Through a Glass Darkly

I’m reading an article called, “Fighting Demons, Raising the Dead, Taking Over the World”, about a recently created Christian sect called The Third Wave, or the New Apostolic Reformation. They have successfully organized over 200 million people around the world in simultaneous prayer, and believes in things like “spiritual mapping:”

“The new paradigm entailed that missionaries had to ‘identify’ and ‘bind territorial spirits’ and ‘unleash’ divine power. Evangelism was to be preceded by ‘prayer walks,’ and prayer was considered best if done geographically ‘on-site,’ within a ‘target area.’ Prayer became the identification of and confrontation with demons… All of this was categorized as ‘Spiritual Mapping’… A team flown in from the New Life Church in Colorado Springs secretively anointed traditional fetish huts and whole villages.” . . . “A year later in 1997, Alix Spiegel described Ted Haggard’s New Life Church members methodically ‘prayer walking’ the streets, trying to drive away territorial demon spirits from Colorado Springs.”

They’ve been in the news before, especially during the election; the Kenyan pastor, Thomas Muthee, that cast all the demons and witches out of a Nairobi suburb (you know, the guy that blessed Sarah Palin against “every spirit of witchcraft?” That’s the one) belongs to this same sect. As does Sarah Palin. I remember seeing those stories then, but what I never got before was the size of this church or what they believed and practised. A rogue pastor and a weird congregation member do not a movement make; and apparently, a movement this is. A movement that believes in the doctrine that “Christians can create a utopia on Earth by driving out territorial demon spirits and alleged witches with the power of massed prayer.”

“Third Wave Christianity claimed, by 2000, some 295 million adherents. “World Christian Trends” calls the Third Wave a “new and disturbingly different kind of Christian renewal.” . . . Within two decades, Third Wave Christianity encompassed over four percent of humanity. It is a seismic change. . . . The biggest megablock outside of the Catholic Church [is] the postdenominational block, 385 million strong by 2000. Wagner calls this block ‘neo-Apostolic.’ . . . it’s the only megablock growing faster than the earth’s population and faster than Islam.”

I am personally really bothered by this. I believe in the ether, if you will, or the Force, or chi, or prana; that the “empty spaces” around us aren’t empty, and that what people say and do in those spaces has an effect on them. Whether or not they can do what they claim, I really don’t think their effect on the environment will be terribly healthy, especially considering their views on what the world is and what is best for it. And with everything else she’s going through, Gaia/Nerthus/Mother Earth doesn’t need a group of fanatics messing with her vibes.

This certainly strengthens my resolve to pick up on my circling, as well as developing a daily practice. It’s reminded me that the planet is in danger from more than just how much we drive or what we throw away. In Norse mythology the World Tree, Yggdrasil, is in constant peril; a dragon gnaws its roots, harts eat at its bark, and this annoying squirrel keeps running up and down it spreading gossip and making the others even crazier. The Norns have a constant duty to tend it, spreading water and clay to heal its wounds. Isn’t that a great analogy? We can help heal the planet by spreading our gifts and energy around. Most of you probably already know that; it’s just hitting home to me on a deeper level right now. I need to stop sitting on my tukkus and not growing myself, not connecting with my gods, not participating on an energy level with the rest of the planet. Because, to paraphrase, “All that is required for someone to mess up the joint is that those who can do nothing.” I can. And I oughta.

How about you? I’d love to hear how you would contribute to the energy welfare of the planet. Every faith does it differently; magic, ritual, gardening, volunteering — what’s yours? Tell us in the Comments!