Witchcraft QUESTION from Ellen May 1, 1999 I am a current Wiccan, and i would just like to know who it is that is really Satan. One thing is for sure, and that is that Satan does deceive. The mind of a god is far smarter than the mind of a human, so therefor, how do we know which is deceiving us? Be it called God or Satan, what is in a name? I realize that Jesus died for us, but how do we know that if given a chance Satan wouldn't do the same? Upon judging others the holy bible states: Don't condemn others and God won't condemn you. Therefor, why is the art of the wise ones (witchcraft) judged to be so evil if they do not do harm? The key rule to witchcraft is An it harm none do what ye will. Wiccan spells are merely a form of prayer. We do not worship the one that is called Satan, and if so then by accident, as that would mean that we were deceived.
I do not worship Satan, but i am confused. And i need some clarification. Thank you.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius on May 7, 1999 Dear Miss Ellen:
Thank you for your question and I will try to answer your questions to alleviate confusion. I appreciate your honesty in admitted confusion. These things can indeed be confusing to anyone.
As first to Who is Satan?
We can begin by looking at the book of Revelations 12:7-9:
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. There are MANY references to Satan in the Bible, but essentially Lucifer was a great angel in heaven but sought to be equal with God and rebelled attempting to usurp God. Lucifer’s sin of pride and arrogance caused him to lose his position in Heaven. As a result Satan and one-third of the angels who sided with him were cast out of Heaven.
In his fallen state, Lucifer became Satan, the great deceiver, liar, and accuser. Satan’s hatred of God is so great that he seeks to deceive even the elect of God if he can (Matt 24:24).
Satan is the father of all lies and the source of error and delusion concerning God.
As to how we know who is deceiving us. Satan will ALWAYS deceive you. God NEVER will. The Bible and Sacred Tradition depositories of God’s Revelation to us – his Word. The Catholic Church was instituted by Christ Himself to be a guardian of that Word. If we stay close to the Church, Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture we can be assured of not being deceived. The farther we get from Christ’s Church the more likely we will be deceived.
What is in a name? Everything. One of the names of God is ROCK. He is the foundation by which we can build our lives. The name of Satan in Hebrew means adversary. That means something quite different than a rock foundation. In the Bible names mean everything. The nature of a person’s mission is reflected in their mission. St. Michael’s name means, who is like God. To understand Scripture we must understand why people were named what they were named.
In addition to this, as human beings we communicate with language. Thus words DO MATTER. Words mean something. Holy God means something quite different from Devil and Satan. Words represent an idea or character. The character of Satan is not positive.
As to the idea that Satan would die for us -- if Satan was so self-sacrificing he wouldn’t be Satan. He would still be Lucifer, an angel in good standing, in heaven. For Satan to sacrifice himself for anyone is utterly contrary to his nature.
This reminds me of the story of the frog and the scorpion (interestingly in the Bible scorpions are used as a symbol of Satan). The frog and scorpion are caught in a flash flood. They are on a small patch of ground that is getting covered with water fast. They will soon drown.
The scorpion suggests to the frog that the frog should allow him to climb up on his back and then the frog, with scorpion on his back, could swim to the shore and thus both be saved.
The frog at first said no. You will sting me and I will drown.
The scorpion said, Why would I sting you for if I did I would die too?
Finally the frog agreed to allow the scorpion on his back. Half way across the water the scorpion stung the frog. As the frog was dying and sinking in the water (which will drown the scorpion too), the frog says, Why did you do that? Now we will both die?
The Scorpion said, You should have known better. It is in my nature to sting you. I can do nothing else.
Satan by nature is what he is – a deceiver, an accuser, a lair. He can do nothing else but to con us into his schemes.
As to the Unscriptural idea that we are not to judge people, this is simple NOT TRUE. We are COMMANDED to judge people. We cannot judge people’s hearts but we can and should judge their behavior, attitudes, and ideas. See my essay on the Three Secret Strategies of Satan for more information on this subject.
As for witchcraft not doing any harm, it does do harm. If nothing else, it does harm by taking people away from the True God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2117 states:
All practices of Magic or Sorcery, by which on attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have supernatural power over others - even if this where for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. ... See my response to Jesse for more information on this.
As for the delusion that that Ye Harm None, Do what Thou Wilt we get a great insight on the meaning of this ancient verse from Aleister Crowley. What follows my commentary upon Crowley’s commentary of this that ye harm no one silliness. Like with many things, even if the individual witch does not know about this commentary of Crowley’s, it matters not. The philosophy of witchcraft is in fact philosophically based upon these tenets in one form or another.:
The RIGHTS OF MAN: DO WHAT THOU WILT SHALL BE THE WHOLE OF THE LAW There is no god by Man.
