Where in the Bible is the Pentacle described as an evil symbol?

Question

This is open to everyone except those who haunt us with their assinine comments. Another question I asked brought up the opinion that the Pentacle was a sign of the devil or of evil. Where in the Bible is this stated and if it isn't in the Bible then why would Christians dislike it so? I know the King James version of the Bible states, "suffer not a witch to live" and the KJ version is also known to have been translated at King James behest and he influenced certain areas, especially anything to do with witchcraft. Also the Witch of Endor was called on by King Saul to speak to the ghost of the prophet Samuel, which seems a bit hypocritical, but it isn't a big deal to Pagans. I just want to know how Christians are being taught things that are not in the Bible and applying these teachings to Pagans, witches and the Pentacle. Isn't this "bearing false witness towards others?" which is one of the 10 Commandments?

Just a note to all answering, I am an ordain minister and I have had fluence study of all religions, especially Christianity. So please don't jump to conclusions that I am in any way Bible stupid!

Answer 1

The pentacle is, as you probably know, not mentioned in the Bible, but is, in fact merely a symbol which many Christians have chosen to see as evil. I'm sure Hollywood has helped this along, nearly always portraying it as a symbol used by those worshipping "evil". Many of the answers above make good points on this subject.

As far as "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live", etymologically speaking, most scholars agree that the word was not originally witch, but "poisoner", one who uses their knowledge of poisons to harm another. Not quite the same thing, is it? The Witch of Endor is another mistranslation. Witch in this case more closely meant necromancer, one who uses power over the dead.

There are many, many examples of this kind of mistranslation from the Hebrew in the Bible. Unfortunately many Christians will tell you the Bible CAN'T be mistranslated(?!?), so they ignore these things, ignore the findings of linguists, historians, etc.

Sorry, I know I digressed - you found one of my Biblical pet peeves :-)

Answer 2

The pentagram, or more accurately the pentacle (which is the pentagram shaped object that you often wear as a charm on a necklace or a ring) has always represented good, order and all of that stuff, but turned upside down, for common and purile reasons, those meanings are symbolically "inverted" which is where the "evil" connotation comes from, in precisely the same way that a cross inverted is viewed as a victim of "Satanic" mischief to put it mildly. Those who originally called the pentacle/pentagram evil were individuals who sought power and influence for themselves, and since Christianity is an "authority based" religion, the common followers of the faith took the "authority" of those calling pentacles evil seriously. That's where the problem comes from. In regard to your friend wearing the pentacle as a symbol of her faith. Encourage her to do so, I'd rather be around Christians like her than the ones who go around bashing her...and well...if symbolic representations of old Christianity are important to her, then maybe you should buy her a charm in the shape of a pelican. THAT is also an early Christian symbol as pelicans were once believed to actually pierce their breasts with their beaks in order to feed their young with their own blood during times of starvation: the sacrifice symbolism is obvious here, and someone wearing a pelican could conceivably make the same existential point, while also having fun looking at the confused faces of people who call themselves Christian without even realizing what "Being Christian" means.

Answer 3

It's not specifically mentioned. Which, I suppose, is a good thing, since one of the early uses of the pentagram was to signify the 5 wounds of Christ.

While the original Exodus passages refer to those who cast harmful magic, in the greater sense, Pagans still practice a different religion from the Abrahamics. So, even if a Pagan doesn't cast harmful magic, the whole religion thing is still going to be a strike against them.

As someone else pointed out above, the pentagram has become associated with a number of things, most of them the type of stuff that most Christians take a stand against. However, I do have to disagree with the simplistic good/bad view that was presented - there are good and bad associations for both the pentagram and the cross, either normal or upside down. Even the inverted cross holds a positive meaning in Christianity - it's just been overshadowed by other meanings, so people tend to ignore it (or be ignorant of it.)

