Christian Witches?

[Mysty Moon]

could someone please explain to me what a christian witch is? I'm ooberly confused if someone could explain this in depth that would be nice
Blessings & Love
Seline

[PoisonIvy]

Well,here goes. I was raised in a christian home and was taught that there is only one God. I believe in one God still and I believe that he gave me my abilities to help others.
That doesn't mean that I think everyone else is wrong,cause I don't. This is just a little bit of my opinion.

[Pandoras]

I'm not one, but I suppose a Christian Witch is someone who belongs to the Christian religion/faith, but practices witchcraft. If you head on over to the Theology section, you'll find a lot of info there. There's also classes in the CoT.

[Mysty Moon]

but isn't witchcraft considered the devil in christian filosophy I've gone to church alot in my life and thats what they teach about how wrong it is

[Pandoras]

but isn't witchcraft considered the devil in christian filosophy I've gone to church alot in my life and thats what they teach about how wrong it is

The answer to that is going to depend on who you ask. I suggest you talk to some of the Christian Witches over in the Theology section. They can explain to you how they reconcile the beliefs and practices.

[Temptation]

My grandmother was a devout Catholic, a witch and the best healer I have ever known. She believed her powers came from God and had no problems reconciling her gift with her religion. She used to say that God made her this way to help others and that as long as she never hurt anyone, God would not be upset.
It is true that the people around her were as much afraid of her as they were in awe of her, but most of the ones she helped realised that there was not an ounce of the Devil in her. She was just the kindest, most generous person I have ever known in my entire life.

[IvyWitch]

but isn't witchcraft considered the devil in christian filosophy I've gone to church alot in my life and thats what they teach about how wrong it is
It depends on the way you view the Bible and how much research you've done on it. Sure, people who read the Bible and take every setence literally (or pick and choose which ones anyway) will say that witchcraft is bad. But, if you do some heavy research you'll see that it's not quite the case.

[Soulsong]

It depends on the way you view the Bible and how much research you've done on it. Sure, people who read the Bible and take every setence literally (or pick and choose which ones anyway) will say that witchcraft is bad. But, if you do some heavy research you'll see that it's not quite the case.

The debate also tends to revolve heavily around how certain words ought to be translated from the Greek.

And then you have the Gnostics, who aren't particularly "orthodox" anyway and thus seem to have a much easier time reconciling these sorts of ideas.

As others have suggested, it would probalby be easiest to answer your question by talking to some Christian witches. I suspect they'll each have slightly different answers for you.

[StarSpiral]

There's a big thread/debate about Christian Witchcraft and Wicca (two different things) over in the Paths (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=60616&highlight=christian) section.

[fay]

but isn't witchcraft considered the devil in christian filosophy I've gone to church alot in my life and thats what they teach about how wrong it is
it can be seen that way. but those who are christian and practice witchcraft, like Temptation said, often feel that their power comes from their god and so there can be nothing evil in it. and if you think about it, what are miracles if not magic by another name. i suppose it depends on how you look at it.

christian witches i understand. the idea of christian wiccans, however, puzzles me.
blessed be

[StarSpiral]

but isn't witchcraft considered the devil in christian filosophy I've gone to church alot in my life and thats what they teach about how wrong it is
Some Christians condemn homosexuality while others accept it and some Christians are homosexual. Depends on your interpretation of the Bible.

[Romani Vixen]

The Bible has a long rich history of manipulation by men. If you accept that the Bible is Divine and it's true message cannot be manipulated, then you're kinda stuck... because of King Jimmy (and his doctors).

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." used to say "Thou shalt not suffer a poisoner to live." Big difference.

A christian witch believes in jesus christ as their saviour, but they also practice magic. Magic doesn't have to be religious. And even if it is religious to you, it can adjust to anything. Magic is constant. Christians practice magic, even if they don't call it that. Christian Witches just do it understanding it as that and concentrate on it as... an art form if you will. (at least I see magic as an art form... but my life is art)

[IvyWitch]

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." used to say "Thou shalt not suffer a poisoner to live." Big difference. No it didn't. The word was most definately witch. However the definition of thw word witch is VERY different now than it was then.

But, it did not say poisoner. I don't know who first came up with this, but it's wrong.

Edited to add: I forgot to say that the prohibition in Exodus is a cultural one. At that time the Jewish people were thier own country, and as far as I can tell all those laws in the OT only applied to Israel. They were not allowed to have a witch live among them, nor were they allowed to marry outside of the religion. Nowhere in the OT are they saying that people of other religions have to be erradicated or converted like they do now in Christianity.

[oakowl]

Christian witches are very common in Mexico and throughout latin America. My ex wifes grandmother was a Bruja or witch who also considered herself to be christian. She practised magic to tell the future and cure people of illness. You find it in Haiti with people practising voodoo.

[peggarty]

I'm so glad to have stumbled on this discussion. Before I found my way back into Paganism, I was in training to be a member of the Christian Clergy - within the Methodist Church. I used to pracitce Paganism before, years ago, then went into the church, then got back into Paganism. I have been wondering how to live with my two sets of beliefs, and whether it is possible to believe/prctice both.

[teishabee]

I'm so glad to have stumbled on this discussion. Before I found my way back into Paganism, I was in training to be a member of the Christian Clergy - within the Methodist Church. I used to pracitce Paganism before, years ago, then went into the church, then got back into Paganism. I have been wondering how to live with my two sets of beliefs, and whether it is possible to believe/prctice both.
I think its all about being comfortable with your own spiritual path.Your own being the key here.

Alot of people have trouble with terms such as christain witch but as they say all paths lead to the same place.

[peggarty]

It's funny you should say that. I suppose it's like if I was to say - "I'll meet you in New York" (for example). We'd both get there, but we'd probably take quite different routes. Well I expect the same could be said for finding spiritual peace. The destination is the same but the method of getting there is different.

In theory I know this. But in practice, following two sets of beliefs, and trying to reconcile them has been difficult. But I finally think I'm getting there.

[teishabee]

Yep everything in theory works, but as long as your happy then I think you can find a way for it to work.

[Soulsong]

No it didn't. The word was most definately witch. However the definition of thw word witch is VERY different now than it was then.

The word was "pharmakeia," which originally referred to drug use, poisoning and potion-making. The word can also be translated as "sorcery." Both uses seem to have been current in Paul's time, thus the debate continues.

So, I wouldn't say that the word was "most definately" witch, but I also wouldn't say the word was "originally" poisoner. I've witnessed some heated debates over this one little word, carried out by far more scholarly sorts than I who sent Greek flying all over the place, and no one was able to reach a concensus. To complicate matters, the word has led to more unusual arguments that this was acually a condemnation of contraceptive drugs, or that physicians are the sorcerers warned about in Revalation. I once heard someone propose that the true translation is "Thou shalt not suffer a pharmacist to live," but fortunately for me it was meant in jest. :)

[IvyWitch]

But, if you consider that the same word was used in reference to Joseph's power to interpret dreams, then how does poisoner make sense?

Heh, and depending on how you translate or read certain things, the Bible condemns meteorology too. lol.

Morr can explain it much better than I can. Maybe I'll call her over.