According to theologian Jone: Divination and sorcery are in themselves very grave sins since they contain an implicit or explicit invocation of the devil. (See Moral Theology, (1961), pg. 98: Emphasis in original). Witchcraft is a form of sorcery, which is any attempt to control events, nature, or other people (through spells, potions, charms, etc.), regardless of whether the intent is malicious or benevolent.
Throughout the centuries of Christianity, witches/witchcraft were rightfully looked upon as evil and something to be avoided. Frank Baum sought to change that with The Wizard of Oz. Baum (1856-1919) was a practicing adherent of the occult Theosophy religion of Madame Blavatsky.
(See theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/sp-1469793668).
Baum was the first to introduce the idea of "good witches" in modern culture. One only need to remember that his novel and the movie (The Wizard of Oz) contains Glinda "the good witch" that helps protagonist Dorothy get home to Kansas.
A brief survey shows the metaphorical connection between Theosophy and The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy represents the human soul on the path to enlightenment; the Yellow Brick Road of Oz begins as an outwardly expanding spiral. In occult symbolism, this spiral represents the evolving self, the soul ascending from matter into the spirit world; the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, represent the need to adjust your mind, emotions, and will in order to become "enlightened by secret knowledge;" and the Wizard (omnipotent and omniscient) is shown to be a fake--just like the Christian God according to Theosophy. The "good witch" Glinda tells Dorothy that the power to go home "lies within you"--that she is all-powerful; a recurring theme in the occult, that "god lies within you."
However, witchcraft remained on the outskirts of society and was looked upon badly, or at best, as something done by eccentric weirdos. All that has changed.
Coming Out of the Broom Closet
Some may wonder why there is any need to take a look at witchcraft. After all, there is seemingly no end to which people will go in their eccentric beliefs or practices. The reason a topic such as this merits examination is precisely because witchcraft is becoming less eccentric and more mainstream. For example, in the summer of 2004 the Parliament of the World’s Religions convened in Barcelona, Spain. Representatives from many of the world’s religions were present to “seek peace, justice and sustainability and commit to work for a better world” as well as to “deepen spirituality and experience personal transformation.” (See cpwr.org/ 2004Parliament/welcome/index.htm).
Present at the 2004 conference (as well as the 1993 and 1999 conferences) were representatives of the Covenant of the Goddess, “the world’s largest religious organization for Neo-Pagan Witches,” as described by an elder of the organization. A common theme that comes up in the context of such conferences is the increasing emphasis on “interfaith.” According to one source:
The numbers of Americans who identify with Wicca (witches) or paganism has risen from 134,000 in 2001 to nearly 2 million today, according to Helen Berger, a resident scholar at Brandeis University's Women's Studies Research Center, who has conducted extensive research and authored four books about witches and pagans. The witch community in America has been growing steadily since the 1960s, she said, and "much of the recent growth is coming from young women." (See https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/28/celtic-festival-samhain-2021-celebration-wicca-witches/6182226001/).
Newsweek had this to say:
The number of witches and Americans practicing Wicca religious rituals increased dramatically since the 1990s, with several recent studies indicating there may be at least 1.5 million witches across the country. A Trinity College study conducted in 1990 estimated only about 8,000 Wiccans in the U.S., but the increase has been led by a rejection of mainstream Christianity among young Americans as well as a rise in occultism. (See newsweek.com/witchcraft-wiccans-mysticism-astrology-witches-millennials-pagans-religion-1221019; Emphasis mine).
Even a "conservative" Vatican II sect source sees an alarming growth. EWTN reports last year that:
An estimated 1 to 1.5 million people say they practice Wicca or paganism, a rise from an estimated 8,000 Wiccans in 1990, and 340,000 in 2008.
In 2014, a Pew Research Center survey found about 0.4 percent of Americans identify themselves Pagan or Wiccan, a significant increase over prior years... the Pew data would suggest that there are more self-identified “witches” in the United States than members of some mainline Protestant denominations. For example, according to 2017 figures, there are 1.4 million practicing Presbyterians in the United States. (See ewtnnews.com/world/us/number-of-americans-who-say-they-are-witches-is-on-the-rise).
A very scary development is that now there are at least 35 books for children meant to introduce them into modern witchcraft. Some titles include:
C is for Coven: A Witchcraft Alphabet Book by Andrea Stein
"C is for Coven is a reinterpretation of a classic alphabet book, matching each letter of the ABCs with a rhyming phrase that teaches kids about witchcraft."
Wee Witches by Beth Roth
"This ABC primer is a playful and richly symbolic introduction to the world of Wicca and the magic of Nature. Illustrated poems bring to light the Pagan Path, with each letter featuring a Wee Witch learning about the wheel of the year, tools of the Craft, rites of passage, faerie friends, and meaningful colors. This is a helpful and affirming tool for Pagan families, as well as an appealing collection of subtle, educational light verse for their budding Wee Witches, including A for Acorn, M for Maypole, and S for Spiderweb. Accurate symbols of Witches’ worldview are woven throughout the magical artwork, as well as hidden clues to a secret “Witch Name” revealed at the end of the book."
The Little Witch's Book of Spells by Ariel Kusby
The Little Witch's Book of Spells is an enchanting compendium of spells, potions, and activities for kids 8 to 12 years old. Young witches-in-training will discover spells to resolve problems, foster friendship, and engage with the natural world. This spellbinding book guides readers on how to craft a magic wand, befriend a fairy, and read tea leaves, as well as glossaries of magical terms and symbols."
What Witches Wear by Andrea Stein
"What Witches Wear is an engaging and colorful exploration of what it means to be a modern witch. Matching each color of the rainbow with a unique witch, What Witches Wear reminds us that witches are everywhere—as our teachers, healthcare workers, artists, librarians, and even next-door neighbors."
"Even next-door neighbors."
(See flyingthehedge.com/2023/07/35-childrens-books-about-witchcraft.html; All titles can be examined on Amazon.com).
