Fishwrap posts about a profound spiritual experience, probably demonic, but profound

Decades ago the National Catholic Reporter (these days more the National Schismatic Reporter aka Fishwrap) was commanded by the bishop where they are established to stop using the word “Catholic” in their title.  The bishop was met with defiance.  Fishwrap has been one of the foremost organs of catholic hypocrisy, distorting the Faith, ever since.

Today, at Fishwrap, we find this, from someone named Art Blumberg, who is going for the coveted MDiv at Jesuit Run Loyola University in Chicago.

As part of his course work he wanted to attend a Hindu Temple puja ceremony. He was scared of COVID so he watched a video.

As you peruse this, think of the snarky comments made at Fishwrap about the Traditional Roman Rite, all the “smells and bells” comments, the “couldn’t understand”, the “it’s only sentimentality that draws” B as in B, S as in S.   Now, proceed at your own risk,  possible with an emesis basin at hand.

My emphases.

A postmodern Catholic divinity student lets go for a moment of grace

[…]

The video of the puja begins with a closed red curtain. A voice is chanting. Then someone makes a few announcements in English and Hindi. The same voice chants again. He stops. Then another person chants as the curtain is opened by the priest (pujari). Behind the curtain is a statue of Ganesha, the Hindu god with a man’s body and an elephant’s head. Hindus revere Ganesha as a remover of obstacles to the soul’s spiritual journey. The pujari makes ritual offerings of food to the statue. As the offering continues, another voice takes over the chanting.

I watch and listen. Although I can’t understand the language, I find its tone uplifting. I recognize the word, “Aum.” The way “Aum” is chanted reminds me of the way “Amen” is spoken or chanted in Hebrew prayers.

As the puja continues, the curtain in front of the statue of Ganesha, standing in what I think of as the tabernacle, is closed and then opened. As I take notes, I think that there is something inspiring and satisfying about seeing a religious observance done well. The pujari waves a short-handled stick with flowing tassels. I watch this intricate ritual, wondering what it all means.

It’s then I realize I am doing this all wrong. I am observing, taking notes like a field anthropologist. I am drawing parallels to Christian and Jewish practices.

I am distancing myself.

I am not part of the puja.

I pause the video. Take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Take another deep breath. Exhale slowly. And again. And again. I restart the video. Shift my focus from the pujari to the motion of the tassels. Listen to the chanting. Then I stare into Ganesha’s eyes.

And something wonderful happens. I am entranced, mesmerized. Ganesha’s eyes seem to stare back as the chanting wafts over me. I slide into its rhythm. One voice, then another, then two together. Not trying to understand. Just breathing. Just being.

Silence. I am startled.

The two voices begin a new and joyous chant. Is that a bell tinkling?

The statue of Ganesha.

The chanting. The distant dance of bells.

Ganesha.

For a moment, the eyes of Ganesha are all that exists, all that is there in my world.

As the puja ends, I am still staring into Ganesha’s eyes.

The video stops.

I sigh.

What just happened?

The short answer, in Christian terms, is that I experienced a moment of grace, even as it was in a non-Christian setting. I know that experiencing the divine cannot be confined to a Christian box. But I must find a deeper answer that goes beyond imposing Christian theology and values on a Hindu puja.

[…]

I go for dar?an and watch the puja again, tamping down my conscious mind, leaving myself open for the experience.

And I stare into Ganesha’s eyes.

And I breathe.

And I be.

A great feeling of peace comes over me as I surrender to the puja.

For the moment, the story becomes a little more my own.

The pandemic has upended the way we live. Yet even a pandemic cannot stop our seeking, our questing for signs of the Divine.

He surrendered, while staring into the eyes of a representation of a demon.  As he did that, and afterward, he felt great.

And Fishwrap wants you to know about this great opportunity, so they posted the video too!

You too can have your very own gateway moment for apostasy and demonic oppression.

Comment moderation is on.

May I suggest that you say the prayer to St. Michael for this man and any others who might be tempted to do what he did?  He could be in trouble for what he did.

On the other hand, he might have a bigger and more immediate problem.  He’s with Jesuits at Loyola in Chicago.

