A Wizard Addresses Anti-Witch Superstitions and Falsehoods
They fly on brooms. So they don't need a car.
They worship the devil???
NOT!!!!
They have a devil's mark. Or is that a tattoo?
They're ugly with green skin. Or is that a beauty mask?
They have big noses and warts. Unless they have seen a plastic surgeon?
You most likely don't know what Witchcraft is! "I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth." Thomas Jefferson from Six Historic Americans, by John E. Remsburg, in a letter to William Short.
A spiritual war has been declared against Wicca by certain persons (antiWitches). They have spent millions in publications and films to discredit my religion. They pressure the governments to pass laws against my religion. They produce so called experts to explain my religion incorrectly. They send fictitious newsletters to police departments nationwide. Have no doubt about it - a full scale war of words is going on that can easily spill over into violence! It has happened before and if we Wiccans don't start setting the record straight we may soon find ourselves on a stake.
I was mentioned in a publication titled Darkness Among Us.(10) Unfortunately, the author was not very knowledgeable about Wicca. This author described several rituals and beliefs that I, a High Priest had never even heard of - yet he claimed it was my religion.
Another "expert" claims to have went from a convert to Wicca, to a High Priest in two traditions in just eight months!1 I know of no traditions that promote anyone that rapidly. Unbelievable, and so is his book. His book should be renamed Wicca, What it Ain't. His book has only one accurate and redeeming factor; he expresses a very weak regret for the persecutions suffered by Witches.
I have read almost all of the antiWitch publications supposedly on Wicca and have found them to be almost totally inaccurate. Even some Christian groups have investigated these "experts" and found them to be liars and have removed their books and films from the shelves.
Since you can't trust the antiWitches, where do you find accurate information on Wicca? Books published by Wiccans themselves is a good start. The most accurate Christian publications on Wicca are in books of the bible: Ephesians, Colossians, I and II Peter, and Galations, however they often contradict antiWitch publications relating to facts about Wicca. Surprisingly, the United States Government (D.A. Pam. 165-13) have published very accurate accounts of my religion.
Now that the antiWitch "experts" have been been addressed, I want to set the record straight on a few items of antiWitch superstition and propaganda.
Some antiWitch publications in the 1980's claim that Wicca is not an authentic, ancient, or legal religion. That Wicca couldn't have survived through the 400 years of the burning times (Witches persecutions) and that Wicca is only 70 years old. Some of the new religions (The Baptists) claim to have survived persecutions for 1,200 years under intense persecution.(9) The Jews have survived for thousands of years and their faith is authentic. Wicca has been investigated by several agencies including the United States government and our government has granted tax-exempt status for many Wiccan Churches. A publication of the US Government Printing Office, D.A. Pamphlet 165-13 states, that Witchcraft is the indigenous faith of pre-Christian Europe. On December 9, 1987 the Canadian Ministry of Labor after investigating Wicca stated, that Wicca is the modern survival of the ancient Pagan religions of Western Europe. Wicca is a legal and authentic religion. Today even the most bigoted antiWitch publications acknowledge Wicca as a prehistoric religion.
I don't hate Jesus Christ! I pray to him. I use his name in ritual. He is truly a great man which gave the world many marvelous teachings. In fact, 19 Pagan authors confirm the factual existence of Jesus before the bible was even written.
