Witchcraft, is it evil?

[Kira Faye]

I'm sorry I'm a pagan and I DO sacrifice animals! ok gummi worms, chocolate frogs, glucose dinosaures.......I'm such an evil person!!! I really love the phrase shoot em all and let god decide, while I don't condone the shooting part I say let god decide and tell us personnaly if we are right and wrong other then that I personnaly feel no one has the right to tell wrong or right cause they are not any sort of god/ess

 

[Myah]

I'm sorry I'm a pagan and I DO sacrifice animals! ok gummi worms, chocolate frogs, glucose dinosaures.......I'm such an evil person!!!

Shame on you...just think of those poor choclate frog's mothers and how they must feel.. *tsk tsk*

*darts eyes* Got any extra?

 

[Kira Faye]

nah sorry did my usual offering to the choclate gods when I called apon teh watch towers of noughtat and milo! I love that spoof!

 

[VoiceofReason]

Saying Wiccanism is evil is like saying maybe Buddha is the incarnation of Satan. You dont know that for sure if you're Christian. You're left to speculate, and you know where speculating gets you?
Salem 1692, that's where.
Only in modern day, burnings are kind of a faux pas, so you get to glare and keep smiting a religion in your mind, because apparently the bible justifies it.
Um, does 'judge not lest ye be judged' ring a certain bell?

 

[Starcrystal]

Star_Pixels,
But all those "miracles" performed by Moses and people (who else?), like raising the dead and controlling the elements, is all Witchcraft is. And if God lets Moses do it, it can't be evil.

Ok, glad I caught that one. I was going to mention Moses.... except you forgot his MAGICAL staff with which God told him to use to perform SIGNS

 

[Dj Capron]

witchcraft is verry evil

 

[Dj Capron]

wichcraft is found in galations it is evil.

 

[gaijin178]

wichcraft is found in galations it is evil.

Everything not found in the bible or found in the bible is evil.

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

wichcraft is found in galations it is evil.

Well, I am not trying to be silly here but it is pronounced galatians.

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

Everything not found in the bible or found in the bible is evil.

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

wichcraft is found in galations it is evil.

Knowingly or unknowingly, the Bible authors have listed a huge number of things as evil.

While I don't say that Bible is not perfect(because it is perfect) , I request you to read the Bible after a prayer asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit. You might understand the true meaning on why the name "witchcraft" is used as evil.
Then you will find that the Bible doesn't call healing someone with herbs and roots is evil but practicing stuff with the intention of hurting others is evil.

"witchcraft" in the Biblical sense is practicing magic for putting a curse on someone etc...
"witchcraft" is not used in the sense of worshipping mother Goddess or practicing medicinal techniques for curing diseases.

May the Holy Spirit guide you.

 

[Starcrystal]

Born_to_lose_live_to_win,
"witchcraft" in the Biblical sense is practicing magic for putting a curse on someone etc...
"witchcraft" is not used in the sense of worshipping mother Goddess or practicing medicinal techniques for curing diseases.

Exactly ~

Galatians: "witchcraft" = Greek: "pharmakeia"
Definition:
1) the use or the administering of drugs

2) poisoning

3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it

4) metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

Note it is mainly associated with DRUGS. Pharmakeia is where we get our words
pharmacy and pharmecuetical. definition # 3 "sorcery and magical arts" refered
to the IDOLATRY practices and had nothing to do with Wiccan type practice.

 

[StaySalty]

Witchcraft, Is it evil? 

Well I know what the bible says about witchcraft.  In that sense it doesn't matter all that much if I think Witchcraft is evil. For example, I might go to see a movie with witches and regard it as just entertainment, but other Christians might consider me sinful for going to see such a movie.
Is witchcraft evil though?  I think yes, if it is believed in and practiced by people.

Is witchcraft evil? Yes. The Bible says:

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
Deuteronomy 18:10-11

And besides, Christ offers us real life, eternal life! Trusting in Him is a joy, really. The thief (aka the devil) has nothing to offer, and only desires to take from you.

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10

 

[Boneddiges Cymraeg]

Just to clarify - did God give people free will? And in the 10 comandments doesn't it say "thou shalt not kill"?

