The bible, Prophecies and witchcraft. (rituals, mystic, tradition, beliefs)

[darkpenguin]

I had a thought earlier today whilst reading the end of the world thread : http://www.religiousforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=52148

And the thought or question was is how can religions who think witchcraft is wrong and is evil stand by these 'prophecies' in the bible when essentialy they are both the same thing. People say tarot cards are evil and are of the devil but how can that be so when these are the same people who take the bible so far to the extreme of thinking of it as essentialy a deck of tarot cards that can forsee the future.

Just a thought.

Opinions/thoughs anyone?

[JayHawes]

God is omnipitent and reveals some prophecies to men about the future. Demons (fallen angels) also have this power to some extent. They allow men to use this power themselves by the use of "wicked" divices, and/or magic/sorccery. Sorccery and magic is a sin, mainly becuase it is throughby the forbidden powers of fallen angels.

[Blindinglight]

And the thought or question was is how can religions who think witchcraft is wrong and is evil stand by these 'prophecies' in the bible when essentialy they are both the same thing. People say tarot cards are evil and are of the devil but how can that be so when these are the same people who take the bible so far to the extreme of thinking of it as essentialy a deck of tarot cards that can forsee the future.

That is a good question.
My answer is it is done out of fear. If the common man learned such ways, there would be no need for the leaders, and the leaders would be out of a job.

[Azakel]

Originally Posted by JayHawes

God is omnipitent and reveals some prophecies to men about the future. Demons (fallen angels) also have this power to some extent. They allow men to use this power themselves by the use of "wicked" divices, and/or magic/sorccery. Sorccery and magic is a sin, mainly becuase it is throughby the forbidden powers of fallen angels.

I don't see how Magic is a sin. It's practice has been around for 1,000 of year in all Religions before Christian come about. Even Judaism has a form of Magic call the Kabbalah and Christianity is a Split of of Judaism. Even the Catholic Church has a from of magic in the way the do there rituals(at lest I see it like that, nothing against my Catholic Brothers and Sister though). to me Magic is a gift from God. And In the original Hebrew manuscript, the author used the word m'khashepah to describe the person who should be killed. The word means a woman who uses spoken spells to harm others - e.g. causing their death or loss of property. Clearly "evil sorceress" or "woman who does evil magic" would be the most accurate phrases in today's English usage for this verse.(from http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_bibl2.htm)
I've also herd a Poisoner to live, but can't really find anythig on that. Not all Magic, just "evil" magic done be a Woman.

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by JayHawes

God is omnipitent and reveals some prophecies to men about the future. Demons (fallen angels) also have this power to some extent. They allow men to use this power themselves by the use of "wicked" divices, and/or magic/sorccery.

How can one tell the difference? What if the revealed prophesies of the Bible came from fallen angels?

Originally Posted by JayHawes

Sorccery and magic is a sin, mainly becuase it is throughby the forbidden powers of fallen angels.

Each one of us performs sorcery and magic everyday. It is a necessary function of being cognitive, emotional beings. As Aleister Crowley put it in one of my favorite quotes, "Every man must do magic each time he acts or thinks...a thought is an internal act whose influence ultimately affects action, though it may not do so at the time."

[Guitar's Cry]

I have an evangelical friend who--while remaining open minded to other's beliefs--has stated that she believes chanting in magick is evil. Interestingly, I find this to be a commonality between Christian and Magickal traditions.

Chanting is a reinforcement tool used to build up and maintain energy. Psychological, it reaffirms a faith in what is being done. Language is true power! It creates and destroys! It can build a shield and form a connection.

Prayer can be a form of it. Song is certainly a form of it. Monks and witches practice it alike.

The difference is the perceived source of power. One is from God, the other is from Gods, Spirits, Energy, or the Self. One way or another, it is from within.

The same is true of divination.

[Blindinglight]

Even Judaism has a form of Magic call the Kabbalah and Christianity is a Split of of Judaism.

Not just those who practice the Kabbalah, but the Chassidic Jews is a sect in which the members are practicing Mystics. These are the Jews that have a slight Amish appearance, and do alot of bowing (which is to channel and build up energy) This group is also known to be very conservative.

[cardero]

Jesus was a great healer, a great prophet, and a great teacher because this is what he set out to accomplish for himself. He worked hard for it. He trained himself to UNDERSTAND, to LOVE, to heal, to FORGIVE. I did not hand him this power exclusively so he could segregate himself from humankind.
Some religions forget that Jesus did perform healings, made predictions, was clairvoyant, clairaudient, and impressionistic. Then they turn around and tell you these practices are unholy and should BE condemned.

HELLO IT’S ME: An Interview With GOD
Chapter: Jesus The Christ
Pg: 114, 116

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

And the thought or question was is how can religions who think witchcraft is wrong and is evil stand by these 'prophecies' in the bible when essentialy they are both the same thing. People say tarot cards are evil and are of the devil but how can that be so when these are the same people who take the bible so far to the extreme of thinking of it as essentialy a deck of tarot cards that can forsee the future.

The "wicked spirits" school of thought is a superstitious way to help some people deal with mysteries that are supposed to BE NATURAL and intuitive. What people don't UNDERSTAND, they conveniently chalk up to "demons or evil spirits."

These tools are still in practice because of the way society views them. For example, some people might think “if those tools worked for ancient mystics, then they are good enough for me.” Sometimes this is not the case.

Also I must emphasize again these are extensions of your own innate psychic abilities. You are the psychic entity and the one who has developed these abilities. Do you need tools to access these powers? Not really. Can you use devices like these? If you want to. Are they wicked? Evil? No.

HELLO IT'S ME: An Interview With GOD
Chapter: Occultism and Spiritualism
Pg: 127

[JayHawes]

Originally Posted by Son_of_Amaterasu

I don't see how Magic is a sin. It's practice has been around for 1,000 of year in all Religions before Christian come about. Even Judaism has a form of Magic call the Kabbalah and Christianity is a Split of of Judaism. Even the Catholic Church has a from of magic in the way the do there rituals(at lest I see it like that, nothing against my Catholic Brothers and Sister though). to me Magic is a gift from God. And In the original Hebrew manuscript, the author used the word m'khashepah to describe the person who should be killed. The word means a woman who uses spoken spells to harm others - e.g. causing their death or loss of property. Clearly "evil sorceress" or "woman who does evil magic" would be the most accurate phrases in today's English usage for this verse.(from http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_bibl2.htm)
I've also herd a Poisoner to live, but can't really find anythig on that. Not all Magic, just "evil" magic done be a Woman.

There are different forms of magic. And magic is different from rituals. Jews and Catholics perform rituals not magic. Magic at a certain degree moves on to sorccery, and sorccery is forbidden becuase of its origin and connection with rebellion against God. Even the King of Babylong at the time of Daniel had Magicians and Sorcerors who served different offices (Dan 2:2).

God will make judgemtn aginast sorceries:
Mal 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers,

Re 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Re 22:15For without (around the City- New Jerusalem/Heaven) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

God condemned Sorccery long before Christanity. And they even accused God's prophets of using sorccery, why? Becuase "fallen angels" -"gods" emitated the powers of God. Such as in the case of Moses when he made his rod become a snake, it was by the power of God. However the Magicians of the Pharoah did the same, by the use of Magic. The source of this magic is clearly not God and therefore a sin. GOd however does not use magic, his power comes naturally.