Ghosts, zombies, vampires....Is there life after death?

        With an unprecedented fascination for the occult over the last few years, spiritistic themes are providing juicy pickings for the film industry. Well, box office takings speak for themselves.  

       But is there any basis for believing in the ‘undead’ or the ‘after life’? Are films that feature spiritism in its myriad forms suitable for the young and impressionable? In order to find the answers, we first need to trace the source of such beliefs, to find out whether there is any foundation for them.

       Cue Ancient Babylon, home of Nimrod and many uncanny practices still in use today. Fortune-telling, omen-spotting, entrail-reading, runes, star-gazing and communing with the dead all have their roots in this magic-obsessed city. (Incidentally, Babylon also invented the fiscal system, which, considering recent history, some may regard as the ultimate nightmare!)

       Ironically, atheists’ refusal to believe in a separate, invisible soul is backed up by scripture.  Here, death is clearly shown to be a state of total unconsciousness, a dreamless sleep from which, according to several Bible verses (particularly the Lazarus account) people will ‘awake’ to a physical resurrection when paradise is restored on earth.

       The Mosaic Law did not allow for any form of spiritism whatsoever - in fact it was forbidden on pain of death for the nation of Israel - and it wasn’t until Greece began to stride the world stage that afterlife philosophies began to take root. 

       Unbelievably, considering their supposed Christan roots and reliance on the Bible, churches of every denomination have espoused and continue to promote the false teaching of a separate, immortal soul. This is in fact one of the greatest conspiracy against true teaching that has ever existed - Satan's original lie to Eve in the garden of Eden. (Gen 3:1-5)  

       In the fourth century CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine, unable to quell the rise of Christianity by other means and determined to unite his empire, cunningly  infused original gospel teachings with pagan beliefs such as the immortality of the soul, the trinity doctrine,  and – that most terrifying concept of all – eternal hellfire!+  

       Constantine’s ‘miraculous conversion’ marked the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire from which the rest of Christendom developed, combining Bible accounts with Babylonish rites and practices while keeping generations of adherents in ignorance. The Dark Ages had truly begun; and the Bible was unavailable to the majority of people until the 16^th century when William Tyndale translated the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. 

       Tyndale's aim - for ‘even a plowboy’ to understand scripture - was not appreciated by the church; hardly surprising as, from the Vatican to house churches, Christendom has done more than any other organisation to promote spiritistic practices. According to one spiritualist I met some years ago, “the church already preaches life after death – all mediums do is prove it!”

       What harm does it do? Well, for one thing, the whole concept of life after death is a cruel deception, especially for people who have lost a loved one. Believing they can communicate through a spiritualist medium can lead to all kinds of fraud and extortion; even if the medium is basically well-meaning, it can still open the floodgates to a very dangerous world.

       One particular form of spiritism – now available as a game! – is the Ouija board, regarded by many as a bit of harmless fun. Others, however, no longer share that view. While at university, John*, a relative of mine, was persuaded to attend several Ouija board séances by a neighbouring couple. At first, the spirit seemed friendly and jovial but over several weeks, it became more sinister, prompting John to avoid these sessions. He was reminded of them sometime later when watching a movie about demon possession: “The first scene showed people playing with a Ouija board,” he explains, “What really scared me was how closely the spirit portrayed in the film mirrored the one conjured up by the couple at my student digs! Afterwards, I couldn’t sleep for weeks thinking how close I’d come to having the same horrific experiences.  There’s no doubt the movie played on my mind and had a very negative, frightening effect.”

       Such negative feelings are common in those who dabble with spiritism, sometimes even resulting in serious mental illness as the unwary are drawn into darker and darker practices. (Apparently, John’s former friends eventually joined a coven).

       Fascinated with fortune-telling, Mary* began visiting a psychic to gain insight into the future. Dissatisfied with her safe but dull husband, she believed the psychic’s prediction that a special man would into her life – prompting her into a divorce, a disastrous love affair and a life of poverty for herself and two children. It was only after a particularly harrowing session to which she’d been invited that she finally came to her senses, realising how deep her obsession with the occult had become.

