Can I Be Friends With A White Witch?

[Abira]

thanks so much for your advice everyone.

There’s a wide spread of it but I feel a bit more focussed in how I’m going to have to address this now

Take care, S x

 

[Sixtus]

You can be firends with and pray for whom ever you wish.

Did not Jesus prefer the company of sinners. Whatever else, they tend in my experience to possess a funamental honesty seldom found in authodox religion

 

[Dorothy]

You can be firends with and pray for whom ever you wish.

Did not Jesus prefer the company of sinners. Whatever else, they tend in my experience to possess a funamental honesty seldom found in authodox religion

True, and Jesus also told His disciples to shake the dust from your feet and leave when they will not hear the Gospel.

We all must discern a balance.

 

[Antegin]

Hi,

Then she said that she was heavily into witchcraft…but not black magic… and that it had all started in secondary school.
She went on to tell me about some spell which had won her a friend back involving planting an onion in the back garden lol.

She’s a good person and we are friends but I’m a little bit unsure how seriously I should take the witchcraft. She assures me she’d never do bad magic as that would come back three times on her (kinda like karma) but I know that she reads spells most nights and does tarot cards and has dabbled in oija boards etc.

S

In my experience, people who turn to Wicca do so because they want to feel empowered. This experience is especially strong in teen agers trying to find that balance between self-reliance and family commitment. In shows like Charmed, Wiccans are portrayed as strong and heroic with power to vaquish evil doers. In reality, Wiccans are trying to find a power and authority in themselves. The more they invest in themselves, the further they get from the true source of power: submission to God’s Will.
Paul warns, “Satan will appear as an angel of light…” The danger of knowing and being with friends in this practice is they appear to be strong, self-possessed women and men, but as they get deeper into the attempts to control the future, they are going from not trusting the future to God to infact rebell against God Himself.
The danger of tarot cards and oiji boards is that the further you get away from having faith in the Lord and choosing to follow His Way, the more you become available to rebellion.
In addition, sexual abuse of children and teens has been documented.
Pray for your friend and show her every kindness, but protect your self by relying the mercy and love of the Lord to keep her. Also, keep yourself out of harms way. Do not participate in her practices and submit yourself to God’s Will.

 

[Dorothy]

In my experience, people who turn to Wicca do so because they want to feel empowered. This experience is especially strong in teen agers trying to find that balance between self-reliance and family commitment. In shows like Charmed, Wiccans are portrayed as strong and heroic with power to vaquish evil doers. In reality, Wiccans are trying to find a power and authority in themselves. The more they invest in themselves, the further they get from the true source of power: submission to God’s Will.
Paul warns, “Satan will appear as an angel of light…” The danger of knowing and being with friends in this practice is they appear to be strong, self-possessed women and men, but as they get deeper into the attempts to control the future, they are going from not trusting the future to God to infact rebell against God Himself.
The danger of tarot cards and oiji boards is that the further you get away from having faith in the Lord and choosing to follow His Way, the more you become available to rebellion.
In addition, sexual abuse of children and teens has been documented.
Pray for your friend and show her every kindness, but protect your self by relying the mercy and love of the Lord to keep her. Also, keep yourself out of harms way. Do not participate in her practices and submit yourself to God’s Will.

Very well said!

(Whether it be “wiccan” or just plain dabbling in things that are not of God)

 

[Zooey]

what can I say to her when she says that I ought not to have a problem with reading starsigns because of the whole, wise men following a star thing?

I’ve explained it the best way I can but I think it’s a case of her being closed to ideas. She still sees it as a parrallel despite me telling her that it’s a prophecy and not astrology in the sense that she means it.

S

Does anyone else have an explanation for this…or is there no explanation?

I believe the Magi studied the heavens. That would have made them astronomers not astrologers. Big difference.

In biblical times (BC) astronomers and astrologers were considered as mostly the something. Over time people came to understand that the study of the Heavens was vastly different and legitimate.

The predictions of astrologers promoted superstition and the devils work. Many people in our time just look at it as fun. But they don’t understand that evil only needs a very small opening to get in the door.

