Question about supposed "biblical teaching". A friend told me tonight

[niyad]

that a friend of hers, once reasonably sane, and was even a Reiki practitioner, now refuses to do Reiki, or even have a crystal in her home, because these things are satanic

I am oretty sure that my catholic upbringing and its bible, never, so far as I know, .mentions Reiki or crystals. Does anybody have any ideas, beyond the obvious???

[vanlassie]

1. Sounds like that same sect who are afraid of anything "Eastern."

Yoga, meditation, Halloween….

[allegorical oracle]

41. Yet they love Thanksgiving, which celebrates indigenous people saving the lives of a bunch of

people who turned around and killed them, if not overtly, then by giving them European diseases.

[Hekate]

2. The Bible has several instances of dream interpretation, but nothing about Reiki. Specific stones...

…mostly semiprecious iirc, are required for the High Priest’s garb — but quartz crystals are not mentioned.

Sigh.

A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
Alexander Pope

[niyad]

20. Thank you. The Pope quote so apropos.

[Silent3]

3. Sounds like she can't settle on which form of BS to believe n/t

[czarjak]

8. It's a smorgasbord of bullshit.

[lindysalsagal]

37. Why not go full pagan, and believe that the planets are gods?

They're al least fun. But you're right: splitting hairs, inho.

[Coventina]

45. At least the planets are real.

[Hugin]

4. Does she vote?

Participation in democracy in any form is the work of the Beast.

[niyad]

21. I really do not know much about her except through a mutual friend. This

weirdness is a fairly recent occurence.

[JHB]

5. Evangerlical teachings count any "New Age"-ish practice as "occult" and therefore Satanic

Any deviation from that they consider "true" Christianity is satanic. Any Eastern- or pre-Christian spirituality is Paganism and therefore witchcraft and Satanic.

It really is that simple and stupid. But, then, they consider Catholics to be satanic too. They're just potty-trained to not be obvious about spilling those beans.

[niyad]

22. There are times thatt I still have trouble wrapping my brain around the

whole catholic/christian thing.

[JHB]

44. A convenient bogeyman to righteously oppose.

When major motivators of your worldview revolve around fire and brimstone and hell, run by an almost (but not quite) omnipotent, infinitely-devious, and infinitely patient immortal, plenty of wacky conspiracy theories have lots of room to thrive.

[Kaleva]

6. Why did she believed Reiki actually worked?

[niyad]

23. Second-hand, she believed she saved someone's life. I know nothing of

the actual events, only what I was told.

[Kaleva]

34. Ok

[GoneOffShore]

7. If she was a Reiki practioner, she was already a Petri dish for cultish ideas.

[Kaleva]

16. +1

[canetoad]

9. The disciples

Had no fucking idea what Reiki was.

To be honest with you, I've been aware of most movements since the 60s and I'm still not sure what Reiki is or, more importantly, it's effect on our lives when practiced correctly.

Niyad, I've known you for too long to believe this "catholic upbringing" bs.

[eShirl]

11. it's "energy" "healing" with a brand name

all the easier to monetize

[niyad]

24. It is true. I was reared rcc, even went to catholic schools several times.

Consistently challenged the nuns and the priests. And one archbishop, before I was ex-communicated at 18.

[canetoad]

36. LOL

That in itself is redemption. Well done.
I was kicked out of a cult in my 20s.

[niyad]

39. Good for you! I hope you had fun on the way out.

One of the funniest things about my being officially ex-commed was that I had already left, spiritually, only they did not know it. The whole thing struck me as terribly amusing.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Reiki seems to be mostly a 20th Century phenonenon, so.

there wouldn't be much about it in the Bible. It's been tested medically and is squarely in tbe camp of Bullshit. Just because it's faux Asian, doesn't make it any good

.There's no proper organization or authority running it, so any asshole with a studio can cone uo with a use for crystals. Many, if not most, junk science includes crystals, so thinking they are Satanic is par for the course for anyone sliding in that direction.

Crystals are pretty neat in their own right, and need no occult silliness to add to things.

The "obvious" to me is that she was searching for something, and didn't find it with Reiki healing so went back a little too far with Catholic teachings.

Satanic crystals, my ass. Sounds like she's living ghost story.

[niyad]

25. My question to her would be, since your god created everything on the

earth, incluing crystals, how could they be satanic? Are you saying that your satan is as, or more, powerful than your god?

[hlthe2b]

12. I remember when RW fundies went after the teaching of yoga in schools...

Though most yoga in western practice is nearly devoid of anything other than exercise-based movement and "calming."

How sad to not be able to think for one's self is all I can say...

[niyad]

26. Sadly true.

[Irish_Dem]

13. The GOP labels anything seen as "liberal" as evil, from the devil.

It is a way to demonize their opponents and justify their cruelty.

[niyad]

27. So true.

[Dorian Gray]

14. I doubt it's Catholicism

that's teaching her that. That type of deep paranoia about the satanic usually comes from a non denominational Christianity/born again circles.

ETA: What's particularly funny about THIS practitioner is that she was practicing some new agey things, and there is a whole MAGA/Qanon influence within those circles, especially in Southern California. People are being targeted and evangelized in those circles.

[niyad]

29. wow! I did not know about that infiltration!

[Dorian Gray]

43. There were a bunch of articles in 2021

I find this stuff fascinating. If you're interested:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/03/29/qanon-new-age-spirituality/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9990153/New-Age-meets-QAnon-cult-continues-thrive-death-leader-sells-products-hundreds.html

https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/qanon-wellness/

[niyad]

48. Fascinating indeed. I know a fair number of people in the wellness

community here, but have definitely not seen the q influence.

[Dorian Gray]

51. It's certainly not universal

it's just taking a hold. I wouldn't never presume bc someone teaches yoga they're QAnon.

