Ok...I know this is probably going to make me sound simple but what is 'The Occult'
To me it paints quite a dark image which probably stems from a book I was given when I was about 13 called 'Occult & demonoligy' (or something like that...it was many years ago;))
Is it just a blanket word nowadays to describe all things that are spiritual but none Christain...a word that has a kind of cloak of mystery about it or does it actualy have it's own thing going on. I just typed the word into google & one of the first thing that hit me was that the kids cartoon 'pokemon' has occult roots...again...not that I read it in depth but this was a Christain web site.
Can anyone enlighten me:eek:
Cheers
Love
Amy
RE: Occult????
occult: the primary meaning of the word occult is that which is hidden or concealed; from the fundamentalist Christian perspective, which has had a great influence, the occult is a bad word, a bad scene, and is something largely associated with the Devil as a darkside representation; however, the Christian perspective is not the totality of the occult, and it is not the totality of thinking with regards to an emergent evolutionary transcendence; the occult is also a body of teachings, systems, and pathways regarding hidden, esoteric knowledge; the esoteric meaning of the word occult is an internalization, one that transcends the rational and conceptual mode of expression; the occult also refers to that which is mysterious, or that which is beyond the present comprehension of the mind, and in that sense, it is meant to convey an overwhelming impression of otherness, an overwhelming state of manifestation that is beyond normal references
I found the above here http://www.atlanteanskiesunlimited.net/glossary_o.html and in my oppinion it is one of the best descriptions of the meaning of the word occult I have seen so far...
RE: Occult????
HHuuum, thanks Amber....i supose I wasn't too off track then.
It does seem to tie in with things like Devil worship, witch craft & pagan, which to me are 3 things that are all very differant (I've just been doing more searching:eek:yes I'm bored tonight;))...which makes me ponder that the word itself is dangorus....I've heard people talk of things like mediumship, tarot, energy healing & put them in a catorgy & lable it as the occult....I supose this itself can create a kind of fear factor with harmless things that if anything are a help to people!!!
But then again, it's not the word itself....it's the people who choose to use it to discribe a whole hoste of things....which I supose why there so much confusion, misunderstanding & fear within some people when there first faced with something thats beyond what they have lived to believe to be the norm!!!
Ta for the reply
Love
Amy
x
RE: Occult????
Amber, I agree that what you have quoted is a broad interpretation of the word "occult". However, I just think it's rather a pity that the site from which you quoted chose to put first the fundamentalist Christian perspective with its "bad" connotations of the occult, and then followed that with the much broader, general meaning of the word, which is widely accepted, though they seem to have put that almost as an afterthought. That is how it appears to me, anyway. Wish they'd done it the other way around, ie something along the lines of : "The occult is .. oh, and BTW, fundies don't feel comfortable with it." My words in quote marks, of course.
Amy, as you say, the word itself is not dangerous. The religious forums on this board have plenty of threads discussing fundamentalism and fear-gendering, and the possible reasons for this. And devil worship has nothing whatsoever to do with paganism and witchcraft.
None of which, of course, is intended to mean that caution and guidance should not come into play when exploring any such new ideas or areas.
The occult - a vast and fascinating subject!
RE: Occult????
Thanks holistic & I agree with you totally;)
This was something that I came across last night that made me smile....now, I don't mean to mock or poke fun at people's believes (although I do feel the issue of Occult has no limits & it does now apear that in some peoples eyes wherever you turn your faced with a sinister world of the occult)
some may find this web site offensive....you have been warned...and if your interested, scroll down the page to checkout how 'occult' symbols are being 'sneaked' into the lives of our children without our knowledge
http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/teletubbies10-99.html
love
Amy (just for fun & no offence meant;))