The Occult

The term refers to "hidden" or "secret" wisdom; to that which is beyond the range of ordinary human knowledge; to mysterious or concealed phenomena; to inexplicable events. It is frequently used in reference to certain practices (occult "arts") which include divination, fortune telling, spiritism (necromancy), and magic.

Those phenomena collectively known as "the occult" may be said to have the following distinct characteristics: (1) the disclosure and communication of information unavailable to humans through normal means (beyond the five senses); (2) the placing of persons in contact with supernatural powers, paranormal energies, or demonic forces; (3) the acquisition and mastery of power in order to manipulate or influence other people into certain actions.

In an attempt to achieve legitimization and acceptance from the larger society, advocates of occultism have in recent years portrayed the occult as basically amenable to scientific investigation. Parapsychology and graphology are two fields in which the claim to scientific status is often advanced. There is considerable disagreement in both the academic world and the religious world as to whether parapsychology, for example, is the "scientific" study of occult phenomena. It would appear that the very character of the occult indicates that it deals with contradictory or dissonant knowledge claims that are difficult, if not impossible, to investigate or validate.

However, recent developments not only in science but in the arts, politics, psychology, and religion indicate a broad shift in Western culture to increased acceptance of a common set of presuppositions that parallel the occult mystical world view, which is in stark contrast to the biblical world view of historic Christianity. The classical systems of occult philosophy and their more recent "new age" variants are fundamentally identical with the "cosmic humanism" that characterizes much of the contemporary world. Likewise, these ideas can be linked with such Eastern religious practices as yoga and meditation and an accompanying philosophy which asserts a definition of reality that ultimately denies the personal God of the Bible, promotes the essential divinity of man, and rejects any absolute statement of moral values.

The occult mystical world view and its associated religious expression, especially in the Eastern cults presently active in the West, can be analyzed in terms of the following components:

(1) The promise of godhood, man is a divine being. All forms of occult philosophy proclaim that the true or "real" self of man is synonymous with God. Such views are all patterned after the archetypal lie of the serpent in Gen. 3:4, "You will be as gods."

(2) The notion that "all is one", God is everything (pantheism). There is only one reality in existence (monism), and therefore everyone and everything in the material world is part of the Divine. It follows that there is no distinction between supernatural and natural, between good and evil, between God and Satan.

(3) Life's purpose is to achieve awareness of the Divine within, self realization. The path to salvation ("illumination," "enlightenment," "union") is an experiential one. It is the path to gnosis, the seeking of experiential "knowledge" through metaphysical insight.

(4) Humankind is basically good, evil is an illusion or imperfection. Ignorance, not sin, is at the root of the human dilemma. An "enlightened" person will transcend moral distinctions. There is no need of redemption or forgiveness, only self realization.

(5) Self realization via spiritual technique leads to power, the God - man is in charge. By employing spiritual technology such as meditation, chanting, and yoga, and through the application of universal laws, the realized being becomes master of his own reality. He attains the status of guru, or "light bearer," and can influence the lives of others.

With this broad occult mystical framework in mind, it can be said that the ultimate objective of psychic occult power is to validate the lie of Satan, that man is God and that death is an illusion. In the deceptive quest for godhood and power of men and women are brought under the power of Satan himself. They are able to manifest a degree of counterfeit power by engaging in occult experiences. Such paranormal manifestations represent an imitation of authentic spirituality and demonstrate Satan's true nature as the arch deceiver.

Both the OT and the NT proscribe such spiritually impure occultic activities as sorcery, mediumship, divination, and magic. In the OT they are referred to as the "abominable practices" of the pagan cultures which coexisted with the Israelites. Involvement with the occult arts was frequently compared to adultery. Jesus and the NT writers also described the dynamic of Satan's counterfeit spirituality and call for discernment of spiritist activity.

While Scripture acknowledges both the reality and the power of occultic practices, it proclaims that God through Christ has disarmed the principalities and powers. At the cross of Calvary the works of the devil were destroyed and the powers of darkness were conquered in an ultimate sense.

R M Enroth

Bibliography.
B Alexander, Occult Philosophy and Mystical Experience; K E Koch, Between Christ and Satan and Satan's Devices; J S Wright, Christianity and the Occult; S C P J, Winter 1980 - 81.