Exodus 22:18 "Suffer not a witch to live." Where's the love?

Question

eeklutop: I'm quite sure I speak for nearly everyone when I say, you really need to quit taking whatever your taking. Try decaf.

-LIONHEART-: So do I. But we have to remember that this is a book of "love", just ask any of the believers, they'll be more than happy to tell you so.

panglosswasright: By golly, I think you've hit on something there! lol

Answer 1

Well you are looking for love in a book which condones rape, slavery and genocide- that may be your problem. It is almost as if it was written by man to keep people in line.

Answer 2

Well, V.C.'s right as usual - no love there.

Still, I'll paraphrase G.K. Chesterton from my feeble memory. He said something to the effect that, people would be more understanding of the ancient prohibitions against witchcraft if they remembered that the thing witches were most often accused of was keeping people from having children.

That's not to say it's right - it's obviously ignorance. And the modern, REAL Wiccans are a world apart from the ancient perception of witches "spelling" people into infertility or poisoning children. If we really thought witches were doing that kind of stuff, I'm sure we'd be a little bit upset too...

Peace and (((hugGs)))

Answer 3

The OT and the laws thereof, especially in this context, were directed to the Israelites. They were specifically God's chosen people, and as such, were expected to follow strict laws to show that they were indeed set apart from the rest of the evil society of the day. Most of the precepts set in the OT are still relevant today [obviously, we aren't required to sacrifice animals or to sprinkle blood on our doorways anymore], ie, being a witch in today's society is still considered wrong within the Christian faith. However, because we live in the NT, a witch is no longer required to be stoned, burned at the stake, or otherwise killed. Indeed, Christians should try to show God's love to these type of people. That doesn't mean we accept their lifestyle, that means we love the person and despise their actions, and may have to approach the person in question about it. There is one extreme, then there is another. One extreme is just to be like "oh you can be into the occult, I still love you and God still loves you, you can continue to be a Christian and use wigi boards [or whatever, I'll be honest, I don't know the ins and outs of modern witchcraft]" then there is the other extreme of being like "you're going to burn in hell, repent or die"... basically being a Christian entails finding the balance between the two extremes, being able to approach someone about their lifestyle with the minimum amount of offense.

Answer 4

To JeeVee, who claims that the original word means 'poisoner', I say.. do some research yourself. I have.. the original hebrew means "sorcerer".. same thing as a witch.. bottom line, the translation isn't far off and its intent is "do not allow a magical practioner to live".. this abrahamic god is a tyrant, sociopath, and doesn't deserve our worship or attention. Anyone who thinks THAT is love really needs counseling, or a lobotomy

Answer 5

"During many ages there were witches. The Bible said so. The Bible commanded that they should not be allowed to live. Therefore the Church, after doing its duty in but a lazy and indolent way for 800 years, gathered up its halters, thumbscrews, and firebrands, and set about its holy work in earnest. She worked hard at it night and day during nine centuries and imprisoned, tortured, hanged, and burned whole hordes and armies of witches, and washed the Christian world clean with their foul blood. Then it was discovered that there was no such thing as witches, and never had been. One does not know whether to laugh or to cry." — Mark Twain.

Answer 6

you will not believe or accept this, sin is the absolute source of all unhappiness and of all the problems we see in the world today.

1.) The witch was to die so their sin did not contaminate the rest of the people. Shows love.

2.) The witch was to die for a warning to others not to sin in that manner. Shows love.

3.) There are 2 resurrections mentioned in Revelations, the witch will most likely come up in the second and be given an opportunity to repent of witchcraft. (show love)

4.) Anyone who is part of that second resurrection and refuses to repent will be cast in the lake of fire to be consumed (destroyed) so that their unhappiness will not effect the rest of the population. (shows love)

5.) The wicked dead who do not repent at their resurrection are subject to the second death mentioned in the scriptures and will cease to exist for all eternity. (show love)

I know it is hard for you to swallow, but it is the truth from the Bible. No place of eternal torment where the wicked go to be tortured forever for their sins. Doesn't exist.

Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death.........

Answer 7

Wow, did I start something or not!!!??? Who said the church had any love? Maybe for thier own coffers, but not for anyone with ideas that differed from their own.

It was obvious that the witch trials was nothing more then a monsterous land grab. Most of the people murdered owned substancial land or other wealth. At least at first. Then when things got out of hand, the people being killed was anyone whose opinions differed with their neighbors, or anyone who was not overly popular.

Part of my training was to read the The Witch's Hammer AKA
The Malleus Maleficarum. It is now part of my first degree training course for Wiccan students.

Its easy to find. Just type in the above name in any search engine. You will lear alot by reading it and the history behind it.

Aviana

Answer 8

Groan Not this cliche again1

Unfortunately King James had a major obsession with witchcraft. The actual Hebrew word used actually means something like poisoner or person who uses magical rituals to harm others.

The RSV translation emphasizes this by changing witch to sorceress. Perhaps still not the right word?

Witch comes from an very obscure word that seems to have meant wise one.

Please go and do some more research!

Answer 9

That is actually a mistranslation. It should read:
"Wizards [one who makes curses] thou shalt not suffer to live [among you]." (maleficos non patieris vivere).

This is a very specific kind of wizard. It is one who places curses on people. In context, it seems to be associated with those who make love charms, which are apparently considered a curse, as they violate a person's free will.

Answer 10

Even if the word witch is not the right one in that sentence, it just goes to show that supposedly, the phrase, "forgiveness is divine" is true. humans cannot forgive, but the god can? No love for anyone but themselves.

Answer 11

Sick isn't it? The original translation reads suffer not a poisoner to live. King James changed what he didn't like. Or, to what suited his needs at that time. What a fool.