       Others are not so fortunate, developing paranoia or psychotic symptoms, hearing voices, and suffering night terrors with horrific dreams. In many countries, the occult is particularly rife with of voodoo priests and witches threatening curses or spells in order to bend others to their will. Fear of vengeful spirits has caused many to be forced into drugs, slavery and prostitution.

       So much suffering could be so easily avoided if only people knew the truth. That’s why care should be taken with the kind of entertainment we choose. If it promotes spiritism, it could create a chink for unwelcome and unwholesome forces.

*Not their real names

+The Biblical word rendered as ‘hell’ in many versions simply means ‘grave’ or  ‘death’. (Hebrew - sheol; Greek - Hades)

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Two_Babylons.html?id=OD_ATrB-g2gC&redir_esc=y

   

Hang-gliding - Hitting the Heights in the Peak

“Joe and the others held their breath, awaiting their awful fate but, suddenly, from out of the sky, four great shadows appeared, each with ten-foot wings. One by one, they whooshed down from above, snatched a child from the enemy's claws and ascended sharply back into the air. The women, now a hundred feet below, yelped with frustration, like hyenas cheated of their prey.”  - Extract from Flight from Fernilee.*

      Are they planes? Are they prehistoric birds? No, they’re hang-gliders, soaring into the skies like brightly-coloured and highly adventurous eagles.  Considered by enthusiasts to be the most demanding, yet exhilarating, of all free flight experiences, hang-gliding provides a wider scope than para-gliding, as pilots can climb faster and more freely in varying winds and weather conditions. Which no doubt explains why this thrilling activity is so popular in the Derbyshire Peak, where Pennines to the east and Welsh hills to the west create a climate as hard to predict as the next Derby winner.

      Take a hike up Mam Tor near Castleton on a bright, breezy day and you’re likely to see hang-gliders preparing for flight  -  that’s if they’re not too out-of-breath from hauling their gear up to the summit! Quite often, these intrepid birdmen and women seem to spend ages not really doing very much, but they’re actually waiting for the ideal conditions in which to take off, no doubt gauging the weather by means of a wind sock. Pilots also need to assess any hazards in the area and ensure maximum safety for themselves and others. 

      Accidents do happen, although these usually involve unqualified pilots who, having acquired the equipment, believe all they have to do is take a running jump from the nearest hilltop. Fortunately, most hang gliders have been thoroughly trained by a British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA) registered school, a course that normally takes about 10 days. Pupils learn how inspect their kit and assemble it safely, to assess the dangers, to read the weather, to take off and to land properly – ideally on their feet. However, in case landings go wrong, trainees also learn how to roll to minimise injuries. 

       When learning to fly, some gliders are ‘aero towed’, or hitched by winches to microlights, which pull them into the air. According to Airways Airsports, this is the easiest way to get airborne as it cuts out all the hassle of hill-climbing over and over again just to gain a few seconds of flight. Airways Airsports’ professional team - including three-times World Champion Judy Leden MBE and World record holder Chris Dawes -  provides tandem hang-gliding aerotow tuition for beginners, helping them spread their wings with 20-30 minutes in the air from their very first lesson. 

       Whether they could swoop down and rescue four adolescents and one hairy shot-putting Scotsman from the ground is open to debate but, for those who know what they’re doing, it’s an exhilarating experience like no other.

*Flight from Fernilee is available from Amazon and Smashwords

Christians in Ancient Rome - Why were they hated?

Child sacrifice, ritual drinking of human blood, sedition, brainwashing, breaking up families, hatred of men, intolerance...the list continues.

A satanic cult? The next horror movie? No, the above accusations were levelled against early Christians whom Jesus warned would be hated. Why? "Because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you." (John 15:9)

This hatred soon became manifest: Due to false allegations by religious leaders, Jesus was condemned to a tortuous, humiliating death; his followers were hounded and lies and persecution have persisted against them ever since. Here are a few examples of the difficulties Christians faced in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.

