Enjoy...
QuoteKimberly Daniels, the Jacksonville City Councilwoman who doubles as a "deliverance" minister, is profiled by the National Geographic channel this coming Monday on its show "Taboo."
In a preview posted on its website, National Geographic shows Daniels casting out demons from one follower.
Later, she explains what she does.
"I'm not just in the demon-casting-out-business," she tells the camera, "I'm in the life-changing business."
Her appearance is part of a "Devils and Demons" episode, featuring people who practice what are commonly called exorcisms. Crews filmed Daniels at City Hall and at her ministry in July.
See for yourself.
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/mike-marino/2012-11-15/watch-national-geographic-preview-jacksonville
creepy people
:o I don't know what to say. :o
Wow.
It's really starting to become embarrassing to live here.
Just when I thought I'd lived down Angela Corey threatening to sue Alan Dershowitz for disagreeing with her (cause' what could possibly go wrong with that idea), now NatGeo presents us with the demonbusterTM.
If this keeps, up I'm moving.
I see a reality TV series contract.
Kim Daniels is a Job Creator!
On the other hand, she is increasing the demon unemployment rate...
I hadn't thought of that. Putting workers on the street without any safety net is irresponsible.
Tonight, I was eating dinner up front at La Cena, where one can occasionally get via Jerry an online episode of whatever happens that day. And there was the Nat. Geo. Daniels preview.
It seems like Ms. Daniels is actually helping these individuals. They come to her feeling obviously in need of something, perhaps mental peace, as they are in anguish, and they leave her feeling more at peace, perhaps oriented a little better toward life.
An individual in need of stabilization who encounters any psychologist or counselor, and who departs the encounter with an improved stability, and perhaps with less anguish or fear, might be thought of as being successfully treated. Ms. Daniels seems to achieve improvements without the usual drugs or expensive counseling fees, but only with the pressure of mental manipulation, love, and encouragement.
The success of any treatment might be measured by the improvement achieved as a consequence of it. Mental anguish or instability, as endured by anyone, is nothing to be taken lightly, as it can be quite uncomfortable and even destructive to one’s life, or to the lives of others.
Ms. Daniel’s work is similar to the “treatment†offered by many churches during regular sermons which, although obviously less physical or dramatic, cause similar psychological boosts to one’s mental outlook. Her work offers assistance to those in need of mental comfort, orientation, or stability on a more individual basis, as her congregation is less populous. As opposed to being a powerful pastor of a large church in the community, she is closer to her "patients" in real life, having once herself endured difficult times in the wild of the streets.
We are seeing in Ms. Daniel’s “treatments†powerful psychological and emotional encounters, which are much needed by these individuals, as their mental pains, imbalances, and needs are very powerful too.
So I find myself wishing her well in her work, as she is doing something directly to assist these individuals in need, and doing so on a budget, and perhaps in a more genuine way than many of the mega-church fellows who somehow seem to gather the comfortable people, those with the funds to tithe well, thereby allowing these mega-church preachers to afford the luxury lifestyles which have become the style in our times.
Arriving soon in Jacksonville is the Mega-pastor Joel Osteen, who seems to cater to those in need of fuzzy happy stories, tugging at the heart with basic truths of human psychology, of human needs and pressures. His constant smile, soothing voice, and fuzzy happy stories, while a comfort to many, serve as irritations to others.
Ron, you try so hard to be egalitarian, even in the face of such low-hanging satiric fruit. It's one of the things I admire about you.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 15, 2012, 08:51:07 PM
It's really starting to become embarrassing to live here.
Just when I thought I'd lived down Angela Corey threatening to sue Alan Dershowitz for disagreeing with her (cause' what could possibly go wrong with that idea), now NatGeo presents us with the demonbusterTM.
If this keeps, up I'm moving.
But why?? I for one love living in a town that's run by illiterates & crackheads who believe that slobber/snot coming out of a person is demon juice. Keeps things interesting!
Quote from: peestandingup on November 16, 2012, 05:18:26 AM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 15, 2012, 08:51:07 PM
It's really starting to become embarrassing to live here.
