Paranormal Experiences (Strange Occurrences)

Do you believe in the paranormal?

  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .
NarnianWarrior

NarnianWarrior

Member
Since the fall of 2007, when I encountered an entity in an old abandoned house, I have been interested in the paranormal. I am calling all skeptics and believers alike to this thread. Here we dissect the age-old activities surrounding the unseen world.
 
Here's my view:

No. I really don't believe in the paranormal. However, I do believe that there are demonic spirits alive and well in the world, and THAT'S what most people call "paranormal". Therefore, I don't think any Christian should seek dealings with 'paranormal' activities or sites as they are demonic in nature. Besides that: I don't see the appeal of being spooked by someone who's been dead for 100 years. That's just strange.
 
I feel the same way A.K. It is a demonic in nature. I believe that demons have the ability to manifest themselves to look like the spirit of a loved one. However, I must say that the Bible does not contain this information. It is something I believe though. Having had an experience myself.
 
I’ve never had any experiences with the paranormal, so I tend to suspend judgment about the existence of things normally termed as the “paranormal.” I enjoy watching horror movies and shows like Ghost Hunters, so I think I’m at the least willing to suspend disbelief for a good scare. I also have a soft spot for ghost stories around campfires and horror novels such as those by Stephen King. At the very least, I think that most people have some sort of subconscious willingness to believe in unexplained/unearthly phenomena, and that’s why I think ghost stories and the like have been so popular throughout the centuries. I think that some paranormal experiences might be demonic in nature, but I also like to believe that cases that might be more benign (giving warnings) might be angelic visitations of some type. After all, if demons can be active among us, I also believe that God would allow His angels to work their good among us. I guess I’m at the point in life where I know there is a lot that I don’t understand and the paranormal is probably in that category. I don’t think about it a lot and I don’t believe everything I hear about it, but I also don’t think that everyone who has some encounter with the paranormal is a basketcase.
 
NarnianWarrior said:
I feel the same way A.K. It is a demonic in nature. I believe that demons have the ability to manifest themselves to look like the spirit of a loved one. However, I must say that the Bible does not contain this information. It is something I believe though. Having had an experience myself.
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In the Bible God told the Hebrews not to pratice witchcraft so therefor it must exist, aslo in the Bible Saul went to a witch to get her to summon up the spirit of Samuel. I myself do not belive in the paranormal it is the fiction of films ect, good and evil have been around before Adam and Eve as God told Adam after he ate the apple you are now like one of us, you know of good and evil and his sin is still with us today.
 
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Aravis Kenobi said:
Here's my view:

No. I really don't believe in the paranormal. However, I do believe that there are demonic spirits alive and well in the world, and THAT'S what most people call "paranormal". Therefore, I don't think any Christian should seek dealings with 'paranormal' activities or sites as they are demonic in nature. Besides that: I don't see the appeal of being spooked by someone who's been dead for 100 years. That's just strange.
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I agree with your thoughts, Aravis. I enjoy fantasy movies and literature as much as anyone, and games like Dungeons and Dragons. However, the paranormal is something totally different. Any 'manifestation', for want of a better word, can only come fropm one of two sources, and if it isn't from God, I want absolutely nothing to do with it. For that reason, the leaders of my church have cautioned against consulting mediums, fortune tellers, and horroscopes, not to mention seances and ooija boards, the use of which are particularly dangerous.
 
The interesting thing about this subject is that it tends to carry a lot of sensitivity. By that I mean people really tend to stay from it. I really never hear pastors speaking of the demonic and there influence. Why? Spiritual Warfare is real and as Christians we need to stay prepared.
 
No I don't believe in it. I think in most so called reality shows facts are manipulated. Only to gain viewers and to boost it as a hype. I also believe these fortune tellers or psychics or whatever it is spelled are only using their knowledge against the ones who ask for them. They tell them what they want to hear. Cold readings as they are cold
 
I'm not familiar enough with the term "paranormal," learning it only from book and TV titles. I do, however, believe in the Supernatural. I believe in God, how can I not believe in the supernatural? I also believe the majority of the reports of supernatural, etc., in the Western world, at least, is false. Our post-Enlightenment world is so focused on hard scientific proof, that it is generally much easier for the Devil to do his job without dragging in fantastic supernatural performances.

That said, witchcraft, Ouija boards, and other thrill seeking encounters with the supernatural are only ever a dangerous invitation to the demons out there. We are strictly commanded not to meddle with magic of any form, for very good reason. Do not ever give demonic powers any opening.

