The problem of Witchcraft/Paganism

[Holly3278]

that is some scary stuff… may i ask why and how did you start practicing magic/wicca and what where some bizarre experiences you had

Well, I started practicing magic and Wicca because I was interested in the paranormal. I wanted to be able to control my life and I thought that I could do that through magic. The only time I ever really experienced something bad was when I cast a spell on a person and I immediately felt the punishment for doing it. I felt incredibly bad. I don’t remember what exactly happened but it wasn’t good.

I mainly practiced incense magic. What I would do is I would light an incense and offer it to the “god” and “goddess” of Wicca in the hopes that it would bring about some change in my life. I also tried meditation. I once called spirits in to my apartment. I don’t remember if anything happened after that or not. One time, I was angry at God (the one true God) and so I dared the evil spirits to possess me. Thankfully God protected me from that.

Now, I am free of that. I am throwing away all of my incense and such. My priest recommended that I do that. I don’t want to be tempted in the future. Praise God that I am finally free of the chains that once bound me! :extrahappy::bowdown:

 

[AntiTheist]

I don’t remember what exactly happened but it wasn’t good.

Translation: Magic doesn’t work, and nothing happened.

I once called spirits in to my apartment. I don’t remember if anything happened after that or not.

Translation: Spirits aren’t real, and nothing happened.

One time, I was angry at God (the one true God) and so I dared the evil spirits to possess me. Thankfully God protected me from that.

Translation: Spirits aren’t real, and nothing happened.

 

[masha]

Translation: Magic doesn’t work, and nothing happened.

Translation: Spirits aren’t real, and nothing happened.

Translation: Spirits aren’t real, and nothing happened.

Um…no.
Spirits are real and things do happen when you call on them. Whether the spirits are angels, demons, God, the devil, or others, we have a lot more contact with the spiritual world than many people think we do. Holly’s description of events does sound very low key, but that’s probably because not only do spells, callings, and incantations not work the way we imagine the would (calling spirits does not produce an instant shuffing of papers, cold air, and dark swirling figures), but also, we in a “Christian society” are generally more protected than we realize.
Even if you don’t believe now, if you have been baptized, that is a powerful protection - some might even say “magic” , the prayers of your friends and family are protective as well, especially if they know what you are dabbling in.
Holly may not remember what (if anything) happened, because, going to magic for power, she likely had an expectation of what that power would look like - when what she expected didn’t show up, she didn’t notice what did. Or, she may not remember what happened because nothing did happen. But that says less about the existence of spirits - too many other people have had dealings with them, you know, and more about Holly as either a very well defended person, or simply as a person without anything particular to offer the spirits she called.

Holly, I can definately understand why you are so utterly repulsed by witchcraft. You seem to have practiced as a Catholic in rebellion against God, and I’m really grateful that nothing awful happened in your experience. It’s too bad our terms aren’t more clear though, because I think (and any Pagans out there can correct me) that the type of witchcraft you practiced is different, angrier, and more dangerous than what most Wiccans would say they practice. I’m not saying that Wicca is fine and good, only that it isn’t as dangerous as some of the things out there that are also called Witchcraft - mainly because Wicca is generally practiced in ignorance of the truth of Catholicism, and the other types are practiced in spite of and against the Truth.

A practicing Wiccan would never, in anger at God, call demons into herself - though she may call spirits (which unknown to her, may or may not be demons) into herself - not as a possession but as an invocation. But she wouldn’t try to get possessed. If we are going to be talking to these Wiccans, we need at least respect that they are not trying to *court *evil.

blessings,
Masha

 

[AntiTheist]

calling spirits does not produce an instant shuffing of papers, cold air, and dark swirling figures

Of course it doesn’t do any of that stuff because spirits don’t exist and don’t cause any effects to happen.

I’ve known more than my share of pagans, Wiccans, and people in the “magical community.” This magic stuff is silly and inane beyond anyone’s wildest imaginings.

If you think lovesick teenagers who light incense and whisper a bunch of mumbo jumbo can have supernatural powers, you need a serious reality check. It’s nearly 2010, for crying out loud.

 

[Holly3278]

Translation: Magic doesn’t work, and nothing happened.

Translation: Spirits aren’t real, and nothing happened.

Translation: Spirits aren’t real, and nothing happened.

There is no translation needed. I spoke in plain English and I know that what I said happened, happened. Also, spirits are real whether you want to believe them or not. That’s the facts and if you don’t like it then I guess you’ll just have to take it up with God on judgment day.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

My discription of miracles came from both the old and new testament, but you’re right, Christ’s miracles did not harm anyone.

