A Witch By Any Other Name...

If you wish to read this article, I would ask that you read it in it's entirety, including comments from readers (mostly Wiccan or Witches) that follow below. There are answers to many questions provided in these exchanges. I do welcome comments and I will respond to your emails.

I wanted to provide a brief review of the basic belief structure of Wicca or witchcraft and to provide some clues to identify Wiccan philosophy.

I am by no means an expert on Wiccan ideology. However, I have done some study and believe that by providing this information to Christians, I can help to open some understanding. If we understand what Wiccans believe, then we can be more effective at reaching them.

Terminology

Wicca is the name of the religion. It is also known as, and is synonymous with “witchcraft.” A person practicing Wicca can be called a “Wiccan” or a “Witch.” The word “Witch” applies to both male and female participants. Wiccans deny that the word “warlock” applies to them. The religion is also called the “craft.” The power that they wield is called “magic,” but is often spelled “magick” or “majic” to differentiate it from prestidigitation or slight-of-hand magic.

Theology

Wiccans have a pantheistic view of God as an impersonal entity. In fact, they recognize both a male and female principle of God and identify those as “Mother Earth” and “Father Sky.” They will frequently refer to them as “God” and “Goddess” or even “Lord and Lady.” And even though they openly claim that both male and female principles are equal, witchcraft tends to have a distinctly female preeminence tenor.

They do not worship or believe in Satan or any absolute evil. They do believe that there is evil, but refuse to name it. This goes to the idea that giving something a name bestows power on it. So, they avoid giving it a name. This principle is seen in Harry Potter where the evil Lord Voldemort is referred to as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, page 85.)

Sacraments

Wiccans recognize five “elements:” earth, air, fire, water, and ether. Everything that exists is a combination of these five elements. Earth, air, fire, and water are self-explanatory, but ether is a foreign concept to Christians. Ether is also sometimes called spirit. In Eastern religions it is called “Chi.” And in New Age religions, it is called life-force, or energy.

Ether is basically what the Wiccans mean when they say “god.” This is the force that causes some things to live. Wiccan magic is the control of ether.

The concept of the five elements is the origin of the pentagram. Wiccans deny any relationship to the inverted pentegram or baphomet. Most wiccans also carry a rune stone and possibly an athama. As a practice, they always carry their magical objects.

They typically gather in groups of 13. This may be the root of triskaidekaphobia—the fear of the number 13.

Reincarnation

Wiccans believe in reincarnation to the same extent, more or less, as Hindus. Your deeds in one life will determine your standing in the next. The idea of reincarnation puts all creatures on equal levels in terms of rights and so forth. This gives rise to an extreme environmental consciousness.

Evolution

They believe in evolution and this gives them latitude to ignore Biblical teachings that describe a Creator and Savior. Evolution allows the Wiccan to believe that he or she can evolve, even within their lifetime, to a higher state of power and wisdom.

Moral Code

Wiccans claim to live by a moral code, but are unable to give you any absolute source for that moral code. This allows them to claim the highest moral virtue while not producing a standard by which to measure. This sort of moral subjectivity gives way to Moral Relativism.

They claim, however, to only practice good magic and never to interfere with the free will of another person. But, one book that I have seen contains spells on how to keep another person from calling you on the phone.

Sexuality

The U.S military chaplains’ guide book indicates that many Wiccans participate in their activities in the nude:

Herbology

Herbology is the practice of using herbs and plants to invoke power. This goes beyond medicinal uses. For instance, one book gives the following information:

Basil (will yield) Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Protection, and Sympathy
Corn (will yield) Protection, Luck, Divination, Money
Carrot (will yield) Fertility, Lust
Celery (will yield) Mental Power, Lust, Psychic Powers
Marshmallows (will yield) Healing, Friendship
Pecan (will yield) Money, Employment

Color Magic

Just as Wiccans believe that herbs and vegetation have magical power, they also believe that colors can have magical power. Each day of the week has an assigned color, so witches may tend to wear certain colors consistently on the various days of the week.

The color black is supposed to invoke (among other things) protection, which may explain Wiccans propensity for wearing black clothing. Red is supposed to bring love, romance, and energy.

Candles

Candles and incense are important to Wiccan rituals. It is considered minor magic. Of importance is the color of the candle, the oil used with it (scent), magic symbols carved into the wax, the herbs used, and the spell used.

Astrology

The alignments of the planets and the moon all have bearing on the effectiveness of spells and other activities. One instruction book on witchcraft gave specific instructions about the planetary positions for each spell. They also believe that the planets can have predictable influences. This is the background and basis of the horoscope.

Magic

Wiccans believe they can control the ether to produce various effects. This is achieved through the use of candles, incense, oils, herbs, symbols, wands, crystals, and spells. Spells are incantations that the witch recites according to a given formula. In practice, the witch must use a spell under a given astrological arrangement and with certain, specific symbols, herbs and such all fashioned meticulously.

Christians

Wiccans hold Christians in contempt for a number of reasons. The primary reasons that they hold forth are that Christians deny witches their freedom of religion today as in the past. They site historical records in which Christians attempted to eliminate witchcraft. This they identify as religious bigotry and intolerance.

On a deeper level, I believe that Wiccans despise our view of a Creator, a Savior and the need for personal redemption. We believe that there is no action that anyone can take to bring about his or her own salvation. Witches believe that they can control everything themselves if they can just muster enough power.

Diversity

While Wicca claims to be independent from and wholly separate from other world religions, it holds some striking similarities.

Hinduism also recognizes five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. Hinduism advocates evolution as well as reincarnation and Karma. The way for man to advance is through a complex method of study and religious practice. Hindus also have an advanced form of herbology—Ayurveda—which describes herbs and vegetation in terms beyond medicinal value.

Shamanism, the basic concept behind most Native American religions, expresses an extreme environmental attitude. This is based on the concept (in Shamanism) that everything, from people to rocks, have a common spirit. To kill a tree is to kill part of the spirit in us all.

Buddhism teaches that god is impersonal and unknowable and thus does not even attempt to deal with it. Rather, Buddhism focuses on everything as divine or as a manifestation of the divine.

Finally, Wicca, like the New Age movement, teaches that all roads lead to heaven and that there is no hell.

Conclusion

Witches are struggling to change their image from that of the wart-nosed, scraggly-haired hag, to that of a mainstream citizen. And while this new image may be more appropriate, it still does not change the fact that they are promoting a false gospel.

The book then takes another 225 pages to explain all the intricate rituals and practices that qualify one as a witch. I am thankful, in contrast, at the requirement to become a Christian:

Wiccans also deny the divinity of Jesus, the sovereignty of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. They are vigorously evangelistic and do not hesitate to cast aspersions on Christianity to lure converts.

The Bible is incredibly clear on the topic of spiritism, necromancy, divination, and witchcraft:

In Deuteronomy 18, verse 10 we reference to the pagan ritual of either fire walking or child sacrifice. Either explanation could be ascertained. Also, reference to divination, astrology (an observer of times) , one who casts spells (enchanter), and witchcraft. In verse 19, we have reference to voodoo (charmer), spiritism (a consulter with familiar spirits), wizardry, and necromancy.