All legendary figures are combinations. The historic Jesus was combined with Esus by the Celts. Esus is a Celtic God very much like Jesus and much of the new testament talks about Esus only the name Jesus is used. Where's the bible proof of this? I knew you would ask that, Galations 3:1 "Oh foolish Galations ... before whose eyes Jesus Christ (Esus) hath been... crucified among you?" Jesus Christ according to other parts of the bible was crucified in Jerusalem, not in Galatia. But Paul combines Jesus with Esus who was crucified in Galatia. You can see Esus on the hanging man tarot card. Esus or Jesus is the Lord3 to me, he is the Witches Sun God (Esus) and I worship him with devotion. "For he that is not against us is on our part" Mark 9:40. Jesus is the son of God,(4) but not the only son.(21) Jesus Christ is come in the flesh5 for he was a real historical person. However, Jesus was not a perfect or all knowing man. Several plagues broke out all over medieval Europe killing 2/3 of the population. The Catholic Church unintentionally aided the spread of the plague. Why? First Jesus in Mark 7:2-4 condemns people for washing their hands before a meal. Christ didn't know about germs. But our mothers did and made us wash our hands before we ate. Medieval people didn't maintain a good hygiene because of Christ's error and infection was promoted. Secondly, the church was killing cats all over Europe because they were Witches familiars. With the cat's population declined, the rat's population grew. The plague was spread by fleas on the rats.(7) Yes, the cat is a familiar of the Wicca and was even worshipped by many ancient cultures. The value of the cat is in protecting granaries and homes from vermin like rats.
I do not hate Christianity! (11) I have nothing but the highest regard for people who truly follow Jesus Christ. "For he that is not against us is for us," Luke 9:50. As a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces I have sworn to defend the constitution and I will fight to the death to protect the Christians' or anyone else's right to worship! And most of the Witches I've met feel the same way. However, some Wiccans have been persecuted by false Christians and it is only natural for them to have some reservation. I have been persecuted by antiWitches myself and all of my persecutors have been of the "born again" type. These antiWitches are not true Christians and I will not insult Christ or my Christian friends be calling them such. I'm not saying the "born agains" aren't true Christians. "Born agains" that persecute aren't! Many Witches have asked me how do we know a true Christian from a false Christian. That's easy, a true Christian according to Galations 5:22-23 must be loving, joyful, at peace, patient, gentle, and good. If a person claiming to be a Christian doesn't have these characteristics, then he's false!
AntiWitches claim that we receive salvation through ritual acts. (2) Witches have no plan of Salvation. Since we don't believe in sin, hell, or in afterlife punishment there is no need for salvation. There is nothing to be saved from.
AntiWitches claim their God is greater than the Gods of Wicca. I think this argument is dim-witted, for their bible says, "They feared (worshipped) the Lord and served their own Gods," 2 Kings 17:33. This verse causes major problems for antiWitches, how could people be worshipping God and be serving Pagan Gods? Easy, all Gods are one. However, the bible's God couldn't stand against the power of Zipporah (the Pagan wife of Moses) when he (God) sought to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24-26. Nor did God have the power to free Pagan women from their vows to the Queen of Heaven (Mother Goddess) in Jeremiah 44:25. I have read the antiWitch book, He Came to Set the Captives Free. If God couldn't free these worshipers of the Queen of Heaven then, what makes you think he can free the worshipers of the Goddess now! In fact, Pagans are the freest people I know of. We are not chained with all those thou shalt nots.
AntiWitches, if the Apostle Paul and Christians in Ephesus wouldn't blaspheme our Goddess Diana, (Acts 19:37) why are you insulting her today in your publications? Are you better than St.Paul? If these early Christians wouldn't rob our temples, why is it done today?
Some antiWitches have justified their bigotry by claiming that our God is not God and that Christians should not associate with Wiccans. Jethro, the father in law of Moses was a Pagan Priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1). Moses and Aaron participated in a ritual lead by Jethro (Exodus 18:12). If Jethro's God wasn't God then Moses and Aaron violated 2 Corinthians 6:14. Jethro's God is Moses' God (Exodus 18:1-12). Abraham participates in a ritual and is blessed by the Pagan Priest Melchezdek (Genesis 14:18-19). Mel blesses Abraham in the name of his Pagan God. Abraham in turn names Mel's God as his God (Genesis 14:22) and if this is not so then Abraham is violating 2 Corinthians 6:14. Balaam, the Wiccan was hired to curse Israel, but doesn't because he serves the Lord (Numbers 22:18). The Spirit of God comes upon him just like the prophets (Numbers 24:2). Israels' God even spoke through Balaam (Numbers 23:5). Balaam no where distinguishes his God from Israels' God. That's because they are the same God. In fact, in Acts 17:23 the Apostle Paul says that Greek Pagans worship his (Unknown) God. Wiccans, Jews, and Christians all worship God.