Right and with that said, it’s only logical to consider that His miracles embody the very nature of such. In the case of witches though, they are not known for healing. Their spells are known for causing trouble and the fact that there are many sects of witches out there who actually make themselves experts at that (like my examples) does not help. This is not to say that I dismiss the notions of witchcraft having non-troublemaking elements. I am very tolerant of so-called “good witches”. However, the fact is their hexes and curses are more prominent than their cures. Thus, we see this as the line that draws between witchcraft and miracles.

P.S.

If this means anything, I don’t even consider God raining punishment as a miracle. I call it divine judgment or retribution. Such things aren’t miracles. Furthermore, I don’t think bringing them up does much good if you don’t want people reinforcing the stereotype of a punishing God. :\

 

[KathleenGee]

The persons I dealt with…were very powerful, did bad things to others, and yet would get away with things over and over again…to the point it was scandalous.

When we were first attacked for finding out…through the Holy Spirit coming to us to discern…when we didn’t want to at all, weird things happened…our kids started having trouble and the priests did not believe us.

This apparently has happened to devout who inadvertently got connected or involved in our churches with people into the New Age and occult…my girlfriend’s sister-in-law said they are led to do what they do to destroy the church from within.

We have to go through a complete spiritual renewal like I did…having to go back to the place in my soul and faith where I was in elementary school to restore my faith and it has taken me many years.

To say this doesn’t exist…you are not on a spiritual/faith plane and don’t perceive.

The people who were adamently defending these people after a good number of years had the table turned on them…and their remark to me was…‘evil’.

 

[NoWings]

And no, divination, spells, and curses are not practiced within Christianity.

So, all of those memorized prayers aren’t spells? Making the sign of the cross isn’t an invocation of protection? Wearing saint medallions isn’t the same as wearing a talisman? No curses? Jesus didn’t curse and wither a fig tree just to make a point?

Right.

 

[Holly3278]

So, all of those memorized prayers aren’t spells? Making the sign of the cross isn’t an invocation of protection? Wearing saint medallions isn’t the same as wearing a talisman? No curses? Jesus didn’t curse and wither a fig tree just to make a point?

Right.

That is correct. Jesus cursed and withered the fig tree to make a point but Jesus has supernatural powers being God. Please don’t accuse my Lord and Savior of witchcraft.

And honestly, comparing memorized prayers with spells is ridiculous, we’re praying to the Trinity, not invoking some false god or demon’s demonic power. The sign of the cross can be an invocation of protection but it is invoking the HOLY SPIRIT’s protection, not some false god or demonic spirit! Wearing saint medallions is not the same as wearing a talisman. We wear them to remind ourselves of their prayers, not for some magical power that they supposedly have. As for the saint medals, it might do you well to read up on what the Church has to say about superstition.

2111 Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary. To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition.

Also, here is what the Church says about idolatry which is what a Wiccan or witch commits on a daily basis:

2112 The first commandment condemns polytheism. It requires man neither to believe in, nor to venerate, other divinities than the one true God. Scripture constantly recalls this rejection of “idols, [of]
silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.” These empty idols make their worshippers empty: "Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them."42 God, however, is the "living God"43 who gives life and intervenes in history.

2113 Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon."44 Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast"45 refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God.46

2114 Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the one God. The commandment to worship the Lord alone integrates man and saves him from an endless disintegration. Idolatry is a perversion of man’s innate religious sense. An idolater is someone who "transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God."47

42 Ps 115:4-5, 8; cf. Isa 44:9-20; Jer 10:1-16; Dan 14:1-30; Bar 6; Wis 13:1-15:19.
43 Josh 3:10; Ps 42:3; etc.
44 Mt 6:24.
45 Cf. Rev 13-14.
46 Cf. Gal 5:20; Eph 5:5.
47 Origen, Contra Celsum 2,40G 11,861.

 

[NoWings]

That is correct. Jesus cursed and withered the fig tree to make a point but Jesus has supernatural powers being God. Please don’t accuse my Lord and Savior of witchcraft.

And honestly, comparing memorized prayers with spells is ridiculous, we’re praying to the Trinity, not invoking some false god or demon’s demonic power. The sign of the cross can be an invocation of protection but it is invoking the HOLY SPIRIT’s protection, not some false god or demonic spirit! Wearing saint medallions is not the same as wearing a talisman. We wear them to remind ourselves of their prayers, not for some magical power that they supposedly have. As for the saint medals, it might do you well to read up on what the Church has to say about superstition.