Just when I thought I'd lived down Angela Corey threatening to sue Alan Dershowitz for disagreeing with her (cause' what could possibly go wrong with that idea), now NatGeo presents us with the demonbusterTM.
If this keeps, up I'm moving.
But why?? I for one love living in a town that's run by illiterates & crackheads who believe that slobber/snot coming out of a person is demon juice. Keeps things interesting!
LOL
I am not like
other people.
I am
burning in hell.
The hell of
myself.
â€
â€"
Charles Bukowski
Watched the video. I don't share her religious beliefs but I didn't see anything there to be embarrassed about.
^^^I didn't see anything on that video to be ashamed of either. In many churches deliverance is not uncommon, whether you believe or not is another story. Of course some people feed into perceiving Jax as some weird and undesired place (everyone's a racist etc) for a splashy controversial headline, just like the 'Obama effigy hanging' that was supposedly in Jax. ::)
An essay by Kim Daniels:
Halloweenâ€"October 31â€"is considered a holiday in the United States. In fact, it rivals Christmas with regard to how widely celebrated it is. Stores that sell only Halloween-related paraphernalia open up a few months before the day and close shortly after it ends. But is Halloween a holiday that Christians should be observing?
The word "holiday" means "holy day." But there is nothing holy about Halloween. The root word of Halloween is "hallow," which means "holy, consecrated and set apart for service." If this holiday is hallowed, whose service is it set apart for? The answer to that question is very easyâ€"Lucifer's!
Lucifer is a part of the demonic godhead. Remember, everything God has, the devil has a counterfeit. Halloween is a counterfeit holy day that is dedicated to celebrating the demonic trinity of : the Luciferian Spirit (the false father); the Antichrist Spirit (the false holy spirit); and the Spirit of Belial (the false son).
The key word in discussing Halloween is "dedicated." It is dedicated to darkness and is an accursed season. During Halloween, time-released curses are always loosed. A time-released curse is a period that has been set aside to release demonic activity and to ensnare souls in great measure.
You may ask, "Doesn't God have more power than the devil?" Yes, but He has given that power to us. If we do not walk in it, we will become the devil's prey. Witchcraft works through dirty hearts and wrong spirits.
During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.
I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.
Even the colors of Halloween (orange, brown and dark red) are dedicated. These colors are connected to the fall equinox, which is around the 20th or 21st of September each year and is sometimes called "Mabon." During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. They give praise to the gods for the demonic harvest. They pray to the gods of the elements (air, fire, water and earth).
Mother earth is highly celebrated during the fall demonic harvest. Witches praise mother earth by bringing her fruits, nuts and herbs. Demons are loosed during these acts of worship. When nice church folk lay out their pumpkins on the church lawn, fill their baskets with nuts and herbs, and fire up their bonfires, the demons get busy. They have no respect for the church grounds. They respect only the sacrifice and do not care if it comes from believers or non-believers.
Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall. I am amazed at how we ignorantly participate in pagan, occult rituals.
The gods of harvest that the witches worship during their fall festivals are the Corn King and the Harvest Lord. The devil is too stupid to understand that Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest 365 days a year. But we cannot be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. When we pray, we bind the powers of the strong men that people involved in the occult worship.
Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or treats. It is a time for the gathering of evil that masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves, mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.
While the lukewarm and ignorant think of these customs as "just harmless fun," the vortexes of hell are releasing new assignments against souls. Witches take pride in laughing at the ignorance of natural men (those who ignore the spirit realm).
Decorating buildings with Halloween scenes, dressing up for parties, going door-to-door for candy, standing around bonfires and highlighting pumpkin patches are all acts rooted in entertaining familiar spirits. All these activities are demonic and have occult roots.
The word "occult" means "secret." The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:
• Sex with demons
• Orgies between animals and humans
• Animal and human sacrifices
• Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
• Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
• Revel nights
• Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
• Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant.
Another abomination that goes on behind the scenes of Halloween is necromancy, or communication with the dead. Séances and contacting spirit guides are very popular on Halloween, so there is a lot of darkness lurking in the air.