Jesus’ command to have His One True Church preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations invariably includes witches. In order to do so, it is necessary that we understand who they are and what they believe. Knowing what we are up against is a primary element in being prepared to carry out His Great Commission. Hence, the purpose of this post.
Witch Basics
Witchcraft: (Also known as wicca, the craft, or the craft of the wise.) An antidogmatic, antiauthoritarian, diverse, decentralized, eclectic, experience-based, nature-oriented religious movement whose followers are polytheists and/or pantheists and/or panentheists, and in some sense believe in or experience and/or invoke and/or worship the "Mother Goddess" and generally her consort the "Horned God" as well. It is a generic term covering numerous perspectives on the subject.
Witch: Individuals who practice or concur with the views or experiences of witchcraft. Most view divinity as immanent in nature, seeing all life as sacred, thus, denying any sacred/secular distinction. They are nature-oriented and also see no ultimate distinction between matter and spirit—the material and the spiritual. They may believe in or invoke a pantheon of gods and goddesses, but they primarily experience, and/or invoke, and/or worship the "Mother" or "Triple Goddess" and her male consort, the "Horned God." Witches generally practice multiple forms of divination, participate in trance and other altered states of consciousness, and perform magical spells and incantations. Most observe seasonal holidays and festivals (e.g., the summer and winter solstices). Most believe in some form of reincarnation. The widely believed notion that a female is a witch whereas a male practitioner is a warlock or wizard is a misnomer. The terms witch or wiccan apply to both genders.
Witchcraft is a Worldview.
A worldview is the sum total of one’s view of the nature of reality. Everyone has a worldview even if only a few reflect on their own. One’s worldview encompasses one’s views of how reality is composed, how it works, and how we as humans fit in or relate to our universe. It can entail one’s views about the purpose of life and the origin and destiny of us all.
The chief tenets of witchcraft are:
Naturalism. Starting at the broadest level and working down, it is fair to say that the worldview of witchcraft is naturalism. Naturalism is the view that there is no transcendent reality such as God that can intervene in the natural world. Naturalism maintains that all of reality is interrelated and operates according to “laws.” Other expressions of naturalism would include materialism, which sees all of reality as being made up of matter that operates according to material laws.
Witchcraft, though an expression of naturalism, is not materialism. Witches recognize that reality extends beyond the realm of the material. This is sometimes confusing. A worldview can be naturalistic even if it accepts the reality of an immaterial realm; indeed, even acknowledging the existence of gods and goddesses does not preclude a worldview from being naturalistic. What stands in stark contrast to naturalism is a worldview that says that the natural realm (whether material, immaterial, or both) is the creation of a transcendent God. This is supernaturalism. This is the Truth taught by the Church.
Occultism. Sharpening the focus, not only can we say that witchcraft is a worldview of naturalism, it is also a worldview of occultism. As I've written many times, the term occult is from the Latin occultus meaning “hidden,” or “secret.” The category covers a wide range of beliefs and practices that are characterized by two main points that are often thought to be “hidden” from the average person. First, the occult maintains that there is force or energy into which one can tap or with which one can negotiate to do one’s own bidding. This comes from a pantheistic/panentheistic grounding of the occult. "All is God" so you cab harness that "energy."
The familiar term spell is applied to the technique of harnessing and focusing this power. The late witchcraft practitioner Scott Cunningham explains, “The spell is…simply a ritual in which various tools are purposefully used, the goal is fully stated (in words, pictures or within the mind), and energy is moved to bring about the needed result.” (See The Truth about Witchcraft Today pg. 7).
Exactly what is the nature of this force or energy ("god"), according to the occultist, and what is the best way to work with it is what makes some of the main differences between the major occult groups such as shamanism, witchcraft, Satanism, New Age, and others.
Second, the occult maintains that human beings are divine. Obviously, if God and the world are one, or God is "within" the world, this idea logically follows. The practice of the occult arts is thus an endeavor to actualize one’s own divinity. As witchcraft practitioner Margot Adler claims, “A spiritual path that is not stagnant ultimately leads one to the understanding of one’s own divine nature. Thou art Goddess. Thou are God. Divinity is imminent in all Nature. It is as much within you as without.” (See Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today, pg. ix)
Humanism. Witchcraft sees itself as a celebration of all life. This celebration involves the denial that there is anything wrong with the human race. Original Sin and the need of a Redeemer is thus denied.
The Dangers of Witchcraft
1. Witchcraft is forbidden by God. The Bible makes it clear that witchcraft, sorcery, and divination are abominations to the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). In Galatians 5:19-21, witchcraft is listed among the works of the flesh that are contrary to the Spirit. The Church has likewise always condemned it, and the approved theologians condemn any use of witchcraft as mortal sin.
2. Witchcraft involves communication with evil spirits. Those who practice witchcraft often seek to communicate with evil spirits, which is expressly forbidden in the Bible (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:11) and by the clear and constant teaching of the Church. Even those who do not believe in Satan may think it's "nature's secret's" they are tapping into, but it comes from the Father of Lies.
3. Witchcraft can lead to demonic possession. The Bible records several instances of demonic possession resulting from witchcraft or sorcery (Acts 16:16-18).
4. Witchcraft can lead to spiritual deception. Satan is the father of lies, and those who practice witchcraft often fall under his deceptive influence. They may believe they are tapping into a higher power, when in reality they are being deceived (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
5. Witchcraft undermines Catholic morality. The practices associated with witchcraft most often involve immoral or unethical behavior, which can lead to more and more grievous sins.
Witchcraft in Popular Culture
Movies
Hexed (2026): The movie, releasing in theaters November 25, tells the story of a young teenage girl named Billie, an outcast struggling to fit in. She soon discovers she has magical powers and enters a world called Hexe, where she learns more about witchcraft, spells, and how to channel her supernatural abilities. It shows "good witchcraft."
The Craft: Legacy (2020): A reboot of the 1996 cult classic which increased curiosity about witchcraft, follows a new generation of four teenage witches. It explores contemporary themes of manifestation, sisterhood, and casting spells.
