Having not long ago reached a Certain Age I was automatically sent a bowel cancer test kit. I will not trouble your appetite with the unsavoury details, but the heading on the kit caught my eye:
SLIDE TEST FOR FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD
Occult blood?
Now I'm worried...what happens if I test positive? Will I be burnt at the stake? And who is the government's Witchfinder General? Oh, of course, silly me, it'll be Lord Mandelson
What a wonderful example of knights move thinking, only available on UKS.Originally Posted by Tony Williams
Having not long ago reached a Certain Age I was automatically sent a bowel cancer test kit. I will not trouble your appetite with the unsavoury details, but the heading on the kit caught my eye:
SLIDE TEST FOR FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD
Occult blood?
Now I'm worried...what happens if I test positive? Will I be burnt at the stake? And who is the government's Witchfinder General? Oh, of course, silly me, it'll be Lord Mandelson
I have seen this referred to many times but it never occurred to me before. In Latin occult means clandestine and since the test is for "hidden" blood, it sort of makes sense. Nevertheless, it is an odd term to use it seems to me. Why not just say "hidden blood".
I thought the test was normally referred to as being for OCCLUDED blood.
Still not a word most people would necessarily understand, though. "Hidden" or "internal" would surely be better. Sometimes I think we are not meant to understand, but just to repeat the name or phrase back to the doctor when prompted (and not before).
They use words we don't understand so they appear superior.
Espouse elucidation by eschewing obfuscation,
Funny word, occult! It is never used by anyone actually involved in the fields, such as the paranormal or esotericism. It seems to be the exclusive preserve of those who know nothing whatever about the subject but like to pontificate nevertheless.Now I'm worried...what happens if I test positive? Will I be burnt at the stake? And who is the government's Witchfinder General? Oh, of course, silly me, it'll be Lord Mandelson
It's used legitimately in astronomy for an event when an object in space is obscured by another in front of it.
(As a verb. The noun is "occultation".)
I've observed occultations myself (lunar ones). I was thinking of that when I deliberately (and some might think needlessly) mentioned the meaning I was referring to. Such are the perils of forum posting ...
From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/occult
Or from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occultoc·cult (-k
lt
,
k
)
adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies, or phenomena.
2. Beyond the realm of human comprehension; inscrutable.
3. Available only to the initiate; secret: occult lore. See Synonyms at mysterious.
4. Hidden from view; concealed.
5. a. Medicine Detectable only by microscopic examination or chemical analysis, as a minute blood sample.
b. Not accompanied by readily detectable signs or symptoms: occult carcinoma.
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to "knowledge of the hidden".[1] In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g. an "occult bleed"[2] may be one detected indirectly by the presence of otherwise unexplained anaemia.
The word has many uses in the English language, popularly meaning "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable",[3][4] usually referred to as science. The term is sometimes popularly taken to mean "knowledge meant only for certain people" or "knowledge that must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.[5] The terms esoteric and arcane can have a very similar meaning, and the three terms are often interchangeable.[6][7]
The term occult is also used as a label given to a number of magical organizations or orders, and the teachings and practices as taught by them. The name also extends to a large body of literature and spiritual philosophy.
Sorry - what is your point, please?
I'm currently struggling through The History of Witchcraft by Montague Summers. A 1920s book by a Catholic priest. The author confuses "the occult" with "witchcraft", "satanism", "anarchy" and even being "lusty".
My point is that "occult" is a well-established term for the mysterious or paranormal. In fact, although I am reasonably well-educated, I had never before come across any other meaning for it (although I was familiar with the astronomical term "occultation").
I never said it wasn't well established, I was commenting on my observation of who uses the term. Those active in the areas it covers do not. Perhaps that is because it is used a pejorative term by those generally ignorant of the field.
Does anyone involved in a conspiracy ever call it a conspiracy?
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