Also, here is what the Church says about idolatry which is what a Wiccan or witch commits on a daily basis:

Right, so when YOU guys do it, it’s perfectly fine.

Gotcha.

 

[AnAtheist]

The fact that that is the only ethic that Wicca has is disgusting.

“Disgusting” is a term of personal liking.
Anyway, I do not listen very often to what Jesus said, but when it somes to disgusting ethics and evil people I’d rather recognise the fruit that the faith.

 

[masha]

Right and with that said, it’s only logical to consider that His miracles embody the very nature of such. In the case of witches though, they are not known for healing. Their spells are known for causing trouble and the fact that there are many sects of witches out there who actually make themselves experts at that (like my examples) does not help. This is not to say that I dismiss the notions of witchcraft having non-troublemaking elements. I am very tolerant of so-called “good witches”. However, the fact is their hexes and curses are more prominent than their cures. Thus, we see this as the line that draws between witchcraft and miracles.

P.S.

If this means anything, I don’t even consider God raining punishment as a miracle. I call it divine judgment or retribution. Such things aren’t miracles. Furthermore, I don’t think bringing them up does much good if you don’t want people reinforcing the stereotype of a punishing God. :\

Thanks for the clarification. I see what you mean. My experience of “witches” has been mostly with those who consider throwing curses and hexes immoral. They wouldn’t consider it, so while I obviously see the whole “witchcraft” thing as problematic, it isn’t because I associate them with hexes and curses - though I can definately see why you do.

 

[Holly3278]

Right, so when YOU guys do it, it’s perfectly fine.

Gotcha.

Oh I get it. So Christianity is just another form of witchcraft. We do not curse people, we do not cast spells, we do not work divination, and we do not wear talismans! It’s that simple! We do not do the same thing as witches!

 

[Holly3278]

“Disgusting” is a term of personal liking.
Anyway, I do not listen very often to what Jesus said, but when it somes to disgusting ethics and evil people I’d rather recognise the fruit that the faith.

I don’t understand your last sentence. Could you please explain?

 

[Monica4316]

I think there is “pop-Wicca” just like there is “pop-Christianity”.

I am very good friends with a Wiccan couple…they have been involved in Wicca for longer than I have been a Friend…I’m almost 55 and I joined my first Meeting at 19.

We’ve discussed “religious experience” many long nights over dinner, drinks, a crackling fire, soft music and lots of laughter.

My male friend became interested in “the Craft” when he was in his late teens. His fundamentalist family’s religion didn’t “speak to his condition”. He was searching for “something”…he just didn’t know what he was searching for. He visited an occult bookstore and picked up a few books on Satanism by Anton LaVey…they left him “dead and dry inside”. He searched and one day met a young lady who called herself a “witch” and belonged to a coven. He studied for the traditional “year and a day” and also joined…they eventually were “handfasted” and now have four great children…all grown except for the youngest who just entered college…and who all practice “the Craft”.

In their early days they “bought into” the whole “ancient, burning times, pre-date Christianity” myth propagated in the 60’ & 70’s. They both learned much about the origin of modern Wicca and neither they nor their coven…nor any of their associates embrace the myth of Wicca being a “continuation” of an ancient undergroud established religion.

They consider themselves more “Reconstructionist”…modern Wicca has it’s roots in the works of Gerald Gardner and Alex Sanders. For my friends, modern Christianity has left them cold with no anchor to give stability and strength for their lives. Wicca does. To them Wicca/Paganism has it’s roots that go back to the oldest of times…they draw upon the Celtic myths and stories and seek to “reconstruct” a faith that offers meaning to their lives. Modern Wicca isn’t as concerned with “ancient lines and lineages” nor in claiming they have any witch version of “apostolic succession”.

It is a nature religion…they seek to “connect” to the rhythm of the Earth and feel the ebbs and tides of nature’s cycles. While some Wiccans believe the Gods and Goddesses are actual beings…not all Wiccans do. My friends believe the Gods are human manifestations of a Great Oneness that seeks to express Itself in creation…those beings humans call “Gods” take their forms and myth from the human psyche as this Great Oneness uses…manifests Itself in the consciousness of humanity…the “Gods” are both “constructs” and “Beings” beyond comprehension and imagination…but that “part” we understand…communicate with…perceive are in the form of our various Gods and Goddesses…even the “Christian God”.