Child sacrifice

 In Ancient Rome, detractors of this new religion - originally known as The Way - accused its followers of murdering children, despite the Christians' firm stand against abortion, a common practice at the time. And, ignoring the scriptural command to 'abstain from blood', enemies tried to force Christians to eat blood sausage while still alleging children's blood was consumed at Christian meetings - blissfully unaware of the obvious contradictions!

Hostile to the State

Far from conducting such monstrous practices, early Christians tried to live peaceably with their neighbours as far as their Godly principles would allow. Not an easy task, as the world at the time was grossly immoral and steeped in Greco-Roman idolatry, which included Emperor worship and presented severe problems for Christ's followers. Actually, Rome had no problem with new beliefs, even adopting foreign gods they took a shine to. However, the State's pagan religion was always expected to come first and people who rejected such worship - either Caesar or other deities - were declared as atheists, hostile to the State.

Oxford professor E.G. Hardy referred to Tertullian, who he claimed, "enumerates many things which were impossible for a conscientious Christian, as involving idolatry: e.g. oath usual at contracts; the illumination of doors at festivals, etc.; all Pagan religious ceremonies; the games and the circus; the profession of teaching secular [heathen classical] literature; military service; public offices." - Christianity and the Roman Government.

French Catholic author A. Hamman writes: "It was impossible to take a step without encountering a divinity. The Christian's position brought him daily problems; he lived on the edge of society...He faced recurring problems in the home, in the streets, at the market...in the street, whether a Roman citizen or not, a Christian should bare his head when passing a temple or statue. How could he refrain from doing so without arousing suspicion, yet how could he comply without committing an act of allegiance? If he was in business and needed to borrow money, he had to swear to the moneylender in the name of the gods...If he accepted public office, he was expected to offer a sacrifice. If enlisted, how could he avoid taking the oath and participating in the rites of military service?" - La vie quotidienne des premiers chretiens (Daily Life Among the Early Christians, 95-197 C.E.)

Spoken against everywhere

While the apostle Paul was awaiting trial in Rome - then under Emperor Nero - prominent Jews said of Christians: "Truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against." (Acts 28:22) Historians and religious scholars can certainly bear this out.

E.W. Barnes writes: "In its early authoritative documents, the Christian movement is represented as essentially moral and law-abiding. Its members desired to be good citizens and loyal subjects. They shunned the failings and vices of paganism. In private life, they sought to be peaceful neighbours and trustworthy friends. They were taught to be sober, industrious and clean-living. Amid prevailing corruption and licentiousness, they were, if loyal to their principles, honest and truthful. Their sexual standards were high: the marriage tie was respected, and family life was pure. With such virtues they could not, one would have thought, have been troublesome citizens. Yet they were for long despised, maligned and hated." - The Rise of Christianity

Haters of the human race - breaking up families

By refusing to bow down to the emperor and pagan divinities, Christians were blamed for any catastrophe, having supposedly angered the gods. By not watching immoral plays or bloody gladiatorial displays, they were considered antisocial - 'haters of the human race'. Amongst other accusations, this 'sect' was said to break up families, destabilising the social order - and Tertullian spoke of pagan husbands who would rather their wives were unfaithful than Christian.

Says Historian Kenneth Scott Latourette, "Still another set of charges held Christianity up to ridicule for its recent origin and contrasted it with the antiquity of its rivals [Judaism and the Greco-Roman pagan religions]." - A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Volume 1, page 131)

Robert M. Grant refers to 2nd century C.E. Roman historian Suetonius who called Christianity "a new and mischievous superstition." Officials of the Roman Empire certainly viewed Christians in a negative light. "The basic view was that Christianity was simplh an unnecessary, possibly a harmful, religion." Early Christianity and Society.

Aggressive proselytising 

Sorbonne Professor Jean Bernardi explains that "[Christians] were to go out and speak everywhere and to everyone. On the highways and in the cities, on the public squares and in the homes. Welcome or unwelcome. To the poor, and to the rich encumbered by their possessions. To the small and to the governors of the Roman provinces...They had to take to the road, board ships, and go to the ends of the earth." - Les premiers siecles de l'Eglise (The Early Centuries of the Church).

