It is almost summer in here in California, and school is out or very nearly, releasing children and grandchildren from the rigors of early bedtimes. They can watch TV, indulge in movies and even read books, LOL! I can remember the joy of staying up to watch my favorite TV shows, too, but they were not the dark sophisticated stuff now available. I mean, we watched westerns ("The Virginian," "Wagon Train," "Rawhide") and detectives ("Boston Blackie," "The Thin Man," "Peter Gunn," "Mr. Lucky") or even some science fiction ("The Twilight Zone").

Current television entertainment where I am is mostly inane comedy or adolescent date flicks dripping with horror motifs. Not that "I Love Lucy" was serious theater, LOL. "Thriller" was pretty scary sometimes, too. But I don't remember them leaving me anxious or depressed. There seems to be a trend towards the horrors of all kinds, including bygone superstition--zombies, vampires, witchcraft, etc.--and the desire for supernatural powers in order to combat them.

Some of the young people in my acquaintance are turning to psychic forces or narrow religion for their salvation, and I'm not sure either extreme is healthy. It is possible to turn either into some magical solution that doesn't require responsibility for one's actions.

When asked recently about where paranormal abilities and phenomena figure in the Bahá'í's plan for a better world, I went to the writings for some specific answers. Here's the latest article from the Baha'i site at BellaOnline.com.

Baha'is and the Paranormal
So, if the Bahá'í Faith teaches that human beings are basically immortal spirit, does that mean Bahá'ís are busy developing and practicing their psychic powers?

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54556.asp

Bookmark bahai.bellaonline.com for more about Baha'i Faith and what its followers are doing.

To participate in free online discussions, check out the community forum located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=321

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. Telepathy or spirit writing not required, LOL!

Cheryll Schuette, Baha'i Editor
http://bahai.bellaonline.com

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