Witches, wizards and the occult

[Citanul]

One of my former bosses, in fact most of them, obtained their positions of power through occult practises

Most of your bosses got their positions through occult practices? That explains why I haven't been promoted. Rather than actually doing my job and thereby proving my competence suitability for a more important position, I should have been dabbling the dark arts instead.

 

[keith99]

If you think that the witch is the star of the story then you clearly haven't read it. At no point is she ever the protagonist.

It has been a long time since I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but my recollection is the Witch did not get all that much screentime. More than the Wardrobe and the streetlamp, but not much more.

 

[Noxot]

umm well i'm a virgo sun on the cusp of libra, born one hour before virgo went to libra. tarurus moon, and pisces rising. please give me a raise. I had made a friend on youtube that was into astrology. I know a tiny bit about it.

 

[CCHIPSS]

I think that the biggest wizards and witches today are part of the church. and I mean, the people who keep promising that you will get rich and to give them money. funny how highly respected Christians are rich as hell and how everyone throws money at them and they act like they are not under a spell. then you wonder why people turn to things like astrology.

i'm ofc not talking trash about the rich and famous Christians that write books and make money that way.

but hey if you wanna make a business out of your church then so be it. it's what americans are used to. I hope those types do well and do pleasing things towards the Lord.

Yup that's the Prosperity Gospel preached by Joel Osteen and many others. This is also a common preaching in Pentecostal churches. Health and wealth is the will of God for all believers, God always heals and always provide wealth, they say. The more you donate to the church to more God will give you, they say.

A very far cry from Jesus's ministry on earth. All he taught about dying to self, giving away every dollar and every second to serve to poor.

 

[Noxot]

Yup that's the Prosperity Gospel preached by Joel Osteen and many others. This is also a common preaching in Pentecostal churches. Health and wealth is the will of God for all believers, they say. The more you donate to the church to more God will give you, they say.

A very far cry from Jesus's ministry on earth. All he taught about dying to self, giving away every dollar and every second to serve to poor.

if you know this happens in our religion why are you surprised that it happens in others? why don't you just call all christians evil like you do with other people of other religions?

 

[CCHIPSS]

I feel compelled to make sure you are not using a broad brush. What you mention is a very real danger in the Pentecostal area. But I know of one Pentecostal Church down in Watts that holds these things:

1) If any revelation does not conform to Scripture it is not from God
2) One does not need to speak in tongues to be saved
3) Speaking in tongues when an unbeliever is present is improper (per the writings of Paul in Scripture)

I mention those last 2 as I think how a Pentecostal Church stands on those 2 issues gives a good indication of the risk in the areas you mentioned.

I do believe there are real Christians in Pentecostal church. By that I mean there are people there who genuinely believe that Jesus is their lord and savior. But that does not mean their other practices are right.

I really cannot comment on what each Pentecostal church believe. As you say they might be all different and we shouldn't lump sum them all together. But in the bad ones (like the one I mentioned) it can get very bad very quickly.

The founding people of the Pentecostal church were all liars. They claimed to be able to heal people, but when investigated it was discovered that they were all hoaxes. In other healing cases sick people would be healed (they say) but then dies very shortly afterwards.

They also predicts the end of the world, which didn't happen. They later apologized but say it is not a sin to falsely prophecy if they didn't mean to be a false prophet. It is not a sin to mishear God, they say.

When the founding fathers of a church are liars, there is no point continuing with their beliefs and traditions. Because they are clearly not of God. God never lies. God doesn't sent false prophets who lies.

 

[CCHIPSS]

if you know this happens in our religion why are you surprised that it happens in others? why don't you just call all christians evil like you do with other people of other religions?

Sorry I don't understand you comment. Please provide more details. =)

 

[Noxot]

Sorry I don't understand you comment. Please provide more details. =)

well you spoke about how taoist are evil fakes. so since you are a christian you will most likely, like so many other Christians believe, think that other religions are evil. so I pointed out to you that it would be an unjust thing to call all people of a religion evil, especially anyone who understands that the inner nature of religions tend to have more in common with one another than the outer parts/sects of Christianity do.

 

[Noxot]

I mean, from a spiritual pov you could probably unite most all the different sects of Christianity and explain how this is true and that is true, but there are so many sects in part because people are carnal and only understand their religion from an outer and fleshly view. this is not always the case but it is a common pitfall that occurs within the christian religion. it just depends on where you are in the walk with Christ. everyone is growing and as we grow our perceptions/understanding are refined and become wiser.

 

[Hawthorne]

 

[Cearbhall]

I think people are afraid to say that yes. Some people ARE witches and wizards. You can tell. In my previous workplace, I encountered many that were.

They did occult practices. Whether it was new age or channelling or visualization or reading horoscopes. Their belief system was, basically I am God. One of my english teachers was brlliant, he was a wizard, there was no other explanation for the spell he cast over students.
One of my former bosses, in fact most of them, obtained their positions of power through occult practises, one actually told me she did divination.