About a year ago I began to catalog all references to witchcraft and paganism in the Bible. I gave up as the number of references was so great. One thing in common among all of them is the level of contempt that God has for them. If we are to be Christlike, we need to hold witchcraft in the same contempt as God. This is not to say that we should hold the witch in contempt. Indeed, Jesus told us to love all people. Love the sinner, but hate the sin. Love the witch, but hate witchcraft.

I hope you will pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you go about your daily life. I hope that you will become sensitive to the mass of Wiccan and New Age influences around you.

I would like to examine a number of comments made by the author in the above e-article.

Before I do, let me congratulate them for having bothered to do any research at all before writing the article (most do not).

And I am sure that the author will be thrilled to have gained a "response" from a witch such as myself. He may feel that this response proves the article has affected me. In fact I simply feel that you seem to have striven towards accuracy and I would like to help you in this, maybe for a later publication.

"And even though they openly claim that both male and female principles are equal, witchcraft tends to have a distinctly female preeminence tenor."

This is not true. However, due to the predominance of masculine principles in Christianity, the equality of having both male and female leaders and gods seems to you to equate to feminine preeminence. Covens actually have a High Priest as well as High Priestess.

"Ether is basically what the Wiccans mean when they say “god.” This is the force that causes some things to live. Wiccan magic is the control of ether."

This contradicts what you say later concerning the belief that everything is alive, that both shamanism and Wicca hold. Also, ether is not god. Ether, or spirit, is certainly recognized by Christianity! Ether or spirit is equal to Soul. We do not attempt to manipulate or control this, just as we do not, as you claim later, expect to control everything in the world if we just have enough magical power.

None of us would ever attempt to brainwash people and saying that is paramount to calling us a cult. People who choose the path make up their own minds usually with universal discouragement from people who see "bristly old hags" when they hear the word Witch, and you should acknowledge the strength of these people to do so.

Not all witches are Wiccans and not all Wiccans are witches. And not all of these people believe in colour magic, herbs and so on. Much of this is actually connected to traditional healing methods, which the world has turned to more recently, not without some ill effects. My point here is that everyone is different and a Christian (or would-be witch for that matter) reading your article could end up thinking that all witches clutch runes and stick needles into voodoo dolls. This certainly will stimulate animosity, which I believe was not your intention.

There are plenty of other minor mistakes - such as meeting as 13, your rather bizarre definition of evolution etc etc - but I am in work I don't have time to go into them.

I would just like to point out in finishing that Exodus 22:18 KJV was altered to use the word "witch" having said "poisoner", by King James I of England who had a superstitious paranoia of witches and had several elderly peasant women burned as a consequence. It's fine that you wish to quote your holy book, but at least acknowledge that what you have written in front of you may have been so altered in the past.

Thank you for you comments. I do strive to represent information as accurately as I can. In that spirit, I would like to ask you a few questions.

I understand your equation of Ether to Soul, but you say that witches do not seek to control Ether. What is it then that is being controlled or manipulated when a witch casts a spell?

With regard to the verses that reference witchcraft are Exodus 22:18 and Deuteronomy 18:10. In both of these verses, the same Hebrew word is used. The KJV interprets the word as “witch” while the NIV interprets the word as “sorceress” and “witchcraft.”

(Deu 18:10 KJV) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

(Deu 18:10 NIV) Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,

kashaph, kaw-shaf'; a prim. root; prop. to whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant or practise magic:--sorcerer, (use) witch (-craft).

As I understand it, Wicca is the religion of witchcraft. Wicca is the reverence of the elements and seeks to manipulate (maybe too strong of a word) ether for some desired outcome. This is achieved through spells, incantations, potions, charms or the like.

So, I have trouble accepting the interpretation of the verses above as “poisoner” rather than “witch.”

I have my own issues with the Catholic church and their activities in the name of Christianity. But to ascribe to the Catholic church the ability to change words in the Bible especially the Old Testament is to give them far more credit than they deserve. The New Testament is a product of the Christian era. But the Old Testament is a product of the Jews. The Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Old Testament) is particularly sacred to the Jews. The meticulous nature in which the text is preserved is a phenomenon in itself.

I hardly think the Catholic church (Or King James) could have simply changed a word in a document that they did not have even the slightest control over.

There is a gross misconception that all English versions of the bible are merely updates of the King James Version. This is not true as almost all modern translations of the Bible are translated from the earliest manuscripts which pre-date King James or the Catholic Church.

I would grant that perhaps the Catholic ideology influenced the KJV, but there are many translations (from original manuscripts) since the KJV, that corroborate these two verses, and the original Hebrew words support the translation of the word “witch” in English.

I do acknowledge that the whims of men who translated the Bible could have influenced the particular words used. That is why I always consult many translations as well as the original texts when I make conclusions of this nature.

A Wiccan is a person who practices the mystery religion 'discovered' by Gerald Gardner earlier in the 20th century. Some claim that this was more created than discovered, and it certainly contains many elements from other traditions - including freemasonry and the kabbalah! A Wiccan, then, reveres the God and Goddess / deities (depending on whether they are polytheistic, believe in one universal god or consciousness, or worship Gaia, the Earth Itself). He/she does not necessarily do 'magic' but may focus solely on the religious ritual.

A Witch is a person who may be Wiccan, or may practice their own individual path of magic and reverence. There are many 'hedge witches' who 'play it by ear', and principally these people are very intuitive, soulful and sensitive path-seekers towards self-discovery. Both a Wiccan and a Witch (or both,

if one chooses to call oneself both, which is entirely possible) believe in the main principles of the Craft:

Also that what you send out will come back to you three/ninefold - similar to your "do unto others" - so we would never send magic to harm anyone!

>>>I understand your equation of Ether to Soul, but you say that witches do not seek to control Ether. What is it then that is being controlled or manipulated when a witch casts a spell?

Many of the witches I have met, were also scientists. Any true scientist will tell you that the world is still not fully understood. It is believed that, just as when you sweep your hand and effect a change, just as a butterfly flaps its wing to 'cause' a hurricane, so too can the power of magical action and thought (will power) stimulate a shift in reality, future present and even past! While it sounds unorthodox and difficult it comes naturally. I understand that this may equate, to you, towards a godlike power unnatural to men which is where we differ. I believe in my own self-empowerment, and a psychology student I am friends with says that part of her course involved how will alone creates the ability to change - does it matter how it

>>>With regard to the verses that reference witchcraft are Exodus 22:18 and Deuteronomy 18:10. In both of these verses, the same Hebrew word is used. The KJV interprets the word as “witch” while the NIV interprets the word as “sorceress” and “witchcraft.”

