Understanding The Self

1. Continuation to “The
Fallacy of Superstitions
and Idolatry”

2. Question: Are these practices performed only by the ancient pagan
Filipinos?
Answer: No, In the other side of the world, other natives spent much
time in trying to make friends with the spirits so that they would do them
no harm. Both the good and the bad spirits they would offer sacrifices.
The sun, the moon and the stars were the gods of the Chaldeans,
natures and elements were the gods of the Greeks and living heroes by
the Romans. In Africa some tribes chose inanimate lifeless things such
as pieces of wood and monstrous unhewn stones. Many of these fetishes
or false gods are seen in museums in Europe .

3. Question: How may we have offended God through false
beliefs and false worship in violation of the First
Commandment?
It must be noted and remembered that worship and belief
should only be afforded to the ONE TRUE GOD, therefore
God should only be the only idol of every Christian.

4. The sin of idolatry happened when people highly
honor creatures, objects, things or ideas when such
high honors is due to God alone. The sin of
idolatry is a grievous offense in the eyes of God.
(Deut.6:13-14) It is the Lord your God you shall
fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall
swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods
of the peoples who are around you

5. 2. Power of Nature (God’s)-
sprouting
seed, healing power of plants and herbs,
electricity, Tides and weather are relatively
influenced by the movement of the moon to
the earth and the sun. The sun , moon are
other natural elements have power that have
influence over growth of plants and animals
(There’s nothing mysterious over all these)
2. Universally Practiced
Occultism
a. Spritism
b. Fortune Telling
c. Faith Healing
d. Black Magic
3. God’s bestowed
healing power)
biblically sited
3. Ancient and Modern
Day Occultism and Idolatry
(Cults)

6. TYPESOF
OCCULT
PRACTICES

7. A. SPIRITISM
1. Physical Phenomena
a. levitation
Note: cite
p.15 text
for further
clarification
Upper higher phenomena in which an object or person floats
in the air common in occult circles or haunted houses,
something like ghosts or evil spirits lift objects or of people
with psychic satanic powers
b. apports
Note : biblical
citation of divine
power
p.16
Highly associated with spiritistic magic. Transference
of solid matter through enclosed or sealed room
through psychic satanic powers
c.telekineses An object moves or changes position or shape or form
through the telekenetic powers of the eyes

8. 2. Physic Phenomena
a. Spiritistic Vision
Note: There are rare authentic
visions… but if there are the
church has to handle these. If
proven authentic, they are
under divine visions
Counterfeit /fake visions of psychics-
Sometimes a common modus operandi
of the devil to deceive the gullible ( p. 17,
Garcia 2001, )
b. Automatic Writing
There are persons endowed with
mediumistic power to write letters,
names or sentences while in the state of
being unconscious. They deceive
people by saying that it is the message
of God.
(p. 19 PR, elaborated)

9. c.Speaking
in trance
(different from
speaking in
tongues) on
the day of
pentecost
Spiritistic condition in
which a person who is
unconscious speaks under
the control of demonic
power or spirits,
pretending to be the soul
of a dead person
(pp.20-21,PR).

10. d. Materialization
- metaphysical
phenomena
Note:A divine
counterpart is an
apparition(pp 28-30,)
A spirit of demon takes a physical
form , appeared in material body to a
particular person, animal or individual.
The demonic version is ghosts
Case studies cited, pp.22-24, PR)
e. Table Lifting
Practiced by spiritist to establish
communication link with the dead to
ask question or inquiry. Responses are
through the movement of the tables
and other similar instruments. (Similat
to local version of tigi)

11. f. Tumbler
moving
Famous or locally termed as
spirit of the glass. The glasses
together with letters are placed
on the table. Once asked , the
spirit will answer though the
letters/words
g. excursion
of the
psyche
Psychic clairvoyant sank to
deep sleep and claimed that
their soul travelled to distant
places. (p.26)

