Seeing as the bible is purely against divination and any other forms of witchcraft...
The books in the bible are supposed to be played out by god himself, including the book of revelation which is obviously toward the future (many know where i am going here...)
So, seeing these prophets have had 'visions of the future', would that not have technically deemed them witches in themselves?
Thus, if Jesus and his saints had lived in the dark ages, would not they in themselves, been burned at the stake for practising witchcraft?
Figuratively speaking, so no crappy "No, because if they lived in the dark ages christianity had not yet been created" answers.
2007-10-06 13:22:43 · 10 answers · asked by Xzar 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
for info, i understand more than that do, hence the word 'including' ;-)
2007-10-06 13:28:30 · update #1
In relation to sharons answer.. Well.. What exactly do you know of paganism and witchcraft then?
Having studied it for many many years, the art of ritual is no more 'forcing' nature or the powers of the elements etc, to do your bidding, than praying is forcing the christian god to abide.
If anything, asserting something forcefully is more likely to end in refusal. It is a request in which you must show love of nature or the element with which you work.
2007-10-06 13:30:50 · update #2
Toon - Didn't know that about the magi, i'll look more into that :).
Also, i am not playing what if's with god whoever said that ;). I have my own religion and my own gods. I just like learning of other religions to best understand my own.
Also Android, the picture is of Xzar from Baldurs Gate.
2007-10-06 15:16:33 · update #3
Burned at the stake or hung from the cross...
Just a matter of different time periods way of choosing to deal with things they can't or choose not to deal with.
Additionally, I want to point out the group that saw visions were the Magi (think Christmas story) and from them we get our word magic. The prophets didn't so much have vision but heard/saw/interpreted the word of God.
2007-10-06 13:39:11 · answer #1 · answered by toonew2two 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a difference between divination and prophecy. Divination is the attempt to use dark forces to foretell the future. Witchcraft also is the attempt to force the supernatural to one's own will. Prophecy, on the other hand, is a servant of God receiving a message from God on God's time and discernment. The intent and the method are different.
Just an aside, it wouldn't be a crappy answer to say that if they were from the dark ages there wouldn't be Christianity yet. There really wouldn't and the whole of human history would have taken a different course. Europe, for example, would still have been largely pagan so they wouldn't have had a problem with someone else supernatural.
2007-10-06 20:27:55 · answer #2 · answered by Sharon M 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Lets put it this way God (Christ ) warned against withches and there kind , but some were still foolish enough to try to use them .Prophets were tested to see if they really were , they had to pass or be killed . They were tested by telling the future of days and weeks and mnths , and every thing had better be correct , or how could they be believed for the future of yrs.Now witches do not get there so called powers from God but the prophets claimed they did and God did use them .Witches on the dark side prophets preach and showed the light
2007-10-06 20:44:33 · answer #3 · answered by the only 1 hobo 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you want to know what really is the difference between Christianity and witchcraft, as they both produce supernatural powers.
I think it's this:
People who cast spells or 'contact the dead' do it because they want power and sensation. They want to control other people and be honoured for what they can do. They often do it to the expense of the other person. In fact, I think mostly.
Christians are people who have been looking for and finding the truth in Jesus Christ. He represents the opposite pole of the above. He went to the extreme by submitting his power as God to help us.
Christians (most of them!) strive to serve humbly, not to use supernatural powers to control others. In fact, most of us don't even seek them, we just live our lives as always, and then God sometimes simply provides us with his power when we need it.
Phew, sorry for my long answer. Haven't properly thought it through yet!
2007-10-06 20:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by Amelie 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible does warn against false prophets as does the Koran.
But neither book is against divination, and they contain prophecy other than the Book of Revelation.
2007-10-06 20:27:01 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Maybe you should say if Jesus had lived at all? There is very little evidence to suggest that he lived as an actual person...The Bible was written too many years after his supposed death to contain any viable hearsay account evidence and as far as actual historical figures mentioned during the time of Jesus isn't it funny that they themselves never wrote in their journals about him or that the records of his execution were not recorded by Pontius Pilate?
2007-10-06 20:30:02 · answer #6 · answered by klover_dso 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Dear Mike,
Actually, playing what ifs with God lacks humility.
Jesus is Salvation.
2007-10-06 20:38:19 · answer #7 · answered by just a man 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Your avatar is from "Planescape:Torment" right? F*ckin rock on dude! Uh what was your question?
Star me I need 10 points - plz! ;)
2007-10-06 20:42:32 · answer #8 · answered by Android 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
since when has visions become deemed as withcraft?
2007-10-06 20:31:31 · answer #9 · answered by sassy.nurse 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Who cares? The book is crap. Anyone who attempts to find meaning in it is a lost cause.
2007-10-06 20:26:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 6⤋