Definitions

The word “occult” means “hidden, concealed or secret” and refers to esoteric knowledge of such things as astrology, sorcery, magic, alchemy, etc that gives the practitioner special “powers”. Deuteronomy 18:9ff lays out God’s view of ALL occult activity, “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer or one who cases a spell, or a medium or a spiritist or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.”

Clearly, God finds such activities abominations and worthy of condemnation. In fact, He specifically states that the REASON why the Canaanites were to be destroyed was of their practiced of the occult “arts.” We need to think carefully about this for a moment; was this just some obscure, ceremonial law that was relevant only to Old Testament Israel, or is there some equity today for modern Christians and the civil magistrate - how we answer this question will have profound effects on our culture and our lives.

First, God hates occult activity SO much; he destroyed an entire nation just because they were deeply involved in it. Granted, ALL pagan nations are mired in the occult to some degree or another. Ancient Egypt was clearly committed to occult activity trying to mimic the miracles performed by Moses. There, God destroyed the entire nation through Divine judgments in the Ten Plagues. In the case of Canaan, He ordered the Israelites to be the vehicle of His judgment. Therefore SOME nations He destroys by His divine providence, while He entrusts the civil magistrates to inhibit it in others. But lest anyone think that this allows the modern magistrate off the hook, remember, God hates occultism SO much, He destroys nations that are involved with it. Occultism is like idolatry; God warns the civil magistrates in Romans 1:20ff that idolatry brings His curse on ALL societies, not just covenant ones like Israel. Therefore the civil magistrate, as a servant of God (Romans 13:1ff) WILL be held accountable to God on the Day of Judgment if they allow occultism to go unsuppressed. It is interesting in this light to note that even PAGAN nations, historically, passed laws against witchcraft, sorcery, etc.

Secondly, modern cultures would do well to consider WHY God hates occultism so much. The essence of all occult activity is power; power over the natural elements, over sickness and adversity, power over one’s enemies or simply power for power’s sake. From the beginning of human history, when Adam sought to be as God, wanting to determine good and evil for himself, wicked men have a “natural” bent towards the occult in the illusive search for power. Gary North in many of his better books has identified the essence of Satanism as “Power Religion.” Biblical religion is based on submission to Almighty God, bringing our lives into conformity with His revealed will. Jesus said it this way, “He would be great among you must first become the servant of all.” Thus ethics is central to Biblical Christianity; as we serve God, and others, His power flows into us and through us.

However rebellious Men, in a vain attempt to be as God, seek for power apart from God. They want power for its own sake, to be used according to their own will. They recognize that power can come through a strong arm, and hard work, but they also recognize that the essence of divinity is power over the “natural” world. Occultism is not a “short-cut” to power; acquiring occult power takes decades of dedicated training to master (see Carlos Castaneda) but rather an attempt to get to the “real” source of all power. The “universe” is assumed to be power in chaotic form, which by the proper rituals and procedures can be controlled by the will of men. Man thus recapitulates God’s actions in creation, imposing order on primeval chaos for His own will. Occultism thus is the inevitable religion of paganism as it represents sinful men’s attempt to become God.

Even pagan Hollywood understands this aspect of the occult; in the very first Arnold Schwarzenegger movie “Conan the Barbarian” James Earl Jones’ evil character begins his descent into wickedness by craving the “power of steel” and raids Conan’s village because of their reputation for making the best swords. Later on, in the climatic confrontation, Jones has given up on armies and steel because he discovered that the occult and religious ritual is more powerful than swords.

It is interesting that in this passage from Deuteronomy, God promises that He will raise up for His people a prophet like Moses who shall direct and guide His people. Jesus, who was the literal fulfillment of this prophecy demonstrated as a part of His divine nature, power over the demonic, the natural world and the future. All the things that shamans, witches, fortune tellers so avidly seek were demonstrated in the life and work of Jesus. Jesus was often accused by his enemies of being a sorcerer because of His demonstrated supernatural power.

But an important distinction must be made between miracles and magic; miracles are God’s intervention into human events; magic is about men attempting to exercise supernatural power on their own terms. Magic is the power to invoke, summon, or control celestial/demonic forces to do one’s bidding for either “good” or evil while miracles are an act of God through a specific individual in order to authenticate or demonstrate His sovereignty. Miracles in Scripture are never random, events. If one carefully reads through the Book of Acts, even the Apostles and their authorized agents did not perform miracles on demand. Each recorded incident is specifically given to reveal something about God, His Son or His will. Magic on the other hand, is ALWAYS about obtaining and using supernatural power for one’s own purposes. Simon Magus was specifically condemned for his attempt to purchase the abilities the Apostles demonstrated.

