The definition of Holy Spirit is different in different religions.
Even within the same religion different denominations have different
views about Holy Spirit.
As for example, in Christianity there are approximately 41
thousand of Christian denominations and each of them has different
dogmas about Holy Spirit.
In many countries, censuses and
demographic surveys do not include the
detailed denominational affiliation and religious self-identification
measures necessary for determining the size of global movements within
Christianity (such as evangelicalism, pentecostalism and the
charismatic movement). The figures on Christian movements in this
report were commissioned by the Pew Forum from the Center for the Study
of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in
South Hamilton, Mass. CSGC researchers generated their estimates based
in large part on figures provided by Christian denominations and
organizations around the world. CSGC has obtained denominational
membership information from about 41,000 organizations worldwide.
Appendix B: Methodology for
Estimating Christian Movements, "Global Christianity: A Report on the
Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population", The Pew
Forum on Religion & Public Life, December 19, 2011.
The theology of the Holy Spirit
is called pneumatology. The Holy Spirit is referred to as "the Lord,
the Giver of Life" in the Nicene Creed, which summarises several key
beliefs held by many Christian denominations. The participation of the
Holy Spirit in the tripartite nature of conversion is apparent in
Jesus' final post-Resurrection instruction to his disciples at the end
of the Gospel of Matthew (28:19): "make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit". Since the first century, Christians have also called upon
God with the name "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" in prayer, absolution
and benediction.
In Christian theology
pneumatology
refers to the study of the Holy Spirit. Pneuma (πνεῦμα) is Greek for
"breath", which metaphorically describes a non-material being or
influence. The English word comes from two Greek words: πνευμα (pneuma,
spirit) and λογος (logos, teaching about). Pneumatology would normally
include study of the person of the Holy Spirit, and the works of the
Holy Spirit. This latter category would normally include Christian
teachings on new birth, spiritual gifts (charismata), Spirit-baptism,
sanctification, the inspiration of prophets, and the indwelling of the
Holy Trinity (which in itself covers many different aspects). Different
Christian denominations have different theological approaches.
Church history contains four critical discussions that have served to
progressively define Christian pneumatology:
1. Patristic period. The early Church engaged in a debate over the
divinity of Jesus, with Arius asserting that the Son is a "creature" or
"angel" and Athanasius countering that the Son possesses divine
attributes (such as immutability, transcendence, ability to sanctify,
and involvement in creation). Although the debate was not
pneumatological in nature, it led to a very similar debate between the
Pneumatomachians and the Cappadocian Fathers.
2. Medieval period. In this period ensued a debate regarding the
relationship between Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Church
asserted that the Holy Spirit "proceeds" from the Father alone (as
stated in the original Nicene Creed), while Augustine of Hippo and the
medieval Catholic Church added the "filioque" clause to the Creed (the
Spirit proceeds from the Father "and the Son").
3. Reformation and Counter-reformation. Here the relationship between
the Spirit and the Scriptures is re-examined. Martin Luther and John
Calvin hold that the Spirit has a certain "interpretive authority" to
"illuminate" scripture, while Counter-reformation theologians respond
that the Spirit has authorized the Church to serve as authoritative
interpreter of Scripture.
Philipp Melanchthon (February 16, 1497 – April 19, 1560), born Philipp
Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther,
the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation,
intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential
designer of educational systems. He stands next to Luther and Calvin as
a reformer, theologian, and molder of Protestantism. As much as Luther,
he is the primary founder of Lutheranism. The scholarly work of
Professor Philipp Melanchthon of the University of Wittenberg played a
crucial role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a theologian, a
student of the classics, a German reformer and collaborator of Martin
Luther. As an expert in Hebrew and Greek, he helped Luther translate
the Bible into German. Based on theology, he laid the foundation of
pneumatology—the mother of psychology.
4. Contemporary era. The contemporary church understands a distinctive
relationship between the Spirit and the Church community. Various
contemporary theologians grant the Spirit as authority to govern the
church, to liberate oppressed communities, and to create experiences
associated with faith. Contemporary pneumatology is often marked by the
Pentecostal Movement.
Wikipedia
Christians believe that Holy Spirit manifest itself in three ways:
1) Baptism with the Holy Spirit (a.k.a. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
or
Holy Ghost);
2) gifts of the Holy Spirit;
3) fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Catholic Church claims that there are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,
this claim
is based on Isaiah 11:1-2:
1) wisdom,
2) understanding,
3) counsel,
4) fortitude,
5) knowledge,
5) piety,
6) fear of the Lord.
III. The Gifts and Fruits of the
Holy Spirit
1830 The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in
following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
1831 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding,
counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong
in their fullness to Christ, Son of David.[109]
<...>
1832 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit
forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the
Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control,
chastity.[112]
109 Cf. ⇒ Isa 11:1-2.
<...>
112 Gal 5:22-23 (Vulg.).
Catechism
of the Catholic Church. Part three: Life in Christ. Section one Man's
vocation life in the spirit. Chapter one The dignity of the human
person. Article 7 The virtues. III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy
Spirit. 1831
1 There shall come forth a shoot
from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of
knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Bible. Galatians 5:22-23
However it is important to note that Isaiah 11:1-2 has no
connection
whatsoever with the Holy Spirit. The “<>spirit of wisdom and
understanding”, “spirit of counsel and might”, “<>spirit
of knowledge” have nothing
to do with the Holy Spirit – even the names of Spirits are
different.
Another important thing is that Catholic Church claims that Old
Testament is no longer valid, because Jesus canceled the Old Testament
and established New Testament thus all references to Old Testament are
invalid by definition.
Why does Catholic Church have developed such illogical and
self-contradictory
teaching about the Holy Spirit? The reason is very simple – Catholic
Church is unable to demonstrate the Holy Spirit in practice. Catholic
Church is totally unqualified in the Holy Spirit.
Pentecostalism is a movement within Christianity
that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of the
Holy Spirit.
Pentecostalists can demonstrate the Holy Spirit in practice and this is
the reason why many adepts of traditional Christian Churches
(Catholic/Orthodox) started leaving their Churches and flooded into
Pentecostal Church.
From all range of Christian denominations the Pentecostalism has the
most
comprehensive teaching about the Holy Spirit because Pentecostalists
have thousands of directs contacts with the Holy Spirit everyday.
So let’s put aside unqualified meaningless blah of Catholic/Orthodox
Church about the Holy Spirit and let’s study what competent
Pentecostalists are teaching about the Holy Spirit.
According to Pentecostalists Baptism with the Holy Spirit is
done by putting the hands on the adept.
1 The beginning of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger
before your face, who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight,’”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism
of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their
sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around
his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I,
the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8 I have baptized you with water, but he
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
11 And they paid attention to
him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the
kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women.
13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued
with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was
amazed.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy
Spirit,
16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them and
they received the Holy Spirit.
1 And it happened that while
Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and
came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you
believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into
John's baptism.”
4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling
the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is,
Jesus.”
5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues
and prophesying.
7 There were about twelve men in all.
Bible. Acts of the Apostles
19:1-7
In New Testament it is written that the first time when Holy Spirit
descended on Christians was on Pentecost.
Pentecost (Ancient Greek:
Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], Pentēkostē [hēmera], "the fiftieth [day]") is the
Greek name for the Feast of Weeks, a prominent feast in the calendar of
ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai. This feast
is still celebrated in Judaism as Shavuot. Later, in the Christian
liturgical year, it became a feast commemorating the descent of the
Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ (120
in all), as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1–31. For this
reason, Pentecost is sometimes described by some Christians today as
the "Birthday of the Church".