...I refer you to http://www.wiccanweb.ca/sections-article14-page1.html: "From The Discoverie of Witchcraft by Sir Reginald Scott. King James attempted to have all copies of Sir Scott's book destroyed as it contradicted his need to have the word "witch" in the bible (more on that later). Fortunately the book was already in third printing. Quote: BOOKE VI "Chapter I - The exposition of this Hebrue word Chasaph, wherein is answered the objection conteined in Exodus 22. to wit: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, and of Simon Magus. Acts. 8. page 64) Chaspah, being a Hebrue word, is Latined Veneficium, and is in English, poisoning, or witchcraft; if you will so have it. The Hebrue sentence written in Exodus, 22. is by the 70. interpretors translated thus into Greeke, (sorry-unprintable), which in Latine is, Veneficos (sive) veneficas non retinebitis in vita , in English, You shall not suffer anie poisoners, or (as it is translated) witches to live. The which sentence Josephus an Hebrue borne, and a man of great estimation, learning and fame, interpreteth in this wise; Let none of the children of Israel have any poison that is deadlie, or preparted to anie hurtfull use. If anie be apprehended with such stuffe, let him be put to dfeath, and suffer that which he meant to doo to them, for whom he prepared it. The Rabbins exposition agree heerewithall. Lex Cornelia differeth not from this sense, to wit, that he must suffer to death, which either maketh, selleth, or hath anie poison, to the intent to kill anie man. This word is found in these places following: Exodus. 22, Deut. 18, 10. 2 Sam. 9, 22. Dan. 2,2. 2 Chr. 33, 6. Eay. 47, 9, 12. Malach, 3,5. Jerem. 27, 9, Mich. 5, 2. Nah. 3,4. bis. Howbeit, in all our English translations, Chaspah is translated, witchraft." The New testament word translated as "witch" is actually pharmakeia which means one who uses poisons or drugs."

>>>I do acknowledge that the whims of men who translated the Bible could have influenced the particular words used.

I refer you to the Malleus Malleficarum and to the fact that the disputed words, "Thou shallt not suffer a witch to live" caused the death of hundreds of thousands - a genocide that was mostly gender-specific and also an excellent way in which the Catholic Church could gain valuable resources from the victims. There are many books on that subject. Although you say one should hate the practice, not the practitioner, I fear the effect that your words could have on the ignorant righteous! As a final note, I would like to say that in my view God shows Itself in different ways to different people in different times and places. To claim otherwise is, to me, tantamount to condemning to hell all the billions of people throughout history who have not had the chance to become Christian or who have chosen other paths. If hell existed at all, surely it should be reserved for those that actually harmed others in a malignant way. I was brought up in a Baptist tradition with Jewish roots and as yet I have suffered no personal conflict in my choice to practice Wicca. It is not, to me, that I have stopped believing in God or Jesus, so much as I have accepted the existence / credibility of OTHER FORMS OF DEITY EXPRESSION. Being able to include the feminine aspect of God is particularly empowering and the reason why so many women make the transition. Enjoying our debate.

To my knowledge, Josephus was not a member of Jewish clergy, but an historian. And I am not familiar with either Sir Reginald Scott or his works. However, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of books which discount the Bible from every angle. How accurate are they, or are they the product of anti-Christian bias. Similarly, there are many books about Wicca which both denigrate and extol it. To that end, I seek to understand what the Bible says about itself and the authenticity that it bears out.

I am interested in seeking a Jewish clergy to get his/her take on the Exodus passage. Would you consider the interpretation of a Jewish clergy on the passage to take precedence over non-Jewish expositors? I will.

How I interpret it will remain the same. I am certainly not going to agree to accept your interpretation due to the interpretation of someone else who may have been just as biased as you or I. after all, since witches / Wiccans follow a path that is not based on the bible but on other wisdoms, the exact meaning of a biblical passage does not concern. the only thing that does concern, the only reason they would attempt to show its real meaning, is that it has led to hundreds of thousands of people being persecuted and most of them weren't even pagan!

what are you thoughts about the brutal executions of these people? What about the Salem witch trials? do you agree with the general hatred of women (NOT witches, just all women) extolled in the Malleus Maleficarum?

if you believe this passage means exactly what it says, then that is tantamount to agreeing with murder, even if you didn't perform it yourself.

there are also passages in the old testament regarding stoning and an eye for an eye. The problem I often found with Christianity is that it preaches love and compassion only when it wants to, but when people it disagrees with come along it's another story!

Would you extend the sufferance passage to include shamans and other path-seekers?

When asked which was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God ... and the second is just as important, Love your neighbor. I know you do not recognize the Bible as authoritative, but the question raised was with regard to my ideology as a Christian. So I site my source, the Bible.

The law of the Old Testament was very much "an eye for an eye", however, I see in Jesus' ministry, the idea the love is the better way. Some teach that the Old Testament rigidity was there because of the necessity *at the time*. Perhaps. Jesus said that he came to complete the law, not to replace or destroy it. So what was the "law"? Jesus answered that question with incredible simplicity.

To that end, and to address your question, I do not agree, nor condone the wholesale slaughter or persecution of witches (alleged or real) or any other group (i.e. the inquisition, the crusades, Salem Witch Trials etc.) in the name of Christianity.

I consider myself somewhat unique in the Christian world as I have differences with most major denominations. But I do consider myself more or less mainstream.

I am embarrassed and ashamed of those who practice extreme rites as Christians (like snake handlers or Jim Jones). Further, Jesus' teachings centered on relationships; relationships with God first then others. We cannot maintain a relationship with a group for which we hold prejudice.

Your do have the right to choose how you interpret the Exodus passage. I just think that assertions that the passage in the modern translations is simply wrong (that is, that the word means poisoner not witch) should be resolved. One or the other of us has an incorrect understanding. I intend to seek the truth by pursuing the matter with a Jewish cleric -- a person whom I feel is uniquely qualified to interpret the word. If I were to find the word means "poisoner", I would happily concede. If, however, he/she strongly asserts the meaning to mean "witch", then it would seem that the information you have received is in error or intentionally misrepresented to you.

I had no issues with your other comments. I was seeking your views on the subjects and if I understand correctly, you are saying that the fundamental (though not exhaustive) difference between a pure Wiccan and pure witch is that witches practice majik.

It would certainly be interesting to discover what your Jewish friend has to say. There are two minor problems that those of an academic mind might have, not that I wish to be nitpicky!

First, is it possible that the Bible has been translated from Hebrew to English to Hebrew, i.e., do all Hebrew versions come from the primary source?

Secondly, the main crux of the issue I believe is the academic problem of definition. Having taken a degree in law with my main interest being in legal powers to define criminal actions and criminal people (e.g. 'rape', or 'burglar') I find I often question the assumptive definition of people's statements. For example, you went from defining Wicca to saying "thou shallt not suffer a witch to live". The question becomes what exactly is meant by "witch" in this normative statement (presuming it does not mean "poisoner" :-)). I mention this because, under the rules of the Malleus Maleficarum, I certainly am not a witch - I have never been known to feed infants to devils nor to turn men into beasts!

