Recently I've had an intense temptation to practice astral projection. I realize that, though it might be real it can only lead you to new age beliefs which is a bunch of baloney I cannot believe in. Though the powers might be real the beliefs they seem to inspire lead to nonsense, evil and/or delusion. Although I don't believe in the variety of stuff New Agers might, I'm attracted by some of their practices. There are times when I think that some how I'm going to find some special truth all the others haven't realized yet.
But why do I think I'm going to find some inspiration? I've read through forums, watched Youtube videos and read books of New Agers/occultists. I know what New Agers believe, most of which is silly, much of it is delusional and as a belief system, its incredibly shallow and weak. I just can't believe in that stuff.
But astral projection (AP), lucid dreaming, and to some limited extent psychic powers intrigue me because they can happen to people unprovoked. Sometimes I hear about a person waking up floating over their body, being able to control their dreams, or getting accurate premonitions. The person doesn't know what's happening to them, try to find out and come upon info on the new age/occult and then thinking they've come upon something amazing they end up in the new age movement. Why are people being led away like this?
And even though I don't believe in new age beliefs astral projection sometimes feels like a challenge to Christianity. And sometimes I think it is. Maybe satan is trying to setup all of this to lead people away. But how do we stop this and convince people they are being deceived when these experiences seem so more convincing to them?
The temptation to try out AP is so strong. Satan is trying to get me to doubt God and leave Christianity. "If AP is real, how can Christianity be?" "What if the New Agers are right to explore these powers?" "What if there is something I am missing out on, some truth, some clarity by not exploring AP?" These are the questions that plague me. I wrestle with whether it is me asking these questions or simply satan suggesting these to me. It feels like a constant mind game.
Please help. I need something to really convince me to stay away from AP and the occult in general. Every time I make a resolve to avoid AP, doubts just keep coming up into my mind. I am not Catholic yet. I want to be but over the years I feel like satan has been dogging me with doubts about just about everything to keep me away and its been working. But then I keep being called back to God and the Church.
Has anyone ever experienced temptation like this? I'm not sure what to do or to think anymore.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks.
P.S. Sorry for the length and I hope no one takes my criticisms of the new age movement as a personal attack because they are not.
But why do I think I'm going to find some inspiration? I've read through forums, watched Youtube videos and read books of New Agers/occultists. I know what New Agers believe, most of which is silly, much of it is delusional and as a belief system, its incredibly shallow and weak. I just can't believe in that stuff.
But astral projection (AP), lucid dreaming, and to some limited extent psychic powers intrigue me because they can happen to people unprovoked. Sometimes I hear about a person waking up floating over their body, being able to control their dreams, or getting accurate premonitions. The person doesn't know what's happening to them, try to find out and come upon info on the new age/occult and then thinking they've come upon something amazing they end up in the new age movement. Why are people being led away like this?
And even though I don't believe in new age beliefs astral projection sometimes feels like a challenge to Christianity. And sometimes I think it is. Maybe satan is trying to setup all of this to lead people away. But how do we stop this and convince people they are being deceived when these experiences seem so more convincing to them?
The temptation to try out AP is so strong. Satan is trying to get me to doubt God and leave Christianity. "If AP is real, how can Christianity be?" "What if the New Agers are right to explore these powers?" "What if there is something I am missing out on, some truth, some clarity by not exploring AP?" These are the questions that plague me. I wrestle with whether it is me asking these questions or simply satan suggesting these to me. It feels like a constant mind game.
Please help. I need something to really convince me to stay away from AP and the occult in general. Every time I make a resolve to avoid AP, doubts just keep coming up into my mind. I am not Catholic yet. I want to be but over the years I feel like satan has been dogging me with doubts about just about everything to keep me away and its been working. But then I keep being called back to God and the Church.
Has anyone ever experienced temptation like this? I'm not sure what to do or to think anymore.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks.
P.S. Sorry for the length and I hope no one takes my criticisms of the new age movement as a personal attack because they are not.