Thus occult practices are “detestable” to God (Deut 18:12, EX 22:18) just because they are attempts to steal His glory and honor. They are inherently blasphemous because they attribute to men, that which is reserved to the Divine nature. Occultism thus places man’s faith in his ability to imitate the divine, ascribing to himself what only God can do.

In Biblical history, one can see how God judged Israel for violating this command. Occultism was one of the sins so severe that it deserved the death penalty in ancient Israel (Ex 22:18). Occultism was one of the reasons Saul lost His kingdom (1 Chn 10:13); by consulting the witch (better translation, “medium) of Endor, Saul sought knowledge of the future apart from God. God would no longer speak to him, so he hired a medium to call up Samuel’s ghost. As a result, his apostasy was complete and he lost both his kingdom and his life the next day. Later on in Israel’s history, occultism was characteristic of Manasseh, the worst king of Judah (2 Chn 33:6) whose depravity was the final cause of their captivity in Babylon for seventy years. It is God’s irony that because of occultism (and idolatry) the remnants of Israel were enslaved for two generations in the heart of the most occult society in the ancient world! Finally, the New Testament states that people who are involved in the occult are excluded from heaven (Rev 21:8, 22:5).

This relationship between power and religion is a recurring theme in Scripture. As creatures, we have been delegated legitimate power by God; the dominion mandate of Genesis 1:26ff clearly gives man the right to exercise dominion over the earth. But we ought to note two things about the dominion mandate; first, the purpose of that power was to glorify God, not to elevate men. By subduing the earth, men would extend the beauty, harmony and productivity of the Garden over the rest of creation, thus imaging God’s work in creation.

Secondly, the means by which men were to subdue the earth was by being fruitful and multiplying, not through some supernatural accumulation of power. Men though made in the image of God, were not His equals. Even prefect, sinless men were dependant creatures created to live within the limits of a physical universe. Their dominion over the earth would be accomplished by hard (but not onerous) work-work that would be shared by future generations building on the accomplishments of their ancestors.

But occultism by nature and definition is the attempt to obtain dominion on Man’s terms by unlawful methods and procedures. It was “hidden” from the average person, and only revealed to the “chosen” ones. The beginning of ALL occultism was the Serpent’s lie to Eve in the Garden. She had revealed knowledge about God and His will, but Satan offered “hidden” knowledge that God had kept from her. Satan called God’s character into question, stating that He wanted to keep certain knowledge from Adam and Eve, knowledge that would give them the power to be as God. Satan then graciously offered to share this knowledge; eating from the forbidden fruit would make her a God. Thus occultism appealed to her vanity and desire to have power.

In many books and discussions today, those claiming to have occult powers often insist that they use them only for good and in some cases that they are actually doing God’s work! Popular television shows such as “Charmed” or “Angel” or “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” are heavily dependent upon occult forces working against evil for “good.” However, it is not just how a power is used but rather whether God glorified by its use. God and God alone can determine what glorifies His name, reveals His character and establishes right conduct. If God has forbidden us to use certain means even to a “good” end, then such practices are wrong. Thus there is no such thing as “white” magic. But the appeal is that the occultist’s “secret” knowledge and power takes precedence over God’s revelation; hence recapitulating the original sin in the Garden.

In the Deuteronomy passage, Moses identifies various types of occult activity which is specifically condemned by God. The first reference is to human sacrifice; i.e., “passing through the fire” and probably is a direct reference to Molech worship. In order to gain power from the god “Molech” (which probably comes from the word for “king” hence referring to the “King of Heaven” another blasphemous reference to the One True God) pagans would sacrifice their live babies by casting them into a furnace that had been super-heated by fire. The babies would be instantly consumed and this demonstration of loyalty to the “god” would therefore presumably bring the god’s favor. That favor might be sufficient rain for a good crop, victory over enemies in battle, prosperity in business, etc.

It is not hard to see sacrificing children as an obscene parody of God offering His only begotten Son Jesus. Human sacrifice is thought to be the most potent form of “magic” just because it imitates God’s own predetermined will to send Jesus to die for our sins.

