Is The Bible True?
Randall Niles discusses the evidence for Biblical inspiration, trustworthiness and authenticity.

 What is Witchcraft?

Let's start off with what modern Witchcraft is NOT:

• Witches do not believe that Wicca has anything to do with the devil. Most Witches do not believe in "evil."
• There are no Shakespearean curses involving boiling frogs in cauldrons.
• Witches do not practice bloody sacrifices (human or animal). However, followers of some other Pagan religions (such as Santeria) do practice animal sacrifice. There are some groups who claim to practice things such as human sacrifice, and evidence of other illegal activities (such as grave robbing). This is not typical of American Pagans, and stories involving these practices should be carefully investigated.
• No one really flies on brooms.
• Rituals are usually not ecstatic sex orgies.
• I've never met a green-faced, warty-nosed  Witch.

We've written this article because many people within the church have entirely the wrong idea about Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans. It is unfortunate that misperceptions and even outright lies have circulated amongst us, as Christ's commands to "love thy neighbor" and "Go... make disciples" apply to Pagans (just as much as to anyone else). Furthermore, by and large people within the neopagan movement are some of the friendliest people we've ever met, and the lies that people have about them are just plain - wrong.  

Followers of this religion are often gentle, spiritual people who are concerned with the environment, human rights, and happiness. They usually worship one or more ancient goddesses and gods. Religious rituals range from solemn, with candles lit and incense burning; to ecstatic, with dancing, chanting, and singing.

Witches do cast spells, although most say they only do so for positive purposes. They do not hex or curse, nor do they generally interfere with the will of another. Magic (many Witches say "magick") is often called "The science and art of causing change to occur in conformity to Will". In fact, many Wiccans will tell you that magick and Christian-style prayer are really the same thing. Unlike Christian prayer, Wiccan rituals usually include the use of props (candles, incense, altar tools, herbs, etc.) and the request goes to whichever god or goddess the Witch worships, or more often to the "forces of nature" as a demand rather than a request. Witches also employ divination, such as tarot cards and astrology, to determine likely outcomes of decisions, or to get in touch with their "inner selves" or their gods. However, do keep in mind that some do NOT practice divination, and a few do not practice magick.

There is no Witch's "Bible". While is widely felt that wisdom comes from within, not from a book or even from "On High", some have no problem with transcendent views of deity. There are sacred texts in several Pagan traditions, such as the Egyptian Book of Coming Forth by Day (commonly called the "Book of the Dead"). Witches tend to believe that Jesus was a great teacher (and so were Buddha and Mohammed). If they believe in the existence of the devil at all, they'll tell you that he's simply "another Christian deity". While Pagans invoke a number of deities (female and male) and entities such as elementals, and believe in beings such as tree spirits and faeries, most say that there are no "demons" anywhere: this is also a Christian concept, and they're not Christians. Their deities are considered to be "imminent", or within each of us, meaning that everyone is actually deity. A common phrase at rituals is "Thou art Goddess."

Leaders among Pagans tend to be strong, powerful, self-assured people. However, most are not overtly power-seeking, overly charismatic, "follow me" types. In fact, because covens are generally autonomous, often led by everyone equally, the rules are flexible, and there is seldom money exchanged, Witches can argue very effectively that they are not a "cult".

Although moral and political views are certainly not universal among Pagans, it is safe to say that most support neo-tolerance (there is no truth/what's true for me is not necessarily true for you/everything is true (just pick one)), women's rights and matriarchy, sexual "freedom" (including homosexuality, polyamory, non-monogamy, sexual activity by teens), abortion, and the abolition of Christianity from public life, especially in schools and governmental functions. In recent years there have been lawsuits filed by Pagans against such things as "In God We Trust" (which appears on our money), student-led prayer in schools, the Ten Commandments, and Christian symbols, such as the Cross, in city and county seals. However, many are active in getting the schools to teach the Wiccan holidays (such as Halloween and Winter Solstice), pagan elements of "Earth Day", and Pagan symbolism.