However, Ephesians 1:19-21 speaks of the authority of the believer and the exceeding greatness of God's power in us (the same power that raised Christ from the dead). It goes on to say that that Jesus is seated in heavenly places far above all principalities, power, might, dominions and every name that is named. The good news is that because we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus, the same demonic activity that is under His feet is under our feet, too!
People who worship the devil continue to attempt to lift him up. But he has already been cast out and down! Many are blinded to this fact, but the day will come when all will know he has been defeated once and for all.
When we accept Jesus but refuse to renounce Satan and his practices, we are neither hot nor cold but lukewarmâ€"and the Word says that God will spit us out of His mouth. The problem with lukewarm is that it attempts to mix the things of the devil with the things of God. It is God's desire that we serve Him alone.
Second Corinthians 6:15 asks the question, "And what agreement has Christ with Belial?" As believers, we need to answer that question in our hearts. We must avoid the very appearance of evil. I would not want a demon spirit to mistake me for an occult worshiper.
There is no doubt in my heart that God is not calling us to replace fall festivals and Halloween activities; rather, He wants us to utterly destroy the deeds of this season. If you or your family members have opened the door to any curses that are released during the demonic fall festivals, renounce them and repent. I already have. Then declare with me: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"
About the author: Kimberly Daniels is a sought-after conference speaker and preacher. She is the founder of Kimberly Daniels Ministries International (kimberlydaniels.com), Spoken Word Ministriesâ€"the church she pastors in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Ardellâ€"A Child of the King Learning Center and Word Bible College. Kim is a recognized prophetic voice as well as the author of several books, including her most recent, Prayers that Bring Change (Charisma House).
Replace the word "Halloween" with the phrase "City Council Bill 2012-296" and I'm pretty sure we heard that rant before.
The question to ask about Rev. Daniels' (and other such) cures is, how long do theylast? Does the person stay drug free - or whatever the problem was - or do they lapse back into their old ways?
The Halloween rant is not uncommon in the Fundamentalist Christian world. Substitute "Western Ways" for "Halloween" and you have a Fundamentalist Muslim rant.
If she's not charging a fee or injuring anyone does it matter how long the effects last? Seems to me it's still helping people.
Quote from: urbanlibertarian on November 16, 2012, 04:19:38 PM
If she's not charging a fee or injuring anyone does it matter how long the effects last? Seems to me it's still helping people.
She is the people that don't like what Kim is doing are the atheist's among us. ;)
I don't think atheism has anything to do with it. Other types of Christians don't like it either. IMO it's simple intolerance. You don't have to be an atheist to be intolerant of other people's religious beliefs.
Quote from: urbanlibertarian on November 16, 2012, 04:35:36 PM
I don't think atheism has anything to do with it. Other types of Christians don't like it either. IMO it's simple intolerance. You don't have to be an atheist to be intolerant of other people's religious beliefs.
Ok but when you read from the atheist who post here on MetroJacksonville it makes ME wonder?
Quote from: urbanlibertarian on November 16, 2012, 04:35:36 PM
I don't think atheism has anything to do with it. Other types of Christians don't like it either. IMO it's simple intolerance. You don't have to be an atheist to be intolerant of other people's religious beliefs.
I don't believe Kim Daniels possesses a supernatural power to heal people of their afflictions or chase away Halloween sex demons. but I wouldn't call my view intolerant. From my view, Kim and her crew are free to do whatever they want. By the same token, if you want to take your paycheck to Wackos and make it rain it instead of paying the rent, that's your prerogative. Just don't come over my house with all the snot blowing and slobbering. Do that and Halloween sex will be the last thing you'll have to worry about this demon doing to you.
Quote from: urbanlibertarian on November 16, 2012, 04:19:38 PM
If she's not charging a fee or injuring anyone does it matter how long the effects last? Seems to me it's still helping people.
Oh yes, I am sure she never passes that collection plate...