A second form of occultism forbidden in this passage is divination or the act or practice of trying to foretell the future by unknown or occult means. Knowledge of the future represents power. Wouldn’t we all like to have knowledge of how the stock market will do next year, or what our enemies plan for us? But only God is the “alpha and omega; the first and the last, the beginning and the end” and therefore only He can know the future. For men to seek such knowledge apart from God is to attempt to manipulate that which is God’s own domain. It is to claim for one’s self the nature of God; His omniscience.

Granted, in the Bible, God did often send prophets to His people who would, on occasion and according to His will, give knowledge of future events. There was even a procedure during the tabernacle and temple years wherein one could consult the High Priests who through the use of the Ummin and Thummin could receive instruction and guidance from God. But the main purpose of a prophet, throughout the Bible was to declare God’s will, not to give power to people.

Sorcery, wizardry and witchcraft are the claim of the ability to use supernatural power to influence the natural world (NT pharmacopeia; the use of potions/drugs-). Again it is blasphemous because it represents a rival religion to Biblical Christianity. The sorcerer claims to be “connected” to the ultimate source of power which he can manipulate at will. He attributes to himself that which only God can do. Hence, it is always idolatrous and always contrary to revealed religion.

Mediums/spiritualists are those who consult the dead or through whom the dead communicate to the living. Death is the great curse and all men, at the center of their being fear it. Therefore those who can supposedly communicate with the dead achieve power over the living by allaying their fears about the “after-life.” As noted before, Saul’s consultation with a medium was his final act of rebellion that cost him his life. Today, there is even a popular television show that has made its way from basic cable to broadcast TV called “Crossing Over” wherein a medium gives “messages” to a gullible audience.

Necromancy is the acquisition or use of occult powers through contact with demons, spirits and the dead. The idea that spirit is intrinsically superior to matter is not just the product of Plato and ancient Greek. Since God’s divine power and nature is clearly seen through every aspect of creation (Romans 1:18ff), men have always understood that there exists a spiritual realm and sought a connection with it. God is Spirit, and therefore, the assumption goes, the spiritual realm is more powerful than the physical realm. If one can obtain a little power there, it could mean great power here.

Demons are well known in all ancient religions; clearly men “experimenting” in this area discovered that intelligence existed in the spiritual world and sought ways to control it. In the same way, the dead, who now reside in that spiritual universe, were assumed to have access to knowledge and power unavailable on “this side” of the life and death barrier. Necromancy was the attempt to utilize that spiritual knowledge and power.

Astrology/stargazing is the art of gaining knowledge and or power through the positions, influences etc. of the stars, planets etc. In the ancient world, the stars were seen as more than physical objects in the night sky; it was widely assumed that they represented angelic or demonic beings; it was not an accident that all the planets in our solar system were named after particular Greek gods. By studying the movement and position of the night sky, men believed they could foretell future events.

Again, astrology is a blasphemous perversion of a Biblical truth. God specifically says that one of the reasons why He created the stars was to serve as “signs” and “seasons.” The “seasons” aspect we can understand well enough as fundamental to creating a reliable calendar. If one cannot precisely mark off the seasons, especially in an agrarian society (which represents 99% of human history) one cannot know the proper times for planting or harvesting; but what about the “signs” aspect? Well, there is ONE astrological sign that every Christian knows about; the star of Bethlehem. The “Wise men” from the east KNEW that the Messiah had been born because they “saw his star” in the heavens. But where was it revealed in the Old Testament that the Messiah’s birth would be foretold by a “star?”

I would argue that God’s providence governs every aspect of His creation, including celestial mechanics. We may “know” today that stars are burning balls of gas (actually, thermonuclear explosions) but perhaps they also serve another purpose? Psalm 19:1 says that the “heavens declare the glory of God” and surely this means more than we get a funny feeling in our tummies when we look at the night sky? It may well be that God DOES reveal things about Himself through the providential movement of stellar geometry, and “stars” may be more than just physical objects.

However, while the above is an interesting speculation; whatever signs God has placed in the heavens has no direct relationship to the practice of astrology. Astrology is blasphemous just because it attributes the predestination of God to some other entity; the planets and stars (or the spiritual beings believed to be behind them). While the modern astrologer may reject the association with angelic or demonic forces, the underlying presupposition remains that some entity other than God directs the course of human life. Thus to consult the stars through astrology was another form of worship and service to these false gods.

Finally, God finds occultism detestable because the content is often revolting; sexuality/sensuality, disgusting practices; grave robbing, use of body parts/fluids/excrement, human sacrifice are all part and parcel of the “magical” world. The very things God calls “unclean” in the Old Testament ceremonial laws are the essential ingredients in sorcery and witchcraft.