Christians claim that only Christians have the Spirit of the Lord (the Holy Ghost or Spirit) and no one else. They claim to be the only representatives of God! "And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Joel 2:28. "And Balaam (a Wiccan) lifted up his eyes...and the spirit of the Lord fell upon him." Numbers 24:2. No more of this we can't understand the bible or God/dess because we don't have the spirit; for Balaam "heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the most High..." Numbers 24:16.
We Wiccans have known for a long time that people receive direction from God/dess directly. We don't need someone claiming to represent God to tell us what to do. If God/dess wants you to do something... you'll do it!
AntiWitches often gloat about the superiority of their all-knowing God over the Gods of Wicca whom I admit are not all-knowing. But the bible's God is not all knowing either, Jeremiah 32:35, "neither came it into my (God's) mind that they should do this." In Exodus 16:4 God tests the Israelites "that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or no."
They claim their God is perfect and sinless, however God confesses his sin in Exodus 32:14 and Jonah 3:10. The Gods of Wicca are not perfect or goody-to-shoes, they can be quite naughty sometimes.
AntiWitches claim we kill humans for sacrifice and they produce articles of some crazy person who has committed murder. This crazy person as always isn't a Wiccan, but for press coverage will falsely claim to be a Witch. I know of no animal or human sacrifices committed by real Witches and no antiWitches I've ever met has provided any evidence of such. I have been a Security Policeman and a High Priest for many years and I've never seen it! Additionally, such crimes would violate the Wiccan Rede. I know of no blood rituals except for menstrual blood. Next the antiWitch claims there is historic evidence of human sacrifice among the Celts. The ancient Celts are Wiccans. The fact is, there is very little historical evidence of human sacrifice in Britain (where today's Wicca is from) and what little evidence there is can be explained as burial sites. Who knows if some anti-Christian hundreds of years in the future will claim Christians did human sacrifice as evidenced by the grave yards near the church. "Christian authors exclaim against the practice of offering up human sacrifices, which, they say, is done in some countries; and those authors make those exclamations without ever reflecting that their own doctrine of salvation is founded on a human sacrifice. They are saved, they say, by the blood of Christ. The Christian religion begins with a dream and ends with a murder," Thomas Paine. AntiWitches your bible says God has accepted - no commanded genocide and human sacrifices before. Genocide is commanded in Deuteronomy 20:16 and in almost the entire book of Joshua. Human sacrifices to the bible's God are mentioned in Judges 11:39-40, and the bible's God commanded the Israelites to "offer" their first born sons in Exodus 22:29 right along with the sheep and oxen. King David (a man after God's own heart) wrote "Happy shall he be, that taketh and dashth thy little ones (infants) against the stones," Psalms 137:9. The bible even authorizes the murder of disobedient children, Deut. 21:18-21 and there are many more! There are good and bad people in all religions, remember the born again minister Jim Jones who ordered the murder /suicide of 909 people in 1979. One can't judge a religion for the crimes of it's followers, (If this were the case, Christianity would have been banned long ago) only the individuals who commit the crimes. "Neither this court, nor any branch of this government, will consider the merits or fallacies of a religion. Nor will the court compare the beliefs, dogmas and practices of a newly organized religion with those of an older religion, more established religion. Nor will the court praise or condemn a religion, however excellent or fanatical or preposterous it may seem. Were the court to do so it would impinge upon the guarantees of the First Amendment." Federal Judge James A. Battin, Feb. 1973, Universal Life Church Vs. the IRS.
