Necromancy
From SkepticWiki
Contents |
[edit] Definition
Necromancy is a form of divination done by raising and/or communicating with dead spirits.[1]
Etymology of the word "necromancy" is as follows:
- Greek, necros meaning dead
- Greek, manteia meaning prophesy
Mediums, channelers, seance artists, ouija board users, and some astral projectors are all considered to be necromancers of one form or another.
Necromancy, as a word, is considered by most of the occult/New Age community to be a derogatory or distasteful term. Use of it is generally avoided in favor of more general terms like "summoning," "invocation," or "evocation." Necromancers usually prefer to be called "mediums" or "channelers," though in some rare instances that is not the case.
[edit] Origins
Necromancy is a practice conceivably as old as mankind, but the first known written record of necromancy is in Homer's Odyssey. The main character, Ulysses, raised spirits of the dead under direction of the witch Circe. Interestingly, Ulysses was unable to raise Tiresias, the spirit he intended, but instead raised many others unintentionally.[2]
Possibly the most famous necromancer is the Biblical Witch of Endor, written in 1 Samuel 28.
- 1 Samuel 28:7-8
- Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
- And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
There are many references to necromancy in recorded history, from ancient Egypt, Babylon, Chaldea, Etruria, and throughout the Middle East. [3][4] However there is no known date or timeframe of when necromancy first evolved.