Occultism’s Worldview The basic presupposition of occultism is the myth of primeval chaos and ethical neutrality. Like modern evolutionary theory, occultism believes that order arose out of chaos. Man’s will becomes the ultimate standard as he imposes order over the cosmic forces. The “supernatural” thus consists of potential energy that is available to those who understand how to use it for their own ends. In the ancient world these forces were sometimes associated with various pagan gods, demons, spirits or even just “forces” that if properly manipulated could grant the user power.

Since the ultimate nature of creation was chaos, there was no definite standard of good or evil, apart from the will of the individual who had the most power. Kings in the ancient world were seen as semi-divine connections between this world and the next. Sorcerers and Necromancers often worked FOR the King. But the worst sort of atrocities were common to both since there existed no ultimate moral standard other than the will of the most powerful.

Occultism of course is not just an ancient, pagan belief. In modern society these same “forces” have been secularized by giving them a “scientific” covering: for example, the brain supposedly only uses 1/10th of the available material- could the other 90% be used in ways that are now long forgotten? Or perhaps “ESP” is an evolutionary atrophied ability lost because of man’s increasing dependence on the left hemisphere of his brain which stresses reason and logic? Poltergeists (a German word meaning “noisy ghosts” referring to mischievous or even dangerous hauntings) could in reality be the electromagnetic disturbances caused by anxiety and trauma of puberty and adolescence. The “Force” is a universal energy field created by all living creatures which the properly instructed can manipulate at will.

The point here of course is that though the explanation given is different, and more acceptable to the modern mind, ancient occultism and new age thinking, paranormal “science” etc., is really describing the same phenomenon.

Both ancient and contemporary manifestations of the “supernatural” exalt man at God’s expense; we simply replace the old gods for new ones. Romans 1:23 demonstrates that idolatry comes in many forms; men may worship animals, spirits or Man himself.

Thus occultism is ultimately deceptive because we do not live in a morally neutral universe, but rather an ethical one; i.e. if your “power” does not come from God then it must come from the adversary. But the power that God gives men is obtained by ethics, not ritual, and is to be exercised for His glory through dedicated loving service to others (Mark 10:45). Occultism however offers the temptation of power apart from God that Man can obtain on his own terms.

Why the Resurgence of the Occult? Occultism is most closely associated with paganism and as the gospel conquered Europe, occultism was suppressed. In many places, only the most rural areas retained some of the older rituals; and even these were Christianized. The Renaissance, however, saw an outbreak of occultism that is seldom mentioned in most history text-books; the Italians rediscovered more than just Greek sculpture and philosophy but some of their darker secrets as well.

Alchemy was a serious attempt at discovering the “basic” nature of creation and manipulating it. The goal was not as popular imagination would have it to turn lead into gold, but to discover the “elixir vitae” that would grant immortality and spiritual power. Certainly there were attempts at matter transmutation, but how much of this was sincere, or how much was a way of getting financing from Kings and Princes is unclear. One of the most enduring characteristics of occultism is its close association with con artistry. Even the most primitive shaman dancing naked around a camp fire knows that MOST of his REAL power comes from the belief of others rather than in anything he can actually do. In fact, an argument could be made that shamans, witchdoctors, alchemists, sorcerers and necromancers were the first practical psychologists capitalizing on the gullibility of the people. After all, if people THINK you can do something supernatural, it gives you power over them, regardless of whether you actually CAN do anything supernatural.

But with the Reformation and the Enlightenment, rationalism came to rule the day. Reason, logic and clear, critical thinking are the most effective counter-agents to the occult. Reason and logic make things clear and can be shown to anyone who wants to know the truth. Occultism by its very nature defies rational categories and can be learned only if one is initiated into the secret mysteries of the cult.

Thus, occultism went underground during the Reformation, existing mostly in secret societies that turned to political and cultural issues in the 17-18th centuries. The theology of ALL revolutionary movements has its origin in occult thinking. In order for societies to be transformed, men must descend back into the primeval chaos that is the ultimate nature of reality. Then SOME men can enforce their will on that chaos and bring about a new political, economic or social order. As demonstrated in the book, “Fire in the Hearts of Men” all of the social revolutionaries of the 19th century can trace their ancestry directly back to earlier occult societies.

But in the mainstream, at least in the West, occultism dwindled into fairy tale and folk-lore. Christianity and rationalism ruled the day and even in the secularizing process of the 19th century when Materialists won many of the philosophical battles, occultism was seen as the last remnants of a primitive worldview.

