Wicca - an occult religion involved with witchcraft

"Butterfly" writes: I have a friend who is thinking about starting to practice Wicca. He isn't saved and he says that he thinks Wicca is the only religion "calling " him and he wants to try it out. I told him how good Satan can lie and make something look different than it really is , but he doesn't believe in a heaven or hell or Satan. I'm really afraid that he doesn't know what he's getting into. He believes that there is some kind of supernatural force in Wicca. I know that there is and it is Satan. Satan is a very strong force!! I don't want my friend to be in any danger and I know if he gets into this he will be. How can I convince him otherwise? There is this webpage on the internet that has ways for Wiccans to argue their point against Christianity. I read it and I'm afraid that if I'm confronted with these arguments I won't know what to say. Can you give me some answers to the arguments at this website? I know none of them are true but I still want to know what to say. This is the site... http://www.wicca.com/celtic/kardia/faq.html [I didn't make this a click spot because I do NOT link to sites with occult propaganda. You will have to enter the address manually if you want to view their ... uhh ... stuff. Bell]

Biblebell's reply Dear Butterfly, a) Some background information on Wicca Wicca is a religion based on witchcraft. Wicca is an "occultic" religion. "Occultic" means dark or hidden or secretive or mysterious. Witchcraft is sometimes called the "old religion." It is also called "the craft", "wicca", or "wicce." Many witches are solitary. Some witches band together in covens. Covens usually have 6 male witches, 6 female witches, and a high priest or priestess - a total of 13 members. A group called W.I.C.C.A. (Witches International Coven Council Association) was formed with the goal of coordinating all the diverse groups of witches. Witches worship false gods and goddesses. Mostly they practice what they CALL "white magic" as opposed to satanical "black magic." Rituals, spells, charms, and chants are used in their practices. Ceremonies sometimes (NOT always) include sexual activities and drug use. Sybil Leek wrote several books on witches and witchcraft. Other books include those authored by Margo Adler, and by Donna Cole (co-author with Ed Fitch). I do NOT recommend you read these books unless you are quite certain God has given you a special gift for dealing with cults. Among the major national witchcraft organizations are: (1) Church of Circle Wicca, headquartered in Wisconsin, (2) Covenant of the Goddess, in California, (3) Gardnerian Wicca, in Illinois, (4) Saxon Witchcraft, in Virginia. There are MANY other witchcraft organizations. Some have received tax-exempt status as recognized religions. {A rebuttal by a believer in the Wiccan religion is appended below.}