But we as Christians are also given power over the demons, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. I've known of pastors who have exorcised demons. I have friends who have been harassed by demons, though not possessed. There is no power we have greater than to call on the name of Jesus Christ.

As for the divine supernatural, I believe that too, happens. I know a person who has, once, heard a literal voice from God telling him what to do. One of my friends also has a relative who dreams of events he could have had no way of knowing - for example, he might tell his cousin the next day something along the lines of, "I dreamed of you last night, how you got drunk at this friends house and spent the night with your boyfriend and this is what happened." He keeps the actions of his loved ones in check by always knowing. I'm sooo thankful I do not have a prophetic gift like this.

I've also once sat through an entire service debating a question with myself (and hearing little of the sermon). In his concluding prayer, the pastor addressed the very topic directly, saying, "I'm not sure why, but I feel the Spirit laying this on me, and I will say it." The words were clearly meant for me, though the pastor did not know it, could not have known it. I also know that it could not have been meant for any of the other 8 people at that itsy-bitsy church. Thank you, God.

I have heard too many instances from people I know and trust to doubt the existence of the supernatural, even though I am naturally inclined to doubt.
 
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NarnianWarrior said:
The interesting thing about this subject is that it tends to carry a lot of sensitivity. By that I mean people really tend to stay from it. I really never hear pastors speaking of the demonic and there influence. Why? Spiritual Warfare is real and as Christians we need to stay prepared.
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Did you not know the only one who could prefrom an Exorcistm is a Catholic priest? why? because it was handed down to them over the centuarys of christian/ Jewish faith. A pastor. Vicker. Parson, Revarend or what ever has not got that power, all they go on about is the end of days and salavison. Off course it has a lot of sensitivty there are many branches of christianity and all think they are right, christianty is at war with its self and always has been. Spiritual warfare, wot do you mean? all christians should unite as they did in the past? and wot do we need prepared for?
 
The paranormal is both very interesting and rather scary. In my logical side of the brain, I don't believe in much of what would be termed under paranormal. However this doesn't stop me from being scared about things like ghosts! The mere idea, despite the logic, is frightening enough, so there are times, for example, I will go to my garage and walk in it without turning the light on to get to the fridge (it seems to take an age to turn on) - sometimes I am brave, tell myself obviously it's all fine, and other times my courage fails... y'know, just in case. :p That's all to do with the 'god-fearing' nature of humans, imprinted in us since the early days of human life. We can be so sure about something, but there's always that little niggle in the back of our minds, so present with the paranormal, supernatural ideas.

But yeah, from what I've seen and read up about I'd generally say many of these 'uncanny' things come from the powers of the human brain.
 
I understand where your coming from Cabbage. And it makes sense. However, I do believe that there is evil in this world. Back in '07 I almost came face to face with evil. Once a believer always a believer. I do respect your opinion though. I only believe in demons not ghosts.
 
Jadis-the-White said:
Did you not know the only one who could prefrom an Exorcistm is a Catholic priest? why? because it was handed down to them over the centuarys of christian/ Jewish faith. A pastor. Vicker. Parson, Revarend or what ever has not got that power, all they go on about is the end of days and salavison. Off course it has a lot of sensitivty there are many branches of christianity and all think they are right, christianty is at war with its self and always has been. Spiritual warfare, wot do you mean? all christians should unite as they did in the past? and wot do we need prepared for?
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I'll need some biblical grounds if you want to convince me that only a Catholic priest can preform exorcism. Mark 9:38-39 and Luke 9:49-50 both tell the same story of Jesus' disciples complaining about strangers casting out demons in Jesus' name, yet Jesus chastises his disciples for it: "Do not forbid them." I'm open to any branch of Christianity as long as it can win me over by biblical arguments.

As for Spiritual Warfare, it is typically understand in two ways. Firstly, more widely, it is understood as that inner struggle against evil and sin and temptations that we each face. Secondly, it is understood to be a stand against demonic forces, which perhaps fewer of us have to face, but is just as real, and in my opinion, more terrifying. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)
 
Lossendil, I couldn't agree more with you. People seem to forget that Spiritual Warfare is real. Personally, I wish that exorcism's were more frequented. I believe I have ran into more than one person who I could tell has signs of demonic possession. Church's need to revisit exorcism.
 
Thank you for sharing, Lossy. One of my favorite verses on spiritual warfare (in addition to the Ephesians 6 passage that you quote, is 1 John 4:4:
Greater is He that is in you, than the one that is in the world. In other worlds although although the spiritual struggle between good and evil and God vs. Satan is very real, let us not forget that Christ Jesus is much greater than the evil one, and on the Cross the power of sin and evil was given it's mortal blow.
 
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