Do you think the higher and the lower are intertwined with what we daily experience, or are they more separate?
Discussion
I think they are intertwined but it is difficult for us to see. Whether or not we should try is an interesting question that I've been wrestling with alot lately.
I think this is what religion does, it reveals to us an intertwined spiritual reality.
Specifically, I think that's precisely what the Catholic sacraments do. So to me, it's both possible to see this "enchanted" spiritual reality, and it is something we must do.
I tend to resist all "magikal" wording. That's an inversion, gross, and anathema to God's ways of doing things.
"Enchantment" has less to do with magic and more to do with receiving a thing as it truly is. If you are enchanted by an experience, or even a person, it's because you are experiencing something so true, good, and beautiful that it is utterly captivating.
Enchantment with the world, the way I'm using the word, is seeing the same tree you walk by every day as if it were newly-created, and recognizing God's creating and sustaining hand in it, and returning thanks to Him.
I've never once looked into Catholicism, the closest Ive ever gone is I went to a catholic wedding about ten years ago. I have been listening to Orthodox podcasts though so I kind of get that but I still believe in the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit working in and through His people.
We believe in that too. The Holy Spirit is always at work in the Church.
Sacraments such as Baptism are specific moments where God allows the use of a sign to enact a spiritual reality through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Because I believe a good portion of what Jesus did on the cross and when he resurrected is the defeat of evil powers, the fact that we don't recognise them and where they still exist and cause harm to people seems wrong... My church is involved with some pastors in Africa. The testimonies out of there are incredible, in part because the evil side still manifests so clearly and everyone knows about demonic oppression and it's effects they also know the effects that Jesus smashing those powers has on their lives.
Most of the West is baptized, even if most of the baptized don't practice the Faith any more.
Baptism puts Christ's mark on the soul and frees us from the powers of the devil. The reason we don't see more possessions and such in the West is because of that latent grace of Baptism.
Out in Africa, which is starting out much more pagan, it makes perfect sense to me that the demonic is more visible.
In the west we might be less possessed but I believe we are still harassed by spirits.
An interesting thought about baptism, it is when we identify with Jesus's resurrection so it could be 🤔
Harassed, yes, but they have less power because so many in the West have already been claimed for Christ through baptism.
However, Satan is the "prince of this world," and so he has greater power over the unbaptized by default.