But in the last half of the 20th century, occultism returned with a vengeance. Partially, thanks to the bankruptcy of modern philosophy, many people lost the very idea of objective truth. If there is no one, all encompassing truth, then there is no place for rationalism. Reason is a useful tool, but if people begin with the basic presupposition that the ultimate nature of reality is chaos (i.e., there is NO truth), then the door has been opened for occultism to make its reappearance.

Rational thought, a product of a consistent, Christian worldview, allows us to have dominion over the world by ensuring that what we THINK is real, is “really” real. By thinking logically and critically, we can evaluate various claims, and therefore determine truth from error. But if there is no truth, just the subjective impression of the individual, then the chaos is king. As a result, people can believe anything, because anything COULD be true. As mentioned before, one of the marks of people involved in occultism is gullibility; as demonstrated in another article (The “Reality” of Occult Phenomenon); there is actually little real evidence to support claims of occult activity. Even Gary North in his book, “Unholy Spirits” gives undue credence to CLAIMS of occult activity that do not stand the tests of empirical research. Dr. North insists that this is due to occult phenomenon not fitting within the worldviews of modern academics; and to a degree he is most certainly correct.

There are no brute facts, only interpreted ones and one’s presuppositions will determine whether something is even considered a “fact” in the first place. Academics who are materialists at heart are not above discounting the evidence of their own eyes as not being “evidence” just because it does not fit within their frame of reference. And yet, this charge can be turned directly back at Christians. Christians who ASSUME the existence of the supernatural can often believe a certain event has a supernatural origin when in reality it is just good old slight of hand.

The answer to both problems is to think rationally and critically, like the Bereans did before believing every claim that comes to our attention. The Bereans began with the right presuppositions, the authority of Scripture, and then reasoned FROM those Scriptures to evaluate the claims the Apostles were making about Christ. This same process is necessary for all areas of life; begin with the proper presuppositions and then think clearly and logically from those presuppositions.

However, reason, logic and critical thinking are not emphasized in the modern educational system; not by Humanists, and sadly, not often by Christians. The average Christian either accepts things by appeal to an authority (pastor, teacher, popular writer or television personality) or adopts a subjective standard of truth based on whatever the “Spirit” speaks in his “heart.”

The secular world also has adopted a largely subjective standard of truth. There are many supposed “truths” out there and the only unforgivable sin is to hold one truth above another. Both errors in rationality inevitably lead to allowing occultism to flourish.

Of course, the universe is the way God made it and therefore either you live in harmony with that reality, or you suffer. Scientists, engineers and technicians have in the past provided a bulwark against mysticism and occultism because their basic presupposition was that through the scientific method, the universe would be required to give up all its secrets. The 19th century saw the transition from a religious worldview to a secular/materialist worldview partially because of the power that the scientific method gave to modern man. Science discovered how to make rail-roads, cure diseases, mine ores, build better weapons, conquered the skies and even led us to the moon.

But there was a dark side to science. In the 20th century, the optimistic hopes of the 19th century were crushed by two world wars and the invention of nuclear weapons that could potentially end life as we know it on earth. Furthermore, there were limits to where scientific enquiry could take us. The discoveries about the basic nature of the universe at the sub-atomic level destroyed the earlier Newtonian view of physics. In some way, the very act of observing sub-atomic particles determined how they would respond.

As a result of the increasing mystery of modern physics, the older materialist’s consensus was destroyed. Einstein never discovered his unified field theory which would tie all of physics together. While Science Fiction has gone from embarrassingly bad speculation unknown outside of a small audience to capturing the popular imagination, the reality is that physics has been in despair for almost a century. The world does not seem to fit into any of the comfortable categories established by the 19th century materialists. And as a result, the possibility of occultism has to be entertained.

All societies have some sort of religious beliefs about the nature of the universe and in the West, that mythology for 150 years has been scientific materialism. Therefore, for any idea to become acceptable, it MUST fit within the dominant scientific worldview. Therefore, occultism was transferred from the magician’s study to the scientific laboratory and renamed “Paranormal Research.” For years, such activity has been seen as on the fringes of scientific enquiry, but the very fact that universities take it seriously enough that they offer courses and degrees in these areas, has therefore authenticated occultism in the popular mind. The average person today who has read anything of the actual literature would come away with the clear conception that science has “proven” the existence of ESP, poltergeists, and other occult phenomenon. The reality of course is less clear, but the fact that the highest authority in Western culture, the secular university, teaches such things, therefore makes its acceptance almost guaranteed.