In the Eastern church, Pentecost can also refer to the whole fifty days
between Easter and Pentecost, hence the book containing the liturgical
texts for Paschaltide is called the Pentecostarion. The feast is also
called White Sunday, or Whitsunday, especially in England, where the
following Monday was traditionally a public holiday. Pentecost is
celebrated seven weeks (49 days) after Easter Sunday, hence its name.
Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday (which falls
40 days after Easter).
1 When the
day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing
wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each
one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave
them utterance.
Bible. Acts of the Apostles
2:1-4
It is important to note that currently not all Christians have the
direct contact with the Holy Spirit and this is the reason why
Christians who do have direct contact with the Holy Spirit have named
themselves as “Pentecostalists”. For several hundred years after the
death of Jesus the Christian Church had a direct contact with the Holy
Spirit however later this contact was lost.
Contact with the Holy Spirit was revived by independent evangelists in
year 1901 in Topeka, Kansas (USA) and in year 1906 in Los Angeles (USA)
which got the name “Azusa
Street Revival”. The followers of this
revivalism movement are called “Pentecostalists”. The second wave of
revivalism was in the beginning of 1960s and they got the name “Charismatics”.
In the context of New Testament the word “charisma” means “gift”
(translation from the Greek).
1 Pursue love, and earnestly
desire the spiritual gifts,
especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no
one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their
upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who
prophesies builds up the church.
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,
unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I
benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy
or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not
give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for
battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not
intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be
speaking into the air.
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none
is without meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a
foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the
Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may
interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my
mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my
mind also.
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in
the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he
does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is
not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind
in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Bible. 1 Corinthians 14:1-19
When adepts of traditional Christian Churches (Catholic/Orthodox)
saw
that newly formed Pentecostal Churches are in direct contact with the
Holy Spirit while at the same time Holy Spirit is totally absent in the
Catholic/Orthodox Church, they began massively abandon their Churches
and began flooding into Pentecostal Church. As for example, currently
in Russia the number of Pentecostalists is in second place after number
of adepts of Russian Orthodox Church. The reason why adepts are
switching churches is very simple – there is no point to stay in Church
which has no Holy Spirit when the Church with the Holy Spirit is
available.
Roman Catholic Church began to panic that it is loosing its adepts, so
in 19 May 1975 Vatican arranged in Rome the “Second International
Leaders' Conference
of Charismatic Renewal”
in which more than thousand of highest ranking leaders of the Catholic
Church had participated. Specially for this conference a leading
cardinal of the Catholic Church Léo Joseph Cardinal Suenens celebrated
Mass in St. Peter's Basilica together with 12 bishops and 750 priests.
Pope Paul VI blessed the conference. At that time there were
approximately 3500 Catholic Charismatic Renewal Prayer Groups
in more than 50 countries, the
number of members of these groups exceeded 400 thousands.
However in the end of 1970s the second wave of Pentecostalism began to
decline. Catholic Charismatic Renewal was not a new thing anymore and
Catholics began get tired of it. The spread of Catholic Charismatic
Renewal movement began to decline and in some places disappeared
completely. However during 20 years of existence the ideas of
Pentecostalism permeated all Christian groups and Charismatics grew
deeply into Christian world.
Here is a documental movie in which Pope John Paul II blesses
Charismatic Renewal movement saying „long life for the charizmatics“
(see movie starting from 5 minutes 30 seconds).
Catholic Charismatic History
Length: 10 minutes (starting from 5 minutes 30 seconds).
Below are documentary movies which shows how the reception of the Holy
Spirit looks in Christianity.
Exactly in the same identical way Jesus was giving the Holy Spirit to
his adepts.
Eucharistic Healing Service
Father Jose Maniyangat
Length: 5 minutes
The movie below was filmed in 1990s in Ukraine. The movie was filmed
by
Pentecostalists themselves and the original idea of that movie was that
it should be a promotional video which should attract new members into
Pentecostal Church. However practical results were completely opposite.
When movie was shown to new people they were running away scared in
panic. After some time Pentecostal Church changed its mind and decided
to hide and not to show this movie to new people in order not to scare
them away. Now such movies are shown only to “advanced members” of
Pentecostal Church who have long lasting membership in Pentecostal
Church.
(In Russian) Беснование
харизматов
Length: 8 minutes
When a man receives Holy Spirit then following scenarios are
possible:
1) if the amount of Holy Spirit is small then a man simply faints and
unconsciously slumps on the floor;
2) if the amount of Holy Spirit is big then in man’s brain the
epileptic neuron impulse firings are initiated which fire into the
pleasure center
of the brain and this process is accompanied by
epileptic convulsions of the man’s body. These epileptic neuron impulse
firings into pleasure center of the brain evoke euphoric state for a
man who has received the Holy Spirit. The effect of these epileptic
neuron impulse firings into pleasure center of the brain is much more
dizzying than that of alcohol or narcotics and for that reason if the
man has received such Holy Spirit several times then such man becomes
addicted to Holy Spirit and man is unable to live without Holy Spirit
exactly in the same way as drug addict is dependable on narcotics.
See the movie starting from 4 minutes 30 seconds till 5 minutes 30
seconds. In this episode Pentecostal pastor says that “meeting with
Jesus” and “Baptism with the Holy Spirit” has much more dizzying effect
than alcohol or narcotics.
(In Russian) Беснование
харизматов
Length: 8 minutes (starting from 4 minutes 30 seconds).
In Pentecostal Churches usually a loud
rhythmic music is played during the procedure of “receiving of Holy
Spirit”. Loud rhythmic music helps to induce the trance state for
the
adepts of Pentecostal Church. Loud rhythmic music is also used in
various other religious cults (shamanism, Hinduism, etc) with exactly
the same purpose – it helps to induce the trance state for the adepts.
Of course, the trance state can be also achieved without using loud
rhythmic music, however then the pastor will need more endeavors in
order to induce the trance state for the adepts. The usage of loud
rhythmic music helps to achieve the trance state much easier and faster.
After the adept has been baptized with the Holy Spirit, the adept may
receive “gifts of the Holy Spirit”.
After the adept has been baptized with the Holy Spirit, the adept
receives not all “gifts of the Holy Spirit”, but only some of
them.
Some adepts receive bigger number of “gifts of the Holy Spirit”,
and
some other adepts receive lesser number of “gifts of the Holy Spirit”.
The number of “gifts of the Holy Spirit” depends on how much the
adept
has pleased the Holy Spirit.
Pentecostals (and some other Protestants) believe that there are
nine gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1) the gift of prophecy;
2) the gift of speaking tongues (a.k.a. glossolalia, xenoglossy,
xenoglossia, foreign accent syndrome);
3) the gift of the interpretation of tongues;
4) the gift of the discerning of spirits;
5) the gift of the word of wisdom;
6) the gift of the word of knowledge;
7) the gift of faith;
8) the gift of healings;
9) the gift of the working of miracles.
It is important that New Testament actually lists more than nine gifts
of the Holy Spirit, however Pentecostals pastors keep big secret
and do not tell about them to the adepts. So let’s disclose their
secret and let’s list additional spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit:
10) the gift of taking serpents with bare hands;
11) the gift of drinking any deadly poison and staying alive.
Below is more detailed description of all gifts of the Holy Spirit.
6 And when Paul had laid his
hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in
tongues and prophesying.
7 There were about twelve men in all.
1 Pursue love, and earnestly
desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
<...>
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
The one who prophesies is greater
than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that
the church may be built up.