The Wiccans who are serious about their faith don’t really prostyletize…but they are always looking for those who are seeking to be “set on the Path”. Wicca has no dogma…but uses “psycho drama” in the form of rituals, thought forms and “spells”…to promote change in their individual lives and seek “oneness” with their natural world…and they use the ancient myths and beliefs…as best they can “reconstruct” to find their Way.

They are facinated by my Quaker beliefs…we employ no rituals or ordinances…we have no chants or liturgical prayers…we have no clergy nor “ordained” priesthood to seek guidence from…but seek the Divine Presence and discern His will in community…imperfectly to be sure…it is at this point my friends and I have “connected”…I recognize “that of God” within them…The Light Within seeks to manifiest a life of love and peace in them and uses whatever belief system…no matter how imperfect…to bring them to Himself…perhaps that is why I do not see “witches and warlocks” in them…but souls seeking to find that Divine Center we all seek.

thanks for sharing this information…
but I think it’s really quite sad, that they are basing everything on earth and nature… when it will pass away. instead of basing their faith on the one true God who is eternal and who lives forever and ever.

I do think that wicca and all forms of witchcraft or occult are from the devil…sometimes it’s really subtle. But it’s all meant to take people’s attention away from God, and make them trust in themselves/nature/forces/“spirits” (demons) rather than Him.

God bless

 

[Monica4316]

I love these questions.

I am an ex-Pagan/ex-Wiccan and I figured I’d throw in my two cents as to why it attracts young (mostly female) people.

1. Power. Young girls (and boys) often feel that they have no control over anything in their life. Their parents make decisions for them, their teachers make decisions for them, and their church makes decisions for them. They are longing to be able to make decisions for themselves and Paganism/Wicca offers a promise of being able to control your life through “spellcrafting” and worshipping the Goddess.
2. Singularity. Many high school aged folk don’t want to worship in a congregation because they prefer to be alone. All the time. Paganism/Wicca affords them the ability to sit in their room and worship on their own terms, without anyone telling them what to say and when. Writing your own prayers/spells is actually preferred.
3. The “Old Ways.” Here is the kicker - Paganism/Wicca is evangelized (YES, I said it - though every Wiccan will affirm that they don’t seek out new members… they ‘advertise’ in other ways…) to young people by claiming that their beliefs/practices pre-date Christianity and organized church religions so they MUST be the RIGHT ways. Young folk are longing for a foundation… even though Wicca was ACTUALLY founded in the 1950’s by Gerald Gardner.

So… the real problem here is that these young folks are falling into Witchcraft/Paganism and not doing their homework. Trust me - I was one of them. It took me years to get out. It all starts innocently. They’ll read Llewellyn books, Cunningham books, etc. Books with titles in pink glitter claiming they’re full of “Spells for the Teen Witch.” Need more allowance money? Want that cool boy to like you? Here’s how!

So then, these teen “witches” get older. Now Paganism/Witchcraft becomes something else. Why? Because at 20, 21, 22 years old - you don’t care about whether or not the captain of the football team asks you out. You’re looking for peace. So, the new draw of Paganism is that it’s a “Nature Religion” attuned with the cycles of the earth. You can meditate on ancient Goddesses and Gods, do ‘cleansing’ rituals, and make mead. All good stuff, right? Well, just like the teen ‘witches,’ these young-adult ‘witches’ are ALSO not doing their homework. Trust me - I was one of them.

At some point… most people that are in this black hole of ‘faith’ decide they really MUST figure out what this religion is ACTUALLY all about. So maybe they pick up The Gardinerian Book of Shadows. They’re still confused. They read Crowley. Margaret Murray. Frazier’s Golden Bough. They will reach and reach and reach for some actual link to “the Old Ways.” But… it’s not there. It doesn’t exist. It’s a fabrication.

In fact… from experience. When you dig into all of these more and more bizarre texts on the occult… something funny happens. The deeper you dig and the further down the road you go, you start to find something. You find… Freemasonry. You find Rosicrucianism. You find the Knights Templar. You find the Priory of Sion. Then you find… the Catholic Church. And allllll of these heretical texts teach you one thing: they all stem from those who fell away from God and the Catholic Church. That’s right: Fell Away From God and the Catholic Church. These young Pagans/Wiccans will come to realize… their religion is not founded on God. It’s founded on anti-God. And there is the real relevation.

So - what IS THE FOUNDATION that we’re all looking for at the bottom of the pile, holding up all of humanity? That’s right - the Catholic Church.

It took me years of searching and reading and learning to find it. And I came home.

