My cousin thinks a book he is reading is going to give him godlike powers.

[jesus lover]

Look what I found:
I found this book by Joe H. Slate.
And it is called astral projection for psychic empowerment.The Out-of-Body Experience, Astral Powers, and their Practical Application
And in a chapter called OBEs & Psychokinesis.In Chapter Six.
And it has something called the pk pool-of-power procedure
And it has eight steps.
And step 6 says this:
Step 6. Chalice of Power. Upon ascending from the pool, you notice a beautiful, bejeweled chalice resting on a crystal pedestal at the pool’s edge. Gazing at its intricate workmanship and exquisite beauty, let yourself take the chalice from the pedestal and fill it with water from the pool. Upon lifting the chalice and pouring the water over your body, let yourself experience the fantastic pleasure as the water flows sensuously downward. Your total being is suddenly saturated with power. The vast riches of the universe are now at your command. Remind yourself that whatever you desire can now be yours.
This is all on pages 94 and 95

I read this book when I asked my cousin if I could check it out.

What do I do?

 

[Frankj]

what benefit do you expect to gain by reading it?

 

[jesus lover]

what benefit do you expect to gain by reading it?

I asked to read it because I wanted to know exactly what the book was saying to him.So I could better understand his mind state.

 

[Frankj]

I asked to read it because I wanted to know exactly what the book was saying to him.So I could better understand his mind state.

what is your purpose in wanting to understand his mind state?

 

[jesus lover]

what is your purpose in wanting to understand his mind state?

To see what the book is telling him.And see what it is telling him might happen if he does the stuff in the book. And if he believes it.

 

[jesus lover]

Should I just try to pray for him?

 

[Lamb]

Should I just try to pray for him?

Absolutely!

If someone were to have their spirit leave the body, then what would enter in?

 

[Frankj]

Absolutely!

If someone were to have their spirit leave the body, then what would enter in?

It's actually more a point of what would return with them, one reason sorcery and other occultic practices are a forbidden old testament.

 

[Frankj]

To see what the book is telling him.And see what it is telling him might happen if he does the stuff in the book. And if he believes it.

You're actually better off avoiding such things yourself, why pursue temptation while praying that God not lead us there, and praying for God to guide him away from it as well.

 

[Maranatha]

From an overview about the book:
"From the basic steps to the full flights of OBE's, this book can lead you to the highest realms of cosmic power."

Such "cosmic powers" are demonic powers, you can come under demonic influence

Those steps described in the book are unbiblical.
Try and explain it to your cousin and yes - pray for him

Here is how the serpent deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it..."(Genesis 3:5,6)

It is very tempting to be like God and to desire special wisdom.
But they payed a big price

 

[tango]

To see what the book is telling him.And see what it is telling him might happen if he does the stuff in the book. And if he believes it.

What a book like that says will happen, and what will actually happen, are unlikely to be the same.

If gaining access to everything we ever wanted was as simple as visualising a journey and pouring water over ourselves there wouldn't be many people struggling with poor health and poverty.

 

[jswauto]

Why Christians Should Be Cautious
1. Astral Projection
• The book teaches techniques to leave the body and explore other realms.
• Biblical warning: Ecclesiastes 12:7 says the spirit returns to God at death — not at human will. Attempting to separate spirit from body is seen as stepping outside God’s design.
• Danger: Christians believe this opens the door to deceptive spiritual forces, since Scripture never authorizes humans to control their spirit in this way.

2. Psychic Empowerment
• Slate emphasizes developing psychic powers and intuition as a path to empowerment.
• Biblical warning: Deuteronomy 18:10–12 condemns divination, sorcery, and seeking hidden knowledge apart from God.
• Danger: What the book calls “empowerment” is actually reliance on occult practices, which Scripture equates with rebellion against God.