All I am wondering is, perhaps the assumption of the role "witch" (while empowering, and as used by Gerald Gardner) has led to its drawbacks. What we do may very well not count as biblical versions of witchcraft. Not all Wiccans for example do divination.

It may be truer to call us pagans according to the respective definitions (I am not sure).

One thing is for sure that love is (or should be) at the heart of both our respective religions.

Apologies for perhaps negative tone of my last e-mail - you see it is a touchy subject with me!

Your point is well taken regarding witchcraft and the extremes in which it is described in the Old Testament. I think Pagan would be more appropriate for today’s Wiccans. My understanding of the difference hinges on the notion that Pagans recognize and revere 4 elements, while witches and Wiccans recognize 5 elements (the fifth being ether.)

As to the translation of the Old Testament; to my knowledge, there are Old Testament Hebrew manuscripts that predate the English language.

By the way, no offense was taken. I have been asked or challenged with questions about my faith in the past and I look upon them as opportunities to strengthen or refute my faith. I have never found anything to refute it.

I know we would both like to persuade the other, however, I recognize that may not happen. This is not to say that I wish to discontinue our discourse. To the contrary, I am curious to hear your perspectives. And I appreciate the amicable nature of the discussion.

I am not sure you were aware of a certain universal rule in application in virtually every known religion of the world regarding love?

And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself.

This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.

What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.

Tzu-kung asked, 'Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one's life?' The Master said, 'It is perhaps the word shu. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'

Yes, I was aware of this. I think this idea was what prompted Helena Blavatsky (among other generalities) to formalize and promote Theosophy.

I raised the point to differentiate myself from the violence of the past in the name of Christianity.

Being from a Christian background, I am sure you are aware that Christians recognize, based on the words of Jesus, that He alone is the only path for salvation. Loving others is second in priority after loving God.

I have found in my years of schooling (from public school through collegiate) that to site only 2 references throughout a research paper (whether it be a term project or web page) shows a lack of broad based knowledge or thorough research. You only quoted the Bible and Silver Ravenwolf. Although the Bible is the ultimate authority from God, and wicca has no one source book (as you correctly stated on your web page), there are many other authors besides Ms. Ravenwolf from whom you could quote. There is the late Scott Cunningham, for example. I realize that quoting Christian authors, Graham, Swindoll, Robertson, etc. may be considered equalizing them with the inspired Word of God, but I truly would have liked to see a broader knowledge base presented on this web page. I do appreciate that you state which Biblical version you used, thank you.

I myself have done research on paganism and wicca, although do not feel spiritually strong enough yet too research satanism. I have found from reading various authors (including Ravenwolf, Cunningham and Cabot to name a few) that wiccans tend not to proselytize, but follow the saying, "When the student is ready the teacher will appear." This also would correlate with their pagan (using the term loosely) symbolism found in jewelry, bumper stickers etc., as a secret code to let others know who they are, much as AA members have bumper stickers of an equilateral triangle inside a circle. Also, another point I wish to make is your statement that wiccans "do not remove the object at any time." I see no reference to this statement. How do you know this to be true? Did you ask a multitude of practicing wiccans? I have actually talked to some via the www who state they don't routinely wear jewelry except for their rituals (and not even always then, as to do so would imply that the power is in the object). Just an FYI.

I do disagree with the idea that witches are not proselytizers. I think I would agree if we were to compare their actions to, say, the Jehovah's Witnesses. But I think there has been an effort to introduce wiccan literature and entertainment into the mainstream. I find Silver RavenWolf's comments somewhat ironic in her introduction where she strongly chastises parents for telling their kids what religion is, but then she goes on to say that she is raising her kids to be witches. She further makes a big case that Wicca is good for your kids. Sounds like a sales pitch to me. And granted, all religions do it. When the Harry Potter craze was big, I observed that the Harry Potter literature was positioned RIGHT NEXT TO wiccan literature SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO YOUTH. Maybe they don't go door to door, but they certainly make their literature plentiful and alluring.

You do have a point about how most who believe strongly in their religious choice do indeed encourage their children to follow their path. I guess my point was that even in today's "accepting" and "PC" society, dependent on where one lives, to be open about one's alternative religious choice could be an act of social suicide to say the least.

Reader's Comments:

Dear Sir,

I have only recently viewed your website describing your observations of Witchcraft and am writing in hopes of finally answering a question you raised which seems to have been insufficiently answered. The subject being the real nature of the difference between Witches and Wiccans. Please take this information as it is intended, which is purely informational, not emotionally charged bantering, as I am sure you have no doubt received in abundance.

I am a Witch. I am not a Wiccan. While I may well straighten out a few other things in regards to what you say are observations of Wiccans, (some of which baffle me as to where you observed them, even if I do know that the Wiccans can be an oddball bunch), I will not, as I focus on the question at hand. A Witch of the non-Wiccan variety has nothing to do with Gerald Gardner, Scott Cunningham or the ever-so-loathe-able Silver Ravenwolf. Wiccecraeft is the British manifestation of Teutonic religious practices and a "cousin" faith to both Asatru and Heithni. Some such as myself, also call it or associate it with Vanatru. In actuality, most real Witches do not practice any magic, contrary to your observation or conclusion that Craeft is intrinsically related to spellwork and divination. That is much more in line with Gardner's Wicca, right along with nude rituals and all the ceremonial magic he scraped up and threw into the pot. One of the main divisions between Wicca and real Wiccecraeft is the difference in emphasis. The way that the hundreds of authors who now exploit Wicca and to some degree Witchcraft, have warped the concept has all too many young "Wiccans" tossing spells together at break-neck speed without giving them any of the strong spiritual basis and understanding, simply because they posses none themselves. Many of these popular authors are not in their real lives Wiccans at all much less Witches and it is a sad state of affairs that they become the educational authority for so many seekers. Also, while your observation of "relative morality" may fit well on quite a few Wiccans, (see the authors again), Witches have a very detailed code of conduct as it is developed from and outlined in our sacred texts, (which we do have unlike modern Wicca). This is our Eddas, a work compiled by newly converted monks in the last country to convert to Christianity in Northern Europe, written as a last effort to preserve an account of the old ways. Though not considered as inspired as the Eddas, we also collect a basis of our forefathers and mothers from the Sagas' descriptions of praiseworthy and noble morals.

If you have come this far I thank you for being courteous in reviewing this information and would like to extend an invitation to ask any questions you may have regarding further clarification or insight.

Sincerely in frith, (which roughly means "peace")

Rev. Gaddavir

The following reader’s comment is so long that I am going to respond to it point by point, as if it were an interview. The reader's comments will be prefaced with [Brenda] and mine with [Jeff].

I was surfing the internet when I came across your insightful article on Wiccans and Witches. WOW have you opened my eyes! There is soo much that I never knew I was doing wrong! Thank you Jeff for clearing it all up for me!