<...>
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy,
and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Bible. 1 Corinthians 14:1-39
When a man receives Holy Spirit then any delirium-blah of such man
is considered to be “prophecy”.
It is important to note that Christians claim that “gift of prophecy”
is the proof of the Holy Spirit, however at the same time
Christians claim that “gift of prophecy” is the proof of demonic
possession. In other words, exactly the same phenomenon (“gift of
prophecy”) is used to prove the divinity and at the same time the
same to prove the demonic possession – it is obvious that Christian
dogmas
have faulty logic.
16 As we were going to the place
of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had
a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by
fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of
the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly
annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of
Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
9 “When you come into the land
that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the
abominable practices of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his
daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells
fortunes or interprets omens, or a
sorcerer
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the
dead,
12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And
because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out
before you.
13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, 14 for these
nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers
and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you
to do this.
14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers
and to diviners. But as for
you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.
Signs
of possession may be the
following: ability to speak with some facility in a strange tongue or
to understand it when spoken by another; the
faculty of divulging
future and hidden events; display of powers which are beyond the
subject's age and natural condition; and various other indications
which, when taken together as a whole, build up the evidence.
The Roman Ritual (Latin: Rituale Romanum).
Part XIII. Exorcism. Chapter I: General Rules Concerning Exorcism.
Translated by Philip T. Weller, S.T.D. 1964
True
demonic or satanic
possession has been characterized since the Middle Ages, in the
Rituale
Romanum, by the following four typical characteristics:
● Manifestation of superhuman strength.
● Speaking in tongues or languages that the victim cannot
know.
● Revelation of knowledge,
distant or hidden, that the victim cannot know.
● Blasphemous rage and an aversion to holy symbols or
relics.
According to the Lutheran
Church, primary symptoms that may indicate
demon possession and the need of an exorcism include:
1. The knowledge of secret things, for example, being able to
predict the future (Acts
16:16), find lost people or things, or know complex
things that one has never learned (e.g., medicine). It is said that fortune-tellers
often ask a spirit for help
and that this spirit gives
them certain powers. In that case, the evil spirit is assisting, not
necessarily possessing the person bodily.
Wikipedia
(2) The gift of speaking tongues (a.k.a. glossolalia, xenoglossy,
xenoglossia, foreign accent syndrome).
Glossolalia or speaking in
tongues is the fluid vocalizing (or less commonly, the writing) of
speech-like syllables which lack any readily comprehended meaning, in
some cases, as part of religious practice. The significance of
glossolalia has varied in context, with some minorities considering it
as a part of a sacred language. It is most prominently practiced within
Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity, but it is also practiced in
non-Christian religions as well.
Glossolalia also sometimes refers to xenoglossy, which is speaking in a
natural language that was previously unknown to the speaker.
1 When the day of Pentecost
arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing
wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each
one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every
nation under heaven.
6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were
bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who
are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea
and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to
Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling
in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does
this mean?”
13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
1 Pursue love, and earnestly
desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not
to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries
in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their
upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue
builds up himself, but the one who
prophesies builds up the church.
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues,
but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the
one who speaks in tongues, unless
someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking
in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some
revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not
give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for
battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue
you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know
what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none
is without meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a
foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the
Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my
mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my
mind also.
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in
the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he
does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is
not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more
than all of you.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind
in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
44 While Peter was still saying
these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter
were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on
the Gentiles.
46 For they were hearing them speaking in
tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they asked him to remain for some days.
6 And when Paul had laid his
hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking
in tongues and prophesying.
7 There were about twelve men in all.
Bible. Acts of the Apostles
19:6-7
Below are documentary movies which show how gift of speaking tongues
looks in practice.
(In Russian) Как на
пятидесятников сходит дух
Length: 2 minutes
Christians claim that when a man receives the “gift of speaking
tongues” then that man begins to speak in languages which that man
never knew before. As for example when a German receives the gift of
speaking tongues he will begin to speak Chinese/Vietnamese/Uzbek/etc
language which that German had never known before.
However real facts are completely different. When a man receives the
“gift of speaking tongues” then that man is unable to communicate
meaningfully with people from other nations. When Pentecostal pastors
go to visit foreign countries they always hire interpreters/translators
in order these interpreters would translate their lectures into the
local language.
Nevertheless Christians believe that inability to communicate in real
foreign language is no problem at all, Christians claim that incoherent
gargle of adepts who had received “the gift of speaking tongues”
is
called the “language of angels” and Christians claim that this
“language of angels” is far superior to any human language.
Thus,
according to Christians, if you will begin speaking
Chinese/Vietnamese/Uzbek/etc after you had received “the gift of
speaking tongues” then this is equals to nothing when compared to
the
ability to speak in the “language of angels”.
It is important to note that there are no documented cases when a man
would really begin instantly to speak meaningfully in the foreign
language which he never knew before. All religious adepts begin
speaking only the incomprehensible “language of angels” after
reception
of the “gift of speaking tongues”.
The detailed scientific analysis of lexical semantics of the “language
of angels” shows that by all parameters the “language of angels”
is
equivalent to newborn baby gargle when a newborn baby first time tries
to speak. In other words, the gift of the Holy Spirit which is called
“the gift of speaking tongues” in reality is bringing the man’s
brain
into the stage of newborn baby and loosing the ability to speak
comprehensibly – “the gift of speaking tongues” is actually the
state
of degradation and not the state of “new super-abilities”.
It is important to note that that when a huge number of people are put
into the state of “the gift of speaking tongues”, then these babbling
people begin to hallucinate that they can perfectly
understand each other’s gargle – such case in described in New
Testament only one time.
4 And they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave
them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every
nation under heaven.
6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were
bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who
are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea
and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to
Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling
in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does
this mean?”
13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Bible. Acts of the Apostles
2:4-11
All other episodes of New Testament clearly state that people who
are listening to “tongues” cannot understand the babble of “language
of
angels” (“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but
to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the
Spirit.”
– 1 Corinthians 14:2)
1 Pursue love, and earnestly
desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not
to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries
in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their
upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who
prophesies builds up the church.
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless
someone interprets, so that the
church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I
benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy
or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not
give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for
battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you
utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is
said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none
is without meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a
foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the
Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my
mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my
mind also.
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in
the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he
does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is
not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather
speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten
thousand words in a tongue.
1 If I
speak in the tongues of men and of
angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal.
Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:1
Christians claim that the “gift of speaking tongues” as new
phenomenon
which was born with the birth of Christianity. However this is not true
at all.
It is important to note that the “gift of speaking tongues”
phenomenon
is not unique to Christianity, the “gift of speaking tongues”
phenomenon was known from oldest times practically in all shamanistic
and religious cults (including the Voodoo Cult and many others).
Glossolalia or speaking in
tongues is the fluid vocalizing (or less commonly, the writing) of
speech-like syllables which lack any readily comprehended meaning, in
some cases, as part of religious practice. The significance of
glossolalia has varied in context, with some minorities considering it
as a part of a sacred language. It is most prominently practiced within
Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity, but it is also practiced in
non-Christian religions as well.
<...>
Catholicism The Catholic Church teaches that
glossolalia is an extraordinary charism, that is, an extraordinary
grace of the Holy Spirit given for the Church's benefit and subject to
the Church's discernment.
<...>
Non-Christian practice
Other religious groups have been observed to practice some form of
theopneustic glossolalia. It is perhaps most commonly in Paganism,
Shamanism, and other mediumistic religious practices. In Japan, the God
Light Association used to practice glossolalia to cause adherents to
recall past lives.