3. Contact with Astral Beings
• The book suggests interaction with astral entities and energies.
• Biblical warning: 1 John 4:1 tells believers to “test the spirits” because many are deceiving.
• Danger: Christians see these “astral beings” not as neutral guides but as demonic forces masquerading as helpers.

4. Mindset of Self-Reliance
• The book promotes self-empowerment through hidden forces and personal mastery.
• Biblical warning: Zechariah 4:6 — “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.”
• Danger: This mindset shifts dependence away from God and toward occult power, which compromises and can destroy Christian faith.

The Compromising Mindset
• Curiosity: The book encourages curiosity about forbidden realms, which can desensitize Christians to sin.
• Authority: It places human will above God’s authority over the spirit.
• Deception: It normalizes practices Scripture identifies as demonic, making them seem harmless or beneficial.

Christian Safeguard
Christians are called to seek empowerment through the Holy Spirit, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word — not through occult techniques. The danger of this book is not just the practices, but the mindset of compromise: believing that forbidden spiritual methods can coexist with biblical faith.

Biblical Perspective vs. Book’s Teachings



The Spiritual Realm: A Biblical Interlude
1. The Reality of Two Kingdoms
• Scripture teaches that the spiritual realm is divided: the Kingdom of God (angels, the Holy Spirit) and the kingdom of darkness (Satan and demons).
• When people attempt to access the spirit world outside of God’s authority, they risk stepping into the realm of deception.

2. How Evil Spirits React
• Attraction to Invitation: Evil spirits are drawn when humans attempt to conjure, summon, or open themselves to hidden realms. These practices act like an “invitation.”
• Masquerading as Light: 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Spirits often appear helpful, wise, or benevolent to gain trust.
• Exploitation of Curiosity: They exploit human desire for secret knowledge, offering experiences that feel empowering but ultimately enslave.

3. Methods of Deception
• False Guidance: Spirits may present themselves as guides or protectors, but their goal is to lead away from God.
• Counterfeit Power: They can mimic spiritual gifts (visions, knowledge, sensations) to convince seekers they’ve tapped into something divine.
• Gradual Compromise: At first, experiences may seem harmless or even uplifting. Over time, dependence grows, and the person’s faith in God weakens.

4. Biblical Warnings
• Deuteronomy 18:10–12: Condemns divination, sorcery, and consulting spirits.
• 1 Timothy 4:1: Warns that “some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits.”
• Ephesians 6:12: Reminds believers that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of evil.”

The Danger for Christians
When someone conjures the spirit realm through occult practices, they are not entering a neutral space — they are stepping into contested territory where evil spirits actively seek to deceive, enslave, and ultimately destroy faith. What begins as curiosity or empowerment can become spiritual bondage.

The Nature of Demonic Deception
• Masquerading as Good: Evil spirits rarely appear as terrifying at first. They disguise themselves as guides, protectors, or sources of wisdom. This is why 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
• Appealing to Desire: They exploit human curiosity for hidden knowledge, power, or control. What begins as “empowerment” quickly becomes enslavement.
• Incremental Corruption: Deception often starts small — a harmless ritual, a “positive” spiritual encounter — but gradually erodes faith and replaces trust in God with dependence on occult forces.

The Reality of Spiritual Entities
• Ready to Attack: Ephesians 6:12 describes them as “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” They are not passive; they actively seek to dominate anyone who opens themselves to their influence.
• Domination and Bondage: Once invited, demons do not politely leave. They seek to control thoughts, emotions, and even physical well-being. Jesus Himself described Satan as a thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).
• Destruction of Faith: Their ultimate goal is to sever a person’s relationship with God, replacing truth with lies and hope with despair.

Human Powerlessness
• No Human Defense: On our own, we cannot resist or defeat these forces. They are older, stronger, and more cunning than any human strategy.
• Open Hearts = Open Doors: When someone willingly opens their heart to spirits through occult practices, they remove the barrier of God’s protection. At that point, there is nothing in human strength to stop the onslaught.
• Total Dependence on Christ: Only the authority of Jesus Christ can break their power. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Without submission to God, resistance is impossible.

