Spiritualism is a movement centered on interacting and making contact with the dead1
It’s actually referenced in the Bible, specifically during the witch of Endor events in 1 Samuel 28, but today it is seen in activities like séances (with mediums) and the use of Ouija boards
The Roman Catholic Church condemned spiritualistic practices in 1898, and Protestant churches generally are anti-spiritualists2
Group Discussion Question: Have you had any experiences with spirits, and were they positive or negative?
Group Discussion Question: Do you believe that people should seek out experiences with spirits, and if so, why?
Mysticism is a practice focused on religious ecstasy, tending to be centered on gaining a feeling of “oneness” or “nothingness”, depending on the religion3
Mysticism can often be seen today in South Asian cultures, specifically in Hinduism and Buddhism, where meditation and yoga are used to minimize connections to the material world, leading to a greater connection with the gods and universe (for Hindus hoping to achieve unity) or to nothing (for Buddhist hoping to achieve enlightenment and nirvana)
There is a historical Christian mysticism, which is centered on an attempt to have a direct encounter with God4
Christian mysticism tends to be associated with a process featuring awakening, purging (of sin and evil), illumination (of the truly divine), the dark night of the soul (purging the ego), and union (one with God)
Group Discussion Question: Have you had a mysticism-like experience at any point in your life, or do you know anyone that has?
Group Discussion Question: Do you believe that Christian mysticism is appropriate, and if so, why and in what level of priority in a Christian’s life?
Pagan Worship
Paganism is technically a Christian term for any religion that worships false gods, which would include Hindus, Wiccans, Druids, Voodooists, and Norse Paganists5
These groups tend to be characterized by using worship and magic to “tap into” the spiritual world, using spirits for their own devices
Group Discussion Question: Have you ever participated in any of these pagan groups, or do you know anyone that has, and what is your opinion on your experiences with those groups or individuals?
Magic and Witchcraft
The Bible specifically states that divination, sorcery, omen interpretation, witchcraft, the casting of spells, and the consultation of the dead are detestable to the Lord (in Deuteronomy 18:10-12)6
Historically, magic and witchcraft have been used by a variety of religious organizations and individuals throughout history, with both low and low magic being used by several religious groups, primarily pagan in nature7
Low magic included blessings, protective amulets, talismans, sorcery, divination, magic-based medicine, and astrology
High magic included astrology, alchemy, secret spells, and necromancy
Both white and black magic were used by practitioners (including some individual Christians using “white” magic), and are primarily associated with the roles of Shamans and Witches
From a traditionally Christian point of view, all types of magic and the occult are seen as sinful, related to Satan (since users of magic are engaged in demonic forces, which are spiritual forces that are against God), and are counter to the gifts provided by the Holy Spirit8
The historical Christian view of magic is that it is used to actively battle and counter God at the worst, and a failure to trust God (circumventing him) at the best9
Group Discussion Question: Do you believe that “magic” is possible in today’s world?
Group Discussion Question: What are your thoughts about the “magic” that is presented in the Bible (supernatural events that don’t appear to be caused by God, including Exodus 7:11-12, Exodus 7:22, Exodus 8:7, 1 Samuel 28, and Acts 16:16-19)?
Karma
Karma is a historically Indian philosophy, tied intimately to Hinduism and Buddhism, that states that there is a universal mechanism of moral causal effect (put simply, that if you do good, good will be done to you, and vice-versa)10
Karma is NOT compatible with Christianity11
Karma states that the universe’s natural laws, and not a deity, ensure moral causal effect (taking God out of the equation)
A central tenet of Karma is reincarnation, which is completely counter to Christianity
Karma is irreconcilable with the idea of redemption and salvation (and by an extension, the concepts of Justification and Sanctification), since God washes away our sins, instead of punishing us for them
The Bible directly refutes Karma in passages like Matthew 5:45 (He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.) and Luke 13:2-5 (Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish)12,13
Group Discussion Question: Considering the above evidence that Karma contradicts Christianity, why do you feel it’s so prevalent in popular culture?
Yoga
Yoga is a system of Indian philosophy that seeks for a spiritual release, of which there are multiple “schools”14
Yoga, taken just as a physical practice (unconnected from non-Christian religious beliefs) is not anti-Biblical, and Christians are allowed to participate15
There are forms of Yoga that are considered anti-Christian, as those forms are considered Hinduist mystical activities, like Kundalini Yoga, which is associated with opening up the Kundalini shakti located in the base of the spine in order to gain divine power (as Kundalini is a Hindu goddess)16
Chakras are historically tied to Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism, and are directly associated with the Hindu deity of Vishnu (as his divine weapon is the Sudarshana Chakra), and yoga and meditation are often used as mystical activities to open up Chakras and help individuals connect to and see the inner and external worlds17
Group Discussion Question: Have you participated in yoga, and if so, did anyone mention chakras, or Kundalini?
Group Discussion Question: Would you feel comfortable participating in yoga in the future?
Group Discussion Question: Do you feel like meditation is similar, or different from yoga?
Astrology
Astrology is a style of divination, attempting to decipher the future by observing intersolar and extrasolar bodies (stars, the sun, the moon, and planets), and is often tied today to the zodiac and horoscopes18
Even though astrology has been rejected by Christians throughout all of Church history (primarily because it’s associated with divination, and secondarily because church fathers believe that it couldn’t actually predict the future or define a person), one in four Christians believe in astrology19
New Age
New Age beliefs include concepts like reincarnation, astrology, psychics, the presence of spiritual energy, and a 2018 Pew Study found that 6 in 10 Christians hold at least one “New Age Belief”, around the same as non-Christians20
New Age beliefs have heavily infiltrated some Christian denominations, including Evangelical Non-Denomination and Charismatic Groups, with astral projection, tarot cards, positive confession, astrology, and reincarnation all discussed and practiced within these groups21
Group Discussion Question: Have you participated in or experienced any New Age beliefs?
Group Discussion Question: Why do you believe that so many Christians desire to be involved in New Age activities?
Transhumanism
Unlike the previously discussed beliefs, transhumanism is a movement founded within the scientific community, and is focused on utilizing technology to evolve humanity and eventually eliminate death, disease, and suffering22
While enhancement technologies themselves may not be anti-Christian (and some may be incredibly beneficial for those that have lost limbs or bodily function), the way that they are implemented and the philosophy behind their development can become anti-Biblical, with some proponents of the belief hoping to become “like God”, and at the very least can be seen as failing to trust in God’s redemption of our souls, the Earth, and the Heavens23
Group Discussion Question: If you had an opportunity to extend your life by 100 years (or indefinitely), would you, and why?
Group Discussion Question: When are technologies (including modern medicine today) that relieve disease, death, and suffering appropriate, and when do they go too far?
