Talk 34: What do we need to know to understand the deceptions of our times?
Christ left us a most fearful warning: False Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. We see this happening in our own times. Today, even pious Orthodox Christians become confused and deceived by various phenomena which appear to be Orthodox. Prophesies, clairvoyance, visions, healings, signs and miracles, exorcisms, dreams, and mysterious fragrances are just some of the phenomena which the pious must test, as Saint John the Evangelist writes, to see whether they are from God. But sadly, many are even confused about entirely un-Orthodox phenomena: psychics, mediums, UFOs, charismatics, speaking in tongues, apparitions, ghosts, visions, communication with the dead, astrology, reincarnation, hypnosis, levitation, etc.
In this talk, Father Kosmas explains that without true Orthodox teaching and spirituality it is impossible to detect and avoid these deceptions, many of which are extremely subtle, and all of which separate us from God.
The following questions are also discussed: how can we not be proud of being in the true faith? Why is a lukewarm Orthodox Christian worse than an unbeliever? Why were there only a few who lived a life of reclusion and silence? What was the tragic end of two laymen who gave Orthodox talks? What happened to one self-willed cave-dwelling recluse? How does one go from monastic novice to drug dealer? What are the two main types of fuel for deception? Are there monastics who are mediums? What are the signs of a deceived person? What is the difference between self-deception and diabolical deception?
Other topics covered in this talk include: religions that were established as a result of visions; apparitions of “Mary” to children in Roman Catholicism; Francis of Assisi - his visions and stigmata; a deceived young man’s preparations for the coming of the antichrist; a young woman’s experience with a deceived abbess; the importance of understanding one’s thoughts to avoid deception; levitation; the relationship between spiritual deception and mental and physical illness; accounts of Saints Isaac and Nicetas of the Kiev Caves; a “clairvoyant” octopus; and an Anglican “exorcist”.
Talk Duration: 205 minutes
Chanting Duration: 30 minutes
3 CD set