About the Wise Men, Abira:
As I understand it, they were scholars, educated men. They studied the forms of wisdom and knowledge they knew of. They would have seen no distinction between astrology and astromony, nor (I think) between studying the heavens and studying the patterns of weather and climate. This does not in the least justify modern astrology, nor is it evidence that astrology or magic is harmless.

That’s right!! In those days, what was called astrology was what we would call astronomy.
Now, it is true that it was misused by some people, who were trying to foretell the future, etc…But then, there were also people practicing what is now called chemistry, & were using it to make poisons!
All the sciences have had people misuse them’
But today, we know the difference. There is really no excuse for anyone to claim that because there were “astrologers” in the Bible, that we should be getting our signs read, etc. It’s a whole other world.

 

[Mirdath]

That’s right!! In those days, what was called astrology was what we would call astronomy.
Now, it is true that it was misused by some people, who were trying to foretell the future, etc…But then, there were also people practicing what is now called chemistry, & were using it to make poisons!
All the sciences have had people misuse them’
But today, we know the difference. There is really no excuse for anyone to claim that because there were “astrologers” in the Bible, that we should be getting our signs read, etc. It’s a whole other world.

I’m afraid it’s not quite that easy. One of the offices of the magi would have been to prophesy and draw up horoscopes for the nobility – one only has to look at any other biblical reference to astrologers to see that. They were scientists and magicians, somewhat like the alchemists of later centuries.

The word ‘magus’ itself is directly drawn from ‘magic’. It’s utterly impossible to say the Magi were purely scientists and not wizards. In fact, it was their art itself that led them to the Christ-child; had they been only scientists, they would have written the star off as a nova. But they were astrologers as well, and from that marked its importance.

 

[Nancie_Lew]

That’s right!! In those days, what was called astrology was what we would call astronomy.
Now, it is true that it was misused by some people, who were trying to foretell the future, etc…But then, there were also people practicing what is now called chemistry, & were using it to make poisons!
All the sciences have had people misuse them’
But today, we know the difference. There is really no excuse for anyone to claim that because there were “astrologers” in the Bible, that we should be getting our signs read, etc. It’s a whole other world.

What about the interpretation of dreams in the Bible? Some Wiccans use dream interpretation?

 

[Nancie_Lew]

The danger of tarot cards and oiji boards is that the further you get away from having faith in the Lord and choosing to follow His Way, the more you become available to rebellion.
In addition, sexual abuse of children and teens has been documented.

Excuse me! Sexual abuse of children? Please deal with the abuse of children in your church before condemning others.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

Excuse me! Sexual abuse of children? Please deal with the abuse of children in your church before condemning others.

I think the Catholic Church has and will continue to deal with child abuse by members of the Church. I know I had to go through a program on sexual abuse and a background check before I could volunteer with diocesan programs.

The fact that some priests have abused children does not prevent Catholics from saying that abuse of children is absolutely unacceptable.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

What about the interpretation of dreams in the Bible? Some Wiccans use dream interpretation?

The two are not the same. In the Bible God sometimes spoke to His people in their sleep. They did not interpret their dreams, they heard the world of God.

 

[Reepicheep]

I’m afraid it’s not quite that easy. One of the offices of the magi would have been to prophesy and draw up horoscopes for the nobility – one only has to look at any other biblical reference to astrologers to see that. They were scientists and magicians, somewhat like the alchemists of later centuries.

The word ‘magus’ itself is directly drawn from ‘magic’. It’s utterly impossible to say the Magi were purely scientists and not wizards. In fact, it was their art itself that led them to the Christ-child; had they been only scientists, they would have written the star off as a nova. But they were astrologers as well, and from that marked its importance.

They attempted astrological interpretations as well as astronomical observations because they believed in such things. That doesnt make them right, nor does it proves that astrology works. Neither does it invalidate the point that they, as the scholars of the time, were more than just astrologers in the modern sense.
What’s your authority for the claim that it was their “art” that lead them to know about the Christ child? If you trust the Bible account…well, we know what the Bible says about astrology. If some other source, what is that source?