 

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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27 Comments

  1. Danteewoo says:

    Can I give you a Fishwrap story, off topic but definitely about Fishwrap? In the 1969-70 school year I was a second year college-level seminarian in Chicago. And one day in the library, after looking at The Wanderer, I glanced at the National Catholic Reporter. I noticed a small story about a child who had died, but “he would have eternal life in that we will always remember him.” (Not an exact quote, but precisely the idea given.) They were denying the existence of Heaven back then, so I am hardly surprised that they have a fondness for paganism. (Alas, similar fondness for such can be found in the Vatican II documents.)

    By the way, I left the seminary the next year, better for the Church and much, much better for me.

  2. Fuerza says:

    A moment of grace while mesmerized by bells and ancient chant by a priest. If only we had something like that in Catholicism…

  3. jflare29 says:

    “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
    It used to be I could think of that as merely a mildly irritating movie. Then again, I used to think of a “Come to Jesus Meeting” as merely indicating a person has need to get their act together in business. Fast.
    T’would seem this fellow needs to have a real one. Soon.
    We need these bishops and the Jesuit Superior to get in the game.

  4. Gaetano says:

    If only Catholics had a similar ceremony where they chant in an ancient language (including the actual word “Amen”). Perhaps with incense and bells.

    What if they even had an altar as the focus of our devotions, perhaps with a physical object that embodied God’s presence. Because believing God Himself could be present would be more than we could possibly aspire to.

    Then he wouldn’t have to lay aside Jewish & Christian beliefs, but instead experience their fulfillment.

    Maybe he could even do it with his fellow Catholics as a communal devotion. Perhaps for an hour – or as many as forty.

    If only Catholics had such a thing…

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  6. IaninEngland says:

    My first thought on reading about the poor man’s having surrendered to the demon was “Are you mad?” I voiced it, in fact.
    I have prayed for Mr Blumberg. Please pray for him too.

  7. The Astronomer says:

    Art Blumberg participating in the worship of a pagan (daemonic) Hindu entity:

    “I know that experiencing the divine cannot be confined to a Christian box.”

    A fellow named Jesus of Nazareth:

    I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

  8. Christ_opher1 says:

    I have never read Thomas Merton, but if my understanding of his idealogy is correct then Art has headed into the same zone.

  9. Sportsfan says:

    “Behind the curtain is a statue of Ganesha, the Hindu god with a man’s body and an elephant’s head. ”

    If there was anything after that, I missed it.

  10. exNOAAman says:

    Art Blumberg, the next time you sober up, read over this article. You’ll be amused at what you wrote. Or shocked.

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  12. Skeinster says:

    Our pastor is a Franciscan priest from India, and today for the first time, we recited the St. Michael prayer at the end of Mass. Interesting contrast.

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  14. GregB says:

    Mr. Blumberg appears to be acting the same way that King Solomon did under the influence of his foreign wives. God’s relationship with Israel in the Old Testament was spousal. He was called Israel’s Husband. In the New Testament Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is His Bride. More nuptial imagery. God wants a committed monogamous relationship with us. Too many modernists look like they are only capable of spiritually shacking up and engaging in unholy hookups. Living the Gospel according to Harvey Weinstein.

  15. MaterDeicolumbae says:

    Mr. Blumberg has opened his soul to let the demon Ganesha in by saying “yes” to the demon by “staring into the eyes of a representation of a demon”. He reports feeling “great”. Then he feels peace after surrendering to the puja.
    Mr. Blumberg has done a very dangerous and frightening thing.
    It’s possible the puja may have placed a curse/binding on Mr. Blumberg as well.
    Satan’s use of the media is just as powerful as his evil actions done in real life.
    Yes, praying to St. Michael, Our Lady, and St. Joseph “Terror of Demons”, is absolutely necessary.

  16. Son of Saint Alphonsus says:

    Back in the mid-90s, at the Washington Theological Union, a hotbed of heresy, heterodoxy, syncretism, wymen priests, and assorted immortality, this sort of thing was required of all students. It was also required as part of a liturgy class at St. John’s University in the early 90s. The WTU went bankrupt, thanks be to God…or perhaps Divine Intervention. SJU…?

