If i read about and try out different...?

Question

if i read about different religions and learn about them and maybe try a little bit of them,does that mean I'm turning on my true religion?i am lutheran and very proud to be.i love what i stand for but i practiced a little bit of paranormal stuff and i am worried that i am turning on my church and religion when i do the paranormal activities.i don't want to stop the occasional tarot card readings and pendulums but i also don't want to feel like I'm turning on god.what advice can you give me to reassure my mind that i am fine that i am just experimenting?please help it does mean a lot to me.

Answer 1

There is absolutely NO reason not to learn about other religions.

As for trying them... well, I would personally encourage it, because perhaps you will find a religion that suits you better.

As for what I think about pendulums, Tarot cards, or any of that... I think it's just a way to focus your mind or energy on something, and it has absolutely nothing to do with evil.  

Answer 2

I'm sorry, I can't say anything to reassure your mind, because you can't do that kind of stuff if you're a Christian. You are turning on your God.

Exodus says- "Do not allow a sorceress to live"

"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me."

Even though the New Testament pretty much negates everything in the Old Testament, your still breaking one of the ten commandments, and that's bad. Thankfully Jesus also offers forgiveness.

Answer 3

Aswiee, (strange name) I have to caution you. Tarot card readings, paranormal activities, hypnotism, crystal balls, Ouija boards, pendulums, numerology, horoscopes, automatic writing, seances, and any number of other occult ventures can be quite dangerous.

They can fool you into believing in other "things" that you shouldn't believe in. I have a serious problem with them and I think you should run away from them as fast as possible. Christians have no business around these things.

  

Answer 4

OK so if God created the universe then he also created the way pendulums react. Anyone else who says that pendulums and Tarot are the work of the devil is forgetting one thing.

If it is the work of the Devil then that means that God did not in actual fact create everything and so he is not all powerful and not omnipotent. So if you truly believe that God is the sole creator of the universe then you don't have anything to worry about.

Answer 5

Do you see what happens here?  HOW can education be wrong??  How can trying to understand others be wrong?  That's just ridiculous!!  Please, continue learning and opening your mind.

Answer 6

God tells us he is sufficient, you shouldn't have to go to theses other things, that is why it is bothering you . Stick with God thats what he wants

tGod bless

Answer 7

Hi.

I'm a life long Lutheran.

A large part of my training as a Funeral Director involved the study of other religions and belief systems.  We are required to serve people of all faiths.  My faith has always been strong, but as I studied these various faiths, and looked at them all in the light of Scripture I found that I became more steadfast in my own denomination.

I was able to develop friendships with various clergy, but found myself gravitating more and more to Scripture.  Among my closest friends were of course Lutheran Pastors of both the Conservative LCC (to which I belong) and LCMS, two Roman Catholic Priests, both now deceased, Conservative Anglicans, Conservative Methodists, Presbyterians, Mennonite and Amish Bishops, and a Jewish Rabi.  The other Christian and non Christian Pastors and leaders felt they had little in common with me, and while civil and professional, they wanted little to do with me.  That was fine, the more I learned the more the feeling was mutual.

With all of these learned friends our conversations often turned to doctrine, faith, social issues in the light of Scripture and our similarities and differences.

Today I am still learning, our congregation is still battling the same battles that Martin Luther fought, those same battles that St. Augustine, St. Nicholas, St. Athanasius, and many others fought, and defending the belief in Holy Scripture that they defended.

I believe that if you truly have faith and as a Lutheran hold to Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) as the only authority your faith will continue to be strengthened.  

I would suggest that you begin your journey with the The Book of Concord.  If your family does not have one, your Pastor will, and I'm sure he would loan it to you if you asked him.  This is pretty deep stuff, but it is a clear explanation of our doctrine, derived from Scripture Alone.  I did not read this until well after my journey began, and once I did, if found that every thing became much clearer for me.

I am now, and have been for years, and elder, and I'm still studying.

I must also agree fully with Simone's answer regarding the spiritual realm.  Scripture explains to us that the souls of departed persons are either the faithful in paradise, or the unbelievers in h**l.  Spirits that manifest themselves are demonic in nature, and sent to deceive and lead us away from our Lord.  Likewise, these spirits work within false prophets and preachers  to the same end.

May God strengthen and preserve you on your journey, and increase in you the true knowledge of Him and of His Word, and true obedience to His Will, to the Glory of his Holy Name.  Amen.

Your friend in Christ,

Mark  

Answer 8

You have to stop that stuff now; you are opening the door for satan in your life.

Just pray to God, to do His will; accept Christ as your Savior.

Trust God, trust Christ, never trust anything that's not of God.

Answer 9

Be careful.  Humans are not the highest form of life. The Bible reveals that long before God created man and woman, he created a multitude of spirit sons, invisible angels. (Job 38:4, 7) Later, one of these began to oppose God, even slandering him, thus becoming Satan (opposer) and the Devil (slanderer). In time, other spirit creatures joined Satan the Devil in his rebellion, forming an organization of rebellious angels, or demons. Are these demons the ones responsible for the paranormal phenomena of occultism?

Yes, they are! In pre-Flood days these spirit “sons of the true God” were able to materialize fleshly bodies and live on earth. (Genesis 6:1, 2; Jude 6) But since returning to the spirit realm, their contacts with humans have been limited to causing the paranormal phenomena that have been so common throughout the history of mankind.

The demons have particularly communicated with living relatives and friends of the dead, causing these persons to believe the lie that the dead are still living somewhere in the spirit world. To impersonate the dead is no problem for the demons, since they can closely observe people while they are alive. Thus, the intimate details of a person’s life, including sound of voice and manner of expression, can then be accurately impersonated.

Answer 10

My Mom was Catholic and was psychic. She could read cards, palms, know things before they happened and could speak to the dead. She thought it was a gift from God. I just think she could tap into a part of her brain that most people cannot. But it is ultimately up to you and how you feel about it.

Answer 11

I think you should completely stay away from all other religious activities. Participating in those things can give Satan a way to slowly gain a hold on your life.