Crowley's subtitle to his Rights of Man commentary on canon 60, Chapter 3 of the Book of the Law tells it all. There is no god but Man. Man makes up his own rules, chooses his own way, decides his own morality, determines his own fate.
The only sin is the sin of mortification -- to mortify that which our natural selves desires.
The Catholic Church thus represents a mortal enemy of these Rights of Man since the one of the highest and most sacred spiritualities taught by Jesus and the Church is mortification -- Ye must give up your life, to save it
This is blasphemy to those in Thelema (Thelema representing all philosophies and systems of thought progenitored by the ideas of the Book of the Law, whether pagan, occultic, satanic, New Age, Feminists in flavor).
Here is the litany of the Rights of Man that are derived from Canon 60, Chapter 3, of Crowley’s Book of the Law.
Man has a right to live by his own Law. Man has a right to live in the way that he will to do. Man has a right to dress as he will to do. Man has a right to dwell where he will to dwell. Man has a right to move as he will on the face of the earth. Man has a right to eat what he will. Man has a right to drink what he will. Man has a right to think as he will. Man has a right to speak as he will. Man has a right to write as he will. Man has a right to mold as he will. Man has a right to paint as he will. Man has a right to carve as he will. Man has a right to work as he will. Man has a right to rest as he will. Man has a right to love as he will, when, where, and whom he will. Man has a right to die when and how he will. Man has a right to kill those who would thwart these rights.
Here we have the essence of ALL forms of thought loosely categorized as New Age, wicca, satanism, occultism, feminism, and Americanism, and most other isms (except Catholicism).
Now the application of these Rights of Man will vary among groups. Some groups would be supersensitive to people's feelings, other might kill you. But the basic morality here is self-indulgence and self-will and self-determination. If there are any limits set by people who buy into this, or who are unwittingly influenced by this, is it purely a self-determined limitation and not the result of any absolute Truth or Morality.
Susan Atkins, the Charlie Manson follower who killed Sharon Tate and her unborn baby, and who drank Sharon Tate's blood, was asked during the penalty phase of her trial if she had any remorse for what she had done.
Her reply was: Why should I feel guilty for doing what is right for me?
Niki Shoes advertises, JUST DO IT
Hippies of the 60's says, Do your own thing
Showtime Cable Network motto, No Limits.
Charlie Manson said, I am beyond your experience, you have no authority over me.
The Night Staker said, I am beyond your experience. I do as I want.
Dr. Kevorkian said, I am beyond your experience.
A 13 year old boy who has adopted the worldview of do what you want / Just do it proclaims that maybe Hitler just thought what he was doing was good for Germany. I wouldn't go as far as he did, but who am I to judge him, the boy says.
Many individuals may not kill, or do extreme things, but that is only because THEY have decided not to. They put the limit on themselves. No God, no absolute Truth limits them. Any limits are purely self-determined.
And accordingly, this worldview that allows one to place limits on themselves, also allows one to have no limits (Showtime motto).
Hitler believed had no limits and acted upon it. Stalin believed had no limits and acted upon it. Satan believes had no limits and acts upon it.
Liberals believe they determine they own limits as they choose. Ultra-Traditionalists believe they determine they own limits as they choose. Liars believe they determine they own limits as they choose. Con-artists believe they determine they own limits as they choose. Perverts believe they determine they own limits as they choose.
If a person believes in and/or practices with impunity homosexual sex, fornication, adultery, masturbation concubinage (living together without marriage), cheating on taxes, cheating on your employer, cheating customers, gossiping, calumny, rash judgment, detraction, worshipping false gods of money, health, fame, sports, art, ego, etc., asserting opinions above the Church on ANY topic ----- anyone who practices such things is a person who is setting their own limits.
Those who deny the True God and substitute pagan gods, nature, or any other ideas contrary to the Truth of God have set their own limits, they have made themselves a god and have decided to sup with demons (whether they realize it or not).
As for witch spells being a form of prayer. Yes they are. Prayers to Satan even if you don't know it.
1 Corinthians 10:20-21: …but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.
You may not worship Satan, as such, but anyone who practices witchcraft participates with Satan. See more with my response to Jesse.
We will pray that your confusion shall be healed and that you some to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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