C. S. Lewis, in his book Screwtape Letters, says this about Satan:
quote:
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There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.
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What does God say about involvement with the occult? He warned the Israelites against it when they were about to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-12 NIV. "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord."
Miracles, signs and wonders can often be the work of Satan. It's in the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 & 10 NIV. ?The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.? Under the command of Satan and his principalities, demonic spirits manifest these miraculous signs. Revelation 16:13 & 14, ?Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs.? Spirits are angelic beings. Hebrews 1:14.NIV, "Are not all angels ministering spirits???
Colin Wilson, a recognized author and authority on the occult said, "It would be probably safe to say there are now more witches in England and America that at any time since the Reformation."
Not surprisingly, Pollsters such as Gallup, Roper and Greeley jointly indicate that tens of millions of people are interested in occult subjects and have occult experiences. Alarmingly, a recent University of Chicago poll [2] revealed that more than 67% of Americans " now profess belief in the supernatural," and that 42% " believe that they have had contact with someone who died." Indeed, we are witnessing an invasion of the occult and what's most alarming to me is a vast majority of Christians are either not concerned, feel no danger, and worst of all, a growing number are beginning to accept many of its subtle and deceptive practices.
Today there is a wide variation of practices in the world of the Occult. For instance, William Kimball [3] a noted authority on the occult says there are four basic categories in which all occult practices fall. They are:
(1) FORTUNE TELLING OR DIVINATION - this is the art of foretelling future events, human conduct and character. This may include Palmistry, Astrology, Numerology, Divination by Rod/Pendulum, Sleep Reading, and all forms of reading of tea leaves, Tarot Cards, etc.
( (2) SPIRITISM OR NECROMANCY- - this is the belief that certain people have the ability to contact the dead or simply obtain revelations beyond the grave. This involves practices such as Telekinesis, Table Lifting. Levitation, Spirit or Automatic Writing, Apports, Trumpet Speaking, Materialization, etc.
( (3) MAGIC, OCCULT MAGIC - - This is not the "slight of hand," trickery of magicians, but accessed powers of superhuman spirit forces in league with the fallen angel called Satan, or simply the Devil. This involves the practice of Black Magic, Magical Hypnosis, White Magic, Mental Suggestion, Magneticism or Mesmerism. Lastly we have,
( (4) SATANISM, VOODOO, WITCHCRAFT, OR ANY PARTICIPATION WITH DEMONIC FORCES- - These practices involve those who have yielded themselves to a known or even unknown relationship with supernatural forces, powers and or beings from the unseen world. Participation in such practices involves Astral Projection, Clairvoyance, Colorology, Crystal Gazing, Demons, Dreams, ESP, Eastern Mysticism, I-Ching, Meditation, Sylvan Mind Control, Occultic Hypnosis and Altered States of Consciousness, Ouija Boards, Parapsychology, Psychokinesis, Reincarnation, Séances, Talismans, Thought Transfer, Wicca, Visualization, Channeling, Yoga, Holistic Health practices, Eckanbar, Spirit Guides, Crystals, Telepathy, and all magic rituals, spells, curses and charms.
Many Cults today which are not directly involved in the Occult, are often the launching point to bring unsuspecting followers into their world and power. Anti-Christian groups such Jehovah Witnesses, Unitarians, The Unification Church, Bahai, Hare Krishna, ECK, EST, TM, Scientology, Mormonism, Rosicrucianism, and the all New Age Movement groups and others who teach things like Positive Imaging, Imagination or Visualization as a way to get in contact with God. These things are all a part of or windows into the world of the Occult which is now storming the gates of humanity. -
Now I must say at this point, I named a massive amount of philosophies and groups that do contain many followers who are in and of themselves fine people. Many are involved in doing good things, helping people, serving society. However, the good that may be done by these groups and methods of harnessing the unseen world of power cannot be approved, simply because of the good they do. We are told in the Bible that Satan himself and his demon agents disguise themselves with good things. We read,
2 Cor 11:14-15 (NASB) "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds."
Therefore we must not judge the value of a group, or its philosophy simply by its outward appearance and good works. Satan's greatest evil in the eyes of God is his desire to "be good without God." That is good in the terms of his own mind and will, which has clearly been revealed by God as evil and wickedness.