So, my suggestion then, and sorry to ramble a little, is to encourage them to actually dig into what they call their faith. Ask questions - and don’t take fluffy answers. If they tell you they’re following the Old Gods - ask them for proof. Tell them to read - A LOT. Bring them the texts. Tell them that if they want to follow this path - they should at least understand it. Because to fully understand is to fully believe.

You’ll find, they’ll find, and I found that following this path all the way to the truth leads you where all paths in LIFE should lead you: Home. All roads truly do lead to Rome.

Here’s a good place to start to send them looking for answers… but be patient… it may take a while: sacred-texts.com/index.htm

wow great post

 

[Monica4316]

It is not my belief that an individual has the power, necessarily, to do anything. It is only through Divine intervention that any change can occur. As an example, in modern Wicca, when a “spell” is cast, the Lord or Lady (depending on the mythos involved and need of the spell) is called upon to perform the act. IF it be their will. So Mote it be. It is a petition. Nothing more. The same as a priest channeling the Divine to bless the Eucharist.

the “Lord or Lady” who perform the “spell” in wicca are demons. These are fallen angels who have power to effect the natural world… but they are evil. It doesn’t come from God at all.

Prayer is different because we’re addressing God and not demons in disguise.

In the Consecration of the Eucharist, it’s NOT the priest channeling the Divine power… that’s wrong theology. It’s the priest saying a prayer and the Holy Spirit transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is not magic, it is holy, it’s from God, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

God bless.

 

[Monica4316]

Interesting enough, this corresponds well with the modern, scientific view of how the universe started. Perhaps our ancestors had a clearer vision or better gut feeling of how the world is really constructed before superstitions from the Middle East put Europe into the Dark Ages.

Science does not say that the world wasn’t created by God… even if the Big Bang is true, we have no way of knowing what happened before the Big Bang of what triggered it. Who’s to say it wasn’t God who triggered the Big Bang? again, science has no answer… but Christianity does.

Sorry it has taken so long for me to respond on this, but we had 12 extra people here for the weekend.

On a church is just a building … I agree that there are sacred spaces and that spaces can be made sacred. I like the analogy of a circle that is never dispelled. What I meant by the original comment was that one does not have to have a specific place, building, clearing in the woods, whatever, to pray in. A prayer in your car stuck in traffic is just as valid as one made in a granite megalith with 300 year old stained glass. A group of people can discuss scripture just as easily around a campfire as they can in a small room behind the sanctuary, sipping coffee and eating donuts. While I do agree that the more people who raise their voices to the Divine in a common purpose, the more powerful the petition will be, ANY place where 2 or more are gathered in His name can be called a church.

the reason churches are special to us as Catholics, is because the Holy Eucharist is there. it’s not just a building where we pray… we believe God is there in a special way (and many Angels are there too, worshipping Him)

On paganism…I think that more young people (girls especially) are drawn to Earth-based religions because there isn’t the inequality of the sexes you see in the Christian religions.

are you referring to the priesthood? only men can be priests, but there’s a theological reason for that. And what it means is that men and women have different roles in the Church. It doesn’t mean that women are “lesser”…just different. Which is natural.

Also, think of Mary… she’s a woman, and she was raised (by grace) above the Archangels. She’s second only to God Himself. (yet she’s not a goddess, she’s a creature… she’s God’s masterpiece and His greatest creation)

I don’t see any inequality

I have read up on Fatima and believe that it was indeed a visit from Mary to those three children. And since it was an admonishment, it should have been taken seriously. **But at the time, the Church tried to prove it wrong until they just couldn’t get away from the fact that there was no explanation for it beyond the Divine. ** This is my point. Every time there is a miraculous occurrence, the RCC goes out of it’s way to disprove it first and if they can’t, it is grudgingly admitted that it might be true

you are misunderstanding this…
the Church says that a supernatural event can be from God or from the devil. If something out of the ordinary happens, the Church examines it to MAKE SURE it’s from God. This is called discernment, and this is the process you’re referring to. it’s very important, so that people are not lead astray… remember we believe the devil is real and is trying to lead people away from God. The Church is just being responsible. Once it finds nothing contrary to the faith, it accepts the supernatural event and calls it miraculous, and Catholics are free to believe in it, if they want. That’s what happened with Fatima… they didn’t accept it “grudgingly”, but carefully, with discernent, to make sure it’s not a trick of the enemy. They decided it’s really Mary. (which I believe…I believe in the Fatima apparitions).

God bless

 

[Monica4316]

Some of these are my personal opinions and some of these are obvious.