There is no concept of sin or need for forgiveness in Pagan traditions. There is no need for salvation, as there is "nothing to be saved from." The main tenet of Wicca is called the "Wiccan Rede". It states "An it harm none, do as ye will". Basically, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, anything goes. Views of what actually causes harm vary from person to person. However, as most feel that you will be paid back three times over for everything you do, it pays to be careful. However, some argue that causing harm is occasionally acceptable, if you are willing to be responsible and accept the karmic consequence. A few groups have a more legalistic set of rules to follow, upon which they will ultimately be judged, although there is rarely any mention of what one is to do when those rules are broken.

Views of death and the afterlife vary widely among Pagans. Many do not have any concept of a literal heaven or hell. Some espouse the concept of karma and endless reincarnation. They insist that living once is a ridiculous concept and point to "evidence" and "memories" of past lives. Others believe that everyone (good, bad, and otherwise) will go to the Land of Apples or Heaven after their live(s) are over. Some combine the two theories into a reincarnation-until-enlightenment philosophy. Many do not even have a clear concept of what will happen after death, proclaiming that they'll find out when they get there.

Keep in mind that this is only a brief summary of what most Wiccans and other Pagans believe, and that there is great diversity within the Pagan movement: not every Witch will agree with every statement on this page, but most Witches will agree with most of it.

Written by Kathi Sharpe 

Next >

An Open Letter to Wiccan Believers from a Former Spiritist

Dear Wiccan Friends:

I am just going into my 80^th year and my desire, no doubt like yours, is to help people have an eternal happy forever in the spirit world, which we call Heaven.

I have made this a lifetime occupation. It is my belief that God wants us to love and care for each other. I pray the following message will help you in your search for the truth.

First, let me introduce myself and where I am coming from. I was born on December 25^th 1920, in London England to a widow by the name of Golda Alpern. I was placed up for adoption immediately. In those days it was easy to adopt a child. There were few questions asked. The couple who adopted me barely provided the necessities of life, but I am grateful to them for taking me in.

Theft drunkenness, gambling, prostitution and bedbugs - all were as common in our part of the East End of London as clean sheets and warm water were in other places. Bookies and prostitutes lived on the street. As children we made money from bookies by warning them when police were in the vicinity.

My father drank heavily, gambled, had affairs and beat my mother many times. I can still picture my mother with black eyes and swollen lips. She found life so distressing that she tried to commit suicide a number of times. One evening after my mother and father had been fighting, she threatened to throw herself out from the upstairs window. As she climbed out I managed to pull her back. On another occasion I recall her taking the tube off the gas jet and trying to inhale the gas;. These were terrifying times for me.

The event that had the single greatest impact on me was the death of my father. I was only eleven years old at the time. The subject of death was considered taboo in our house. It was something to be feared and never talked about. One night as I was lying on my bed upstairs, I could hear my father crying downstairs. He screamed out to God saying,

Please God, don’t let me die! I don’t want to die God, help me!

I will never forget the sound of his crying, it was one of despair, fear and terror. Now I can understand why he felt that way. He had lived as though he had a thousand years on earth. I really believed that he knew he was going to Hell and the prospect of this terrified him.

[ How can a God of love send anybody to Hell? Answer ]

He was taken to the hospital in the early hours of the morning and within a few short hours was returned home in a cheap pine box. (In the Jewish religion they bury the dead within 24 hours).

I was totally unaware of what happened that night, when I came downstairs, all the furniture was taken out and lying on the floor was this closed coffin. I was terrified.

From then on the thought of death held a terrible grip on me, I was afraid to sleep at night for fear that I would not be alive in the morning. That fear stayed with me for many years and even now I can still hear in my mind the screams of my father.

DEATH STRIKES AGAIN

After my Fathers death, my mother turned to prostitution to support us. The next seven years were the most distressing, embarrassing and soul destroying years of my life.