I don't hate the bible! I do not want to destroy or burn the bible. Burning books whither I agree with them or not is immoral to me. I myself have studied the bible more than any other book. The bible is my book of Jewish and Pagan mythology with sayings of a fellow Wizard, Jesus. The bible contains very advanced occult knowledge (especially the book of Revelations) and many magick spells.
The bible is not the word of God, it is not inerrorant, and it is not perfect. It is a significant literary work (modified as it is) and contains much historical information that is supportive to Pagans! "My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christians scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures have become clearer and stronger with advancing years," Abraham Lincoln. Thomas Jefferson also thought the bible imperfect so he rewrote it.19 Jefferson's word for the Bible? "Dunghill." Here's three quotes from Thomas Paine: "I would not dare to so dishonor my Creator God by attaching His name to that book (the Bible)." "It is the duty of every true Deist (Wiccans are Deists too) to vindicate the moral justice of God against the evils of the Bible." "As to the book called the Bible, it is blasphemy to call it the Word of God. It is a book of lies and contradictions, and a history of bad times and bad men. There are but a few good characters in the whole book. The fable of Christ and his twelve apostles, which is a parody on the sun and the twelve signs of the zodiac, copied from the ancient religions of the eastern world, is the least hurtful part," in a letter to Andrew Dean.
Why is the bible not the word of God? If you believe in the bible that's fine; I simply want to explain why I don't believe in the bible. To show you that I (not you) have compelling reasons for my disbelief!
Jesus never established a bible! This is my main reason for rejection of any written word of God. Yes, Caesar and King James may have authorized a bible, but there is no bible that has been authorized by Jesus.
The bible itself speaks against written doctrine. II Cor.3:3, "[Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." In II Cor.3:6, "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." In II Peter 1:21, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake (not wrote) [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost." In Ephesians 3:5, "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (not some book)."
If the bible is the complete word of God for us, why does God pour out his spirit on all people? "...and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Joel 2:28. Because the bible is not the only way God speaks to us. He speaks directly to us by his spirit and so does the Goddess.
In fact, the Jews were forbidden to write down their oral tradition (called the Old Testament by Christians). The first "Old Testament" contrary to what Christians say was composed from Jewish verbal tradition (stories) to preserve it.
It is clear that God/dess intended his word NOT to be written, but to remain verbal subject to the moving's of the Spirit.
"I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of... Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all." From: The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine, pp. 8, 9 (Republished 1984, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY)
The first bible, the Latin Vulgate (c.383 and 405) (written for the state religion of Rome) was put together by people who were not even Christians; none, not one was born again. The books had to meet the religious viewpoint of the selectors, who lived 300+ years after Christ. Many books not meeting their acceptance were rejected. The selectors were appointed by a Roman Caesar, (Constantine the Great) which should in and of itself should result in alarm! It was not written to be a perfect, flawless word of God for Pope Paul at the Council of Trent in 1546 only then declared the bible to be the Word of God. Before this date the bible was only considered a historic document.
The books of the Latin Vulgate (bible) were chosen in a arbitrary way. For example, I. Clement was a book in the bible, but in the ninth century it was rejected because it said there was land (America) across the Atlantic Ocean. Today we know this is true so shouldn't we put this book back into the bible? The book of Revelations was included in the bible because it said the world had four corners (it was flat), in Rev. 7:1. Since we know the world is round shouldn't we take Revelations out of the bible?
The Catholics have rejected Revelations. The Protestants have rejected the Apocrypha. Since all these denominations accept and reject different books; How am I to know which books are the Word of God? Would a perfect, bible have this problem?
There are books in the Vulgate that aren't in the bible today. Was this a mistake including these books or in excluding them. In fact, Christianity has been including and excluding books from the bible ever since it was written.
In fact, the 1611 edition of the King James Version (KJV) bible (written for the state religion of Britain) has fourteen more books than todays. These fourteen books appear in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Why were these books taken out? Did the translators make an error by including them - what other errors did they make that needs correction.
