Elwell Evangelical Dictionary

Topics: Occult, The

Text:
 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 legitimation 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
parrallel 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; SCPJ, Winter 1980-81.