Once more, I had another frightening experience. Death entered my life again when I was about seventeen. My mother had been in the hospital with bronchial pneumonia, and I had been staying in the house alone. Unfortunately my mothers customers did not know about her illness and constantly came to the door knocking and calling her name. I stayed upstairs in my room, too terrified to move.

When Mother died in the hospital, a policeman was sent to the house to tell me. At first, I thought he was just another customer and I did not answer the door.

After my mothers death there was no place for me to go so I stayed in the house. One night shortly thereafter, as I was lying in bed, I could see her standing in front of me at the top of the staircase. She appeared white and etheric-looking, and she was smiling at me. It seemed to be some sort of apparition. I put the covers over my head, and when I peeked out, she was gone. It was a terrifying experience and from then on my obsession with death grew worse.

Shortly after her death World War II broke out and I was called up into the army. I married very young, and regretfully it was a bad marriage ending in divorce. (I have a son who is 52 years old. My first wife has since passed away.)

I have written the above to give you some background to show the reason for my getting into the occult. Two deaths in my family which left me in fear.

MY LIFE CHANGES

After World War II, I was discharged from the army and became a London taxi driver.

One day while driving my cab, I picked up a fare that wanted to go to the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain. I asked her what went on there. She told me an incredible story, which sounded unbelievable, but years later I found out to be true.

She told me that she attended sances and spoke to her dead husband. She told me how it was possible to not only speak to the dead, but actually see, hear and touch them. At first, it sounded too good to be true, but later to my surprise, I experienced for several years the reality of this phenomena.

Yes, I know there are frauds, but there are also genuine mediums, who have power to contact the spirit world. I know this for two reasons (1) because of my own personal experiences and (2) because the Word of God in the Bible tells us so.

The question is, are we really contacting the spirits of the dead, or are they demons impersonating the dead? I was involved in all forms of psychic phenomena, starting with the Ouija Board and ending up in materialization, through a substance called ectoplasm. I write about this more fully in my book Out From Darkness.

At first, the spirit entities that we encountered in the phenomena of materialization through the substance called ectoplasm were quite friendly, but later on they materialized as horrible, grotesque-looking creatures. THERE WAS NO WAY OF CONTROLLING THE SPIRIT WORLD.

As a Wiccan you may be thinking what has this to do with me? First let me make it clear Wiccans are not Satanists, neither are Spiritualists Satanists, but when I was a Spiritualist medium we had one thing in common, and that is we invoked spirits from another world.

One could be sincere, but is it possible that one could be sincerely wrong?

Please look at the following points/questions and prayerfully and honestly answer them.

1. Many witches talk about malevolent (evil and harmful) spirits.

2. Where do these spirits come from, these dangerous, hostile, evil entities?

3. Who or what are they?

4. Why do they exist?

5. Why do we have to fear and avoid them?

6. Why do you have to be protected from them?

7. How do you know whether or not you are being used by them?

These are very serious questions. I used to ask these questions when I was in the sance room. I eventually got my answers, and I found them in the manual of the greatest authority in the world, the book of life, the Bible. The answer is clear, they are fallen angels.

THE REAL PERSON AND POWER BEHIND WICCA

The Bible says, "Our fight in this world is not against flesh and blood, (human beings) but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

I know how real these principalities, powers and rulers of darkness are. As bizarre as it may seem, I have been involved in the very extremes of psychic phenomena.

What occultists don’t understand is that there is a spirit battle for their soul. On one hand, we have the Holy Spirit; on the other side, we have a Spirit world of demonic power. And where do you think the battleground is? Man himself, his very soul.

Jesus, in His farewell message to the Apostle said I must go so that the comforter must come (The Holy Spirit) Jesus shed His blood for the remission of our sins. He was the perfect sacrifice.

You have to make a decision; you have to choose, either follow Satan or Jesus.