The Warning
When a person engages in practices like astral projection or psychic empowerment, they are not entering a neutral playground — they are stepping into a battlefield where demonic entities are waiting to deceive, dominate, and destroy. Without Christ, there is no defense. With Christ, there is victory, because His authority alone casts out demons and protects believers.

 

[jswauto]

Famous Sermon From 1803
A Preacher’s Warning: The Battlefield of the Spirit
Brothers and sisters, hear me today. There is a realm beyond what our eyes can see — a realm of spirits, both holy and unholy. And when a man or woman dares to step into that realm without the covering of Almighty God, they are not walking into light… they are walking into a battlefield.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” These are not harmless energies. These are not friendly guides. These are ancient, cunning, destructive forces — demons, waiting for the door to be opened.

The Deception of Evil Spirits
• They do not come roaring at first. No, they come whispering. They come clothed in light, offering wisdom, offering power, offering experiences that feel thrilling.
• But make no mistake: what begins as curiosity becomes compromise, and what feels like empowerment becomes enslavement.
• 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” He will not show you the chains until they are already around your soul.

The Onslaught of Demons
When you open your heart to these spirits — through conjuring, astral projection, or occult practices — you are not stepping into neutral territory. You are stepping into their domain. And once the door is opened, there is nothing in human strength to stop them.
• They attack the mind with confusion.
• They dominate the will with temptation.
• They destroy faith with lies.
• Their goal is not to entertain you, but to enslave and devour you.
Jesus Himself said in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” That is the agenda of the demonic realm.

Our Powerlessness Without Christ
Hear me clearly: you cannot fight these forces on your own. No ritual, no meditation, no human wisdom can stand against them. Without Christ, you are defenseless. Without Christ, you are prey.
But thanks be to God — we are not left helpless.

The Hope and Safety in Jesus
There is One who has authority over every demon, every principality, every power of darkness. His name is Jesus Christ.
• When He walked the earth, demons trembled at His presence.
• When He spoke, they fled.
• When He died and rose again, He stripped them of their ultimate power.
James 4:7 declares: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Notice the order — submit to God first, then resistance becomes possible.
In Christ, you are not a victim. In Christ, you are more than a conqueror. In Christ, the doors of deception are slammed shut, and the covering of His blood becomes your shield.

The Final Call
So I warn you today: do not be deceived by the glittering lies of the occult. Do not open your heart to spirits that promise light but deliver chains. Without Jesus, you are powerless. With Jesus, you are untouchable.
Run to Him. Cling to Him. Trust in Him. For only in Christ is there safety, victory, and eternal life.

 

[jesus lover]

I read the entire book.And found some red flags:

Look what I found:
I found this book by Joe H. Slate.
And it is called astral projection for psychic empowerment.The Out-of-Body Experience, Astral Powers, and their Practical Application

And in chapter 9.

Astral Projection

And

Astral Powers

It has something called:

precognitive cosmic exposé procedure:

Step 2. Out-of-Body Travel. With your astral being now disengaged from your physical body, you are empowered to travel safely to the distant reaches of the cosmos. As you scan the cosmos, you will notice a distant realm of light that commands your attention and invites your interaction.Sense yourself being drawn toward it, until finally you are at the center of it, encompassed by the light of cosmic power and knowledge. All that you need to know about the future is now available to you, taking shape before you as events spontaneously unfold. You can let yourself be drawn in as an active participant, or you can remain an objective observer. To access highly personal and detailed information, a simple question is sufficient.

All you have to do to know how to wake up with the power and knowledge of the cosmic.Is ask how.Accroding to the book.And what my cousin believes.

How do I explain to my cousin he is getting fooled?

 

[Frankj]

How do I explain to my cousin he is getting fooled?

People who pursue these things, with few exceptions, are generally fooling themselves because they want to believe in something and this is what they have chosen for whatever reason they chose to.