12. 3. Magic Phenomenon
or Magic Persecution
a. Neutral Magic
Genuine magic acquired by the magician
through rigid trainings and exhaustive
practice for outdoor entertainment
purpose for a fee
b. White magic
An art of faith healing associated with
occult and spiritism. White magicians
have clinic centers filled with patients
seeking healing. They usually tell that the
powers come from Mother Mary, other
saints or from God Himself to deceive the
gullible people

13. c. Magic
Defense
Version of white magic which spells
charms, incantation which are intended so
to say, to heal the effects of black magic. (
appears to be kind and helpful) open and
make themselves known.
d. Black
Magic
Note: White or
black magic both
operate from the
same demonic
spirits/satanic
powers
Oppressive demonic powers for
destruction, vengeance, revenge and
death . This power causes disease,
affliction and malady to the victim . The
magician invoked phrases of incantation
and releases satanic power to cause
illness or persecution to an enemy. (hides
their identity to public)

14. 4. Cultic
Phenomena
a. Spiritistic
Cults
1. These are small or mini religious denominations
which are occult oriented under the realm of
superstition and idolatry which teach and practice
rudiments of spiritism. They deceptively parade
under the banner of Christianity but far from being
genuine Christians.They have hymns, prayers and
sermons but they don’t have the sacraments and
the Holy Eucharist. The sermon is delivered by their
master who is the medium. They deny Christian
morality. Cult masters have plural wives.

15. Spiritistic
Cults
2. In contrast some cult masters establish chapels
to impress people of their deep religiosity. The
master brazenly celebrates a mass with its
members taking communion with host blessed by
their master , or if the master is female she invites a
real priest (who is also deceived) where members
take communion as if in a real church of real and
genuine Christians.
3. Some also use rose petals mesmerized by he magic
power of the master

16. SUMMARY:
1. Spiritism and Christianity are opposite
poles.
2. Spriritism denies cardinal or fundamental
truth of God’swords and the Holy Scriptures
which tantamount to rebellion to God.
3. Deliverance from bondage of spiritism is
possible only if the spiritist renounces his
involvement in spiritism.
4. Victims of demonic attacks can seek the
help of authority of church exorcist or see
a psychiatrist, psychologist or mental
therapist for treatment

17. 5. He who gullibly dabbles in spiritism highly
falls as easy to psychic enslavement/split
personality problem.
6. The person who engages in spiritism
usually projects split personality
(Teaches or tells their
patients to confess or go to the church but they
themselves do not, just to deceive and hide their real
identity)
7. Spiritists, faith healers, mediums,
fortune- tellers, diviners, charmers,
witches, sorcerers, etc, are also
victims of deceits of the power of
darkness.

18. B. FORTUNE-TELLING
( An occult Art which is Demon Inspired)
It imitates or runs Counter the Divine Prophecy by the prophets which is inspired by the
Holy Spirit
1. Palmistry or
palm
reading
The alleged gifted diviner interprets the
configuration lines of the palm representing
the heart, head, fate and life and into the
planet and river mounds located in different
parts of the palm. Tiniest lines that cross along
river mounds causes any form of misfortune
and the croco infested mound for mothers
(buayahon)also needs to be cut during dead
moon. (kudlit).

19. 2. Cartomancy
Since time immemorial kings of palacies have their
oracles to tell of their fortune in the future through
card reading/crystal balls, etc. These originates from
the gypsies who were siblings of fugitive
(outcasts)low caste Hindus driven from their own
lands from Asia to Egypt, North Africa, into Rome and
into whole of Europe.
3. Psychometry
A form of occult science in which the psychic
clairvoyant has the ability to identify the pattern of
characteristics of an individual or has the diagnostic
ability to know the type of disease an absentee patient
has by just examining the patient’s used things like
dress, shirt, shoes or anything belonging to the
absentee patient.