The preceding comments complete Biblebell's discussion of Wicca. The following Bible analysis and commentary apply to occultism IN GENERAL. There are many occult practices. Witchcraft is just one of them. C) Deuteronomy 18.10-11 is a Bible passage that catalogues several occultic practices. First, we will list the NKJV translation of this passage. Second, we will list a LITERAL translation with Strong's numbers. Third, we will give Strong's definitions of key words in the passage. 1) NKJV 10. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11. or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. (Deu 18.10-11) 2) Literal translation with Strong's numbers 10. |3808| not |4672| must be found |6256| in |0000| you |5674| One {who} passes |1121| his son |1323| or daughter |0781| through fire, |0259| one |7080| practicing divination, |6049| a cloud-reader, |5172| a fortune-teller |3784| or a spell-caster, 11. |2266| or a charmer |2267| {of} magic, |7592| or one consulting |0178| spirits, |3049| or a wizard, |1875| or one inquiring |0413| of |4191| the dead 3) Strong's definitions (in blue). [Bell's comments are in magenta] Strong's # 7080 - Romanized qacam. A primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine. [NKJV translates as "witchcraft." Qacam connotes mind-reading, fortune-telling, psychic reading, astrology, and so forth.] Strong's # 6049 - Romanized `anan. A primitive root; to cover; to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practice magic. [NKJV translates as "soothsayer." Anan connotes magical practices of wide variety, perhaps involving hypnosis or otherwise clouding over the minds of the witnesses &/or targets of such magic. The association with clouds may also connote the practice of reading signs in the heavens - sun, moon, stars, planets, comets.] Strong's # 5172 - Romanized nachash. A primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate. [NKJV translates as 'interprets omens." Nachash relates to the hissing of a snake; hence, the whispering of a spell, snake charming, etc. Prognostication further encompasses telling the future, interpretation of dreams, "reading the tea leaves," etc.] Strong's # 3784 - Romanized kashaph. A primitive root; properly, to whisper a spell, i.e. to enchant or practice magic. [NKJV translates as "sorcerer." Kashaph connotes one who does magic. Also one who enchants - controls the mind and actions of another person. Such control may be achieved by supernatural means or by use of mind-altering drugs. Note that the New Testament Greek word translated "sorceries" (Rev 9.21) " is pharmakeia, from which we get the word pharmacy - a drug store.] Strong's # 2266 - Romanized chabar. A primitive root; to join (literally or figuratively); specifically (by means of spells) to fascinate. [NKJV translates as "conjures a spell." Chabar implies "fascination" or mind control of another person - "joining together of a string," or "tying a magic knot" around another person's mind.] Strong's # 178 - Romanized 'owb. From the same as HSN0001 (apparently through the idea of prattling a father's name); properly, a mumble, i.e. a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar). [NKJV translates as "medium." This is a person who has a "familiar spirit." If the familiar spirit is fake, the medium uses ventriloquism or electronic means to counterfeit the spirit's voice. If the familiar spirit is real, it is a demon. Owb connotes that the familiar spirit (or the person who is "channeling" that spirit) speaks with a hollow-sounding voice. Also means a necromancer or wizard.] Strong's # 3049 - Romanized yidd`oniy. From HSN3045; properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer; (by implication) a ghost. [NKJV translates as "spiritist." Yidd`oniy connotes the ability to sense or confer with ghosts - "the other side." Practitioners of this dark art are sometimes known as "paranormal psychologists", "psychics," etc.] Strong's # 4191 - Romanized muwth. A primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill. [NKJV translates as "one who calls up the dead." Practitioners often use seances, ouija boards, and similar gadgets for their purposes.] D) Deuteronomy 18.12a states that "all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord." This means that practicing or participating in occult practices is forbidden by God, including but not limited to the following: 1) Causing a child to pass through fire [Child sacrifice.] 2) Communicating with a false god (or demon). 3) Clouding or controlling a person's mind through hypnosis, herbs, drugs, or any other means. 4) Seeking to determine a person's "destiny" or thoughts by means of chanting, magic, crystal balls, consultation with spirits, astrology, psychic readings, ouija boards, and so forth. 5) Seeking to cast spells or enchant or practice magic on people or objects. 6) Seeking to fascinate or charm a person so as to cloud their awareness or mental faculties. 7) Seeking communication with familiar spirits, demons, or dead people. E) Since there is only one God (Deu 6.4; Isa 44.6, 45.5), it would be absurd to worship any so-called "deity," whether masculine or feminine. [Many Wiccans worship a feminine deity.] F) Since there is only one God, worship of any other object, spirit, or person, is simply worship of a false god. Worship of a false god is idolatry. God commands us NOT to worship idols (Exod 20.3-5). Worship of idols is irrational (Acts 17.29), degrading (Rom 1.22-23), demonical (1 Cor 10.20-21, Deu 32.17), defiling (2 Cor 6.15-18), enslaving (Gal 4.8-9), abominable (1 Pet 4.3). G) Some occult religions claim they follow the Bible's "golden rules." They further claim to perform only white magic with a philosophy of "no harm." However... 1) Occult religions practice idolatry. Thus, they DISOBEY God's commands to worship Him ONLY (Exod 20.3-5). The Bible also says that idolaters will not go to heaven but to the lake of fire (Rev 21.8) 2) Occult religions do NOT obey the Bible's requirement of "RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2.15). Instead they selectively take Bible truths out of context, so as to twist the truth, mislead and deceive. 3) Occult religions practice magic. As shown above, ALL forms of magic are forbidden by God, whether white, black, or any other color. 4) Their so-called "harm none" philosophy harms a LOT. All idolators and practitioners of magic will spend eternity in the lake of fire. That is a lot of harm! 5) When witnessed to by Christians, followers of occult religions like to answer all questions with questions. Answering a question with a question is a lawyer's trick. It is often used by people who are interested in "scoring points" or creating confusion, rather than having a meaningful discussion in a mutual attempt to discover TRUTH. 6) Followers of a false religion may not consciously want to follow Satan. They may even hate him or deny his existence. However, false religions ARE inventions of Satan. Satan is smart. He and his ministers do not reveal their evil natures. Rather they pose as ministers of light and profess to "harm none." (2 Cor 11.14-15). H) Many followers of false religions LOVE to discuss the Bible with Christians. 1) In Matthew chapter 4, Satan showed he is a clever twister of Bible verses. 2) Satan's people like to get Christians confused by raising silly questions such as whether God is male or female, whether the "Trinity" means we have 3 Gods, and so forth. 3) It takes a special gift from God for a Christian to be able to deal with a follower of a false religion who has been indoctrinated with a list of "trick Bible questions." If an "everyday Christian" runs across a Bible twister, that Christian's best course of action is to... Stick to the simple truths: (a) Idolatry and magic are SINS against God. (b)The practitioner of idolatry or magic is NOT going to heaven. (c) The ONLY way to be saved from hell is to repent of idolatry and believe on Jesus Christ. Beyond that, the Christian should obey the commands that God gave for just such cases... If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 1.10, NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. (Rom 14.1, NKJV) If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (1 Tim 6.3-5, NKJV) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ (Christians) with Belial (the devil)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'' Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.'' (2 Cor 6.14-17, NKJV) I) In other words, Butterfly, if you aren't a VERY experienced Christian, God says you should NOT engage in debates with followers of occult religions. God has given certain Christians special gifts for handling people who want to play satanic "Bible Bingo." If you have not been so gifted by God... 1) Tell your friend what you know and believe. 2) Pray for your friend. 3) Tell your Pastor about your friend. 4) Leave the rest to God. 5) WITHDRAW from your friend. Stay away from him or her, or you might suffer harm. I visited the site you mentioned. In preceding paragraphs I have replied to some of that site's nonsense. However, please remember that it is DANGEROUS nonsense.

