Christianity and Witchcraft

JC 2K3

Just something I've been curious about for a while, particularly since the pope condemned the Harry Potter series as they apparently promoted witchcraft.

Do Christians actually believe in witchcraft? i.e. do they believe that spells, magic etc. exist and are possible to be performed by certain individuals?

The bible references it and forbids certain practices which involve witchcraft/magic. Does this mean that by nature of being a Christian, one accepts that such practices exist and work, even though they are to be condemned?

SlickRic

Christians believe there is a spiritual world, and yes, we can interract with it as human beings.

but we cannot control it, unless the Holy Spirit is working powerfully in us. that is why i believe it is condemned. for our own good.

condemning the Harry Potter series is ludicrous though.

Slav

Christianity neither forces you to believe that witchcraft is real nor it's a scam. It's just not relevant.

What Christians do believe however is that practicing occult beliefs is the straight way to death, be they real or not.

Soul Winner

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Just something I've been curious about for a while, particularly since the pope condemned the Harry Potter series as they apparently promoted witchcraft.

Do Christians actually believe in witchcraft? i.e. do they believe that spells, magic etc. exist and are possible to be performed by certain individuals?

The bible references it and forbids certain practices which involve witchcraft/magic. Does this mean that by nature of being a Christian, one accepts that such practices exist and work, even though they are to be condemned?

Yes of course. Why do you ask? Christians believe that evil spirits and demons exist, that should be no big surprise. If they don't then there's something wrong because Jesus certainly did. So if practicing magic and such like can open portals which can give these evil entities more access to you than would otherwise be allowed, then surely the forbidding of such practices is good guidance from God, and obeying such commands would be considered a smart move.

prinz

Hardly condemned. What the Pope did say was that the stories were full of "subtle seductions". Which they are. Notice nothing about witchcraft from the Pope there: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article543521.ece
So hardly condemnation in my book.

Recently the Vatican was again in the news re Harry Potter http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Harry-Potter-And-The-Half-Blood-Prince-The-Pope-Approves-Of-Latest-JK-Rowling-Adaptation/Article/200907215337371 OMG the Pope approves of withcraft!!!!

Yawn. I think Slav hit the nail on the head there really with the relevancy point.

JC 2K3

Soul Winner wrote: »

Yes of course. Why do you ask?

The reason I ask is that it seems like a whole other layer of belief attached to Christianity.

Soul Winner wrote: »

Christians believe that evil spirits and demons exist, that should be no big surprise.

Hmm.. I suppose it isn't a big surprise, I mean, I've heard of evil spirits being talked about in a Christian context before, but the subject seems to be dealt with implicitly, when the idea of a demon or evil spirit is quite complex.

What do Christians believe evil spirits/demons to be exactly?
Also, on the subject of witchcraft and magic spells etc. - is it a Christian belief that ritual can be used to control/"invoke" evil spirits to make things happen in the world? If so, where do they believe this comes from?

Soul Winner wrote:

So if practicing magic and such like can open portals which can give these evil entities more access to you than would otherwise be allowed, then surely the forbidding of such practices is good guidance from God, and obeying such commands would be considered a smart move.

Yup, I can understand that. I was just curious whether it was a common Christian belief that these practices were real and worked or not (i.e. if the reasoning against it was more a parallel with not worshipping false gods or a dangerous and very real practice which should be avoided), and what they understand to be the process behind it all/reason for the existence of magic.

PDN

I think that 99% of what passes for witchcraft and occultic activity today is sham, powerless, trickery, sleight of hand and commercialism. Then again, I feel the same about most of what passes for Christianity too!

I do believe that there is a malevolent spiritual being known as Satan (literally 'the adversary') and also lesser spiritual beings, or 'evil spirits' if you prefer. These evil spirits are most likely angels that rebellled against God, but I hardly see that as something being dogmatic about or arguing over.

Rev Hellfire

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Do Christians actually believe in witchcraft? i.e. do they believe that spells, magic etc. exist and are possible to be performed by certain individuals?

I'd imagine that the most Christians don't believe in witchcraft as in people having actual abilities to cast spells. The western world has moved on significantly from when such beliefs where common. With the aliments that would have been placed at its doorstep now understood and explained by science.

Personally I'm not totally convinced that most people who profess to be 'witches' really believe what they're saying, it strikes me as a simple posturing and a cover for teenage insecurities.

JC 2K3 wrote:

The bible references it and forbids certain practices which involve witchcraft/magic. Does this mean that by nature of being a Christian, one accepts that such practices exist and work, even though they are to be condemned?

Surely Christians have no need for witchcraft since they can seek the intercession of Christ/god and for Catholics Mary and the saints.

BrianCalgary

PDN wrote: »

I think that 99% of what passes for witchcraft and occultic activity today is sham, powerless, trickery, sleight of hand and commercialism. Then again, I feel the same about most of what passes for Christianity too!

I do believe that there is a malevolent spiritual being known as Satan (literally 'the adversary') and also lesser spiritual beings, or 'evil spirits' if you prefer. These evil spirits are most likely angels that rebellled against God, but I hardly see that as something being dogmatic about or arguing over.

Would you not say that as Christians we have to be aware of the existence of such beings who are bent on deceiving humans and leading them away from God?

One of Satan's greatest plys is in convincing the world that he doesn't exist.

Soul Winner

JC 2K3 wrote: »

The reason I ask is that it seems like a whole other layer of belief attached to Christianity.

Witchcraft is described as a sin in the Old Testament (1 Sam 15:23) and in the New Testament (Galatians 5:20). So while not a belief attached to Christianity in terms of practice, it is something which is considered sinful and therefore real.

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Hmm.. I suppose it isn't a big surprise, I mean, I've heard of evil spirits being talked about in a Christian context before, but the subject seems to be dealt with implicitly, when the idea of a demon or evil spirit is quite complex.

Not sure what you mean, but be that as it may, the fact that they exist is not that complex surely. I don't feel the need to debate their complexity ad infinitum in order to believe that they are real. Their varying layers of complexity one could debate but a full understanding of them it is not a necessary precondition in believing in them.

JC 2K3 wrote: »

What do Christians believe evil spirits/demons to be exactly?

Well I can only vouch for myself. I believe that the entities we call evil spirits are none other than the disembodied spirits of the Nephelim. The Nephelim (I believe) were the giants or hybrids, the offspring of the angels which took to themselves daughters of men and produced these giants. These giants became so evil and corrupted mankind so much that God had to destroy them with a flood. In fact I believe that it was through these giants that came the knowledge of witchcraft in the first place. They taught it to mankind. The fact that they are disembodied spirits means that they must forcefully usurp another body to find rest, usually the body of a human being but it could be any animal I suppose. Pigs don't seem to respond too well to them but that's another story.

Demons on the other hand are fallen angels. Composed of one third of heaven's angels who rebelled with Lucifer and left their first estate. They don't need to posses people. They've got their own bodies but they can posses people and make them do things not becoming a normal human being, usually world rulers.

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Also, on the subject of witchcraft and magic spells etc. - is it a Christian belief that ritual can be used to control/"invoke" evil spirits to make things happen in the world?

What kinds of things?