Answer 4

The Pentacle isn't mentioned in the Bible, to my knowledge. I think it goes back to ancient Egypt and/or Greece. It is often called the "Seal of Solomon" because it appears in the Solomonic Grimoires (books of Magick which were attributed to Solomon, but were really written in the Middle Ages). It has always been associated with Magick -- not only Pagan, but Christian, and Jewish as well (hence, the Solomonic Grimoires). I think it appears in some Islamic art motifs, and I know it's on the Moroccan flag. The Golden Dawn, and subsequently Crowley, used it as a ritual gesture for invoking and banishing the energies of the Elements. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is the first ritual taught in many Ceremonial Magick traditions. It was adopted by Wicca as its "Holy Symbol," mainly I think because of the influence that the Golden Dawn and Crowley had on Gerald Gardner. In the classic horror film "the Wolf-man," with Lon Cheney Jr., it was used as a symbol of protection against werewolves. In the 1960's, Anton LeVey turned it upside down and stuck a goat-head on it, and it's been viewed as Satanic ever since. It's appeared on heavy metal album covers, and in cheesy horror movies since the 60's and 70's, and strikes fear in the heart of normals who are unaware if its benign meanings. The first time I saw someone wearing one, it really freaked me out. Then I learned about the Craft, and started wearing one myself!

On a side note, it's a popular misconception that "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" originally meant "poisoner." It is true that in the Greek (Septuagint) and possibly also Latin (Vulgate) versions the word is best translated as "poisoner," or, "drug-maker." If you go back to the Hebrew text, however, I think you will find that it says, "Thou shalt not suffer a Pagan Sorceress to live," so the word "witch" in the King James is appropriate, and not just politically motivated.

Answer 5

The Pentacle is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Symbols are what people perceive them to represent. The letter T could represent a letter in the alphabet or the cross of Christ depending upon who is looking at it. If a person perceives a pentacle to be Satanic then that's what it represents to them. Another person might just see a 5 sided star. The fact that worshipers of Satan use a pentacle as part of their ceremonies is where that design has gained it's notoriety. It's like the symbol of the Swastika. That symbol didn't always have a negative image before Hitler took it as his own.

Answer 6

To the ancient Egyptians, the pentacle was a sign of life or health; it was an amulet of protection and healing in Babylon.
It has been important to almost every ancient culture, from the Mayans of Latin America, to India, China and Greece. It has been found scratched on the walls of Neolithic caves. Hebrew scriptures refer to pentacles.

The adoption of the inverted pentacle as a Satanic emblem is quite recent, dating only to the latter half of the twentieth century.

Answer 7

We all know that Saul died for what he did, which was forbidden; As for the true God, He warned long ago, from the beginning of times to worship Him and Him only; not anything resembling anything on the earth, the sky or the waters... nothing else and in John 4: 24, it is written that He wants to be worshipped in spirit and truth so it is of utmost importance for us all to make sure of all things... and to act accordingly... according to what we are told by the God of love, wisdom, power and justice! Pretty simple!

Answer 8

You are the one who is bearing false witness. You should read the Bible before casting your judgements as if they were facts. God hates witchcraft and it is mentioned in the Bible numerous times. Yes, Saul consulted a witch, but Saul was judged by God for it. He lost his life the very next day!

Answer 9

it,s not in the good book but since the church can, deal with compilation they figure OK let,s brand em all witch,s as in league wit you know who as for the king James,s you know he had a big hand it what,s in there and as for your reference to Saul back then a witch was just a wise women who actually knew what she was talking about if she had some healing skill oh no she a witch we can have women healer,s or diviner,s that,s a man job \\\get it now

Answer 10

its not evil is it? its a symbol for protection against evil. But i am sure you can find what your looking for here:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pent.htm

seriously look at the source i put down..
pentegram=good
upside down pentagram=bad
cross=good
upside down cross=bad

oh and dont get all hung up on my syntax like me saying evil or not evil. im just answering the question, i personally feel that no sign symbol or anything of the sort is evil or good. its just a representation, just a "symbol." letters are not evil nor the words written down, but what the "symbol" represents may possibly be...