Under the caption "Ripe for Spiritual Deception", Harvey complains that "Ever since playwright Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in the 1950's to parallel the McCarthy hearings, a 'witch hunt' has become one of the left's favorite epithets to intimidate the devout, who are, of course, merely unenlightened dullards. The truth is that witchcraft is real, and so is the unchanging Christian prohibition against it. Any power other than God is forbidden, starting with the First Commandment, and attempting to do 'magick' exposes one to contact with demonic power, whether or not one names it as such. There is no difference between white or black witchcraft; neither involve the biblically revealed Creator or Christ as Savior, so both are elements of rebellion used for selfish, not Christ–centered purposes. Humans do have access to divine power, but it is through prayer to God and Him alone, not other named or imagined spirits. And, God's will determines the final outcome; rituals or other works of humans do not."[20] Harvey goes on to complain that Potter fans "will never hear about God's real, omnipotent power".[21] She complains that the current generation seems literate but is actually "biblically illiterate".[22] She describes this "enchantment of our youth"[23] as "part of the tactics of Satan".[24] Harvey explains that "Satan and his army of demonic spirits are genuine and referenced frequently in the Bible",[25] describing them as a "daily reality".[26] "Unfortunately, without enough courageous Christians vigilantly protecting children from witchcraft," Harvey tells us, "the framework for bondage is in place."[27] "No one has to hunt for witches anymore," Harvey complains, "they may own the house next door."[28] Yes, they may. Despite the efforts of people like Harvey, the Wiccan community is the fastest growing religious community in North America.

Harvey complains of the popularity of teen fiction with occult themes such as Silver Ravenwolf's Witches Chillers series as well as the works of Isobel Bird, R. L. Stine, Celia Rees, Cate Tiernan and Lynne Ewing. She accuses them of the "dissemination of pro–witch and anti–Christian propaganda." Yet later she quotes Silver Ravenwolf: "Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion... is...that these institutions have claimed to be 'the one true right and only way.' ... Witches are sick and tired of people in other religions passing judgment and spreading lies about our belief system just because they are either insecure in their own faith or don't realize that many paths to God exist in our universe." This, seemingly, is what Harvey means when she makes her claims of "anti-Christian propaganda".

Harvey blames the internet for providing a way for Pagans to network, share ideas and beliefs. Of course, this argument ignores the fact that the internet has provided the same opportunity for Christians. Harvey claims that the internet provides a "neat and clean way for curious youth to avoid the scrutiny of parents while exploring once–forbidden subjects".[29] Of course Christian sites are just as accessible, and it was on such a site that I found Harvey's article. Harvey names one of these Christian web sites: Kathi Sharpe's Exwitch.org. In typical fashion, Harvey claims that "Witchcraft hides among the rushes on other teen sites".[30] She cites Planned Parenthood's Teen Wire as an example, using this as an introduction to a rant about abortion and sex.

In a manner reminiscent of many of the other extremists that I've written about in my Witch Hunts series, Harvey takes pot shots at feminism and homosexuals, complaining that "'pagan pride' is set to burst upon the American scene with its accusations and demands. Groups are springing up like the Witches Anti–Defamation League, Witches Against Religious Discrimination and the Alternative Religions Education Network, taking refuge under the constitutional protections on religious freedom."[31] Note how the sentence regarding the WLPA and WARD follow her sentence complaining about the gay community, incorrectly inferring that these organizations are feminist/gay organizations.

Harvey grumbles that "The ACLU defended a girl in a Detroit high school several years back who was asked to stop wearing a necklace with a pentacle (a witchcraft symbol). A settlement was made in the teen's favor which required the school to change its policies on witchcraft symbols and attire."[32] This is, of course, the case of Crystal Seifert. Harvey goes on to gripe that "The ACLU defended a local teen in a case Oklahoma as well, and other witch defense groups threatened to sue a middle school in Colorado Springs in 1999 after a vice principal questioned a group of twelve–year–olds who were rumored to be casting spells. The school backed off after the "rights" groups organized a publicity and letter–writing campaign."[33] Harvey goes on grouse about how "college is a fertile field for the growth of witch sympathies. Your daughter or son who takes a religion or women's studies class at a non–Christian college can expect to be exposed to the benefits of alternative religions, mostly occultic, in overcoming the 'oppression' of the entrenched Christian mainstream. This is maintained all the while any hope of an authentic study of Christianity should probably be abandoned."[34] Harvey tells us that her daughter, "a senior at a small liberal arts college in Ohio, tells numerous tales of occult bias in her classes. Her class on 'Women in American Religion' required reading the Cynthia Eller book, Living in the Lap of the Goddess, which dwells extensively and positively on witchcraft as a liberating faith for women. In the class, pairs of students were assigned to develop their own 'rituals' and lead the class in carrying them out. In other words, they were assigned the task of casting spells for college credit."[35]

The next section in Harvey's article bears the caption "Why Witchcraft is Wrong". It commences with the main argument of Harvey's article: That her religion is the only true one. "When one does not know the genuine," Harvey claims, "the counterfeit is easy to accept." Harvey calls Wicca a "lie from Satan... as old as Genesis. 'You shall be as gods,' the serpent told Eve. If you are 'as gods,' you can make your own rules. Forget parents! Forget teachers! We'll just live for the moment, the latest sensation and party on down. So witchcraft is a perfect fit for a paganized, pleasure–centered, shallow America."[36] Clearly Harvey has no understanding of the Wiccan Rede if she is making statements such as this. The Rede demands that we Wiccans take responsibility for our actions, not throw all the rules out the window.

