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IS USING A OUIJA BOARD
OKAY, IF IT IS DONE JUST FOR FUN?
The answer is “NO”. Ouija boards are not okay, even
if they are used “just for fun”.
Ouija boards originate from the practice of "channeling"
or "divination". Channeling is asking the dead to give
us answers to questions or power and is an ancient - and dangerous
- practice. Thus, the word "occult" = "hidden".
The Bible speaks directly to this practice:
Let there not be found among
you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor
a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of
spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles
from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination
to the LORD, and because of such abominations the LORD, your
God, is driving these nations out of your way. - Deuteronomy
18: 10-12 He practiced soothsaying and divination, and reintroduced
the consulting of ghosts and spirits. He did much evil in the
LORD'S sight and provoked him to anger. - 2 Kings 21:6 And when
they say to you, "Inquire of mediums and fortune-tellers
(who chirp and mutter!); should not a people inquire of their
gods, apply to the dead on behalf of the living?" - Is 8:19
So, the history of divination
and channeling is ancient, but it has some more modern forms,
which have become popular again from various sources, including
- New Age practices, the Occult, fortune-telling, Wicca, astrology,
and "games" such as the Ouija Board. All of these have
Pagan spiritual origins and should never be practiced by Christians.
Ultimately, this is a dangerous practice because it is an attempt
to seek spiritual power from somewhere other than God. If this
is the case, then demons or evil spirits are most likely the
ones supplying it. We open ourselves up to demonic influence
if we do so - to the point of having possession being possible
down the line.
Some might think this is an overreaction and that it is just
fun. I have heard some say - at most, it is a spooky time for
kids to pretend they can talk to the dead. But, demons can work
through this kind of attitude to quietly induce someone to their
way of thinking and acting.
A personal disbelief in the power of Satan, does not make his
power go away. Just ask an exorcist who has had to fight with
such demons. They will not beat around the bush in regards to
such practices.
The danger is very real.
Thus, the Catechism states:
2116 All forms of divination
are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up
the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil"
the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading,
interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance,
and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time,
history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well
as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor,
respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone. 2117 All practices
of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers,
so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural
power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring
their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion.
These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied
by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse
to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible.
Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the
Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to
so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation
of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.
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Saturday, 19
June