According to Professor Leon Homo, early Christians were generally disliked for their "ardent proselytism." Professor Latourette states that, while the Jews lost their zeal for proselytising, "Christians, on the other hand, were aggressively missionary and so aroused resentment."

Targeting the gullible

Roman philosopher Celsus also criticised the Christians' preaching methods, stating that Christianity was for the uneducated and that it could convince "only the stupid, slaves, women, and little children." Christians, he felt, were indoctrinating "gullible people," having them "believe without rational thought." He claimed new disciples were not to "ask questions; just believe." Yet, as Origen pointed out, Celsus had to admit that "it was not the simple alone who were led by the doctrine of Jesus to adopt His religion."

Intolerant

 Early Christians claimed to possess the truth of the one true God. They were not open to ecumenism, or interfaith. "Unlike most of the faiths of the time," claims Latourette, "[the Christians] were hostile to other religions...in contrast with the fairly broad tolerance which characterised other cults, they declared that they had final truth."

Law-breaking

In 202 C.E., Emperor Septimus Severus issued an edict forbidding the Christians to make converts. This however, did not stop them from witnessing about their faith. Says Latourette, "In its refusal to compromise with many of the social customs and moral practices of the times [early Christianity developed a coherence and an organisation which set it over against society. The very break required to join it gave to its adherents a conviction which constituted a source of strength against persecution and of zeal in winning converts."

No part of the world

The historical record speaks for itself. While trying to be good citizens and live peaceably with all men, early Christians refused to become "part of the world" as Jesus commanded. They respected the authorities but, in obedience "to God rather than men," kept on preaching even when forbidden. They refused to compromise on moral standards and rejected pagan idolatry. For this they were despised, maligned, hated, and persecuted - just as Christ foretold. (John 15:9)

“In the Blink of an Eye Reborn” - The Story of Locked-in Syndrome Sufferer Peter Coghlan

On 21st March 2011, Peter Coghlan suffered a massive brain stem stroke, leaving him totally paralysed except for vertical movement of his eyes. A classic case of Locked-in Syndrome (LIS), a rare condition from which sufferers were not expected to recover.

Peter was by no means a typical patient. At just 33 years old and having moved from the UK to Perth, Western Australia, he had wonderful prospects before him – a life in the sun, enjoyable work and marriage to his fiancée, Jade. Not even his devastating illness was going to prevent his dreams coming true. For weeks, he lay in hospital, afraid, helpless and unable to communicate. Initially, his prognosis was poor. Considering him to be brain-dead, doctors even discussed switching off his life support.

Fortunately, his fiancée Jade, who had been scouring through the internet for any information she could find on LIS, encouraged him to blink if he understood her. Then, with the help of an alphabet board he was able to communicate. One blink for ‘Yes’, two blinks for ‘No’. He also began to progress physically, becoming the world’s fastest recovering locked-in survivor.

Just 6 months and 1 day after his stroke, Peter walked out of hospital – weak and unsteady, yet nevertheless a free man. Written in the first person, the book begins with the onset of Peter’s illness, charting events as they occur to emphasise the sheer terror and confusion Pete experienced at the time, along with horrific hallucinations.

While locked-in, Peter reflects on his life, written in a series of flashbacks – his happy childhood, his adolescent pranks and brushes with the law, his meeting with Jade, and life in the army with all its dangers and abuses. During his tour of Northern Ireland, Pete was not only surrounded by mobs but also suffered bullying from older soldiers. His army career came to end when he was diagnosed with cancer - Hodgkins Lymphoma – which he overcame.

Refusing to accept that he would never walk or talk again, Pete used visualisation – imagining his hand was a lobster’s claw which he repeatedly tried to close. This technique eventually triggered the memory of his synapses, sending messages to his fingers, willing them to move. These efforts paid off, and it was with tears in his eyes he blinked out a message to Jade from his Alphabet Board: “LOOK AT MY HAND”. The movement was small but enough for his neurologist Professor David Blacker to refer Peter for physiotherapy. This decision was crucial to Pete’s astonishing recovery.