Harvey goes on to tell us that "sin is always defined by God, not man, who would change the definitions endlessly to fit the occasion."[37] Of course the endless varieties of definitions of sin we've seen presented by the persons that I've written about in my Witch Hunts series over the past two years flies in the face of Harvey's claims. It is Harvey trying to define "sin" here, and using her religion as a smoke screen in an attempt to hide this. Harvey goes on to rant about the "reality of Satan" and claims that there is "There is no logical reason to reject Satan as a possibility except wishful thinking," adding "What do we imagine those voodoo spirits in Haiti are, in reality? [38] It is Harvey who is demonstrating wishful thinking here, in abundance.

Harvey concludes by asserting that "nothing is more ancient than the prohibitions against witchcraft and sorcery, and this is just one more way the Bible (if one takes the trouble to read it) reveals timeless knowledge."[39] What Harvey is demonstrating here is timeless intolerance.

The next thing one finds on the "Wicca and Witchcraft" page of Jesusanswers.com is the section "What is Wicca?" Here one finds a definition of Witchcraft from Jack Roper, who you'll recognize from earlier articles in my Witch Hunts series. Roper's definition reads: "Witchcraft is the occult art of attempting to willfully shape one's environment through the mediumistic summoning of forbidden supernatural power that in theory are sometimes called Jungian archetypes or the Life Force. These supernatural powers are the dynamic power behind white to black magick. The powers behind Witchcraft or Wicca is not an extension of psychic potential but is a subtle manipulated personal power that resides within the normally intangible and invisible demonic sphere of reality [sic]. This power is tapped into through certain ritualistic magick techniques."[40] Roper goes on to point out that "Contemporary Witchcraft is not Satanism but another spiritual facet of Neo-Paganism. 'Diversity with unity' is a common theme within the witchcraft movement. Creativity, intuitive revelations, autonomy, eclecticism, symbolism, reincarnation and tolerance are salient features. The gender is often more female dominated than male."[41] Having said this, Roper attempts to sneak in the lie that Wiccans are perverted drug addicts: "Mind altering herbs (stimulants-depressants-narcotics-hallucinogenics) are sometimes used to create altered states of consciousness," Roper tells us, "...Healing and soft porn (aka: sky cladding) are used as seductive devices to draw in new devotees to secure entrenchment. Homosexuality and lesbianism are often accepted as normal forms of individualistic morality which raise the risk of sexually transmitted diseases among the coven. Satan is considered to be a Christian invention. Truth is only relative. Moral absolutes are frequently dismissed as old-fashioned."[42]

The remainder of this section discusses how Satanism and Wicca are two different religions.

The Jesusanswers site then lists more links. One links to Berit Kjos's Crossroads Ministries article on Harry Potter. Other links take the reader to a place to purchase the book Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged- Making Evil Look Innocent, Hal Lindsey's book Satan is Alive and Well and Living on Planet Earth, Jonas Clark's book Exposing Spiritual Witchcraft: Breaking Controlling Powers and Witchcraft: Exploring the World of Wicca by evangelist Craig S. Hawkins. "Occult phenomena in general, and witchcraft in particular, are on the rise in our culture as a wave of neopaganism crashes on the shores of contemporary Western thought and life," reads a blurb on Hawkin's book by J. P. Moreland, "Witchcraft is a timely, well-researched contribution to the ongoing struggle about religious ideas currently being waged in our society."[43]

Jesusanswers.com is a tired collection of recycled misinformation. The contributors demonstrate their lack of courage and integrity by presenting their intolerant views while claiming that they are not their opinions, but the "word of God".

---

[1] http://oneway.jesusanswers.com/witchcraft.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] http://www.livingwaters.com/good/001.shtml

[4] http://www.leaderu.com/theology/teenwitchcraft.html

[5] www.missionamerica.com

[6] http://www.leaderu.com/theology/teenwitchcraft.html

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Ibid.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid.

[31] Ibid.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Harvey gives a Witches' Voice article as her source: www.witchvox.com/cases/abrahamsen.html

[34] http://www.leaderu.com/theology/teenwitchcraft.html

[35] Ibid.

[36] Ibid.

[37] Ibid.

[38] Ibid.

[39] Ibid.

[40] http://oneway.jesusanswers.com/witchcraft.html

[41] Ibid.

[42] Ibid.

[43] Ibid.

ABOUT... Kerr Cuhulain Location: Surrey, British Columbia Website: http://www.officersofavalon.com Bio: Kerr Cuhulain the author of this article, is known to the mundane world as Detective Constable Charles Ennis. Ennis, a former child abuse investigator, is the author of several articles on child abuse investigation that appeared in Law & Order Magazine. Better known to the Pagan community by his Wiccan name, Kerr Cuhulain, Ennis was the first Wiccan police officer to go public about his beliefs 28 years ago. Kerr is now the Preceptor General of Officers of Avalon. Kerr went on to write four books: The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca (Horned Owl Publishing), Wiccan Warrior and Full Contact Magick: A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior. (Llewellyn Publications), as well as a book based on this series: Witch Hunts: Out of the Broom Closet (Spiral Publishing). Email Kerr: cuhulain@telus.net Related Websites Spiral Publishing: www.spiralpublishinginc.com Llewellyn Publications: www.llewellyn.com Officers of Avalon: www.officersofavalon.com Other Articles: Kerr Cuhulain has posted 182 additional articles- View them? Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE Email Me... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales) To send a private message to Kerr Cuhulain ...