tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post2083541057851451009..comments2024-03-27T09:50:53.662-05:00Comments on Happy Catholic*: I Ain't Afraid O' No Ghosts: Reviewing "Holy Ghosts"Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-88879219987887821752010-10-21T10:14:22.719-05:002010-10-21T10:14:22.719-05:00Also, Mike, calling someone a "creature"...Also, Mike, calling someone a "creature"? Really? Stop it.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-75895657919884504692010-10-21T09:10:30.995-05:002010-10-21T09:10:30.995-05:00Mike ... I am not a pastor nor am I qualified to g...Mike ... I am not a pastor nor am I qualified to give pastoral advice.<br /><br />I am a reader who is also a Catholic. I know tons of people who, like Gary Jansen, are not-very-good-Catholics (as he, himself, admits) and who would have taken such methods with the best will and intentions in the world. As I said in my review, I don't know all the other circumstances and didn't care to speculate, though you obviously feel that you do. Does he have a crappy priest who won't give him the time of day? Has he been laughed at before by clergy when broaching such issues? I don't know. Neither do you. Those would be my guesses, having encountered bad "priesting" before in my time ... just mention our previous bishop's name to most of the Catholics in Dallas and you'll find that practically everyone would have walked over hot coals carrying a dead chicken in their mouths to avoid bringing up such a subject to hom.<br /><br />The point is that I don't know. Neither do you.<br /><br />I do look at the fact that Gary was interested enough to look into what the Catholic Church teaches and to point it out. That's more than a lot of those not-very-good-Catholics I know would have done.<br /><br />That is how I read the book.<br /><br />I was simply commenting on the book, which is the point of a review. However, I will amend the review with a sentence.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-48252261101328581412010-10-21T07:51:13.119-05:002010-10-21T07:51:13.119-05:00Then I guess the question is, why didn't you r...Then I guess the question is, why didn't you read it that way? <br /><br />Have you bothered to check out the Winkowski creature's website, with its magical wealth-producing advice and astrology? Are you aware that Gary edited one of her books --no full disclosure for him. Did you even notice that he neglected to seek help from the Church to which he claims allegiance? This is not cynicism, Julie, this is prudent pastoral examination of a text that may lead some of the faithful astray. People are hurt by this sort of crap all the time, and the most powerful lies are those that have just enough truth in them to make them plausible.Mike Walshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-30289221078246095752010-10-20T17:33:07.545-05:002010-10-20T17:33:07.545-05:00That's the cynical take on it. I didn't re...That's the cynical take on it. I didn't read it that way.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-7600398968982296732010-10-20T17:25:40.804-05:002010-10-20T17:25:40.804-05:00Julie, Julie,
His language is a trivial matter.
...Julie, Julie,<br /><br />His language is a trivial matter. <br /><br />You liked the way his experience served as a springboard to his faith? Huh? <br /><br />No, he used his faith --or rather, some Catholic practices-- merely as adjuncts, hedging his bets, as it were. The real story was his adventure in spritualism, with the assistance of this Cleveland Seeress. A new age cafeteria Catholic goes ghost hunting. When did he ever seriously approach the Church for help? Was he afraid it would ruin his book deal?Mike Walshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-41420015820696116842010-09-15T20:11:57.506-05:002010-09-15T20:11:57.506-05:00I didn't mind the language so much as just lan...I didn't mind the language so much as just language. It was that it appeared so randomly. Or so it seemed to me. Either use it or don't! :-D<br /><br />So glad you liked the book too. Try his rosary book. It is the one that introduced me to him and is a good 'un.