Jesus speaking on magic and superstition
Later in the evening Jesus spoke on magic and superstition. In that era, if a new bright star showed up in the sky it was a sign that an important person had been born on Earth. Something similar to this had recently happened, and Andrew asked Jesus for an explanation. In response, Jesus addressed the whole subject of human superstition and made the following ten points:
1. The trajectories of the stars in heaven have nothing whatsoever to do with human events on Earth. Astronomy is the proper pursuit of science, but astrology is superstition that has no place in the gospel of the kingdom.
2. Examining the internal organs of a recently killed animal reveals nothing about the weather, future events, or the outcome of human affairs.
3. The spirits of the dead do not come back to communicate with their families or their former friends among the living.
4. Charms and relics do not heal disease, ward off disaster, or influence evil spirits; the belief in all such material means of influencing the spiritual world is gross superstition.
5. Casting lots—random selection—may be a convenient way of settling small problems, but it does not work to disclose divine will. Such outcomes are purely matters of material chance. The only means of communion with the spiritual world is through the indwelling spirit of the Father, the spirit of the Son, and the always present influence of the Infinite Spirit.
6. Sorcery, witchcraft, divination and the delusion of magic are superstitions of ignorant minds, as are the belief in magic numbers and omens signaling bad or good luck.
7. Interpreting dreams is mostly a superstitious way of ignorant and fantastic speculation. The gospel of the kingdom must have nothing in common with the soothsayer priests of primitive religions.
8. The spirits of good or evil cannot live in material symbols of clay, wood, or metal: idols are nothing more than the material comprising them.
9. The practices of the wizards, magicians, sorcerers, and enchanters came from the superstitions of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the ancient Canaanites. Amulets and incantations do not make good spirits protect you or ward off supposed evil spirits.
10. Jesus exposed and denounced people’s beliefs in signs, spells, cursing, ordeals, mandrakes, bewitching, knotted cords and all other forms of ignorant and enslaving superstition.
Excerpt from Son of Man: Urantia, Chapter 29, The Third Preaching Tour
Son of Man: Urantia, is a restatement of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the Urantia revelation and in accordance with its urging to do so for today’s generation.
Full episode here: The Third Preaching Tour
https://robertakezer.substack.com/p/chap-29-the-third-preaching-tour
Son of Man: Urantia, Books: (English and Spanish)
Son of Man: Urantia, PDF’s (English and Spanish)
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Godspeed, everyone.
Bob
Jesus speaking on magic and superstition