Now a lot of people don’t understand this. Why? Because they simply just don’t understand the Bible. Here is the reason why. (I don’t know who the author was, but it made sense to me. The following is what he wrote.)

The Bible is a difficult book because it came from the infinite to the finite from the unlimited all powerful God, to limited man. Therefore, you cannot understand the Bible as you could understand the writings of Plato and Socrates. You can study the great philosophers with the natural mind and by diligent application grasp their profound meanings. If the Bible could be understood by natural man, it would be a natural book and could not be the Word of God

Since the Bible is from God, and therefore Spiritual, before you can receive its teachings, you must be born of the Spirit and filled with the spirit. Always approach the Bible praying that the Spirit will be your teacher and will guide you to a better understanding of His Holy word, or it will remain a difficult, closed book.

Friend, I plead with you, pray about this matter, be honest with yourself, don’t let pride get in the way.

There is a way to receive this person, The Holy Spirit. He is waiting for you. This is the most important decision you will ever make in your whole life. Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for taking time to read this. I only mean the best for you. One day you will go into eternity, Jesus made it clear, He said,

“I am the way the truth and the life, NO ONE ENTERS INTO HEAVEN EXCEPT THOUGH ME” (John 14:1-7).

Jesus always told the truth. Think about it, very prayerfully.

Love in Christ,

Ben Alexander

Author: Ben Alexander of ESP Ministries

Text Copyright © 2003, ESP Ministries, All Rights Reserved - except as noted on attached “Usage and Copyright” page that grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches and schools.

www.ChristianAnswers.Net
Christian Answers Network
PO Box 200
Gilbert AZ 85299

Ben Alexander was deeply involved with the spiritualist movement and the extremes of psychic phenomena in his native England.

• How do we know the Bible is true? Answer
• If I can't see God, how can I know he really exists? Answer
• Eternal Death
• Is there an actual place called "Hell"? Answer
• Prince of Darkness
• Demons
• Angels
• The Occult - What does the Bible say about it? Answer
• What is the Occult? Answer
• How to find HOPE
• Are you going to Heaven?

Paradise or Pain? Why is the world the way it is?

The Bible is the world's best selling book of all time. But for most, it remains a mystery. Now, discover for yourself the overwhelming message of HOPE that God brings to man -- presented chronologically from the foundation of the world to our own time. Watch it on-line, full-length motion picture.

When the Devil Dares: Teenagers and Satanism

Parents, teachers, and law enforcement personnel in Monroe County Michigan knew something strange was going on with local high school students, but they couldn't figure out what. One boy, who lived with his grandmother, took all her religious pictures off the walls, turned her crucifixes upside down, and then beat her up. Two boys fought in the high school cafeteria and the winner jumped up and flashed a strange hand salute, a clenched fist with his index and little fingers sticking up. The art teacher couldn't figure out why so many kids drew pictures of demonic-like men with goat's heads. And the occult books kept disappearing from the school library. The adults knew something was wrong, but they didn't know what.

The teenagers were flirting with satanism. The power, the magic, the mystery -- for most it was fun and exciting. For some, it was serious, deadly serious to Lloyd Gamble, who lost his life in a satanic sacrifice. After Lloyd's death, and his younger brother's arrest for the murder, the adults learned to understand the signs that had been so mysterious before: The "devil's sign" hand signal, the two fingers representing the horns of the "goat" image of Satan; the goat's head baphomet pictures symbolizing the dark lord; and the books that fed the teenagers' imaginations, rituals, and spells. Across America, fascination with satanism is infecting our schools and enticing adolescents into destruction with false promises of power, control, and excitement. In a contemporary society where Christian beliefs and morals are ridiculed, and self-indulgence and self- gratification are worshipped, teenagers are easy prey for the Prince of Darkness. Christian educators, parents, pastors, and youth leaders, like the adults in Monroe County, too often have been tricked by the Deceiver's sleight-of-hand to focus on the sensational, the false rumors, and the conspiracy mirages while signs of typical teenage satanic involvement escape our notice. It shouldn't take a tragedy like the killing of Lloyd Gamble by his brother to shift our focus.