Social Media
WitchTok on TikTok: A massive subculture under the hashtag #WitchTok (with billions of views) where creators share tarot card readings, crystal healing guides, and small-scale spell tutorials. Prominent creators like Frankie Castanea (@ChaoticWitchAunt) document daily folk witchcraft practices and break down misconceptions.
Digital Sigils and Altars: Practitioners use design software like Canva to create personalized magical symbols (sigils). They embed these symbols into their Instagram or TikTok bios, email signatures, or use them as smartphone lock screens to "cast spells with every scroll."
Manifestation Trends: Content focused on the "law of attraction," positive thinking, and intention-setting frequently trends on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, functioning as a mainstream, accessible form of folk magic that leads to embracing witchcraft outright.
Witches of Instagram: Creators build aesthetic feeds featuring altars decorated with herbs, crystals, and tarot cards. Influencers blend makeup tutorials, cozy "cottagecore" lifestyle content, and modern pagan spirituality.
How Did Witchcraft Get So Popular?
If you thought I would write "Vatican II," you're correct. More than any other factor the Occult Revival (as I have called it) has one major driving force: Vatican II and the man-made sect of Counterfeit Catholicism it created. Witchcraft is one major component of occult practices.
Three major evils of Vatican II have caused the spike in witchcraft:
1. The Mass replaced with the Novus Bogus. The countless graces that come from the unbloody Sacrifice of the Cross and Holy Communion have been taken away for a Neo-Protestant bread and wine service. As the number of Masses decreases, the power of Satan increases. The Novus Bogus service is so vapid as to destroy any sense of the sacred. Even pagan sociologists note that by stripping-down or "rationalizing" the liturgy, the Church left a spiritual vacuum. Modern witchcraft and ceremonial magic grew rapidly during this era precisely because they offered a sense of something mysterious and reverent unlike "clown mass."
2. The Denigrating of Marian devotion.
The Blessed Mother is the model for all women to follow. Follow her and you get to her Divine Son. Women now seek false ideas of womanhood from feminism as exemplified in witchcraft with "Mother Goddess."
3. Ecumenism.
The heretical document Nostra Aetate of Vatican II taught that there are elements of the truth in false religions. It adopted the false ecclesiology of Lumen Gentium, that the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Christ are not one and the same. The Church of Christ "subsists" in the Catholic Church in its fullness, but it subsists in other religions too, more or less, according to how many "elements of truth" it has. To have all the elements is best, but just some elements are good too, and salvific. The new ecclesiology denies the dogma Outside the Church there is no salvation.
Nostra Aetate stated, "The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions." "These religions" included Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. While witchcraft is never mentioned, the heretical principle applies: if ancient Eastern religions held valid spiritual truth, then perhaps older, pre-Christian European traditions (like paganism and earth-based witchcraft) were also worth exploring, and even joining--salvation is not exclusive to the Catholic Church according to Vatican II.
Witchcraft's appeal to the young.
Why is witchcraft on the rise and why does it appeal particularly to young people? First, young people are drawn to Wicca/Witchcraft because it has no orthodoxy and has no concept of absolute good or absolute evil. This is greatly appealing to impressionable young people. There are some common practices, rituals, and sayings, but for the most part practitioners can add and subtract to it at will. It is a perfectly postmodern religion.
Second, witchcraft appeals to young people because it promotes glorification of self. "You are god/goddess." There is also a very strong feminist component so the attraction for girls is even greater.
Third, many young people embrace witchcraft because they, like adult witchcraft devotees, are bound by a passionate love of nature. Witches love the earth and care deeply for the environment; however, they take it too far.
Combating Witchcraft
Reclaim Halloween.
I wince when I see children dress up as the evil supernatural characters of witches, vampires, and demons. What can be done? Have children dress up as a saint, and have your child learn all he can about this saint. These are the role models children should aspire to be. Does your son like things medieval? Dress up as King St. Louis IX! Want to be a lawyer? St. Thomas More will fit the role. For girls, there is the martyr of purity, St. Maria Goretti, and the equally brave St. Joan of Arc. Parents should take their kids trick-or-treating so they can explain the costume with their children to others who inquire.
Consider "All Saints Day" parties at home instead of trick-or-treating; have a parade of saints and fun in the house!
Talking to a Witch.
To convert a witch, it is important not to misstate their beliefs. You should always have on a St. Benedict medal. They will most likely attack alleged "witch burnings" and "Church persecutions." Don't let it go there. Ask what proof they have of "Mother Goddess" and their pantheistic worldview. Most are not well versed on it. Then, show the proofs of Christ's resurrection and also show the falsity of pantheism. Use my post on pantheism to help you: introiboadaltaredei2.blogspot.com/2018/07/east-meets-and-defeats-west.html.
It is also important to point out gently where Wicca/Witchcraft is inconsistent. Without a God who is perfectly good, there are no absolutes, no standards by which to measure what is just or unjust. Witches borrow from Christian values of right and wrong. Witches might get upset at how women have been treated, but on what do they base their anger—that treating women poorly goes against their personal taste? Traditionalist Catholics believe mistreating women is wrong because God said so. We also believe that all life has dignity because we are made in God’s image. Witches don’t believe this, but without this belief they have only shaky ground on which to condemn injustice.
Conclusion
Witchcraft was once a rare thing. Now, it is becoming commonplace. As the number of those in witchcraft rises, it is important to understand it and combat it. We need to convert them, and not just in faraway lands. Thanks to Vatican II, you may need to convert your neighbor; the witch next door.
Dear Introibo,
ReplyDeleteIn fairy tales, we were taught that witches were always the baddies (not to mention the unfair Wizard of Oz). I learned that always as a child.
Ryan,
DeleteYes. Those days are long gone. Witches now get positive PR!
God Bless,
---Introibo
What is the meaning of PR?
DeletePublic Relations. In this context, how others perceive you or your group.
DeleteThis post neatly sums up all the basics regarding witchery and the like.
