The Bible and Witchcraft

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The Bible and Witchcraft
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Post # 1
I'm a practicing pagan and I have always marveled at people wanting to combine Christainity and witchcraft with the bible condemns it being it Wicca or non-wiccan witchcraft!

That being said let's see what the Bible Says:

Old and New Testaments treat witchcraft as an evil, rebellious, and loathsome practice. Those who practiced it were not tolerated.


Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, Exodus 22:18

Moses cautioned the children of Israel:


When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable way of the nations there. 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. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord has not permitted you to do so. Deuteronomy 18:9-14

With respect to the evil kind Manasseh who reigned in Jerusalem fifty five years the Bible states: “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, followed the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites” (2 Chronicles 33:2). “He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger” (2 Chronicles 33:6).

When Samuel reproved King Saul, he compared rebellion to the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Witchcraft includes both divination and idolatry. “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (1 Samuel 23). If Saul was rejected by God for rebellion and arrogance so will a modern day person who practices or permits himself or herself to be entertained by witchcraft and idolatry.

The Living Bible clearly addresses the fate of those who delve or as C. S. Lewis labeled “lust” for the occult: “The Lord has rejected you because you welcome foreigners from the East who practice magic and communicate with evil spirits” (Isaiah 2:6). “Crawl into the caves in the rocks and hide in terror from his glorious majesty, for the day is coming when your proud looks will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted. On that day the Lord of Hosts will move against the proud and haughty and bring them to dust…All the glory of mankind will bow low; the pride of men will like in the dust, and the Lord alone will be exalted. And all idols will be utterly abolished and destroyed” (Isaiah 2:10-18).

Paul in Galatians 5:19-21 ascribes witchcraft as a deed of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” It is interesting to note that Paul’s warning is to the churches of Galatia whose members are already Christians. They are warned that by engaging in sinful conduct they would not inherit the kingdom of God. The warning is to those who have accepted Christ. The modern day Christian who is entertained or allows his or her children to be entertained and/or participate in the works of the flesh, which includes witchcraft, should give serious heed to this warning.

White magic and black magic are not acceptable in Christianity and there is no such thing as “cheap grace”. Christ died on the cross to forgive us for our sins, yet there is no excuse to take sin lightly. Engaging in any sin including sorcery opens one to demonic oppression and with persistent sinful conduct possession.
Christianity teaches that witchcraft, even charming, candy coated witchcraft, is evil and that redemption only comes through Jesus Christ and certainly not from the occult. Communication with the dead is actually communication with demons or “fallen angels.” Casting spells is prohibited.

In Christianity, salvation does not come through witchcraft but by accepting the Son of God. Good is what is of God and comes from worshiping Him.



That being said the fact is Christianity is in opposition to any kind of witchcraft,and I must say as a pagan that those who want to practice Christianity and witchcraft need to think things through and study the Christian views of witchcraft and if they want to be a Christian NOT follow a religion that the Christian religion is in opposition too,or free themselves completely from the Christian religion and follow wicca!
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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By: / Novice
Post # 2

Well, you are partially correct with your information. First, as we've discussed in other posts, the Hebrew in Exodus 22:18 refers to someone who uses poisons, or an assassian.

The Hebrew people, especially the initiated priests and kabbalists, practiced divination and magical work. They did not approve of communicating with the dead because, at that point, they saw the spirit of the deceased being reunited with God. To drag it away from that union is not good. They did have specific laws against idolatry, and eventually incorporated worshipping only the God of Abraham, although they were originally polytheistic. the quote "thou shall have no other gods before me" does not say there is only one god. In fact, it confirms that there are others. It simply says that the Hebrew people shall not put any other god in higher importance than the God of Abraham. So, technically, it does not forbid the worship of other gods. Many prominent people in the Old Testament practiced magic, most notable being Solomon.

