The Influence of Pop Culture on Wiccan and Satanic Beliefs

Wicca and Satanism are two distinct religious beliefs that have often been misunderstood and confused with each other. While both have a focus on spirituality and paganism, they differ greatly in their beliefs, practices, and values. Wicca, also known as modern witchcraft, is a nature-based religion that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by its reverence for nature, worship of a goddess and a god, and the practice of magical rituals. Wiccans believe in the existence of divine energy in all things and strive to live in harmony with the Earth and its various elements. They often practice witchcraft, casting spells and performing rituals to manifest their desires and bring about positive change.

Executed August 19, 1692
John Proctor, age 60- vocally skeptical of accusers and proceedings, was arrested after coming to his wife Elizabeth's defense.
John Willard, age 35- deputy constable, accused after refusing to arrest those he believed to be innocent.

The child she was pregnant with, a son, would be named Ammi Ruhamah after a biblical phrase meaning our people have found mercy, because he had essentially saved his mother s life. For good reasons, Tolkien along with Lewis has been credited with reinventing the genre known as high fantasy, which is patterned after the Norse and Celtic myths that Tolkien, as one of the leading experts in Anglo-Saxon and Middle English literature at the time, was steeped in professionally.

They often practice witchcraft, casting spells and performing rituals to manifest their desires and bring about positive change. Satanism, on the other hand, is a religious and philosophical belief system that venerates Satan as a symbol of personal freedom, individualism, and rebellion against oppressive authority. It has multiple branches, including Theistic Satanism, LaVeyan Satanism, and Satanic Temple.

The Lord of the Rings, the concept of 'white magic' and the thinking Christian

A little bit of background on the title before I get into my question. I have grown up in a conservative Reformed family where we have been very cautious in regards to magic in movies. [and other places too.] in fact, it was only a couple of years ago that we 'approved for the most part' Star Wars. Harry Potter I have never and don't want to read or watch---because of the presence of the occult, sorcery, and wizards --good or evil.

The real question I have is on the Lord of the Rings. I have never read the books, [aside from the Hobbit], or seen any of the movies. However, I have been told by many friends the plot, who the characters are, what they do, and how generally 'awesome' the movies are. Never really doubted what they said.

So, just the other night, we decided to start the first one. I guess I became confused because what I was told about the movie didn't seem to correspond with what I saw. I was never told about all the 'dark magic' in the movie; or the strange propensities of the ring, or the wraith-like figures that were chasing Frodo [neither dead or alive]--True: there was a great storyline, but. I guess I felt like I didn't hear the whole story about everything. I guess if I had heard what exactly the movies entailed [and I realize that they are probably a little more scary then the books--which may be perfectly fine], I probably would not have watched it. That's my conscience, and of course I'm not condemning someone's perfectly good Christian liberty. But could someone explain their reasoning for watching a movie like LOTR under "Christian Liberty" so I could learn more about your position?

Also: I have heard different things about Toliken making this to be Christian fiction[having Christian elements and whatnot] and also that it is not 'christian'. So, I guess you could call me confused.

Rufus

Puritan Board Junior

JML

Puritan Board Junior

I too always thought it strange that the same person could approve of the Lord of the Rings yet disapprove of Harry Potter. In my pre-reformed days I saw some of both movies and truthfully don't see much difference between them. Either magic and sorcery is wrong or it isn't. Clearly the Scriptures say that it is. Somehow though, some justify it in one set of movies and condemn it in the other.

Philip

Puritan Board Graduate

Tolkien is rolling over in his grave. He didn't intend for it to be allegory of any kind. He (unlike his good friend C.S. Lewis) did not like allegory, and instead thought in terms of the Christian themes that influenced and drove the work. He was a Roman Catholic and wrote The Lord of the Rings beginning in 1937. Much of the imagery he uses is influenced (directly or indirectly) by his experiences in the trenches of WWI and the world crisis that he saw unfolding. Calling him an occultist is another thing he would have taken great offense at, given that this was his critique of fellow Oxford fantasist and theologian, the Anglo-Catholic Charles Williams.

For good reasons, Tolkien (along with Lewis) has been credited with reinventing the genre known as "high fantasy," which is patterned after the Norse and Celtic myths that Tolkien, as one of the leading experts in Anglo-Saxon and Middle English literature at the time, was steeped in professionally.

The themes that he drew on, though, were directly influenced by his faith as a Catholic. For example, several of the characters in The Lord of the Rings take on a suffering servant role in different ways. In addition, if you read carefully the background material for Tolkien's mythos, one finds out that Wizards like Gandalf (for instance) are indeed akin to angelic messengers, sent to help the "Children of Eru," while beings such as Sauron are demonic and their works are always corrupt. In addition, Tolkien includes themes of depravity, redemption, and providence as parts of the mythology.