There are some serious flaws in your information. And since you took the time to put this crap up on the internet for the entire world to see. I feel I need to take the time to correct you! I do not know who or what your source material is, but bay-bee check your references. (but it makes me wonder if it is just another case of christians twisting the facts to their own unshakable self deluded opinions) In other words if it ain’t christian it ain’t right and its HAS to be evil or the "work of the devil."

[Jeff] My source material was books and Internet articles about Witchcraft and Wicca. I tried to stress in the article that not all Wiccans or Witches practice ALL of the many facets of the religion(s). As to twisting facts to suit one's case, that is a difficult case to prove. In my case, I chose the Bible as my source and authority of truth. We don't have time to get into the authenticity and authority of scripture at this point, but suffice it to say, it's not in question.

You will also notice that Telessia, who identified herself as a witch, and also responded the article said; “… let me congratulate [the author] for having bothered to do any research at all before writing the article (most do not).”

[Brenda] First off I want to know, why on the Gods’ green earth would we want to be “reached”? Your website states "If we understand what Wiccans believe, then we can be more effective at reaching them." We (and I mean the entire Wiccan/pagan community world wide) do not need to be REACHED. When the rapture comes we will be partying! Leave us your pets well take much better care of them anyways.

[Jeff] Those in darkness don't know they are in darkness. I know you don't want to be reached but Jesus himself instructed me to: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 38:19-20 [NIV]) Based on this imperative, I must attempt to reach everyone I can.

[Brenda] Why is it that christians feel we need to be reached in the first place? We do not believe what you believe, so why does that make our beliefs less valid than yours? I mean come on, we are not the ones who "invented" a religion and then stole from all the of the pre-established religions, and then twisted the facts to validate them, and use them as a tool for persecution of women and poor.

[Jeff] I’m not sure where you get the idea that Christianity persecutes women and the poor. Jesus told a rich young man "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21 [NIV])

And in another part of the Bible: “"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 12: 13-14 [NIV])

And as for women, Jesus himself had compassion on a woman caught in adultery. He approached the woman at the well, when the disciples wouldn’t even enter the same town. Jesus also praised Mary for washing his feet with her tears: “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Matthew 26:13)

Further, the mention of the creation of woman in Genesis is so deliberate that it points out that woman is to be equal with man (taken from his side) and that woman was not a mere afterthought of creation.

[Brenda] When you say that Wicca is the name of the religion, you are opening up a whole can of worms that most once-borns could not understand in this lifetime.

Wicca is a blanket term used by many Pagans to give us a sense of identity in a predominately christian based world. I consider myself Pagan, but to my christian friends and anyone else I call myself Wiccan so that they can have an understanding of what I am talking about. Not All Wiccans are Witches, but all Wiccans are Pagan.

[Jeff] The U.S. Army handbook for Chaplains clearly classifies Wicca as a religion. Perhaps you should write the U.S. Army and set them straight.

[Brenda] Can you enlighten me to what an Athema is? I have never heard this term before, nor did I not get the memo, cause I use an ATHAME.

[Jeff] I stand corrected. I misspelled the item in my article. I have corrected it.

[Brenda] Oh the Runes. Damn another memo I didn’t get. Sorry not all Wiccans/Witches have a personal rune. And those that have adopted a personal rune, I don’t think THEY got the memo they were supposed to carve it into a stone and ALWAYS carry it.

[Jeff] So you don’t carry a rune. Some do and some adhere to the practice of carrying it always. Like I said above. Not all Wiccans/Witches practice all of the rituals.

[Brenda] Impersonal entity? *shakes head* that’s new to me to. Our relationship with the God and Goddess is anything BUT impersonal. Just because we don’t need some self-proclaimed holy man to talk to God for us does not mean that they are impersonal. We speak with our Gods on a daily basis. They guide us, comfort us, and give us companionship. I guess I am damned because I don’t have to send money to my local priest/shyster who will intervene for me and save my soul…for a price.

[Jeff] Fair enough. But this is first time that I have heard of personal gods in Wicca/Witchcraft. I know that Mother-Earth and Father-Sky are revered, but I have never heard them referred to as “personal.”

As to paying a holy-man to save us; that sounds like a relic of the Catholic Church, where one would have to pay penitence for sins. I do not practice that ritual. In fact, the whole point of Christianity is supposed to be that we individually can communicate directly with God through Jesus. Before Jesus, we had to communicate to God through sacrifice and the High Priest.

[Brenda] News Flash, FYI, HARRY POTTER IS A FANTASY. I wish you christians would stop trying to compare my religion and religious beliefs to a children’s novel. We are laughing at you. Helllooo! We don’t use ‘Little House of the Prairie’ or the ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ to base our knowledge of christians.

[Jeff] I am well aware of the fact that Harry Potter is a fictional character. However, my concern (from a Christian point of view) is that kids will read Harry Potter then become fascinated with the idea of witchcraft. From there, they have virtually unlimited resources to explore it. I know this sounds innocuous to you, but to a Christian, it is uncomfortable. I have read the first Harry Potter book and I do state clearly in my article on the book that the stories in-and-of-themselves are, as you point out, harmless.

You will also be interested to know that I am not a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia. Even though an author who was a Christian wrote them, and the stories contain Christian allegory, I don’t like the fact that the allegories are too tied up in fantasy. Click here to view this article.

[Brenda] Wow another memo I missed. Yes many Wiccans/Witches wear a pentacle. It is not much different than you wearing a cross or crucifix. It is a sign of our faith. But come one use a little logic here! We do not WORSHIP our jewelry. Just like everyone else, we take them off. There is no law any where that says we MUST NEVER REMOVE THEM! Making that assumption shows your ignorance.

[Jeff] This is from another source that I found. The source claimed to be Witchcraft oriented, so if it is wrong, then go to that site and chew out the author. Again, not all Wiccans/Witches practice every ritual.

[Brenda] Oh and just why is that poor little star in a circle so offensive to christians? I’d rather see that any day than some poor tortured dying man being executed. Talk about morbid, and necromantic.

Christians wear a cross because wearing an empty tomb is a little bulky. But, that dying man is something that I need to be reminded of because His suffering was what paid for my salvation.

[Brenda] I don’t think anyone under the age of 100 refers to "Spirit" as ether. When we work our magick, we are working WITH Spirit (the God/dess) working with the universal life energy. We DO NOT command the God/dess nor do we COMMAND the universal life energies. We work with both through prayer and magick. Magick is prayer. The items used to cast spells are just a focus and a reminder of what it is that needs to be addressed. Christians do it. Every time you make a prayer, you are casting a spell. But you guys are cluttering up the "ether" with all these prayers, please let me win the lottery, please save me from these fools. Give me a break. When you say a prayer, you are in essence putting out the energies for what ever it is you desire, healing, financial relief, what ever. It does not matter what faith you come from, the universe will only give you what you need not what you desire. God don’t grant the prayers of the Greedy and Self Righteous.