 

[Mirdath]

They attempted astrological interpretations as well as astronomical observations because they believed in such things. That doesnt make them right, nor does it proves that astrology works. Neither does it invalidate the point that they, as the scholars of the time, were more than just astrologers in the modern sense.
What’s your authority for the claim that it was their “art” that lead them to know about the Christ child? If you trust the Bible account…well, we know what the Bible says about astrology. If some other source, what is that source?

My authority is actually the bible itself. Check the footnotes to Matthew 2: 1-2 A new star was considered the sign of a ruler’s birth – that’s not astronomy, it’s astrology. About all one can say from a Christian perspective is that God used that sign knowing the magi would interpret it as such and follow to pay homage.

 

[Dorothy]

What about the interpretation of dreams in the Bible? Some Wiccans use dream interpretation?

The dreams that are told about in the Bible were definitely from the Lord and for His purposes.

If a person believes that a particular vivid dream is from the Lord or Satan, they should discuss it with a reputable spiritual director and take his/her advice.

Most dreams have to do with our tensions of the day, and the subconscious mind.

There are various books out there that suggest that one’s dreams that they can remember can be written down and then analyzed. This particular preoccupation can distract from one’s genuine prayer life, and take their attention off of what really counts…the Lord.

Peace,

Dorothy

 

[rayne100]

So one of your friends is Wiccan. What’s the big deal? It’s just another religion, and you’ve already got friends in other non-Catholic faiths, so why make a fuss over this one?

It is important to remember that wicca and pagan practices do not necessarily practice witchcraft.
Witchcraft is a skillset. Paganism in it’s many forms is a religion.

 

[Abira]

It is important to remember that wicca and pagan practices do not necessarily practice witchcraft.
Witchcraft is a skillset. Paganism in it’s many forms is a religion.

yeah that’s all sorted in my head… if you check my OP I did ask her specifically and she answered specifically so the lines aren’t blurred.

I’ve taken some of the advice so far… I think we can be friends but I’ll just keep my guard up, well I’ll try to remember… I’m not very good at being suspicious

The whole Magi thing does confuse me… but then I’d like to know if the Magi changed there faith or beliefs? I assume that they did but can’t remember reading it if I have.

Thanks again to all.

S

 

[Eireann]

What about the interpretation of dreams in the Bible? Some Wiccans use dream interpretation?

Where all dreams in the Bible accepted by God ?

Prophecy Of Jeremias 29:8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners deceive you: and give no heed to your dreams which you dream: 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: and I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

23:32 Behold I am against the prophets that have lying dreams, saith the Lord: and tell them, and cause my people to err by their lying, and by their wonders:** when I sent them not, nor commanded them**, who have not profited this people at all, saith the Lord.

 

[rayne100]

If you aren’t friends with her she might put a spell on you!

This is rediculous propaganda speaking…If she truly is your friend then she would never do that,
and if she is not your friend and does do that, then you have your faith to protect you.

 

[Reepicheep]

My authority is actually the bible itself. Check the footnotes to Matthew 2: 1-2 A new star was considered the sign of a ruler’s birth – that’s not astronomy, it’s astrology. About all one can say from a Christian perspective is that God used that sign knowing the magi would interpret it as such and follow to pay homage.

About all, yes…and that’s enough. If God did it then it wasn’t proof that astrology works.
Furthermore if the Bible account is true, and God sent the star as a sign, then you need to note that God’s word in the Bible condemns the use of astrology to predict the future, and condemns it pretty loudly. Condemns all forms of divination in fact.

 

[mdgspencer]

Offhand, I would think that it would be all-right or even meritorious to have be friends with someone with a reprehensible life if you are trying, however subtlely, to change that person. But you ought to be careful in this case. My wife is from southern Mindanao in the Philippines and some of the Moslems there use spells. One way they provide it is putting something into the food they give someone. In fact she had such a friend, and she realized later that this friend could have put something into the food she provided at her house. The problem is that such spells can work, and in fact one of her uncles was badly affected by such a spell. If you associate with this person you should be careful about eating with her and shouldn’t take anything home she gives you or slips into your possessions.
Those who think such spells never have an effect could read the book by one of the exorcists of the Diocese of Rome, Italy: Gabriele Amorth’s “An Exorcist Tells His story.”