Another reason for the recent outbreak of occultism has to with the church adopting 19th century materialists’ skepticism of the supernatural. Liberal theology was an attempt to adapt the Bible to the prevailing cultural norms, and in those days, that meant getting rid of the supernatural and the miraculous. This left a gaping hole in the human psyche that occultism has been quick to fill. People WANT to believe in something greater and grander than themselves, and as discussed previously, there is an innate hunger for supernatural power to bolster our inner desire to be “as gods.” What mainstream Christianity took away, cults, sects and occultism gave back; at the price of reason and rationality and the dangers of consorting with demons.

Finally, occultism found a ripe harvest because of the chaos and complexity of modern culture. From 1960 onwards, the West has been experiencing a traumatic social revolution. Sexuality, abortion, the break-down of the traditional family, the failure of modern religion, etc., all have combined to create a social situation that leaves the average person feeling confused and estranged. Occultism in its various forms promises to bring meaning to these people, to put them in touch with the ultimate nature of reality while not requiring them to abandon their most basic presupposition that the world must revolve around them. It is no accident that the fastest growing Christian churches in the world are those that PROMISE miracles to their people on a regular basis.

For the Christian, the supernatural really exists. We believe in a sovereign God who according to His own providence can and does interact with His creation. We believe that prayer really can change things. We believe in the existence of spiritual beings at war with our heavenly Father and at enmity with us. Thus, we are predisposed to seeing “supernatural” explanations of various events. When we hear people of good repute and respectable character giving reports of demons exorcized, bodies healed, or even the dead being raised, we do not immediately dismiss such accounts because they COULD be true.

Dealing with the Occult In light of what we have discussed, what ought to be the Christian response to occultism? It is pervasive in our culture; rather boring, traditional English school stories infused with a little magic has made J. K. Rowling fantastically rich. The most successful movies and films of the past twenty-five years all have strong occult themes. The Christian cannot escape the occultism of modern society unless they withdraw completely FROM that society. So what do we do?

First, there is a lot of fear amongst many Christians regarding anything even remotely associated with the occult; unreasonable fear. Attacks have been made against J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis’s fiction because there is “magic” in their books. The “Dark Side” of Harry Potter has been popularized by many different writers all motivated by a legitimate concern that exposure to this kind of material MIGHT lead to future involvement in the occult.

But there is “magic” and there is MAGIC and we have to distinguish between the two. In Christian works, the “magic” must be understood in context of the times. Remember, these books were written before the modern resurgence of occultism in a time when Materialism seemed destined to extinguish popular belief in ALL supernatural phenomena, including Biblical Christianity. Lewis and Tolkien’s use of good “magic” for example is always CLEARY distinguishable from the evil sorts that come from demonic associations. In Lewis especially, he uses “magic” in the sense of “miracle.”

In Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” the “wizard” Gandalf is in reality an angel sent to earth to help men battle against the evil demon, Sauron. He is severely restricted in using “magic” and his purpose is more to motivate men than it is to directly battle evil. Yes, there are “magical” rings, swords, and devices, but even here, Necromancy and Sorcery are clearly seen as evil and satanic. The “magical” devices are basically technology that is not understood by the average person. And that phenomenon is just as true of the average person today as it is in Tolkien’s world. How many people actually understand how their television works, or could explain the physics of an internal combustion engine? But we do not call such things “magic” but invoke the more acceptable term “technology.”

If there is an actual difference between “magic” and “technology” it is the application of the scientific method. Technology by definition is something that COULD be understood if a person was willing to put in the time to study it. Magic on the other hand, by its nature, is hidden from the average person and only the initiate, with the proper mind-set and conditioning can master it.

Secondly, occultism in movies and books, even when it comes from a secular source does not necessarily qualify as one of the detestable things in Deuteronomy. For example, is the comic book hero “Superman” something God had in mind when He outlawed occult activity? Superman is an alien being with powers far and above the abilities of the average human. He can fly, is invulnerable, has X-ray vision and has super-strength: does this make him an occult figure?

I would argue no, because there is in Western culture, going back to the beginnings of Christianity in Europe, myths, legends and folk-tales where people have extraordinary powers. But they are just that, stories; they are not real, we are not supposed to believe them, and nobody does. We find such characters interesting and fascinating BECAUSE they can do things that no real human can do, not because somehow we believe we can obtain such powers.

