Like Acie pointed out, I have to agree, this is a philosophical discussion and subject to opinion. Here's mine for what its worth.
Getting into the bible as a reason why you can or cannot be Christian Witch is a slippery slope at best.
The are proscriptions against the practice of spellcraft or sorcery in the old and new testaments. However, are you picking and choosing what you want from the bible? If you follow the old testament proscriptions then are you also keeping the other 335 laws from the torah?
I think any mindful Christian will recall that all the laws are boiled down to "Love God with all your heart, mind, and body...and love your neighbor as yourself." Can you cast and learn other forms of spiritual development while being a follower of Christ? I would say "yes, you can."
The story that strikes me from the bible is from Acts where Simon the Magus wants to pay the disciples to learn how to perform the miracles they are doing. Rather than seeing miracles and blessing God and having the INTENTION or alleviating the suffering of others, he wants to use the power manifested of the Holy Spirit for his personal gain. If he had the spirit of a true disciple of Jesus than he would have received the gifts of the spirit as the spirit decreed.
So, it comes down yet again to intention. It strikes me that following the path of witchcraft is just that, it is a path that requires thought, feeling, depth and the understanding that you are on a journey that is going to have a lot of ups and downs. Being a follower of Jesus is the same. Lots of ups and downs and a cross to be carried. Do you strive to make the world a more glorious place ...not for your own desires but for God/Goddess/Deity and out of compassion for your fellow beings struggling with the same horrible stuff in this world that you are?
That is one prayer that God always says "yes" to is when you offer up yourself to serve him. He will always say yes to that. Using your free will, your intentions, your thoughts, your prayers and actions you will determine your path. If God's love (Goddess, deities)is unconditional (which it is) then you need to reciprocate that.
Using energy, manipulating energy, striving, casting, praying are all in the same ballpark. it is ultimately you, the being who DOES, that determines the path.
Im not trying to be definitive here or have the final answer to this issue. But this is a really good topic worthy of thought and discussion.
I loved the book Kingdom Magick and it is what started me on this path. I was raised Christian, then completely left the church to devote myself to witchcraft. Now I am coming full circle and learning how I can reconcile the two, and that there are others out there like me...what a relief!
Hello yo bonny. I used to believe in Hell and other foolish christian beliefs until I resd a review of a book called "23 minutes in Hell" done by L. Ray Smith on his website bibletruths.com. This should help. It's very in-depth. I wanted to print it out but it would've taken up 135 to 150 pages. of course, this was the time in my life when I was seriously losing interest and looking into witchcraft and the occult. I am now under the understanding that nothing bad happens to anyone after death after reading some of Neale Donald Walsh's and Dolores Cannon's works. Hope this helps.
bayoelan I assume were you after an example of a priest using magic in the catholic mass and not Jesus?
Transubstantiation of the eucharist would be the big one plus there is also group chanting, incense and candles at every mass, its very ritual heavy.
It is important to remember the cunning folk witches of the early modern period of Europe (1400-1900) were by almost all purposes, Christians or had elements of Christianity found in them. Many had intermingling of Christianity and pagan folk practices.
These people viewed waffers from communion as magical objects, invoked the name of god to perform spells, among other things. Psalms was used as the basis for spells.
Books I would recommend you pick up is the Black Books of Elvrum (I can't recall the author) and Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits (Emma Wilby)
Let's see. In Mass, the priest assumes the god-form of Christ, transmutes wine into blood, crackers into flesh, breathes life into them both, and then every one eats it. How much more magical do you need?
yo_bonney that's good advice,not many people give that kinda open minded advice.
But I'd like to point out that yes witchcraft was around before Christianity,but that Wicca was not! Wicca is a product of the 20th century and is based on a smattering of western European paganism,blended with aspects of ceremonial magick,and oriental religious beliefs (karma for example),and unlike Wicca which is a Religion and a magickal practice of a positive nature,Witchcraft of the type that predates Wicca and would have been around before Wicca or Christianity even was considered a NEGATIVE practice in not one or two cultures but in all cultures around the world!