Why is the bible imperfect? Because it is filled with thousands of contradictions! John 3:13 says "no man has ascended to heaven," but 2 Kings 2:1 says Elijah ascended to heaven? No Christian has ever even tried to explain this contradiction. With Christianity salvation and forgiveness of sin was established through Christ. This contradicts Lev.16:34 which gives an everlasting statute for the forgiveness of sin that doesn't include Christ. Since forgiveness of sin was handled by this statute, there was no reason for Christ to die for anyone's sins. This is why the Jews (and I) reject the Christian view of salvation. "...God heareth not sinners..." John 9:31. But God certainly heard the Wiccan Balaam in Numbers 22:10. Maybe Balaam wasn't a sinner? But this would require enormous changes in the Christian religions' dogma. (In fact, Balaam's story in the bible is greatly supportive of Paganism.) The bible says that he (the Christian God) isn't willing that any should parish. If this were truly the case, God could have ended all this death and sin stuff by simply letting Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Life and live forever, Genesis 3:22. It's quite obvious that the bible has no continuity!
Christian ministers often refer to the Greek and Hebrew translations of the bible to get a clearer meaning or interpretation of the bible. Often these referrals to the older texts reveal entirely different meanings. If the bible were truly a perfect book we wouldn't need reference to the Hebrew and Greek texts, and the bible would be complete in itself. The fact that referrals to older translations must and are often made prove the bible imperfect.
There is a difficulty in determining what is figurative or literal in the bible. Today Christians say the world having four corners as stated in the book of Revelations is figurative. But go back about 600 years and the Christians said it was literal. Which is it? There are many other verses that have this same problem and Christians themselves disagree on what is figurative or literal resulting in the different denominations. One tactic bible believers use in dismissing contradictions in the bible is to declare the verse that disagrees with their point of view to be figurative. And they keep changing what is literal and figurative! If the bible doesn't mean what it says (figurative) then no one (not even the Spirit filled) can know what it means. Would a truly perfect book have such a difficulty? No!
There are great debates on interpretation of many parts of the bible. Disagreements on interpretation are so sharp that wars have been fought and groups (like the Protestants) break away and form their own religion. Would a truly perfect book be open to multiple interpretations? A perfect book would be so clear and concise that it would be impossible to be misunderstood!
Couldn't God, an infinitely intelligent being write a book that is 100% invulnerable and impossible to challenge? Yes! The mear fact that I can challenge the bible proves that it's not the word of God.
AntiWitches the bible may be a perfect book by your standards, but my standards are much more stringent!
In what way has the bible been modified? In the 1980's, Christians claimed the Dead Sea Scrolls proved the bible was authentic as was taught to me through the (ACE) Accelerated Christian Education system at Grand Strand Christian Academy. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the oldest and most valid bible in the world. Shockingly, the scrolls have not been used to translate any bible into english! Today, with the public release of the scrolls; Christians now claim the scrolls as the writings of a cult. Why the about face? The scrolls recorded much of what Jesus taught in the New Testament including the beatitudes and sermon on the mount 100+ years before Christ was even born. That's right Christ was quoting from Essene scrolls. Because Christ didn't originate his own teachings - the Dead Sea Scrolls must be discredited!
Christians even admit the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint (250-150 B.C.) differs in places from todays bible.20 The Jewish Torah is very different from the Christians' Old Testament.
In fact, the entire Law of Moses (the most important part of the Old Testament) was lost to even the Jews for hundreds of years. A Priest named Hilkiah rediscovered the law, II Chron. 34:14 and II Kings 22:8. How could such an important document (and events) be forgotten and lost to a race. Maybe it didn't exist to start with! Maybe it was made up by the priest? Maybe the priest discovered a novel of fiction. All our present translations of the Law are from this rediscovered text. There is now no direct link with the original writers and interpreters of the Law. We have no validation, we don't really know what this rediscovered text really is.
