Posted on 11/11/2010 8:38:52 PM PST by marshmallow
Pity the poor exorcist, caught between evil spirits eager to invade human bodies and a society skeptical that demons exist outside of Hollywood horror movies.
Even some church leaders look askance at exorcists as peddlers of a practice best left in the Middle Ages. Most American exorcists, particularly the handful of priests appointed by the Roman Catholic Church, keep a low profile, hesitating to open themselves — or their church — to ridicule and quacks.
But exorcists may soon be moving out of the shadows.
U.S. Catholic bishops are sponsoring a conference this week (Nov. 12-13) in Baltimore on the "liturgical and pastoral practice of exorcism." Fifty-six bishops and 66 priests have registered to hear about the shortage of trained exorcists and the growing interest in the mysterious rite, according to Catholic News Service.
That's good news for the Rev. Gary Thomas, a loquacious, Silicon Valley priest eager to dish about exorcism and the art of spiritual warfare.
Thomas is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga, Calif., and the official exorcist for the Diocese of San Jose. According to Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., who is helping organize the Baltimore conference, Thomas is one of only five or six active exorcists in the U.S.
Last year, Thomas wrote to 121 Catholic bishops and 41 seminary rectors, urging them to train more priests in demon de-possession. Included with the letters were copies of "The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist," a book by journalist Matt Baglio that details Thomas' three-year journey from California clergyman to university-trained "spiritual detective."
"I hope that you will take the time to read this book and become better informed about a subject that many Catholics priests deem superstitious and medieval," Thomas wrote in the letter to the bishops. These are apocalyptic times, the.........
(Excerpt) Read more at newsok.com ...
Haven’t met you before, and am sure we won’t have enough time to get acquainted.
I was trained in a house church that had a series of lessons taught by none other than Derek Prince himself . . . one of the foremost Evangelicals/Pentecostals skilled, anointed and experienced in exorcisms and discerning and dealing with evil spirits of all kinds.
Such was common in our congregation . . . teens and even children dealt with demonic spirits via the Blood of Jesus and Holy Spirit quite effectively in the child-like faith they walked in . . . just as Christ taught . . . was necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heavenn.
BTW. I don’t think much of the Vatican’s arbitrary slicing and dicing of symbolic and literal aspects of John 6.
Is he a ‘Muslim’ ‘agnostic’ troll?
IMHO he is a secular atheist, but who can be sure these days.
IMHO he is a secular atheist, but who can be sure these days.
Looking at its posting history...
It has *retread* written all over it- evo/atheist style.....
That only proves the fact that demoncrats, and liberals, are pure and unadulterated evil.
Posting histories are invaluable resources.....
If you get my drift.....
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What’s the Arabic name mean?
The Screwtape Letters is where you'll find that. An excellent read to get Lewis's perspective.
The name looks familiar. Is it a variation of a zotted name?
First time I've ever been suspected of being a Muslim... :-)
Just for the record, I'm an atheist.
There was a great thread about a youngish exorcist who ?was thinking of running for office? No, not Jindal... I’ve had to reload this laptop since then and lost the link.
J, do you remember the guy I’m talking about? From about two years ago?
What’s the Arabic name mean?
It's not Arabic, it's Ungaran.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
And means?
http://greenlantern.wikia.com/wiki/Ungara
[snicker] red-skinned aliens with magic lamps [snicker]
I don't recall ever encountering anyone who actually believed that Green Lanterns are real; I wouldn't hesitate to mock them if they had such a silly belief. I would point out that there are some on this forum who regularly tout their belief in UFOs and aliens...
When you see anyone who chooses the name of a comic book superhero alien, who comes onto a bulletin board that promotes social, fiscal, political, and religiously conservative opinions - who professes their belief in atheism and "capital L" Libertarianism, who denies social conservatism, and who posts opinions ridiculing others for having social, fiscal, political, and religiously conservative beliefs - the same beliefs that said bulletin board agrees with and promotes, mind you - ping me.
Why? Because as you said in post #12 above:
"...as for being snarky and cynical...why not? Some beliefs deserve to be mocked".
C'mon, fanboys, let's get the details right! In stories set on New Earth (also known as Earth-0) while Alan Scott's power battery is in fact magical, Abin Sur's battery and those of the rest of the Green Lantern Corps are powered by Oan super-science.
Enough banter for tonight, have to get up early for work!
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