Granted, there have always been some little children who put on their Superman capes and jump off the roofs of their houses trying to fly and yes, there are a few adults with brain dysfunction who religiously attend Star Trek conventions anxiously hoping that Scottie will “beam them up.” But we LAUGH at such people just because they cannot separate fantasy from reality.

Does not EVERY little Christian boy find Samson the most interesting character in the Bible? And haven’t most of them, at least a few times, played as Samson pulling down the temple? Is it not the very fact of Samson’s unusual power, through his amazing strength the very reason why we find his story so fascinating?

Movies, television shows and books I think fall into this same category. Just because the hero may have some unusual powers does not necessarily mean that the show is outright demonic in its orientation and therefore ought to be avoided. What is of far more importance is the values and morality being portrayed. Is it not interesting that many Christians “horrified” by the thought of watching certain movies that may have some form of supernaturalism will relish romantic trash that glorifies adultery, fornication, rebellious children, etc? So which kind of film is more likely to cause serious harm to one’s soul?

Granted, there ARE such films and books that by their nature are simply evil; they glorify the occult, and romanticize evil. The most dangerous are probably the “Slasher” movies. In this genre, begun by the infamous cult film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and made popular by “Halloween” demonically controlled human beings gruesomely murder stupid teenagers who insist on going into dark places alone. Werewolves, Vampires and Frankenstein’s monster are creatures of fiction; we know they do not exist. But homicidal sociopaths dismembering innocent people are all too real.

As seriously as we ought to take God’s warning against occultism in any form, we need to make a distinction between the actual practice of such blasphemies and its mere occurrence in literature or films. Just because something has “magic” in it does not necessarily make it unlawful.

Bram Stoker’s famous novel “Dracula” is inherently a Christian book because it clearly identifies the main character with Satan, and he is to be opposed by Christianity. Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” though written by a 19 year old girl involved in an adulterous relationship with Percy Shelly, addresses a fundamental question about the relationship between science and religion; man might be able to create life, but only God can create a soul. In the BEST examples of this kind of literature, the “occult” aspects may be present, but they are addressed from a Biblical perspective, even if the writer or producer himself is NOT a Christian. They cannot help but do so because God is the ultimate source of all truth and beauty. For a film or novel to work, it must relate back to God in some way, even if it is thoroughly unintentional on the part of the author or film-makers.

The Francis Ford Coppola film version of Dracula is a wicked movie; Dracula is portrayed as a sympathetic creature, appealing and seductive. He is turned into a vampire after his wife commits suicide and he rebels against God. There are gross scenes of sexuality that serve no other purpose but to titillate the audience (and personally speaking, the reason why I usually only watch such films on our VCR or DVD, the fast forward button is a necessity). But even in this, the director to resolve his story HAD to return to Christian themes of redemption. Thus even in a most perverse and wicked film, God’s image bears through.

Furthermore, fiction CAN be a legitimate means of discussing profound theological and philosophical issues without tempting anyone to dabble in occultism. Popular films, especially ones with occult themes, can open the door to sharing the gospel that would otherwise remain firmly closed. People are hesitant about sharing their personal beliefs about God, but will often willingly engage in long conversations about films and books.

Though a tangent, perhaps this is the time to discuss the role of all forms of “entertainment.” Christians need to be able to analyze what they see on TV and films or read in books. Every author or producer has a worldview they want to present. The “entertainment” is just a means of packaging that worldview to make it easier for the audience to understand. When we watch something, or read something, we will find it “entertaining” if it meets certain, objective criteria; are there characters with whom we can identify and sympathize, are there conflicts that concern us that are resolved in a satisfactory way? Is the film well made, or book well written?

However, the crucial aspect is ALWAYS the worldview of the writer, director, producer, etc. Furthermore, since making movies is about making money, there is a limit as to how far the author or producer can push that agenda before losing their audience. And just because “in Him we live and move and have our being” even wicked men, cannot help but image the God who created them.

Either Christians just step out of the whole arena of movies and fiction, thus cutting us off from where the average person thinks and feels, or we have to learn how to deal with these worldviews that are in conflict with ours. We have to do more than just sit passively absorbing “entertainment” but instead learn how to analyze the worldview and critique it.

Furthermore, we need to learn how to show that Hollywood’s worldview is either arbitrary or inconsistent; the fatal flaws in all non-Christian worldviews. Apologetics is the full time responsibility of every Christian as he interacts with friends, neighbors and co-workers. Our goal is to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:4-5) and present the truth claims of King Jesus.

