Changes

The Ouija name was coined by one of the early manufaturers of the board named [[William Fuld]].

The Ouija name was coined by one of the early manufaturers of the board named [[William Fuld]].

A device similar to the Ouija board has been around for centuries, dating as far back as 500 BC. Its main use was to contact the dead in a “séance”. Many [[Christians]] find this practice to be [[morally]] wrong because of its [[occult]] connotations.

A device similar to the Ouija board has been around for centuries, dating as far back as 500 BC. Its main use was to contact the dead in a “séance”. Since its invention in the late nineteenth century, the Oujia board has been associated with the threat of [[demonic possession]].<ref name="Bill Ellis - Demonic Possession ">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=oLcqlypMCe8C&pg=PA65&dq=ouija++christian&lr=&cd=7#v=onepage&q=ouija%20%20christian&f=false|title = Raising the devil: Satanism, new religions, and the media|quote= Almost since its invention in the late nineteenth century, the Oujia board has been associated with the threat of demonic possession.|publisher =University Press of Kentucky|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> Consequently, [[Mainstream Christianity|mainstream]] [[Christian denominations]], have warned against using Ouija boards.<ref name="Bill Ellis - Warnings">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=oLcqlypMCe8C&pg=PA65&dq=ouija++christian&lr=&cd=7#v=onepage&q=ouija%20%20christian&f=false|title = Raising the devil: Satanism, new religions, and the media|quote= Practically since its invention a century ago, mainstream Christian religions, including Catholicism, have warned against the use of Oujia boards, claiming that they are a means of dabbling with Satanism (Hunt 1985:93-95). Occultists, interestingly, are divided on the Oujia board's value. Jane Roberts (1966) and Gina Covina (1979) express confidence that it is a device for positive transformation and they provide detailed instructions on how to use it to contact spirits and map the other world. But some occultists have echoed Christian warnings, cautioning inexperienced persons away from it.|publisher =University Press of Kentucky|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> [[Occultists]], on the other hand, are divided on the issue, with some saying that it can be a positive transformation; others echo the warnings of many Christians and caution inexperienced users against it.<ref name="Bill Ellis - Warnings">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=oLcqlypMCe8C&pg=PA65&dq=ouija++christian&lr=&cd=7#v=onepage&q=ouija%20%20christian&f=false|title = Raising the devil: Satanism, new religions, and the media|quote= Practically since its invention a century ago, mainstream Christian religions, including Catholicism, have warned against using Oujia boards, claiming that they are a means of dabbling with Satanism (Hunt 1985:93-95). Occultists, interestingly, are divided on the Oujia board's value. Jane Roberts (1966) and Gina Covina (1979) express confidence that it is a device for positive transformation and they provide detailed instructions on how to use it to contact spirits and map the other world. But some occultists have echoed Christian warnings, cautioning inexperienced persons away from it.|publisher =University Press of Kentucky|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

 

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

Although Ouija boards are marketed as a toy, there are people, even occult practioners themselves, who believe they can be harmful. Some critics include [[Edgar Cayce]], who called them "dangerous."<ref>''An American Prophet'', Sidney D. Kirkpatrick, Riverhead Books, 2000</ref> Some warn that "evil demons" pretend to be cooperative [[ghosts]] in order to trick users into becoming [[spiritual possession|spiritually possessed]].   

Although Ouija boards are marketed as a toy, there are people, even occult practioners themselves, who believe they can be harmful. Some critics include [[Edgar Cayce]], who called them "dangerous."<ref>''An American Prophet'', Sidney D. Kirkpatrick, Riverhead Books, 2000</ref> Some warn that "evil demons" pretend to be cooperative [[ghosts]] in order to trick users into becoming [[spiritual possession|spiritually possessed]].