 The second part of the book tells of Peter’s fight to regain his life – his wedding to Jade, their move to Thailand where his father set them up in their own business – a small restaurant which failed dismally – and desperate but fruitless efforts to repair their relationship. Despite the heartache, after returning to Perth Peter continued to improve, eventually re-discovering his voice and qualifying to be a health care worker. And, throughout his trials, Peter kept, charting his experiences from the onset of his stroke to his current state of health.

Due to Pete’s colourful past, sheer determination and astonishing recovery, this story – though harrowing at times - is inspirational and life-affirming. Lying in his hospital bed, seemingly alone, Peter promised God that if he could only get well again, he’d do everything possible to help others in similar situations. This book is just one of the ways he intends to do that. Available on Amazon


 https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Reborn-PeterCoghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593787390&sr=8-1 UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blink-Eye-Reborn-Peter-Coghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CAIJA8FWLOBT&dchild=1&keywords=in+the+blink+of+an+eye+reborn&qid=1593787494&sprefix=in+the+blink+of+an+eye%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-1

The Purple Cave - Extract 'Flight from Fernilee'

Slowly and steadily, they continued along an underground river, the tunnel now so dark and narrow Odi began to hyperventilate again.

"Just what I need," he whined, "another bout of close-to-phobia!"

"Claustrophobia," Alice corrected him. "Seems pretty close to me!" replied Odi, for once unable to think of anything clever to say. To his great relief, they soon reached another, bigger cavern. So big, in fact, it resembled a magnificent palace, adorned with shafts of sunlight from above. As the Judith Mary approached its mooring, coming to rest on the banks of a crystal lagoon, all aboard gaped in astonishment.  Not only was the cavern wonderfully bright and airy, it was like no other they had ever seen before.

"It's purple!" Joe cried. "All purple and shiny!"

"We must be in the Blue John mines." Laurel suggested.

"But it's purple!" insisted Joe.

"Blue John IS purple, Silly," Alice tutted despairingly. "Don't you boys know anything?"

"Oh, so that's why it's called blue!" said Odi with a good dollop of sarcasm. "The stuff's purple, so naturally, you call it Blue. That's cool, and not at all confusing!" – Flight from Fernilee*

Samples of Blue John at Castleton Heritage Centre

No wonder Odi was confused. Despite its name, Blue John – a semi-precious stone from Castleton in Derbyshire – is generously threaded by bands of purple which tend to predominate.

However, there is also a yellow banded variety of this rare fluorite and one theory is that, during the reign of Louis XVI, it was exported for use by French ormolu workers who dubbed it ‘bleu-jeune’ (or ‘blue- yellow’ to Derbyshire folk like me!) Another source for the Blue John name may be miners drafted in from Cornwall. They referred to the stone as ‘bleujenn’, a Cornish term for a flower or blossom.

According to “Gem of the Peak” by 19^th century writer William Adam, Blue John was discovered by the Romans but, as no evidence has ever been found for such a claim, we might put it down to historical embroidery! What we DO know is that Blue John was a popular material for fireplace panels during the mid-18^th century. A Blue John plaque dated around 1760 can be seen in the Friary Hotel in Derby, while Robert Adam, the famous architect and interior designer used it to decorate nearby Kedlestone Hall.

At their 18^th century peak, the Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern in Castleton (the only sites in the UK where Blue John is mined*) produced 20 tons per annum. By the late 19^th century, 3 tons per annum was mined, a figure further reduced to a mere half a ton today. Castleton is highly protective over its unique resource which is why all items made from Blue John, such as boxes, pots, vases and distinctive jewellery, are created by local craftsmen.

*The only other place where Blue John can be found is the Deqing Fluorite mine in the Zhejiang Province of China.

*Flight from Fernilee is available from Amazon

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593177572&sr=8-1

US: https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1593177877&sr=8-1

Truth or Tradition?

War is raging between Pope Francis and members of his flock. Abortion, LBGTQ rights, political affiliations, women priests, globalism and various social issues have divided Catholics as never before between conservatives and liberal progressives.

But, as a convent-educated ex-Catholic, this is not my fight. The Church has moved so far away from Jesus Christ's teachings, the only real battle for minds and hearts - of all faiths - is Truth versus Tradition. 

