102639786062011-03-28T13:46:55.886-04:002011-03-28T13:46:55.886-04:00Just a question, pastor. I love the paranormal and...Just a question, pastor. I love the paranormal and the paranormal community. I would never try to do an exorcism or even a ghost hunt at this point in my life. I think about the paranormal all the time. I wonder, what could my calling be? Is the paranormal communities' purpose to try and help people? I think it's to find answers. That's what I want to do. I'm reading more and more of your blogs, and I think, what can I do to further paranormal studies?Jennaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958795971867113163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914842448114558426.post-88028858233582593262011-03-28T12:59:09.855-04:002011-03-28T12:59:09.855-04:00Waving a cross, sprinkling Holy water and reciting...<i>Waving a cross, sprinkling Holy water and reciting a few prayers will do no good if you have no inner resources from which to draw upon if things go bad.</i><br /><br />The cross and holy water are mostly good for diagnosing the problem. For example, I've read of someone sprinkling holy water on the clothes of a family member whom she suspected of being possessed. Even though the family member did not see or feel this done (the clothes were in the closet and the family member was away from home), he refused to wear the clothes. Holy water in food has had similar effects. <br /><br />As for exorcisms, technically speaking they require either a bishop (Catholic or Orthodox) or a priest authorized by such a bishop. If this doesn't apply to you, you're not performing an exorcism, so you should not feel compelled to imitate what you've seen in the movies. You can, however, still pray for the affected person. An exorcism is, after all, only a special kind of prayer; it is an official prayer of the Church, rather than the private prayer of an individual believer. Prayers by individual believers can "work" too, and are not wasted in any event. My advice, though, would be to pray for the affected person while someplace else; this will make it easier to avoid distractions or fall into the trap of believing that YOU are the one casting out a demon, rather than acknowledging that it is Christ who casts them out.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04843514873861242426noreply@blogger.com