Comments by *Redsparrow* -- a follower of the WICCA religion: 3/15/2004 Dear Biblebell, A lot of your information on background of Wicca is correct; however I think that it is unfair that you state that we all worship false gods and goddesses as we are all entitled to our beliefs and I could quite easily state that your God is false but I wouldn't dream of doing so. I also want to take this opportunity to ensure you of the great difference between White Magic and Black Magic and to strongly advise you never to get the two confused because the claim that we have nothing to do with satan couldn't be any more true. I also felt disturbed when you said that we take drugs at some of our rituals, as I am sure that in some cases this does happen, it is a very rare thing and I dare say that some Christians take drugs at you ceremonies but that doesn't mean it's a common thing. I do not expect any Christians to read any of our books or even consider our religion and I respect the fact that you wish to stay as separate from us as you possibly can. I also admire you for your devotion to your God. I also wish to inform you of a few things, just to make you a little wiser on our ways and beliefs. Few Wiccan parents make their children 'pass through the fire' as you put it {see Editor's Note below}, no more than Christian parents who make their children 'pass through the water' as I put it and the majority of Wiccan parents will make all religions open to their children, including Christianity and will not put any pressure on them to also become Wiccans. I am admittedly no expert on your religion and I don't know what your exact beliefs are but I respect them and I would like to ensure you that no harm to others can come through ordinary witchcraft, that Wiccans practice, even though I doubt it will make little difference to what you think about it. I also want to try my best to convince you that there is nothing wrong with a Spiritist alone, and that we have a lot more in common than you choose to think. I strongly hope that no wedge will become between our two religions. With the utmost respect and love, Yours sincerely, Redsparrow (Chez K.) Editor's Note: Our discussion of Wicca did NOT say that Wiccans make their children pass through the fire. Redsparrow refers to our quotation of a passage in Deuteronomy 18.10-11, which {among other things} deals with the ancient practice of burning babies alive, as a sacrifice to false gods such as Baal.

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