Right,

Free will - If this is true then don't people have the right to make up their own minds about who they do or do not want to worship? And as it is Gods will that people have free will, who are Cristaians to say that those people are wrong? By doing that, are you not questioning your own Gods decision?

Thou Shalt not kill - Out of all the Religions here, who decided to try to "take over the world" by killing whoever they through was in the wrong? a.k.a. the Crusades! Also, I'm quite sure the same people decided to slaughter many women on the grounds that they were "witches". So, once again, going against the word of your God...

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

Again - if this is the case then why did God give people the gifts needed to "interpret omens", or "consult the dead"? - oh, and many Cristians sacrificed their daughters cos they were thought to be Witches...!

Did God not expect the Egyptians to "interpret omens" when Moses sent all those warnings?

 

[StaySalty]

Just to clarify - did God give people free will? And in the 10 comandments doesn't it say "thou shalt not kill"?

Right,

Free will - If this is true then don't people have the right to make up their own minds about who they do or do not want to worship? And as it is Gods will that people have free will, who are Cristaians to say that those people are wrong? By doing that, are you not questioning your own Gods decision?

No, we are not questioning God's decisions, we are obeying His commandments. Yes, God gave us freewill, that means He never forces us to do one thing or another. We all have a choice. He also told us what things are wrong and that we should NOT do them. We can still choose to do them, but then we are disobeying God.

We can also use our freewill to do things that are not disobedient to God. But witchcraft is a practice that is disobedient to God, so we should not do that.

Thou Shalt not kill - Out of all the Religions here, who decided to try to "take over the world" by killing whoever they through was in the wrong? a.k.a. the Crusades! Also, I'm quite sure the same people decided to slaughter many women on the grounds that they were "witches". So, once again, going against the word of your God...

I'm a Christian, and from what I know of it, I don't support the Crusades. From what I know, it involved sin. And Christians are not perfect, I still have times where I fall into sin. That's why we need a Savior, someone to forgive us for our sins.

Scripture says:

7“Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Romans 4:7-8

And how are our sins forgiven? By the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God! He commited no sin, and came down to earth to save sinners.

You've heard of St. Paul, right? Listen to what he wrote:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.
1 Timothy 1:15

Christians aren't a bunch of people who have done everything right, we are people who have sinned but have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and have been forgiven for our sins.

Again - if this is the case then why did God give people the gifts needed to "interpret omens", or "consult the dead"? - oh, and many Cristians sacrificed their daughters cos they were thought to be Witches...!

Did God not expect the Egyptians to "interpret omens" when Moses sent all those warnings?

'interpreting omens' and 'consulting the dead' are not gifts from God. He does not want us to do such things. God does give His children gifts though, the greatest of which is eternal life!

The warnings and plagues brought on Egypt were not just to benefit the Isralites, but also to show the Egyptians that God is God alone, and their practices of magic arts don't please Him.

And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it."
Exodus 7:5

The 'gods' they worshipped were demons, which are angels that rebelled against God long ago and were cast out of heaven because of it, to await punishment. They are the enemies of people, and they only want to draw you away from God.

But God loves us, and sent His Son to save us so that we might have eternal life.

 

[Starcrystal]

StaySalty,
Is witchcraft evil? Yes. The Bible says:

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
Deuteronomy 18:10-11

And besides, Christ offers us real life, eternal life! Trusting in Him is a joy, really. The thief (aka the devil) has nothing to offer, and only desires to take from you.

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10

KJV original is "enchanter or a witch" Enchanter is someone like a fortune teller or diviner. Witch is someone who practices sorcery or witchcraft and the Hebrew definition for witchcraft was mainly someone who worshipped Baal. I agree that sort of thing would be evil because Baal required blood.

Now as far as John 10:10 I suppose about 97.5% of Christians somehow misinterpret this verse and claim the "thief" means Satan.
First of all the Greek definition given in Strongs is this:
"the name is transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain"

Secondly, all scripture MUST be read in context, not pulled out by itself and applied to something it is not. So let's read John 10:1 - 14:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."