Busting demons is pretty profitable for Ms. Daniels. She was able to put $100,000.00 of her own money into her bid for office and has more than one high end "church" owned home as well as several nice automobiles, one of which is a really sweet Porsche given to her by a "grateful" follower. She is also working on a documentary about herself being filmed in California in addition to her appearance on "Taboo" and radio programs etc. She preaches in South Florida as well. I guess there are not enough demons to oust locally. Ms. Daniels thinking is a bit unique as well as her series of "books" based in her own ruminations about sex demons and other foolishness. For instance she tells people that wearing a "Cross" on their neck is not a good thing because the cross is not really a spiritual emblem and has some negative connotations. There is no cross in her "church" by the way. Just a simple podium and no alter. Is this truly about a Christian theology and demons or is it more about making a tidy sum of tax free dollars while at the same time holding some sort of weird control over the most desperate individuals in society? That sense of control over others is highly addictive to some who claim to be preaching "God's" word. Her church is geared toward addicts and street life folks for the most part. While she says it's about accepting people like herself who used drugs and sold sex (musta been a sex demon had her) she openly attacks others like members of the GLBT community who in her view are sinners. A down and out individual with a drug addled mind is easy prey as Ms. Daniels must know as she herself says her ministry is a result of her life as a prostitute and drug addict. While a supposed "deliverance" may be a kick of temporary endorphins, how in the long run is this helping people who are mentally unstable or emotionally hungry? What I find most interesting about Kim is that she has managed to find a way to get a high by convincing herself hers is the work of God. Doesn't get better than that for an addictive personality.
Diane M.
I see it.... and I'm calling it.
Reincarnation is the deal.
We are witnessing the reincarnation of Tim Tebow (pre-mortem) manifesting within Kim Daniels.
Hallelujah.
Sorry buckethead, but Reincarnation does not go hand in hand with Ms. Kim or her belief system. lol
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on November 16, 2012, 07:20:06 PM
Busting demons is pretty profitable for Ms. Daniels. She was able to put $100,000.00 of her own money into her bid for office and has more than one high end "church" owned home as well as several nice automobiles, one of which is a really sweet Porsche given to her by a "grateful" follower. She is also working on a documentary about herself being filmed in California in addition to her appearance on "Taboo" and radio programs etc. She preaches in South Florida as well. I guess there are not enough demons to oust locally. Ms. Daniels thinking is a bit unique as well as her series of "books" based in her own ruminations about sex demons and other foolishness. For instance she tells people that wearing a "Cross" on their neck is not a good thing because the cross is not really a spiritual emblem and has some negative connotations. There is no cross in her "church" by the way. Just a simple podium and no alter. Is this truly about a Christian theology and demons or is it more about making a tidy sum of tax free dollars while at the same time holding some sort of weird control over the most desperate individuals in society? That sense of control over others is highly addictive to some who claim to be preaching "God's" word. Her church is geared toward addicts and street life folks for the most part. While she says it's about accepting people like herself who used drugs and sold sex (musta been a sex demon had her) she openly attacks others like members of the GLBT community who in her view are sinners. A down and out individual with a drug addled mind is easy prey as Ms. Daniels must know as she herself says her ministry is a result of her life as a prostitute and drug addict. While a supposed "deliverance" may be a kick of temporary endorphins, how in the long run is this helping people who are mentally unstable or emotionally hungry? What I find most interesting about Kim is that she has managed to find a way to get a high by convincing herself hers is the work of God. Doesn't get better than that for an addictive personality.
Diane M.
She is doing God's work and it's working. Amen!
My earlier post was to comment on the apparent success of Ms. Daniel's “treatments†on some of the obviously needy individuals. Any individual who is disoriented, depressed, or excessively down and out, can usually gain stability or climb back up by several different methods; by formal visits to psychiatrists, counselors, or repeated visits to some church sermons where other members give comfort, opinions, and encouragement. Even the passage of time will sometimes bring chance events so that one can emerge to stability; a job, a new love, or some kind of spiritual revelation.
All these things have the similar effect of forcing needed mental restructuring so that the individual can progress toward a more positive platform from which he or she can stabilize. Although I believe that there is no fundamental truth to the existence of the demons and devils and gods and “stuff†as suggested by Ms. Daniels, one cannot deny the positive changes within the individuals who are “treated†by these sessions, much as one cannot deny the positive consequences to the minds of church members who “receive†weekly sermons on living.