20. 4. Astrology
Defined as an ancient pseudo science to forecast events
through observing the stars, the moon, and planets. This
is a Babylonian rooted astrology . According to the
dynamics of this ancient pseudo-forecasting system a
new born child is directly influenced by the planets. That
revolve around the sun. In the era of antiquity , the sun,
moon and stars and planets were considered celestial
living beings. Astrologers of olden times divided the belt
of constellations that revolve around h sun into 12
houses- Aires, Taurus, Gemini, etc. In which each child’s
birthday month corresponds to the different houses/stars

21. 5. Chinese
Horoscope
This oriental rooted astrology is not
based on planets that revolve
around the sun but on planets that
allegedly revolve around the moon.
Yhey designated names of animals
instead of names of stars like
Pisces, Scorpio, Monkey, etc.

22. 6. Enneagram
Another form of extremely occult variety in
the world of fortune-telling based on
numbers from 1-9 . Each person belongs to a
certain number with corresponding dominant
traits based on a diagram of geometric
figures and numbers allegedly made to
discover and understand one’s self and find
ways to counter whatever negative traits one
has. That’s why this has deceived much
people even in the church and parishes that
even nuns and priests.

23. Summary:
1. It seems that the preternatural world has
penetrated deeply into the domains of the
divine knowledge which is under the absolute
control and monopoly of God alone.
2. Because of ignorance of many Christians
on the dogma and doctrines of the church
due to lack of catechesis, being less taught
and uninformed , they become victims of
superstitions and idolatry.
(Hosea 4:1) “My people were destroyed because of ignorance “

24. 3. Astrology and horoscopes are pagan stuffs
from societies of non Christian believers who
considered men, animals, stars and planets
in the heavens as deities whose
characteristics influences and blended into
the fate or pattern of life of the child born
under the blending sign. What a silly belief,
very irrational
4. The church strongly opposed astrology
because it is completely contradictory and
irreconcilable with faith, morals and
teachings of the Scriptures. How could the
stars and planets in heavens and animals on the
ground affect and control the characteristics , fate
and destiny of a person?

25. 5. There is no valid reason to accept the
geometric design and its
numerological logic as basis for
determining how people improve or
regress. It is absurdity.
6. How could man have that God given
free will if stars planets and animals,
determines or influence their traits,
success, fate and
future?

26. 7. Readings:
 When Constantine established Christianity
as the official religion of the Roman
empire, through his vast power and
authority he declared astrology and all
forms of occultism illegal and punishable
by death.
 The Fathers of the Church like St. Gregory, St John
Crisostomom and in fact one of the most influential
fathers of the church, St. Augustine of Hippo rose a strong
rejection of astrology in the 4th century . St. Augustine
said, “ It is now clear to me that when predictions based
from observation of stars turn out to be true , it is a
matter of luck, but if it is wrong, it is not because of lack
of skill but to the perversity of chance”

27.  A logical citation, how could twins have
difference in traits, personalities and
fortune when they are born under the
same horoscope?
How could Isau and Jacob in Genesis have
personalities so different when they were
born under the same horoscope?
 The Code of Canon Law prohibits practice of
superstitions and practices insulting God like
divination, magic, witchcraft, fortune telling or
anything delving into the depth of supernatural
realm.

28. C. FAITH HEALING
 It is a paranormal phenomenon under the
banner and sphere of influence of occult
 The operation and techniques is
sophisticated and carried out by spiritist
faith healers, fortune-tellers, psychic healers
, psychic healing surgeons and many sub-
healing types of occult-based therapies.
 Many do not know that the devil is the
mastermind and power provider in faith healing.

29. The devil uses faith healers as visible
instruments of the invisible evil master to draw
people into his camp through healing as a ploy
to destroy body and soul.
To hide his identity the devil moves in
camouflage and the ignorant were moved to
wide trust and confidence and even surrender
to the unseen forces who claim to be divine

30. Jesus’Warning: ( Mat. 7:22-23 )
Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not healed the
sick? Have we not prophesied in
your name? and in your name we
have cast out devils, and in your
name we’ve done many wonderful
works? And he will He will profess
unto them, “I never knew you,
depart from me ye that work
iniquity. (gross immorality, wickedness)