The Bible

Are psychic readings justified in biblical scripture, or are they the work of the Devil? Do psychics believe in God? The answer is that we do believe in God, or at least the circles that I am associated with do. As to whether psychic readings are the work of the devil, that is open to personal interpretation of scripture, it may all depend on how fundamentalist you are in your beliefs. Recently, I had a confrontation with a local minister named Chris Holmes in Renfrew Ontario , (It was enough to make me take it off of my favorite places list). For a brief history of the story, when I was being interviewed for the local newspaper for a psychic fair that I was promoting in the area, I was innocently asked: "What about the Christian element that say what you do is wrong?" I simply made a casual statement that to deny psychic ability completely, is to deny all the prophets (Referring to gift of prophecy being one of the gifts of the Spirit.) This minister saw this quoted in the newspaper and was so incensed that he had a half page article printed on the Sunday of our fair, stating all about how the bible clearly says it is wrong. And Richard Ravenhawke knows nothing of the bible and is only interested in profits, not prophets. Well.  I was deeply upset by this judgment and the following is a copy of the rebuttal letter that I wrote to the newspaper, for him. It was printed on Thanksgiving Sunday, (not on purpose), and I think you will find it quite interesting. I titled it "Judge not, lest ye be judged." So, judge for yourself, but I believe that if done with love and concern for your fellow man, then there is nothing wrong with what I do.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged"

This is in rebuttal to the overwhelmingly judgmental letter that was published in the Renfrew "Weekender" on Sunday September 21, 1997 by an obviously very devout minister Rev. Chris Holmes on divination. (The word divination comes from the Latin "divus" which means "pertaining to God") More specifically on the way that he openly attacks psychics and tries to convince us that the way he presents his biblical references are the only way, in the entire possible world, that they can be interpreted. (Where have we all heard that one before throughout history?) The quotes that he uses are primarily from the Hebrew scriptures, (Genesis through Malachi), and taken in context of the Hebrew scriptures are quite valid, I am sure that for the pre-Christian Hebrews they played an important, key role in establishing devotion to Jehovah, (Psalms 83:18), as well as a foundation for things to come.

I find it quite amazing however, how people like Rev. Holmes, who try and lead mainstream Christianity can be so selective in dictating exactly which parts of the Hebrew scriptures still apply today, and which ones don't. For example, did you know that according to the Hebrew scriptures, (2 Kings 4:1; Ex. 21:7), children could be sold into temporary bondage by a father to repay debts? Or that crimes for which you should be stoned to death include failure to be circumcised, (Gen. 17:14; Ex. 4:24), also speaking out against your parents or striking them, apparently even in the case of an abusive situation for self defense, as no distinction is given, (Ex. 21:15, 17), or as well, (As is even more common than psychics these days) women marrying, (Notice that it is only women and not men [!?!]), under false claim of being a virgin, (Deut. 22:21). I guess that if we want to talk Hebrew law, which is in accordance with Gods ways, (As laid down in the Hebrew scriptures for our enjoyment), then maybe we should just wipe out three quarters of the worlds population. Yes, divination was also punishable by death, (Which I find rather confusing seeing that the sacred Hebrew Kabbalah, the Sefer Yetzirah translated "Book of Creation" in specific, forms the entire foundation for modern day numerology), but can we really play God ourselves and dictate what it is that still applies today and what does not, only in relation to the convenience of our own belief? Obviously Rev. Holmes thinks so. It is no wonder why Christ in the Christian Greek scriptures (Matthew through Revelation) spoke of Jerusalem as "the killer of the prophets and the stoner of those sent forth to her," (Matt. 23:37 ). Christ himself, (Don't panic Rev., I'm not comparing myself to Christ just to clarify.), was threatened with stoning (John 8:59 ; 10:31 -39: 11:8), never mind the fact that Stephen was killed in this manner, (Acts 7:58 -60), and at Lystra, fanatical Jews stoned Paul and dragged him outside if the city, leaving him for dead, (Acts 14:19 ). So I guess the Hebrews really were against prophecy of any kind.

