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"SSgt Crisp, I don't care what the regs say, your religion is a detriment to the moral of this unit. Get out or we'll put you out!" MSgt Fred Filostrate, First Sergeant, 1st Mission Support Group, Langley AFB, VA. "I am ordering a command directed mental health evaluation because you are studying Witchcraft and I am writing a memo for record on your study of Witchcraft." Lt. Colonel Cabe, Deputy Commander 1964th Communications Group, Ramstein AB, Germany. "Lt. Colonel Cabe's discrimination was personal, not professional in nature. Therefore no action will be take on SSgt Crisp's discrimination complaint." Brigadier General Swope, Commander 86th Air Division, Ramstein AB, Germany. "Witches shouldn't be allowed to serve in the military." TSgt Louis Weitherspoon, Safety Inspector, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley, AFB, VA. "Your religion is offensive to me." CMSgt Wallace King, Ground Safety Manager, 316th Air Division, Ramstein AB, Germany. "You are a Satanist and I won't have a Satanist under my command." Lt. Colonel Brown, Commander 1st Mission Support Group, Langley, AFB, VA.
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Xtainity been on trial. What has been it's fruits? More or less in all places, pride, and intolerance in the clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both superstitions, bigotry, and persecutions," James Madison. From: The Madisons by Virginia Moore, P. 43 (1979, McGraw-Hill Co. New York, (NY) quoting a letter by JM to William Bradford April 1, 1774, and James Madison, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by Joseph Gardner, p. 93.
Two women claimed to have lost their virginity to the devil. They are examined and the maidenheads were still intact. They were executed anyhow. A woman claimed her husband was making magic potions from the bodies of the dead. The bodies were exhumed and all organs were found present. The man was executed anyway. A child born with a birth defect, large mole, or really any kind of blemish could be considered a "devil's mark." They were executed! These are just a few examples of "justice" for the Witch during the burning times.
However, Wiccans were not the only ones to suffer under the New Religions. An estimated 50 million Baptists5 were executed mostly for heresy.
Surprisingly, the Baptists and groups close to them are seen today as the leaders of religious intolerance in America.
The Cherokee Indian Nation lost half it's people during the "Trail of Tears." The Jews during the middle ages were often executed as Witches because they were skilled in medicine and used herbs to heal. In Germany, approximately six million Jews were (I hate to use the word) disposed of by the Nazis.
There is some debate in America about the Jewish Holocaust occurring or not. I have visited the death camps, I have seen the remains, I have interviewed the witnesses - there is absolutely no doubt the Holocaust did occur!
Estimated Witch killings range from 50,000 to nine million. However, most of the people executed for the crime of Witchcraft were not Witches. They were old women, poor folks, or other religious groups including Xtains themselves. Witches suffered, but not to the degree that many other groups did. Witches suffered so little because they became a secret religion.
I regret the persecutions suffered by the many groups. But this chapter is an attempt to explain why the horrors of the Witch's persecution known as the burning times occurred. To provide a legal, historical, and biblical bases to defend the Wiccan in any future burning times.
Yes, there are those in Wicca who through divination and visions foresee a new burning times right here in America. Impossible you say? These outbursts of persecutions are actually a mental illness called endemic persecutory mania and we can have an outbreak anytime.
Many Wiccans have asked why talk about the bible? Because it was the so called bible-believers that murdered Wiccans in the past. It will be people who claim to be bible-believers that will renew the persecutions. To defend ourselves from the AntiWitches we must use their own bible to confront them. Because they won't believe anything else.
Many Wiccans who know the teachings of Jesus Christ, can see no logical reason for the burning times to have occurred. Or why AntiWitches continue their persecutions today. One fact that should clear much of the confusion for Wiccans, is that AntiWitches or those who persecute anyone are not obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ and are not Xtains!2
What is Christ's view on persecuting or burning unbelievers (Witches or any religious group) at the stake? "And when his disciples James and John saw this (the Samaritans rejected Christ), they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village." Luke 9:54-56.
Some in the new religions have a religious belief that Christ will return to earth and establish an empire. In this empire, Christ will establish a policy of religious tolerance. "For all people will walk each in the name of their own god . ." Micah 4:5. If Christ in his future empire has free worship of any religion, why can't AntiWitches and bigots today follow Christ's example and let Witches and everyone else worship in peace?
During the Burning Times, many church leaders called unbelievers unclean and had them executed, but the bible says: "God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." Acts 10:28. Witches were called enemies of the Xtain faith and burned, but the bible says: "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thrust, give him drink.... Be not overcome of evil (like burning Witches at the stake), but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:20-21.
