Witchvox Article

Author: Lady Abigail [a WitchVox Sponsor]
Posted: November 25th. 2012
Times Viewed: 3,455

As a child, I was blessed to have a Great Grandmother who came from a diverse history as well as lineage. Her ancestry was combined with her life born as a Native American woman in the 1800�s. She married a Woodsman of the World and lived many years in New Orleans and then, in time, she ended up in the Ozarks Hills of Arkansas. She lost her husband early in life, a son in World War II and a daughter to the Spanish Flu in the 1900�s. She raised two daughters and later in life a great-granddaughter with no help from anyone, but within her gifts of magick, herbs and healing.

Her great diversity allowed me many freedoms. I was never told this is how I should believe or that is how I should behave but was allowed to seek out who I was and what I believed within love, light and the Gods. In this, I went to church with friends, watched, and in time, helped in magick and High Holy Holidays. I would discover that I love to learn, to read and understand many of the differing religions around me. In these studies I have read the Bible, that and many other books of faith. Therefore I find it odd when someone asks me if I believe in or if I have ever read the Bible.

Yes I have, several times. They ask, �Do I believe in the Bible? Do Witches believe in the Bible�?

Everyone is different and everyone has their on way to see the truth and this book call the Bible. But for the greater part, no, Witches and Pagans have no one book of that we consider a sacred text for all. For myself, I find the Bible to be an interesting book of stories. Some have good and ethical teachings but many are full of intolerance, hate, bigotry and murder in the name of a God to the point of genocide* of all others of differing beliefs.

Those who have a need for study of all old and sacred text including the Bible, Koran or Torah are sometimes surprised to find that every single story in the Bible comes from our old text and writings called mythology. �How odd that a book, which has been plagiarized from others is taken as fact when the books and history these stories are taken from are called make believe and mythology.�

The Bible is looked upon as the divine and moral demonstration of how one should live their life. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard others (even Witches and Pagans) say that they want their children to learn the Bible so that they might learn moral teachings. That is scary to me for I have never read a less moral and hate filled collection of books, wherein even love, or how one loves, is judged by others.

Morality is not the belief of one group of people, an individual or religion. Morality refers to an actual or believed code of conduct put forward by a belief, a society of persons for the overall good of all and not for a few who believe they know what morality is according to their narrow understandings, making any thought, action or conduct apart from their own believes to be judged as wrong or a sin. In the normal sense, morality should never be overridden. That is, no one should ever violate the moral prohibition or requirements considered true by those of power believing that all rational persons will therefore endorse said �codes of conduct� as THE moral truth.

Yet, in truth there are many different moral theories related to location, country, religious teachings and personal rights. Moral theories differ with regard to those to whom morality (as they see it) applies to them. Again, doing right and good because it is the right and good thing to do for all.

Unfortunately, the Bible and morality, according to a few, have been used as a deadly and descriptive text believed to refer to codes of conduct for a God, allowing some to use both a book and a word as a weapon against all others, society, groups, religions, individuals and even love. All those who do not think as they think or act and behave as these moral judges do, are therefore believe to be immoral.

Accepting a normative definition of �morality� commits a person to regarding all other behavior as immoral, perhaps even evil or sin. Placing all others in judgment of what is and is not acceptable or moral. Because accepting a normative definition of �morality� involves an obstinate and unyielding commitment to what is believed as moral. It is not surprising that philosophers seriously disagree about the normative definition of this concept.

Witches and Pagans do not believe in the Bible as a book of rules for all peoples or societies. We do not see the Bible as a sacred truth of what is right or wrong or sin (many of us do not believe in a concept of sin.) We proudly do what is right and just within the light of truth�and not because we have some fear of a deity who will punishment us if we don�t, or that we will fall into some �make believe� pit of fire. But Witches and Pagans of all traditions and beliefs do what is right because it is the right thing to do. This includes living within the light, doing the right thing, and accepting all others no matter their beliefs or background

As far as a �Bible for Witches�, most Witches and Pagans do not believe in one single sacred text containing a divine truth, likened to the Bible for Christians, or the Koran for Muslims, or the Torah for Jews. We believe that truth is truth and can be seen and understood by each person according to every magickal soul. Yet, some specific traditions within the craft may have a particular books or texts which are used by those within that tradition for teaching and study.

Many Witches have read and have been influenced by articles, books and stories written by various authors about Witchcraft and magick. Many Witches also draw on research and writings of other Witches and Pagans within certain fields of study, including history, anthropology, philosophy, feminist theory, and even biology and other sciences. Since Witchcraft is a nature religion, many Witches study the earth, herbs, plants and animal life. All these studies are, in a word, their Bible of choice.

So for myself, no, I do not believe in the Bible. I, like many other Witches, do not rely on only the writings of others. We find we can learn naturally from the �powers that be� those within our own spirits. We also find learning from other Witches, Elders, and Teachers of different traditions, aspects and experiences a way to learn and know our own hearts within our religious practice, be we solitary or covenant within our magickal communities.

Many Witches and covens have their own personal journals; usually called a "Book of Shadows and Secrets" in which they record spells, rituals, poems, songs, writings, births and deaths within their circles. These books are our �Sacred� books filled with our personal histories, magick and moral teachings.

Blessings to all,
Lady Abigail
Copyright � 09262012
High Priestess Ravensgrove Coven

Footnotes:
*Genocide is "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group".

Copyright: Lady Abigail
Copyright � 09262012

ABOUT...

Lady Abigail

Location: Greenfield, Indiana

Website: http://www.theglasswitchmagickshoppe.com/

Author's Profile: To learn more about Lady Abigail - Click HERE

Other Articles: Lady Abigail has posted 69 additional articles- View them?

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Lady Abigail... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).