What did your religion or influencers teach you about witchcraft? [Spirituality & Religion]

@LucyCan Why would you avoid meditation? I've never heard of that before.

@gemimaia I have. The most cultish Christians discourage any self-empowering private reflection because it quickly leads to questioning and seeing their con-game for what it is.

@SW-User Which reminds me again of the same movie cited earlier, MP&HG, where the crowd had stuck on the accused young lady's face a twisted crone-ish nose of putty. It's a great metaphor for that Baptist attitude.

@th3r0n It depends on how much you believe eye witness accounts and testimonies. Ever heard of the phone game? You whisper into someone's ear and it goes around the room. What it started out as is often different from the end.

Also monotheistic religions have conquered much of the world over other religions. Your view depends entirely that they are telling the truth of what happened.

@th3r0n Thank you.

@gemimaia Interesting quote. Is that Crowley?

@SatanBurger Hi honey....This is how I see things. It’s okay if you cannot agree. Religion is man-made philosophy. Religions fail us every time. I follow no one but Christ, because my faith stems from him, not man. Christian just means follower of Christ, not some religion, which is as He meant it to be.

The determining factor of one's authentic faith relationship with God is not one's denomination, religious practice or performance in Christian disciplines, but rather the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, upon confession of faith. As it is written, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Rom.8:9) Jesus' invitation always stands open for anyone to receive forgiveness, be welcomed into his family, and live eternally in heaven. With or without having the Bible, as many came to Christ without the benefit of having scripture.

If people call God’s Word a lie...then I believe that would also be calling God a liar. God didn't entrust His precious message of salvation to be transcribed by just anyone. These were transcribed by men who were followers of Christ...described as "holy men of old", in 2 Peter 1:21: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God, spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Greek is “theopneustos”, means the scriptures were literally “God-breathed”.

@LadyGrace You wouldn't know of the Christian God without the bible. You're using the bible verses to preach God's word so if people can come to God without the bible, why would it then have to be YOUR God?

Why can't God be in let's say Pagan Gods?

It's odd to have so much faith in people one didn't even know over 2,000 years ago.

@SatanBurger The gospel was spread by the disciples, as is today. One either believes or not. Up to them. I’m just saying that people back then did not have the scripture. They had Jesus who spoke to them and show them signs and miracles. There were hundreds of witnesses to this. Jesus said He is the only way to heaven. I believe that. I don’t see any of the other gods offering to die for our salvation or even offering up a way to have salvation. Yes it would seem odd to have faith in someone that I did not know 2000 years ago or more, but I and thousands of others have come to know Jesus as our personal Savior by the Holy Spirit. I used to question that myself, until I spoke to God myself and ask him to reveal himself to me if he was real and he did. He actually saved my life. If others do not believe that, that is OK. We are to all love each other no matter what.

@Sicarium If you message me, you'll float too.

@Sicarium Lord Love a Duck.

@hippyjoe1955 Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

@PissAndVinegar Okay, maybe I should've been more specific but that would apply to the 3rd option. Wrong or not real.

@gemimaia
A little bit of context, I grew up in Africa. Partially arabized parents that are originally Amazighan. I say arabized because they imitated a culture that's not their own. I grew up in war. I was also influenced by my grandparents.

My grandmother (Amazigh) believed there are two sides of witchcraft, the good and the bad. Grandmother like other Amazigh women had tattoos on her body expressing the duality and the powers in the universe.

So while my parents and other people believe/believed I was possessed because of my mental illness, talents and TBI, they used extremely abusive methods to free me from the demon possessing me through teachings in Islam and the Arab culture, and even witchcraft too.

On the other hand, both my grandparents thought I was special. They believed I was meant to lead the people, and that my situation is contextual and I need to comeback to my roots to get over my anger and aggression.

Lot of the people used magic attempting to defend their girls from rapes and kidnappings durring the war. I know a few who say they witnessed it working out.

But it's not good to decide things based on the unknown and before one hasn't used fact based explanations for their problems. What I witnessed is snakes biting the shit out of me, no venom, and my hands being burnt bacause "witchcraft" and supernatural beliefs. As if I wasn't traumatized enough.

Sorry for my English. It angers me too much.

@Miram I'm so glad you have survived, Miss. What a moving lesson about the use and abuse of faith. Thanks for sharing it.

@MissPriscillaPrim You are kind ❤ Thank you for reading too.

@Xena1234 you're not helping me type anything you're just clicking a button on a poll. If you don't like that, find another question :)

@gemimaia 🤣