Okay, this is kind of a weird question, but an interesting one. My family on my Dad’s side are Catholics (my Italian side of the family) and I used to frequently attend the catholic church when I was younger and once in a while I still go (although I am Methodist) and there is an older man that goes, he has been going to this particular church since I can remember, and EVERYTIME we pray, he makes a motion with his hands, almost like he is dusting them off, like rubbing them together as if they are dusty. He looks around too as he is doing this. The only reason I noticed this is because when I was little I used to peak when everyone was supposed to bow their heads to pray, and I saw him do it, and now, I can’t help but look for this man everytime I go to the church to see if he does it, and he does! Something about this man gives me the creeps, he stares at you as if he is looking right through to your soul. Someone told me this is a Satanic ritual and that some people that practice Satanism pretend to be Catholic in the publics eye to cover up what they really are. I know this is probably a weird question, but if anyone can shed light on this subject, I would appreciate it. Oh I almost forgot, and he has George W. Bush stickers ALL over his bumper (hehe) !

Hypatia

Starman

Membership in a Satanic cult, demonic possession, nervous disorder, emotional instability or merely prone to have ticks, or maybe sincerely convinced that his antics are necessary for prayer are all possibilities. Actually, the man might be perfectly OK. Yet I don't blame you for feeling uneasy since his behavior doesn't quite fall in line with what we generally consider proper both sociologically and from a Christian standpoint. Staring intently without saying anything is rude and is something which predators do in the wild in preparation to attack. Looking around and rubbing hands while everyone else is respectfully praying also comes across as scheming. Have you considered asking him about this? Have you ever told your pastor? I am assuming the man isn't your pastor of course. : )

BTW

I had a similar experience with my aunt on my father's side when I was a child.
She was in the habit of losing total control of her body dropping to the floor and rolling back and forth. Then she'd come to a stop, and address others with her voice changed. She'd claim to be Jesus speaking. Naturally, since she was talking to me while sweating
profusely and trembling from head to foot I instinctively bolted for the exit.

In any case, I was later threatened with damnation until I agreed to attend her church. The problem was that as soon as I got there people started gradually losing control, began making gutteral unintelligible sounds and began dropping and rolling all around me which led me to suspect that my aunt had cunningly led me into a trap. I seriously considered bolting for the exit but was too scared to run since I imagined them all following me into the darkness outside, catching me and who knows what. So I just suffered through the whole experience and never went back.

Cgirl

Wow starman, that sounds creepy! I am glad you made it through unscathed!

Starman

Hi Cgirl!

It was definitely a traumatic experience which I have never forgotten.
Young as I was I just couldn't accept the kind of antics those individuals were going through as a manifestation of something good. Obviously they thought differently. Maybe because they were raised in households where that was considered a manifestation of God's hoy spirit. To me of course, it looked like demonic possession which explains my tendency to bolt for the nearest exit.


BTW
My aunt also had the disconcerting habit of interrupting a conversation by slamming a fist on a table and yelling "barcay!" This she also attributed to the holy spirit but it always unnerved me and put me on a semi-bolting mode. LOL

Cgirl

Jeese! She sounds very intimidating. I too have witnessed people acting this way, claiming to be filled with the holy spirit, and it definately made me uncomfortable. I just decided to myself that everyone has a different way of worshipping God, I have mine and they have theirs. I am Methodist, which is very traditional and different than a pentacostal church or fundamentalist church, but this is just what I feel comfortable with.

Fr_Chuck

First let me say that many people who believe in Satan worship, witchcraft, black magic, can be anyone, the person making your BigMac, the police officer on the street, your sons 3rd grade math teacher Just anyone. They don't stand out normally. Some of course take it to extreme and are fairly obvious, ( a tatoo of a upside down cross on thier arm.

But because of society many keep it quiet.

Very few go to church, since they don't beleive in christianity. But could go to family events with them.

Most likely this person is nervious, feels like everyone is against him or some other light mental health issue.

The situtation Starman described sounds more like a demonic posession, not even commom within satan worship but does happen at times.

Starman

Well, from my vantage point she was intimidating. From their vantage point she had the gift of holy spirit and her utterings were the gift of tongues. I agree with you that everyone is entitled in reaching an understanding to the best of their ability. Neither am I in any way reaching conclusions about her status before God or her eternal destiny based on her present understanding. Nevertheless, those who spoke in tongues when they received Holy spirit were speaking for the purpose of helping others comprehend the good news concerning salvation. They were not simply uttering unintelligible sounds.
Neither does the Bible tell us that the apostles dropped to the floor writhing and
sweating that way. So based on this I am forced to conclude that this way of worship though sincere is not the right way. Hope you understand what I am saying.

BTW
My parents left a church because they were never hurled to the floor and lost control even though they constantly prayed for it to happen to them as well. When they asked why, they were told that they were lacking God's holy spirit.

Cgirl

I totally agree with you starman, I don't agree with worship in this way either. I think a lot of these people are pretending, and that is why I don't attend one of these types of church.

Starman

I personally don't like to be around people who act as if they are out of control that way. The man you mentioned brought my experiences with my aunt to mind. But to be honest, the man you mention seems more sinister to me since you say he waits for people to close their eyes in order to begin his antics. Does your pastor or priest know about this? If not you should tell him.

Hope12

Such worship includes practices ranging from “benign ritualistic activities to drinking blood from self-mutilation and animal sacrifices.” Satanic cults proclaim “an allegiance to the devil. Specific rituals are used to channel power from Satan to the followers. . . . The dogma of freedom of choice and will means doing whatever you want with no God, no guilt, and no conscience.” As a result, some engage in criminal activities without shame.

There is the belief among many of Satan’s worshipers that he will provide power to those who follow his teachings. And the understanding of some satanic worshipers is that this means power to murder without retribution. The publicized murders by worshipers of Satan reveal that they really believe that by murder they can ingratiate themselves with the Devil. So there is need to take seriously the growing menace of satanic worship.

If this man is a Satan worshiper, stay away from him. They are dangerous. Yet, be discerning because this man could also be mentally sick.

Take care,
Hope12