posted on Apr, 8 2006 @ 10:09 AM
Metro said:
" Just to point out something else to people (but it relates to aliens and UFO's (sorry if I cross subjects here but I believe this is
paranormal as well), is that abductions and/or contact always happens to the unbelievers of any faith. subconsciencly atheists I believe everyone is
always looking for a spiritual connection because its a need we all need, and we all have different ways of searching for it. ......... But anything
evil when it comes to aliens or ghosts usually can be related to someone who actively insults/ridicules/challenges God. "
Very dogmatically expressed opinions ..... but demonstrably untrue, as you'll learn if you consult the thousands of accounts available, extending
back to ancient times. In fact, it's difficult to understand your assertions. Are they based on information provided you by your family and
religion?
Are you aware of the literally thousands of people who were visited by the 'ghosts' of their loved ones who had been killed in both the World wars,
for example? Many of those 'ghosts' were crisis apparitions, appearing to say goodbye or impart a message of importance to them(and possibly to
others) at the moment of their deaths. Many provided information which was later proved to be correct. Some of those who have gone on record as
having experienced a 'ghost' are/were devout members of the clergy. Others were and are ordinary folk with unshakable faith in God.
Similarly, many who have witnessed what they suspect are extraterrestrial 'aliens', are upstanding, God-fearing members of the community, including
pastors, vicars, priests, police-officers, etc. Often, they were accompanied by others, equally believers in God, who also witnessed the event.
Several decades ago, a pastor-school teacher in Papua New Guinea ... along with several pupils and others ... witnessed what were described as unknown
but human-like creatures which apparently waved to the witnesses several times from a craft fitting the description of a 'UFO'.
There are dozens of such accounts which have been published and which are available in any library. For instance, the Bible and other
respected/religious tomes contain numerous accounts of ghosts and airborne vehicles and creatures which reportedly appeared before some very
illustrious personages who might be of the opinion their relationship with God dwarfs that of mere mortals such as yourself.
Metro, you stated in your original post to the effect your parents informed you in early childhood that good and bad spirits exists and it was up to
you to differentiate and deal with the situation.
I was more fortunate. The advice given to me as a child was:
" Keep your face to the sun (Son) and let the shadows fall behind you."
By that, my father meant that as we can only fully concentrate on one thing at once, I should keep my focus on God.
God invites us to trust to him and to seek his protection.
When we have God on our side, watching our back for us .... we have no need to fear anything. Taking care of the darkness is God's area of
expertise. We're less than amateurs.
When we ride in something as prosaic as a bus or taxi, we place our lives in the hands of a complete stranger. We don't presume to take over the
driver's seat. Instead, we trust the driver to know his job; know the way and get us to our destination safely. And that only involves the life or
death of our physical body, which itself is basically just another vehicle.
Why then, would anyone presume to take over the reins with regard to their spirit and it's journey through eternity? That is something I've
definitely handed over to God !
If you go to a rock concert, you watch the performers, not the people sitting behind you. Those people sitting behind you may as well not exist. You
don't notice them. Why should you, unless they try for your attention. But if you are engrossed in the concert before you, you still pay little
attention to what's behind you. Starved of attention, the disturbance in the background fades and disappears: fails to make an impression on your
concentration.
Similarly, if you keep your attention turned to God, everything else is relagated to the shadows, where it belongs. Nothing can compete with God, nor
should we permit it to try by granting it attention.
Unfortunately, many religions operate like political parties. In an attempt to hold our attention and gain our vote, they concentrate on their
opposition. In doing so, and by deliberate and exaggerated fear-mongering, they often succeed in arousing curiosity about the 'other party'.
In life, a vote wrongly cast can be corrected later in time. None of us knows when he/she will die however and many fail to appreciate that a
wrongly cast vote regarding their eternity in spirit, cannot be corrected in time. Best therefore to keep your face to the sun (God by whatever
name). Concentrate on God. He'll take care of the rest. His radiance upon you will make shadow of everything you fear or which may wish to harm
your spirit.
Conversely, should you actively SEEK the shadows (and entering a 'satanic ' chatroom -- for whatever reason-- implies a wish to do so) would require
you to consciously turn your back to God.
Having said that, I have seen what is described as a 'ghost' on more than one occasion, just as I've experienced what may have been some version of
'alien', in addition to other paranormal experiences. Such experiences were not necessarily 'evil' in themselves, nor does the fact I
spontaneously experienced them imply a rejection of God, as God is aware.
It's been apparent to most, for as long as humans have walked this earth, that we share it with some unusual and sometimes disturbing others. These
others are not visible all of the time, or to all of the people. Some deny the existence of the others, whilst some choose to describe the others as
'evil' ... in the same way Bush describes all those he cannot control utterly as 'evil-doers'. Ignorance and fear are primarily responsible for
such attitudes and beliefs. Ghosts are (and have been) seen by many, as have 'aliens' and other currently-debated entities. In time, we may learn
that these are as normal and ordinary a part of 'reality' as we are --- and like us, come in the 'good', 'bad' and 'middling' categories.
Currently, no-one can say with certainty if only some or all of us are able to see ghosts ..... or if the ghosts themselves determine when and by whom
they will be seen. Similarly with 'aliens' and other entities described as paranormal.
*Spontaneous* experiences of ghosts, etc., do not reflect on the experiencer's spiritual (i.e., faith in God) bent. And those who deliberately
summon what they believe to be 'evil' spirits should properly be left to comment (or not) upon their spiritual leanings.