ReplyDeleteIt is popularized not only due to the spiritual vacuum left by the false 'second' Vatican council but also by deliberate promotion of such things in the "operation of error" media and elements of popular culture, such as the Harry Potter series more recently. In fiction there may be such elements as part of the world it is set in, and it is debatable how far that may go, but even there it ought to be informed by those spiritual truths which we know by Faith. But most of all people have to distinguish between fact and fiction lest they mix truth with falsehood; and that means prioritizing truth as their first principle (instead of self-interest; except that they make what is true their own self-interest, as it were). In that way God will find them, and they may come to Our Lord.
And then there is this quote:
--Nostra Aetate stated, "The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions."--
To those who are enamoured of this idea and follow it into synodality the response is "the actual Church rejects the *unity* of whatever may be true with the falsehoods in these religions. Such unity requires one to also reject these false religions". That is a basic response but one can proceed from there.
+JMJ+
cairsahr_stjoseph
DeleteGood take on Nostra Aetate!
God Bless,
---Introibo
I would like to add further information on the Hexed (2026) movie.
ReplyDeleteThis film is being criticized because of its unoriginal plot (ie., an "overprotective" mother). It's also being criticized for its alleged use of artificial intelligence and it's similarities with "The Owl House" tv show.
It might be successful anyways but I thought further context could help.
Poni
DeleteThank you for the information! "Hexed" is bad news.
God Bless,
---Introibo
Everything associated with Halloween has become popular: haunted houses, horror movies, witchcraft, and so on. This is a consequence of apostasy; when people reject the true God, they find something else to worship. It is no surprise to see an interest in Pachamama within the V2 sect, since it, too, has rejected the one true God, who is One and Triune.
ReplyDeleteSimon,
DeleteYes. We need to reclaim the Eve of All Saints. The V2 sect has gone a long way in helping the occult.
God Bless
---Introibo
Feminism and this diabolical revolt against motherhood has also created the modern day witch. As noted above, this vicious rejection of true motherhood as shown to us by Our Lady is a major reason why we see so many modern day witches.
ReplyDeleteAn example of the modern day feminist witch is Lindsay Clancy, the career mom who lived in a nice home in the New England suburbs, who just couldn’t take being a mother any longer, and premeditated the systematic murder of her three beautiful children. She also had many witches for supporters. They celebrated this wicked woman, they talked about astrological demonic zodiac signs to explain the murder case. If you can stomach to watch and listen to how these women behave, it’s quite horrifying to see what many modern females have become. Many talk about being sympathetic to Clancy because they see themselves potentially doing the same thing. These are witches, just like the ones in the story book by Roald Dahl, later made into a movie, called “The Witches”. I don’t recommend it since it has these diabolical themes in it but I watched the movie as a youngster and The Witches in this movie refer to children as filthy and rotten and they talk about destroying them so they can rule the world. If you witness or come into contact with any modern day feminist, it’s not hard to see why these are what we would call witches.
@anon2:52
DeleteYou're correct. As far as I'm concerned "feminist" is a synonym for "witch"!
God Bless,
---Introibo
One thing I detest about zerohedge.com, is the fact that quite often, they permit advertisements on the left and right hand margins of their articles, featuring women in bikinis and other immodest garb. But aside from that, if you are looking for high quality non-tabloid analysis about the Lindsay Clancy legal circus, Z. might be the best source for it. Zerohedge has published about a dozen Clancy articles over the past two months, including, to note but a few: "Clancy contagion spreads: Queens mom kills her kindergartener" (Oct. 17); and "Lindsay Clancy juror admits to feminist motives behind trial" (Sept. 14); and "Lindsay Clancy and the political weaponization of mentally-ill women" (Aug. 31), in which(/witch?), mention is made of "the collective feminist coven." In other words, witchcraft. I'll spare you further details here, but suffice it to note, that in all his years on the job, Introibo has probably never witnessed anything quite as crazy in the courtroom, as "the melodrama" that has been playing out in the Clancy murder(/witchcraft?) case. The courtroom has become a soap opera or tabloid-like setting, the details of which have spilled out into the public domain, owing to the internet.
DeleteLet's not forget the popular television programme "Bewitched". It made witchcraft look innocuous and humorous.
ReplyDeleteLeo
Leo
DeleteAbsolutely. It also starred the very attractive Elizabeth Montgomery as the main witch---not exactly an ugly hag (as evil is ugly).
God Bless,
---Introibo
Dear Introibo,
DeleteNot surprisingly, the poor woman was a feminist, supported "gay rights" and other liberal causes and was "married" several times. A statue of Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens is to be found in Salem, Massachusetts!
God bless you,
Leo
Dear Leo of 4:12,
DeleteYours is a good suggestion, but you start out by saying "Let's not forget..." (?!?). B. was a Sept. '64 to March '72 USA boob tube sitcom, which those under age 60 nowadays, highly likely wouldn't recall, even by means of its subsequent syndication history. One cannot forget, what one never knew about in the first place. (Of course, nowadays, one can view various B. episodes via the online boob tube (= YouTube)). I suspected that you were in your 70s, Leo, a fact which you later confirmed for us. Your use of the word "programme" is also telling. That is a UK spelling. "Program" is used in the USA. I had no idea "Bewitched" was so popular in the UK. Or maybe you live in Canadastan, like Cairsahr apparently does?
And dear Leo of 7:26,
As you yourself seem to be well aware, Salem, MA is arguably the most significant place in the USA, in regard to witchcraft. (But many others reading these comments, might not realize that, and could benefit by being told that there is a Wiki page titled "Salem witch trials".) In Plymouth, MA, in recent months, has been another witch trial, noted by 2:52PM above (who is not me). The Lindsay Clancy trial. Salem and Plymouth are both located on the Atlantic coast in MA, not so far from each other. Coincidence? Maybe not.
