taijasi
Gnōthi seauton
To each his or her own. I agree that we have barely tapped the potentials of the human Spirit - that same, Divine Spirit which we know in its relatively more perfect form as `G-d.' Certainly Christ taught this, and he also taught his disciples to be wary. He sent them out with the instruction: "Be ye wise, as serpents, and harmless, as doves." (Matthew 10:16)
I tip my hat in acknowledgement of the work of such pioneers in the scientific exploration of the paranormal ... as J. B. Rhine, Charles Tart, and Edgar Cayce (although Cayce is almost in a category of his own). But I lament the fact that there is still such superstition, fear, and xenophobia rampant in the religious or spiritual arena regarding this subject - of what are essentially, the "gifts of the spirit."
What is important, in considering this subject - tarot, or divination more generally - is to remember - try not to throw the baby out with the bathwater!
So, regarding most christians' stance regarding the Tarot, I cannot speak for anyone other than myself ... but I do believe Christ taught us not to fear, but to seek to understand. He advised this even - or even especially! - of one's enemies, as well as one's friends, family, teachers. And he advised it of all subjects, though again, he instructed us to "test the spirits." He expected his followers - if capable, as the goat scaling the side of the mountain - to think, and to form their own opinions ... and to decide for themselves whether divination, or a particular form of it, is helpful or not, in a particular case, and so on. For the sheep, I doubt he expected much at all. But to see the blind continuing to follow the blind, and leading other blind - was nothing new 2,000 years ago, and it's nothing new now.
I say this not to endorse Tarot or divination, but to suggest that there's more than one approach, and more than a simple duality of "yes, Tarot is fine" and "no, this is the work of the devil." Really now. Surely we can do better.
I tip my hat in acknowledgement of the work of such pioneers in the scientific exploration of the paranormal ... as J. B. Rhine, Charles Tart, and Edgar Cayce (although Cayce is almost in a category of his own). But I lament the fact that there is still such superstition, fear, and xenophobia rampant in the religious or spiritual arena regarding this subject - of what are essentially, the "gifts of the spirit."
What is important, in considering this subject - tarot, or divination more generally - is to remember - try not to throw the baby out with the bathwater!
So, regarding most christians' stance regarding the Tarot, I cannot speak for anyone other than myself ... but I do believe Christ taught us not to fear, but to seek to understand. He advised this even - or even especially! - of one's enemies, as well as one's friends, family, teachers. And he advised it of all subjects, though again, he instructed us to "test the spirits." He expected his followers - if capable, as the goat scaling the side of the mountain - to think, and to form their own opinions ... and to decide for themselves whether divination, or a particular form of it, is helpful or not, in a particular case, and so on. For the sheep, I doubt he expected much at all. But to see the blind continuing to follow the blind, and leading other blind - was nothing new 2,000 years ago, and it's nothing new now.
I say this not to endorse Tarot or divination, but to suggest that there's more than one approach, and more than a simple duality of "yes, Tarot is fine" and "no, this is the work of the devil." Really now. Surely we can do better.
protokletos