  17. DCLex says:

    By their sacrilegious attempts, they will have gained nothing but disgrace and shame, and the mortification of having occasioned a fresh luster to Truth by the new light in which it has been put, and of having procured a clearer knowledge of dogma or morals for the devoted children of the Church. Dom Prosper Gueranger.

  18. DCLex says:

    By their sacrilegious attempts, they will have gained nothing but disgrace and shame, and the mortification of having occasioned a fresh luster to Truth by the new light in which it has been put, and of having procured a clearer knowledge of dogma or morals for the devoted children of the Church. Dom Prosper Gueranger.

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  20. robtbrown says:

    jflare29 says:

    “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
    It used to be I could think of that as merely a mildly irritating movie.

    You don’t like Blue Grass music?

  21. robtbrown says:

    Christ_opher1,

    The Seven Story Mountain is a very good book, Merton on his spiritual and physical journey. Unfortunately, his restlessness was such that after becoming a Trappist, he still continued searching.

    He did, however, later write:

    As you know, I have many friends in the world who are artists, poets, authors, editors, etc. Now they are well able to appreciate our chant and even our Latin. But they are all, without exception, scandalized and grieved when I tell them that probably this Office, this Mass will no longer be here in ten years. And that is the worst. The monks cannot understand this treasure they possess, and they throw it out to look for something else, when seculars, who for the most part are not even Christians, are able to love this incomparable art.

    — Thomas Merton, in a letter to Dom Ignace Gillet, Abbot General of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (1964)

  22. robtbrown says:

    Mr Blumberg’s reaction is typical of someone more interested in religious “experience” than Truth.

    I do think, however, that if religious experience is what he is after, he should take himself to Clear Creek ‘Abbey.

  23. OssaSola says:

    1 Corinthians, 10:20

    Mr. Blumberg has gotten himself into some really serious trouble. As in run, don’t walk, to Confession and then a Minor Exorcism with a faithful Catholic priest.

  24. dvarella says:

    The use of media like this provides another portal for the devil to use to open people to demonic infestation. This is precisely why any shows or movies with tarot cards or ouija boards are not permitted in my home. Just watching these things can be very dangerous; Mr. Blumberg went one step further and surrendered to it, which means he actively participated in it mentally and spiritually. The television really is “the stranger in the home”, and Mr. Blumberg did more damage to himself by surrendering to it than he realizes.

  25. Greg the Geologist says:

    We can only hope Mr. Blumberg is doing this as academic work, not studying for the priesthood. Not sure I’d want to sit through his homilies. But visualizing this line got my attention: “Hindus revere Ganesha as a remover of obstacles to the soul’s spiritual journey. The pujari makes ritual offerings of food to the statue.” Cut to scene, where Apu corrects Homer: “Mr. Simpson, please do not offer my god a peanut”. I wonder if they can still show that?

  26. dallenl says:

    Although I can not attest through personal experience, it is my understanding from authoritative sources that much the same experience can be attained through the use of peyote and no interaction with questionable deities is involved.

  27. Semper Gumby says:

    This naive graduate student should be aware that “Hail yourself” is one of the greetings used by The Satanic Temple.

    As for hypnosis via video, this graduate student should be aware of Michael Aquino. In the 1970s Aquino left Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan and founded the Temple of Set (an ancient Egyptian deity who killed and mutilated his brother Osiris). The Temple of Set believes in self-deification, their “sacred text” was “received by Aquino from Satan” and titled “The Book of Coming Forth by Night.”

    Aquino was an Army officer specializing in psychological warfare. The photo of Aquino in military uniform with eyebrows groomed in a horned fashion was taken at a private, non-military event. There is also a video of Aquino on the Oprah Winfrey Show dressed in his Temple of Set clothes.

    Whether the human form-with-elephant-head Ganesh or the human form-with-unknown-animal-head Set, this trick is as old as the hills. (The unknown head on Set is referred to as the “Set animal” or, from the Greek, “Typhon.”)

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