Shownotes

We talk about the role of spirituality in death a lot on the show, but with everything there are always two sides to the conversation. Sometimes in loss, people feel despondent enough  to want to contact the dead.  With popular shows that glamorize avenues such as mediums, holistic healing, yoga, reiki and other  new age practices, it makes one wonder what’s the harm? 

Andrea Bear interviews Susan Brinkman, author and award-winning journalist about necromancy (invoking  the dead) and  the dangers of the new age. Listen to their conversation  and how these practices go against God's wishes and sheds light on who is really conversing on the other side. 

Guest Bio

Guest Bio

Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., is an author and award-winning journalist and a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She serves as Director of New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN's Women of Grace® television show. She is the founder of Live Catholic, an educational nonprofit devoted to teaching authentic Catholic prayer in the Carmelite tradition to the faithful. Susan formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of its kind in the world. She has also authored eleven books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Liguori Publications published the story of her conversion, entitled, We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl. You can email her at sbrinkmann@womenofgrace.com.

Links

• Find all of Susan’s Books HERE

• Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian reflection on the “New Age”

• The New Age Q&A Blog at Women of Grace  

• Ransomed From Darkness: The New Age, Christian Faith and the Battle for Souls Moira Noonan (Author), John Hampsch (Author)

• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Heaven: But Never Dreamed of Asking by Peter Kreeft

• The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Fr. Charles Arminjon

• An Interview with an Exorcist by Fr. Jose Antonio Fortea

Scripture

• Luke 1:49 "The Almighty has done great things for me and Holy is His name." 

• 1 Macc 3:10 "For victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on the strength that comes from Heaven." (1 Macc 3:19)

• Deuteronomy 18:10

• Jeremiah 23: 25-29 (referencing warnings about dreams)

Journaling Questions

1. Have you ever tried reaching out to a deceased loved one using a medium? What were the circumstances that prompted you to reach out?

2. Reflect on the conversation and how Susan shares why God does not permit necromancy. How has this changed your view on the role of the afterlife? 

3. In times of loss how can the Saints be a source of comfort? 

4. How can the devil manipulate mediums and those who engage to think he is helping instead of hurting? 

5. God does allow our loved ones to be intercessors through prayer. What prayers can you offer for your loved one to insure their place in heaven as well as comfort for your heart? 

6. What is your mourning glory?

Prayer for:  the soul of Joey P.