Glossolalia has even been postulated as an explanation for the Voynich
manuscript.
Certain Gnostic magical texts from the Roman period have written on
them unintelligible syllables such as "t t t t n n n n d d d d d..."
etc. It is conjectured that these may be transliterations of the sorts
of sounds made during glossolalia. The Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians
also features a hymn of (mostly) unintelligible syllables which is
thought to be an early example of Christian glossolalia.
In the 19th century, Spiritism was developed by the work of Allan
Kardec, and the phenomenon was seen as one of the self-evident
manifestations of spirits. Spiritists argued that some cases were
actually cases of xenoglossia.
Glossolalia has also been observed in the Voodoo religion of Haiti, as
well as in the Hindu Gurus and Fakirs of India.
Wikipedia
It is important to note that Christians claim that “gift of speaking
tongues” is the proof of the Holy Spirit, however at the same time
Christians claim that “speaking tongues” is the proof of demonic
possession. In other words, exactly the same phenomenon (“speaking
tongues”) is used to prove the divinity and at the same time the
same
to prove the demonic possession – it is obvious that Christian dogmas
have faulty logic.
Signs
of possession may be the
following: ability to speak with some
facility in a strange tongue or
to understand it when spoken by another; the faculty of divulging
future and hidden events; display of powers which are beyond the
subject's age and natural condition; and various other indications
which, when taken together as a whole, build up the evidence.
The Roman Ritual (Latin: Rituale
Romanum). Part XIII. Exorcism. Chapter I: General Rules Concerning
Exorcism.
Translated by Philip T. Weller, S.T.D. 1964
True
demonic or satanic
possession has been characterized since the Middle Ages, in the
Rituale
Romanum, by the following four typical characteristics:
● Manifestation of superhuman strength.
● Speaking in tongues or languages that the
victim cannot know.
● Revelation of knowledge, distant or hidden, that the victim cannot
know.
● Blasphemous rage and an aversion to holy symbols or relics.
Signs of demonic invasion vary
depending on the type of demon and its purpose, including:
<...>
8. Speaking or understanding another language which they had never
learned before
<...> classic signs of
demonic possession: contortions, unnatural body movements, speaking
in
tongues (glossolalia), obscene insults, blasphemies, and the
appearance
of unexplainable wounds that vanished without aid.
According to the Lutheran
Church, primary symptoms that may indicate
demon possession and the need of an exorcism include:
<...>
2. The knowledge of languages one has never
learned. Just as the devil can bind one's tongue (Luke
11:14),
it is reported from the early church as well as the time of the
Reformation that certain demon-possessed people could speak languages
they had never learned.
Wikipedia
(3) The gift of the interpretation of tongues.
This is the “gift” when a man can translate the babble of “language
of angels” into human comprehensible format. In practice this looks
like following. The man which has received the Holy Spirit a minute or
so babbles in the “language of angels” then he “translates” his
babble into English like for example “the God told that he loves you
all”,
then he again babbles a minute or so in the “language of angels”,
then he again translates his babble into English like for example
“everybody
must fall on their knees and must pray”, then he again babbles a minute
or so in the “language of angels”, and so on.
“The gift of the interpretation of tongues” is pure charlatanism
and nothing more.
It is important to note that Christians claim that “gift of the
interpretation of tongues” is the proof of the Holy Spirit, however
at the same time
Christians claim that “gift of the interpretation of tongues” is
the proof of demonic
possession. In other words, exactly the same phenomenon (“gift of
the interpretation of tongues”) is used to prove the divinity and
at the same time the same to prove the demonic possession – it is
obvious that Christian dogmas
have faulty logic.
Signs
of possession may be the
following: ability to speak with some
facility in a strange tongue or
to understand it when spoken by another;
the faculty of divulging
future and hidden events; display of powers which are beyond the
subject's age and natural condition; and various other indications
which, when taken together as a whole, build up the evidence.
The Roman Ritual (Latin: Rituale
Romanum). Part XIII. Exorcism. Chapter I: General Rules Concerning
Exorcism.
Translated by Philip T. Weller, S.T.D. 1964
(4) The gift of the discerning of spirits.
This is the “gift” when a man claims that he can discern spirits if the
spirit is holy or demonic.
The discerning of spirits is done based on two criteria:
1) if the spirit says that Jesus is God then this spirit is holy and if
the spirit tells otherwise then this spirit is demonic;
2) if the spirit praises our own Church then this spirit is holy and if
the spirit praises some other competing Church (or competing religion)
then this spirit is demonic.
1 Beloved, do not believe every
spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many
false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is
the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in
the world already.
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who
is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the
world listens to them.
6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from
God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the
spirit of error.
Bible. 1 John 4:1-6
(5) The gift of the word of wisdom.
When a man receives Holy Spirit then any delirium-blah of such man is
considered to be “the word of wisdom”.
It is important to note that Christians claim that “gift of the word
of wisdom”
is the proof of the Holy Spirit, however at the same time
Christians claim that “gift of the word of wisdom” is the proof
of demonic
possession. In other words, exactly the same phenomenon (“gift of
the word of wisdom”) is used to prove the divinity and at the same
time the
same
to prove the demonic possession – it is obvious that Christian dogmas
have faulty logic.
Signs
of possession may be the
following: ability to speak with some facility in a strange tongue or
to understand it when spoken by another; the
faculty of divulging
future and hidden events; display of powers which are beyond the
subject's age and natural condition; and various other indications
which, when taken together as a whole, build up the evidence.
The Roman Ritual (Latin: Rituale Romanum).
Part XIII. Exorcism. Chapter I: General Rules Concerning Exorcism.
Translated by Philip T. Weller, S.T.D. 1964
According to the Lutheran
Church, primary symptoms that may indicate
demon possession and the need of an exorcism include:
1. The knowledge of secret things, for example, being able to predict
the future (Acts
16:16), find lost people or things, or know
complex
things that one has never learned
(e.g., medicine). It is said that fortune-tellers often ask a spirit
for help and that this spirit gives them certain powers. In that case,
the evil spirit is assisting, not necessarily possessing the person
bodily.
Wikipedia
(6) The gift of the word of knowledge.
When a man receives Holy Spirit then any delirium-blah of such man is
considered to be “the word of knowledge”.
It is important to note that Christians claim that “gift of the word
of knowledge”
is the proof of the Holy Spirit, however at the same time
Christians claim that “gift of the word of knowledge” is the
proof of demonic
possession. In other words, exactly the same phenomenon (“gift of
the word of knowledge”) is used to prove the divinity and at the
same time the
same
to prove the demonic possession – it is obvious that Christian dogmas
have faulty logic.
Signs
of possession may be the
following: ability to speak with some facility in a strange tongue or
to understand it when spoken by another; the
faculty of divulging
future and hidden events; display of powers which are beyond the
subject's age and natural condition; and various other indications
which, when taken together as a whole, build up the evidence.
The Roman Ritual (Latin: Rituale Romanum).
Part XIII. Exorcism. Chapter I: General Rules Concerning Exorcism.
Translated by Philip T. Weller, S.T.D. 1964
According to the Lutheran
Church, primary symptoms that may indicate
demon possession and the need of an exorcism include:
1. The knowledge of secret things, for example, being able to predict
the future (Acts
16:16), find lost people or things, or know
complex
things that one has never learned
(e.g., medicine). It is said that fortune-tellers often ask a spirit
for help and that this spirit gives them certain powers. In that case,
the evil spirit is assisting, not necessarily possessing the person
bodily.