One must look at what attracts people to paganism (using this as a very broad term). I’ll take Wicca since it’s the most well-known and the most marketable.

• Wicca bases itself on the Wheel of the Year, which states that nature goes through cycles, dying and being reborn. Christianity goes through cycles during the Year, leading up the Resurrection of Christ, which consists of Him being killed and being ‘reborn’. Resurrected, to be specific.
• Wicca establishes that there is a Goddess who gives birth to the God, who watches him grow, begins courtship with him, and mourns his death as she’s carrying him in her womb. Christianity states that a lowly female was impregnated with God by God and is now sitting at the Right Hand of Her Son, crowned with stars. Mary may not be a goddess in essence, but she most certainly is in function. When God calls you mother… I don’t know how she couldn’t be, so to speak.
• Every Wiccan holiday has a Christian parallel that still follows the theme of the previous holiday. Imbolc becomes Candlemass, Maysummer becomes St John’s Day, Samhain becomes All Saints Day, Yule becomes Christmas, Ostara becomes Pascha, etc.
• Christianity parallels several old myths, then takes them one step further. In one myth, Ereshkigal descends to the underworld. In Christianity, Jesus Himself goes down to the underworld, throws the gates open, and marches out like He owns the place (which he does).
• Wicca (at least, part of it), states that magic is a natural force of the universe and that with a force of will, one can manipulate this. Christianity states that God can suspend the normal rules of the universe since He is the Architect of said rules with a request from the petitioner.
• Wicca (at least, part of it) states that one may ally oneself with certain lesser spirit beings, with respect, and they will assist one in various tasks (such as the Guardians of the Watchtowers). In Christianity, there is a horde of dead saints and spirit beings (angelic) that one can petition that have certain specific pull within their respective disciplines. Hence, people bury statues of Saint Joseph in their yard and call upon Joseph of Cupertino when boarding an airplane.
• Wicca states that there are certain items, whether man-made or naturally forming, that either contain specific energy or are receptive to certain energy that can assist one in various things, such as amulets, crystals, candles, rings, and sigils. Christianity states that there are certain objects that assist one in strengthening their faith and may produce noticeable results when used, such as saint medallions, three-leaf clovers, cross necklaces, and the Sign of the Cross.
• Wicca states that the Goddess is a tri-being that goes through phases or has certain aspects (Maiden, Mother Crone) and gives birth to a son. Christianity states that the Supreme Being is a trinity of persons sharing one ousia (essence), one of which Incarnated as God’s Son.
• Wicca states that with magic, one can enhance one’s abilities and unlock portions of influence through supernatural/supernormal means with spells. Christian history is replete with figures who have covered practically every single magical example, such as saints who have bilocated, been indestructible to harm, moved mountains, split oceans, awakened the dead, multiplied food, healed wounds, and surrounded themselves with living fire among other things.
• One of Wicca’s well-known parts is the use of the home altar, upon which sits various objects of reverence such as bells, cups, daggers, candles, magical symbols, and god/goddess statues. Christianity also makes use of bells, incense, candles, crosses and sacred icons and statuary in both home settings and in official services.

I can keep going, but you get the point.

well the devil likes to imitate the truth (but twists it)

also some of these similarities are merely historical

and others are not similarities at all (but taken out of context)

at its core, the two religions are very different.

 

[Monica4316]

I had the trial of my life when someone begged to come into our spiritual group even though this person admitted they were unconventional, different. The person then later shared the problems they were having with others elsewhere.

Later I was strongly led by the Holy Spirit to discern this person and then all hell broke loose.

Took me 10 years and moving to another area that finally got me over the affliction I suffered…and it caused my kids to turn away from faith…

There can be alot of power in wicca and paganism…especially when people use animal parts, because the animals lost blood…always the price of atonement for something…

I was told by a woman that these people can even hex priests, get priests to side with them. I met a woman who went to a New Age meeting in 1970 and the guest speaker was a former Catholic nun who told people the Catholics would be surprised how many covens there were in convents across the country.

Not those of us who encountered abusive nuns.

Another sign…once they have the upper hand, all their benevolence is out the window, and you see a totally different side, malicious to the point of sadistic…and to try to explain this to people…they think You are Nutts, and then you are hit again by the disbelief and you end up labelling yourself for warning people…not about an individual person or peoples, but just to be aware…

Because of my experience, I just stay far away from any of that…there are people in the church who can deal with it.

wow that’s terrifying

I’m glad that you got away from this stuff in the end :hug1:

God bless