Wicked, Wacky Wicca  by Dan & Agusta Harting

Over the last ten years, our ministry has received an inordinate amount of inquires about Witchcraft. The "Craft" has greatly increased in number and popularity, both among serious members as well as mere casual "dabblers". In the last two years this has been because of the initiation of millions of young, impressionable minds into the evil, enticing escapades and practices of their hero, Harry Potter.

WICCA:  The word is allegedly an old English word for "witch", although some say it is of an even older origin meaning "to bend or twist" from the Sanskrit word "wicce". The revival of Witchcraft ("WICCA", as witches call their unholy practice) has been attributed to an Englishman named Gerald B. Gardner. In 1949, he published his widely read book about witchcraft, "High Magic's Aid" under the pseudonym "Scire". In spite of the loose and ever growing lack of morals in Britain at the time, there was an ancient law against witchcraft, which designated it a crime. However, in 1951 the law was changed, allowing Witchcraft to come out of the closets of Britain where it flourished and flooded  the rest of the western world. Enthusiastic missionaries spreading witchcraft  philosophies and practices reached both clergy and the commoner. Outspoken American feminists, like Starhawk, Margo Adler, Salem's head-witch, Laurie Cabot and others, have enjoyed growing popularity on this side of the ocean, and they have created a general interest and fascination with this allegedly benign religion.

THE APPEAL: Witchcraft, as it always has since the first days of the Bible, greatly appeals to the rebellion which marks our culture so prominently today.  Young people, who have had no moral code and no teaching of right or wrong, find WICCA very enticing. They often think that WICCA is the answer to the abuse of livestock and other animals as well as the salvation of today's teetering ecological balance on the Earth. WICCAns present themselves as the soldiers
of both causes, and they refer to the Craft as a "nature religion". Women, who sometimes feel powerless in today's seemingly male dominated world, are also often drawn to the aspect of Wicca which gives them the picture that they are creatures of great hidden powers. They are made to feel anything but powerless. Rather, Wicca convinces them of their real potential for manifesting their "true" nature as goddesses. Goddess worship is growing so fast that it is even expressed in the fashions of today where its patterns, designs, and jewelry, as well as amulets and meaningful "power-pieces" abound. Mother Goddess is worshipped as Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Many women find this greatly exciting as well as empowering, even as they unknowingly sink deeper and deeper into the demonic deception of paganism.

Witchcraft doesn't only appeal to youth and women. Men are greatly drawn to the permissive and alleged sexual liberation and empowerment of the Craft. Certain rituals and initiations allow for perverted sexual expression of all kinds as WICCA is basically a fertility cult which has no moral code per se. It adamantly denies any existence of evil. Therefore, all forms of evil behavior are allowed and nothing is taboo when it comes to sexual expression. "We do not accept the concept of 'absolute evil' nor do we worship any entity known as 'Satan' or 'the Devil' as defined by the Christian tradition." ("Drawing Down the Moon" pp 100,103 as quoted in Profile by Watchman Fellowship)

WICCAN BUSINESS: The pagan influence in America has been nothing short of astounding. It's symbols, lifestyles, and practices have been so thoroughly promoted that a good portion of the business world is entirely dependent on it. Moons, stars, suns, angels, crystals, yin and yang designs, Celtic configurations, and pagan runes appear on just about any type of object you can imagine. The pagan business amounts to billions of dollars and is even expressed in the food market. Sadder still is its influence, which has profoundly affected the beliefs and ideology of the average person of our day.

BELIEFS: While the beliefs and practices of Witchcraft vary somewhat, the commonality is still great. Most Neo-Pagans and WICCAns believe in an a-moral world where nature itself is the only Deity. Expressions of the Deity take form in several manifestations. Among the most common are Pan (half goat, half man). He is also referred to as Satyr, Horned God, Lucifer, etc..  The female-goddess worship is directed at entities such as the Roman Diana, the Egyptian goddess Isis, the Greek Earth goddess Gaia, and the Scandinavian Freyja.  Elves, Sprites, Earth Spirits, Divas and a host of other entities are also revered and invoked. The revival of each country's old pagan system of worship is cropping up everywhere. Druid Priests in Ireland, Norse Allsherjar Goths in Iceland and Norway, and the list is endless.

"Truth" is a slippery word in Witchcraft. Whatever "your truth" happens to be is okay, as long as it is not true Christianity which is considered "bigoted dogma". Spells are cast, spirits of the dead are contacted, psychic powers are practiced and re-incarnation is borrowed from Hinduism (and generally embraced by WICCAns). Readings of future events are done through various incantations, American Indian Shamanism, studying the entrails of dead animals and casting Tarot Cards. Also, truth and fact may be arrived at by discerning certain signs in nature itself. The list there is also endless and can vary according to which coven you belong; however, The Holy Bible is considered greatly inferior. The same rhetoric you hear from Mormons and other cultists about its alleged mistranslations and "missing books" can often be heard from WICCAns.

CHRISTIAN RESPONSE: In spite of some WICCAns claiming that Jesus Himself was a witch, witchcraft is consistently called evil and forbidden by God in the Bible. God equates it with the sin of rebellion. Find the many references to biblical warnings against witchcraft and the occult in general, beginning with Deuteronomy 18:9, where God declares it to be "disgusting" in His sight. Share with the Pagans the utter hopelessness of putting their trust in the "creature" (who will perish!) rather than in the Blessed Creator (Who is Eternal!). He dearly loves them and died for them all. (Study the first 6 books of Romans to help you!). As other cultists, the WICCAn  has probably never heard the Gospel of God's grace. He/she is trying to climb into the spiritual realm by engaging in the tricks and machinations of Satan himself.