[Jeff] I have heard ether and spirit used interchangeably in Witchcraft. The five elements are Earth, Air (or wind), Water, Fire, and Ether (or spirit).

[Brenda] We do not always carry our magickal objects. We don’t need them. We DO NOT carry our Athames either. We do indeed recognize the "inverted" pentagram. It is used in banishings, as in banishing unwanted negative energies that all you christians are always tossing in our direction.

Wiccans/Witches gathering in groups of 13 have absolutely NOTHING to do with triskaidekaphobia. We gather in covens of 13 because there is ideally a balance of male and female energy in a coven. 6 males and 6 females and one Priest/ess. Also there are 13 lunar months in a year. That is the significance of the number 13. Hell my luckiest day of the year is ... *gasp* ... FRIDAY THE 13th!

[Jeff] In the article, I clearly stated that this MAY be the origin of the fear of the number 13? Perhaps you can enlighten us as to the “true” origin of triskaidekaphobia. I don’t find this as the origin of triskaidekaphobia so outrageous. Considering the fear of witches in the Middle Ages, all kinds of wild superstitions abounded.

[Brenda] Not all creatures are on the same level as we are. We do not believe in reincarnation to place them on the same level. It is called evolution of the soul. Each lifetime on earth is a soul lesson. The more times we reincarnate the more we learn and the higher vibration levels we obtain, until spiritually we are with "ether". We do not believe humans can reincarnate as cows, flies, mice, or books or vice versa.

[Jeff] Ok, so you don’t believe that animals are on the same level as us. Reincarnation in general, means that a spirit may inhabit a dog or a human. And thus the spirits of both are to be protected equally.

[Brenda] Ya know, you christians should try evolving with the rest of the world. How you can claim to be so modern and still hold on to a medieval belief, it just proves how backwards christianity is, how un evolved. And don’t even get me started on your little story book. Have you ever stopped to even ponder why it is called a King James VERSION? It was commissioned by whom... 1, 2 3, everyone together here... KING JAMES, not God not Jesus. It has been scientifically proven that the majority of the stories were written so long after the death of Jesus that most of it was embellished by monks, the Catholic Church, Constantine, shall I go on?

[Jeff] You seem to believe that the Bible was written in 1611. It was not. It was translated into English under the commission of King James in 1611. I personally prefer other versions. But, to that point, each version since the KJV is not a copy or paraphrase of the KJV. Translators go back to the original Greek or Hebrew texts to RE-Translate the scriptures into a modern vernacular. You mention, “scientifically proven”. I’d like you to site YOUR sources. The oldest manuscripts we have date back to the first and second century. However, the fact that they were copied and strongly corroborate each other is evidence of their authenticity. Either way, if the modern translation of the New International Version is translated from first and second century manuscripts, how can you accuse monks and the Catholic church of “embellishing it?” The Catholic Church wasn’t even any kind of authority till nearly the fourth century, and there weren’t monks until the fourth century.

As for Medieval beliefs, it puzzles me how you and Wiccans can claim to be so modern when you continue to use ancient English: “An ye harm none, do as ye will” (from a letter from a witch) or “So mote it be” (from Silver Ravenwolf’s book) or “Ye Bok of Ye Art Magical” (the title of a book by Gerald Gardner.) It sounds to me like Wicca is attempting to earn legitimacy by alluding to an ancient past. Or perhaps that the ancient English somehow is more magical or mystical than modern English.

[Brenda] Without evolution, you would not have cyberspace to post your crap.. ops I mean informative, and insightful *gags* article.

[Jeff] Evolution necessarily means that there are more and lesser-evolved creatures – more specifically humans of different evolutionary development. The Nazi agenda was that they (themselves) were the greater evolved race and that Asians, Africans, and Jews were lesser evolved and needed to be “cleansed” (eliminated) so that they (the Nazis) could further evolve uninhibited. If you claim to be an evolutionist, then you must also be a racist. By your reasoning, you consider me and other Christians less evolved than yourself and you imply that the rest of the world would be better off without us. This kind of thinking was exactly what sparked the holocaust.

Furthermore, evolution refers to the mutation of biological organisms, not the cumulus of knowledge gained over the years. The Internet is a product of science, not evolution.

[Brenda] You may want to join the human race, cause one day we will evolve to super humans with humongous brains, and where will you be... sitting down, crying, holding your little story book saying... “Jesus why not me too?” (And the Jesus will give you a “brain duster”).

Morals? Talk about the pot and kettle. There are an awful lot of christians casting the first stone here. Let’s talk about morals. How about the morals of the catholic priests and their little alter boys. How about let’s talk about the morals of people like ole Jimmy Bakker? Jim Jones, David Koresh? Any of those names ring a bell? We live by the adage "An It Harm None, Then Do As Thou Wilt". We do not interfere with another person’s free will, just like we don’t like having our free will tamper with. We will however protect ourselves; we do not believe in “turning the other cheek”. We WILL interfere with the free will of rapists, of child molesters, abusive spouses, and people who wrong us. Now I am not naive. I know there are people out there who get their rocks off by gaining power over others. These people are not Wiccan. They may call themselves Witches, but they are a small percentage.

[Jeff] You seem to have a bone to pick with the Catholic Church. That doesn’t offend me. But you cannot judge a religion on the whole by the abuses of some of its members, but on the teachings and life of the one on whom it is founded. You will find very many (I am embarrassed to say) immoral persons claiming to be Christians. I am sure you will also find many immoral persons claiming to be Wiccan.

“Turning the other cheek” does not mean rolling over to let the weak and helpless be taken advantage of, it means not taking revenge. It means letting a feud die. It means allowing peace to rule.

[Brenda] Talk about interfering with free will. Christians will try and force their religious beliefs on others. People all over the world have been harassed and even murdered because they would not follow another’s beliefs. The Crusades are a very good example of this, the Spanish Inquisition too. Even today people have been harassed, beaten, and lost their jobs, their kids, all because they do not conform to christian beliefs. If your religion is so good why do you have to FORCE it on others? I would hope if we met on a street corner, that you would not tolerate my harassing you about your religious beliefs, I would hope you would not tolerate me trying to force my own beliefs down your throat, I would hope you would stand up for it. Why should I be denied the same rights?

[Jeff] I do not force my religion on anyone. I am sorry if some do force Christianity on others. I simply make it available. I did not force you to read my article. And certainly after you saw that it was Christian, you were not obligated to continue reading. And by no means did I force my views on you to the point that you are now obviously very upset.

[Brenda] Oh and on the note of ‘Harm None’. There IS such a thing as Karma. Karma affects christians as much as anyone else. ‘Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You’. It’s funny how many christians can’t even follow their own rules.

[Jeff] Karma is a Hindu idea. You accused Christians of stealing ideas from other religions to build their own. Well, Karma is Hindu. I believe everyone will be held accountable for what he or she does, however, I do not believe that it is the cosmic ether or whatever, that makes that judgment, but an omniscient and just God.

