Witchcraft thread

[Sally PB]

I read the Bhagavad Gita in my 20s. (I need to reread it.) I took away two important ideas: There are many paths to enlightnement. It was likened to climbing a mountain. Some people can scale the side of the mountain, and it's the quickest way up to the peak. But others take a less arduous route, like a road that winds round and round. It may take longer, but in the end, both can end up in the same place.

The other idea I hold very dear: Whenever you are in someone's place of worship, show respect. It may not be your Way, but it is valid and deserves respect.

 

[RebelFord81]

True, a lot of things have pagan roots, that doesn't mean we practice paganism tho. Caroling has pagan roots, but I'm pretty sure nobody who claims to be christian is out here caroling for a pagan god
Just like cotton has been farmed by slaves, you're not approving of slavery by wearing a cotton shirt.

I never said they were or they did but they're sure quick to take their traditions and then cast stones at their religion I grew up in the Cristian church my whole family is still HEAVILY Christian I ran a quick as I could from the crazy I prefer peace and light

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The whole Trinity thing gets a little mind bending…

Oof, tell me about it

 

[igorsMistress]

Except for Muslims.

I don’t know enough about Islam to comment.

 

[Everose]

I never said they were or they did but they're sure quick to take their traditions and then cast stones at their religion

Yeah, tbh the church has some ugly history, but it also has some redeeming history (hospitals, art, music, science, etc) stuff that actually improved society.

I grew up in the Cristian church my whole family is still HEAVILY Christian I ran a quick as I could from the crazy I prefer peace and light

I guess I'm pretty lucky. I grew up in a church that just loved people, to this day the only scary thing about my church is getting bubble guts if you go overseas on a missions trip and drink the tap water

 

[igorsMistress]

I think it's funny when people poke fun or are scared of witchcraft and pagans. If Christians took a millisecond to look at their traditions they would see they actually stemed from pagan traditions and alot of what they do is very witchy

I think humans have been willing to adapt religious practices for various reasons. For instance, sometimes the local gods were called upon in battle and promises were made by the insurgents. If they won they promised they’d build a temple for that deity in their homeland and worship that deity. It’s how Rome got a few Gods/Goddesses. If you’re a polytheist, what’s the problem? The church forcefully converted Pagans, many of whom were polytheists who wanted to keep their traditions, so the Pagans found a way to keep them within the boundaries they had to conform to.

 

[Ital]

Often wondered if witches were named as such because they knew which plants to use as medicine and spells were a reference to the power of literacy in a time when most people couldn’t access knowledge from books?

It’s sad the recipes for their potions have been lost, a long history of local plant medicine we probably won’t get back.
Maybe I’ve totally got the wrong end of the broom stick about it? I guess they must’ve been onto something though or they wouldn’t have been considered a threat, hunted, ducked, burned, demonised by the authorities of their time.

I reckon the broom sticks they flew on were probably Cytisus scoparius.

‘Medicinal use of Broom..
Broom is a bitter narcotic herb that depresses the respiration and regulates heart action. It acts upon the electrical conductivity of the heart, slowing and regulating the transmission of the impulses. The young herbaceous tips of flowering shoots are cardiotonic, cathartic, diuretic, emetic and vasoconstrictor. The seeds can also be used. The plant is used internally in the treatment of heart complaints, and is especially used in conjunction with Convallaria majalis. The plant is also strongly diuretic, stimulating urine production and thus countering fluid retention. Since broom causes the muscles of the uterus to contract, it has been used to prevent blood loss after childbirth.’

 

[RebelFord81]

Often wondered if witches were named as such because they knew which plants to use as medicine and spells were a reference to the power of literacy in a time when most people couldn’t access knowledge from books?

It’s sad the recipes for their potions have been lost, a long history of local plant medicine we probably won’t get back.
Maybe I’ve totally got the wrong end of the broom stick about it? I guess they must’ve been onto something though or they wouldn’t have been considered a threat, hunted, ducked, burned, demonised by the authorities of their time.

I reckon the broom sticks they flew on were probably Cytisus scoparius.

‘Medicinal use of Broom..
Broom is a bitter narcotic herb that depresses the respiration and regulates heart action. It acts upon the electrical conductivity of the heart, slowing and regulating the transmission of the impulses. The young herbaceous tips of flowering shoots are cardiotonic, cathartic, diuretic, emetic and vasoconstrictor. The seeds can also be used. The plant is used internally in the treatment of heart complaints, and is especially used in conjunction with Convallaria majalis. The plant is also strongly diuretic, stimulating urine production and thus countering fluid retention. Since broom causes the muscles of the uterus to contract, it has been used to prevent blood loss after childbirth.’

If you look at BIG pharm it all dates back to medicinal herbalism. I study alchemy and herbalism it's fascinating. I don't trust big pharm tho so I don't use any Midwestern medicine.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If you look at BIG pharm it all dates back to medicinal herbalism. I study alchemy and herbalism it's fascinating. I don't trust big pharm tho so I don't use any Midwestern medicine.

It's amazing how many plants, even poisonous ones, can be used to treat issues (respiratory and arthritis seemed to be most common) in the proper doses. I think I've found 3(?) Plants so far that have absolutely no redeeming uses for medicine

 

[16 and me]

Christians are named Christians because they believe Christ exists. Christ is most definitely not God, he's his son. Don't know about Catholicism, but Orthodox Christians most definitely don't think God is Jesus

By that definition, Islamists and Jews who all agree Christ existed are Christians - which clearly they are not. Jesus is the Son of God, the Word of God made flesh, if you read the bible, you will find in the 1st chapter of John's Gospel, that He is God.