In my previous blog entry (Tai Chi and Chi Gong), I mentioned that teachers of the occult have been presenting their ideas increasingly from a scientific perspective. I would like to elaborate on that in what follows.

The darkest piece of literature that I have ever read was a classic manual on necromancy. This was not an ordinary occult book that you could find in the self-help, psychology, or New Age section of any bookstore; moreover, the material was not just about how to talk to your dead relatives or even the typical techniques of channeling. Rather, most of it had to do with the conjuration of demons, and for murderous intents. It was explicitly and self-consciously satanic in its teachings.

I mention this to point out that even some teachings on necromancy (again, more than ordinary channeling or talking to the dead) are now being presented from the scientific perspective. By exploiting the idolatrous reverence that many people have toward experimental science (that is, the sinful confidence in humanity to autonomously obtain knowledge apart from God’s revelation), even the darkest demonic doctrines are being adopted by those who would otherwise reject them as superstitious, impractical, or evil.

This scientific version of the occult also provides many professing (not necessarily real) Christians, who also idolize science, the excuse to practice all varieties of divination. The thinking is that if something is scientifically explained as natural, then even though it could be used for evil, in itself it is probably neutral or even good.

Therefore, to practice clairvoyance or astral projection is merely to exercise our innate God-given abilities — it is not spiritual or demonic, but natural and scientific. Trances have nothing to do with the spiritual, and surely never anything demonic, but they are explained in terms of enhanced alpha and delta brainwaves. And to study Astrology or Feng Shui is merely to discover and exploit the "natural laws" that God has installed in the universe, just like we do in Physics or Chemistry. (Note: I deny that there are such things as natural laws except in the sense that they are descriptions of the way that God ordinarily acts to sustain his creation and to cause every event. Here I am using the term as other people would use it.)

Of course, even with this way of thinking, these professing Christians cannot escape the many biblical prohibitions against divinition and the dark arts. For example, Deuteronomy 18:10–11 says: "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer." But it does provide them with an excuse (however illegitimate and fallacious) to ignore these clear references, whereas previously they did not even have this.

Not all who worship science (that is, themselves) are taken in by this particular deception. However, their reason for rejecting it is just as irrational; that is, they dismiss the scientific claims and explanations of the occult as "pseudo-science" — not real science at all. But this dimissal is usually done upon hearing the very mention of the topic, without actual consideration of the experiments, statistics, and theories presented. Thus they beg the question and behave "unscientifically."

My answer is simpler: ALL science is superstitious and irrational — all scientific reasonings are logically fallacious. So science itself is pseudo-rational, and what is pseudo-scientific is not essentially worse (even if relatively worse) than what is scientific. Both of them are destroyed under rational analysis, and must kneel before divine revelation. I can refute any scientific theory just as easily as I can refute any occult teaching (see recommended materials below), so science has no right to speak when I am discussing these things — it doesn’t have the answer. Thus I don’t have to refute the science of the occult, because I can directly refute science itself, and then demand a real rational defense from my opponent.

When it comes to the occult, many Evangelical and Reformed Christians commit the error of dismissing this entire category of materials as pure superstition. But if so, then they must also dismiss as superstition significant portions of the Bible that acknowledge the reality of at least some of these things. The fact is that many who claim to affirm biblical supernaturalism affirm it just enough to permit supernaturalism during biblical times, but not so much that they have to live as supernaturalists today. They affirm it just enough so that they could affirm the creation of the world and the inspiration of Scripture, but not so much that they have to confront the reality of demonic activities today. They affirm it just enough so that they could pass themselves off as doctrinal supernaturalists, but not so much that they could not live as practical deists.

If you are a pastor, occult teachings and practices might constitute a greater problem in your congregations than you think. For various reasons (the scientific presentation of the occult being one of them), many professing Christians do not perceive any conflict between their faith and the occult. It is your duty to address this topic so that your people will understand the biblical commands and prohibitions in this area.

And when you warn your people against the occult, don’t do it by trying to give a scientific refutation, while letting your people hold on to their idolatrous attitude toward science. You would be giving them a wrong reason for avoiding the occult, and the idol would still be in their hearts to be exploited by the next set of scientific claims.

Instead, destroy the idol — rationally demonstrate to them that science itself is always fallacious, that man can never obtain knowledge apart from God’s gracious revelation. Rather, we should embrace the Word of God as the all-sufficient starting point and controlling factor in all of our thought and conduct.

Then, explain to them that the true wisdom is not found in science and the highest power is not found in the occult, but wisdom and power are found only in the Great Book, through which we can have intimate contact with the very wisdom and power of the Author and Ruler of all things (Galatians 3:5).

Recommended:

Tai Chi and Chi Gong

Real Spiritual Power

Real Spiritual Revival

Vincent Cheung, Commentary on Ephesians

Vincent Cheung, Prayer and Revelation

Vincent Cheung, Ultimate Questions

Vincent Cheung, Presuppositional Confrontations

Vincent Cheung, Apologetics in Conversation

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