@Anon 3:35 PM
DeleteIn Canadastan here, you can get a good coffee at Timdia Hortonistan's (formerly Tim Horton's). Other than that there's not much to say about it these days. Anyhow we don't spell it "programme" here; at least not for decades.
Dear Anonymous at 3:35 PM,
DeleteI acknowledge and appreciate your rejoinder.
I, Pompous Leo, apologise that, in replying to you, this idiot, fool and most ignorant man (plagiarism from someone else on another blog here) is imposing himself yet again on the long-suffering readership.
You would be surprised how well-known "Bewitched" is across the world, after all these years, even among those not yet in their seventies. Let's not forget (!) that a film based on it was released as recently as 2005.
So you've twigged that I use UK spelling - go to the top of the class! I have been employing it since starting to post here. Does that mean I am resident in the UK? Maybe, maybe not. Let's not forget (!) that British spelling is still used in many parts of the world.
I was possibly a tad remiss in not explaining the significance of Salem, Massachusetts - but you came to the rescue. Thank you.
Yours in pedantry,
PL
American spelling is dross.
DeleteEnglish comes to us from England, rather than the Freemasons Washington, et al.
Go to the source, spell as do the British.
@Anon 7:14
DeleteGo ahead and make my day. Just ask Google, which Brits -- be they pompous or otherwise -- did not develop, 3 questions. To wit: [1] "Why are words spelt so differently in Shakespeare?" [2] "How did the KJV and early dictionaries finally fix English spelling?" [3] "How many in England today can understand 12th century English?"
The answer to that third and last question is "perhaps a few hundred people." In our world today, "The sun never sets on the [Trump-controlled navy and military bases and world-reserve-currency-$tatu$ MAGA] empire." Think whatsoever thou wilt about that. It is what it is.
@Leo at 7:26PM
DeleteAs another example in support of what you say, there is a 2009 parody video "Be-Bitched" by the YouTuber "Dean Hammons" wherein at the 1:33 mark of this 4 minute video, the "Bitch Witch" blurts out for the Big Pharma guy and the captive studio audience, that "I'm a big fan of your birth control pills."
@Anon8:22PM
DeleteThe following 5 questions and answers can be found on the back cover of the 1989 softcover book "The Bible and Birth Control" by Charles D. Provan:
[1] What Church Synod issued a Bible commentary which stated that contraception was the same as abortion? [2] What theologian declared in the 1500's that birth control was the murder of future persons? [3] What priest in the 1700's declared that taking "preventative measures" was unnatural and would destroy the souls who practiced it? [4] Who declared that birth control was sodomy? [5] What church group ruled in the 1600's that a church official found guilty of birth control was no longer allowed to hold his position?
[1] The Synod of Dort; [2] John Calvin; [3] John Wesley; [4] Martin Luther; [5] The Pilgrims.
**********
Dort was a 17th century Protestant synod. The Pilgrims were Protestants from England associated with the Mayflower voyage. Their landing spot in North America is marked by the Plymouth Rock. This is the exact same Plymouth which is noted by 3:35 above, which is the location of the Lindsay Clancy witch trial. Oh, and one more thing is worth noting.
Q.) What Church Synod succeeded in giving off the impression that it was now permitted to use the pill, condoms and other such contraceptive implements?
A.) Vatican II, both by its failure to clearly address the issue when various bishops requested that it do so; and also, by its insistence upon updating everything.
Q. "How does use of AI involve witchcraft?"
ReplyDeleteA. = answer of Google AI : "The use of AI connects to witchcraft through three main intersections: metaphorical comparisons, practical integration by modern practitioners, and regulatory or philosophical concerns... Some theological and cultural critiques view technology and AI as a modern form of witchcraft because they function as opaque, instantaneous, and seemingly magical forces that bypass traditional human effort or divine reliance."
https://bibleunbound.substack.com/p/ai-is-definitely-witchcraft-but-theres (there's still good news, by Austin Smith, Apr 4, 2025. An excerpt is: "If you really wanted to condemn witchcraft in its modern sense, you'd have to shut off the device you're reading this on. That is because technology is modern witchcraft. Artificial Intelligence is the most dominating form (of it)... )
https://grokipedia.com/page/digital_witchcraft
This is a Grok version 0.3 page, said to be "fact-checked by Grok 9 months ago" and also "corrected by the people who read it" (as is noted at the very bottom of that page). Corrected?! Haha! As anyone halfway literate in English can tell by reading it, about half of it pertains to a musical group or band that goes by the name D.W., while the other half has nothing to do with the band. So it can be seen how "the facts" can be gotten 100% correct, but at the same time, half of what is said in the literary piece is 100% nonsense in the context of the other half. So AI still has a very long way to go yet, before being imbued or endowed with the charism of infallibility.
In the above excerpt quoted by Anon 7:47 PM, Auston Smith declares, "...technology is modern witchcraft. Artificial Intelligence is the most dominating form (of it)... " and that "If you really wanted to condemn witchcraft in its modern sense, you'd have to shut off the device you're reading this on, etc".
DeleteHe's wrong on both counts. There is no gradation in technology where, at one point, it becomes witchcraft, and not so at an earlier point. It is a difference in kind not in degree. Their orbits don't touch, except where one may use tools such as technology to aid in witchcraft business; or one may not. But with witchcraft directly, there is no 'using' it in any degree which may be licit.
Secondly, one who pretends to take the moral high ground by swearing off technology and suggesting that others do so to achieve the same status does not actually have the moral high ground so much as a holier-than-thou positioning. It is easy to say to others, "you ought not to use this because others use it badly" but that does not solve the problem of getting some truth out there which is otherwise impossible (thanks to the "operation of error" media) whatever else these things may be used for.
I just find it annoying when people take some kind of 'nihilist' stance as that which solves nothing and tries to surrender the only way to say what is true in any larger than minuscule capacity.
