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Post by Daniel on Oct 21, 2017 1:48:19 GMT -5
Why millennials are ditching religion for witchcraft and astrology
Kari Paul
Oct 20, 2017
When Coco Layne, a Brooklyn-based producer, meets someone new these days, the first question that comes up in conversation isn’t “Where do you live?” or “What do you do?” but “What’s your sign?”
“So many millennials read their horoscopes every day and believe them,” Layne, who is involved in a number of nonreligious spiritual practices, said. “It is a good reference point to identify and place people in the world.”
Interest in spirituality has been booming in recent years while interest in religion plummets, especially among millennials. The majority of Americans now believe it is not necessary to believe in God to have good morals, a study from Pew Research Center released Wednesday found. The percentage of people between the ages of 18 and 29 who “never doubt existence of God” fell from 81% in 2007 to 67% in 2012.
Meanwhile, more than half of young adults in the U.S. believe astrology is a science. compared to less than 8% of the Chinese public. The psychic services industry — which includes astrology, aura reading, mediumship, tarot-card reading and palmistry, among other metaphysical services — grew 2% between 2011 and 2016. It is now worth $2 billion annually, according to industry analysis firm IBIS World.
more
www.marketwatch.com/story/why-millennials-are-ditching-religion-for-witchcraft-and-astrology-2017-10-20
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Post by Daniel on Oct 23, 2017 7:00:06 GMT -5
Surge in spiritism: Most Americans believe in paranormal
WND EXCLUSIVE
It’s official – if you don’t believe in ghosts, you’re in the minority.
The Chapman University of American Fears 2017 has revealed a surprising number of Americans believe in the supernatural. A solid majority – 55 percent – believe ancient advanced civilizations such as Atlantis once existed, and more than 50 percent also believe places can be haunted by spirits.
More than a third of Americans also believe aliens have visited and a quarter think some people are capable of telekinesis, or moving objects by the power of their minds.
The survey found certain types of people are more likely to hold such beliefs – especially unmarried women who claim to be religious and politically conservative but do not often attend formal religious services. Residents of the West Coast were also reportedly more likely to believe in the paranormal.
Pastor Carl Gallups, author of the end-times examination “When The Lion Roars,” suggests there is something real behind how many Americans now report belief in the paranormal.
“I believe the relatively new all-encompassing media environment and the rapidly changing culture have contributed to the growth in reported ‘haunting’ experiences and other dark spiritual encounters,” he said. “All of this is also supplying a greater stage for the demonic realm, which is very real and biblically prophesied. The Bible is clear that in the age just before the return of Christ that the world would experience a literal demonic outpouring. The Scriptures declare that this coming spiritual deluge will eventually bring about a desperate state of apostasy in the church, a diabolical delusion among the nations, and a spirit of abject lawlessness that will sweep the planet. We are at least in the beginning stages of all three of those prophesied conditions – and maybe further down the road than just the ‘beginning.'”
more
www.wnd.com/2017/10/surge-in-spiritism-most-americans-believe-in-paranormal/
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Post by Daniel on Oct 25, 2017 10:22:30 GMT -5
Out of the Broom Closet: DC Witches in Their Own Words
By Ambar Pardilla
...Witches have repeatedly captured Americans' imaginations. “The Craft" and the “Harry Potter” series are all hits, along with television shows like “American Horror Story: Coven." But the visibility can create problems with perceptions. “This Halloween version of witchcraft” has made people assume about what Thorsen's practices are, she said.
“Those are fantastical interpretations of what a witch is, but there is a little bit of truth to it,” Thorsen said. “There are things that you can do to affect certain results around you that most people won’t pick up on but you know how to do it.”
All magic involves completing certain things, like spells, to create certain consequences that a witch wants, Thorsen said.
“It [magic] is a tool for personal development and empowerment as well as for changing your environment, for helping the people around you, and fear is never welcome. Fear is the antithesis of forward momentum,” Thorsen said. "What I practice in magic is fearlessness.”
Whereas witchcraft includes magical practices that can change from witch to witch, Wicca is a religion with a set structure, according to Penny Verin-Shapiro, a professor in the anthropology department at California State University, Fresno. Verin-Shapiro spoke to Wiccans and witches, studying their separate systems of beliefs, for her 2014 book “Central Valley Pagans.”
read full article
www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Out-of-the-broom-closet-Wiccans-and-witches-in-their-own-words-451613133.html
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Post by Daniel on Nov 14, 2017 10:23:23 GMT -5
Dancing With Demons
Jan Markell
Our radio team looks at the paranormal now that is the new normal. If Christians aren’t aware of the dark side, they could be dancing with demons. How do we protect loved ones? What objects around your home could invite evil spirits in? You would be surprised! We use the mobile app found at www.oneplace.com.
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Post by Daniel on Nov 21, 2017 10:10:29 GMT -5
Overt demonic activity coming, warns 'Spiritual Warfare' expert
WND EXCLUSIVE
The Roman Catholic Church is publishing prayers to combat the “powers of darkness” as interest continues to grow in the rite of exorcism.
