Mel <salinesoccer@yahoo.com> wrote:

Brian,

Actually, the whole first part was mine. The second part wasn't. The 'quotes' from mine were straight from the Bible as you can see below. I have been researching Wicca for the past year mainly because my friends' mother is really into it. This friend of mine likes going to church with me, but her brother is really against it, and her mom and her mom isn't happy, but they let her go.

The things written in the email WERE written by me, minus what was at the bottom below my signature. That was an excerpt from a website. Everything else was in my own words, and what I feel. I don't know If you are into Wicca or whatnot, but I have read books and researched it for a long time. Unless you can prove yourself to have done your homework in the subject, then you don't have a right to tell me I'm off. I do research before I can make a statement, and unless you have done the same, please don't knock what I say. I don't appreciate that.

~Mel

 I wrote this:

Like D&D, Wicca at first can seem harmless. Most Wiccans or 'Witches' as they prefer to be called don't even believe in Satan let alone that they're doing his work. It is one of his little white lies. Wiccans rely on stones and the 3 sides of thier 'triangle' to cast thier spells. Wiccans also believe in reincarnation, or one coming back to life in a new form of creature. The Bible specifically states that all evil and witchcraft is forbidden. Galatians 5 (NIV) ¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Fortunately, there is good news for those to turn to God, because we are forgiven of these sins if we ask. Romans 5 ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Hebrews 11¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.
³By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Whether a Wiccans' intentions are good or evil, it results in an evil practice that can cause real damage due to evil spirits. They are as real as angles.

~Mel

Matthias the Sick wrote:

We have to remember that there are a lot of dangers out in the world, both physical and spiritual. But, we must also remember that they are not all easily subdivided into clear black and white issues.

Mel <salinesoccer@yahoo.com> wrote:

Matthias,

I do not know of any other role playing games and that has not presented a problem. God asked me only to state things on Wicca and D&D. I don't understand what you meant on out of context. I only stated facts, and when it was opinions, I stated that they were opinions. I do realize that some of what I said was a little harsh for the non believer, but for the crap I've been getting for being a Christian, it was nothing. It is hard to reply to hate and verbal abuse with love. I'm doing what I can, and I'm only human. But sometimes God asks for a strong hand on a subject, and sometimes a gentle one.

Words of love and concern should also not be mistaken for pity. There is a LARGE difference. What I've written is not because I think I'm better, not because I pitty the non-believer, and not because I'm casting judgement. I  am greatly humbled by the fact that God would use me as a tool for His work, and these words are from His love working through me. I was scared at first because this is a very touchy subject, but I trust that God will bring me through. I have been flooded with emails; both support mail and hate mail. I was afraid this would happen because it effects relationships in my life. But I trust that God will take care of me as He always does.

Thanks for your concern.

~Mel

     well, i don't know where you do your research, but i actually talk to wiccans, and i can point out some things.  first off, they don't prefer to be called witches, and witchcraft is something different, it represents the dark side of magik (demon worshiping, and the like).  secondly wican's do not use triangles, they use circles, and 5 pointed stars that represent the different elements.  the only things that i can think of that is related to triangles is trig and gay/lesbian groups (which i know ur against).  third, they don't even use stones.  4th, there's nothign wrong with the concept of reincarnation, buddasts worship the same ideal... 5th, the little list that you have of sins is quite broad, and i can tell you that many of the like are much more common place among christians then the witchcraft ideal.  some of those on the list are emotions that need to be a part of one's life, with out them how can one be sure of feeling the other emotions like love?  human beings, like much in nature, are continually finding the equilberium between the extremes.  and finally, don't include the whole "you can repent!!!" thing, u've already pissed off any individual that you would want to "save" by destroying their religion in false manners.  you wouldn't expect someone else to convert you from christianity to wiccan or scientific or whatever, so y do you expect to do the same to them?  also, who's to deside evil and good?  you do so by ur religion, but different religions show different sides of something.  you think wiccan's evil, yet you don't know what it really is.  calling something evil when it's not could easily be considered an evil ideal or act....  so to many minority religions, the act of condeming because of ignorance is evil...    well, i'm sorry that i didn't think those were your words, the bible notation threw me off.  i also thought u knew more... i'm sorry....  next time, don't use the bible as a reference...  there are many out there that don't share your views on it being "the book" so refering to it has no value...  good luck
      -Bri

