Witchcraft, is it evil?

[Starcrystal]

Telrunya,
Ummm can anyone say Left field? Jesus prayed in the synagogs and at the temple. Yes he went into the wilderness to be alone, just as we christians have our private prayer time with God. Yes God wants us to be good stewards but he also placed the earth and all the animals under man's dominion. Dominion- equates to dominance over. You might want to check out what Jesus did to the fig tree that didn't have any fruit for him before continueing on this line of thought.

Sorry I don't have time to address each point so I'll pick this one for now. The "dominion" over the earth and animals has been so twisted that it's destroying the earth because Christians think they can cut the forests & kill the animals at will without consequence. The "dominion" meant a very controlled conservative and responsible use of resources, NOT exploitation of them.
Genesis 2:15 Adam was told to "dress and keep" the garden. That means to guard, protect, preserve, and cultivate responsibly. Isaiah 5:8 says woe to those who lay house to house & field to field till there be no room. Talks about the consequences of overdevelopment, crowded cities. People who once could provide for themselves from the abundance of Earth now are forced into the wage labor market where they must struggle and big business controls everything. Go back to Genesis, the tower of babel when people tried to crowd together in one city and make a name for themselves. God scattered them. Now go to Revelation 11:18 where it says God will destroy those who destroy the earth. Seems to me the Bible is pretty clear about environmental issues.

So Jesus cursed one lonely fig tree? First, that certainly wasn't exploitation of the environment. Secondly, he was giving an example of the power available by faith. Third, if I had a fig orchard and one tree wasn't producing fruit I would probably cut it down after awhile. Remember also where Jesus talked about the farmer who wanted to cut down a fig tree? Jesus said dung it (fertilize it with manure) and if it still didn't produce by next season, then cut it down.

As far as Lucifer, it's the parallel refeerences with the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14 which give that idea. There are statements in there that appear as if they could be talking about a man and an angelic being. same with Ezekiel 28 about the king of Tyre. In fact Ezekiel 28 appears to speak more to a "fallen angel" than Isaiah 14 does. "How thou art fallen from heaven O Lucifer son of the morning" is the verse in Isaiah 14 which is tied in with Jesus saying he saw satan fall from heaven like lightening. Thats where the idea comes from.

Is Lucifer specifically Satan? One in the same? Maybe , maybe not. "Don't ask me, I don't know!" ~Ozzy

 

[Cerridwen]

There is only one reference to Lucifer in the entire Bible, & it is not used to describe the devil, but a King of Babylon, who was at that time occupier of Palestine. It is part of a song, in the Hebrew lamentation rhythm. Lucifer actually means 'light-bearer', & is the Morning Star, the planet Venus. It is a satirical metaphor for the tyrant King-one of whose royal titles was 'Day Star, Son of the Morning'. Peake's Commentary on the Bible is excellent reading that I recommend to everyone, & fyi, it is research done by genuine and Christian scholars.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[GodismyRefuge]

There is only one reference to Lucifer in the entire Bible, & it is not used to describe the devil, but a King of Babylon, who was at that time occupier of Palestine. It is part of a song, in the Hebrew lamentation rhythm. Lucifer actually means 'light-bearer', & is the Morning Star, the planet Venus. It is a satirical metaphor for the tyrant King-one of whose royal titles was 'Day Star, Son of the Morning'. Peake's Commentary on the Bible is excellent reading that I recommend to everyone, & fyi, it is research done by genuine and Christian scholars.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

Cerridwen,

I am interested in your perspective on Lucifer falling from his position in heaven and 'becoming' satan? I'm not challenging, looking for dialog, Peaceful Pagan

 

[morningstar2651]

It's getting a bit off topic, a new thread or private messages would be nice.

 

[cabbitgrrrl]

in this country witchcraft is considered a religion. as long as there are no human sacrifices witches are protected by the law. i think witchcraft is evil because they worship satan.

some of the things I believe in could be considered witchcraft, but I have to ask you, who is this satan fellow? I never even heard of the guy; last time I checked I didnt worship nobody named satan.

 

[cabbitgrrrl]

It actually doesn't state anywhere in the bible that Lucifer is Satan. Satan is not referenced in the bible as an individual.