Lets examine parts of the Greek scriptures for a brief moment though. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, speaks that faith, hope and charity are the greatest gifts to be coveted (1 Cor. 13:14 of the Holy Bible, Masonic version which is closely related to the King James). He states that prophecy without these things are nothing, (1 Cor. 13:2), but nonetheless does recognize the gift of prophecy. Specifically, in 1 Corinthians 14:1 he says: "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye MAY prophesy." Also, an excerpt from 14:5 of the same, which states, "For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues." Some other scriptures which may be of interest to Rev. Holmes are 1 Cor. 14:31 ; 14:39 , 40, in particular, verse 39 states "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy." So from a biblical standpoint, I have one quote for Rev. Holmes who is using old Hebrew law to justify a witch-hunt, it comes from the book of 1 Corinthians also in chapter 14:38 "But if a man be ignorant, let him be ignorant." Myself and the people that I work with Rev. Holmes believe in the same God that you do and who are you to compare us to the Devil? We are in this because we enjoy helping people, we do it with love, and the last I heard, the bible makes it quite simple, if you try your best to personify the gifts of the Spirit then you are in God's good books, if you do not then you are not. Just because we have a different biblical viewpoint from which we work does not mean that we deserve to be condemned. (If this is what you believe, then you may as well join the Catholics killing the Protestants over in Ireland , or any one of a number of other examples that I could cite to air out some of the church's dirty laundry.)

It is not just for profit, and if you would like a list of all the charity and volunteer work that we do, just feel free to ask. If you really want to talk prophets for profits then take a look at all the gold in Vatican , and for that matter, I wonder when was the last time that the Reverend did a service without passing the collection plate?

Let's consider for one last point that it is also a matter of familiarity. If you go back far enough to the dark ages, do you know that you could be burned at the stake for using the plus and minus signs? Yes, that's right, they were both considered signs of the Devil. You could probably be burned at the stake for inventing the telephone as well, because they didn't understand it. If you go back to the sixteen hundreds, they were burning herbalists at the stake for inventing things like aspirin, (and sometimes young girls just because they had the disadvantage of being pretty and the magistrates couldn't help their sexual attraction, so of course it had to be "enchantment" !?!). It seems that the church leaders in the Fundamentalist Christian sect have a thing with destroying what they aren't familiar with, until they understand it. Once they understand it, then they loop it under the category of science and it is O.K.

I would also like to suggest that Rev. Holmes review the doctrines of the Spiritualist Church just for fun. I think it is the Spiritualist Church of Canada that is chartered in Ontario and that also married my wife and myself. At least then, if he wants to attack someone for his or her beliefs, he can do it as an educated man. I must have forgotten the verse in the bible that says only Pentecostals, or Baptist, or perhaps only Catholics, etc. have the right to inherit the gifts of prophecy and anyone else is from the Devil. Perhaps he could refresh me on where it can be found.

And as far as using, (in my opinion), manipulation to influence people to follow your beliefs. By this I mean preying on their fears of damnation, (not to mention instilling the burden of peer pressure to get them to bend to what you want them to do), this is considered abuse the last that I heard. Psychological and emotional, but still abuse. In my opinion this makes Rev. Holmes, as well as our annual protester, (Who became so disruptive we had have the police issue him a warning this year), not only Christians, but also common bullies. And maybe I can be refreshed on where I can find the scripture that quotes that God loves bullies.

When interpretation is involved, there is no right or wrong. Even the least educated of the world know that. Remember that Spirituality is different from religion. I have met a lot of spiritual people in my days that are not necessarily religious, and a lot of religious people that can be anything but spiritual. It all comes down to acceptance for your fellow man. Reverend, please… in a world

where different races have learned to live together, (Unless you want to reference the Ku Klux Klan, who by the way, are also proud to be Christian), let’s let different religious beliefs live together as well. God will be the judge in the end and nobody knows for sure. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone", and also "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

Richard Ravenhawke

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