Posted on 11/18/2018 7:51:47 AM PST by Simon Green
A report in the Christian Post contends that the number of witches (and Wiccans) has dramatically increased since the 1990s, to the degree that there may be at least 1.5 million witches in the United States, which is higher than the 1.4 million mainline Presbyterians.
"[T]he practice of witchcraft has grown significantly in recent decades; those who identify as witches has risen concurrently with the rise of the 'witch aesthetic,'" reported the Christian Post in October, citing data from Quartz, a Trinity College study, and the Pew Research Center.
Between 1990 and 2008, the number of Wiccans in the United States grew from 8,000 to 340,000, according to three religious surveys conducted by Trinity College in Connecticut. In addition, the Pew Research Center reported in 2014 that 0.4% of the population -- 1 to 1.5 million Americans -- "identify as Wicca or Pagan."
"It makes sense that witchcraft and the occult would rise as society becomes increasingly postmodern," author Julie Roys, formerly of Moody Radio, told the Christian Post. "The rejection of Christianity has left a void that people, as inherently spiritual beings, will seek to fill."
Roys added that witchcraft is especially attractive to Millenials because it has been "effectively repackaged."
"No longer is witchcraft and paganism satanic and demonic," said Roys. "[I]t's a 'pre-Christian tradition' that promotes 'free thought' and 'understanding of earth and nature.'"
Author and Christian radio ("My Faith Radio") host Carmen FowlerLaBerge, referencing the Quartz data, tweeted last month, "As mainline Protestantism continues its devolution, the U.S. witch population is rising astronomically. There may now be more Americans who identify as practicing witches, 1.5 mil, than there are members of mainline Presbyterianism (PCUSA) 1.4 mil."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
1Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
I’ve been playing rpgs (role playing games) for almost half a century, and this is the first time I’ve encountered anyone who thought they were real.
To each their own.
Thankfully, there isn’t the slightest chance of such a scenario coming to pass in my lifetime, so I’m not losing any sleep over it.
I’m a big fan of James Randi and others like him who spend their time debunking such hokum.
The Bible does not provide capital punishment for all sins. Many crimes like theft require restitution. Perjury requires the punishment which the innocent charged person would have suffered. (That's equitable.) The Bible does provide for stringent standards of due process -- capital crimes require 2 or 3 witnesses -- not a single witnesses, not merely circumstantial evidence. If you are truly interested, you are free to discover these things yourself by reading Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (and Hebrews).
However, the sins we have committed do condemn us to God's just punishment in the after life. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He makes the rules, but he has also provided an escape.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Gospel of John, Chapter 3 verses 16 thru 19)
Related question: would such punishments also apply to those of other faiths (Hindus, Muslims, Pagans etc.)?
You are just now introducing your question. But I will answer it: "None."
Related question: would such punishments also apply to those of other faiths (Hindus, Muslims, Pagans etc.)?
Only if one's practices violate laws against murder, assault, rape, theft, false witness, sexual deviancy and the sexual exploitation of children, etc., would there be legal consequences. Everyone must be accountable to one set of laws, not different legal traditions (e.g. Sharia Law).
The predominantly Christian men who founded this nation instituted a secular state, not a theocracy, but one informed by the Christian religion, laws, customs and wisdom of the Bible. (They all knew it and read it.) This is the basis for self-government and affords the greatest amount of personal freedom.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Message from John Adams to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massacusetts) John Adams October 11, 1798
What I find disturbing about you question is its presumption that Christians want to kill unbelievers. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We Christians have been commanded by Jesus to take the gospel to all people. The mechanism for reaching unbelievers is *preaching* the good news that men do not have to die in their sins. Our weapons are spiritual not physical. Christ suffered death on the cross to atone for all sin. Forgiveness can be appropriated by receiving his sacrifice through the righteousness of faith. Men can avoid eternal torment and become joint heirs with the risen Christ.
It's hard to reach the lost with the good news, if we kill them. Every Christian was at one point an unbeliever. Many have heard the gospel, or various aspects of it, many times before coming to faith. Thank God that He is longsuffering and his followers are faithful in their perseverance.
“What punishment (if any) do you advocate that the State impose on me, were it up to you? “
Why do you assume anyone wants to punish you? To you have a fetish? An inferiority complex? A liberal brainwashing issue?
I’m not the one who brought up killing people because of their religious practices. Quoting from this thread:
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” Exodus 22:18. Thus saith the Lord.
Therefore....what? Surely you’re not advocating the death penalty for witchcraft.
Much more than that.
(End excerpt)
While I’m certainly not a witch (I find the the idea of treating the supernatural as real nonsensical), I’ve played my share of role playing games over the years in which my characters cast spells. That alone will get me accused of “witchcraft” in some circles.
I’m not the one who started quoting the Bible about God ordering the killing of witches. It was another poster who (I presume) is a Christian.
If you don’t want non-believers to be punished, why did you quote the Bible about the need to kill witches?
You are stuck on stupid.
I keep running into Wiccans. They seem to be sort of pagan. They seem harmless as far as I know.
Yes...harmless, yes...but can they float?
I'll spell it out for you again: some conduct is an abomination and deserving of death.
It doesn't matter if one is or is not a believer. The conduct merits the punishment.
Magic is wonderful for children. Why, we have a ‘fairy garden’ right outside. What a sad world if kids could not indulge in magic and make believe. That said, if you wish to raise your kids very soberly and base everything on reality only and eschew Santa Claus and the like, I’m all for that as well. Freedom of religion.
I believe yes, wiccans can float, so that they would be put to death after; only the non witches sink, right?
Right, 1.5 million floaters...maybe.
I'll spell it out for you again: some conduct is an abomination and deserving of death. It doesn't matter if one is or is not a believer. The conduct merits the punishment.
Darn that pesky “freedom of religion” protected by the 1st Amendment! Always getting in the way of your fun.
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