Howdy,
Christianity has no innate conflict with the concept of magic. Many modern translations will render words as simply "magic" or "witchcraft" when in actuality the original Hebrew has a much narrower and specific meaning. Going off more strict translations, only a few things are forbidden, namely the malicious use of magic, the conjuring or consulting of spirits, and specific types of divination. Those who believe all magic comes from spirits may see magic as being outlawed, but those who believe in a neutral world life-force would see no conflict. Also, you may think of magic as just another form of prayer, a dramatic way to request God's divine intervention. What is key to me is simply that, if practicing both Christianity and magic, one never forgets that magic, in any form, was created by the Lord, and he deserves proper reverence for it.
Re: Christian in the Craft By: Sarafiel / Beginner
Post # 13 Apr 12, 2011
Thank you Brysing, very well said.
Folks, magic does not have to be pagan. Pagan and magic are not the same things. Magic does not have to be witchcraft. They are two very different concepts.
Paganism involves the worship of pagan gods. Magic can also be energy work that does not involve anything pagan. There is also non-denominational magic that does not involve the gods or God at all.
Many people just lump magic and witchcraft and paganism all into the same cover term to mean any magic at all. They aren't the same. Simply put, magic can be any religion or none. Magic is just the command of forces we don't yet understand with scientific method.
Go read about it if you don't believe me. Anyone saying that someone who practices magic isn't a real Christian is terribly under educated.
What about Soloman? What about Moses? If what they did wasn't magic I'll eat my hat.
The dictionary defines paganism as a person that does not follow or belong to an organized religion. Many people define it as a person that follows a specific religion, called paganism, which is not correct, or as a person that worships pagan gods, which again, is not correct. A christian's defenition of a pagan is a person that is not a christian. A christian's definition of a pagan god is any god that is not the one they believe in and pray to.
Magic is the practice of manipulating energy, whether it be your own, another person's, or that found in nature.
Witchcraft is the practice of magic.
Wicca is a defined religion that utilizes witchcraft, which has been around far longer than Wicca itself.
Many pagans and witches have many differing practices and deities they chose to worship or call upon. Some follow a denomonation, if you will, and some do not. (I do not, and call myself pagan, as I am opposed to organized religion for myself.)
Solomon and David and Moses existed before Christ, therefore, one could not call them christians.
The christian bible is lacking many documents that were pulled from it (known as the dead sea scrolls) in order to have just the things said that would lead people in a direction wanted at the time. It has also been mistranslated, through many re-translations over many generations. I could say much more here, but I will leave it with just that.
The christians that exist today, and attend christian churches, shun witchcraft, paganism, witches, mediums, and anything associated with it.
People were burned at the stake for being "witches" whenever they did anything that wasn't liked by those in charge.
Now that that little lesson is done, I would recommend a deep study of both subjects you are trying to join.
Christianity has been around a good 2 millennia or so. Lots of people have taught lots of things during that time. Dispite popular opinion, "Christian" simply means "one who follows Christ", not "one who follows all Christian traditions" or even "one who is a member of a Christian church". The only real binding force for Christians is the Bible, and even that has been subject to twenty centuries of mistranslations and misinterpretations. Anyone who honestly and sincerely tries to live according to the ideals set by Christ is a Christian, regardless of whether or not they follow certain arbitrary rules.
As for the second part, the holy water- my understanding is that a priest blesses salt first, through prayer, then sprinkles the blessed salt on the water. Any more details I don't know though. In the early church any water from a moving source (stream, river, ect.) was used.
Magic is just energy manipulation. Manipulating energy,is that so evil? I dont think so. At least those are my views on it. And im still christian,so for me it works out great. I understand that it may be TAUGHT that it is evil but it does not mean it IS evil.