How did and does this departure from Christ's and the bible teachings happen? Back then like today, it's about power. The power to control the lives of others. First, in the early centuries the new religions were competing with Pagans and they didn't mind killing people to win this competition. Another benefit is the Pope had the authority of God on earth and could give orders in direct conflict with the teachings of Jesus. However, most people didn't know what the teachings of Jesus were because the Catholic Church made it illegal to translate the bible into English or in any other common language that could be read by the people. In the 1000s an open revival of the Pagan religions began. For the next three centuries the old religions began to grow at an alarming rate in England, France, Germany, and even Italy. To save it's political power the Roman Church had to change tactics in dealing with the Pagan threat. That response was the burning times!
The burning times begin with the issue of the Malleus Maleficarum (c.1252). A law giving the torture procedures to be used during Witchhunts.
Later the reformation established many Protestant religions. They inherited the murdering from their predecessor. Soon the Protestants held more political and social power than the Catholic Church.
In 1611, the authorized King James Version of the bible was translated into English and previous editions of the bible like John Wycliffe's English Bible were banned and burned. England being one nation had to have only one bible. The Protestants had no Pope that could countermand what the bible said. With them the bible is absolute. (That is not so today.)
Thus Wiccans with the Protestants in power (England had separated from the Catholic Church under Henry VIII) and an authorized bible in hand now had a bases for mounting a legal defense that did not exist under the Catholics. Shockingly, the bible was the catalyst that ended the burning times.
The next step in ending the Burning Times. Thomas Ady published a book in 1656 that used the bible against the very new religions quoting it. It established there was no biblical proof of Witchcraft! Where did it say Witches worshipped the Devil? In fact, in Acts 17:23 the Apostle Paul says Pagans ignorantly worship his God. Where are pacts with the devil mentioned? Where does it say Witches have imps sucking on their bodies? Where does in say that Witches fly on brooms and curse crops? Show me in the bible where Witches have a devil's mark on their body? The answer is no where in the bible! Without true biblical authority the Protestant religions had no basis for the Witch hunts. This it why the murdering stopped - their bible told them they could no longer kill Wiccans.
The AntiWitch, William Schnoebelen claims that his denomination of the new religions wasn't responsible for the burning times.4 This is an utterly preposterous statement! He's attempting to blame someone else for acts of his religion. John Calvin and Martin Luther supported the persecutions. The Baptists7 (Anabaptists) when they took over Munster, Germany, in 1534-5 under John of Leyden executed Catholics, Protestants, and Witches. The Gods only know what the Catholics did. All denominations of the new religions, (Protestants, Baptists,6 and Catholics) killed Witches! The only exception are those Xtain groups formed after the burning times like the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses.
So why does persecution continue today? Basically, it's what the AntiWitch thinks the bible says. The bible says many wonderful things. However, in the last 1,400 years political and social views have resulted in extensive changes to the bible's content (the Dead Sea Scrolls prove this outright). Todays new religions are not aware of these facts and is happy to remain ignorant of them.
Bible verses such as "Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live" have nothing to do with Witches. But this verse was used to justify murdering Witches in Europe and is used today to justify the bigotry of the AntiWitches. The word Witch in the verse above means "a person that poisons wells" and has nothing to do with Wicca. Lets examine what the King James Version of the New Testament says today about Witches and compare it to the Greek translations. The King James Version bible's new testament is suppose to be translated from the Greek bible, but the translators did a sloppy job.
The truth about Witches in the New Testament: Many people have asked me why do I only deal with the New Testament and not the Old Testament. I will share a secret with you that many in the new religions don't understand. The Old Testament is a codification of laws and history of the ancient nation of Israel. It applied only within the borders of that country and to Jews alone!3 So anything the AntiWitch says or reads from the Old Testament is mute.
Now for the true scoop about what the New Testament really says about Witches. "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations (actors), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" Galations 5:20-21.
In this verse - the word witchcraft is pharmakeia, from the greek word meaning, medication. The English word pharmacy comes from pharmakeia. King James ordered the word pharmakeia to translate as Witchcraft. The original Greek word does not in any way mean witchcraft, it's falsely translated that way. Why don't the AntiWitches run to the local pharmacy and warn them of their doom? While they are at it, remove Ezekiel 47:12 from the bible, "The leaf there of for medicine."
In the dark and middle ages healing with methods other than prayer and bloodletting were considered acts of Satan. Thus people who used herbs for healing were guilty of the crime of Witchcraft. There is enormous evidence in the laws and sentences of death passed upon people who dared use a plant to heal. Margaret Jones from Charlestown, (a Xtain) was hanged on 15 June, 1648 at Plymouth, Mass. for using medicines on sick people.1 Today, modern doctors, scientists, and most people (even the AntiWitches) know there is nothing Satanic about medicine. Today plants and herbs are great tools in the fight against disease.
Acts 13:6 "And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus." Acts 13:8 "But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith."
This word sorcerer from the Greek is magos, meaning Oriental scientist. Oriental scientists were people that studied mathematics.
