The publication of “Malleus Maleficarum”—written by two well-respected German Dominicans in 1486—likely spurred witch mania to go viral. The book, usually translated as “The Hammer of Witches,” was essentially a guide on how to identify, hunt and interrogate witches. Using an altar where tools reside, Examples include a God candle, olive oil, offering of some sort, incense, salt, water, etc. Each of these altar components has symbolic value. Most people see Christianity and Paganism as two very separate, different religions. Paganism predates Christianity by hundreds of thousands of years. Christianity is the largest religion in the world today, boasting over 2 billion in 2012, alongside of Islam with over 1 billion followers in 2012. In the past five years, those numbers have surely increased. The third largest religion statistically speaking is listed as “secular/agnostic/atheist”, which could also include pagans; however, Neopaganism ranked as number 18 on the list of largest religions, but followed Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto which to some are also a part of the Pagan umbrella. You Want the Truth About Christianity’s Pagan Roots? Christianity IS Paganism At It’s Core He is .... a witch"). In Wycliff's translation of Acts 8:9 Simon Magus is called "a witch" ("wicche"). Since the 13th century the word "witch" has come more and more to denote a woman who has formed a compact with the Devil or with evil spirits, by whose aid she is able to cause all sorts of injury to living beings and to things. The term "witchcraft" means in modern English the arts and practices of such women. In addition to the literature cited under articles DIVINATION and MAGIC (which see), the following worlds may be mentioned (the books on witchcraft proper are simply innumerable):

The penalty for practicing witchcraft under the Mosaic Law was death ( Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27). First Chronicles 10:13 tells us that 'Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the Word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance," the ministry noted.

Types of Witches

There is no counsel for the defence. If you are found guilty, you could become one of the 30,000–60,000 people who were executed for witchcraft in the early modern era. When you're comfortable with witchcraft by itself you can then also read these books on Christian Witchcraft: Witches and Witchcraft: The First Person Executed in the Colonies. State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library Services. Being a global citizen, having traveled extensively to Kenya, China, Hong Kong, India, Bali, Dubai, Cannes, Paris, Mexico, Hawaii and throughout the US and Carribbean, Rev. Val has ahome in the Yucatan, Mexico. Wicca is a very beautiful religion that speaks to many people, so some Christians try to blend Christianity and Wicca together. This is mostly done with either one of two ways; (1) equating the Virgin Mary with Wicca's "Goddess" and Jesus with Wicca's "God", (2) equating the Holy Spirit with Wicca's "Goddess" and considering Christianity's "God" and Wicca's "God" to be one and the same.

Portrayals of witchcraft in church records can be very amusing. Almost everything that was "known" at the time about witches was pure fiction, inventions by church authorities who were told that witches were a threat and so had to come up with something to describe. Their creations have passed on into popular cultural images of witches which continue to this day. Very little of people's understanding of witches has anything to do with older, pagan traditions which supposedly were the source of witches and witchcraft. Someone wise once said to me, “Christianity IS paganism.” I scoffed at the remark, until I began studying the origins of religion. The roots of Christianity are pagan, and so I beg to differ with those who argue you can’t be Christian and pagan. Read on to learn more about Christianity’s pagan traditions, holidays and practices. Christianity & Paganism: Statistically Speaking Between the years 1500 and 1660, up to 80,000 suspected witches were put to death in Europe. Around 80 percent of them were women thought to be in cahoots with the Devil and filled with lust. Germany had the highest witchcraft execution rate, while Ireland had the lowest. Where do we get off believing that we can actually dictate to other people how they worship. ... It's not our lane," Love said. "I was born a witch and I love it. I'm so thankful. People are afraid of the word [witch] because of fear and ignorance and I am here as a minister of the living God to dispel fear and ignorance."One such figure was peculiar to the western Alps. She was the female embodiment of winter, a female figure often called Bertha or Perchta or Befuna. She punished social disobedience and rewarded ‘goodness’. She was always portrayed as an old hag, because she represented cold and winter. It did not take long for intellectuals to note her resemblance to the witches with whom they were familiar from classical literature. Why do I want to do witchcraft, what is its appeal? Healing, introspection, connection? Fame, money, revenge? Escapism, faith, knowledge? To serve yourself, or to serve others?

Speaking in Tongues and Channeling” speaking in tongues derives from a faulty interpretation of Acts. Read the book and one will see that “tongues” refer to languages, i.e. “mother tongue”. How the Pentecostals getting this wrong is somehow another nail in Christianity’s coffin is beyond me.Early witches were people who practiced witchcraft, using magic spells and calling upon spirits for help or to bring about change. Most witches were thought to be pagans doing the Devil’s work. Many, however, were simply natural healers or so-called “wise women” whose choice of profession was misunderstood. Only you know the way for you, so make time to get quiet, meditate and listen to your own heart and soul.