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Testimony of former Witch

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Ringer

Jar of Clay
Pretty interesting story. I believe that as Americans we are pretty ignorant of the spiritual realm and have a tendancy to pass off these stories as fantasy that originates with those in depraved, third-world countries that cannot distinguish between what is and is not reality. I have a friend who grew up in the Venezuelan jungle and whose parents are missionaries to the Yanomamo tribe down there. He has told us many stories of spiritual warfare that the tribe would have with rival tribes. I believe there is a book that deals with one of the shaman in the tribe and what life was like before and after his family's missionary work. You can check out some general information at the Amazon site:

Amazon.com: Spirit of the Rainforest: A Yanomamo Shaman's Story: Mark Andrew Ritchie: Books
 

Sonic247

Well-Known Member
I read the excerpt, it kind of leaves you hanging. I guess that's the point, they want you to buy the book. I agree with you though. People who have been in the underdeveloped regions of the world ussually seem to know more of the reality of the spiritual world. Here is an overview someone wrote of it- Spirit of the Rainforest Summary and Critique
 

gnomon

Well-Known Member
What is the correlation between being underdeveloped and possessing an increased knowledge of the spiritual realm?
 

Halcyon

Lord of the Badgers
What is the correlation between being underdeveloped and possessing an increased knowledge of the spiritual realm?
The less scientific understanding you have, the more you rely on superstition and magic to help explain the happenings around you.
 

gnomon

Well-Known Member
The less scientific understanding you have, the more you rely on superstition and magic to help explain the happenings around you.

That would have been my first guess but I don't think that's what most people who believe in the spiritual realm accept.:)
 

Ringer

Jar of Clay
What is the correlation between being underdeveloped and possessing an increased knowledge of the spiritual realm?

I'm not sure. Maybe they see some of these things for what they really are an not jaded by a culture that relies on therapy and medication. Or possibly, they rely on spirits for their everyday survival, thus opening a potential Pandora's Box. Something those in developed countries would not be so inclined to do.
 

gnomon

Well-Known Member
Why is someone who watches TV, drives a car, holds a career and goes to say...a Christian church...less likely to be in touch with the spiritual realm than an individual who lives in a hut in the jungle, has never seen an electrical product and still hunts for their food.
 

Halcyon

Lord of the Badgers
Some people allow themselves to not be blind to the limitations of the human mind.
Heh, I'm well aware of the limitations of the human brain. I just don't see those limitations as granting us the power to commune with spirits.

Drugs do help with that though, which is what a lot of these "underdeveloped" shamans use to "know the reality of the spiritual world."
 

blackout

Violet.
Do you all really believe a four year old could read and remember the word PSYCHIC?
(Spelled out letter by letter all broken up , none the less?!?) :sarcastic

I don't know. I didn't even bother to read the rest.
 

Mike182

Flaming Queer
meh, i've read testimonies like this before. while i have doubt that it is even true, i just see this as proselytizing. "this person got messed up by witchcraft, but fixed through Christianity!". it's nothing but a cheap shot really.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
meh, i've read testimonies like this before. while i have doubt that it is even true, i just see this as proselytizing. "this person got messed up by witchcraft, but fixed through Christianity!". it's nothing but a cheap shot really.

Lots of people testify to the converse too. They say Christianity messed them up but they found something much better and healthier for them in Wicca.
 

Mike182

Flaming Queer
Lots of people testify to the converse too. They say Christianity messed them up but they found something much better and healthier for them in Wicca.

that is true, i myself have posted much to that effect in the past here, but most Pagans or variations there of only talk about that when asked, they don't jump out of nowhere with an impromptu thread and post it in people's faces. that's the difference between discussing religious conversions and the reasons/motives behind such conversions, and proselytizing for your religion. this thread is the latter.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
that is true, i myself have posted much to that effect in the past here, but most Pagans or variations there of only talk about that when asked, they don't jump out of nowhere with an impromptu thread and post it in people's faces. that's the difference between discussing religious conversions and the reasons/motives behind such conversions, and proselytizing for your religion. this thread is the latter.

I agree, Mike, I think this thread amounts to proselytizing.
 

Kcnorwood

Well-Known Member
meh, i've read testimonies like this before. while i have doubt that it is even true, i just see this as proselytizing. "this person got messed up by witchcraft, but fixed through Christianity!". it's nothing but a cheap shot really.


I agree this sounds more like a Witch bashing thread if nothing else.....:rolleyes:
 

blackout

Violet.
Lots of people testify to the converse too. They say Christianity messed them up but they found something much better and healthier for them in Wicca.

Substitute "Magic" for "Wicca",
and you have described me exactly.

People see what they see,
experience what they experience,
but it all proves nothing as others are concerned,
because every person is completely different. :rainbow1:
 

Sonic247

Well-Known Member
What is the correlation between being underdeveloped and possessing an increased knowledge of the spiritual realm?
I really don't know. It just seems to work out that way. There could be other factors also, like peoples religious practices that open people up to that kind of stuff. In nations like America people aren't looking for spiritual things as much, but material things. Did you ever notice that when you get into something you see it where you never noticed it before. When I started playing guitar I noticed guitar parts in commercials that I wouldn't before. Of course I always noticed them in songs but they began to stand out more. If I walk through a flea market I will probably notice any guitars, and I imagine a mechanic would notice if there were tools for sale. So in short maybe we notice only material things because that's all that's on our minds.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.
 
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