Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
What type of book was it? Baptist tend to have "witchcraft books" but then don't call it that. Depends on where they from, though.
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Would an abrahamic believer pick up a book with "witchcraft" as its title?
- Thread starter Unveiled Artist
- Start date
What type of book was it? Baptist tend to have "witchcraft books" but then don't call it that. Depends on where they from, though.
Depends what the rest of the title is.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
There is not. It's as is.
McBell
Admiral Obvious
My Grandma told me she wanted to know what witchcraft is, not from those who vilify it, from those who practice it.
So she gathered all the books she could get her hands on to learn from those who practice it, to get their perspectives.
She died believing witchcraft was wrong, but at least she understood what witchcraft is to many people.
And the back also doesn't have a summary of the book?
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
Haha. Redirect. You're assuming it's an actual book with words? It could be a blank lined notebook but no one asked the content just focused on the word.
Edit. It could be this Witchcraft: Sinatra Song of the Century #59 maybe there's a book on this song. Couldn't find it.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
My. I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know many Christians, Baptist at that, who read books like that to learn. Maybe to talk against "the enemy" but most don't even like the word. Words have power I guess.
McBell
Admiral Obvious
My Grandma was a firm believer in the adage "Tell everyone you meet about Jesus Christ. Use words ONLY if you have to"
dybmh
דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
... That makes sense ... { Sarcastic }
However if left to my own devices, I personally prefer "The Big Leather Bible" for spankings.. { less sarcastic }
Jesuslightoftheworld
The world has nothing to offer us!
No absolutely not, witchcraft is part of the occult and God is very clear about how it is against Him and that is not of God but of the devil.
Maybe I'd pick it up.
dybmh
דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
@Unveiled Artist ,
Here's some books from my personal collection.
They completely flip the stereotype about magical/occult practice in the Jewish Tradition.
( see attached image )
Besides being facinsting books all on their own, the bibliographies of these books are arguably the most valuable aspect of these as resources. The learning opportunity from having access to books like this and others with occult subject matter , IMO, far outweighs any concerns of mine about whether or not they are "Kosher".
In support of this, going from memory, the first volume of the Babylonian Talmud ends with a memorable discussion/set of examples of the extreme measures some individuals employ for the sake of "learning". When I read this discussion, taking into account that it occurs at the very end of the first volume, I cannot help but make the following conclusion:
Whatever a person does, if it is genuinely for the purpose of "learning", an argument can be made to limit the liability of the actions and the culpability of the student. Put simply: It seems to me that the Talmud supports a Machiavellian approach to learning.
I highly doubt that a Talmudic Scholar would agree with this conclusion, btw. So YMMV.
Here's some books from my personal collection.
They completely flip the stereotype about magical/occult practice in the Jewish Tradition.
( see attached image )
Besides being facinsting books all on their own, the bibliographies of these books are arguably the most valuable aspect of these as resources. The learning opportunity from having access to books like this and others with occult subject matter , IMO, far outweighs any concerns of mine about whether or not they are "Kosher".
In support of this, going from memory, the first volume of the Babylonian Talmud ends with a memorable discussion/set of examples of the extreme measures some individuals employ for the sake of "learning". When I read this discussion, taking into account that it occurs at the very end of the first volume, I cannot help but make the following conclusion:
Whatever a person does, if it is genuinely for the purpose of "learning", an argument can be made to limit the liability of the actions and the culpability of the student. Put simply: It seems to me that the Talmud supports a Machiavellian approach to learning.
I highly doubt that a Talmudic Scholar would agree with this conclusion, btw. So YMMV.
Attachments
dybmh
דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
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exchemist
Veteran Member
It would depend on what, about witchcraft, is its subject, and on who wrote it. For instance, a review of the history and anthropology of witchcraft in various societies would be interesting, if the author is a serious authority. Whereas a book claiming that witchcraft is a kind of religion, with something to offer in the modern era, written by a modern devotee, would not be.
Just out of curiosity, can anyone imagine someone answering "no" to such a mushy question?
whirlingmerc
Well-Known Member
If it's something glorifying witchcraft... probably not
It brings to mind the witch of Endor who Saul visited the eve of his death.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
Is it just by the word/title or the content of the book?
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
If it were of interest, I wouldn't see anything wrong with it. The word throws people off more than asking the contents of the book.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
Thank you. Some people are put off by the word rather than observing whether the context of the book matches the bias they attached to the word. There are a lot of anthologies about witchcraft. I haven't read them in full, of course. They range from everywhere across the word but the problem is it has a christian slant to it so it seems more demonic than anything else. As an academic topic, though, I can see that.