When you start quoting the New Testament, things change. The "New Covenant" was established, and new rules, according to Christianity, apply. The concept of there being only one god was formalized, and that the only way to God is through accepting Jesus into your heart (awakening the Christ consciousness in the heart chakram). Jesus did many works that would be considered magical, and even stated that he was greater in power than Solomon, impling the use of magical techniques and powers. However, the religion focused on the spiritual growth of its followers and not the magical works. That being said, Jesus clearly stated that his followers could do all the things he did, and more. Unfortunately, most of the New Testament is not based off of Jesus' teachings, but off of the writings of Paul. Paul never actually met Jesus, was a member of several cults, and was typically considered off his rocker by the other disciples. However, since his writings focused more on organizing churches and worshipping Jesus, as opposed to growing spiritually yourself, the early church focused on his writings, leaving many of the writings of other disciples, who had actually met Jesus, out.

With regards to Christianity and Witchcraft, obviously the worship of other dieties is right out. Some of the actual magical practices and techniques, however, would be completely acceptable, especially if they are "flavored" with Christianity. That being said, Kabbalistic practices, which have many of the same effects and processes as witchcraft, makes a much better fit with Christianity.

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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By:
Post # 3
Jesus himself defied the torah. Many witches in latin american countries and catholic countries like Haiti are "Christian Witches."


Yes the bible does condemn Witchcraft however let others interpret their own practice in their own way. One of the marvelous things about Wicca is that it's flexible. If a Witch want's the use the bible let them use the bible. It's their own practice and their own belief.
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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
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Post # 4
It's also important to note that indiginous cultures that have converted to Christianity or Catholisism often still have witches, and the locals tend to have beliefs that are a hybrid of Christian imagery and folk religion.

After all, Europe became Christian, and it's well known that the cunning folk, magicians, and witches have a mixture of pagan folk beliefs (speculated to stem from shamanistic beliefs and animism) and Christian imagery; the bible and what it says, much less the authority of the day and the Christian elite, didn't stop these witches.

A prime example is the Benadati of Italy, who considered themselves good Christians who would leave their bodies to battle evil witches for the health of the crops and livestock, and to keep the community alive.
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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By:
Post # 5

What I find ironic is the username "HoodooBoy".

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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By:
Post # 6
I practiced Hoodoo for a while when I first joined this site,before realizing that wasn't for me.
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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By:
Post # 7

Did you realize that Christianity influenced folk magical practices, such as hoodoo and witchcraft? It's called "The Greatest Conjure Book Every Written." How do you miss that?

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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By:
Post # 8
LOL Voo when I get perfect you can you know hold it against me,i'm still falliable not godlike yet!
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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 9
HoodooBoy, what exactly are you getting at? That you believe in the Bible? Or that you don't believe in the Bible?
If you do not believe in the Bible, you will upset about 400 million Christians with this post. If you believe the Bible you will upset about 800 million Chinese, to say nothing of the millions of others, and quite a few Japanese. The Bible is there for anybody to read; and come to their own conclusions. So, what,exactly, are you getting at?
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Re: The Bible and Witchcraft
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Post # 10
Fundie watch
The Bible also says that if you eat shrimp,or wear mixed cloth's you are going to burn..