You make some mighty fine 10:01 observations Cairsahr, but... you are merely responding to three sentences that seem to have been ideally cherrypicked for you to debunk. Good job. Well done. But... you and just about all of us commenting here are of ripe years and because of that, more discerning about things. You and I can pretty clearly see just what AI is, and is not. You and I can use it to quickly ferret out useful info, especially very tiny (proverbial) "needles" hidden extremely deeply "in (massive) haystacks", without "dabbling in diabolic witchcraft." But step back for a moment, and reflect upon how Google AI must look like in the eyes of those below, say, age 20. Teenagers and younger. Young, impressionable, and highly ignorant compared to us. The younger ones believe in Santa Claus and other fairy tales. Google AI and other forms of AI, probably look "seemingly magical" to them (to quote from 7:47). It looks very much like what people of 50 years ago, probably would've quickly considered to be some sort of techno-wizardry witchcraft.
DeleteFor those wanting to do a deep dive into this subject, google searches such as these can be done: [1] "Do some people worship AI in this or that manner?" [2] "What similarities are there between the biblical golden calf, and AI?" [3] "How do philosophers and theologians view "techno-idolatry" today?" [4] "What is the difference between treating AI as a tool versus as an authority?" [5] "How do AI-generated deep fakes relate to biblical lying wonders?" [6] Etc., etc. ++ If you do searches such as these, you might be surprised at the wealth of high quality evidence and argument that pops up, that AI, as it is often used today, is surprisingly akin to witchcraft.
@Anon 8:31 PM
DeleteThank you for reminding me of the naivety of youth. Although I have not altogether forgotten it - nay! The concern for the inexperienced is always uppermost on my mind. Together with this is taking thought "for those who never had the chance to know the truth" at least with the minimal chance I had way back then. At any rate the point had to be made because, as per usual when making such points, I did not see anyone else doing it. And even the more experienced can be superstitious about these things such as AI.
There's a good way to de-mystify AI tech in the eyes of the young, and it is to demonstrate programming an 8-bit computer, then say to them, "AI is just way more complicated, but at bottom the logic is the same". Might be more effective than fascinating them by ascribing quasi-supernatural power to it. Needless to say it would be best for mass conversions to take place but some might have to begin with such truths as they may be ready to accept.
"...you might be surprised at the wealth of high quality evidence and argument that pops up, that AI, as it is often used today, is surprisingly akin to witchcraft."
I have no doubt about that. It does conjure things up at the asking. My concern about this the precision of our observations. Witchcraft requires witchcraft intent; the illusion of it, which arguably is AI, does not denote the same intent, although it might if some choose to make it that way. It just 'makes things easier'.
I have a slightly different, though related, concern: That the young and inexperienced might come to see AI as "the arbiter of truth" in the world and so become for them, as it were, as "the voice of God". I said before it would be better if mass conversions take place. This seems to me less likely if something else is already accepted as "an authority" on the truth. We see how confusing it all is today; especially for the younger ones. Contradictions everywhere. Things don't make sense. Or they might, to those who have already accepted such things. Even so, some might retain "a love for the truth" or at least a desire for it (which is not *quite* the same thing - the former denotes a readiness to accept it even if unpleasant). In this case, if they do not already accept "the narrative" as the truth, they likely already see "the operation of error" media etc., as the arbiter of what is true. If they get past that somehow then they may use Al to search things out - and here they may be ready to see *that* as the ultimate arbiter. We are not even talking about faith in God here, but about whether one might have a basic affinity for the truth, which is what is needed to have a chance to escape the "signs and wonders" and the snare which is coming upon the world (2 Thess. 2:9-11). If so, one (even if inexperienced) might follow the truth away from the antichrist. But the thing about AI is it can be programmed to lie; or programmed with certain false things to be prioritized above all else as "what is true". Until then it may or may not be a useful tool, depending on one's intent. But when the "man of sin" arrives, it is for certain all the AI's will be adjusted to serve him. And it will probably happen very quickly. Then those who do not trust the media (young and old) and without some other arbiter might be done by AI (this is one reason for the 'signing of the elect' of Apoc. Ch. 7 but I digress). Perhaps I am over-thinking it at this point but I figure that de-mystifying AI might be more effective than calling it witchcraft.
https://www.faithgpt.io/blog/ai-is-not-the-antichrist-heres-why/ (by Tonye Brown. Evidently he's not a Catholic. But even so, Tonye's blog posts about this subject, strike me as displaying commendable insight.)
Delete@Anon Oct.21--7:58 PM
DeleteThank you for this reference. The author is very level-headed about the subject, and in my opinion he is mostly correct; but there is one thing I would add: The 'image' of the beast which is "given life" and is 'enabled to speak' (Apoc.13:15) is with near-certainty an AI system in service to the actual beast; and everyone has the capability to have this as an 'app' of sorts.
Great essay Introibo, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have a question that is spectacularly off topic and would be most appreciative if you could help:
What is the 'New Jerusalem' of the '1000 year reign of Christ'? Is this actual & physical? After the man of perdition? After Christ's Second Coming? Please excuse my inexplicable ignorance.
@anon8:12
DeleteYou’re not ignorant for not knowing everything and seeking an answer! It actually makes you intelligent.
The “Millennial Rule of Christ” is a heretical Protestant teaching condemned by the Church.
I have a post that explains this very topic. Please see
https://introiboadaltaredei2.blogspot.com/2023/01/chiliasm-will-christ-rule-1000-years-on.html?m=1
God Bless,
—-Introibo
You say "that makes you intelligent".
DeleteHighly doubtful, though thank you very much. Thank you for your answer.
Dear Anonymous at 8:12 PM,
DeleteThe New Jerusalem is, apparently, the Bride of the Lamb, the Church Triumphant.
Here is an article claiming that all of the Apocalypse has already been fulfilled:
https://truerestoration.org/the-apocalypse-according-to-eugenio-corsini/
Whether it has made yours truly more intelligent is debatable!
Yours,
Leo
Thank you pompous Leo, that is most kind. For such an ignorant man, you are most well informed & learned.
Delete(N.b. from the desktop of another most ignorant fool & accomplished idiot.)