There are no real prohibitions of Wicca in the New Testament! In fact, there is hidden reference to real Wiccans in the New Testament. King James of England deliberately hid that fact from the readers of the King James Version Bible. Mat 2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem." Wicca literally means wise men.
The words wise men in the Greek bible means magi. The New Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus define magi as a magic user, or a member of the priestly caste of ancient Persia, a Zoroastrian priest, astrologers. Deceitfully the translators translated magi as wise men. Why did they do this? Because the AntiWitches were so busy hanging, burning, and getting filthy rich off falsely accusing Xtains and Wiccans. They simply weren't going to stop because the bible viewed some Pagans favorably!
Hereodotus (460 B.C.) confirmed the magi was a Median tribe that worshipped the sun, moon, earth, and the four elements. Their religion is nearly identical to Wicca and is a form of Asiatic Wicca. Scofield's study bible (a favorite of Fundamentalists) calls the magi experts in the study of stars. The AntiWitch needs to run down to N.A.S.A. and warn them of their evil. Many ancient writers say the magi were the same as Druids. In fact, in the Irish bible Druids take the place of the word magi.
AntiWitches often say the magi were not astrologers, but astronomers. I ask you where in the science of astronomy can you determine the time and place of a savior being born? Mat 2:7 "Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared." Mat 2:8 "And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also."
Why were the magi hidden? It may have something to do with what these Pagans did. Mat 2:11 "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." Pagans gave the baby Jesus his gifts. For centuries, the new religions have had their children dress up as the three wise guys during Christmas plays. Unknown to them, their children were playing the role of Pagans! Additionally, giving gifts is not a Jewish or Xtain tradition, but it is Pagan. Pagans have recognized the birth of Jesus as another version of the Birth of the Sun God. In fact, asiatic Wicca (Magi of Persia) prophicized the birth of Jesus, the time of birth, location of birth, and the great star that would announce his birth. That's why the new testament documents the star and why the Magi knew to follow the great star! The Xtains have stolen Jesus from us! In Old English Wicca, Jesus or Hesus (a Celtic God) represents the Sun God and Mary, the Mother Goddess.
Summary: I must remind you that AntiWitches for the last 400 years have claimed that Wiccans worship the devil. Surprisingly, the bible shows Pagans worshiping Jesus Christ! This is a shock to the AntiWitch, but to the Wiccan this is no surprise. There is only one God, who is all Gods. Jesus Christ is one of the many faces of the One God.
The AntiWitch is very firm in his/her false belief about Witches. Their ministers and respected book writers, even to this day continue to spread lies and misinformation about Wicca. No wonder the AntiWitches are confused! It is a very difficult task to break the armor of ignorance and confusion the AntiWitch wears.
One method is education. However, the average Xtain is taught to be a sheep to follow a shepherd and will not exercise much independent judgment. When most non-thinkers are confronted by the truth, they flee and may never talk to you again. Christ debated with anyone, anytime, in any number, and about anything. Today's Xtains (true and fake) don't follow Christ's example of intellectualism. Their motto today is ignorance is bliss!
Today many folks say there is no point in bringing up what so called Xtains did way back then. That there is no danger of another burning times? I would find this statement humorous, if it were not for Bosnia where Xtain Serbs are mass-murdering Muslims. While stationed in Germany, I conducted a survey of 2000 bible believing Xtains. 88% of them said that Witches should be put to death! When you consider the Xtain Coalition is one of the most powerful political forces in the U.S. whose goal is to completely take over American government, destroy the separation of Church and State, and they are bible-believers? Yes, there is a very serious danger to Wiccans today.
Closing: Many Wiccans have had visions and dreams that show a new and terrible burning times to come. Nostradamus himself predicts this in century 4, para., 18 and century 8, para., 71. One of the greatest dangers of prophecy is believing that we can't change the future. We can and we should keep trying to educate these people. For if we stop our efforts the burning times may return. Certainly, if we don't try, the hate, bigotry, and ignorance will never end. Nostradamus further predicts that in the future burning times "the religion that calls the east (Wicca) will overcome the sect of the son (AntiWitches)." I have the impression that we shall "overcome" the AntiWitches with reason, debate, and education - not violence! Blessed Be.
1 Chronicle of America, Chronicle Publications Inc., Suite 311, 105 South Bedford Road, Mount Kisco, N.Y., 10549, pp.65
2 Wicca, Satan's Little White Lie, Schnoebelen, William, Chick Publications, P.O. Box 662, Chino, CA 91708-0662, 1990. pp 82-85
3 Ibid., pp. 89-94 and Christ according to Ephesians 2:13,15 abolished the law or old testament.
4 Ibid., pp. 88
5 The Trail of Blood, J.M. Carroll, Byron-Page Printing Company, Lexington, Kentucky, 1931, pp.14
6 Ibid., pp.3 The Baptists are not Protestants.
7 Ibid., pp.4 The Baptists came from the Ana-Baptists.
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