• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

RaymondG

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2016
8,546
3,815
USA
✟277,185.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Yes, I would care them into being wise in their decision making. That would be preferable over NOT caring them into it.

God bless.
Nice capitalisation on the mistakes of others....

Seldom do scare tactics bring one to truth......and seldom do the holders of truth feel the need to deploy them.
 
Last edited:
Reactions: Innsmuthbride
Upvote 0

bèlla

❤️
Site Supporter
Jan 16, 2019
22,377
18,927
USA
✟1,072,839.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
In Relationship

HIH,

Exactly. I'm familiar with Crowley and didn't miss the implication. That's one of the reasons I posted the thread.


You're correct. The dark side of engagement is downplayed. Few realize the things they're inviting into their lives or the doors they've opened. This is meant to whet their whistle and lead them down the rabbit hole.

That last part may seem a little harsh, but Jesus warned that it would be better to pluck ones eye out and cast it away from you than have both eyes and be cast into Hell.

I like your posts.

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear but we need to say it. Thank you for the compliment and your feedback.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella
 
Upvote 0

RaymondG

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2016
8,546
3,815
USA
✟277,185.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Raymond,

That is certainly a mature approach. But would you say the same to someone less seasoned and rooted in faith?

Yours in His Service,

~Bella
What should be done/said, would depend on the situation.....I had to guess the reason why one would be addressing this with another...... If you give a scenario, I can better estimate my approach to it.

If one does not care about the truth and the subject is simple minded....Hidden's suggestions on scaring them into blindly believing whatever you say , because you "said so," should work just fine.
 
Upvote 0

Hidden In Him

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jan 7, 2017
3,430
2,835
61
Lafayette, LA
✟601,779.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Nice capitalization on the mistakes of others....

You're welcome : ) But sometimes such "mistakes" aren't all that coincidental. Caring for others is precisely what I would consider it as doing, so I "capitalized" on your language as being accurate.
Seldom do scare tactics bring one to truth......and seldom do the holders of truth feel the need to deploy them.

Who said anything about "scare tactics"? Raymond, no offense, but I don't have a lot of time for frivolous debate, and there's a lot of it going around these days.

Just think of it this way: If you don't feel the need to warn others about the dangers of playing with a loaded gun, your argument holds.

Sounds like you may want to keep this conversation up for awhile, but I'm going to have to respectfully decline.

God bless, and no offense. Maybe some other time.
Hidden
 
Upvote 0

Halbhh

Everything You say is Life to me
Site Supporter
Mar 17, 2015
17,340
9,285
catholic -- embracing all Christians
✟1,223,341.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Of course you've already been discussing above some important aspects, and some of the most important.

But, also, we can get asked questions by children that are much more ordinary, on a far simpler level.

In the past when younger people have asked me what I thought about 'crystals' or 'tarot readings' or such, I simply said stuff like, "People can believe a lot of things that are just beliefs."

As I see it, it's meaningful for my testimony about Christ to others that I don't believe in crystals, tarot readings and such (candles, magic, whatnot...),.because they "are just beliefs", but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, risen!, and to come again!

The contrast.

I believe in Christ for reasons. I don't believe in whatever else magic stuff, because it's only belief.

I began to believe in Christ because everything he says proves true over time, over and over. And that's only the start.

In contrast, a tarot reading is just a generally true statements about life that would apply to most anyone, like for instance "you will meet someone special" -- which of course is always true in life, for just about everyone every month, in some manner.

So, a red candle for love is merely at most just a way to remember that love is something, and it would of course be that some something without that red candle, unchanged. Believing the candle itself helps do something can be merely superstitious, like believing in a good luck charm.

That's a good way to answer that question to the young or to those that don't think there are such things as spiritual powers.

Instead of believing in stuff that is mere belief -- empty hope without promise -- I believe instead in the One Who can save you!

Our rescuer -- Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, who suffered unto death for us, to rescue us from our sins!

So, that's how I'd talk with a curious child or non believer about such.
 
Reactions: Junia
Upvote 0

RaymondG

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2016
8,546
3,815
USA
✟277,185.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I am not one you can offend with words.......Neither can your words give me a spirit of fear.....

Your words can, however, bring me to repentance.......Therefore I repent of replying to your initial words and will remember the name so to not be tempted to do so in the future.

And again, I agree, that the fear induced by your words would cause many to believe and do anything you say thereafter....and should be used by those who desire this end.

Thanks for the conversation.
 
