the timboucher experience

I get all sorts of mail to my website, some more far out than others. One recent letter I got was from a Christian pastor who wanted to know about “occultism and its practices” so that he could “break new ground in his ministry.” This is a pretty hard thing to advise somebody in, not knowing their level of open-mindedness to other traditions.

I think I figured out what would probably be the safest and most productive route for him though. Basically, what I suggested was that he spend some time really studying the major religions of the world first. I suggested Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions as a decent survey-level starting point. It’s a very even handed and informative book, I’ve found. I also suggested that he get into Joseph Campbell for supplemental information, and for another perspective on those things. From there, it seems like the best thing to do would be to pick one religion, and look more deeply into their mystical practices. Whether or not he sticks with studying that area, it will give good grounds for comparison.

I chose to recommend this sort of “top-down” approach for this fellow, because I’ve found that most Christians have very little education in other major religions at all. And consequently, they end up hearing pretty much anything that’s not mainstream Christianity and labelling it occult or pagan. For somebody like this, I think taking a more “ground-up” course of study in occult and mystical practices and theory would be disastrous. They would either just end up shutting it all out as evil, or getting lost in the myriad of viewpoints which are out there.

In any event, hopefully I helped out, and this guy will pursue knowledge which will both expand him and his ministry.

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