It invariably results in a chaotic life that falls apart and leaves them desperately searching for something else or in addition to what they are doing, always placing the solutions to their problems on something not quite obtainable that lies outside of themselves.

Best course is to let them realize this for themselves and suggest Christian solutions to their problems if they bring them up to you.

It does, of course, help to actually know what the Christian solutions really are, simply quoting scripture without knowing the mechanics of how it is actually applied to daily living usually doesn't work out well.

Unfortunately examples of real life application to daily decision making of scripture are generally not talked about much, and pointing that out usually puts you in disfavor with those who need it most.

Prayer is always appropriate and should not be put in second place. Know what you are praying for, and why.

 

[jesus lover]

I read the entire book.And found some red flags:

Look what I found:
I found this book by Joe H. Slate.
And it is called astral projection for psychic empowerment.The Out-of-Body Experience, Astral Powers, and their Practical Application

And in chapter 9.

Astral Projection

And

Astral Powers

It has something called:

precognitive cosmic exposé procedure:

Step 2. Out-of-Body Travel. With your astral being now disengaged from your physical body, you are empowered to travel safely to the distant reaches of the cosmos. As you scan the cosmos, you will notice a distant realm of light that commands your attention and invites your interaction.Sense yourself being drawn toward it, until finally you are at the center of it, encompassed by the light of cosmic power and knowledge. All that you need to know about the future is now available to you, taking shape before you as events spontaneously unfold. You can let yourself be drawn in as an active participant, or you can remain an objective observer. To access highly personal and detailed information, a simple question is sufficient.

All you have to do to know how to wake up with the power and knowledge of the cosmic.Is ask how.Accroding to the book.And what my cousin believes.

How do I explain to my cousin he is getting fooled?

What do you think?:

@Lamb

 

[Lamb]

I think you should tell your cousin he should guard his soul more closely. He's living too dangerously.

 

[tango]

I read the entire book.And found some red flags:

Look what I found:
I found this book by Joe H. Slate.
And it is called astral projection for psychic empowerment.The Out-of-Body Experience, Astral Powers, and their Practical Application

And in chapter 9.

Astral Projection

And

Astral Powers

It has something called:

precognitive cosmic exposé procedure:

Step 2. Out-of-Body Travel. With your astral being now disengaged from your physical body, you are empowered to travel safely to the distant reaches of the cosmos. As you scan the cosmos, you will notice a distant realm of light that commands your attention and invites your interaction.Sense yourself being drawn toward it, until finally you are at the center of it, encompassed by the light of cosmic power and knowledge. All that you need to know about the future is now available to you, taking shape before you as events spontaneously unfold. You can let yourself be drawn in as an active participant, or you can remain an objective observer. To access highly personal and detailed information, a simple question is sufficient.

All you have to do to know how to wake up with the power and knowledge of the cosmic.Is ask how.Accroding to the book.And what my cousin believes.

How do I explain to my cousin he is getting fooled?

Even without the element of spiritual concern, which a non-believer will write off as us not accepting "their way" or whatever else they want to call it, a simple question is this, "does this even sound plausible?"

If it was this simple, why isn't everybody doing it? If all you have to do to unlock unlimited power is sit back, detach from your body, and float away to a white light, and all the information is conveniently contained in a book you can get for $9.99, how do copies of that book even stay on the shelves?

(The same applies to the prosperity gospel - the twisted version peddled by so many charlatans is such that you'd wonder why our churches aren't bursting at the seams, whereas if you look at the version Jesus presented it's easy to see why people are hesitant to leave their entire lives behind and suffer loss in this world)

 

[Can't think of a name]

I would like to know what you all think about precognition.

It seems there are some Christians who think precognition is natural and there are others who say it is demonic.

 

[Lamb]

I would like to know what you all think about precognition.

It seems there are some Christians who think precognition is natural and there are others who say it is demonic.

Does it point people to the Savior? If not, then it's not from God.