tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post5614020956891966366..comments2024-03-29T08:52:01.745-04:00Comments on Not Another Episcopal Church Blog: An Unclean SpiritUndergroundpewsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-86130456715565670422009-02-09T08:58:00.000-05:002009-02-09T08:58:00.000-05:00The Pewster asks for evidence of (1) the existence...The Pewster asks for evidence of (1) the existence of angels, (2) Jesus' resurrection, and(3)God's existence. (1) There is no evidence for angels, which are mythical beings in the same class as demons. (2) Jesus' resurrection is in the inner life of believers. There is no evidence for any other kind of resurrection. (3) The existence and order of the universe and the religious experiences of many people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-51751173679932285392009-02-06T16:06:00.000-05:002009-02-06T16:06:00.000-05:00Welcome, and I apologize Father, but perhaps your ...Welcome, and I apologize Father, but perhaps your first comment was diverted into cyberspace.<BR/><BR/>These are important stories, and should not be assigned to the rubbish pile. One of the important issues they raise is that of Biblical interpretation.<BR/><BR/>I considered that miracles involving demons might actually be the curing of the presently incurable disease schizophrenia which of course is a miracle in and of itself, but as you correctly point out, Jesus was "casting them out" and these are presented quite differently from healing the blind or lame. If someone has a problem with the story as presented, then one must deny 1. scripture, 2. tradition, 3. Reasonable authority and he is left standing on half of a one legged stool.Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-6481565969250420112009-02-06T15:29:00.000-05:002009-02-06T15:29:00.000-05:00[posting a second time; how long does moderation t...[posting a second time; how long does moderation take?]<BR/><BR/>Two thoughts:<BR/><BR/>1) Jesus is represented talking about demons in certain passages ("This kind comes out only by fasting" [Mk.9:29], etc.). He is not just doing healings of what some now say is unrecognized mental illness; he is taking a position about demons. If Jesus didn't do what the gospels say he did, then we are in big trouble.<BR/><BR/>2) Even if it were mental illness, the episodes with voices other than the sufferer would be dissociative personality disorder (multiple personalities), which is an extremely difficult condition to see healing in. One point of the gospel accounts still stands--Jesus effected immediate healings of maladies beyond treatment in his day. People who deny demons generally deny miracles too. I'll take the miracles by faith.<BR/><BR/>(The Rev.) Jim Workman<BR/>St. Michael's Episcopal Church<BR/>Easley, SCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-90706225553491563442009-02-04T14:01:00.000-05:002009-02-04T14:01:00.000-05:00Good point anon. Perhaps, the eldsters thought the...Good point anon. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps, the eldsters thought the signs were left over from an earlier wedding.<BR/><BR/>The little Angels and their guardians handled the situation well. This may indeed be evidence supporting the existence of both angels and demons.Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-7329935533568794782009-02-04T13:17:00.000-05:002009-02-04T13:17:00.000-05:00Just a quick change of subject - or maybe just a c...Just a quick change of subject - or maybe just a commentary on the subject of Demons - <BR/><BR/>WHAT PART OF "RESERVED" don't some of the parish members understand? <BR/><BR/>The poor youth choir had to struggle to find seats because others choose to ignore the RESERVE signs posted on both ends of the pew. (Kudos to the kids and their teachers - they sounded wonderful and were very well behaved).<BR/><BR/>Maybe the folks who were so obtrusive were influenced by a "Demon"? As good an excuse as any for being inconsiderate and self-centered!<BR/><BR/>This question and comment is posted by an inquisitive parishioner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-50300905146047106492009-02-03T10:44:00.000-05:002009-02-03T10:44:00.000-05:00Not to dodge the question, but you have to be prep...Not to dodge the question, but you have to be prepared to answer the following: what is evidence for the existence of Angels? What is the evidence for Christ's resurrection? What is the evidence for God? <BR/><BR/>As an ignorant pewster, I defer to the wisdom of Pope Paul VI who in <A HREF="http://www.catholic-pages.com/morality/devil-p6.asp" REL="nofollow">1972 said</A>,<BR/><BR/>"It is a departure from the picture provided by biblical Church teaching to refuse to knowledge the Devil's existence; to regard him as a self-sustaining principle who, unlike other creatures, does not owe his origin to God; or to explain the Devil as a pseudo-reality, a conceptual, fanciful personification of the unknown causes of our misfortunes. When the problem of evil is seen in all its complexity and in its absurdity from the point of view of our limited minds, it becomes an obsession. It poses the greatest single obstacle to our religious understanding of the universe It is no accident that St. Augustine was bothered by this for years: 'I sought the source of evil, and I found no explanation.'"<BR/><BR/>"Thus we can see how important an awareness of evil is if we are to have a correct Christian concept of the world, life and salvation. We see this first in the unfolding of the Gospel story at the beginning of Christ's public life. Who can forget the highly significant description of the triple temptation of Christ? Or the many episodes in the Gospel where the Devil crosses the Lord's path and figures in His teaching? And how could we forget that Christ, referring three times to the Devil as His adversary, describes him as 'the prince of this world'?"Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-85235106155063824132009-02-03T10:04:00.000-05:002009-02-03T10:04:00.000-05:00What does the Pewster think is evidence FOR the ex...What does the Pewster think is evidence FOR the existence of demons? That is, what event(s) is/are best explained by positing the existence of demons?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-92183579076355797562009-02-02T09:20:00.000-05:002009-02-02T09:20:00.000-05:00Over the years, I have vacillated back and forth o...Over the years, I have vacillated back and forth on the subject of demons, in part because of having spent most of my life in the mixed up world of the Episcopal Church, and in part because of the difficulties the issue presents to both the current world view and theology. Wormwood may be at work in preventing me from working through the difficulties. Thank the Lord that we were given C.S. Lewis.<BR/><BR/>Now, I shudder when references to Satan are the subject of derision, and are even considered for removal from our baptismal vows. ((See <A HREF="http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/507/OtherProposedResolutionsofthe193rdAnnualConvention.pdf" REL="nofollow">this proposal</A> at the recent N.C. convention (p.4))<BR/><BR/>I agree with you R. <BR/><BR/>It has been quite a journey thus far, and happy birthday!Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-89602079427317741652009-02-02T08:06:00.000-05:002009-02-02T08:06:00.000-05:00Screwtape has always been one of my favorite Lewis...<I>Screwtape</I> has always been one of my favorite Lewis works, primarily because I think he's spot on with respect to the subject.<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid I'll stand in the "primitive" queue on this issue and say that that Satan and his minions do exist. They are constantly probing our sinful nature seeking to draw us away from God. It's what they do.<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com