Seeking intelligent answer on the Bible and witchcraft...?

Question

I am looking for a reference on witchcraft as defined in the Bible. It is my theory that the word "witchcraft" has evolved to multiple definitions causing confusion on what should be condemned as defined in the Bible and what is simply imaginative play. For example the word gay once simply meant to be happy but has evolved to mean one who is a homosexual. Were I writing a book and said "he was a gay man" should we condemn him to be a homosexual or is he simply a happy man. I hope that this makes as much sense writing it as it did in my head. What made a witch in Biblical times? If you know of a book on the subject I would be very appreciative. PLEASE if you don't have an intelligent answer without mindless preaching don't bother.

Answer 1

2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

Micah 5:12
I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.

These are really the only two that made mention of specifics that I could find. Try going to Biblegateway.com. You can actually do word and topic searches in a variety of translations.

Hope that helps a little!

Answer 2

My answer has to do with the concept of "eternal present." You see this concept both in many religions as well as in witchcraft itself.

Eternal present is basically the idea that there is some kind of hinterland or grey area between the physical world and the spiritual world. A more scientific idea even evolved from Ein Stein's theory of relativity - the Fourth Dimention and all.

An example from the Old Testement is the part where God (who is purely spirit) walks, talks, and eats as he passes through the Garden of Eden. The problem with this is that there is no CONSISTANT answer about how we can use the eternal present or even what it is. It confuses the human and leads to superstition.

It's like chasing a rope that's tied to your head. The faster you run, the more it gets ahead of you.

Answer 3

I'm not totally sure, but I believe the Bible doesn't mention it at all. The witch hunts were a much later thing, a Catholic attempt to destroy any powerful women: healers, wise women, philosophers, priestesses, etc.
It came along with the idea of "heresy", I believe, at about the same time that the Church started persecuting Jews, homosexuals, Muslims, etc. Likely, the first clear stance the Catholic Church made against "witchcraft" (which is really just made up of remnant Pagan beliefs) was the first Inquisition.

Answer 4

Well, times really haven't changed that much. There were many differing definitions as to what a "witch" was even in those times. To make matters worse, so many words were changed or simplified during the multitude of translations of the Bible. Especially when the King James Version hit the scene. For example, the famous "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live": in the original the word that was translated as "witch" in the KJV meant "a poisoner of wells". When you consider this, it makes perfect sense why desert dwelling persons would want to kill them!

Answer 5

This is not exactly a scholarly answer, just my own theory, but there was so much oppression of women, maybe a "witch" back in that day was just an independent and intelligent woman who was seen as being different, or whom men could not assert power over. Who knows, maybe according to the bible's original meaning, we're all witches who should be burned at the stake or stoned to death in the streets.

I don't have any references for you, sorry. I don't believe in the bible anyways, so it's kind of a non-issue to me. I'm just really bored.

Answer 6

God knows
that people need answers for solving life's many problems. They need to
make the best choices about how to live. God also knows that people
often look for answers in the wrong places. For example, many turn to
spirit mediums who claim to speak for the dead or other spirits. Many also
seek answers in witchcraft, spiritism, magic spells, omens and other
signs, such as the stars. In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, God commanded His
people NOT to use these methods (also Leviticus 19:31; 1 Chronicles 10:13;
Isaiah 8:19; Acts 19:19; Revelation 21:8). Was He trying to keep them
from finding spiritual answers? Actually, God was keeping them from these
methods because they give FALSE answers, which harm people (Isaiah
47:8-15; Jeremiah 27:9-10).

God's love went even further. Rather than stopping the search for
answers, He opened the way for ALL the answers we need. For immediately
after speaking against mediums, God promised to send the Prophet like Moses
(Deuteronomy 18:15-19). People do not need "mediums" because God gives
His Mediator! God assured them,

"I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell
them everything I command him" (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Unlike messages from mediums, this message would be true and
trustworthy. For it would be GOD'S OWN WORDS. "

Answer 7

a ways under ninety% of Christians settle for evolution. Thats ridiculous. whether that quantity became genuine, the ninety% could desire to be attentive to that my criticizes does not unavoidably stick to to them. As for his 2nd remark, God could have actual defined evolution in a fashion human beings 2000 years in the past could desire to appreciate. no longer less than God do not have instructed us vegetation existed in the previous the solar. Thats ridiculous.