Reactions: Hidden In Him
Upvote 0

Kenny'sID

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Feb 28, 2016
18,194
6,997
71
USA
✟585,424.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single

I'd address it by carvng a candle symbol into every color candle imaginable, then lighting them all while chanting the words, "Ibby bibby, shibby bibby, the spirits are about to speak,"
 
Reactions: Nithavela
Upvote 0

MIDutch

Well-Known Member
Apr 3, 2020
2,421
3,383
68
Detroit
✟83,174.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Agnostic
Marital Status
Married
Meh. About as important as the brouhaha about Dungeons and Dragons, the Harry Potter books, the Charmed TV series, Tarot cards, and praying to various saints and gods for good fortune and omens.
 
Upvote 0

The IbanezerScrooge

I can't believe what I'm hearing...
Sep 1, 2015
3,458
5,852
51
Florida
✟310,363.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Private
Politics
US-Democrat
I'd tell them the truth. That witchcraft is not real. That lighting candles or burning incense or boiling eyes of newt, while likely a delicacy in some countries imparts no magical power to you or the liquid. But that it's a lot of fun to pretend around this time of year.
 
Reactions: Beck Beck
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
39,488
28,967
Pacific Northwest
✟811,111.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others
Well if it were me, my first response would be, "Wait, why am I reading Cosmo?" But after the initial shock of realizing I had been reading Cosmo, I would likely find it weird, possibly giggle to myself, and then go about my day.

And if I had a child, a friend, etc who had read it and it was worrying them, I'd remind them that candles are just sticks of wax with a wick, and they have no power, and that I don't believe in magic. And that if they are a Christian, they shouldn't believe in magic either.

-CryptoLutheran
 
Reactions: Junia
Upvote 0

Hidden In Him

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jan 7, 2017
3,430
2,835
61
Lafayette, LA
✟601,779.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married

I find the general lack of belief in the supernatural around here to be a little startling, coming from believers in the resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You at least have an excuse.

But you are correct. Physical substances used in magick spells do not effect the curse. It is demonic spirits, if called upon earnestly and consistently, who will however. You don't believe in evil spirits, I take it?
 
Reactions: Junia
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
39,488
28,967
Pacific Northwest
✟811,111.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others

Christians recognize the supernatural.
Witchcraft, magic, spells, curses, etc are regarded, in Christianity, as superstition. Not the "supernatural".

The actual problem is that there have been a lot of Christians willfully embracing non-Christian superstition, and churches rather than doing their job in better educating the Faithful, in many cases actually perpetuate these un-Christian beliefs and superstitions.

-CryptoLutheran
 
Upvote 0

Hidden In Him

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jan 7, 2017
3,430
2,835
61
Lafayette, LA
✟601,779.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Christians recognize the supernatural.
Witchcraft, magic, spells, curses, etc are regarded, in Christianity, as superstition. Not the "supernatural".


You would need to include the apostle Paul as believing in "superstition" as well, and Luke also. It's your right to think that way, but I consider both to be more Christian than many who refer to themselves as such today, unfortunately.
 
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
39,488
28,967
Pacific Northwest
✟811,111.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others
You would need to include the apostle Paul as believing in "superstition" as well, and Luke also. It's your right to think that way, but I consider both to be more Christian than many who refer to themselves as such today, unfortunately.

That's silly, why would I insult the Apostle St. Paul by claiming he believed in superstition? I have no reason to think so little of Christ's apostle.

-CryptoLutheran
 
Upvote 0

Hidden In Him

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jan 7, 2017
3,430
2,835
61
Lafayette, LA
✟601,779.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
That's silly, why would I insult the Apostle St. Paul by claiming he believed in superstition? I have no reason to think so little of Christ's apostle.

You don't realize you are, so it's not intentional, but you are doing it nonetheless. The scary thing is I keep seeing so MANY believers posting such things...

Let me ask you this: Do you believe in the reality of demonic spirits?
 
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
39,488
28,967
Pacific Northwest
✟811,111.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others
You don't realize you are, so it's not intentional, but you are doing it nonetheless. The scary thing is I keep seeing so MANY believers posting such things...

How about you back your claim up by demonstrating that St. Paul believed in pagan magical practices. Because I consider it absolutely absurd and insulting to claim that he did.

Let me ask you this: Do you believe in the reality of demonic spirits?

The devils exist, yes.

-CryptoLutheran
 
Reactions: RaymondG
Upvote 0

Hidden In Him

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jan 7, 2017
3,430
2,835
61
Lafayette, LA
✟601,779.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
How about you back your claim up by demonstrating that St. Paul believed in pagan magical practices. Because I consider it absolutely absurd and insulting to claim that he did.

No offense, but under the present circumstances I'd rather pick your brain. You don't have to respond, but I will get around to quoting some scriptures for you if you give me the impression you'll be listening. But in all honesty, your lack of faith in such things (along with others) strikes me as astounding, and it tells me I may be fighting a losing battle here before it even starts.
The devils exist, yes.

If demons exist, then what power do they have over men? Any?
 
Reactions: RaymondG
Upvote 0