Discussing popular films, especially science fiction and those with some sort of occult theme, has thus been one of the most effective evangelistic tools I have ever found because people LIKE to talk about their favorite movies. They may not have read much philosophy or thought through their own worldview, but they have watched countless hours of movies and television. By learning how to discover the worldview of a film, and then exposing its errors, we CAN then break the ground for evangelism.

For example, several years ago an extraordinarily well made film, “The Sixth Sense” dealt with a little boy who saw dead people. He was not a medium or spiritualist and his “sight” was a terrifying experience he wanted to be rid of. This was a “haunting” film as a psychologist deals with his own estranged wife while trying to help the little boy through his horror filled days. It had a shock ending, that caught most viewers unaware, and for a while, everyone was talking about the movie. Now, not for a moment does the Christian have to give any credence to the worldview in this movie. Yes, it does have occult themes dealing as it does with a boy who sees and talks to dead people. And we know that the dead are not wandering around seeking to resolve personal problems before they move “into the light.” However, it does RAISE the issue of life after death and from the perspective of the viewer, the even more important issue of the responsibilities of life BEFORE death. We can use this movie and others to introduce the TRUTH; and we can legitimately appreciate a brilliant piece of film-making at the same time.

However, Christians seem to have fallen into the secular trap of seeing movies and TV as merely “entertainment.” Too often, they are passive recipients satisfied with watching the pretty pictures flashing across the scene, not thinking about what they are watching and why they find it interesting and “entertaining.” Granted, one can appreciate the Indiana Jones movies, even while discarding the gross misunderstanding of the nature of God that is prevalent; after all, its fun to hate Nazis! But we must not settle for this superficial level even if we can appreciate it. The issues are always deeper and ALWAYS must relate back to God.

Whether Hollywood or Stephen King know it or not, they can create meaningful, entertainment only if they assume certain things that their own worldview cannot sustain. God is the creator of all things, and His character and nature are revealed in all things. The eternal themes that make great literature or films are that which touches on the nature of God and Man.

However, many people have expressed the concern that entertainment could be the means of actually introducing people into occult activity. And yes, as mentioned previously, there are those who cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality and therefore they ought to refrain from such areas; just as there are people who cannot handle drinking alcohol without getting drunk and should probably refrain from drinking, or those who cannot stop themselves from eating an entire pie ought to keep sweet stuff out of the house.

The real danger of occultism is not its mere presence in a book or film, but in a person’s view of God, and in their daily practice. Ask the average Christian their astrological sign and probably 99% know it. Perhaps not as many, but an overwhelming majority read their horoscope on a daily basis. Many Christians have had their fortunes told, or played with Ouija boards or even participated in a séances. The danger from the media is that unthinking Christians can become desensitized to the occult and accept it as normal, and eventually leading some to participate in it, thus bringing them under God’s wrath.

The average pagan however sees occultism in films and literature as an experience, not unlike the thrill of a roller coaster. If done technically well, then a “scary” movie or book makes them FEEL something-but since they do not really believe in the occult, just as they do not really think the roller coaster is going to kill them, it is a “safe” feeling.

Christians on the other hand realize that the world that occultism describes (often erroneously) is in fact real; and some times they become terribly frightened. Unlike the pagan who is just looking for a thrill, the Christian knows that there are such things as demons and rightly do not want to become involved with them.

Granted, there are certain popular role playing games that actually REQUIRE the player to indulge in sorcery and necromancy; and here the Christian parent has a right to be concerned. If God says something is “detestable” then we can rightly question whether allowing our children to role play disgusting things is lawful.

However, it appears that often, the real problem is fear; many Christians fear that they might inadvertently invite demonic activity in their homes by simply watching certain movies, reading certain books or even if they play a particular computer game.

The Christian of course ought never to give into fear because “greater is He who is in you, then he who is in the world.” The Adversary certainly has power, even power which he MIGHT occasionally share with some deluded humans; but if we walk in faith before God, repenting of our sins and trusting in Him, there is little that the enemy can do to us. Remember, the New Testament, though documenting the reality of demonic possession, places far more emphasis on the demon’s ability to DECEIVE the elect, than it does on Christians being attacked by them! To the contrary, when the gospel is preached and believed, the demons tremble and flee. We ought to have the same attitude towards the occult as the Bible itself does; recognize its reality, understand its dangers and then, just ignore it. Christians ought never to be concerned about haunted houses or spooks or curses; they need to be concerned about selfishness, arrogance, pride and willful sin. Demons cannot harm you, but a stubborn, rebellious heart CAN bring God’s judgment and that is the ONLY thing we should fear.