How does ecstatic prophecy differ from divination and what implements might a diviner employ to engage in prophecy?

Answer 1

Ecstatic prophecy and divination are easily discernable by the source of the revelation. The primitive prophets (in Samuel's school of the prophets), several of the Old Testament prophets in their pinnacle times of receiving revelation, as well as Peter, Paul and John in the New Testament were in ecstatic states while receiving revelation. The Greek word ecstasis is found five times in the New Testament, and is used to describe the heightened state of mind and/or body that sometimes occurs when prophets receive revelation (ie: Acts 10:10 or 2 Cor. 12:1-4)

Ecstatic prophecy is found in all of the major religions: Judaism (Old Testament), Buddhism, Chrstianity and Islam. Sometimes a state of ecstacy is acheived through artificial means. King David in the Old Testament also danced and worshiped with such fervor that his clothes fell off. Visions and paranormal experiences can be induced through artificial means, sometimes resulting in prophetic claims. Ecstatic experiences also can sovereignly and unexpectedly come upon people (as in Isa. 6, or Samuel's school of the prophets. They are generally outside normal human experience.

Divination is not necessarily associated with religion. The ancient Roman pagans used divination to fortell the future, and the fourth-century Christian Church actually banned the practice of divination. In the New Testament, Simon used sorcery to do signs and wonders (Acts 8:9-24), and was rebuked by Peter for trying to purchase divine power.

Answer 2

At best, ecstatic prophecy and divination are forms of self-deception. Both are ancient, but different in form.

Long ago, the Muslim dervishes created ecstatic experiences by dancing and whirling. probably to induce oxygen deprivation. Visions and paranormal experiences are induced, sometimes resulting in prophetic claims for the often incoherent utterings of participants. Ecstatic experiences appear to be religious experiences because they are undertaken in a religious context and they are outside normal human experieence.

Divination usually involves standardised rituals and the reading of signs and omens. It is not necessarly associated with religion. The ancient Roman pagans used divination to fortell the future, and the fourth-century Christian Church actually banned the practice of divination. Divination continues today, not only within the Christian faith, but outside. Diviners may, for example, follow a forked stick to find water in times of drought.

Ecstatic prophecy is probably the easiest for charlatans to use in order to convince and influence the gullible.