Wikipedia
(7) The gift of faith.
When a man receives Holy Spirit then the faith of such man is
drastically increased. The faith of man increases due to simple reason
– that man has received and felt the Holy Spirit in reality himself,
now the Holy Spirit is not some theoretical thing anymore about which
you can only read in the Bible.
(8) The gift of healings.
“The gift of healings” is the acquiring of the ability to hypnotize
other people. It is well known that using the hypnosis it is possible
to induce suggestion of many things which cause real physiological
results. As for example, for a hypnotized man it is possible to suggest
that we will touch his hand with red-hot iron stick and when we will
touch his hand with cold pencil then a real blister will pop-up in the
contact area just like after the real burn. Hypnotized man can be
suggested to feel no pain and this will look like a “miraculous
healing” for the spectators. Let’s look closer how Jesus was healing
paralyzed people.
4 Now those who were scattered
went about preaching the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the
Christ.
6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said
by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many
who had them, and many who were paralyzed or
lame were healed.
8 So there was much joy in that city.
Bible. Acts of the Apostles
8:4-8
The underlying mechanism of “healing of paralyzed people” is very
simple. In the times of Jesus the level of medicine was very low, there
were almost no sanitation and so on, thus any even the smallest
wound/cut could start fester causing very strong pain for a man
rendering that man immobile because any trial to move would cause
strong unbearable pain and this man becomes “paralyzed”. Using the
hypnosis it is possible to suggest to feel no pain and that man feeling
no pain will be able to stand up and walk. The spectators of such
procedure will become convinced that they saw “miraculous healing”.
However the reality is very different. The man who feels no pain will
move and walk rendering his gangrenous fester wounds into a worse
state. Later when the effect of hypnotic pain removal will fade away
the condition of the patient will be even worse then it was before.
However the spectators of “miraculous healing” do not see these real
disastrous outcomes which come much later, spectators see only
“healings” which are done on stage by their religious leader. Thus
religious leader who accomplishes such “miraculous healings” become
very famous and crowds of adepts flood to such “healer” hoping to cure
their diseases too. Modern “spiritual healers” work exactly in the same
way too.
(9) The gift of the working of miracles.
“The gift of the working of miracles” is the acquiring of the ability
to hypnotize adepts who are in the state of possession by the Holy
Spirit. So called “miracles” are seen only by the people who are
possessed by the Holy Spirit. If a man is not possessed by the Holy
Spirit then such man does not see any “miracles” at all, such man sees
only the hallucinatory ravings of religious adepts.
It is important to note that Christians claim that “gift of the
working of miracles” is the proof of the Holy Spirit, however
at the same time Christians claim that “gift of the working of
miracles” is
the proof of demonic possession. In other words, exactly the same
phenomenon (“gift of the working of miracles”) is used to prove
the divinity and
at the same time the same to prove the demonic possession – it is
obvious that Christian dogmas have faulty logic.
9 The coming of the lawless one
is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because
they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 Then I saw another beast
rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like
a dragon.
12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,
and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose
mortal wound was healed.
13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to
earth in front of people,
14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the
beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an
image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
20 And the beast was captured,
and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by
which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and
those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the
lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
22 But the magicians of Egypt
did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained
hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
13 For such men are false
apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of
Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
9 “When you come into the land
that
the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the
abominable practices of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his
daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells
fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the
dead,
12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And
because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out
before you.
13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God,
14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to
fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has
not allowed you to do this.
Below are spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit which usually are kept
secret by the Christian pastors.
Nevertheless it is important to note that after the resurrection Jesus
very clearly listed these gifts of the Holy Spirit in Mark
16:17-18.
(10) The gift of taking serpents with bare hands.
After the resurrection Jesus said to his adepts very clearly that
you can discern a true believer from a false believer by the following
criteria: a true believer must be able to “pick up serpents with
their hands”.
According to the instructions of Jesus if a man is unable to pick up
serpents with his hands then such man is not a true believer and
such man will go to hell.
9 Now when he rose early on the
first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom
he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and
wept.
11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they
would not believe it.
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as
they were walking into the country.
13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were
reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness
of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had
risen.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel
to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who
believe: in my name they
will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents with their
hands; and if they drink any
deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands
on the
sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up
into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked
with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
Bible. Mark 16:17-18
“Picking up serpents with bare hands” is also mentioned in
these episodes of the New Testament.
3 When Paul had gathered a
bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of
the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they
said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has
escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no
harm.
6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But
when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him,
they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Bible. Acts of the Apostles
28:3-6
Below are documentary movies which show how “picking up serpents
with bare hands” does look in practice.
Why many Christian Churches avoid mentioning “the gift of taking
serpents with bare hands”? The reason is simple. Christians who do
practice “the gift of taking serpents with bare hands” are
bitten by
snakes sooner or later. Other Christian Churches are too afraid to test
their own faith using snakes which must be done according to Jesus
instructions so they keep silent about “the gift of taking serpents
with bare hands”.
Coots was bitten on the
right hand during a service at his Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name
church in Middlesboro, Kentucky. After the bite, Coots dropped the
snakes, but then picked them back up and continued the ceremony. Later,
he was driven to his home. When paramedics arrived, his relatives
refused medical treatment for him, saying it was inconsistent with his
religion. He died at home.
Mark Randall Wolford, 44,
male
May 28, 2012
Timber Rattlesnake
Wolford was bitten on the
thigh while handling a timber rattlesnake as part of an outdoor
religious service at Panther State Forest in McDowell County, West
Virginia. Wolford did not initially seek medical treatment for his
injury, but was taken to Bluefield Regional Medical Center when his
condition began to deteriorate some eight hours later. Wolford was a
pastor and often handled his pet snake during church services.
Wolford's father, Mack Wolford, died in 1983 under similar
circumstances.
Mack Ray Wolford, 39, male
August 28, 1983
Timber Rattlesnake
Wolford was bitten on the
arm by a timber rattlesnake during religious services at the Lord Jesus
Temple in Mile Branch, near Iaeger, West Virginia. Wolford did not
initially seek medical treatment. An ambulance was summoned eight hours
after Wolford had been bitten, but he died during transport to Stevens
Clinic in Welch, West Virginia. Wolford's son, Mark Wolford, died in
2012 under similar circumstances.
John Holbrook, 38, male
August 1982
rattlesnake
Reverend Holbrook was
bitten while handling a rattlesnake during religious services in
Oceana, West Virginia. Holbrook reportedly refused medical assistance
because his religion did not permit it.
George Went Hensley, 74,
male
July 25, 1955
unknown
Died from a bite sustained
while handling snakes during a religious service in Virginia.
Wikipedia
Below are documentary movies about Christians who were killed by
snake
bites.
Snake-Handling Pastor Dies From
Rattlesnake Bite.
Length: 7 minutes
(11) The gift of drinking any deadly poison and staying alive.
After the resurrection Jesus said to his adepts very clearly that
you can discern a true believer from a false believer by the following
criteria: a true believer must be able to “drink any deadly poison,
it will not hurt them”.
According to the instructions of Jesus if a man is unable to drink any
deadly poison and stay alive then such man is not a true believer and
such man will go to hell.
However all Christians who tried to follow instructions of Jesus and
drank poison as told by Jesus – all such Christians have died sooner or
later.
9 Now when he rose early on the
first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom
he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and
wept.
11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they
would not believe it.
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as
they were walking into the country.
