Complicated question - serious answers only please ....?

Question

I am Christian (church of England), although I don't go to church regularly as I don't feel the need to, but I certainly believe in God etc.
However, I also believe in the mystic powers of the human mind - for example, I know that I have have dreams which are able to predict when friends or family members are pregnant, and I have had a few definite psychic experiences.
What I want to know is, does my belief in spiritual and pyschic things conflict with my Christianity?
i.e. is it ok to believe in both these things??

Answer 1

I'm sure that the two shouldn't conflict. I'm a Christian with strong spiritual beliefs too. If we believe that God created the world, God also created the spiritual/mystic forces too. I don't go to church every Sunday, but I do think that the church needs to evolve along with society, or it won't survive. I'm glad that more Christians are looking into their spiritual/mystic beliefs, as it will insure the church does evolve. Jesus used many mystical and spiritual powers during his life on Earth, he was showing us the way to do the same.

Answer 2

My personal take is that man was created with an ability to use all of the brain that God gave us. Because of The Fall and the after-effects of our fallen nature, most humans currently use about ten-percent of our brains. This is an estimate that scientists and anthropologists have come up with....not me.

Perhaps the other 90% includes some sort of "psychic" ability, or perhaps even telekinesis and the like...(just a theory)

I personally believe (from my own experience with others - I do not have the ability!) that some people do show an ability to "tap into" other parts of the brain and do indeed have a sort of "second sight" or ESP. The "mystic powers of the human mind", as you call them.I would consider it a gift.

As long as you don't use the "gift" (if that's what it is) for evil, for profit (pun not intended) or for actively contacting spirits (dead or otherwise) - there should be no conflict.

Oh....and go to church. ;-)

Answer 3

You can believe in whatever you want to. No-one has the right to tell you you can't believe in a God and your own psychic powers. However, you may find that some christians frown upon this sort of thing with some fundamentalists believing any kind of mystic powers are the work of the devil. CofE is, though, a reasonably open-minded church and would probably argue that it is the work of God giving you these experiences. But finally, whatever they say, you can't turn off a belief. You can't decide not to believe in something.

Answer 4

Most Christians will tell you that dreams come from God, sometimes...I know that when I dream in certain ways about a person I know I often get in touch and discover something has happened in their life that needs my help, friendship or prayer.
What non- Christians call "psychic" experiences can be God communicating with your mind and spirit, as in the gifts of discernment, words of wisdom or knowledge, etc. The important thing is what you do with them, and the effect they have on you as a person. If they make you concieted and arrogant, not good. If they make you think you're special or that you don't need God, not good. But if you simply turn to helping the person in need, or praying for and with them, and giving God the glory, that's what the gifts are for.
I suggest you take another look at Galatians 5 and ask God to make things clear.

Answer 5

A belief in the spiritual and psychic is a fundamental underpinning of any religous belief and there should be no problem with a belief in both.
BUT, like anything religous it is frowned upon to believe in anything other than the dogma of the church you are a member of.
As you are an infrequent church goer, there should not be too much conflict of interest, as your belief is in God rather than a church.
You can and should take comfort in both. As your understanding of spirituality grows so will your understanding of the place of God in your life.

And this is all from an Athiest, take hope and love where you can find it.

Answer 6

Well I dont believe your ability to have dreams and predict a close female friend/family members pregnancy is going against God...If you read the book of Daniel in the book he predicted things because God gave him the info through dreams...what is a conflict though is when you put mystic learnings and practices before worshiping and praising God...Your not suppose to put anything before God He always comes first...I hope you get the answer your looking for and need....God bless peace and love =)

Answer 7

If you have been baptised in The Holy Spirit, it's probably OK. Otherwise, beware. I speak of one who had psychic abilities at one time, but I was being driven insane. Then I was exorcised and baptised in The Holy Spirit. I still have supernatural abilities, but they are different ones (They are Charismata rather than psychic), and my mind is whole.

I recommend you go to a Charismatic or Pentecostal church and discuss the matter with them (the church I went to was St Marks, Kenington. A Charismatic Anglican church).

Answer 8

Spirituality is born from a personal occurrence with a divine, psychic or mystical experience of one form or another which inevitably connects a person to All that Is/God/Goddess/Allah/Great Spirit /whatever you want to call it.

Religion is second hand opinion of someone else’s divine experience. I think you will find that religions, and especially fanatical religions, tend to separate and divide people, while spirituality brings people together.

Thank God that Spirituality is on the increase!

For those who are ready, no explanation is necessary and for those who are not, no explanation is possible! http://www.psychic-junkie.com

Answer 9

I have recently dealt with a similar issue in my life. I am a christian but I am cursed with a very curious mind. I recently decided to explore paranormal activity and joined a ghost hunter group and I spent $400 dollars on equipment. But just before I was about to drive 40 miles away to the first meeting, I had a strong conviction that God was very disappointed that I wasn't using that energy to better serve Him. Like you, I don't attend church like I should - and here I was about to spend several hours chasing dead people! I kept imagining that another car could accidentally veer into my lane while I was driving to the meeting and WHACK! That would be it. I kept thinking how stupid I would feel if my wife and I got seriously hurt or worse while on the way to one of these events. I decided to prioritize and quit the group. It hate not being able to investigate ghosts with a clear conscience - but christians, if they be christians at all, must deny themselves some things. But now I feel good about having done it, because it's my way of saying to God, "I trust you, more than I trust myself." Now, as far as your dreams go, you do not decide what to dream - they come to you! I believe that is a gift from God because God used dreams in the Bible and interpreters also. So, I would say you're okay with those. But, if your psychic abilities involve communicating with the dead, I would not continue that. The Bible says the dead know nothing and in the Old Testament God did not approve of such communication. I know this is a hard area to walk away from because it certainly is intriguing. But, what better way to 'communicate' to God that you'd rather trust His ways above yours?" I think He seeks those who are willing to do so and blesses them. He has certainly blessed me. You asked a great question and I hope our answers are helpful. I will remember you in my prayers. Good luck with this.

Answer 10

Hi, I think that you need to reassess what you are saying, it comes out like this, I don`t really bother much with the practice of my faith but I am a Christian (no offence intended here) and this leads me to say that your experiences are mere human intuitiveness and not so much spiritual.
there is a big difference between this and the gift of discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit,this is given to the Christian to depart wisdom and interpretation of a spiritual nature for the good of oneself or that of others.
the danger in believing in one`s so called physcic ability and can come from the deceiver himself is that you may be tempted to take this further and indulge in occult practices.
I think that you need to pull back from placing too much store in these dreams and wait for a time and see where this is leading you hope you have not been offended by this answer as it is not my intention to do so. Regards to you.