Witchcraft

Template:Expand Witchcraft or black magic is the evil use of supernatural powers. Witchcraft may include any act or instance of employing sorcery, especially with malevolent intent. Witchcraft calls upon the powers of the devil much like a believer prays and believes in the power of God. If you believe in God, and believe in what the Bible says, then you must believe in the powers of evil as well. You cannot take one side and then completely discount the other side. So, evil power is real and witchcraft is the use of it.

The Bible on Witchcraft

The Bible, which is explicitly against witchcraft, mentions it in several places:

Do not allow a sorceress to live. Exodus 22:18 (NIV)

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and 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. (emphasis added) Galations 5:19-21 (NIV)

Campaigns against witches

In some Western countries, the mere accusation of being a witch was enough to assure conviction and execution. This made it easy for an unpopular woman to be falsely accused (see also Honor killing).

Perhaps tens of thousands of women were murdered, merely because someone maliciously denounced them in this way.

Some people have concluded from this that we ought to put aside the entire idea of witchcraft being evil, so that it removes the grounds for false accusation. Others maintain that witchcraft is against God's law because it's real and is a real problem. Whether these two views contradict each other is a matter of controversy.

See also

• Salem Witch Hunt