3. Wisdom in Dealing with Spirits

World Scripture

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
John 4.1

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were heathen, you were led astray to dumb idols, however you may have been moved. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord!” except by the Holy Spirit.
Corinthians 12.1-3

Evil spirits have power over fearful men but cannot disturb the fearless.
Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti 7 (Buddhism)

A Muslim is not turned back from anything because of an omen. When he sees something indicating misfortune he should say, “O God, You alone bring good things, You alone avert evil things, and there is no might or power but in God.”
Hadith of Abu Dawud (Islam)

To maintain the existence of a ghost, Only brings about mischief; To understand the non-existence of a ghost Is the way of Buddha; To know that ghost and Reality are one Is the way to Liberation. Knowing that the ghosts are all one’s parents Is the right understanding; Realizing that the ghost itself is Self-mind Is glory supreme.
Milarepa (Buddhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Since a fallen person stands in the midway position between God and Satan and relates with both of them, the works of a good spirit may be accompanied by the subtle influences of an evil spirit. In other cases, phenomena which begin as the works of evil spirits may, as time passes, merge with the works of good spirits. Discerning the spirits is thus very difficult for those who do not understand the Principle. It is a pity that many religious authorities, in their ignorance, condemn the works of good spirits by lumping them together with evil spirits. This may place them in inadvertent opposition to God’s Will. In the present era, spiritual phenomena are becoming ever more prevalent. Unless religious leaders can correctly distinguish the works of good spirits from the works of evil spirits, they cannot properly instruct and guide those who experience spiritual phenomena.
(Exposition of the Divine Principle, Fall 4.4)

Do you think that when I meet spiritualist ladies, I simply follow their advice? No way. They do not know the whole picture. They can testify to the present situation, but they do not know how things operate.
(68:276, August 5, 1973)

Spiritualists differ among themselves because they each insist on their own viewpoint. This is a common problem among spiritual people. One hundred spiritualists will have one hundred different viewpoints. Being self-centered, each believes that his or her view is the best one. However, they should be the best by centering on the Center, not on themselves.
(325:289, July 2, 2000)

Through spiritualists, shamans, fortune-tellers and the like who are in touch with the spirit world, the spirit world has been taking advantage of earthly people. In the future this will no longer be permitted. The time is coming when earthly people will have dominion over the spirit world.
(219:78, August 25, 1991)