13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were
reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness
of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had
risen.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel
to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who
believe: in my name they
will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents with their
hands; and if they drink any
deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands
on the
sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up
into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked
with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
Faith Test Bottle of Poison
Here is a wonderful and practical gift to test the faith of any
Christian. According to the Bible, Jesus says in Mark 16:18:
"if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them."
That's right. Those who are baptized and believe will not get sick or
die even if they drink a deadly poison.
This bottle is actually filled with a poison that will kill a human
within minutes (unless Jesus is right and you are a believer).
Imagine if every Christian took this test, we could separate all the
True Christians from the false ones. Surely all True Christians would
be happy to take this test. If they refuse the test, then you can be
pretty sure that they have no real faith, and then you can welcome them
to the world of unbelievers.
As a bonus, tell them that if they drink this poison and are not
harmed, then you will abandon atheism and become a Christian.
Holiday Gift Ideas For Religious
People. Compiled by Jim Walker. Created: 25 Nov. 2005. Additions: 16
Dec. 2009
It is important to note that in all religions, no matter what is
the name of that religion, the highest spiritual state is exactly
identical
by its underlying physiological mechanism and its physiological
manifestation.
As for example, in yoga the highest spiritual state is called
“Awakening of the Serpent Power” (a.k.a. “Kundalini awakening”,
some academics use the term “Kundalini syndrome” or “Physio-Kundalini
syndrome”).
The highest spiritual state in yoga (“Awakening the Serpent Power”)
is fully identical by all parameters to Christian “receiving of the
Holy Spirit” – yogis shake in epileptic convulsions and evoke
epileptic
neuron impulse firings into pleasure center of the brain exactly in the
same way as Christians are “receiving the Holy Spirit”.
Table 1: The Kundalini
Scale
Symptoms
1. Feelings of energy in the hands.
2. Feeling deep ecstatic sensations.
3. Experiencing severe, or migraine type, headaches.
4. Awareness of energy discharges, or currents, flowing through the
body.
5. Sensations of tickling, itching or tingling on, or underneath, the
skin.
6. Awareness of internal lights or colors.
7. Hands feeling hot.
8. Sensations of extreme heat or cold moving through the body.
9. The body shakes, vibrates or trembles.
<...> Table 2: The Physio-Kundalini Syndrome Index
Motor symptoms
1. Body assuming and maintaining strange positions for no apparent
reason.
2. Body becoming frozen or locked into strange positions and immovable.
3. Breathing spontaneously stopping or becoming rapid, shallow, or deep
for no apparent reason.
4. Spontaneous involuntary bodily movements.
Somatosensory Symptoms
5. Spontaneous deep ecstatic tickle or orgasmic feeling.
6. Physical sensations starting in the feet, legs or pelvis, and moving
up the back and neck to the top of the head, down the forehead, over
the face, then to the throat, and ending in the abdomen.
7. Extreme sensations of heat or cold moving through the body.
8. Moving pockets of bodily heat or cold being extreme enough to burn
or otherwise affect someone else or an inanimate object.
9. Pains in specific parts of the body that begin and end abruptly.
10. Tingling, vibration, itching or tickling on the skin or inside the
body.
Audiovisual symptoms
11. Internal noises, such as whistling, hissing, chirping, roaring or
flutelike sounds.
12. Internal voices.
13. Internal lights or colors illuminating parts of the body.
14. Internal lights bright enough to illuminate a dark room.
Mental symptoms
15. Observing oneself, including one's thoughts, as if one were a
bystander.
16. Sudden, intense ecstacy, bliss, peace, love, devotion, joy, or
cosmic unity.
17. Sudden intense fear, anxiety, depression, hatred or confusion.
18. Thoughts spontaneously speeding up, slowing down, or stopping
altogether.
19. Experiencing oneself as physically larger than the body.
The highest spiritual state in Hare Krishna movement (a.k.a.
“International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)” or “Hare
Krishnas”) is called “ecstatic love for Krishna” (a.k.a. “connection
with Krishna consciousness”) which is exactly identical by all
parameters to Christian “receiving of the Holy Spirit”.
According
to ISKCON holy scriptures if a man wants to acquire “Krishna
consciousness” he must learn to leave his body and must learn to
attain
an ecstasy state using continuous repetition of mantras – this process
can be facilitated and assisted by blowing conch, beating drums,
playing cymbals and other musical instruments – during this process the
adept stops feeling his body, leaves the body, connects with Krishna
and becomes “self-realized soul”.
“Ecstatic love for Krishna” is the highest spiritual state
in International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
The founder of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda listed eight symptoms of “ecstatic
love for Krishna”:
There are eight symptoms
of existential ecstatic love: becoming stunned, perspiring, standing of
the hairs on the body, faltering of the voice, trembling of the body,
changing of bodily colors, shedding of tears and devastation.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda.
The Nectar of Devotion. Chapter 28: Existential Ecstatic Love
The bodily symptoms manifested
by a devotee in expressing ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa are called anubhāva.
Practical examples of anubhāva are as follows: dancing, rolling on the
ground, singing very loudly, stretching the body, crying loudly,
yawning, breathing very heavily, neglecting the presence of others,
drooling, laughing like a madman, wheeling the head and belching. When
there is an extraordinary excess of ecstatic love, with all of these
bodily symptoms manifested, one feels relieved transcendentally.
These symptoms are divided into two parts: one is called śīta, and the
other is called kṣepaṇa. When there is yawning, the symptoms are called
śīta, and when there is dancing they are called kṣepaṇa.
Dancing <...>,
Rolling on the Ground <...>,
Singing Loudly <...>,
Crying Loudly <...>,
Yawning <...>,
Breathing Heavily <...>,
Neglecting the Presence of Others <...>,
Drooling <...>,
Belching <...>.
Sometimes trembling of the whole body and hemorrhaging from some part
of the body are also manifested in response to ecstatic love for
Kṛṣṇa, but such symptoms are very rare, and therefore Śrīla Rūpa
Gosvāmī does not discuss any further on this point.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda.
The Nectar of Devotion. Chapter 27: Symptoms of Ecstatic Love
Nectar of Devotion - 28 -
Existential Ecstatic Love (starting from 2 minutes 50 seconds)
Length: 31 minutes
ISKCON holy scripture “Caitanya Caritāmṛta” claims that (the founder
of
Gaudiya Vaishnavism) Caitanya
Mahāprabhu was experiencing all symptoms
of ecstatic love for Krishna
in his visions in which he saw Krishna.
CC Antya 14.68: They
almost died when they saw Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu with His mouth full
of saliva and foam and His eyes turned upward.
<...>
CC Antya 14.98: When Svarūpa Dāmodara and the other devotees reached
the spot and saw the condition of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they began
to cry.
CC Antya 14.99: All eight kinds of transcendental transformations were
visible in the Lord's body. All the devotees were struck with wonder to
see such a sight.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda. Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta. Chapter 14: Lord Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu's Feelings of Separation from Kṛṣṇa
CC Madhya 18.159: While
walking, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, understanding that the others were
fatigued, took them all beneath a tree and sat down.
CC Madhya 18.160: There were many cows grazing near that tree, and the
Lord was very pleased to see them.
CC Madhya 18.161: Suddenly a cowherd boy blew on his flute, and
immediately the Lord was struck with ecstatic love.
CC Madhya 18.162: Filled with ecstatic love,
the Lord fell to the
ground unconscious. He foamed about the mouth, and His breathing
stopped.
<...>
CC Madhya 18.183: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “These are not rogues.
