Christian Spiritualism

[rosesaredeadvioletsaretoo]

I’m wanting to find out more about Christian Spiritualism and was wondering if anyone might have an recommendations for resources/books/courses/groups and so on?

Mmm, one was an accidental omission of a punctuation mark, the other was a disingenuous misrepresentation.

You see if you went a long to an open circle or just a service at a spiritual church you might have a better idea of what was going on. Asking for Gods involvement in proceedings is very much part of the whole “ritual” as it is you seem to be basing your knowledge on films snd what you think happens. Why don’t you find an open circle, go along and check out what actually happens, what are you worried about? God won’t protect you? Protect you from what?

@Feelingathomenow,

Why don’t you find an open circle, go along and check out what actually happens, what are you worried about? God won’t protect you? Protect you from what?

Not for me, at this current time at the very least. I don't expect that to change particularly. Maybe I've too much baggage to cope with it that needs to be worked through or maybe it just is not appropriate as a follower of Christ. My current thought favours the latter. I resolve to simply trust in God to lead me in the way right for me. 🙂

I have had prophetical dreams already. So maybe I just don't need the Spiritualist Church...

Fair enough, but I don’t see how you can criticise and judge something you have no knowledge or experience of. Basically what you’re arguing against is your own mind and the perceptions of others

Well that’s a decision for you, maybe other do want to explore the Spiritualist church because it is for them. As I said, it’s not for me either, but my path is my path, not someone else’s

Fair enough, but I don’t see how you can criticise and judge something you have no knowledge or experience of. Basically what you’re arguing against is your own mind and the perceptions of others

@Feelingathomenow, having reservations about something and warning others is not the same as judging and criticising other people.
It's warning something might be dangerous. Just as a road warning sign is not criticising a driver. Should I hold my tongue and not warn people when I am concerned for them?

"Better is open rebuke
 than hidden love." (Proverbs 27:5 NIV)

I have spoken about my reservations, as a Christian, from a biblical standpoint and also briefly about the experiences of some people I have known who have spoken about their first hand experiences.

If I am wary of danger I don't have to put myself in the way of that danger in order to experience the full effects of it and know experientially just how dangerous it is. I can learn from other people. I can receive spiritual knowledge from God through Jesus Christ.

Nothing you have said would reassure me mediumship within The Spiritualist Church is a perfectly spiritually safe practice. Indeed you have chosen not to be involved with this yourself (you have not said why). Only that you don't think it is right to criticise someone else's path. This you seem to be interpreting as it being wrong for me to make any comment when other people's proposed actions make me concerned for their well being.

But to have reservations about something you would, by necessity had to have judged it. The two things go hand in hand. Judgement without fully understanding the situation is nothing but fear. Granted, this is how most religions work, they are fear based in order to control.

So what experiences did your realities have, as this seems the closest you have come to actual contact with spiritualism

But to have reservations about something you would, by necessity had to have judged it

@Feelingathomenow, judging a potential course of action is not the same as judging a whole person. Expressing potential pitfalls of an activity is not the same as saying it wrong in every single context. For example, exorcism (as carried out by the Catholic Church) involves speaking to spirits.

is wrong

Put, unless you have studied the area itself, know the people who operate in this area whether there are animals, poachers, game keepers how will you ever know whether there are pitfalls? Otherwise you are just relying on the truth of a sign saying “caution traps on land” - is that sign there to frighten you into staying off the land where there are actually no traps. Or is it there out of concern for your health an safety?

Why is it ok for the Catholic Church to be talking to spirits, but not a medium?

Why is it ok for the Catholic Church to be talking to spirits, but not a medium?

@Feelingathomenow, I think it can be right when malevolent manifestations are upsetting / hurting people, within a certain building for example. Exorcism is not concerned with encouraging manifestations rather it is concerned freeing people from potential harmful activities of malevolent spirits.

is that sign there to frighten you into staying off the land where there are actually no traps. Or is it there out of concern for your health an safety?

@Feelingathomenow, do you think I am simply trying to frighten people off something a view as an exclusive domain?

I'm not. I just think it is worth examining the Christian beliefs involved regarding mediumship if you are thinking about joining a Christian Spiritualist church. As such I have been discussing this topic to the best of my understanding as someone of the Christian faith.

I view

But who decides if those spirits are malevolent though? What happens to the spirit after exorcism?

But your Christian faith is only viewing Christianity from a certain angle. What I’m saying is there are many angles to a Christian faith besides the orthodox view

But who decides if those spirits are malevolent though? What happens to the spirit after exorcism?

@Feelingathomenow, they leave / cross over? I've not studied it extensively. I have watched some videos by a Catholic priest who performed exorcisms and in one instance it sounded like he told the spirits about Jesus Christ and they repented and received Salvation.

But your Christian faith is only viewing Christianity from a certain angle. What I’m saying is there are many angles to a Christian faith besides the orthodox view

@Feelingathomenow but I'm here to talk about my perspective.

Which is fine, spiritualism doesn’t fit into your perspective on Christianity. It does fit in with others though

Which is fine, spiritualism doesn’t fit into your perspective on Christianity. It does fit in with others though

@Feelingathomenow, I've not indicated they shouldn't talk about their perspective. I've simply asked questions in order to ascertain and clarify exactly what perspective they are commenting upon Christianity/Spiritualism from.

Great, so we both agree that there are many interpretations of Christianity and it’s up to individuals to decide for themselves whether Spiritualism is compatible with Christianity.

Great, so we both agree that there are many interpretations of Christianity and it’s up to individuals to decide for themselves whether Spiritualism is compatible with Christianity

@Feelingathomenow, ultimately, yes. We all have to make our own decisions spiritually or otherwise.

Well exactly, and if we are all guided by Gods Grace then we can all make the decisions he thinks are right for us.

@Feelingathomenow

Well exactly, and if we are all guided by Gods Grace then we can all make the decisions he thinks are right for us.

Indeed! It is something I think that is necessary to respect. However there is a balance to be had. Grace or pride/ego? Something you touched on earlier. Here:

What I understand it was a word used, actually very often by Paul iof God choosing to give his favour to those, even who didn’t deserve it and this was then used by the re wouldn't to influence how they acted. Nothing to do with the rules set out in the Bible though

Jesus says this here:

"16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." (John 7 16-18)

So if we are concerned someone is doing or contemplating doing something that is wrong / might go against the will of God we should discuss our reservations in order to encourage self reflection.

But what is right and what is wrong? Who is deciding what is the Will of God?

History is littered with people claiming they are speaking for God. Some of them end up surrounded by dead bodies, others in asylums. Others end up shouting homophobic crap on you tube! All of them think they’re speaking Gods Will.

It’s a misconception that having an Ego is a bad thing, it’s really not, it just needs to be used appropriately

But what is right and what is wrong? Who is deciding what is the Will of God?

History is littered with people claiming they are speaking for God. Some of them end up surrounded by dead bodies, others in asylums. Others end up shouting homophobic crap on you tube! All of them think they’re speaking Gods Will.

@Feelingathomenow, please note I talked about having a discussion to promote self reflection, reflecting upon on personal motivations and comparing this to what is known of God, for example. The discussion and reflection can go two ways (or many depending on the size of the group discussing). We can learn from each other. Other people might have seen something I have missed, I might see something they have missed.

I would maintain it is egotistical pride that often causes contention. People eristically argue the point they want to make because it is their point - simply wanting to 'win' the argument. No winners there, it just becomes an academic 'pissing contest'. Not sure how that sort of manifestation of ego is very constructive.