Round haircuts. See you in Hell, Beatles… and/or kids with bowl cuts, surfer cuts or (my favorite) butt cuts. Leviticus 19:27 reads “You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.”
Football. At least, the pure version of football, where you play with a pigskin. The modern synthetic footballs are ugly and slippery anyways. Leviticus 11:8, which is discussing pigs, reads “You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.”
And you’re doubly breaking that if you wake up, eat some sausage then go throw around the football. Or go to the county fair and enter a greased pig catching contest.
Fortune telling. Before you call a 900 number (do people still call 900 numbers, by the way?), read your horoscope or crack open a fortune cookie, realize you’re in huge trouble if you do.
Leviticus 19:31 reads “Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” The penalty for that? Check Leviticus 20:6: “As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”
Seems like a lifetime of exile is a pretty harsh penalty for talking to Zoltar.
Pulling out. The Bible doesn’t get too much into birth control… it’s clearly pro-populating but, back when it was written, no one really anticipated the condom or the sponge, so those don’t get specific bans.
But… pulling out does. One of the most famous sexual-oriented Bible verses… the one that’s used as anti-masturbation rhetoric… is actually anti-pulling out.
It’s Genesis 38:9-10: “Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother. But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He took his life also.”
Yep — pull out and get smote. That’s harsh.
Tattoos. No tattoos. Leviticus 19:28 reads, “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.”
Not even a little butterfly on your ankle. Or Thug Life across your abdomen. Or even, fittingly enough, a cross.
Polyester, or any other fabric blends. The Bible doesn’t want you to wear polyester. Not just because it looks cheap. It’s sinfully unnatural.
Leviticus 19:19 reads, “You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.”
Check the tag on your shirt right now. Didn’t realize you were mid-sin at this exact second, did you? (Unless you checked the tag by rolling off your neighbor’s wife while you two were having anal sex in the middle of robbing a blind guy. Then your Lycra-spandex blend is really the least of your problems.)
Divorce. The Bible is very clear on this one: No divorcing. You can’t do it. Because when you marry someone, according to Mark 10:8, you “are no longer two, but one flesh.” And, Mark 10:9 reads, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Mark gets even more hardcore about it a few verses later, in Mark 10:11-12, “And He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.’”
Letting people without testicles into church. Whether you’ve been castrated or lost one or two balls to cancer isn’t important. The Bible doesn’t get that specific. It just says you can’t pray.
Deuteronomy 23:1 reads (this is the God’s Word translation, which spells it out better), “A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the Lord.”
Oh, and the next verse says that if you’re a bastard, the child of a bastard… or even have a great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandchild of a bastard, you can’t come to church or synagogue either. Deuteronomy 23:2 reads, “No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the Lord.”
Wearing gold. 1 Timothy 2:9 doesn’t like your gold necklace at all. Or your pearl necklace. Or any clothes you’re wearing that you didn’t get from Forever 21, Old Navy or H&M.
“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments.”
Shellfish. Leviticus 11:10 reads, “But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you.” And shellfish is right in that wheelhouse.
Leviticus 11 bans a TON of animals from being eaten (it’s THE basis for Kosher law); beyond shellfish and pig, it also says you can’t eat camel, rock badger, rabbit, eagle, vulture, buzzard, falcon, raven, crow, ostrich, owl, seagull, hawk, pelican, stork, heron, bat, winged insects that walk on four legs unless they have joints to jump with like grasshoppers (?), bear, mole, mouse, lizard, gecko, crocodile, chameleon and snail.
Sorry if that totally ruins your plans to go to a rock badger eat-off this weekend.
Your wife defending your life in a fight by grabbing your attacker’s genitals. No joke. Deuteronomy actually devotes two verses to this exact scenario: Deuteronomy 25:11-12.
“If two men, a man and his countryman, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity.”
That’s impossible to misinterpret. Ladies, if your husband is getting mugged, make sure to kick the mugger in the pills. Do not do the grip and squeeze (no matter what “Miss Congeniality” might advise). Or your hand needs to be cut off.
As a final note, I know that nine of these 11 cite the Old Testament, which Christianity doesn’t necessarily adhere to as law.

To which I say: If you’re going to ignore the section of Leviticus that bans about tattoos, pork, shellfish, round haircuts, polyester and football, how can you possibly turn around and quote Leviticus 18:22 (“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”) as irrefutable law?

But that’s me trying to introduce logic to religious fanaticism (or, at least, trying to counter some mix of ignorance, bigotry and narcissism with logic). And I should probably know better.
http://monicks.net/2009/09/12/11-things-the-bible-bans-but-you-do-anyway/
http://www.bigissueground.com/atheistground/ash-bibleshocking.shtml
http://www.fstdt.com/

You,the earth is not flat..
Leave any witch alone that you do not get.
If you read the King James Bible,you are reading the Rosicrucian and Mason Bible...read up on it..

I found out more about Christianity,not by being a Christian,but by getting involved with the Occult,reading the QUabalah and truly understanding Judaism and Zoroastrianism, basically everything in the Bible seams to have based on the tenants of those 2 religions..at least that has been my understanding..after growing up in a hellfire and brimestone vomiting southern babtist mentally deranged background.
http://conspiro.net/2015/04/zoroaster-created-judeo-christian-religions/
Check the video
But truly,folks should follow the inner voice,not anyones outer ego.
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