|
Contact Material
All divinatory methods utilize some principal object,
which becomes the "focus" or vehicle through which spirits serve the
client and produce the needed answers to questions, character analysis,
prognostication, and so on. The following lists the "contact object" for
a number of common forms of divination:
• Astrology:
the horoscope chart
• Tarot: a
deck of cards with pictorial symbols
• I Ching:
sticks, printed hexagrams
• Runes: dice
• Numerology:
numbers
• Ouija
board: an alphabet board
• Radionics/psychometry:
the divining rod, pendulum, "black box"
• Palmistry:
the hand
• Crystal
gazing or crystal work: the crystal ball or rock
• Metoscopy/physiognomy/phrenology:
the forehead/face/skull
• Geomancy:
combinations of dots or points
•
Water-dowsing: the forked stick or other object
Considering the above items, is it logical to conclude
that mere pieces of paper (horoscope charts) or simple forked sticks, or
cards, numbers, hands, dice, letters of the alphabet, rocks, facial
lines, head bumps, and dots by themselves never could reveal miraculous
information about a person or the future? Perhaps this explains why even
many of the practitioners refer to "supernatural influences" operating
through such implements.
Just as the pagans of the past and present consult
their wooden idols for divination and supernatural assistance, so have
these implements been consulted. In many ways, these items are merely
portable idols, taking the rightful place of God in people’s lives.
Rather than turning to "the only true God" (John 17:3) for answers and
assistance, diviners rely upon dice and sticks and numbers. As the
apostle Paul stated, "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice [to
idols], they sacrifice to demons... and I do not want you to become
sharers in demons" (1 Corinthians 10:20, NASB; cf. Psalm 106:34-39). The
spirits themselves seem to relish the exchange, as well as the
consequences (see Romans 1:18-27).
Space does not permit documenting the spiritistic
nature of all the systems we will discuss in the coming months. But we
will cite sufficient illustrations to show that practitioners
acknowledge or suspect spirit influence in these methods. And the
spiritistic nature of these systems can be seen in the following:
1. In origin and source of power these methods are
historically tied to idolatry, spiritism, and paganism, which the Bible
consistently prohibits as an affront to God and as participation with
demons (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; 1 Corinthians 10:20).
2. These practices are supernatural in that they
function apart from any known natural mechanism and yet provide access
to information unavailable to the five senses. These methods do not work
on the basis of any known natural laws. The source of power appears to
be both personal and capable of manipulating people and events. And, in
harmony with ancient methods, a price is usually exacted for the favors
granted.
3. These techniques promote occultism in a variety of
forms, remove trust in God, and replace it with faith in pagan magic. In
other words, they secure the goals of the demons.
4. These systems carry all the subtle traps and
consequences of divinatory practices in general. As occult authority W.
B. Crow warns in A History of Magic, Witchcraft and Occultism,
any type of divination "is nearly always dangerous."
1
These practices: 1) develop a person psychically and 2) may lead to
direct spirit contact.
The relationship between the practitioner and the
implement is reminiscent of the relationship of the medium to the spirit
guide, although in the former the power is mediated through inanimate
objects or symbolism. Indeed, if the operation of spirits through such
things as amulets, charms, diviner’s rod, idols, astrology charts, and
other inanimate objects are well known, who can be certain this is not
also true for the other practices under consideration?
From a biblical view, then, divination suggests
demonism. We are not saying that the divinatory paraphernalia themselves
(rune dice or stones, tarot cards, I Ching sticks, and such-like) have
supernatural power, only that personal spirits can work through them for
hidden (occult) purposes.
(to be continued)
Note:
1. W. B. Crow, A History of Magic, Witchcraft and
Occultism, North Hollywood, CA: Wilshire, 1968, p. 29.
|