DeleteDear Anonymous at 1:38 PM,
DeleteWelcome to the club! 😊
PL
"Out of the broom closet". "The witch next door ". Good stuff. Thank you intriobo!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between a witch, wizard and warlock? Also, regarding church persecutions and witch burnings, how would you steer the conversation without appearing unconcerned about what they believe was a real concern?
@anon3:12
DeleteAs to the conversations about persecutions, I would note the following:
The most reliable figures put the death toll at 30,000 to 50,000--not the "millions" that have been claimed. The historical record demonstrates that the Catholic Church as an institution did not orchestrate or carry out the widespread execution of alleged witches. For much of the Middle Ages, official Catholic teaching—grounded in the 10th-century Canon Episcopi—explicitly rejected the reality of "exaggerated witchcraft," treating the belief in "night-flying sorcerers" as a pagan superstition and punishing those who made such accusations.
When the witch trials peaked during the early modern period, the violence was driven predominantly by SECULAR civil courts and local populist panics, not ecclesiastical authorities. Church law did not permit ecclesiastical courts to impose capital punishment; executions were entirely within the jurisdiction of secular governments. Furthermore, formal Catholic institutions like the Spanish and Roman Inquisitions maintained strict rules of evidence and torture restrictions, resulting in far fewer witch executions than the secular or localized courts of central Europe. Prominent Catholic figures, such as the Jesuit priest Friedrich von Spee, were actually instrumental in exposing the judicial flaws of the trials.
As to witches, warlocks, and wizards--the later two are mostly from fiction. Warlocks and wizards were "male witches." This is false. Practitioners of witchcraft are all called "witches" regardless of gender.
Thank you for commenting, my friend!
God Bless
---Introibo
Thank you very much Introibo!
DeleteThis ahistorical narrative that The Church persecuted and put to death hundreds of thousands of people during the Inquisition has been a tool used in order to attack The Church. It’s a total fabricated myth. The numbers are totally bogus and The Church left it to The State to carry out the execution after people were convicted of heresy in ecclesiastical courts. Did burnings at the stake happen? Absolutely. The number is less than ten thousand. There were hardly any witch burnings and most people executed were notorious heretics of the age. Heresy is murder of the soul, which is worse than murder of the body. The penalty was death. The Catholic Church tribunals tried the heretics, handed them over to the secular authorities and they were either imprisoned or put to death. Was this justified? Again, the soul that is inflicted with heresy spread by wicked heretics will go to hell forever if not reconciled with God and His Church before death. Heresy is one of the worst sins a person can commit. The Inquisition was mostly in Spain. The sentences were justified and heresy needs to be punished in an ordered Catholic society.
ReplyDeleteHalloween, as we know it today in modern pagan culture, should not be celebrated by Catholics under any circumstances. It shouldn’t be celebrated by anyone and it should be eradicated from memory and existence. It’s a grotesque attack on a day that is objectively All Hallow’s Day Eve. So the day should only exist to prepare for what is All Saint’s Day on November 1st and its modern day form should not be acknowledged and hopefully one day it will go away. People like to say it’s just innocent fun. They think it’s harmless. It’s a celebration of the macabre, the twisted and wicked souls in Hell, the bizarre, the impure, the strange, the sinister, the ugly, the perverted, the diabolical. It’s a day that also encourages vandalism, trickery, and disorder. No to Halloween. Celebrate All Hallow’s Eve by sharing stories about the lives of The Saints and having children dress up as one of their favorite Holy Saints.
ReplyDeleteRound about the cauldron go;
DeleteIn the poisoned entrails throw...
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adler's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing.
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
https://introiboadaltaredei2.blogspot.com/2019/09/reclaiming-halloween.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double,_Double,_Toil_and_Trouble . This DDT&T movie ends with Aunt Agatha shouting, "I hate Halloween!" Also, there are (conspiracy) theories galore (dozens of them) when it comes to the question of just who wrote these "witches' brew" lyrics. "Shakespeare" like "TradWarrior" is a pen name. What was his real name? About which, see:
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_authorship_question .
It was Christopher Marlowe. Old Bill Shakespeare was a wheat & grain merchant. The use of his person - he would re-write by hand the manuscripts sent him - was something of a joke; he was so obviously not the author.
DeleteQuestion for Google AI: "Was the real author of the plays attributed to Shakespeare, a crypto or occult Catholic?"
DeleteAI got really verbose when answering this, and confesses not to know the/any correct answer, and provided manifold details enough to go very deep down many rabbit holes, and summarized that they "involve two separate mainstream theories."
Marlowe? Really? He died in 1593 at age 29. How could it possibly be him??? The "Marlowe Thesis" involves supposing that he faked his death and succeeded in duping virtually everyone about that. This only brings to my mind Introibo's Sept. 7, 2026 blog post about the "Passover Plot" and how Jesus supposedly faked his death in order to establish a fake religion. Please, take another guess about the identity of the mystery man.
Acquaint yourself with the details of his recorded death and who it was he was to be interviewed by in the days immediately following. Marlowe was a man with a background in espionage and of whom the queen was most fond.
DeleteHe feigned death and started life afresh in the Continent.
In any event, whoever wrote the works of Shakespeare, it was not William Shakespeare.
And by the way, you have a unhealthy fascination with Actual Indifference (or 'A.I.') and you can quote me on that.
This is 10:51PM, responding to 10:51PM,
DeleteI can "quote" you? How nice of you to allow me to do so! And may God shower His blessings upon you. But who are you, aside from being a 4:18AM night owl? (On the other hand, if you live anywhere near the UK's Greenwitch (sic) Mean Time (GMT / UTC) zero degree longitude Prime Meridian line, that would make you appear to be an early bird responding to the sunrise, and not as a USA night owl. Anyway...)