[Brenda] Your definition of Magick is …how shall I say this…”Bull-Hockey!” Again a spell is a prayer. The items used are a just a focus or a reminder. You do not need all of those things to cast a spell. Your spell does not have to coincide with the exact phase of the moon or planetary alignment. This just proves to me that your research went as far as skimming through a few books for topic that you find threatening such as sex, and writing a few lines based on what little information you may have gleaned from said skimming.

[Jeff] Christians do not consider prayer and spells to be the same thing. Jesus instructed us in prayer to do several things. First, to revere Him, second, to make petition for our needs, to seek forgiveness and grace.

I have come across plenty of material that indicates that articles, especially crystals, can “focus” energy. The whole point of the Athame is that it focuses energy at the tip. Maybe you don’t believe or practice this, but there are plenty who do.

We don’t hold them in contempt. Many Wiccans/Witches are recovering christians. We are just tired of being proselytized to, we are tired of being made to feel like we are freaks, or that our voice has no weight. We are tired of being persecuted.

[Jeff] The attitude of your letter is clear evidence that you hold Christians in contempt. You have cast several aspersions on us, claiming that we mistreat our animals, wives and poor. You have suggested that we condone sexual misconduct among our clergy. You have suggested that we don’t even know our own religion. You have made numerous derogatory remarks in your letter about Christians while you are claiming foul about how I have made you look so bad. It’s clear to me that you are angry. At what, I am not sure.

[Brenda] And that is interesting, considering christians were persecuted in the early days of your religion. So you of all people should understand how painful persecution can be. Why do you continue to do it?

[Jeff] Again, I don’t see my article as persecution. What others do in the name of Christianity, I can only apologize and try to do the right thing myself.

[Brenda] What it looks like to me is this…WE are standing up for ourselves now. WE are not letting you get away with forcing your beliefs on us any longer. WE are making you keep your church out of OUR schools; WE are making you keep your Ten Commandments out of OUR government. You don’t like it when the shoe is one the other foot do you? Freedom of Religion is fine as long as you don’t mess with christianity?

[Jeff] You may be interested to know that I have another article cautioning Christians NOT to blindly ask for religion in schools. And for the same reason you mention above. If we allow Christian religion or school-sponsored prayer, we will HAVE to allow all other religions. Click here to see the article on Prayer in School. (By the way, many Christians have written to tell me how wrong I am on this point.)

[Brenda] You still are under the assumption that we are somehow christian that we need to be saved that we need salvation, get it through your head, we don’t recognize a need for salvation, we don’t recognize that we need to find Jesus Christ as our one true savior. That is entirely a christian concept. WE ARE NOT christian!!!

[Jeff] No, I am not under the impression that you are Christian. I am clearly under the impression that you are not. Again, all I can do is make the message available. I didn’t hold a gun to your head and force you to read it all.

[Brenda]We DO NOT believe that we can control everything if we can "muster enough power". Why does it offend you so much that we do not see the universe the way that you do? If you would spend more time getting your own act together and leave us alone you might find some spiritual enlightenment and actually GET WHAT THE HELL JESUS HAD TO SAY!!!!! Stay out of my back yard, keep your own clean. Besides I have heard most modern day christians are in for one hell of a surprise in the after world. You have totally polluted the message the Jesus brought to humanity.

[Jeff] So what did Jesus say? What would be your source for knowing what Jesus said? Do you know of a source other than the Bible that accurately records the words of Jesus? If you believe the Bible is, as you claim “that little storybook”, then you cannot accept anything in it as factual. So, based on your logic, Jesus could have been a psychopathic pedophile.

No one is allowed to say that some of Jesus’ teachings are authentic and some are not. Either ALL his teachings are true and accurate, or NONE of them are. They come from the same sources and the same book.

[Brenda] Diversity? You say... "While Wicca claims to be independent from and wholly separate from other world religions, it hold some striking similarities."

Here we are with the Pot and the Kettle again. You have taken each of our holy days (remember Pagans have been around a lot longer than you) and twisted them to fit your christian “box” view of the world. And then you have the NERVE to denounce our affiliation with these holy days. EASTER (OSTARA) AND CHIRSTMAS (YULE) to name two.

Yule is the time for the rebirth of the SUN not SON. If you read your little story book correctly, Jesus was born around tax time. That has never been in December. You took our beliefs and twisted them to fit this new religion, and just because it was already celebrated by Pagan you wanted to convert, you placed it on the same day (“Hee hee hee! Those stupid Pagans won’t know the difference.”)

[Jeff] Yes, I will agree that the early church did practice evangelizing an area then renaming the holidays to Christian events. I personally think this is one of the more stupid things done by the early church, because it opens us up to this very kind of ridicule. But tell me this, When was Tax time in 5 A.D.? Do you know what day it was? You claim to know more about the Bible than Christians. We are all waiting for you to tell us the exact date on which Jesus was born.

Which is more important, the date, or the event? I choose to celebrate the virgin-birth of Jesus and take the time to remember Him and His mercy on me on a day that was arbitrarily chosen, December 25. If it were July 4^th, it wouldn’t matter; I would hold it in the same regard.

[Brenda] You have no right to take shots at our beliefs or where we get our traditions from. At least we are "man" enough to admit where it came from, and not make up altered facts to fit the crime.

[Jeff] You keep saying that Christianity is a made up religion. An earlier reader of this article (Telessia, who identified herself as a witch) stated: “A Wiccan is a person who practices the mystery religion 'discovered' by Gerald Gardner earlier in the 20th century.” A web site on the life Gerald Gardner states: “Gerald Gardner is considered to be the founder of modern Wicca.” (http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/esoterica/gardner_g/gardner_g.html) This clearly sounds like Wicca itself is a made-up religion.

Christianity did not start with Jesus. The name became popularized after the time of Jesus as the followers of Jesus were mockingly called “little christs” or Christians. But Christianity is the continuation of Judaism. Jews were looking for their messiah. Jesus clearly identified himself as such. Not just in words, but in teachings and deeds. On several occasions the Jews threatened or tried to stone Jesus because he represented himself as equal to God.

Jesus was a Jew and he said that he did not come to banish or overturn Judaism, but to complete it. Judaism started with Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob, but the God of Abraham revealed himself as the creator of the universe. Thus, the origin of Christianity, although formalized in the years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, is as old as mankind.

[Brenda] Oh yeah there is a hell. The christian thought created one. Thought is creation, what you think manifests in reality in the "ether" (thank you Jeff I got a new word - yeah right) and thanks to two thousand years of the devil and brimstone and hell for the heathens that energy has created a perfect little hell for all you bad little christians to go to.

I would argue that hell is here on earth. It is here because you refuse to let us live in peace like Jesus wanted. Thank you very much for screwing up the “J” man’s plan.

[Jeff] Yes, Jesus advocated peace and love, but he also commanded his followers to tell the world about Him.

He clearly indicated that there was a place for people who rejected His message. In the story of Lazurus, the beggar, and the rich man, when the rich man died, he cried out from Hell, begging Abraham for a mere drop of water. This is clearly considered to be a true story because people are specifically named. Parables never name the characters.

