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Evolution of Witchcraft:
Don't Wait Around for the Broomstick
by Amanda Chapman

What attracts people to Wicca today?
Is there real power in Witchcraft?
What is the growing rate of Wicca?
What should you watch for?
What can you do to stop these practices from invading your home?

Witches are historically characterized as satanic, evil, mysterious women who ride broomsticks and cast spells.¹ During the Middle Ages, witches’ initiations were completed upon their own decision to become a witch and their agreement to worship Satan.² However, over time, witches have tailored their practices to have different characteristics, rejecting sacrifice and the direct worship of Satan all the while becoming more socially acceptable and drawing followers in frightening numbers. Modern witchcraft, or Wicca, is the “nature and fertility religion of pre-Christian Europe.” ¹ Here we find it defined, stripped of any ill-natured description, seemingly innocent and increasingly present in today’s culture.

The 1960s extolled the virtues of freedom and tolerance at every level. This tolerance incited the rapid rise in Wicca followers during the 60s. The children of this generation often embraced the same values that Wiccans hold, reflecting the influences of witchcraft on society and society on witchcraft. Wiccans revere nature as a divine power, sometimes referring to nature as Mother Earth. The explosion of feminism in this era also helped grow this religion.¹ Magic and sorcery (tarot cards, palm reading) are increasingly popular. Another movement commonly embraced by witchcraft is the practice of holistic healing. And while some natural therapies are excellent, the unfortunate reality is that many people who explore this field are exposed to and convert to spiritualism.³ Each of these secular movements fostered tolerance for the ideas of Wicca.

What attracts people to Wicca today?

Relativity

Witchcraft’s structure is left to freeform development. There are no rules or hierarchical order to adhere to.³ Anyone who wavers in their faith or lacks faith can be attracted to Witchcraft as there is no set definition. The generally accepted creed is also very vague: “An [sic] it harm none, do as ye will,” which basically says you can do whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt anyone, leaving the issues of morality and ethics vulnerable to interpretation.

Witchcraft can be tempting to anyone reluctant to take a position asserting moral absolutes, because they teach relativity.⁴ In America, 83% of teenagers and 64% of adults believe that moral truth is relative to the situation. Relativity prominently runs through Wiccan religion and practices, making it very attractive to the people who are opposed to embracing an absolute truth or moral law.⁵

Sexual Freedom

There is strong emphasis on sexual experimentation, “as long as precautions are first taken to avoid pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, health problems, negative effects on the relationship, and damage to each person’s self-esteem.” Their sexual freedom, in conjunction with their honor of women is attractive to many feminists and homosexuals. “Within Wicca, the female principle is considered as powerful as and sometimes even more important than the male.”⁶

Ecology
Wiccans highly regard nature, attracting many who are concerned for the environment, as they feel a special connection to Mother Earth.

Media

The recent surge in popularization of Wicca may in part be due to the recent publicity witchcraft has received through television shows and movies such as Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed and The Craft. ⁶ The witches are portrayed as beautiful, sexy, and powerful people with gifted powers who can seduce men and draw followers. They are generally portrayed as heroes who use their power for good.

Availability

The availability of witchcraft attracts many to this form of religious life. By going online, one can locate a nearby coven, or group in one’s own city. In one witch newsgroup, there are currently 389 teen listings for California alone, and countless for all over the world. There are also groups for college-age and younger witches. Though they claim not to want to convert anyone, there are many groups that try to build members, so they are very inviting. They claim acceptance and tolerance, and are very accessible. There are also chat sites and email groups for witches. In Yahoo, MSN and AOL Groups, one can locate and instantaneously communicate online with a multitude of Wiccan groups that offer and trade spells, invite followers and share Wiccan experiences. Wicca is readily available to anyone seeking it, or just simply browsing. Top

Is there real power in Witchcraft?

Ephesians 6:12 reads, “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,” (RSV). As Christians, we do believe in evil powers, and witchcraft, being an evil power, can wreak havoc in the lives of those involved. Witchcraft is clear disobedience to God because it is giving glory to the wrong power. “Do not turn to mediums or spiritualists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31, NASB). Spiritualism is destructive and powerful, and God warns us to stay away from it. When we let other powers into our lives, we are removing God from where He wants to be. God said, “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers” (Malachi 3:5). There is power behind sin, which is why we must not let it into our lives.

Paulo Romiero, Director of the Christian Research Institute in Brazil, writes that his father attended witch centers for 30 years, bringing home spirits that would make themselves known in the night. Paulo writes, “I began to receive spiritual visitations in my room. I could hear their steps in the house at night. I could detect precisely where they were in the house…I could hear steps coming toward my room. I could hear the door open, and I could sense that there was someone else in the room with me.”⁷ Anytime we play with powers that aren’t God, we become susceptible to evil.

Candace Caldwell got involved in witchcraft and Satanism, and invited spirits into her life and body. She began having blackouts, “and would come to hours later, trailing somebody down the beach with a loaded .380 in my pocket, hunting them. I now had demonic power so strong that I didn’t even have to work a ritual to get them to manifest.” She started doing and dealing cocaine, while her husband used it, too. He left Candace for his brother’s widow, and left Candace with three children, no job, and a wrecked car. Her life deteriorated quickly, and she became broken, and in need of God. After fighting God for so long, now she finds herself saved by God. She writes, “If someone wants to be involved in witchcraft or Satanism or the occult, that is their business, although I advise against it. Those demons that we so blithely allow to enter are absolute hell to get rid of…” ⁸

There is an immense amount of testimonies from people who have pursued the path of evil, both knowingly and unknowingly, and thereby have devastated themselves and their loved ones. The power that witchcraft uses is not innocent. It is pervasive and permeating, and will destroy the life of those who practice it. Top

What is the growing rate of Wicca?

Though the number is difficult to verify, it is estimated that between 250,000 to 400,000 people in the US are Wiccans. The website, Witch’s Voice was at one time the most popular religious site on the Internet; 60% of their visitors were under 30 years of age and 62% were females. Witchcraft heavily attracts teenage girls because of their emphasis on feminism and the environment. Danny Aguirre, from the Spiritual Counterfeits Project, said that: "In the last six months, I have received more inquiries about Wicca than any other religion in the 10 years I have worked here." Aguirre also said that the callers were "all teen-age girls.” ⁶

With the Internet growing and offering more ways to experiment with previously exclusive and mysterious practices like witchcraft, teenagers are even more exposed to the dangers of entrapment. Top

What should you watch for?

Witchcraft or Wicca sometimes uses the symbol of a star inside a circle (please see image, left). Sometimes the star is filled in and sometimes it is not. If your child wears or draws this symbol, you have cause to question them. If he/she has recently taken up an infatuation with Mother Nature or natural powers, tarot cards, palm reading, astrology and crystals, you should question him/her. You can check to see if your child has been searching witchcraft sites by going to the history folder in your computer. Top

What can you do to stop these practices from invading your home?

Hank Hanegraaff wrote, “Christians should not be content to simply curse the darkness. We need to build a lighthouse in the midst of the gathering darkness…It is imperative that we look beyond the destructive behavior of troubled teens and minister to their alienation and despair.”⁹ It is important that you talk with your child about this if you suspect involvement.

It is in your power to provide the things for your children that will help keep them safe from dangers like these. Use the Internet for God’s glory. Provide edification through a Christ-centered Internet experience. Most filters do not filter Witchcraft or Wicca because the secular world does not perceive witchcraft as a danger but rather a matter of choice. In order to protect your family from the temptations of witchcraft on the Internet, you must use a Christian filtered ISP or at least ensure your filter is set to block these categories. ZOL.com is proud to protect your family from these websites, and we invite you to become a part of our Christian Internet community today. Top

² McDowell, Josh. A Ready Defense. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 1993.

³ Fish, Sharon, R.N. Therapeutic Touch. California: CRI. 2000.
http://www.equip.org

^⁶ Robinson, B. A. “Teens and Wicca.” Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 2002
http://www.religioustolerance.org

⁷ Romiero, Paulo. Set Free From the Spirits.
www.equip.org

⁸ Caldwell, Candace. Deliverance from Witchcraft, Satanism and Occultism.
www.christian-testimonies.com

⁹ Hanegraaff, Hank. Dumb Downed, Blowing Up. Christian Research Institute. 2000
http://www.equip.org