Search



Comments

« Is there any scientific basis for mind-reading? • Home • Meta-comment »

Psychics offensive to God

• Religious Intolerance

Psychics vs. the Catholic Church in Massachusetts North Shore.

Maybe that's why it seemed odd when the following words appeared in a letter to the editor in the Ipswich Chronicle late last month, directed toward Rev. John Kiley, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Catholic church in Ipswich:

"I asked you to immediately retract in writing the defamatory and libelous statements contained within your printed bulletin," the letter read. "You refused ... Anyone can think whatever they want to think, but it is quite another matter to put it in writing and then subsequently embarrass, defame and humiliate an individual with a community. This constitutes reckless indifference and has rather serious consequences."

The author of the letter was Swampscott resident Linnea Johansson, whose ire had nothing to do with bake sales. As a psychic medium whose work is comparable to that of supersensory TV folk such as John Edward and James Van Praagh, Johansson had offered her services during the summer at the Ipswich Council on Aging, where she claimed to help senior citizens reconnect with their departed loved ones.

The rancor with which Johansson wrote her letter was matched only by the gravity of the message conveyed in Kiley's church bulletin.

"Avoid this program and encourage others not to participate," wrote Kiley, using bold and italicized print. "The Word of God in scripture and in Christian teaching is very clear that (engaging in psychic activities) is 'off limits' and offensive to God. At one time, this practice was understood to be a sin against the first commandment."

Quite a bit more in the article. Joel Beck, North Shore Sunday: Psyched out

Richard Evans Lee
October 15, 2003 •
BlinkList • del.icio.us • Digg it • Furl • ma.gnolia
RawSugar • Shadows • Simpy • Spurl • Yahoo MyWeb
Top↑

Comments

There are two questions that first must be asked here. 1) Is psychic reading a sin, and 2) is the Bible correct. I would like to answer the second question first. The Bible was written by humans, and as such, probably isn't entirely correct. We know that over the years books have been added and taken out of the Bible as the Catholic Church, being the only church for a long time, saw fit. It has also been shown that in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the originail writings of the New Testament, there are several scrolls. Some of these go so far as to question whether Jesus was ever hung on the cross. It is argued in these scrolls that one of the deciples of Jesus who looked very similar to him, had taken his place. A book was in the Bible for many years, before being taken out by the King James, that described how Jesus had killed a boy once just because he had the power. He later brought the boy back to life. Now the first question: Is psychic reading a sin? How is it any different from what Jesus did? I do believe that if any one today were to do what Jesus did, we would call it witchcraft. Well, that is what it was called when Jesus was doing it. So, if you are Christian, you are following a man who was labled in his own time a sinner. Remember, Jesus did not set a good example for us to follow. He tells us to obey the church, but he did not. He tells us to obey our parents, but he did not. I am very religious, I don't want you to think that I am not. I attend a Catholic college. I just believe that we should not judge other religions and beliefs. Let us wait for God to do that!!!

Posted by: Ryan Joesph Liedtky | September 5, 2004 9:47 PM

Hi I'm Rebecca, I come from a religious family and I love God and believe in Jesus. Obviously I want to please him, but as far as I'm concerned there is only one commandment and that is to "love one another and God" if we do this, we'll automatically obey the rest. When it comes to Psychics, I'm not sure. A lot of things said in the bible are for our health and nothing more. Like the don't eat pork thing. So obviously it isn't advisable for everyone to try and communicate with the dead because we can't deny that there are other spirits out there that may harm us or something. For someone talented or gifted or even just aware of what they are doing makes it seem okay to me. The bible is just a guide line and that's why it's so contradictory, because "one mans meat is another mans poison." And also, I personally wouldn't question the man who had to choose which of the gospels went into the bible. Christians where being persecuted and he wanted them to be sure about what they were dying for. I'm sure that if he thought they would have time to find the truth in all of the books he would have included them, but it would have taken time that not everyone had in those days. As for Jesus killing a boy and then bring him back to life again, why would one say that that was just because he had the power? Well yes, but think of it, isn't that just showing you that you needn't fear death? I don't doubt that he died on the cross. I doubt that it was a cross and how it was done, simply because history shows a different side, but what does that mean? I'm sorry if I've been long winded. I just addressed comments in the article. I hope I haven't offended any. I only said what my heart feels right with.

Posted by: Rebecca | December 14, 2006 1:47 PM

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Psychics offensive to God. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard

Monthly Summaries

March 2007, February 2007, January 2007, December 2006, November 2006, October 2006, August 2006, July 2006, June 2006, May 2006, April 2006, March 2006, February 2006, January 2006, December 2005, November 2005, October 2005, September 2005, August 2005, July 2005, June 2005, May 2005, April 2005, March 2005, February 2005, December 2004, November 2004, October 2004, September 2004, August 2004, July 2004, June 2004, May 2004, April 2004, March 2004, February 2004, January 2004, December 2003, November 2003, October 2003, September 2003, August 2003, July 2003, June 2003, May 2003, April 2003, March 2003, February 2003, January 2003, December 2002, November 2002, October 2002, September 2002, August 2002, May 2002, April 2002, March 2002,

Recent Posts



Thematic Archives

Powered by
Movable Type 4.0

Syndication


Edifying Spectacle
Index
Religious Intolerance
Psychics offensive to God
Top of page