Witches / Pagans, how do you view Christian religious/spiritual experiences?

[hihello]

I'm a Christian and have been reading the witches thread with interest. I wouldn't automatically disbelieve any of the experiences the witches have talked about on this thread, I believe ritual, belief and intention can be very powerful. The reason I am Christian not a witch or pagan is that I believe in Christ. Regarding spiritual and religious experiences I have had prayers granted, immediate materialisation in a couple of instances and have had prophetic dreams several times (there is a thread on here detailing one of them). Just wondering how witches / pagans view these type of experiences.

Ah I see. Try not to worry so much. It won't do any good. It's just more negative energy.

I'm sorry you lost your friend.

Thanks, Insomma.

I also know that very, very few Christians pray for good things for their "enemies".

Vitality, we are supposed to pray foreople who have hurt us, people we find difficult, that sort of thing. We are supposed to pray that God will bless them and that good things will happen to them. The idea being that if we are praying blessings on them, our mindset will change and we will regard these people more positively. I hardly know anyone who actually does this, though, because it can be very hard.

Lessstressedhemum

"supposed to pray for".

The church tells you who to pray for?

Vitalogy are you confused because you would expect Christians to pray for good things for their enemies or wouldn't expect this?

Personally, I don't view people as enemies although some people do do things which upset me. I don't wish them any ill. If I pray for them I might want them to have more knowledge/ insight / self awareness / understanding (but only according to God's will). Which, ironically is similar to the spell the person close to me cast but I wouldn't want or expect unnecessary suffering to result if I pray according to God's will. Equally I might just pray for peace between us and me to have the ability to deal with them according to God's will.

speakout can you not get advise from other witches regarding how to cast spells / what to cast spells for?

We are supposed to pray that God will bless them and that good things will happen to them.

I sometimes pray too that I can learn to love them better...

hihello

No - "other witches" don't tell me what to do, and which spells I should cast.

It doesn't work like that.

speakout
Well, ultimately, from within the church, nobody can be ordered about. People still have free will. The majority of churches now promote personal prayers too although there are set prayers people can use. There is certainly advice though. I suppose to give people a starting point, ideas and to help prevent them regretting how they pray and to help them pray constructively.

I think the person I was close to would not have regretted her spell casting if she had heeded some good advice.

I see witchcraft as an extension of normal intent- hihello if your friend used her efforts to cause harm then she caused harm.

You punch someone in the face and they get hurt- it's the same process.

The fact that she regretted it is her consequence on an action.

There is no malevolent force other than the fact she caused something bad to happen to someone.

She could equally have cut someone's brake pipes or posted them a shot sandwich, she may feel bad afterwards, but I really don't see how that means witchcraft caused her to "have her fingers burned".

She chose a negative course of action- and caused someone harm- perhaps - or maybe the person fell in the shit themselves.

Speaking, Jesus told us to pray for our enemies in the Sermon on the Mount.

Sorry, posted to soon.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Jesus told us to pray for our enemies in the Sermon on the Mount.

And?

Barbara Cartland told us to wear pink lipstick.

speakout, thank you for giving your perspective. For context, the individual in question gave birth to a child with very serious health issues. There was no indication she caused this herself.

Yes, the initial intention, which effected the outcome, undoubtedly did come from the person close to me. It's part of the reason the whole incident haunts me as I was very close to her. I just think when the forces you are dealing with are potentially very powerful safeguards need to be put in place to prevent unwanted destruction. In Christianity this safeguarding is implicit in prayer, as I understand it & have explained previously. What is there in witchcraft to safeguard and promote responsible practices?

hihello

What "safeguards" do you have in every day life that prevents you from punching someone in the face when they queue jump?

hihello, I just don't feel the urge to punch someone who queue jumps. But, if I did, the law too. But there is no law against what spells people cast, is there?

Sorry, last post to speakout!

hihello

Yes- it's not the law that prevents you from punching someone in the face.
It is your natural altruism.

Same with witchcraft- why would you want to cause someone harm?
If that's your disposition- then so be it.

But that's not the fault of witchcraft.

It is your natural altruism

So it would follow the person that I was very close who cast the spell I spoke about was lacking in this respect. Not really much of a comfort. Although she was altruistic on other occasions. Do you think people usually are mostly altruistic, naturally, speakout?

But that's not the fault of witchcraft

Not technically. But you wouldn't give suicidal person razor blades.

hihello

You clearly have an axe to grind.

I'm not sure I can help you.

speakout, no axe to grind, quite the opposite. Just looking for better understanding. Asking people I know have a perspective, different from my own helps me examine my own perspective to see if I have missed anything.

I hardly know anyone who actually does this, though, because it can be very hard. You aren't in other peoples heads. The Lords prayer is repeated often in church is it not. People just going through the motions, not really meaning it. That'd be sad and hypocritical.

Hi hihello

I am a solitary witch, I don't have a hierarchy or practise with other witches or belong to any kind of group. Which is why the witch thread here is so helpful, as I think whatever spiritual path you follow its good to have places to discuss and bounce ideas with. For reference I am uncomfortable with the idea of a deity so an an atheist although I do know other branches of the craft revere a goddess and a god. I was brought up C of E so am familiar with christianity.

I haven't read the other thread so I'm unfamiliar with your friend. But Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede which is based on the 'harm none' principle that polices witchcraft to a certain extent.

I'm not a Wiccan so am free to do what I will, however I've never intentionally harmed someone with witchcraft. I'm certainly guilty of anger and impatience, irritability and cross words as I'm human :) but I've not turned to the craft to intentionally cause harm to another living being. I police myself.

Midnight, thank you for commenting.

But Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede which is based on the 'harm none' principle that polices witchcraft to a certain extent.

Yes, I know this and so did the person I speak of. Unfortunately it may not have been enough.

I've never intentionally harmed someone with witchcraft. I'm certainly guilty of anger and impatience, irritability and cross words as I'm human :) but I've not turned to the craft to intentionally cause harm to another living being. I police myself.

I believe you. However the person close to me, I think, thought this too. I think....It was what she claimed anyway. I do think part of her might have been impressed. I think I would have been too ashamed, myself, to relay what happened. However perhaps that is unkind of me. It is what I am left questioning though and it is unsettling because we were very close.

Thank you, though, for trying to allay some of my concerns.