They are My associates. Being a sannyāsī beggar, I do not possess
anything.
CC Madhya 18.184: “Due to epilepsy, I sometimes fall unconscious. Out
of their mercy, these four men maintain Me.”
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda. Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta. Chapter 18: Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's Visit to Sri Vrindavana.
From neuroscience point of view symptoms of ecstatic love for
Krishna
of Caitanya Mahāprabhu described in “Caitanya Caritāmṛta” perfectly
match musicogenic epilepsy criteria.
Reflexive epilepsy is a form of
epilepsy in which seizures are triggered by environmental stimuli.
Musicogenic epilepsy, according to Dr. Acerkman if Temken Mercy Medical
Center and Doctor Martha E. Banks, is just one of many forms of
reflexive epilepsy in which a seizure is triggered by music or specific
frequencies.
Sensitivity to music varies from patient to patient. Some are sensitive
to a particular tone from a voice or instrument. Others are sensitive
to a particular musical style or rhythm. Still others are sensitive to
a range of noises such as a blowtorch or revving engine.
Musicogenic Epilepsy is relatively rare. Brain surgery last week at
Long Island Jewish Medical Center to cure a woman with musicogenic
epilepsy has raised awareness of the neurological condition. According
to the Associated Press, 25 year-old Stacey Gayle's seizures were
triggered by reggae and hip-hop artist Sean Paul's music. Following
brain surgery, Gayle hasn't experienced another seizure, to date.
Reflexive seizures are difficult to identify, because often the stimuli
is unknown. Although musicogenic epilepsy is not common, according to
Doctor's Daly and Barry, Jr., the first case was reported in 1884. Dr.
Acerkman and Banks study verified Daly and Berry's conclusion that both
psychoacoustic and psychological factors play a role in inducing
reflexive seizures. This means that in part musicogenic seizures are
caused by certain noises and in part they are caused by negative
associations with certain noises or music.
Additional indications which have been observed in patients with
reflexive epilepsy include: déjà vu, hearing loss, twitching, loss of
consciousness, head tilts, increased blood pressure, respiration
changes, elevated temperature, incoherence, trembling of limbs, feeling
of a need to grasp a thought that has just escaped their mind, and
perspiration.
Reflexive epilepsy can be triggered by a number of things. In addition
to musicogenic epilepsy, researchers have found reflexive epilepsy to
be triggered by a tap on the shoulder, flashes of light, alcohol,
temperature changes, exercise exhaustion, stress, and menstrual cycle
or other hormonal changes. Insomnia, video games, insomnia and fatigue,
and specific visual pattern have also been known to trigger epileptic
seizures. Rarely, seizures may be triggered by thinking, eating, or
soaking in water. <...>
Wendy Dawn, Yahoo Contributor
Network. Jan 23, 2008
Musicogenic Epilepsy and Other Seizure Triggers.
It is important to note that physiological effects of Holy Spirit
are very similar to legendary contactless martial arts.
Below are documentary movies about contactless martial arts.
Benny Hinn - Incredible
Demonstrations of God's Power (starting from 2 minutes 7 seconds).
Length: 6 minutes
It is important to note that contactless martial art techniques work
only on people who believe in supernatural abilities of “contactless
master”. However contactless martial art techniques fail to work on a
man who does not believe in the existence of “contactless martial art”.
Legendary contactless martial arts have very similar underlying
physiological principles as “giving the Holy Spirit” – the only
difference is in the usage and presentation to the public.
(In Russian) Разоблачение
бесконтактного боя Вадима Старова.
Length: 10 minutes
We will repeat the summary.
In all religions, no matter what is the name of that religion, the
highest spiritual state is exactly identical by its underlying
physiological mechanism and its physiological manifestation.
“The highest spiritual state” is usually accompanied by
epileptic seizures. Epilepsy is a phenomenon when a small number of
neurons in
the brain excite themselves via positive feedback neural circuits which
leads to the excitation of nearby neurons and this excessive
hypersynchronous neuronal activity spreads through large areas of the
brain. When epileptic neuron impulse firings hit the motor cortex in
the brain then man’s body goes into convulsions.
In all religions in the highest spiritual state adepts exactly
identically shake in epileptic convulsions and evoke epileptic neuron
impulse firings into pleasure center of the brain.
The effect of these epileptic neuron impulse firings into pleasure
center of the brain is much more dizzying than that of alcohol or
narcotics and for that reason the adept becomes addicted to them and
adept is unable to live without them exactly in the same way as drug
addict is dependable on narcotics.
Pleasure
center is the general term used for the brain regions involved in
pleasure. Discoveries made in the 1950s initially suggested that
rodents could not stop electrically stimulating parts of their brain,
mainly the nucleus accumbens, which was theorized to produce great
pleasure. Further investigations revealed that the septum pellucidium
and the hypothalamus can also be targets for self-stimulation. More
recent research has shown that the so-called pleasure electrodes lead
only a form of wanting or motivation to obtain the stimulation, rather
than pleasure. The weight of evidence suggests that human pleasure
reactions occur across a distributed system of brain regions, of which
important nodes include subcortical regions (such as the nucleus
accumbens and ventral pallidum) and cortical regions (orbitofrontal
cortex and anterior cingulate cortex).
Rodent experiments
The pleasure center was discovered in the 1950s by two brain
researchers named James Olds and Peter Milner who were investigating
whether rats might be made uncomfortable by electrical stimulation of
certain areas of their brain, particularly the limbic system. In the
experiment, an electrical current was given to rats if they entered a
certain corner of a cage, with the hypothesis that they would stay away
from that corner if the effect was uncomfortable. Instead, they came
back quickly after the first stimulation and even more quickly after
the second. In later experiments, they allowed the rats to press the
stimulation lever themselves, to the effect that they would press it as
much as seven-hundred times per hour. This region soon came to be known
as the "pleasure center".
Rats in Skinner boxes with metal electrodes implanted into their
nucleus accumbens will repeatedly press a lever which activates this
region, and will do so in preference over food and water, eventually
dying from exhaustion. In rodent physiology, scientists reason that the
medial forebrain bundle is the pleasure center of rats. If a rat is
given the choice between stimulating the forebrain or eating, it will
choose stimulation to the point of exhaustion.
Human experiments
● Dr. José Manuel Rodriguez Delgado implanted electrodes
in the brains of 25 people.
● 1963: "Electrical self-stimulation of the brain in man."
by Dr. Robert Heath.
● 1972: A 24-year-old man with temporal lobe epilepsy,
identified as patient "B-19". "He was permitted to wear the device for
3 hours at a time: on one occasion he stimulated his septal region
1,200 times, on another occasion 1,500 times, and on a third occasion
900 times. He protested each time the unit was taken from him, pleading
to self-stimulate just a few more times... "
● 1986: A 48-year-old woman with chronic pain. "the
patient self-stimulated throughout the day, neglecting personal hygiene
and family commitments."
Wikipedia
If epileptic neuron impulse firings do not hit the pleasure
center in the brain then religious adepts consider this phenomenon as
“demonic
possession”.
For some movies about
“demonic possession” please click here.
We will explain why “stigmata” (or “speaking in tongues” or other
“wonders”) is a very important criterion for the diagnosis of the
“demonic possession”.
When a doctor examines a man to determine whether this man is healthy
or sick, the doctor makes the decision based on the diagnostic
criteria. As for example, if a man has much fever, then this is the
diagnostic criterion to decide that this man is sick. If a man has
severe vomiting, then this is the diagnostic criterion to decide that
this man is sick. And so on.