You might possibly be a bitch (?!) with a sassy Attitude Issue (= AI) to draw an inference from your concluding sentence, but I assume you're not a witch. As concerns your "Actual Indifference Canard" (= CIA, in espionage reverse acronym order) a good many things can be noted, including that "AI" can be interpreted in hundreds of ways, including "Absolutely Idiotic" or "Absolute Insanity" witch (sic), despite some exaggeration, both strike me as being a pretty good way of summarizing the far-fetched "Marlowe Thesis." Keep in mind that there still exists a contingent of hard-core believers in the "fact" that Hitler, too, "feigned death and started life afresh in the [South American] Continent." The Wikipedia articles "Conspiracy theories about Adolf Hitler's death" and "Alleged doubles of Adolf Hitler" supply evidence for that "fact".
https://www.quora.com/If-it-could-be-proven-that-Christopher-Marlowes-death-was-faked-would-most-people-agree-that-he-wrote-the-plays-attributed-to-Shakespeare
Therein the "Marlowe Thesis" is demolished (or as they say in the UK, rubbished). Enough for now. I plan on tacking on at least one more comment to you, 4:18AM, in this string, in the next day or two. Take care, and sleep well. Your fellow 10:51PM Introibo Anon.
@anon11:00
DeleteI allowed this comment although it is very confusing and contains a vulgarity. "B**ch" is not acceptable. I will not publish any further comment with such language.
---Introibo
In the last 5-10 years, I have seen a tremendous increase and explosion in the celebration of Halloween. Not that long ago, I would see pumpkins, ghosts, and witches decorate the front lawns and porches of houses. That would be it. This quickly gave rise to skeletons everywhere that people had on their front lawns, including some huge skeletons that were absolutely massive. This was taken farther to include life-size characters from horror movies that now decorate front lawns all over the place. Characters such as Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, Ghostface, Chucky, and many others are now all over some house properties. These are not put out by children or teen-agers but by people in the Baby Boomer and Gen X generations. They are adults, who in many cases, never grew up. The huge uptick in the celebration of Halloween corresponds to the increase in the occult, witchcraft, and just the overall demonic, in general.
ReplyDeleteAs grace has been further and further removed from the world by God since Vatican II as a punishment for all mankind, it is not surprising that we are seeing this type of behavior. In major cities especially around the world, there are many people walking the streets who are extremely mentally disturbed. Many of them belong in psychiatric facilities or institutions, and yet they roam free, dangerous as they are. I have always felt that many psychiatric patients are oppressed by demons, some of them actually possessed. I have even heard from a few people who have worked in psychiatric institutions for children that these facilities are like a horror movie inside. The children themselves are so dangerous to the workers who care for them that the workers fear every day when they go into these places to work because they never know what these severely mentally disturbed children may do to them. Many have been attacked by the children in brutal fashion (I will withhold what I have been told in private conversations). It is even worse in asylums where the staff has to deal with adults who are even more dangerous to be in close proximity to.
Introibo, both this article and your “Reclaiming Halloween” article do a great job describing what we are up against with the forces of the demonic that we are in constant battle with. You mention in this article the 3 ways that witchcraft and the Vatican II sect have helped to spread these errors further and further over the world. All 3 are very accurate, but the first one is most telling. The Mass was replaced with a simple memorial meal. By removing the True Mass from almost everywhere around the world, grace was lessened to a HUGE extent and opened the doors more and more to the demonic as the divine assistance that was once found everywhere around the globe is now found in so few places. It is really no surprise and no wonder that we are seeing such an onslaught of the demonic power everywhere.
Over the course of my life, I have had run-ins with people from all different religions and no religions at all. I have personally seen an increase in Wiccas (witches) in recent times. Just the other week, I crossed paths with a bunch of witches and what appeared to be a warlock (wizard) with them. I keep saying to myself, “Where are all of you freaks coming from?!” It is just another reminder why we need things like the rosary, brown scapular, St. Benedict medal, holy water, and other sacramentals in our daily lives even more! We need all of the divine protection that we can get in this day and age.
-TradWarrior
Living in Mexico my experience might be a bit more interesting. You see, Halloween comes right before Día de Muertos.
DeletePersonally, I have never celebrated Día de Muertos. It's a syncretistic thing, and I have heard it isn't as ancient as it is frequently told.
Today, Día de los Muertos is mixed with Halloween, and it's not uncommon to see ghosts and skeletons near a table for the dead. Some people will go trick or treat on November 1, under the complacency of the accursed sect.
I remember, that when the movie "Coco" was released, everyone suddenly became obsessed with the skulls. Yes, the skulls could still be found before 2017 - often made of sugar or in paper decorations - but this was completely different.
Dumb Mexicans letting Disney tell them how to celebrate a supposedly ancient festival.
TradWarrior and Poni,
DeleteExcellent comments, my friends!
God Bless,
---Introibo
Just a few days from now, on Oct. 27, 2026, will be two anniversaries. First, Grokipedia, "born" on Oct. 27, 2025, will become the most intelligent 1 year old child, who ever existed. And the Assisi World Day of Prayer for Peace, started up by JP2 on Oct. 27, 1986, will officially become a 40 year old. According to one online source, a Crow Indian medicine man from Montana, and an African animist practitioner (aka, witch doctor) were among the many and varied motley crew of religious quacks on hand for JP2's shindig. That and subsequent Assisi events included indigenous, animists, and tribal snake and voodoo worshippers. The Grokipedia page "Witchcraft" has a subsection entitled "Indigenous and Animists Contexts". V2 endorsed (?) ecumenical witchcraft.
ReplyDelete"Have popes engaged in ecumenical witchcraft?"
DeleteAI responds: "No... The phrase "ecumenical witchcraft" or "pagan ecumenism" is not a formal category. Instead, it is a highly charged polemic used by traditionalists or fringe critics to attack modern popes for engaging in global, multi-faith dialogue."
Q.) Dear AI, "Who are modern popes?"
AI declares that all from Pacelli to Prevost are.
Q.) "Have modern popes been modernists?"
AI spews out a highly modernist answer!!
The novus ordo is so depressing and oppressive!
ReplyDelete@Anon 8:24 How true! Amen!
Delete