I heard somewhere that Satan is actually based off the words Sat-an, which is some language (I think hebrew) for light bringer. Perhaps just another translation of Lucifer

 

[cabbitgrrrl]

miychcraft is evil that is the way that satan gits in to your sole to take it.

guess we wont be practicing any miychcraft then, wouldnt want satan to git in my soul

 

[Starcrystal]

Cabbitgrrrl,
some of the things I believe in could be considered witchcraft, but I have to ask you, who is this satan fellow? I never even heard of the guy; last time I checked I didnt worship nobody named satan.

That's Ok, don't feel bad. I don't worship anyone named Satan yet some have told me that the Jesus I believe in is Satan. So I look at fruits. Usually the ones who accuse me of this are themselves going against 90% of what Jesus taught, so I simply don't believe them!

guess we wont be practicing any miychcraft then, wouldnt want satan to git in my soul

My itch craft - and satan gitting into the sole. I wondered if that had something to do with an itchy foot

 

[Bevlina]

I heard somewhere that Satan is actually based off the words Sat-an, which is some language (I think hebrew) for light bringer. Perhaps just another translation of Lucifer

This link might help you understand cabbit.

http://www.apologeticspress.org/rr/rr1998/r&r9810b.htm

 

[cabbitgrrrl]

That's Ok, don't feel bad. I don't worship anyone named Satan yet some have told me that the Jesus I believe in is Satan. So I look at fruits. Usually the ones who accuse me of this are themselves going against 90% of what Jesus taught, so I simply don't believe them!

really? i've never heard of anyone callin Jesus satan, although someone on this board once called Cybele "satin".

My itch craft - and satan gitting into the sole. I wondered if that had something to do with an itchy foot

lol i thought it was just a really bad series of typos, but it actually makes sense now lol

 

[Starcrystal]

Cabbitgrrl,

really? i've never heard of anyone callin Jesus satan, although someone on this board once called Cybele "satin".

Oh, there's a radical UFO cult that believes Jesus is satan, 666, and they really make a big stink about this! Some people call Jesus satan when they say it's a false Jesus, which is Biblical (Galatians 1 and 2 Corinthians 11) Question is, will the REAL Jesus please stand up?

lol i thought it was just a really bad series of typos, but it actually makes sense now lol

Freudian typos! I immediately thought of an itchy foot! (sole)

 

[Boneddiges Cymraeg]

Isn't the sign of the Devil (666) suposed to be found upside down and backwards??? Wouldn't that make it 999...hmmm....I'm starting to wonder about the british ambulances and that!

 

[zoe_uu]

Witchcraft is not any more evil than any other religion.

 

[Rae]

there's a radical UFO cult that believes Jesus is satan

So does the leader of the Universal Life church on the Internet. If you check out his sermons, you'll find one where he says Jesus and Lucifer are the same, IIRC. It's kind of sad, really.

Witchcraft is the practice of a magical system, as I see it. It includes practices like Kabbalah, which are intended to get the user closer to YHVH. Of course it isn't "evil." It isn't even classifiable as a religion. It's a religious practice, like lighting candles, attending church/temple/mosque, and praying. Is praying evil? Of course not. Neither is "witchcraft."

 

[Boneddiges Cymraeg]

So does the leader of the Universal Life church on the Internet. If you check out his sermons, you'll find one where he says Jesus and Lucifer are the same, IIRC. It's kind of sad, really.

Really??? Thats kinda odd....Why would the leader of a church belive the "son of God" is evil???

 

[morningstar2651]

Lucifer means 'morning star' in latin.

Jesus is referred to as morning star in the bible.

Rev. 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

 

[Boneddiges Cymraeg]

so how come so many people think Lucifer and Satan are the same?

 

[SquareC]

so how come so many people think Lucifer and Satan are the same?

IIRC, that was a result of teachings of the RCC in the Dark Ages.....not positive though.

 

[pensive]

What is witchcraft?

Personally, I've always liked the definition in which witchcraft is referred to as "the shamanism of Europe."

 

[DJ_Ghost]

Personally, I've always liked the definition in which witchcraft is referred to as "the shamanism of Europe."

Really? I have always hated that definition because its premised on the false assumption that pre-Christian Pagan Europe had anything even resembling a unified religious mythos, which it didn’t. It also assumes that there is only one form of witchcraft practiced today, which there isn’t. Either one of those flaws is enough to make my teeth grind automatically.

Ghost