It's just a game, don't get upset about it. Parker Brothers makes it, so there can't be anything wrong with it." (From a teenager at a church youth group meeting). If Ouija is just a game it is certainly horrifying. It is a game that has, resulted in physical harm, suicides, psychiatric illness, psychological disturbance and emotional instability. Are such effects really part of a 'game', or is there more to ouija than eerie entertainment?

HISTORY

The ouija board was invented in 1853 by William Fold, but didn't become popular until the 1920s. In 1965 the Parker brothers purchased the rights to the game and sales increased dramatically - even exceeding those of Monopoly. The film 'The Exorcist' contributed to the popularity of ouija. It tells the story of a child who becomes demon-possessed after experimenting with an ouija board.

PLAYING THE GAME

The ouija board is used for contacting the dead and sometimes locating the living. Lt consists of a small glass and flat board that has the letters of the alphabet inscribed upon it along with numbers from 0-9 and the words 'yes', 'no' and goodbye'. Participants place their forefingers on the glass and the person acting as the medium invites a spirit to enter the room. The spirit then enables the glass to move across the board indicating various numbers and letters and thus providing answers to questions, purporting to be a contact from 'the other side'. Usually, one to six people can 'play' ouija, but it has been known for whole classes to participate secretly during school lunchtimes.

EFFECTS OF THE GAME

The use of ouija has a number of physical effects. Room temperature has been known to alter suddenly, strong winds occur, messages are given in a foreign language, apparitions appear and objects fly randomly around the room.

While these events may be unusual and frightening it is the mental and emotional disturbance which is most alarming. Contact with the board has resulted in personality disorders, bizarre behaviours, nightmares, and illnesses described by psychiatrists as Imediumistic psychosis'. School children have been bewitched by the board and terrified by its revelations of an early death. When the board reveals something about the past or future of a player this knowledge can become a binding force in the life of the individual. This may cause them to be manipulated by fear and generate a spiritual atmosphere, which can provide an easy opportunity for spirits to enter players and oppression to occur.

WHAT'S BEHIND OUIJA

Christians believe that the power of ouija comes from Satan and is manifest through his evil spirits. They are able to masquerade as dead relatives or friends and provide extensive and often accurate information about the past, future, and those participating in the game. The spirits are deceitful, cunning and manipulative. Through ouija they seek to gain dominance in the life of an individual, making that person a slave to their authority. They maintain control by fear and can cause a person to radically alter their behaviour, sometimes resulting in harm to themselves and others.

Can you be protected when using the Ouija board?

Some Christians belive they can play with a Ouija board and be protected by God, firstly let me say as a Christian you shouldn't go anywhere near the practice, AT ALL. There are no reasons or excuses why you should end up in a position near the Ouija. As a Christian you should leave and get away from that situation and environment.

Secondly would God protect you? The answer is simple, NO. We have freedom of choice and if you knowingly put yourself in the path of demons against the direction of the Word, then expect to be attacked. Ouija is a very dangerous game because it is something you 'choose' to do, By placing your hand on the glass, wooden counter or whatever, you are signifying your acceptance to the spitits that you wish to be used, and spiritually open yourself up to anyone or anything.

People will say, but as a Christian God will always protect you, and He does try, but when you ignore the voice of God for the voice of Satan, when you actively seek guidence from Evil spirits over God's Spirit, even for fun, then this shows your spiritual immaturity which in turn means spiritual weakness. In these circumstances you are going against God and without His protection.

9 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,
11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
13 But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.
14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

How much clearer does it need to be?

CONCLUSION

The Bible teaches that consulting such spirits through a ouija board or any other means is harmful and wrong. True wisdom for living life is given by God and obtained through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The power and influence of ouija in a person's life can only be broken by the greater power of Jesus Christ. He came to break the power of all evil and sin and give freedom and forgiveness to those who turn away from their involvement in such practices.

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1 John 3:8)

True freedom comes from God through Jesus. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour opens the way to a new life and eternal hope.

Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. (John 14:6)

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. (John 8: 31-32)