The Codex Sinaiticus (4th Century) a very important early bible has been modified. In 1938, T.C. Skeat using ultraviolet light found that text had been erased and a new different text was written over the older text. This Codex was used to translate our present bibles. In fact, this erasing of text is so common in ancient bibles that bible scholars have invented a term for it, palimpsect. There are in fact many palimpsects. Bible scholars have even invented technology to read these erased texts such as ultraviolet light, chemical reagents, and photography.25 If our oldest bibles have been messed with how can we called today's bible perfect or the word of God?
It's filled with many errors in translation. For example, I Cor. 10:8 and Num. 25:9 which appear to contradict, but is a translation error because Hebrew numbers are... difficult. Another, Chronicles 36:23 ends in the middle of a sentence, the rest of the sentence is found in Ezra 1:3. Christians themselves even admit there are scribal errors and alterations that have crept into todays bible.(26) They say these errors are insignificant! Would a perfect word of God have even insignificant errors? No it wouldn't. There is no such thing as insignificant in perfection.
Verses have even been added to the bible that don't appear in any historic texts. For example, I John 3:7 didn't exist in any bible document before 1611 AD according to the New International Version Bible, the Scofield Bible, and many others. I John 3:7 was added to the bible in 1611. Even the last 12 verses of Mark and John 8:1-11 were added around the third century and don't appear in the oldest bibles! The new testament refers to verses in the Old Testament that don't exist (Jude 14 and Luke 4:18).
Verses have been modified for social acceptability. Moses in the Vulgate (with the 10 commandments in hand) was horned from conversations with the Lord, but todays translations omit this. Why? Because Christians associate horns with the devil and evil. So translators not wanting to offend - leave it out. But they overlooked another very obscure verse in the Habakkuk 3:4, where God has horns.
According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible over 4000+ words were omitted from translation into English. Would a perfect translation omit so many words.
New translations of the bible like the New International Version, (NIV) and the New King James Version Bible (NKJV) and even the (old) King James Version Bible (KJV) have had translation corrections, coverups, and updates differing significantly from the 1611 edition of the KJV bible.
Christians don't get their religion from the bible - they change the bible to match their religion For example, Exodus 22:28 "Thou shalt not reuile (revile) the Gods..." (1611 edition KJV). Gods with the uppercase G indicates the true God as being Gods or all Gods are one true God. Gods with the upper case G has been completely removed from all modern versions of the bible. One wonders why? All Gods being joined with the one true God is unacceptable to the Christian religion. "Thou shalt not revile the gods..." (1916 edition KJV). Here gods, because of the lower case g indicates false gods, not the one true God. Why would anyone fear reviling false gods? This warning would seem to give a power to gods, if not why the warning. This power of false gods is unacceptable to Christians who believe all other gods don't exist. So they rewrote the bible by adding God to make it acceptable to their religion. "You shall not revile God..." (1982 New KJV ). Exodus 22:28 from the earliest Hebrew texts translates: "You will not say or do anything that will anger any God, Goddess or Gods."
Another verse Christians had to rewrite is Colossians 2:18. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in voluntary humilitie, and worshipping of Angels (God/dess)..." (1611 edition KJV). Notice the A in Angels is uppercase, indicating a proper noun - not a pronoun (angels). Note the Celts (Wiccans) whom Colossians is written too; don't have angels in their pantheon. Angels is the actual name of someone, since this someone is worshiped - a God or Goddess. Since Angels is plural - Gods. What Gods were worshipped at Colossi? Nearly the entire panoply of Celtic and Greek Gods. So once again our Gods have been covered up in the bible!
Angels is the word translators used because... it posted problems for Christians of the time. But the worship of saints and angels was acceptable at the time so Angels was used to replace the names of these Gods. According to the oldest bible texts, no one can stop or prohibit us from worshipping our Gods (Angels). "Let no man beguile you of your reward..." yes there is a reward for worshiping the Old Gods. "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels..." (1982 New KJV ). Rewriters add the word false (it doesn't appear in any of the old texts). They also fix angels making it a pronoun because the worship of angels and saints is not acceptable today. But angels can still be worshipped by this translation!