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-43477616544162491002010-09-15T19:10:18.771-05:002010-09-15T19:10:18.771-05:00I got this book via Amazon today, and I JUST finis...I got this book via Amazon today, and I JUST finished reading it. I couldn't put it down! I had to know how it ended. I see what you mean, about the language. It didn't strike me as odd, though... maybe that's b/c I, too, have been known to curse like a sailor without provocation. (Yeah... working on that...). Anyway, I've often had convos with friends who say they've seen this or heard that. I never knew what to say to them... I always said "the Church doesn't believe in ghosts..." But now I feel like the answer isn't so cut and dried. I love how he relies on Father Hardon. He really does his homework. It makes me want to read his other books (and beg him for freelance editorial work... but that's a whole 'nother story). Anyway, thanks for the recommendation!Diananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-48716272912041192962010-09-02T08:31:35.337-05:002010-09-02T08:31:35.337-05:00Awesome review. I've often wondered what to sa...Awesome review. I've often wondered what to say to my friends when they tell me their ghost stories. I look forward to reading this to find out! Thanks!Diananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-74549037430468115192010-09-01T14:02:15.864-05:002010-09-01T14:02:15.864-05:00How have I missed hearing about that movie? It is ...How have I missed hearing about that movie? It is going on my list!Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-63173005068993920742010-09-01T08:35:00.459-05:002010-09-01T08:35:00.459-05:00Since this book has put you in the right frame of ...Since this book has put you in the right frame of mind, I suggest you check out the movie Lake Mungo (2nd time in as many days I've recommended this film to someone). It's completely lacking in blood and other horror tropes, but will have you looking for ghosts for days to come :)EegahInchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13055947542189758831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-64644093751568744702010-09-01T07:57:26.609-05:002010-09-01T07:57:26.609-05:00Hilary, good point. Gary does mention in the book ...Hilary, good point. Gary does mention in the book that at one point a priest had blessed their home. However, a counterpoint was raised to him, that the blessing included the ghosts. That is not Church doctrine and I don't know how valid it is, but you are right that it would point to getting a priest more involved on a specific level.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-8556851780926589692010-09-01T01:27:29.901-05:002010-09-01T01:27:29.901-05:00I work night shift at a printing plant and I exper...I work night shift at a printing plant and I experience odd paranormal things all the time there. I'll be running one of the machines when I see someone walk by the machine next to it, and there are only 2 of us working there. I once was walking to turn off another machine when I swear a dog or small animal ran across my path. I can go on and on with stories about this. I thought maybe I was experiencing these things due to sleep deprivation but during a recent talk to others working there, They've experienced similar things. I've almost gotten used to it, it happens so much. I have experienced things in my life which make me believe there is more than just the physical to this life.Gerry Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-65621761712346851902010-08-31T21:36:23.751-05:002010-08-31T21:36:23.751-05:00Thanks for your review. My pastor spoke briefly on...Thanks for your review. My pastor spoke briefly once about having dealt with things like this. There ARE priests who take these things seriously and can effectively address them - but it's true that they can be difficult to find. However, one tactic that I would suggest to "good Catholics" would be that they at least ask a priest to bless their house, and see if that helps. If it doesn't, they can contact the diocese to ask for an exorcist. A diocesan exorcist is not likely to laugh at them, since he will have dealt with demons before, and possibly quite extensively.<br /><br />While you're right that theory doesn't always work out in real situations, I mention it just so that Catholics reading this will know what the options are. Many probably do not know that every diocese is supposed to have an exorcist assigned to it and these priests are specially trained for such situations.Hilarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-63436130574401069952010-08-31T21:11:45.521-05:002010-08-31T21:11:45.521-05:00No, not that synesthesia is a ghostly experience, ...No, not that synesthesia is a ghostly experience, but that many more people have had it than will admit it ... just as many more people have had ghostly experiences than will admit it.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-43357795419361481062010-08-31T20:50:17.534-05:002010-08-31T20:50:17.534-05:00I don't understand how " synesthesis &quo...I don't understand how " synesthesis " is a " ghostly " experience. As I pointed out in your blog on that topic, I think it is perfectly normal.<br /><br />I confess that I have never had a " ghostly " experience of any kind that I know of. Though I am sure I have kept my Guardian Angel very busy. I think the experiences we need to worry about are the ones we are unaware of - the ones where an evil spirit causes a temptation to be placed in our way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com