Azarias

I have a question, what really is the occult that the Bible condemns? Obviously people who try to practice magical acts like levitation are part of the occult, but is it supporting the occult to see a movie with magic in it (i.e. Harry Potter) or play a game with magic in it (i.e. Chronicles of Narnia). What about seeing magic shows with people such as David Copperfield?

What about something less blatant like Star Wars that is based off of an 'energy' field, but isn't really magic? Is that occult too? Count me as confused.

Just a little afraid that I do not understand this occult concept..

violet

Whirlwind

Sage defines it as:

Noun
Occult practices and techniques
Supernatural forces and events and beings collectively

Verb
Hide from view
Become concealed or hidden from view or have its light extinguished.
Cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention.

Adjective
Having an import not apparent to the sense nor obvious to the intelligence ; beyond ordinary understanding.
Hidden and difficult to see.

So based on that...I suppose I would say that it's dabbling in things that you wouldn't want God to know; dabbling in things that will prevent you from walking in the light; dabbling in things that some believe are supernatural and meant to be practiced in hiding (away from man and far away from God).

DaveS

I love watching Ghost shows, they facinate me, however I know they're not spirits of Dead people.

I also really enjoy video games and books about mystical magic things, again I don't see it as a problem.

The Ocult would be pegan rituals, attempt to speak with spirits, Ouija boards, Halluicongenic drugs, and many other things, but what you're worried about isn't a problem, because theyre fiction and you're fully aware that they're fiction.

__________________
Free Bible for Canadians:
http://www.freebibleforyou.org/

Azarias

I understand what you guys mean

What also worries me is that even when I use my judgment when around such things, the Bible says that the "way that seems right to a man can lead to death". How do I know if it God speaking or just my own flawed thinking? I direct this question a bit at DaveS.

smellycat

just distractions to keep people away from the truth.

Boanerges

Pharmakia=sorcery=drugs, talking to the dead, worshipping false gods and bwwing to idols, witchcraft - the list could go on for some time.

Beloved

__________________
Shalom

( SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. )

Beloved
1 Corinthians 14:1 Let Love be your highest goal.

Glomung

As Whirlwind said, the definition of the word "occult" means "hidden". In the world, it is any practice or belief system that espouses the gaining of power or unnatural abilities through the use of rituals or "secret knowledge". This includes all forms of paganism and ritual magic (i.e. seances, channeling, transcendental medititation, etc.). Just ask the Lord for guidance, if it gives you "the willies", leave it alone.

GrannyG

Violet has a pretty good definition. Also, in the Old Testament there are warnings about consulting with familiar spirits - those who deal with spirits other than God's spirit. We are not to associate in any way, shape, or form with spirits not ordained of God the Father. God sends his ministering spirits - angels - to us, but we don't speak to them, get counsel from them, etc. We seek the triune God for every aspect of our lives. We seek God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit comforts us as the comforter sent by Christ. God the Son redeems us and interceeds for us at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. God the Father is our God of all - omnipotent, all knowing, the Great I Am.

The occult is to be avoided at all costs.

__________________