Demons and supernatural forces have become a staple of popular culture, and churches are scrambling to keep up as the imagery of evil continues to flood pop culture.
An expert on combating the demonic, Pastor Karl Payne, former chaplain of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, told WND the “message about a Christian’s battle with the world, the flesh and the devil is just as real and relevant today as it was when God originally addressed the subject through the men He inspired to pen the Scripture.”
Payne is the author of “Spiritual Warfare: Christians, Demonization, and Deliverance,” which now is available as an audiobook,
“The reality of demonic warfare in particular has more to do with the delegated authority God has given every true Christian over all of the powers of the enemy than cultural particulars, ethnicity, gender, education or theological training,” he said. “The reality of this enemy, this battle and the delegated authority God has given to Christians over Satan and his minions has not changed.”
Payne said the battle “will continue until the Lord Jesus Christ vanquishes all of His enemies.”
“I believe according to 1 Timothy 4 that the closer we get to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more intense this battle is going to become,” he said. “If this is the case, it means that unless Christians want to live like victims rather than victors, they had better do their homework and be willing and able to stand against the powers of darkness rather than ridicule or run from them.”
Payne has been a critic of how pop culture increasingly treats the demonic as something glamorous or appropriate for children.
“The growing fascination North Americans and Europeans seem to have with horror movies, spiritism, supernaturalism, the occult and Satanism is softening up the senses and consciences of the people watching and involving themselves in this nonsense,” he said. “It’s helping prepare them to function as predators or prey when Satan begins his ultimate reign over planet earth through his coming Antichrist and false prophet.
more
www.wnd.com/2017/11/overt-demonic-activity-coming-warns-spiritual-warfare-expert/
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Post by Daniel on Jan 9, 2018 10:00:36 GMT -5
'Unbelief' and 'Comfortable' Christianity Fueling Millennial Interest in Occult, Astrology, Pastors Say
By Brandon Showalter, CP Reporter | Oct 27, 2017
...Pastors who spoke with The Christian Post believe the lack of spiritual power and a "comfortable" Christianity in the Church has created a vacuum of sorts, and a mindset of fear has constricted the real power of the Holy Spirit.
"Though some churches do explore the mystical realities of the spiritual realm, they are often marginalized due to misunderstandings or possible lack of biblical integrity," said Wanda Alger, field correspondent with Intercessors for America and a pastor at Crossroads Community Church in Winchester, Virginia, in a CP interview Thursday.
"At the same time, the devil can't do anything new."
She noted that Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has "put eternity into man's heart" and because human beings are made in God's image and God is Spirit, "our very DNA connects us to the spiritual realm." Therefore, we have a "natural" desire to know what's happening in that realm because we were created from it, she added, pointing to how God breathed life into Adam in the creation account and how in John 4:24 Jesus said the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
"Unfortunately, unless the church provides the proper context for this reality, nonbelievers will look elsewhere to satisfy their spiritual hunger," Alger said.
All other experiences with the spiritual realm — be they from psychics, astrologists, or mediums — she continued, are counterfeits, replacing something that is very real and powerful. She mentioned that Hollywood is exploiting this realm with greater attention on the supernatural nowadays which leads unsuspecting seekers into deceptive experiences that yield more spiritual darkness.
"Rather than deeming everything that is supernatural 'demonic,' the church needs to wake up to the reality of this realm and begin to approach it from a Kingdom perspective which understands its place and purpose," Alger stressed.
"The sad thing is that these millennials who are exploring the dark side of the supernatural have more faith and belief than most Christians. Because they are open and spiritually hungry, the spirit realm responds. The biggest hindrance to understanding the realities of the Spirit realm is unbelief," she emphasized.
read full article
www.christianpost.com/news/unbelief-and-comfortable-christianity-fueling-millennial-interest-in-occult-astrology-pastors-say-204448/
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Post by Daniel on Mar 19, 2018 6:57:14 GMT -5
‘Witchcraft Is Very Real’: ‘Limbless Evangelist’ Nick Vujicic Responds After Fierce Reaction to His Story of Seeing ‘Demons’ in His Hotel Room
Billy Hallowell
03-18-2018
...“I can’t show you God, I can’t show you an angel, but one of the reasons why I’m not an atheist, and one of the reasons why I don’t believe science explains everything, is because I have seen miracles, and I’ve seen demons,” Vujicic said. “I’ve seen 10-foot-tall demons, 5-foot wide walk in through my San Francisco hotel room/ And I felt the demon’s presence, demonic presence, before the demon actually walked through the wall. And so when you understand that science can’t explain everything … there is a spiritual realm.”
The evangelist didn’t go much deeper into the story, but of course we asked him for more details, considering how much interest the story generated.
Vujicic said that people must realize that there is a spiritual realm and he shared some of his past experiences in more detail.
“I think the new generation of believers must start understanding that witchcraft is very real. All the stuff behind Harry Potter, ‘Oh, there’s another Christian bagging Harry Potter,'” he said. “No, I want you to understand that the enemy has its ways of blinding us.”
As for the San Francisco story, Vujicic described the demons’ massive size, and went on to share yet another similar story involving a recent Uber ride.
