Insignificant? You seem to underestimate the persecution of Christians by pagans, and how brutal those campaigns were against many Christian communities.
Much as Christians held fast to their faith inspite of pagan persecution.
Actually many pagans were attracted to Christianity because of the tenacity Christians held on to the faith inspite the odds faced.
If you already know, then I am confused as to why you would deliberately choose to use an incorrect and misleading term. Rather like saying “I know very well that most Europeans don’t live in Leichtenstein, but having lived in both Europe and currently in America, I am using the term “Leichtenstein” to cover everything having to do with Europe, so don’t bother to point out that the languages, cultures and governments of Ireland and Italy are not identical with those of Leichtenstein.”
No, not really, for she is just stating the fact that she believes that the occult has its roots in Satanism. I wouldn’t go that far, but I would say that I believe the occult has it its roots in Satan, maybe not the worship of Satan, but he is behind all the deception and lies and rebirth of old nature cults and religions as an attack on the Church and even more so an attack against God, against Jesus and his creation. Please note some the early influences Gardener did come from Aleister Crowley.
and it appears many Wiccans do think they are gods and goodesses, a claim Satan makes himself.Hummmm “***it is attractive to modernity since it can be freely molded to fit the spiritual consumer’s desires.” ***
yep.No, not really, for she is just stating the fact that she believes that the occult has its roots in Satanism. I wouldn’t go that far, but I would say that I believe the occult has it its roots in Satan, maybe not the worship of Satan, but he is behind all the deception and lies and rebirth of old nature cults and religions as an attack on the Church and even more so an attack against God, against Jesus and his creation. Please note some the early influences Gardener did come from Aleister Crowley.
Unfortunately, those strands are often considered heretical.
I think you already do
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But that is why we are Christians because we need His Grace to become Christ-like and we live in that hope given to us by Christ.
Actually there are very legitimate strands including mysticism, valuing the world and its other inhabitants, etc. They just aren’t necessarily as widespread as more standard communities so they are lesser known.
-This is much like what many Protestants believe concerning Catholic devotions to the Saints and Mary. That Satan is deceiving the devout through apparitions and miracles, and leading them away from truth.Let me re-word this; I don’t think Wiccans worship Satan. But I believe Wiccans, even though they are looking for a true spirtiual experience, are being decieved, by the one that we in the Church call Satan, Lucifer, the Devil and/or by others that may be controlled by the above or other fallen principalities. And the same is the force behind the resurgence of old nature cults, religions and modern fabrications of such and other “new” religions. And he is able to do this because of the failure of many of us that claim the name Christian, that is our failure to live up to that name.
One is unable to see the connections if they don’t believe in a monotheistic creator God nor believe in evil.
By its fruit. I had an experience once that I sometimes question. I have to step back and reveiw where it has taken me as well as the people in my life. Tim
**From a Christian stand point it would have to be assumed that Wicca, has it’s roots in in soil that is not of God, but roots fertilized in human pride, deception, and anti-Christianity. The Fruit is rejection of the creator and worship of creation. In its modern form, since it was an invention that is the only form it really has, it is a religion that teachs individuals that they can manipulate the situations of themselves and others based on ancient secret kowledge. Its ritulials were concocted from many sources such as free-masonary, The Common book of prayers, folk-medicine, who knows what else and wrapped into mythology and sold to the public as ancient secret knowledge and truth. Otherwise an out right lie and deception. We can either look at Wicca as innocent chidlhood type fantasy as we would Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, but since it followers claim it to be a true religion, then they have either decided to worship a lie (being decieved), or practice it just to ridicule Christianity as being just a joke, or perhaps both. The real danger doesn’t come so much from the perceived magic Wiccans perform. Though I have seen damage done to individuals’ psych who practiced magic, which in few cases it had been deadly. Rationalize it as you may, but those people are still dead from putting thier trust into Wicca and magic.
Thats pretty broad and assuming. lol
No mention of beliefs there at all that I see, only visible manifestations. So, it would seem to me if the person, regardless of religion, is exhibiting charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self control and chastity, then it would be awkward to claim, by your own religion’s standards, that the Deity they are worshipping is Satan.
Not much use making arguments to people who agree with you–they will not be able to see the weak points.But once you again leave out some very important points, and some of these things also are not in conflict with Wicca, but are with Chrisitianty.
Now the works of the flesh . . . are these. The tree is known by its fruits. We show our fruits whether we are of the flesh or Spirit. The works of the flesh are first given. Paul names (1) Three sins of sensuality; (2) two spiritual sins of false religion; (3) sins against our fellow men, of which nine are specified; (4) sins of intemperance, of which two are named. The sins of sensuality were sanctioned by the heathen religion in the worship of Venus, and sanctioned by the purest heathen moralists. Christianity had to breast the current of the whole world. It differs from heathen morality as day from night. Witchcraft. Sorcery or magic, whether a superstition or deception, was prevalent in all the ancient world. Drunkenness. A common sin of all ages. Revellings. Any kind of riotous or unseemly conduct; carousals.