In the first verse Jesus is talking about PEOPLE, not Satan, and those are the thieves he says. He then says all that came before him were thieves and robbers (refering to the Jewish false prophets) Then he talks about hirelings which let the sheep be scattered, again refering to PEOPLE who appear religious but don't really care about their congregations. THESE are the thieves. Sure, by implication those sort of people are INFLUENCED by Satan, but the "thief" is not Satan like the preachers try to tell us. Actually it's the "wolf" who would more represent Satan, and this does not mean wolves are evil - it is only symbolic because wolves do hunt sheep. (So leave my avatar alone! )
And we need to face the truth that there happen to be a lot of "thieves" in the churches today, sadly.

I don't really think most of those practicing Wicca or what passes for so called "witchcraft" today are practicing the Biblical witchcraft which was associated with idolatry, harlotry, and blood sacrifice to gods like Baal or Molech.
The "witchcraft" of today and that some of my friends practice is mainly a natural path that believes in a spiritual god and goddess, healing, love, and caring for the earth. That was NOT the Biblical witchcraft.

 

[StaySalty]

I don't really think most of those practicing Wicca or what passes for so called "witchcraft" today are practicing the Biblical witchcraft which was associated with idolatry, harlotry, and blood sacrifice to gods like Baal or Molech.
The "witchcraft" of today and that some of my friends practice is mainly a natural path that believes in a spiritual god and goddess, healing, love, and caring for the earth. That was NOT the Biblical witchcraft.

Even if that is true, that their practices aren't quite the same, that does not mean that what they are practicing is ok with God. This is because He says you shall have no other gods before Him.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:3

God made us in His image, and He alone sustains us. He is jealous (and rightly so) when we worship other 'gods'. He specifically says not to do it.

Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14

He loves us enough to send His Son Christ to die for us so that we might have eternal life.

 

[Cerridwen]

Even if that is true, that their practices aren't quite the same, that does not mean that what they are practicing is ok with God. This is because He says you shall have no other gods before Him.

What you fail to realize, though, is that you (& those like you who think they can speak for God) are the one trying to tell people that they have some other god before Him. A religious Witch's personal relationship with the Divine is none of your business, & you have no right to tell that Witch how to live or believe, nor do you have the right to speak for God. Just because your idea of God is one way, doesn't make it so. Regardless of how 'inspired' one likes to believe the Bible is, the fact remains that it was written by PEOPLE, not God, & it is chock full of the ideas & ideals that the authors wanted to assign to God. No one knows what God 'wants' but God, & if God speaks to a religious Witch or Wiccan & said Witch or Wiccan who is content & happy with his/her idea of God, then who are you to tell him/her otherwise? The Divine is much larger than the neat little box you want to cram Her into.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

What you fail to realize, though, is that you (& those like you who think they can speak for God) are the one trying to tell people that they have some other god before Him. A religious Witch's personal relationship with the Divine is none of your business, & you have no right to tell that Witch how to live or believe, nor do you have the right to speak for God. Just because your idea of God is one way, doesn't make it so. Regardless of how 'inspired' one likes to believe the Bible is, the fact remains that it was written by PEOPLE, not God, & it is chock full of the ideas & ideals that the authors wanted to assign to God. No one knows what God 'wants' but God, & if God speaks to a religious Witch or Wiccan & said Witch or Wiccan who is content & happy with his/her idea of God, then who are you to tell him/her otherwise? The Divine is much larger than the neat little box you want to cram Her into.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

Wow! Good job. I read druid lore and Arthurian legends(especially by Marion Zimmer Bradley) and ancient celtic mythology with an avid interest. I completely understand what you are saying.
The Mother is the source of everything. We call her Shakti(primordial force/energy), along with many other names. Her various attributes have a name. like, when she is the goddess of fortune, she is called lakshmi, when she is the goddess of wisdom, she is called saraswathi, and when she is the mother of the earth, she is called durga. all these goddesses are associated with their consorts Vishnu(sustainer), Brahma(creator), and Shiva(destroyer).
I just thought you might find it interesting. BTW, is Avalon or Glastonbury really there or is it considered to be in another plane? I would be interested to know. Thanks.

 

[God_of_Mercy]

Regardless of how 'inspired' one likes to believe the Bible is, the fact remains that it was written by PEOPLE, not God, & it is chock full of the ideas & ideals that the authors wanted to assign to God.

People inspired by God
Funny how you can make assumptions like that about the writers with absoultly no reason only because you dont believe in the bible.