There are overlaps, however, in the wellness community and the anti-vaccine community. And they've been targeted with propaganda from certain corners of the web. Someone would have to be susceptible to that messaging in order to embrace QAnon. Most wouldn't be. But there are large enough numbers of people to see a trend happening.

[whistler162]

15. We there is this

but Catholics and many other denominations just ignore this verse.

"Exodus 20:4-5 says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them." On the surface, this command is negative; but as we look more "

https://www.bjupress.com/articles/god-bible-and-art-part-2.php#:~:text=Exodus%2020%3A4%2D5%20says,but%20as%20we%20look%20more

[Scrivener7]

18. Lol. The graven image of Reiki. And Oh, joy. The Christian homeschool curriculum

site assures us that art is not forbidden by God.

Imagine our relief.

[niyad]

30. I made it through two paragraphs in the linked article. Sheeeesh!!

[multigraincracker]

17. Go to the source....

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not lest you be judged”

[inthewind21]

35. Exactly

That one clearly is never remembered.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. Some consider those things to fall under sorcery, and there's a lot of references to sorcery in the

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-sorcery.html

bible.

Sorcery, the use of spells, divination, or speaking to spirits, is clearly condemned in the Bible. The word sorcery in Scripture is always used in reference to an evil or deceptive practice.

For example, in 2 Chronicles 33:6, King Manasseh is condemned for his many evil practices, including sorcery: “And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.”

The apostle Paul lists sorcery as one of many sinful practices that mark the lives of unbelievers: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife . . . and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Interestingly, the New Testament Greek word translated “sorcery” is pharmakeia, which is the source of our English word pharmacy. In Paul’s day, the word primarily meant “dealing in poison” or “drug use” and was applied to divination and spell-casting because sorcerers often used drugs along with their incantations and amulets to conjure occult power.

Sorcerers were common in the culture of ancient Egypt (Exodus 7:11; Isaiah 19:3). We also see sorcery in the kingdom of Babylon, especially in association with King Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27 ; Daniel 2:2).

[niyad]

32. Thank you for that information. I had forgotten about the origin of

"pharmacy".

[MineralMan]

28. The Breastplate of Aaron, the High Priest of Israel

had 12 gemstones on it, all derived from natural minerals and crystals, so apparently crystals were OK in the Old Testament.

Fundamentalist Christians are full of all sorts of weird ideas about the Bible. Most of them have never actually read it, of course. They've just "heard" stuff.

I can't imagine why anyone takes them seriously about anything, frankly.

[niyad]

31. They have all sorts of ideas about the Constitution, as well. Another

document which the majority of them have not (cannot?) read.

[MineralMan]

33. Yes, exactly!

[Xolodno]

38. Dungeons and Dragons, He-Man, Proctor and Gamble, etc.

The evangelical groups are always looking for the next "satanic" thing. They work on fear and shame to keep everyone in line. Ironically, the very thing Jesus was trying to do away with.

[niyad]

40. That whole Proctor and Gamble thing was so absurd. Unfortunately, those

people do not seem very interested in the teachings of the being they claim to follow (and I ennjoy pointing out that nearly every word of the jesus story is the same as all the previous year/vegetation deities.)

Between their hunt for satanism everywhere, and their obsession with sexualizing everything (teletubbies and spongebob???), it is a wonder they ever get anything done.

[Xolodno]

42. Gary Gygax, who created Dungeons and Dragons...

...was actually a devout Christian, so much so, he wrote an article on why Xmas should not be celebrated by Christians due to its pagan origins and influences.

Long time ago, my parents used to watch the mega-pastors on TV and one of them straight up and lied that he heard a kid scream He-Man was more powerful than Jesus. My parents didn't buy it. But I have to wonder how many did and was followed by "giving and tithing" sermon. No doubt many kids lost out on "He-Man" toys and the money sent to the mega-church.

My parents did buy into the D&D stuff unfortunately, grade wise, I was struggling in Junior High School, being a bit malnourished and walking over two miles to school probably didn't help. But playing D&D after school was actually helping get my grades up...until I was forbidden to play and they wondered why my grades tanked again.


But that's ultimately the problem, these are people who don't use critical thinking and just take one's word for it. Ronald Reagan said "trust, but verify"....they won't do that. Christianity prior to Constantine was quite colorful and interpretive. Whereas now, "there is only one truth"...and no one realizes, yeah, we probably all got it wrong.

That's why not judging, forgiving, etc. comes into play. Most even think the Bible is one book directly coming from God. Not what it really is, a collection of books penned by man. I pointed this out to one person and showed that the earliest list of accepted books for the Bible included the Apocalypse of Peter and the Book of Enoch was part of the original Old Testament until it fell out of favor. They were floored as if I destroyed their entire world. But that's why some books fell out of favor, it challenged the authority of the Priesthood and those in power wanted control and loyalty.

[niyad]

49. I have not seen his name in ages. Had not realized that hecwas such an

xian. .and yet he created the D & D world. weird.

I had friends who were seriously into D& D, and used to invite me to their sessions. I went occasionally, but never actually joined in. First, because I traveled a lot. Second, because they all smoked like chimneys. I never could understaand the whole "satanic" hysteria.

[JHB]

46. It was infuriating to see people who beleived in evil spirits accuse us (players) of being unable...

...to distinguish reality from fantasy, and be taken seriously because they were "concerned parents" and we were just a bunch of teenagers.

[milestogo]

47. They said the same shit about yoga which only shows that they do not know what it is.

Funny thing is there are also some christians who believe in astrology - which is just a primitive form of fortune-telling. Its harmless, but I don't see how it meshes with believing in "god's will".

[niyad]

50. Contradiction never bothers them.