Asking the clergy about psychics
Psychics have come up in the world. They fill concert halls, consult with heads of state, help the police and are the subject of TV shows and movies. Patricia Arquette's "Medium" was based on real-life psychic medium Allison DuBois. Hicksville's Theresa Caputo stars in "Long Island Medium," a new show on TLC. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett portrayed a medium who helps others cope and solves crimes in "The Gift."
Although given this warm embrace today, were the Scriptures as kind to those professing to have the gift?
The Rev. Steve Pierce, pastor, Community Reformed Church, Manhasset:
Yes, psychics have a role, but not necessarily a favorable one. Psychics appear in both the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament. There are actually many unfavorable references to psychics and mediums.
In Torah, the Israelites were to remain completely loyal to God, and one of the ways they were to show God their utmost devotion and loyalty was by avoiding those who practiced magic, consulted dead spirits or sought oracles from the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). In Leviticus 20:6, the Israelites are warned not to "prostitute themselves" or consult with mediums or wizards, lest God "cut them off from the community."
Today, there are mediums who seem to be able to see into the spiritual world. I can't explain it. There are clergy who don't believe in mediums at all, I just can't go that far. I don't see even in the Torah where it denies their existence.
Why go into specific detail in the Scriptures if they don't exist?
Rabbi William Siemers, Temple Israel, Riverhead:
The Bible forbids fortunetelling, specifically in the Book of Deuteronomy, especially verse 18-22. The Bible is against magic in a lot of ways. The children of Israel were surrounded by magical cultures who believed you could manipulate nature with practices and words.
The religion of Israel is not based on magic, but in trusting in God and building moral human institutions.
Yes, Kabbalah believes in magic, but it is a post-
biblical phenomenon. Part of what Kabbalah does is to deal with things that the Bible does not deal with.
Even though prophecy and fortunetelling may seem like they're the same thing, they're different.
Prophecy is not about predicting the future as much as providing a theological context to history. Prophets do make predictions, but predictions are not the essence of the prophecy. The essence of the prophecy is explaining why something -- good or bad -- is going to happen, understanding the will of God.
Brother Dunston, Little Portion Friary, the Society of St. Francis, Mount Sinai:
Their role is both good and bad. It deals with the spiritual life. If a person is a fortuneteller, he will be trying to speak with the dead to give us answers about the living and about the hereafter. It is not our business what goes on in the spiritual life until we get there.
And, here on Earth, each of us must make a decision whether we want to make a life with God or go another way.
The inquisitive Christian may go to a fortuneteller, medium, have his tarot cards read, etc. But, when humans die, the body stays here, and the spirit continues on.
If you're willing to take the answer given by the Holy Father, you don't need to consult a psychic. That psychic, like all creatures, was created by the creator. Why go to a middleman for answers when you can go to the source, the creator, for all your answers?
What the Scriptures taught them and teaches us is that if you have faith and trust in God, our Father, our Redeemer and Holy Spirit, you don't need to go to anyone else.
The Rev. Sandra Mantz, Setauket United Methodist Church, Setauket:
I look at it as psychics vs. prophets, who are of God. In the Old Testament, fortunetellers were banned. God didn't want the Israelites turning to these mystical people and away from his teachings. And, he didn't want them falling prey to false prophets. He told them he would raise up a prophet.
In the New Testament (Matthew 24:11-24 and 1 John 4:1-3), we hear of false prophets and being able to tell a true prophet because he speaks the word of God.
There is a temptation to consult a psychic when you are having difficulties or are unsure of what is to come. You're having a rough week, and your horoscope says you're going to have a good day tomorrow and you feel better. But, God wants you to look to him for comfort. That's what the Scriptures explain, that he is our comfort if we trust in him.
I also think that the problem with psychics is that they can leave you without hope. They tell you something bad, and then you're in fear of that bad thing coming true. There's no comfort in that.
And, of course, there are also false prophets. I like to think that God gives us the gift of discernment, so we can tell the difference.