There is a large list of diagnostic criteria (the list of features)
which allow to determine whether a man is healthy or sick.
Exactly in the same way, in order to determine whether a man is
“possessed by demons” you need to know whether the “stigmata” (or
“speaking in tongues” or other “wonders”) is: 1) the proof of divinity,
or 2) the proof of demonic possession.
It is important to note one fundamental flaw in the dogmatism of all
religions – the same exactly identical signs/features are claimed to be
simultaneous proof of both: 1) the divinity and 2) the demonic
possession.
As for example, the simultaneous proof of both the divinity and the
demonic possession are phenomena of: stigmata (wounds on body),
“the gift of prophecy”, “the gift of speaking tongues”
(a.k.a. glossolalia, xenoglossy, xenoglossia, foreign
accent syndrome), “the gift of the interpretation of tongues”,
“the gift of the word of wisdom”, “the gift of the word of
knowledge”, “the gift of the working of miracles”, and so on.
It is obvious that religious dogmatism has a complete lack of logical
thinking.
17 From now on let no one cause
me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks
of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.
Amen.
Stigmata (singular stigma) is a
term used by members of the Christian faith to describe body marks,
sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the
crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, such as the hands, wrists, and feet.
The term originates from the line at the end of Saint Paul's Letter to
the Galatians where he says, "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus."
Stigmata is the plural of the Greek word στίγμα stigma, meaning a mark,
tattoo, or brand such as might have been used for identification of an
animal or slave. An individual bearing stigmata is referred to as a
stigmatic or a stigmatist.
Stigmata are primarily associated with the Roman Catholic faith. Many
reported stigmatics are members of Catholic religious orders. St.
Francis of Assisi was the first recorded stigmatic in Christian
history. For over fifty years, St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina of the
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin reported stigmata which were studied by
several 20th-century physicians.
<...>
Non-Christian stigmata
Among the Warao of the Orinoco Delta, a contemplator of tutelary
spirits may mystically induce the development of "openings in the palms
of his hands." That these tutelary spirits are presented by the
"itiriti snake" makes for a close analogue with the Seraph who endowed
Francis of Assisi with his stigmata.
Buddhist "stigmata" are regularly indicated in Buddhist art.
<...> classic signs of
demonic possession: contortions, unnatural body movements,
speaking in tongues (glossolalia), obscene insults, blasphemies, and
the appearance of unexplainable wounds that
vanished without aid.
Quotes and Paraphrases from
Lutheran Pastoral Handbooks of the 16th and 17th Centuries on the Topic
of Demon Possession
Compiled, edited, and translated by Benjamin Mayes
<...>
There are two kinds of demon possession – one spiritual, one physical.
All non-Christians are spiritually possessed by the devil. The devil
has taken their souls captive, so that if they die not believing in
Christ, they will be taken by the devil to hell. As Scripture says, "we
were by nature the children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3). But the devil does
not control their bodies, necessarily, though he tries. He doesn't
control them. They can decide what they want to do in the morning, they
have a normal breakfast, they lead normal lives. That's the first kind
of demon possession – spiritual possession. The Church's traditional
exorcism at Baptism addresses spiritual possession.
Symptoms of physical possession – One must be careful not to mistake
demon possession for a natural disease. Some symptoms which are
sometimes mistaken are ecstasy, epileptic seizures, lethargy, insanity,
frantic state of mind, and similar conditions. Convulsions and
stupendous bodily movements should not be assumed to be demon
possession. These sorts of symptoms could stem from purely natural
causes, or could be partially assisted by the devil.
Primary symptoms of true possession:
1. The knowledge of secret things, for example, being able to predict
the future (Acts 16:16), find lost people or things, or know complex
things that one has never learned (e.g., medicine). It is said that
fortune-tellers often ask a spirit for help and that this spirit gives
them certain powers. In that case, the evil spirit is assisting, not
necessarily possessing the person bodily.
2. The knowledge of languages one has never learned. Just as the devil
can bind one's tongue (Luke 11:14), it is reported from the early
church as well as the time of the Reformation that certain
demon-possessed people could speak languages they had never learned.
3. Supernatural strength (Mark 5:2-3), far beyond what they previously
had or should have considering their sex and size.
Much caution in judging demon possession is required. All of the
circumstances and symptoms must be taken into consideration. Insanity
should not be confused with possession. On the other hand, possession
may be taking place even where these symptoms are absent.
Secondary symptoms:
1. Horrible shouting. (Mk. 5:5).
2. Blasphemy of God and jeering at one's neighbor.
3. Deformation of movements. (E.g. ferocious movements, facial
contortion, immodest laughing, gnashing of teeth, spitting, removing
clothes, lacerating self, Mk. 9:20; Lk. 8:26f.)
4. Inhuman revelry, when they take food beyond the capability of nature.
5. Torment of bodies.
6. Unusual injuries of the body and of those
nearby.
7. Extraordinary motion of bodies. E.g., an elderly man who, being
demon-possessed, was able to run as fast as a horse.
8. Forgetfulness of things done.
Other Symptoms:
1. The corruption of reason in man, making him like an animal.
2. Melancholy.
3. Acceleration of death. Mk. 9:18 (suicide attempts)
4. Other supernatural occurrences.
Treatment: "What is to be done with the possessed? And can the devil be
cast out by using a certain method?
1. Let experienced physicians be consulted as to whether [there is a
medical explanation.]
2. When a true possession is recognized, let the poor one be committed
to the care of a minister of the Church who teaches sound doctrine, is
of a blameless life, who does nothing for the sake of filthy lucre, but
does everything from the soul.
3. Let him diligently inquire what kind of life the possessed one led
up to this point, lead him through the law to the recognition of his
sins. If he was previously pious, let him console him, that even God
sometimes leaves His people in the power of the devil for certain
causes, which the histories of Job and Paul testify.
4. After this admonition or consolation has taken place, let also the
works of a natural physician be used, who will cleanse him from
malicious fluids with the appropriate medicines. For it has been
ascertained that possessed people frequently suffer from a double
disease, namely of body – from a melancholy fluid – and of soul, for
example, insanity, grief, weariness of life, desperation.
5. It is not necessary to bring him into the temple [church] in the
sight of the people, as the custom is for many. Let the confession of
the Christian faith be once required of Him, let him be taught
concerning the works of the devil destroyed by Christ, let him be sent
back faithfully to this Destroyer of Satan, Jesus Christ, let an
exhortation be set up to faith in Christ, to prayers, to penitence.
6. Let ardent prayers be poured forth to God, not only by the ministers
of the Church, but also by the whole Church. Let these prayers be
conditioned, if the liberation should happen for God's glory and the
salvation of the possessed person, for this is an evil of the body.
7. With the prayers let fasting be joined, see Matt. 17:21.
8. Alms by friends of the possessed person, Tobit 12:8-9.
In summary, all things happen by prayers and the Word. If the [desired]
effect does not immediately follow, remember that not even the
adjurations of exorcists are always efficacious. And this benefit of
going out [of the devil] is bodily, therefore in prayers of this kind,
the will of God must always be included. Thus He hears them not
according to our will but for our help [according to what's best for
us]. But the fact that our prayers for the possessed are not heard
immediately and as we ask is due, among other things, to the unbelief
of the possessed ones, who do not approach with certain faith, asking
liberation from God. Therefore Christ said to the parent of a certain
demon-possessed one, If you can believe the liberation of your son, it
will happen." – Balduin, in Dunte, Conscientiae, pp. 100-101.
