How the Ouija Board Got Its Sinister Reputation

How the Ouija Board Got Its Sinister Reputation
By Joseph P. Laycock for Real Clear Religion

 

By now, most have vague notions of the Ouija board horror narrative, in which demonic spirits communicate with – even possess – kids. Director Mike Flanagan furthers this trope in his new film “Ouija: Origin of Evil.” Set in 1967, a widow and her daughters earn a living scamming clients seeking to contact dead loved ones. The family business is relatively harmless until the youngest daughter discovers an old Ouija board, attempts to contact her deceased father and instead becomes possessed by evil spirits.

The Ouija board, however, didn’t always have this sinister reputation.

In fact, the Ouija board developed out of Spiritualism, a 19th-century movement known for its optimistic views about the future and the afterlife. As Spiritualism’s popularity waned, the Ouija board emerged as a

Spiritual Hygiene

In the book The Rite, author Matt Baglio tells the story of one Roman Catholic Priest and his journey to Rome to learn to be an Exorcist. In the book we find that at that time the course was primarily a lecture course and I assume it still is—not being Roman Catholic I have no way of knowing if there have been any changes in the course syllabus—and any practical experience Father Gary Thomas received was through observing practicing exorcists in the greater metropolitan area of Rome. While we in the west have come to believe that all exorcisms resemble the one portrayed in the movie The Exorcist, most real exorcisms take

Nasty Grams

A dear friend of mine who is also in the ministry of God once told me that you knew you were doing your job when you started receiving “nasty grams.” By that he meant

More On Paranormal Investigations

Paranormal Investigation; two words that have different meanings to various members of the Christian Clergy. When you reference Paranormal Investigation in the presence of Roman Catholic Priests or Bishops they either roll their eyes up to heaven and silently mutter a prayer or you can almost literally hear bells, whistles, and other alarms sounding off as the proverbial hackles raise; most of the Roman clergy I have had the distinct pleasure of interviewing are

On Generational Curses

As you might imagine this website attracts quite a lot of readers with a diverse range of interests; some simply interested in the paranormal, others seeking relief from the same.

Due to other responsibilities we cannot respond to all readers that use our contact us form but we do try to answer the questions of those that seem to be sincerely troubled. Today we received one such message, that in reality is a common fear, that of

12 Ways Satan May Try to Destroy You

From Church Pastor Dot com

The most popular post ever published on my blog is 20 Ways Satan May Seek to Destroy You. There we survey the Scriptures and demonstrate the reality of our spiritual enemy and his crafty work. Today, I add a dozen more.

In my continued reading of A Puritan Theology, I found the chapter “The Puritans on Demons” sobering. “The Puritans viewed human history as one continual conflict with evil spiritual powers.” This is one reason I have so long appreciated the writings of the Puritans, men who were not afraid to expose the devices of the evil one. Therefore, we find much help from them for the spiritual warfare that belongs to those who

God’s E.R. helps cast out demonic manifestations

By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer for Tulsa World

 

No heads were spinning 360 degrees, and no one was shrieking or foaming at the mouth Monday night during God’s E.R. ministry sessions, which are held several times a week in Tulsa to cast demons out of people and then to help them stay free.
“We see a variety of (demonic) manifestations, but not for long,” said John Heim, a volunteer minister who is also a Tulsa air traffic controller.
“We don’t allow manifestations. They might raise their heads, but we take