There are all kinds of games to play in life. Ms. Daniels likes playing her game, and makes money at it. Joel Osteen likes his game, and makes lots of money at it. There are all kinds of people playing games which engage not fundamental truths, but only different types of hogwash and untruths. That’s not only the American way. It is the way of humans.
Individuals having various degrees and types of temporary mental weaknesses or deficiencies receive hope and guidance from the Daniels and the Osteens of the world. Not me. These days find me maintaining reasonable mental stability, I think, via books and my midnight beer, and a little food.
She is doing something that much is sure If I loved you. As to whether or not it is "Gods" work is open to interpretation. Just because someone calls themselves a preacher does not automatically mean they are doing good things or that they are doing what they are doing for good as opposed to self enrichment or some desire to have control over the lives and thinking of others. Kim was a drug addict and in my view she exchanged the high of drugs for the high of control and power over those who come to her to be "delivered".
I honestly do not care what Kim personally chooses to believe, but I do have a problem when those beliefs then translate into a potentially unhealthy interaction in the life of an individual who is not stable enough to discern real from illusion. Someone lying in a screaming, slobbering, snot running pile on the floor because Kim is telling them to release some sort of demon she imagines is there is not something to make light of. Ms. Daniels and her ideas can be potentially very damaging to a weak person and who but the weak or scared come to be delivered by her?
Diane M.
I hear what you are saying Ron. I personally feel that those who would seek her out are in need of some sort of emotional support and validation. For a moment they may feel that when her attention is on them. My personal concern is that her superstitions and beliefs are so extreme that she can actually infer those fears onto those helpless or mentally unstable people who come to her. I mean this woman Daniels sees demons everywhere and in everything including the poor folks who turn to her. Telling someone who is mentally ill or drug addicted they are possessed is a very scary thing in my view and could cause permanent trauma to them.
Remember that we are talking about the woman who stood up in open council and argued against GLBT legislation sighting people having sex with corpses in Egypt. I don't care who you are, but anyone who goes around with this garbage in their head and is then foolish enough to voice it in a City Council meeting is not displaying good judgement in my view and someone like that should not be in a position of helping others to decide what is healthy and unhealthy spiritually or otherwise.
Diane M.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on November 16, 2012, 10:09:59 PM
I hear what you are saying Ron. I personally feel that those who would seek her out are in need of some sort of emotional support and validation and for a moment they may feel that when her attention is on them. My personal concern is that her superstitions and beliefs are so extreme that she can actually infer those fears onto those helpless or mentally unstable people who come to her. I mean this woman Daniels sees demons everywhere and in everything including the poor folks who turn to her. Telling someone who is mentally ill or drug addicted they are possessed is a very scary thing in my view and could cause permanent trauma to them.
Remember that we are talking about the woman who stood up in open council and argued against GLBT legislation sighting people having sex with corpses in Egypt. I don't care who you are, but anyone who goes around with this garbage in their head and is then foolish enough to voice it in a City Council meeting is not displaying good judgement in my view.
Diane M.
I'll go along with that. Unfortunately her apparent successes with some individuals are mostly temporary. And too, to encourage the existence of demons etc is not the best way to bring someone toward recognizing important realities of life. This kind of avoidance of truth, such as with the creationism positions, and with other religious teachings, is one of my pet peeves. But that is another story, which people know about already.
"HEAL THE SICK, RAISE THE DEAD, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, CAST OUT DEMONS..." While that might sound pretty "Christian," those exact words are the tenets of Christian Science, which is neither "Christian" or "Scientific." Running in circles and shouting at demons (real or imagined) doesn't make one a Christian any more then going to a McDonalds makes on a hamburger.
The Nicene Creed (Latin: Symbolum Nicaenum) is the creed or profession of faith (Greek: Σύμβολον τῆς Πίστεως) that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene ( /ˈnaɪsiːn/) because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea (İznik in what is now Turkey) by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.
The Nicene Creed has been normative for the Anglican Church, the Church of the East, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church including the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Old Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and Baptists and many Protestant denominations, forming the eponymous mainstream definition of Christianity itself in Nicene Christianity.
QuoteNICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
I would like to hear her take on the Nicene Creed based on the statements she made about the cross. She obviously never saw "The Exorcist" in which the cross was used extensively to cleanse the demons from Linda Blair. A church or pastor that doesn't recognize the significance of the cross, is a church or pastor that is living outside of the joint councils of Christendom dating back to the year 325.
As Ron so eloquently pointed out, sometimes a great deal of good comes out of some pretty ignorant or primitive beliefs. Drug addicts healed, prostitutes rescued, and lives can be reformed with the support of many different groups that share common beliefs. I too have no problem with her preaching or teaching whatever she desires, I also don't mind the head of a successful church or ministry earning a living commensurate with their education, and the size of the flock, or organization they administer.
What I mind is anyone misrepresenting themselves as Christian, while picking and choosing which parts of the Creed they'll accept. The other problem I have with such "ministers" is the carnival atmosphere they create while supposedly doing Christ's work. According to the Bible, Jesus healed many people, but there is not a single example of him doing so by creating a circus. So there are some huge red flags beyond the apparent chicanery.
Ron does however touch lightly on a subject which I'd like to see tackled by a group of concerned citizens, ministers, churches, hospitals and our business community. Prostitution for many who work the streets is a symptom of years of sexual abuse. Sexual harassment, verbal abuse, stalking, rape, battering and torture are all types of violence that prostituted women regularly experience.*
Women in prostitution have a death rate that is 40 times higher than women who are not involved in prostitution.**
Sixty-eight percent of prostituted women meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the same range as combat veterans and victims of torture.***
Let's remember that young men can be just as effected. I've spoken with both the Sheriff and the precinct captain for the urban core and both are interested in forming a rescue project.
* Melissa Farley, Prostitution Is Sexual Violence, Psychiatric Times. Vol. 21 No. 12, October 1, 2004
** Chris Grussendorf, "No Humans Involved, Part One", http://www.catwinternational.org/factbook/usa2_prost.php
*** Melissa Farley, et al. 2003. “Prostitution and Trafficking in Nine Countries: An Update on Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.†Journal of Trauma Practice, Vol. 2, No. 3/4: 33-74.
Quote from: ronchamblin on November 16, 2012, 10:24:30 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on November 16, 2012, 10:09:59 PM
I hear what you are saying Ron. I personally feel that those who would seek her out are in need of some sort of emotional support and validation and for a moment they may feel that when her attention is on them. My personal concern is that her superstitions and beliefs are so extreme that she can actually infer those fears onto those helpless or mentally unstable people who come to her. I mean this woman Daniels sees demons everywhere and in everything including the poor folks who turn to her. Telling someone who is mentally ill or drug addicted they are possessed is a very scary thing in my view and could cause permanent trauma to them.
Remember that we are talking about the woman who stood up in open council and argued against GLBT legislation sighting people having sex with corpses in Egypt. I don't care who you are, but anyone who goes around with this garbage in their head and is then foolish enough to voice it in a City Council meeting is not displaying good judgement in my view.
Diane M.
I'll go along with that. Unfortunately her apparent successes with some individuals are mostly temporary. And too, to encourage the existence of demons etc is not the best way to bring someone toward recognizing important realities of life. This kind of avoidance of truth, such as with the creationism positions, and with other religious teachings, is one of my pet peeves. But that is another story, which people know about already.
When a religious doctrine or practice removes personal responsibility and action from an individual and their relationship with creation, I have a problem with that. When a religious doctrine would replace your own truth with one they prefer you to believe I have a problem with that. When a religious doctrine tells people there is only one path to enlightenment and if you don't follow it you will burn in hell....well, I have a big problem with that. I think it is a very risky thing to step away from your own inner understanding and personal belief system and turn it over to another individual or organization to have them instead interpret or dictate beliefs to you. Truth and the perception of it is a very personal thing as are belief systems. I also know however that people can embrace a religious or spiritual belief system and not give up who they are in the process. In other words I am saying do your own reading, research and live a variety of experiences personally if what you believe or don't believe spiritually it is going to be the entire basis of your being.