I don't know where your wiccan friends get thier refrences. I, too talk to wiccans, I have visited many web sites, and they all say the exact same thing about Wiccan beliefs. Your friends may be practicing their own version, but I am going off the basic 'religion' that evolved. In this world, people twist things so much that know one has a right to say that any religion is or is not a single specific way unless they have original documentation. Secondly, the dark side of magik and demon worship are the exact same thing as evil spirits. Call them what you will, it does not matter.

Thirdly, the verse that I placed in there of sins was the whole quoted verse. Christians aren't perfect either. We're sinful, yet forgiven. Every person on this earth has committed adultry in thier own mind if they lust after someone sexually. That makes them an adulterer. If you lie, it makes you a lier. We've been envious of another person; that makes us a jealous person. At one time or another, we have all sought after our own desires before another; that makes us selfish. So in accordance to the Christian Word of God, we too are guilty of these acts. That's why we need God's forgiveness. No one is above another, and sins are not any more common among Christians than anyone else, nor are they less.

Fourth, others have greatly pissed me off. Remember, YOU are the one who came to ME asking for my opinion. I gave it. You still have no right to correct it. Not all, but the majority of atheists are hipocritical to their own words. I've been told by them not to down thier religion without knowing hardcore facts, but OH, it's ok for THEM to do it to me because I don't have a secular view. This shows a lack of maturity and closemindedness. Christianity has been ripped apart, ripped on, and beaten to the ground. Christian clubs aren't legally allowed to be part of the school club list, we can't have our picture in the yearbook, and we can't have any articles written about us in the school paper. Oh, but the gay club can. Let's see, that's sexual immorality on our account, but no, it dosen't matter. It dosen't matter that over 70% of the world is Christian or that over 80% of our own school is. We must All make sure that we  have so many blacks, so many whites, so many asians, and likewise with religion. I apoligize for my sarcasim, but it's rediculous! I agree with wanting to support minorities and stuff, but thast should mean equal rights. Christians are getting the rap and the raw end of it all from the world. If it wasn't for the love God gives me to give everyone, I'd say the hell with ya'll and go home. I'm tired of suffering for this lost cause, but God thinks different of you. He for some reason thinks that we're all the best cause. Buhddists, wiccans, atheists, agnostics, jw's, mormons; He wants them all if they will just accept the free gift. Why? I don't know.

Respect is not given, it's earned, and respect is earned by holding true to your word, ¹showing you can be trusted, showing you care, and knowing what you're talking about.  ~¹Aerostotale

As far as who's to decide what's evil and good, duh, it's a given. You know when you lie it's wrong. When you make fun of someone, it's wrong. When you cast a spell to harm someone, it's wrong. You know that feeling you get on the back of your neck when you watch scary movies or talk to ouiji boards? You know when evil is near. You don't need someone to tell you. You can feel it.

I want sooooooo bad to be done with this whole thing. It's making me a wreck with people flooding me with complaints. If it weren't for the fact that there are people backing me up, I would go insane. I'm done for today, and I will pray that God will open your heart and mind and also help me keep my sanity

evil noun

1 whatever is harmful, distressing, or disastrous <attempts to grasp the nature of evil>

syn ill

rel bad, badness, devilry, diablerie, diabolism, evilness, satanism, satanity, wickedness, wrong

2 whatever is morally unacceptable <return good for evil>

syn debt, sin, wickedness, wrong

rel evildoing, misconduct, sinfulness, wrongdoing

3 a particular thing (as an act) that is evil <choose the lesser of two evils>

syn crime, diablerie, iniquity, sin, tort, wrong, wrongdoing

rel badness, evilness, maleficence, vice, wickedness; misdeed, offense

(c)2000 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

 

 ~Mel