The Denial of Satan in Modern Witchcraft

New re-edited version, re-uploaded.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• yt:crop=16:9
• wicca
• witchcraft
• pagan
• paganism
• spirits
• demons
• ghosts
• demonic
• devil
• satan
• God
• Jesus
• Christ
• Christianity
• bible
• new
• testament

[LetitiaMLane]

Most "evil" people don't necessarily believe in satan just like most "good" people don't necessarily believe in Jesus. Both have been blinded from accepting their dependence on or their personal need for either. Each one is trying to get by on their own merits, by their own power, their own way. This is foolishness since each one of us is serving and drawing power from either Jesus or the devil. We are in bondage to whom we obey.

[MrSionnach1]

Final point, if you continue to investigate Wicca (which I encourage you to do), take any information on Alex Sanders with a grain of salt. He came to Wicca by way of ceremonial magick, and even his own contemporaries considered him to be (as we say in the States) a few fries short of a Happy Meal. It seems he used magick not as a way to change reality, so much as a way to escape it.

You seem sincere enough in your question, though, and I gotta respect you for that.

[MrSionnach1]

Two more points, then I'll shut up and go away. First, the real reason we don't believe in the devil is that there is no particular reason we should.

You seem to imply that we (Neopagans at large) are in denial. We aren't. We're in another religion entirely. The most widely accepted source of information on the devil comes from the bible. However, if we considered the Bible to be an authoritative source, we would necessarily be Christians, and not Witches/Wiccans/Pagans.

[MrSionnach1]

Look, both the forces of creation and destruction are real in the universe. Both are absolutely necessary for the universe to function. But neither are morally good nor evil. Nor are they at war with each other, or organized around specific personalities (God vs. the devil, for instance).

Morality is strictly a *human* issue; it's part of what makes us what we are. The war between good and evil occurs within us, not in the cosmos at large. How we see the world reflects what is going on inside.

[Shazoolo]

@ithinkshepissesgravy I hail from that thar neck of the woods!

[TheConchita8Kimbley]

@witchcraft3328 I agree. We deny the existance eternal punishment or a course for all evil, however, we never deny the existance of malevolance. We cannot be considered satanic as such a concept has no place whatsoever in our religion. Like with unfamiliar people, spirits can be good or bad. Just as a human can commit an act of malevolence, as can a spirit. We cleanse ourself of such things to follow a path of light. However, like with many things, there are risks and failures,

[witchcraft3328]

I believe why it the existence of Satan is inconceivable to most pagans is because Satan is a Christian creation. Wiccans would thus not believe in that which does not follow their own belief system or their own personal beliefs. Furthermore, though Satan is inconceivable, the thought of a leading evil spirit or devil isn't, but their are plenty of early Pagan deities that fit the bill. So having them be the same person isn't as valid merely for the fact that they belong to two different beliefs

[trandomphatguy]

katelling1 i used to be a christian. trust me, when you look through the pages of the bible and really tink, the reason the bible was created becomes clear. im not going to say because i dont want to upset anyone, but i can promise it is not evil- just unnecessary in this age. and i also realized that god does exist, but not in the way that the bible says and not in the sence of there being one (technically.)

blesed be )0(

[trandomphatguy]

@Shazoolo because since we are all connected to the "divine" for lack of better words, alll our thoughts go into this state too. and there are evil people with evil thoughts in the world- prominentley murderers, but dictaters such as adolf hitler as well. some spirits are more powerful than others, but none is truly dominating as the very nature ofsuch spirits means that theyre evil for different reasons. you just have to learn to avoid them, but they dont have a leader.

[madlandlizard]

@The1hope4all I believe that all spirits have an instinct to move on to whereever/whatever is next after death. However, some people during their mundane lives are so strongly skeptical that when they die their spirits become confused and dont know where to go/what to do. They then manifest on the mundane plane so that we can still very briefly and roughly percieve them, and see them as acting 'evil'. I dont believe that should be guided by anyone, but psychics can help them and guide them.