You may want to rethink your thought process here.

 

[Elliewaves]

At least this thread is abounding in comedic value. You really can't make some of this stuff up.

 

[PinkSweetart]

It reminds me of this joke I heard: You know you were home schooled when the magic in Harry Potter is evil, but the magic in LOTR is okay haha.

I missed out on both...

 

[CCHIPSS]

I mean, from a spiritual pov you could probably unite most all the different sects of Christianity and explain how this is true and that is true, but there are so many sects in part because people are carnal and only understand their religion from an outer and fleshly view. this is not always the case but it is a common pitfall that occurs within the christian religion. it just depends on where you are in the walk with Christ. everyone is growing and as we grow our perceptions/understanding are refined and become wiser.

I think every Christian is right on some things and wrong on some things. What unites us is our faith that Jesus Is our Lord and Savior.

But when a church as a whole does wrong, scriptural practices, I believe we have to speak up. A church can lead many astray. Speaking in tongue is a gift that allows Christians to speak to people of a foreign nation. What the Pentecostals are doing (speaking in so-called angelic tongues) is very different.

 

[Noxot]

we are all human and most of us try to do what is good... which means different things depending on who you are

 

[jacknife]

I think people are afraid to say that yes. Some people ARE witches and wizards. You can tell. In my previous workplace, I encountered many that were.

They did occult practices. Whether it was new age or channelling or visualization or reading horoscopes. Their belief system was, basically I am God. One of my english teachers was brlliant, he was a wizard, there was no other explanation for the spell he cast over students.
One of my former bosses, in fact most of them, obtained their positions of power through occult practises, one actually told me she did divination.

She would cast horoscopes over the people she employed. She told me that i was picked because i was a taurus. And also, she used crystals. She had this dowsing or pendulum that would help her make desicsions.

What? I dabbled in the occult and I didn't even get a raise! what secret organization do I have to meet to sort this out.

 

[Citanul]

what secret organization do I have to meet to sort this out.

The Freemasons or the Illuminati would be my guess.

 

[Ubuntu]

I haven’t been active here for a couple of weeks, so I didn’t see this thread until now. Basically it is legitimate to explore the link between popular culture and contemporary wicca.

I too read LOTR when I was a kid, and I never dabbled in witchcraft, but as someone who knows a little about sociology and media science I wouldn’t quickly dismiss the basic question here...

It is actually not that far fetched to assume that popular culture is at least part of the explanation behind the explosive growth of the so called Teen Wicca movement. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Wicca#Pop-culture_Wicca_.281996.E2.80.93.29

 

[Noxot]

yeah it seems logical enough. but what is harder to account for would be what WAS NOT that was supposed to be. if Christians can't reach people then their spirits will be lead by their angels in ways you know not. who can search the ways of God? it would be like trying to track someone who walks upon the ocean.

Spoiler: Isa 42:13-43:2

Isa 42:13-43:2 (YLT)
Jehovah as a mighty one goeth forth. As a man of war He stirreth up zeal, He crieth, yea, He shrieketh, Against His enemies He showeth Himself mighty. I have kept silent from of old, I keep silent, I refrain myself, As a travailing woman I cry out, I desolate and swallow up together. I make waste mountains and hills, And all their herbs I dry up, And I have made rivers become isles, And ponds I dry up. And I have caused the blind to go, In a way they have not known, In paths they have not known I cause them to tread, I make a dark place before them become light, And unlevelled places become a plain, These are the things I have done to them, And I have not forsaken them. Removed backward--utterly ashamed, Are those trusting in a graven image, Those saying to a molten image, `Ye are our gods.' Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look to see. Who is blind but My servant? And deaf as My messenger I send? Who is blind as he who is at peace, Yea, blind, as the servant of Jehovah? Seeing many things, and thou observest not, Opening ears, and he heareth not. Jehovah hath delight for the sake of His righteousness, He magnifieth law, and maketh honourable. And this is a people seized and spoiled, Snared in holes--all of them, And in houses of restraint they were hidden, They have been for a prey, And there is no deliverer, A spoil, and none is saying, `Restore.' Who among you giveth ear to this? Attendeth, and heareth afterwards. Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, And Israel to the spoilers? Is it not Jehovah--He against whom we sinned? Yea, they have not been willing in His ways to walk, Nor have they hearkened to His law. And He poureth on him fury, His anger, and the strength of battle, And it setteth him on fire round about, And he hath not known, And it burneth against him, and he layeth it not to heart! And now, thus said Jehovah, Thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Fashioner, O Israel, Be not afraid, for I have redeemed thee, I have called on thy name--thou art Mine. When thou passest into waters, I am with thee, And into floods, they do not overflow thee, When thou goest into fire, thou art not burnt, And a flame doth not burn against thee.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Is anyone planning on visiting the new Harry Potter theme area at Universal Studios Hollywood? The grand opening was yesterday, and my little sisters were lucky enough to go after school and have a superbly magnificent time. Even my parents loved it. I cannot wait to check it out!