Conference hydra::dejavu

    Reply to .0, Benson,
    
    I haven't read the book yet, but maybe I will after I get through
    with _Dark_Secrets_of_the_New_Age_, or whatever, by Tex Marr. B^)
                                                    
    Actually I have looked into the heart of Darkness and I must confess
    that I liked what I saw. Needless to say I didn't get sucked into
    the vacuum. It is very, very enticing though...
    

                                                  
    Re.0 - Jeff - my goodness - a familiar face!  (;^)  Welcome. 
    
    Cindy

    Hi, Jeff,
    
       Is this the same Johanna Michelson from the book and movie, _Gods
    of the New Age_"? If so, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts
    on the book. It was recommended to me some years back by my father.
    But due to time restrictions and a very small book budget I never
    got around to it.
    
       Is there, indeed, a "beautiful side of evil"?  A review would
    be appreciated.
    
    Gil

    It just occured to me that this note could lead to more new-age
    bashing, which would be in bad taste in this conference. Jeff,
    perhaps it would be better to send me info via vaxmail.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Gil

    
    	I read this book a while back.   It was interesting reading,
    although I did not agree with it in it's entirety.    The author
    had been involved with a psychic healer, as her assistant over
    a long period of time.   After this she had a religious experience
    converting her to "born-again" Christianity.    In this book
    she explains how the healer often was able to help people, but
    that in her view the underlying power was satanic.   Thus she
    felt that the evil was hidden under the seeming good of providing
    healings.    After her conversion she came to believe that the
    "miracles" she had seen were empowered by evil, in order to 
    disguise the true evil and make it appear good.
    
    	One of the more sordid seeming accounts in the book involves
    digging up the body of a dead man to remove body parts for a
    'transplant' operation, performed in a no-anesthetic psychic
    surgery.    I thought the tale she tells may well be a true
    one, and it is a rare tale, coming as it does, from someone
    who was an insider when the 'healings' were taking place.
    
    	It is a fascinating book which explores difficult issues.
    It is well written, and although I did not agree with all
    her conclusions, I still believe it was well worth reading.
    
    							Alan.

                      
    Re.3,.4
    
    Hi Gil,
    
    You are welcome here, as is Jeff...and your opinions, even though
    they may differ from the DEJAVU mainstream (if there is such a thing 
    (;^)).  I would like to see more cross-conference exchanges in 
    hopes of promoting further understanding and acceptance in these 
    areas of New Age, religion, peace, etc., and hopefully I am echoing 
    the sentiments of other DEJAVU participant here - particularly those
    who lean toward 'new age' beliefs.
    
    (Cross-conferencing meaning CHRISTIAN and DEJAVU in this instance, 
    for those not familiar with this particular dialogue.)
             
    Welcome to DEJAVU.
    
    Cindy

    
    RE: .1
    
    	Mikie? "Dark Secrets of the New Age, or watever" catchy title!
    	I'm still trying to muddle through "Hidden Dangers of The Rainbow".
    	(personaly a prefer Calvin & Hobbes)
         
    RE: last few in there
    
    	I think this conf. may be better in content and maturity than
    some and wont degenerate into bashing. But if it comes down to
    religion... I believe we should move it there.
    
    Thanks ;-)
    
    Craig                                                        
    

    
    	Last night I got out my copy of "The Beautiful Side of
    Evil", and have been looking it over again...
    
        This book is far and away more interesting and challenging
    than the usual run of new age bashing 'Christian' books
    like "Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow" which I have also
    read and was not at all impressed with.   Johanna Michaelsen
    tells her own story, which is unusual to begin with, and
    sheds the light of her own unique viewpoint on the spiritual
    conflicts of our world.
    
    	The story presented in "The Beautiful Side Of Evil" is
    powerful and well written.    It is a very subjective story
    however, and while it has an important challenge and message,
    my own strongly held religious viewpoints were not really
    changed by reading it.   Yet I admit that I cannot take this
    book lightly, for I can directly feel her depth and honesty.
    I feel I have been given a psychic ability for truth-sense
    which I use always when I am evaluating an author.   The truth
    sense conveys to me the state of mind of the author, not the
    absolute knowledge of *Truth*.   This inner sense has told me
    she is being honest, telling it as she sees it.   I like her.
    I would really enjoy speaking with her, I'm sure.

	The story embodies a warning against involvement with the
    occult, and with spirits, a warning which is integral to the 
    author's story.

	Now, my library is replete with numerous volumes of occult 
    literature, which Johanna Michaelsen would probably warn me are 
    bringing me into danger.    She might even suggest I burn some 
    of those books as she burned her own.   I am already a Christian, 
    though some others have told me I am not, certain that their
    definition of Christianity is the only correct one.   But 
    certainly I admit I'm not of the mainstream variety of Christian, 
    being more of a Gnostic with Native American leanings.   I don't 
    feel my reading habits have endangered my soul, and so I consider that 
    some of her reaction to the evil that she found was an over-reaction, 
    perhaps quite justified, considering what she has personally seen,
    and been through.

	Even so, this book raises legitimate questions about the
    nature and source of spiritual aid and psychic powers.   If 
    you believe that all world religions are equally valid paths 
    to God as I do, if you believe in some of the practices that 
    have been termed 'new age' or 'occult', then this book is a 
    powerful challenge.    The story implies that many psychic
    abilities that people feel are their own, are actually the
    abilities of the spirits that walk along with them in life.
    The spirit that a shaman would consider to be a helper, the
    born-again Christian would consider to be a parasite, infiltrating
    to eventually attack the person.

	Now, I am after the *Truth*.    This book causes me to
    evaluate my own place on the path as very few books have ever
    done.    I find I am reading it over again, it is worth a
    second reading.   It's worth a prayer to God for more insight
    into the deeper truth, and for the love to carry that truth.
    If you are into the New Age movement, and the development of
    psychic abilities, then I *dare* you to say you are unaffected
    by reading this powerful story.   Read it and say your own
    prayer.

    							Alan.

    
    	Re: .8
    
    Any chance we could get the publishers name, cost, where to send
    for it... for those of us who are into mail order... ect?
    
    and any other recomendations/opinions by folks who have read it?
    
    thanks

    
    	_The_Beautiful_Side_Of_Evil_, by Johanna Michaelsen.
    1982, Harvest House.   Forward by Hal Lindsey.
    Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 82-082240
    ISBN 0-89081-322-1
    
    Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR 97402
    
    	My issue of this is trade paperback size, and the price on it,
    from a year or two ago, is $5.95.   I can't remember where I got
    it, but I suspect it may have been in one of the 'Zondervan'
    Christian bookstores.

    							Alan.