He said he felt that something wasn’t quite right when he was in the vehicle — a presence that he described as “spiritual demonic oppression.” Then, when he got out of the car he saw that the woman had Satanic-themed stickers in the front of the car.
read full article
www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/march/lsquo-witchcraft-is-very-real-rsquo-lsquo-limbless-evangelist-rsquo-nick-vujicic-responds-after-fierce-reaction-to-his-story-of-seeing-lsquo-demons-rsquo-in-his-hotel-room
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Post by Daniel on Sept 4, 2018 16:02:48 GMT -5
Ultimate Rebellion: Satanism Is Experiencing Explosive Growth In America
By Michael Snyder
September 04, 2018
As attendance declines at Christian churches all over America, many Satanic groups are experiencing tremendous growth. For some, embracing Satanism is the ultimate form of rebellion, for others it is about making an anti-Trump political statement, and yet others claim that they are attracted by the very real power that they discover in Satanism.
Every week, bizarre rituals are conducted in basements, meeting halls and public facilities all over the country, and most Americans have absolutely no idea what is going on. Of course most mainstream news articles about Satanists attempt to portray them as ordinary people that have simply been "misunderstood".
And ultimately that is what the Satanists are trying to do for Satan - they are trying to get all the rest of us to view Satan or Lucifer as a "misunderstood" being that only has humanity's best interests at heart.
And since the values of Satanism line up more accurately with the values of modern society than Christian values do, Satanists are finding increasing success in bringing in new recruits.
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Post by oliverwithatwist on Sept 6, 2018 16:01:07 GMT -5
I believe in the normal, The Holy Bible, which contains the Word of God.
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Post by Daniel on Dec 15, 2018 10:18:24 GMT -5
Something Wiccan This Way Comes
by: John Stonestreet & G. Shane Morris December 13, 2018
Occult spirituality is on the rise, even among Christians. Is it just pop culture or is it the Prince of Darkness? My guess: it’s both.
Netflix’s most talked-about new show this fall is “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” The “Sabrina” of the title is Sabrina Spellman, a half-witch/half-mortal who is about to celebrate her sixteenth birthday. On that day, which is, not coincidentally, October 31, she is expected to undergo what the show calls a “dark baptism,” in which she would pledge loyalty to Satan.
Now before you are tempted to say “Okay, it’s just another stupid TV show,” consider this: According to recent reports, occult ideas and practices are booming in the United States, and not just outside the church.
A recent Pew Research study found that a large and growing percentage of Americans believe in reincarnation, astrology, psychics, and the presence of spirits in nature.
In fact, six in ten Americans accept at least one or more of these beliefs. Shockingly, that number is just as high among self-identified Christians. Even agnostics—over half, in fact—have adopted occult ideas, along with the overwhelming majority of those who call themselves “spiritual, but not religious.”
The occult is becoming mainstream in this country. At least part of the reason why is how easy, user-friendly, and infinitely customizable the chaotic buffet of beliefs borrowed from Eastern pantheistic faiths and pre-Christian religions is these days. There’s no church or creed or set of rules. You can pick and choose whatever you like. It’s spirituality meets consumerism. And you are the god.
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Post by Daniel on Mar 11, 2019 9:55:49 GMT -5
Meet the young people who believe they’re communicating with the dead
Why are some millennials turning to the supernatural?
Vicky Spratt
5 March 2019
Warning: adult themes
Ashley Robinson, 36, closes his eyes and goes into a meditative state as he says: “Father God, help us to get a better understanding of the universe. May you bring forward our friends this evening, in love, light and harmony.” He draws a breath. “Giving evidence of life after death and the truths of spiritualism. Amen.”
Silence follows. I look around the room nervously. Everyone else’s eyes are closed.
Ashley turns to me: “Does the name Dave mean anything to you?”
“No… I don’t think so,” I reply, wracking my brain for anybody I might have known by that name who has died. Surprisingly to me, I want it to mean something.
“It’s important that you only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Ashley says quickly before I can say anything else.
The room is filled with large velvet armchairs that envelop you when you sit in them. It’s like being in someone’s living room. I’m surrounded by floral lampshades, crystals and diamante-adorned crucifixes. Books about seances, reincarnation, and the psychic life of dead pets line the walls.
I’m sitting in a circle with Ashley and three other young women: Ivymay, 26, who works at a local museum, Nichola, 29, a civil servant, and Charlie, 34, a learning and development worker.
I feel like I’m in a group therapy session. Despite having met these people less than an hour ago, I’m ready to share some of my most private feelings with them. But Ashley isn’t a therapist, he’s a medium. And we’re sitting in a quiet room at the back of the Wimbledon Spiritualist Church, which stands on an unremarkable suburban street in south west London.
Yes, you read that right. Ashley is a medium, which means he claims to communicate with the dead (or, as he calls it, the “spirit world”). He says he acts as a conduit to help people hear from loved ones they’ve lost. Unlike psychics, who claim to make predictions, mediums only claim to pass on messages. “I’m like a radio tuning into different frequencies,” he says, “and I don’t always remember what I’ve heard when it’s over”.
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