why do christians and other religions cast out and shadow  out  high magick practicers?
375128
First off...Paganish, Wicca...they do not worship a devil.  They are a peaceful religion and a earth religion.  Everything is alive ans sacred.  Second.  The devil is a christan invention...they used that to convert thousands of pagans.\n\nHigh Magick is all ceremony and full of cr*p.  All you do is wave you freaking arm around and pretend it happened...\n\nYou know, after reading what you said...I would have thought you would know more...especially if you are practicing "High magick"....  But then again there are little kids out there thinking they know everything about everything and think that their form of "religion" is right even if they made it up and are fooling only themselves.\n\nBTW I practice Paganism...so don't think that you can fool me for one second.  You need to do research...or find a new website to base your beliefs on because the one you're using now is leading you on.
242966
I've been told more times than I can count that because I am Wiccan I am worshiping Satan and going to hell.  I had a person I worked with once they found out I was Wiccan spent every time we had to deal with each other trying to convert me and tell me I was wrong and it was false.  This person went so far as to send their pastor in to talk to me and try to convert me.  It didn't work I told them bluntly I was happy with my religion.  After open circle one night several of us had a car load of what we call 'attack Christians' follow us home and sermonize us the whole way over a loud speaker from our car!  Things got so bad for us when we held open circle we had to get a restraining order because of protesters who shouted the worst things you can imagine!
191155
it is a deception of Satans. These people honstly believe that they are not out to  do anything bad on others so it can't  be bad. If only the world would just stop and realize, satan is going to use what looks and sounds good to trap them. If the source of power does not come from God then it is bad, and that is all there is too it.
782096
I think you're looking at a smaller ratio of people when you match Pagan with Christianity. It's by sheer numbers that you find more bible toters. \nThen, you have the fact that Pagans take a stay low attitude for the most part. There are religions that I have just heard of mostly because the folks practicing are keeping a low profile because what they practice isn't widely accepted.\nUnfortunately it does seem that some people think they can turn people by merely wearing them down. It doesn't work that way, you would think they would have figured that out by now.
171882
Eh. Some of them are "Wiccan" because it's fashionable. And they still throw in a few "Father son and holy ghost"s for good measure. Irritates me. They'll kill an innocent chicken or rabbit for a spell but they are to ashamed to cut themselves or harness the power of their own bodies by m@sterb4ting atop an altar where Jehovah and Allah and those other gods they claim to deny can see them.\n\nThen there are the other kind, the true Wiccans who pick up "Bucklands complete book of witchcraft" instead of "Love spells for teens omg!!!" I respect THAT breed and the way they are attuned to the seasons and the cycles of life.\n\nI am not a wiccan. I am member of the CoS, but anyone intrested in becoming a Wiccan needs to pick up some of Buckland's work. Seriously.
689674
Because this practice(along with others) by Catholics is not scripturally based. \n\ntosmith
204815
Most of the rituals revolve around the building of King Solomon's Temple. We use the building tools of the ancient operative stonemasons symbolically as an allegory for how to live our lives as just and upright men.  (on the level...fair and square, etc.) It's no secret. Only the passwords, and grips we use to identify ourselves to each other are secret, just like in any college fraternity or sorrority. Also, we cant quote the rituals.  But as far as what they are about....pretty much public knowledge to anyone who will put down their pre-conceived notions and just ask.  Many lodges hold open houses a couple of times a year where the community can tour the building and ask questions.  The cross-spitting thing that one answerer mentioned is a myth.  Just like they say we ride goats, worship the devil, make ritual sacrifices, and...(oh, my personal favorite) have sex with satan in our initiation.  If anybody honestly believes any of that, then they deserve to make fools of themselves by stating them out loud.
469478
The custom you described sounds a lot like the old shamanistic Wicca ritual to protect a dwelling, often carried over to Christian culture without the participants knowledge of why they were doing what they were doing, just done because it was always done; or lost origins to time. I of course mean no disrespect to your Oma, and I personally find it charming that She loved you so. Thank you for sharing this interesting finding.
387918
Superstitious, religious types need their religion. It tells them what to do, how to act, what to think. It comforts them.  So if you threaten it with tricky questions then they can get very techie.\nSome of them think they have to 'save' other non belivers. They're very annoying.
932277
Ignorance of what it is.  They hear "magic" and assume that must mean we're summoning demons to do our bidding.  So they attack the image they have of it.\n\nTrue, they use the word Pagan to mean something insulting.  Personally, I don't allow other people to define that word for me.  That would be like me trying to define Christian and saying ALL Christians fit that description that I made up.  So, what they call me and what they mean by it doesn't bother me.  It's when they make up stories or spread false information and claim to be a truthful person, THAT annoys me.  The group as a whole can't claim to be persecuted when they continue to do such things based in ignorance and hatred.
581850
They fear what they do NOT understand, and in that FEAR they attempt to discredit and/or destroy that which they lack the knowledge of; it is a human nature, and it is what mystics attempt to overcome.  Little do the Mainstream Christians know that, the Christian Mysticism is the very core of Christianity: Jesus was a Mystic of the Essene Sect.\n\nMany Christians will use the First and Second Laws of Moses as their reason to condemn mysticism; however, they are greatly in error because: Christian Mystics do NOT worship any deities except God, and use NO carved images in reference to God.  Again, all the accusations are from the ignorance and biased views.\n\n-- Mysticism: The Path of Light which focus on the Method of Feeling the Divine Grace (Feeling God).\n\n-- Gnosticism: The Path of Light which focus on the Method of Understanding the Divine Grace (Knowing God).\n\nPax et Amore Christi vobiscum.\nLux Mithrai ex Tenebras Crucis.
637763
To help Christianity spread a smear campaign began. Witchcraft, which is pagan, was made to look evil. They took various pagan beliefs and incorporated them into the bad parts of Christianity (such as satan having horns). Witchcraft being pagan, was seen to be against God and therefore in line with satan.\n\nyes i do know that not all witchcraft uses the powers of satan or demons and that most is good\n\nfrom some other answers i figured it would be good if i mentioned also that i am Catholic
377208
Don't listen to all that mularkey about Wicca being not Godly.  We have more gods than Christians.  So we are MORE godly.  \n\nWhite witchcraft is a myth.  The intention of the user makes up the direction of the spell.  I am a firm believer that you should study your faith before practicing magick.  \n\nBecause you have to know where your energy comes from before you use it.  \n\nWhen I first started out, I read a whole bunch, here are some good books to start with.  Good Luck.
254420
The same reasons people practice any religeon. It's what they prefer to believe in. It makes the most sense to them.
434499
They don't do it with Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, or Islam.  It must be something about Christianity.
1061793
Divination is the practice of fortune telling and predicting the future.\n\nI'm glad you brought this scripture out.  It's very important.  Divination is a practice that deals with spirit mediums, hence, it deals with Satan and his demons.  Christians should have nothing to do with divination.  God made it clear that we should stay away from it.  Believe it or not, astrology is an act of divination.\n\nRead this:\n\nActs 16:16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction. 17 This [girl] kept following Paul and us and crying out with the words: “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are publishing to YOU the way of salvation.” 18 This she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
65817
magick is magick.  tis the soul of the caster that taints it.