As for the subject of magic: Tolkien's work (read closely) is rather ambivalent about the subject. Elves, for instance, are given special gifts that they can use, as are dwarves, and there are mentions of enchantments, and of course the various angelic and demonic beings have their power under the jurisdiction of God (again, much of this is found in the apppendices or the posthumously-published Silmarillion). But whenever mortals attempt to use powers like this (such as the nine rings given to lords of men), it turns to evil. Power is this thing that, for Tolkien, always corrupts, and the desire for power, even to do good, always becomes evil.

So what is a Christian to do with this? Take it for what it is supposed to be: mythology. I am more bothered by the King Arthur legends (which I love, by the way) than by The Lord of the Rings. I'd say read the books and decide for yourself, but keep in mind that in Tolkien's mythos, "magic" is always power innate to the person and its moral value is reflective of the person, and in those cases where mortals attempt to take power, it is always presented as evil and unnatural.

There is a lot of darkness, but there is also light. Tolkien's vision in this work is that no matter how dark evil gets, good will be brought forth: evil brings about its own destruction and the result is good. Sauron never conquers forever; Gandalf returns from the dead; the King returns to his kingdom. The imagery of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation is deliberate on Tolkien's part. The imagery is dark because Tolkien lived in a dark time, because he isn't naive about the reality of evil---but he's also confident that in the darkest hour, when it looks like Satan has won, that that is when the great eucatastrophe takes place, and evil is defeated.

So would I say the books are Christian? No---books can't be Christians, only people can. Tolkien was, I think, a believer, and his work is permeated with Christian imagery and themes. I say this as someone who has read much of Tolkien's work as well as many of his letters, drafts, and scholarly achievements (he was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Merton College, Oxford).

“Yea, & in our Land (in this, & some neighboring Places) how many, what Multitudes, of Witches & Wizards has the Devil instigated with utmost violence to attempt the overthrow of Religion?”
-Samuel Parris, sermon notes dated September 11, 1692

Theistic Satanists believe in the existence of Satan as a literal deity and worship him as such. LaVeyan Satanists follow the teachings of Anton LaVey, who founded the Church of Satan in the 1960s. They view Satan as a metaphorical figure representing carnal desires and reject the concept of a higher power. The Satanic Temple is a non-theistic organization that advocates for secularism and religious freedom, using Satanic symbolism to challenge religious privilege and hypocrisy in society. Contrary to popular misconceptions, Wicca is not associated with evil or Satan worship. Wiccans do not believe in Satan as a malevolent being and do not perform black magic or harmful rituals. Their practices are centered around love, respect for nature, and personal empowerment. Satanism, on the other hand, does involve the veneration of Satan, but it is not inherently evil or harmful. Most Satanists do not engage in harmful or illegal activities, as they adhere to principles such as respect for individual rights, rejection of superstition, and pursuit of personal happiness. In summary, while Wicca and Satanism both have pagan roots and focus on spirituality, they differ significantly in their beliefs and practices. Wicca is a nature-based religion centered around the worship of a goddess and god, while Satanism can be either theistic or non-theistic, with a focus on individualism and personal freedom. It is important to understand and respect these differences to avoid misrepresentation and stereotypes..

Reviews for "Witchcraft and Satanism: An Examination of their Views on Power and Control"

1. Sarah - 2 stars

I was really hoping that "Wicca vs Satanism" would provide an accurate and unbiased comparison between these two belief systems. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed. The documentary seemed to lean heavily towards demonizing Satanism and portraying Wicca as the superior alternative. It lacked objectivity and failed to present a balanced perspective on the subject. I expected more in-depth analysis and open-mindedness, but instead, I was met with a one-sided presentation that left a sour taste in my mouth.

2. Mark - 1 star

"Wicca vs Satanism" is nothing more than a cheap attempt at sensationalizing two spiritual practices for entertainment purposes. It offered shallow and superficial information on both Wicca and Satanism without delving into the complexities and nuances of either belief system. The documentary seemed more interested in creating controversy and fear rather than educating its audience. I found the whole production to be highly misleading and uninformative, and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a genuine understanding of these religions.

3. Samantha - 2 stars

I had high hopes for "Wicca vs Satanism" as I was curious about the differences and similarities between these two often-misunderstood belief systems. However, the documentary was disappointingly biased, focusing primarily on the negatives of Satanism while only briefly touching on the positives and principles of Wicca. It lacked depth and did not provide sufficient information to truly grasp the essence of either practice. I felt that the filmmakers missed an opportunity to promote understanding and dialogue, opting instead to perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions. Overall, it left me unsatisfied and wanting more accurate and balanced coverage of these subjects.

Wiccan Ethics vs Satanic Ethics: An In-depth Analysis