An interesting article on this topic:
In brief, witchcraft is an ideal avenue for the postmodern view of life. The modern view understood life and religion through scientism. Due to its focus on the methods of natural science, scientism rejected organized religion and the existence of anything supernatural. The ideal faith of the modern view was atheism. The postmodern mind, however, both recognizes that science does not have all the answers and is skeptical of organized religion. For example, many postmodern thinkers claim to be “spiritual, but not religious.” The combined emphasis on personal subjectivity and skepticism toward organized religion is the fertile ground in which witchcraft has grown.
In short yes. A bit longer answer it is, but you really and I cannot stress this enough. REALLY do not want to get mixed into it.
ReplyDeleteThe bible was quite clear, witchcraft is a real thing, its mentioned several times.
Deuteronomy 18:10 "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
2nd Chronicles 33:6 "And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger."
Micah 5:12 "And I will cut off witchcraft out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers."
Nahum 3:4 "Because of the multitude of whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcraft."
Deuteronomy 18:10 - (Instructions to the Priests - Levites)
2nd Chronicles 33:6 - (Reign of King Manasseh in Jerusalem)
Miach 5:12 - Prophecy (The destruction of Assyria)
Nahum 3:4 - Prophecy of the Lord, (The burden of Nineveh)
Those were a few examples, but not once was it ever mentioned as a good thing, or anything but something or someone to be avoided, killed, or destroyed. (Exodus 22:18 is the infamous one, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.")
The bible unless it specifically states something is a parable, or a story, should be taken literally. For whatever reason the more "civilized" an area is, the harder it is for those living there to understand that concept. The bible states witchcraft is a real thing, and lists it under evil and sin, we should believe the bible when it says that.
In the more modern day, we have had stories from people who were witches and came to Jesus and were saved. We have stories from preachers who have run across the possessed. We have stories from people who profess to be active witches who fully believe that their magic is real. More to the point they all of them note that it can and is blocked through the prayers of those who are saved, and by calling upon Jesus's name.
I don't know how they get the power. It isn't theirs I will say that much, they are just as human as the rest of us. I don't know if they ask fallen angels for aid, I don't know if they are possessed by devils, I don't know if they have a familiar spirit, (see above mentioned devil, just not possessing them.)
Either way it doesn't matter. They are doing evil, and they are unsaved. They are being tempted with promises of power and very likely eternal life. It is sad, but they are on a road straight to hell and damnation, and very few of them have any idea of what is coming.
- W
Like G. K. Chesterton said, when people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, but start to believe in everything.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I live christianity, especially being catholic, is that it is just ultimate test for reasonability. Faith and theology gives you strict frames what to believe, and other than that, you are supposed to use your wit and reason and most importantly, NOT BELIEVE SINGLE THING.
That is why modern natural science was invented in Europe. First RC theology improved logical thinking. And since we are not supposed to believe in fairies and such, people started asking, HOW precicesly God has arranged things to work? You wont start asking questions like that, if you believe every tree has it's own spirit.
to W: most modern witches are not ACTUAL witches, just stupid little girls in the body of a grown up woman, playing silly little games. It is nothing but make-believe, isn't that you say in english when kids play that "this would be postman and I would be firefighter and Stacy is a witch".
ReplyDeleteOf course it is still harmful, since it keeps them away from the Church and salvation. But they are not really tampering with evil forces. Incencing with sage will hardly summon demons.
It is just a symptom of women longing for tradition, really. And those poor souls just don't know any other way.
You're probably right that most are not actual witches. (Note : by actual I mean fully empowered however it came about.) I however still include them because of 2 things.
Delete1 - They are actively opening themselves to things they should not be. They aren't being deceived into heading into such wickedness, they are open and willing participants to it. Even if at the moment their spells do nothing.
I should put a note here that reading things like Harry Potter and pretending to be witches and wizards is not what I am referring to. I have no issue with that. Those people and kids are acting and pretending. What I have issue with are those people who are (deliberately) trying to do magic, summon spirits, open their third eye, etc.
2 - From interviews I have watched of former and current witches. Their spells/curses are attempting to directly effect things. Most of those interviewed spoke of curses. As did several saved and unsaved people from Africa which even today still has a major witchcraft problem.
Those former witches who have left and come to Jesus speak with sorrow and regret for their actions. Those who are still practicing witchcraft tend speak of said curses in a very lighthearted almost whimsical sort of way.
The best example or most horrible example I can recall was one woman who was commenting on how she had cursed an ex-boyfriend. Said ex-boyfriend a few weeks later fell and broke his neck. Those at the table were a mix of horrified or interested depending on if they were saved or not. She didn't care in the slightest. She frankly seemed almost smug about it.
The thing is its not just a symptom of women longing for tradition. Its a longing of power and control, and though I do agree some of them don't know any other way. Most of them however have no such excuse.
- W
Oh I definitely believe that witchcraft exists and that it is evil. I watched some TV series which went further than HP into that stuff and had to stop watching because they were giving me nightmares. The point what many of the people who dabble in it nowadays don't understand, is that you don't get something for nothing. That is, you need to pay and you pay in blood (that was depicted in those series). One series was about a woman who went to a witch for the love potion and while it worked and she forced the fiance of another woman to marry her instead, her whole family had nothing but misery for many years until one of her grown children was murdered (there were more murders btw, that was just the final one) . Only then they could find peace because the price had finally being paid.
ReplyDeleteThat woman you mentioned will have a h8ll to pay, and that curse will go over on her children. As for HP, it's rather silly, but it teaches children that being a witch is normal and that witchcraft is fun instead of evil.
Africans know more about all that
ReplyDeletethan we do, because it's so widespread there. I once did a review of a Nigerian horror film on this blog and it basically showed the same stuff. A man who wanted to become rich had to murder a poor girl to get his wish and her spirit kept haunting the house which was literally built upon her bones. While the murderer got very rich but also very miserable. It went on until they found the body and buried it according to the Catholic ritual so that her soul could depart to Heaven. It shows the same principle, to get your wish done you need to pay in blood. That is the 1st principle of witchcraft/magic.
The confusion arises because during Medieval and early modern times (unfortunately) they often accused wise women of the village of witchcraft because they knew about herbs and moon cycles and anticonseption and stuff like that. That obviously has nothing to do with (black) magic (is there any other kind actually?)