I grew up with Christian values and went to church and Sunday school every Sunday (Lutheran). I now attend a church that is considered one of the more liberal Christian churches (Episcopalian). Both of these churches are similar to the Catholic Church in many ways as far as ritual.

Anyway, I am slowly beginning to believe that there may indeed be spirits out there that for some reason or another have not crossed to the other side where they belong. I do not consider them particularly evil...just otherworldly and not belonging here after death. I would be horrified to see one today...although I think I did once a few years ago when an apparition of some sort (appeared to be) standing by my bed one night (other weird happenings as well). I moved from that apartment as soon as possible and it never happened again.

Personally, I do not believe that my beliefs about the paranormal conflict with my basic Christian beliefs about crossing to other side after death and joining God, Jesus and people we have loved here on Earth. But I believe our spirits cross over immediately and that our bodies do not lie in the ground waiting for Jesus to appear (when?) and raise us up.

Ephesians 6:
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For 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.

Have not seen the movie but to me it is clear that the spiritual forces of evil exist and intend to destroy us if possible.

I think I believe as you, CP. I don't see any conflicts with my personal religious beliefs although I am a Baptist/Methodist hybrid and I'm not sure exactly where they stand.

maybe what we perceive to be "spirits" are actually demons....

quote:

Originally posted by nx4bama:
maybe what we perceive to be "spirits" are actually demons....

Probably true, but there are still the spiritual forces of evil as indicated above.

quote:

Originally posted by nx4bama:
maybe what we perceive to be "spirits" are actually demons....

Or possible Angels. You don't get more paranormal than God. Did Christ not promise a comforter in the Holy Spirit. The Bible does warn against delving in too deep into powers and principalities in which we do not fully understand.

I heard something interesting a few months back. I haven't researched it, but it seems accurate. Someone pointed out to me that there is only one instance mentioned in the Bible where someone actually contacted the dead. It's in Samuel, Kings or Chronicles. I don't remember which, but Saul contacted Samuel using a "witch". Samuel's spirit "cursed" Saul and he died the next day in battle.

quote:

Originally posted by nx4bama:
I heard something interesting a few months back. I haven't researched it, but it seems accurate. Someone pointed out to me that there is only one instance mentioned in the Bible where someone actually contacted the dead. It's in Samuel, Kings or Chronicles. I don't remember which, but Saul contacted Samuel using a "witch". Samuel's spirit "cursed" Saul and he died the next day in battle.

1 Samuel Chapter 28

Saul use a medium to call the spirit of Samuel.

Also don't forget the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

The man possesed with demons which Christ casted into swine.

with lazarus, the rich man wasn't allowed to contact his brothers, was he?

and even with the man possessed, those are demons, not a once-living-person's spirit.

am I wrong?

It may be that demons and angels can appear independently and have nothing to do with spirits of the deceased (if they exist).

If spirits who have failed to cross over do exist, then why wouldn't they be on the same level of spiritual evolvement as they were when they died (good people and not so good and all degrees of bad)?

Heaven and Hell may be on different levels also and we may continue to perfect our spirituality after we die.

This is as far out on a limb as I can go.

Paranormal? As in the sci fi stuff we see on TV? That is all fiction, not much difference between that and religion IMO.....

quote:

Originally posted by nx4bama:
with lazarus, the rich man wasn't allowed to contact his brothers, was he?

and even with the man possessed, those are demons, not a once-living-person's spirit.

am I wrong?

Demons and Angels are paranormal. The calling of Samuel proves the the human soul can be returned to us through paranormal powers. God tells us these powers are dark and evil. Avoid them.

TIFWIW:


" Lucifer, because of his pride and deceit, tried to pull off what amounted to a coup d‛e’tat… “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation (New Jerusalem), in the sides of the north.” Isa 14:12-13

Lucifer convinced a third of the angelic host to rebel along with him. As a result of his failed coup d‛e’tat Lucifer became Satan; and together with his fallen angels was cast out of the 3rd heaven into the 2nd heaven and earth. It was at this time that he became ‘Prince of the Air’. (Eph 2:2) “And his tail drew the third part of the stars (angel) of heaven, and did cast them to the earth…” Rev 12:4

And he (Jesus) said unto them, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” (Luk 10:18)

Lucifer’s fallen status names: Satan = Accuser of the brethren; The Devil (little god); Power and Prince of the Air (Stella region down to earth); God of this world; Dragon; etc.

II Corinthians 4:4 calls Lucifer the "god of this world.""

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Crimson Reign,

what's the movie about? ...