I didn't see the documentary and I'm not conversant on the history, but just from my knowledge of the Bible and from what you see in pop culture, yeah, it, witchcraft, is nonsense. For various reasons. From a pop culture perspective it's just rebellious cool to some little minded underdeveloped youth. From a realistic perspective, that is what you may experience in real life, it's mostly a con. From a more practical side of spirituality it's mostly about nature, and from the Biblical perspective it's demon control. Usually through deception.
@LordShadowfire Well, I don't disagree with that. Christian tradition has become deceptive by adopting the pagan teachings that so many outside of Christianity profess. Modern day Christianity has been transmogrified. The Bible is misrepresented by apostate Christianity which means the majority of it's interpretations are also deceptive, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Bible itself has become transmogrified, although bias and misinterpretation or mistranslation has obviously occurred over time. The Bible itself warns against this. But the truth of the inspired word which the Bible has been fallibly translated into, as we know it, remains readily available. Even if we couldn't follow the obvious effects of apostate Christianity, it's history and adoption of pagan teachings, we could still do that.
And which documentary was that? When was it made? By whom? Who did it follow? Wiccan’s? Covens? Independent witches? Which school of belief was highlighted? Would you know enough to form an opinion after an hour of watching a similar show about the bahi’a faith?
How did this documentary define witchcraft? Did it discern between those who find identity and fun in the accoutrements of something outlying or did they actually delve into intention and desire and other tenets of an ancient practice?
Witches – real ones – don’t go about it pointed hats and cloaks. We don’t curse and place hexes on people, we don’t even talk about it to those we think shouldn’t hear. I’m not saying your documentary didn’t portray a silly world of witchcraft; I am suggesting you consider you have only the briefest single-view sketch of an entire subject.
@Graylight I don't know any of the answers and wouldn't bother to type them if I did. It's not the ONLY thing I've ever read or seen, but I do get your point....
@originnone If you're talking about near death experiences I don't think they are necessarily fruitcakes. Some are, but that doesn't necessarily reflect on the subject. I think NDE is natural chemicals of the brain coupled with the abstract cultural beliefs of religion. If you're talking about "Christians" I think they sincerely believe the good go to heaven and the bad go to hell even though that's a theological rather than a Biblical teaching. They've been deceived and the deception has become their impractical idealism. If you're talking about the actual Biblical concept of resurrection to everlasting life - the meek will inherit the earth - that is a matter of faith, not science.
@AkioTsukino ....excellent summation! I've never seen someone talk about an nde who wasn't a fruitcake...though I obviously haven't seen everyone who has had one.
@TrashCat I'd ask you what's first, but I think they're wonderful and would rather focus on that. I didn't really know how much I liked them till someone tried to get me to eat one....
@originnone The thought of eating goats dusgust me. I love all animals, but i ADORE opossums and have one as a pet. I also had goats, but have since left that behind.
@bijouxbroussard anything where someone decides they can cast a spell on me is hogwash....Thinking natural materials that have been tested and proven to do nothing replacing things like antibiotics is crap....Some ding dong burying a cows tongue and thinking it made someone quiet....I need statistical data with control groups.....
@originnone As I mentioned earlier, I have been involved with practitioners of the Craft in the past on intimate scales, I have witnessed things that would blow your mind, from hexes and curses to blessings, for all sorts of things. I remember one practitioner combined a leaf and candle spell to help her mother get out of credit card debt, the next week her mother won a $75,000 scratch off ticket.