The (NIV) finally eliminates the worship of angels (Gods), and changes the meaning altogether. "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prise."
Would a truly perfect bible need several translations or coverups, rewrites, and updates? The fact that they exist prove the bible imperfect!
The bible names books that are missing from itself in I Kings 11:41, I Chron. 29:29, II Chron. 9:29, II Chron. 12:15, II Chron. 13:22, II Chron. 20:34, II Chron. 33:19, II Chron. 35:27, Num. 21:14, and many others! Many of these books were discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls, but Christians have no plans to place them back in today's bible! Would a perfect word of God be missing so much of itself?
Surprisingly the bible forbids any additions to the bible after the book of Deuteronomy (Deut. 4:2). This was ignored and thirty-three more books were added to the bible. Then again Zechariah 13:3 eliminated any further prophets (27) so no other books of the bible could be written. This was also ignored and the entire new testament was added. Near the end of the new testament, Revelations 22:18-19 forbids addition or subtraction from the bible. This too has been universally ignored because various reference bibles have footnotes and comments added. Words that appear in italics in the older KJV have been added as translation aids. Would a perfect word of God be ignored, would it need translation aids, and footnotes. No!
"As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion... has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble." Benjamin Franklin, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by Thomas Fleming, p. 404, (1972, Newsweek, New York, NY) quoting letter by BF to Exra Stiles March 9, 1970.
Why did I go into such detail in discrediting the bible? The bible commands to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. When you consider what the Christians claim is at risk - eternal damnation. I had to be absolutely certain it was not the perfect, inerrorant, word of God. If God really cared, why wouldn't he just appear and hand me his bible? He hasn't. Is it not reasonable that I (not you) doubt the bible?
Let me be perfectly clear - I do not worship Satan. I have an extensive Christian background. I attended Grand Strand Christian Academy and Grand Strand Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for many years. I myself have been "born again" and again and again. I know the Christian view of Satan and he doesn't exist within Wicca. I have worshipped with thousands of Wiccans around the world and I've never met a Witch that worships Satan. You antiWitches calling me a Satanist offends me (17) and violates your bible, "Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles," 1 Corinthians 10:32. If an antiWitch continues to claim Wiccans worship Satan after being presented with the facts - that antiWitch needs to read Exodus 22:28, "Thou shalt not revile the Gods." AntiWitches, your bible forbids you to say or do anything that upsets my Gods. In fact, you antiWitches are forbidden to even mention my Gods at all! "Make no mention of the names of other Gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth," in Exodus 23:13. Since you antiWitches don't know what your talking about anyhow, obey your bible.
Speaking of devil-worship! AntiWitches show documentation where convicted Witches of the "witch trials" admitted to worshipping Satan. However, these Witches had their confessions tortured out of them by the inquisitors who wanted to prove their own prejudices. Evidence obtained by torture is not admissible by law, and is no proof of Wiccans as devil-worshippers.
Chick Publications (22) errors by calling our "Great Father" the nonexistent Satan. Is it not interesting that every book of the bible written to Celts (Wiccans) addresses God as the Father. (23) And if the "Great Father" is not God you at Chick Publications have violated the Word of God in naming one of my Gods (see Exodus 23:13). Oh my, naughty, naughty Chick Publications.
There are claims that Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) games are connected to Wicca. I first heard this during Desert Storm and I ran right out to the BX and bought three of the D&D computer games. I thought what a wonderful way to introduce the Craft to the public. After a few hours of playing a fun game, I realized that D&D had no connection to my religion. It doesn't even teach the right way to cast a magick spell! The basis of the game is violence and such violence is in violation of the Wiccan Rede.