Equipped with sound information and good answers from God's Word, educators can recognize the danger signals of teenage satanism, and take positive steps to intervene for a troubled student who has turned to satanism to solve his or her overwhelming problems. Satanic involvement does not occur in isolation from other problems. Most teenagers who practice satanism also abuse drugs and alcohol and are sexually promiscuous. As with drugs and sex, satanism is an indicator of serious personal dysfunction, and the teenage satanist will not be truly free of occult bondage unless his or her underlying problems are recognized and resolved. Occult expert Dr. John Cooper notes, "Satanism blesses and encourages the expression of all that is natural to adolescent development -- rebellion, defiance, and specialness -- yet it lacks a positive, rational framework and totally disregards relational, social, and religious boundaries and values".

First, recognize that satanism appeals to teenagers who have significant problems dealing with the world and who are convinced that satanism is their solution. Eight major risk factors often accompany teenage satanism: (1) extreme alienation; (2) morbid fascination with horror, death, and pain; (3) drug and alcohol use; (4) difficulty conforming to the system (whether in school, at home, or on the job); (5) a frustrating sense of powerlessness; (6) an excessive need to control; (7) high intelligence and creativity that often is used destructively; and (8) unnatural attraction to the mysterious, the occult, or the magical. Each of these risk factors are experienced to some degree by all adolescents, but for the teenager who gravitates toward satanism, these factors are consuming motivators.

Second, be aware of specific signs of satanic involvement. Watch for the teenager who seems obsessed with power, both exerting his own power over others and rejecting power over himself. Watch for the teenager whose words and actions display unusual destructiveness, who openly defies authority, and who seems almost consumed by feelings of vengeance and hate. Notice the teenager who seems absorbed with himself or herself, preoccupied with self-interests and self-indulgence.

Third, recognize that for most teenagers, satanism is an expression of rage, hostility, and self- indulgence more than it is a developed religious conviction. Most teenagers have little exposure to Christianity other than the mocking of television or the movies. Strong belief in a literal powerful spiritual person called Satan is usually as ridiculous to them as belief in some omnipresent God in heaven. Consequently, while all teenage satanists "worship Satan," most conceive of Satan as a self-serving natural force, or a symbol of their own rejection of authority. As one satanist proudly declared to us, "I am Satan and I worship myself!" Little wonder that Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible, declares that the satanist's own birthday is the most important "unholy" day of the satanic calendar!

Fourth, physical clues are important. Although occult symbols and signs are scattered throughout contemporary music, videos, movies, television programs, comic books, and video games, the teenager who exhibits some of these signs and also uses occult symbols on papers, notebooks, jewelry, tattoos, and clothing is probably involved in satanism. The most common symbols are the pentagram, an inverted five point star in a circle; the baphomet, or "Goat of Mendes," representing lust; the inverted cross, and words written backwards, such as "redrum" (murder) or "live" (evil). Satanic literature is as close as the nearest discount bookstore or public library, and almost all teenage satanists use Anton LaVey's The Satanic Bible as their satanic handbook. Satanists compose their own rituals and ceremonies and add to them their satanic "prayers" and writings in a personal "Book of Shadows." This may be a simple spiralbound notepad or an elaborately handtooled leather diary. Frequently the writing is coded or backward. At home, the satanist will have ritual tools such as an altar (even a black cloth over a card table will do), a black robe, candles (especially black and red), bells, a chalice, a sword or staff of "power," and a dagger. Not all teenage satanists have elaborate and extensive ritual aids, and they are extremely good at hiding them, so concerned parents must look carefully. As a concerned Christian educator, you can intervene to help the troubled teenage satanist.