I fully respect the rights of individuals to believe or not believe as they will and practice the religion of their choice as long as their own religion does not become the standard bearer for all others. I for instance would make a very poor evangelical because my heart knows that if what is being shared is good, pure and true, people will not have to be converted or indoctrinated to it, but will in fact migrate to the truth that their heart recognizes as right and balanced. This can be very different from individual to individual.
I should tell you Ron, that "I don't believe", but instead "know" there is much more to our human experience than what we physically and intellectually recognize. I have known this to be reality since my earliest memory and experience in this lifetime and have personally lived experiences worldwide that others would think impossible and certainly beyond a closed reality thinking. We are part of a wonderful and mysterious, multilevel universe and creation that is inherent in a soul consciousness and not bound by our intellectual understanding of reality. Having said that, I also understand that some will not or cannot recognize what science cannot measure and quantify for them. I would remind them however, that science is not even close to understanding how to measure all that is. Which is why we hear much of "scientific theory" along with "scientific fact" and what was once believed to be scientific fact has proved to be otherwise or something else. I often think about Jesus and what he so tried to teach people which was not a religion but rather simply to love unconditionally, be fair of mind, share and honor that which created us. He called the Creator, his "Father" which was within the understanding of people of his day. So some folks thought this creator, "God", was an old man sitting on a cloud in heaven. The reality is that the Creator and creation are not as we imagine but something far, far beyond human understanding but something that can be touched by simply looking within. No man, woman, preacher, priest or holy person is necessary to connect with all that is in consciousness and soul. I think that is the thing that most scares organized religion and perhaps influences agnostics as well when it comes to admitting there is something larger than ourselves. That understanding carries with it a personal responsibility and takes power from the institutions that have become both strong and rich over the centuries through their membership and followers. When we believe that we are connected to all that is we must also then acknowledge that we are personally responsible for our own actions, our lives and how those actions impact everything else in creation. Letting someone else do the research, interpretation and understanding of our reality for many is the easiest course of action requiring the least personal responsibility. I often think that Jesus would be awfully tired of people asking him to do this, that or the other thing when it was he who told them "If ye but believed, ye could move mountains". :)
Religion like so many other things is a two edged sword that can create good things or destroy all that it touches. I think something that powerful should be measured in one's own heart and not given over to another individual no matter what position of religious power they have assumed.
Diane Melendez
Ock, I was going to go to bed early tonight but this conversation is getting more and more interesting. :) I am glad you spoke of the Nicene Creed and that it was what the basic tenants of Christianity were distilled down to. What many may not realize is the process that gave Christians this creed also dismissed and discarded volumes upon volumes of documents with many other views of what God is or is not. Ultimately, nearly everything, document, prayer, holy book or religious practice has first been filtered through the lens of personal understanding and beliefs of human beings. Even more astounding is the reality that most of these documents were transcribed long after all these teachings were allegedly shared. When one factors in differing times, differing languages and interpretations it becomes evident quite quickly that very little of what is presented to us via holy teachings today is as it was given in it's original form.
In referencing Kim's past of prostitution and drugs I am not attempting to belittle her personal experiences. I do understand that many different things can cause a person to work the streets or take drugs. I bring them up specifically with regard to Ms. Daniels because she is the topic of this particular thread. Only she knows what drove her to the streets and drugs and that is a personal experience she chose to make public as the basis of her own call to service if you will. I believe she has convinced herself that what she is doing is good and powerful in a way that feeds her addictive nature and desire to have control over her life and the lives of others. That is where good intentions can become dangerous realities for many whom she has believing they are possessed by devils or demons. That is not a good thing, but can be a very dangerous thing for a weak, uneducated or ill mind. In the same way a person could be motivated to heal by such a practice one could also be harmed. In this case the one doing the delivering has expressed some very, very bizarre beliefs that are way outside of what most would consider rational.
Diane M.
"Doing God's Work" Interesting analogy.
Mother Teresa did God's work too. She certainly didn't make millions doing so. Perhaps one of the most selfless mortals that ever walked this planet.
In contrast.. Ms. Daniels may be "healing" others... but shes making a damn tidy profit at the same time.
I have a hard time buying the validity of this woman.