WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WITCHCRAFT

Who Dwell in the Spirit Realm?

A basic question in the quest for spiritual understanding is this, Who inhabit the spirit realm?  While most modern witches are  followers of a nature-oriented, polytheistic faith, some worship a great mother-goddess, viewed in triple role of maiden, mother and crone, representing the basic stages of life.  Her lover is a god with horns.  Other witches worship a god and goddess together.  One writer says:  "The Goddess and God are seen as a manifestation of the feminine and masculine forces of nature.  Each [having] unique characteristics that when combined result in the harmonious creation of life."  Another authority writes:  "One of the most pivotal choices in Witchcraft is you choice of the deities [Gods/Goddesses) you will work with . . .The Craft gives you the freedom to pick and subsequently honor your own forms of the Divine.

The Bible supporters none of these ideas.  Jesus Christ devoted his entire ministry to teaching others about Jehovah, "the only true God."  (John 17:3) The Bible states:  "Jehovah is great and very much to be praised,and he is to be feared more  than all other gods.  For all the gods of the people are valueless gods." -1Chronicles 16:25, 26

What about the Devil? Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines witchcraft as  "communications with the Devil."  (Witchcraft is the Devil's work, because it takes you away from worshiping the only true God, Jehovah, which is what he is striving for)  It would be hard to find a witch today who would agree with this definition, for many do not accept event he existence of Satan  the Devil.  (This is just how smooth the Devil is)  One young woman, described in The Irish Times as a "high-ranking witch and leader of one of Ireland's most significant covens," reasons this way:  "Belief in the Devil implies acceptance of Christianity. (The Devil is trying to keep people from being true Christians.  What she says are the  words of Satan himself) . . .[The Devil] cannot inhabit a universe where there is no God. (Oh! But lady there is a god)."

The Bible confirms the existence of the Devil and charges him with much of the suffering and turmoil on earth.  (Revelation 12:12)  Jesus  not only taught that the Devil exists but also showed that it is possible to unwittingly to do the will of the Devil.  For example, self-righteous religious leaders of the first century asserted that they were, in a way, sons of God and believed that they were doing the will of God, Jesus, who could discern what was in their hearts, knew differently.  He told them forthright:  {"You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father."  (John 8:14) Further, the Bible book of Revelation states that the Devil "is misleading the entire inhabited earth."-Revelation 12:9.

Next time: Is Some Magic Good?

Watchtower, 2000