Six elements are key to successfully rescuing a teenager whose personal problems have driven him or her to cry out with destructive satanic involvement. First, be committed to helping through listening, educating, talking, praying, working with parents, disciplining, and offering better solutions to the individual problems experienced by the satanists. Second, seek professional help from responsible, non-sensational books (see sidebar), experienced pastoral counselors, and youth workers who specialize in out-of-control teenagers. Since most teenage satanism is symptomatic of broader problems, you don't need expertise in satanism as much as expertise in adolescent problem solving. Third, intervene in appropriate and constructive ways to turn the teenager from satanism and toward good solutions. Intervention varies by case, and may range from forbidding occult symbols, terminology, or themes from classroom work to working with parents, juvenile authorities, and your school administration to enforce consequences on continued teenage satanic destructiveness. Fourth, expose the ultimately self-destructiveness of satanism and its false promises. Fifth, offer better solutions, problem solving techniques, and lifestyle choices. This includes being a good role model so the teenage satanist sees that constructive commitment is far more personally fulfilling than the abandonment of destructive occultism. Finally, pray and enlist the prayers of friends, colleagues, and family. Be confident that "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4) and "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b). When the smoke and trick mirrors are removed by the power of God's truth, Satan's allure is exposed as an empty shell of broken promises. Teenage satanists are looking for truth and life -- show them the One who is Truth and Life (John 14:6).

 

Teenagers and Satanism: Danger Signs

• Satanic and/or occult symbols on schoolwork, clothes, personal belongings.
• Attitudes of extreme isolationism, hatred, vengeance, and personal destructive power, all seemingly without remorse.
• Obsession with death, violence, evil, the mysterious, and the occult.
• Concurrent drug, alcohol, and sexual activity.
• Reputation among peers as someone to be feared or catered to because of his/her personal power. (Or, appears to follow someone with such a reputation.)
• Self-proclaimed satanist, devil-worshipper, or "witch."
• Preoccupation with colors red and black (such as clothing), knives, candles, and other occult paraphrenalia.
• "Book of Shadows" (secret ritual book), backward writing, occult-themed writing.

Suggestions for Intervention

• Approach student with confidence, honesty, and genuine concern.
• Work with student on areas impacting his/her school work or school participation.
• Try to discover student's fundamental problems (which he/she is trying unsuccessfully to solve with satanism).
• Offer better, more successful, and more constructive ways of solving those problems.
• Point out the destructiveness of satanic involvement and its ultimate spiritual and emotional bankruptcy.
• Involve parents or another responsible adult the student trusts if you can enlist their sensible cooperation.
• Pray for the student, the family, the student's fundamental problems, and those who are encouraging the student's satanic involvement.
• Be a good role model with consistent Christian maturity -- show how Christians successfully meet life's challenges with the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Book Suggestions

• When the Devil Dares Your Kids by Bob and Gretchen Passantino (Servant, 1991)
• The Black Mask by John Charles Cooper (Revell, 1990)
• The Psychology of Adolescent Satanism by Anthony Moriarty (Praeger, 1992).

By Bob and Gretchen Passantino

Copyright 1994 by Bob and Gretchen Passantino

READER COMMENT: "If there is the 100 gazillion in 1 chance that this universe is a result of the big bang theory, then there must also be a respective equal chance that there exists a God who created it. As each chance is investigated, I believe we will see that the evidence is in more favor of a Master Engineer being responsible for Creation, rather than the chance dice rolling 'lucky seven' a gazillion times in a row"....

Some atheist websites want to play word games with the concept of "atheism" and quibble about what they do or don't believe. But simply put, atheists are people who don't believe in God.

The entire Internet teems with the ideas and views of atheists who want the world to know that anyone who believes in a Deity is basically "superstitious and irrational". The articles below will provide some food for thought. Whether or not you choose to "believe" is up to you, but if you're truly interested in discovering for yourself whether or not God is real, then we will ask you to put aside your prejudices and study the articles below with an open mind.

The questions we, at The Refiner's Fire, would like to pose are as follows:

Proof that God exists: