Josh, this is Nathan Carney; my internet is down and it's nationwide (verizon)). It's a shame because I really wanted to talk with you on so many different things. We'll have to reschedule.
Hi Nate---thanks for getting in touch with me. Sorry to hear about your phone. I've sent you an email and we can reschedule at your convenience. Take care!
As one also struggling to believe, I do NOT recommend Cliffe Knetchle, whom I just looked up. He's exactly the kind of self-righteous loudmouth that gives Christians a bad name.
What you are experiencing is real and deliverance ministry can help. The Gospel (good news) is that Jesus came to set us free from these entities. He and you together can banish them from your life.
A quote comes to mind, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
-G.K. Chesterton
You already know the devil and demons exist. You’ve personally experienced it. Been offered and invited. Accepted the invitation & received.
As you read the Gospels and are given the grace by Jesus to bond with him, to personally experience that invitation & receiving which he gives, the Gospels will tell you how the devil & demons, which you already know exist, have been/can be defeated.
You will learn a new way to “know” the name of Jesus.
Your obsession with The Exorcist was likely because there was a truth there that you needed. You were drawn to knowing the truth about evil and how (by whose name) it is defeated.
Some people are surrounded by a thinner veil over the spiritual realities that surround us. Unfortunately abuse and the heightened sensitivity built through it are often the reason for those “extra senses”.
2) I grew up atheist and over a long walk I found my way to God (quite recently). If you ever want to just speak to someone who remembers how it was before and really wouldn’t make any attempts to convert, I’m available
I recently started listening to The Exorcist Files. I’ve learned a lot in the asides where Fr.Martins explains how it all works. I also like the old-time radio drama storytelling style.
I’m sure the demand is through the roof. It’s the supply (of properly trained Exorcist Prieats) that’s lacking.
2 books that are helpful when the faithful are finding it difficult to find a helpful priest: 1) Fr. Ripperger advised on a spiritual warfare manual called “The Liber Christo Method: A field manual for spiritual combat” by Dr. Dan Schneider.
2) “Deliverance Prayers: For Use By The Laity” by Fr. Chad Ripperger
Narcissism is the psychology of evil and as we wake up to this and see the lies, manipulation and delusion more clearly I think it can seem like there's more than psychology at work, something like demonic possession. We feel the breath of evil, which is uncanny, scaring ...and I think naturally impels us to wish to find the antidote - if evil beings exist so should spiritual. My guess is you will find your spiritual path.
You answered your own question but your ego doesn’t allow you to admit you believe in God. I challenge you to get on your knees and humbly thank God, ask for forgiveness and ask for protection all in Jesus Christ name and you will get more clarity. Do this repeatedly for a time period even if you are not sure yet.
I experience this too. It scares me. But I’m often scared and I wonder if this isn’t just a form of controlled steam release . A way for my psyche to keep functioning approximating Some facsimile of normal by externalizing what I can’t be congruent with internally.
But still… there are times when I really do sense dark entities around me. Am I more open to experiencing this because of my background ? Was some sort of portal opened in my consciousness? I don’t know. But I do know that I can sniff out bad seeds a mile away. And so when I experience unseen but felt evil around me I pay attention .
I wish it wasn’t this way however .
And while I’m not religious I have found myself praying and asking for protection. I don’t know what else to do .
I saw the Exorcist when I was a bit too young, too. The whole Father Karras nightmare scene with the flashing face you mentioned and his bewildered mother calling out silently in the distance is so disturbing. The most horrifying for me was the scene of Regan helplessly being whipped back and forth on her bed early on, and then all the scary hospital tests. My mom was a bit of a religious fanatic at that time, and I was beginning to rebel. I worried that I too could maybe be possessed, because the Devil could tell I was losing my faith.
The Exorcist is scariest for those who believe the devil and his demons are real. My sister and I were around 9 and 11 when we begged my mother to take us to see the Exorcist at the local drive-in. At the time, we were studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, but we always loved horror movies. My mother finally relented, telling us not to tell our Bible study teachers. Holy crap... the scene that scarred me was when she was stabbing her vagina with that crucifix. I felt so guilty.
I also started being terrified by ghosts and ghost stories at a very similar early age. However looking back at it with five decades of life experience I also realise that around the same time I had realised the terrifying inevitability of death and I now wonder if it was a a sublimated version of this fear which filled these stories with such dread. It was nearly dying in my forties and my subsequent reevaluation and restructuring of my life that (somewhat to my surprise) allowed me to largely overcome my fear of death and at the same time my fear of the dark and what might dwell in it. That said I still don’t read or watch the ghost and/or horror genre. Thank you for your essay.
One thing I appreciated about my Army experience. We (men) could sneak around in the night and surprise an enemy, and devastate him. In its ultimate expression it meant Satan wasn’t the only one who could ambush - we men, under right authority, could turn the tables on that little worm.
I've been down a rabbit hole lately listening to exorcist interviews on YouTube. Father Chad Ripperger is fascinating and quite hilarious. A few of them are. In case you're interested in people who definitely believe in demons. It's funny to read this as I've been wrestling with my own beliefs and understanding of the natural and supernatural lately.
Hope you're OK and don't get too bothered by anything unsettling.
I won't get into it in detail here so as not to proselytize too much, but demons are real, ghosts are not. Demons pretend to be ghosts to lead people from the truth. Any honest reader of the Bible will see that it teaches that when you die, you're dead. Kaput. Worm food. Do you have a future? Yes, because we are all in God's memory. (You may want to read Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10.)
I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful comments offered in a generous spirit, especially on such a touchy matter.
Josh, this is Nathan Carney; my internet is down and it's nationwide (verizon)). It's a shame because I really wanted to talk with you on so many different things. We'll have to reschedule.
Hi Nate---thanks for getting in touch with me. Sorry to hear about your phone. I've sent you an email and we can reschedule at your convenience. Take care!
Tuesday at noon is perfect
12 edt
As one also struggling to believe, I do NOT recommend Cliffe Knetchle, whom I just looked up. He's exactly the kind of self-righteous loudmouth that gives Christians a bad name.
You need God. Open your heart and mind to Him and He'll help you fight demons. He is the only way to light and freedom.
What you are experiencing is real and deliverance ministry can help. The Gospel (good news) is that Jesus came to set us free from these entities. He and you together can banish them from your life.
A quote comes to mind, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
-G.K. Chesterton
You already know the devil and demons exist. You’ve personally experienced it. Been offered and invited. Accepted the invitation & received.
As you read the Gospels and are given the grace by Jesus to bond with him, to personally experience that invitation & receiving which he gives, the Gospels will tell you how the devil & demons, which you already know exist, have been/can be defeated.
You will learn a new way to “know” the name of Jesus.
Your obsession with The Exorcist was likely because there was a truth there that you needed. You were drawn to knowing the truth about evil and how (by whose name) it is defeated.
Some people are surrounded by a thinner veil over the spiritual realities that surround us. Unfortunately abuse and the heightened sensitivity built through it are often the reason for those “extra senses”.
“Haints”.
It’s interesting that the apparitions you see are female.
Familiar spirits.
Ok, so I’ve got a few comments on this.
1) go listen to “the exorcist files” podcast.
2) I grew up atheist and over a long walk I found my way to God (quite recently). If you ever want to just speak to someone who remembers how it was before and really wouldn’t make any attempts to convert, I’m available
I recently started listening to The Exorcist Files. I’ve learned a lot in the asides where Fr.Martins explains how it all works. I also like the old-time radio drama storytelling style.
I’ve been listening again (because spooky season is upon us)!
I’ve been told that demand for exorcisms has been increasing in recent years
I’m sure the demand is through the roof. It’s the supply (of properly trained Exorcist Prieats) that’s lacking.
2 books that are helpful when the faithful are finding it difficult to find a helpful priest: 1) Fr. Ripperger advised on a spiritual warfare manual called “The Liber Christo Method: A field manual for spiritual combat” by Dr. Dan Schneider.
2) “Deliverance Prayers: For Use By The Laity” by Fr. Chad Ripperger
Or listen to the Wondery one about the true story behind The Exorcist. It’s excellent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC5J4jf9vS8
From Paddy MacAloon, a Christian.
Narcissism is the psychology of evil and as we wake up to this and see the lies, manipulation and delusion more clearly I think it can seem like there's more than psychology at work, something like demonic possession. We feel the breath of evil, which is uncanny, scaring ...and I think naturally impels us to wish to find the antidote - if evil beings exist so should spiritual. My guess is you will find your spiritual path.
You answered your own question but your ego doesn’t allow you to admit you believe in God. I challenge you to get on your knees and humbly thank God, ask for forgiveness and ask for protection all in Jesus Christ name and you will get more clarity. Do this repeatedly for a time period even if you are not sure yet.
I experience this too. It scares me. But I’m often scared and I wonder if this isn’t just a form of controlled steam release . A way for my psyche to keep functioning approximating Some facsimile of normal by externalizing what I can’t be congruent with internally.
But still… there are times when I really do sense dark entities around me. Am I more open to experiencing this because of my background ? Was some sort of portal opened in my consciousness? I don’t know. But I do know that I can sniff out bad seeds a mile away. And so when I experience unseen but felt evil around me I pay attention .
I wish it wasn’t this way however .
And while I’m not religious I have found myself praying and asking for protection. I don’t know what else to do .
It seems like your third eye is awake... my ex had this. A blessing and a curse. However, you should trust it.
Pray using God's name (Jehovah.) You are wise to ask for protection.
I saw the Exorcist when I was a bit too young, too. The whole Father Karras nightmare scene with the flashing face you mentioned and his bewildered mother calling out silently in the distance is so disturbing. The most horrifying for me was the scene of Regan helplessly being whipped back and forth on her bed early on, and then all the scary hospital tests. My mom was a bit of a religious fanatic at that time, and I was beginning to rebel. I worried that I too could maybe be possessed, because the Devil could tell I was losing my faith.
The Exorcist is scariest for those who believe the devil and his demons are real. My sister and I were around 9 and 11 when we begged my mother to take us to see the Exorcist at the local drive-in. At the time, we were studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, but we always loved horror movies. My mother finally relented, telling us not to tell our Bible study teachers. Holy crap... the scene that scarred me was when she was stabbing her vagina with that crucifix. I felt so guilty.
I also started being terrified by ghosts and ghost stories at a very similar early age. However looking back at it with five decades of life experience I also realise that around the same time I had realised the terrifying inevitability of death and I now wonder if it was a a sublimated version of this fear which filled these stories with such dread. It was nearly dying in my forties and my subsequent reevaluation and restructuring of my life that (somewhat to my surprise) allowed me to largely overcome my fear of death and at the same time my fear of the dark and what might dwell in it. That said I still don’t read or watch the ghost and/or horror genre. Thank you for your essay.
One thing I appreciated about my Army experience. We (men) could sneak around in the night and surprise an enemy, and devastate him. In its ultimate expression it meant Satan wasn’t the only one who could ambush - we men, under right authority, could turn the tables on that little worm.
Keep seeking out “right authority”.
I've been down a rabbit hole lately listening to exorcist interviews on YouTube. Father Chad Ripperger is fascinating and quite hilarious. A few of them are. In case you're interested in people who definitely believe in demons. It's funny to read this as I've been wrestling with my own beliefs and understanding of the natural and supernatural lately.
Hope you're OK and don't get too bothered by anything unsettling.
I listen to him, too. I’ve learned so much from him.
Josh, if you see a ghost, then you'll know that death of the body is not the end.
I fear that, too.
Only evil people should fear it, and you're not one of them.
I won't get into it in detail here so as not to proselytize too much, but demons are real, ghosts are not. Demons pretend to be ghosts to lead people from the truth. Any honest reader of the Bible will see that it teaches that when you die, you're dead. Kaput. Worm food. Do you have a future? Yes, because we are all in God's memory. (You may want to read Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10.)