A few years ago, a young Christian I know was involved in a discussion with a Catholic bishop and his companion, a Hebrew scholar. Both men were charming, well-spoken and extremely well-educated.  Rosemary, * on the other hand, was the product of a good but basic state education and had rejected university in favour of a steady job in banking. She did, however, have one huge advantage...a lifelong love and keen understanding of the Bible.

The discussion began with the trinity, a doctrine so cherished by Christendom that every denomination must hold the trinity  as its core belief to join the World Council of Churches. Yet, sacred as it may be to Catholics in particular, the concept of a triune god – i.e. three gods in one - was adopted in the 3rd century, ** no doubt to draw pagans into the new religion. Other pagan ideas, such as hellfire, purgatory, immortality and idol worship were also included, sullying the pure teachings of the Gospels. 

Unable to defend the trinity in the face of Bible truth, the bishop became exasperated. “Young woman!” he exclaimed. “Don’t you realise, the Catholic Church is based on centuries of Tradition?”

Rosemary remembered Jesus’ words to the Pharisees when he accused them of making God’s word invalid by their traditions.  (Mark 7:7-9,13)

“If it came to a choice, which would you obey,” she asked, “Your traditions or the Bible?”

The bishop's answer was unequivocal. “Tradition! Tradition, tradition, tradition!”

Which should we obey?

*Not her real name.

**"Many think the Trinity doctrine was formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. That is not totally correct, however. The Council of Nicaea did assert that Christ was of the same substance as God, which laid the groundwork for later Trinitarian theology. But it did not establish the Trinity, for at that council there was no mention of the holy spirit as the third person of a triune Godhead.” https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989303#h=1 

 

When coronovirus is over...

Seeing as I'll be using at least some of my lockdown time to regenerate my blog,  it's only fitting to devote a short  post to this strange, unsettling confinement.
In actual fact, I was rather looking forward to it. I had such plans. As well as blogging, I was going to give my dusty old house a thorough spring clean and maybe (if really desperate) a lick of paint. I also have a mountain of books to read, and a whole raft of chat groups to visit, populated by wise and witty friends, and, of course, Twitter. I could refresh my  foreign languages, learn a new skill, and even write a novel - oh yes, time would fly!
So what have I been doing since my self-isolation began?
Slumping on my sofa with endless cups of tea watching daytime TV.
The last time I slobbed out like this, I was out of work, my daughter had decamped to London and for the first time in my life I could do exactly what I wanted....as long as it didn't cost anything.
I was quite industrious at first. Realising my Jobseekers Allowance wasn't going to pay many bills, I spent hours advertising my freelance services with flyers, emails and straightforward begging letters only to meet with a blank wall....and then I found myself being inexplicably lured in an entirely new direction...
It was only meant to keep me company; a reassuring presence, a hum of friendly voices and familiar faces....besides, I told myself, I needed to keep up with the news, to be informed, alert to world conditions.
But gradually, remorselessly,  inevitably, I was totally sucked into a vortex of soaps, quiz shows, cookery programmes and the endless machinations of reality TV.  Coach Trip was a particular favourite...Come Dine with Me, Four in a Bed, Location Location, Doctors, Father Brown and scores of detective series repeated over and over again. I should have known better, should have been stronger,  but, before I knew what was happening, it was too late.
I was hooked.
If the phone rang, or I needed to nip to the shop, I'd feel irritable and anxious, cutting all social contact short to get back to my beloved friend in the corner. Even so, I thought I could handle it, refusing to recognise my problem until an advertising agency contracted me for 3 months in Manchester.
This came as quite a shock....not only had someone actually bothered to read my profile, they were now dragging me away from my comfort zone, a way of life I yearned for on that chilly Monday morning, waiting for a train to the first day's assignment. That's when it struck me: I was a TV junky, wrapped up in a  cosy, unthreatening world I had now been forced to leave.
Goodbye sofa, goodbye Kirsty and Phillip and Holly and Brendan....I had to break free! I DID break free.
But now?  With weeks of home confinement on the cards, can I really resist the "On" switch? Will I emerge from the coronovirus clampdown with my senses still intact, or as a helpless telly addict?