Dr. Ben Smith did a very good job of summarizing the Reality of Hell in this article (Click here to visit the article on The Reality Of Hell)

[Brenda] Besides, Jeff, you aren’t GOING to heaven. Look it up in your little story book. Only a SELECT few are actually going to heaven, the rest are being left behind with us. “Howdy hoo, Neighbor. See ya after the Rapture. BBQ at my place?”

[Jeff] I presume you are referring to the 144,000 saints mentioned in the Revelation 7:4. To this I can only say that, as far as I know, the literal idea that only 144,000 will go to heaven, is a notion of the Jehovah’s Witness faith. However, Revelation is an apocalyptic writing, which means that nearly everything in it is symbolic. So, the number 144,000, is symbolic of 12 squared, multiplied by thousands – meaning (12 tribes of Israel, 12 tribes of Gentiles times countless numbers).

We are told that Heaven AND earth will pass away (⁷By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7 [NIV]), but a new home will be created for those who believe on Jesus. ⁽¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:1-3 [NIV])

[Brenda] Warty-nosed hags? YOU CHRISTIANS GAVE US THAT image! So, yeah! We think there’s need for a change. This is because we ARE mainstream citizens. We work in the banks, we work in the shelters helping christian women who have been beaten by their so-called “loving” christian husbands, we are putting our asses on the line as soldiers fighting your holy wars, we leave our families behind to travel to places like Iraq, we are giving you a life saving blood transfusion. WE ARE MAINSTREAM!

[Jeff] My comment was; “Witches are struggling to change their image from that of the wart-nosed, scraggly-haired hag, to that of a mainstream citizen.” Perhaps I didn’t state this as clearly as I could have, but I was trying to stress the point that Witches are NOT wart-nosed hags. They ARE mainstream citizens.

[Brenda] How dare you say we are promoting a “false gospel”? Just because it is your way, why is it the ONLY way?

[Jeff] I didn’t say your way is wrong, Jesus did: “"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 [NIV]) You have mentioned Jesus’ teachings several times, but you seem to conveniently skip over this particular teaching.

Further, if you think Christianity is wrong then you must also believe that Islam is wrong – and Judaism as well. All three of these claim a singular exclusive god. And what about Hindus? They don’t recognize the same gods as you. Are they wrong too? And Buddhists? There can’t be 1000 versions of the truth. There can only be one truth. All else is false.

[Brenda] BTW, it seems that my God/dess is better and more powerful than your god. My Gods command the universe, yours seems to live in that little storybook you call ‘the Bible’. Last time I checked, a omnipresent, all-wise and benevolent being doesn’t live in a book.

[Jeff] Who said that my God lives in a book? You did. My God is alive, as evidenced by an empty tomb.

[Brenda] The Holy Trinity of “Father, Son, Holy Ghost” is a christian concept. WE DON’T BUY IT! Get that? Just because a murder renounces their life of sin and evil and claims Jesus as their savior, should that get them off the hook? Hell no! The “J” Man will send them to hell, I would hope. Just giving lip-service to the “J” Man does not get you off the hook for the life of evil you have lived. Just because you go to church on Sunday, does not make up for you beating your wife on Monday, sexually abusing your child on Tuesday, murdering an old woman on Wednesday, murdering a non-christian on Thursday, beating up a homosexual on Friday, and writing a slanderous article on non-christians on Saturday.

[Jeff] I was reading a passage in Matthew just this morning in which Jesus told a parable. In this parable, a landowner went out in the morning and hired laborers. Again later, he hired more, then later more, and so on. At the end of the day, the landowner paid them all a fair, full-day’s wage. Those that had worked all day complained, and the landowner said: “did you not agree to work for a fair day’s wage – which you have been paid?” It is the landowner’s right to pay whatever he wishes to whomever he wishes. (You will find this parable in Matthew 20). If a Christian lives his best all his life meets a murderer on his death-bed who now believes in Jesus, it would be easy for the long-time Christian to say: “This murderer does not deserve the same reward as I do. I have been good my whole life.” But this isn’t how God sees it. We are ALL sinners and need to be forgiven. One who commits even the smallest sin is as guilty as one who commits every sin.

Consider the following verse, Jesus tells us that whoever believes on His name will be saved (Mark 16:16) – No exceptions. The Bible also says that He WILL forgive us if we seek him – no matter what our past. (I John 1:9)

We may not understand why God will forgive persons we find vile and detestable, but forgiveness is God’s to give and He will grant it to whom He pleases. He is just AND merciful.

[Brenda] Most Wiccans/Witches recognize the J man for who he was. A wise man. A man whose message seems to have been lost on his flock.

[Jeff] You keep referring to Jesus and claiming to know so much about His teachings, but you still don’t understand WHY Christians want to reach out to you. This tells me that you only know either what you WANT to know, or what others have told you – NOT what Jesus really said about Himself.

[Brenda] BTW, we do not convert. You christians do enough of that for the both of us. We speak the truth as we see it. You are free to take it or leave it.

"They are vigorously evangelistic and do not hesitate to cast aspersions on christianity to lure converts."

Helllooo! What religion are we talking about here? Sound a hell of a lot like christianity to me. We don’t convert!

[Jeff] How many aspersions have I cast in this exchange? Have I intentionally NOT capitalized the name of your religion? Have I referred to any of your significant leaders in flippant terms? I have been careful to merely explain what I understand about Wicca/Witchcraft without being derogatory or hateful.

I will concede on this point. Wicca/Witchcraft is not “evangelistic” in the sense that Christianity is. However, I find myself inundated with Wiccan, Pagan, and Witchcraft oriented material and media every day. If this isn’t a form of marketing then I am at a loss of words to describe it. Yet, let me be quick to say that the mere proliferation of something does not make it true.

Our ol’ buddy King James had a political agenda to annihilate witchcraft so he had it changed to suit him and his own plans.

[Jeff] I’m sorry to say that this is a lie that you have been told. The word in KJV is “Witch.” In nearly every other version it is “sorcerer”. AND, in the Hebrew, it is “sorcerer” – the word is clearly different than the word “poisoner” found in other scriptures.

If you want to argue about the authenticity of the Hebrew Scriptures, then go find a Rabbi to argue with. There is no way he will ever concede that the Hebrew word was corrupted by King James.

[Brenda] In closing, I would like to say that I am praying for you, and for the salvation of your soul that is so full of hate and denial.

I can see there will never come a day when all people of all religions will get along. I can see that because there are too may christians out there like you and not enough Pagans like me.

[Jeff] I totally agree that there will be no peace because of too many religions. Satan is all too happy to keep generating lies out there that will make Christianity look like foolishness. Jesus also told his followers that we should not expect to be popular.

“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of me.” (Luke 6:22 [NIV])

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27 [NIV])

A Witch By Any Other Name…: An Overview of Wicca for the Christian

Jeff Justus