AntiWitches claim a Wiccan can't convert out of Wicca.(6) I personally know of ex-Wiccans who have converted to several of the new religions. Anyone can leave Wicca at anytime! In fact, we don't even impose our religion on our children. To force a person to remain in Wicca violates the Wiccan Rede. Anyone may leave Wicca without penalty! But Paul authorizes murder (7) to save a leaving Christians spirit (soul) and Peter gives a harsh penalty for Christians leaving that faith.(8)
AntiWitches howl of a one right plan of salvation (being saved) that everyone must comply with or go to hell. The bible in fact, gives several plans of salvation. Good works: Matt 5:20, Matt 13:49-50, Matt 16:27, Luke 19:8, and John 5:28-29. Keeping the commandments Matt 19:17. By not - that's right NOT believing on Jesus, but him (the God) that sent him "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me (the God), hath everlasting life (the soul is immortal), and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24. Salvation for rich folks - is to give it all away, Matt 19:16-23, and Mark 10:21. Everyone is automatically saved, Luke 3:6 and I Timothy 4:10. Just believing in God, Romans 4:3. Salvation by loving God and your neighbor, Luke 10:25-28. Salvation by having a Christian spouse in I Cor. 7:14. Miscellaneous John 20:23. Women are saved by child birth, I Timothy 2:15. All persons are saved, see I John 2:2. Inspite of what they say - being saved or unsaved has nothing to do with salvation. Everyone should "workout your own salvation with fear and trembling." Everyone needs to find the path that's right for them.
AntiWitch bigots say their way is the one and only way. The bible speaking of the Celts' religion says there is no one and only way. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Celts' Gods and Goddesses) might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God", Ephesians 3:10. Manifold means numerous and varied forms not a one and only way.
The bible reports of Balaam poses a fantastic problem for their only one way. Christians delight in quoting, "God hearth not sinners" claiming that God only hears them and no one else. But God heard Balaam several times (Numbers 22:10). This would appear to be a contradiction? Or is it? Christians assume that Balaam was a sinner. They justify his sinner status by saying he was a Wiccan, a magick user (like me). They have bible verses to back this up, but it results in another contradiction (see chapter, In Defense of Magick). God heard Balaam never the less so... he can't be a sinner. Maybe the Christians misunderstand the verse? Let's look at the entire verse, "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." John 9:31. What's really amazing is God spoke extensively with Balaam on several occasions, but God didn't once tell him to give up his ways of magick. God didn't tell him to convert to the faith of the Jews. One wonders why? Since God heard Balaam and Balaam himself says "I can't go against the word of the Lord"; Balaam must have been in God's will and a worshipper. If Balaam, the Wiccan is in God's will - why not Wiccans today? Now you may understand what Jesus meant when he said, "I have other sheep, which are not of this flock." Christianity is not the only religion with Christ's or God's approval.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:3
6. Satan's Master, by J.T.C., Chick Publications, P.O. Box 662, Chino, CA 917708,p. 7. 1 Corinthians 5:5
8. 2 Peter 2:20-21
9. The Trail of Blood, J.M. Carroll, 1931, Byron-Page Printing Company, Lexington, KY, pp.3
17. Acts 24:16
18. The Apostle Paul (56 AD) confirms the Celts used books of magick in Acts 19:19.
19. See The Jefferson Bible
20. The New Compact Bible Dictionary, editor T. Alton Bryant, 1967, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich., pp.82.Z
21. Genesis 6:2, Job 1:6, Adam is a son of God in Luke 3:38, and Moses means Son of God. Can't be angels. Angels are sexless in Matt 22:30.
22. Satan's Master, by J.T.C., Chick Publications, P.O. Box 662, Chino, CA 917708
23. Gal 1:2-4, Eph 4:6, Col 1:12 and 1:19, and I Peter 1:17.
24. The New Compact Bible Dictionary, editor T. Alton Bryant, 1967, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich., pp.129. 25. Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society of Pennsylvania, pp.1106.
26. Ibid., pp. 1107 and Unger's Bible Dictionary, Merrill F. Unger, 1977, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, pp.693.