European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes monday August 6,1990 a 4 a a a a. Quot i. T v a Quot a a a readers respond to letter on witchcraft i write hic to mfr of ukr Iii it a m _ i a. A a Quot a a. I write this letter As a Christian response to the Anonymous officer who is a Witch. The Pagan practices that have survived Over the past several thousand years have always been condemned by the Bible. T god does not condemn witchcraft As a satanism but witchcraft is condemned on an Independent basis. So we have a dilemma if witchcraft is virtuous Loving and giving then Why does god condemn it god condemns because Man turns his Back on god and worships himself. Many a Wisdom becomes his salvation but we can see that this a a salvation has resulted in staggering divorce statistics child abuse drug abuse suicides an aids epidemic pollution of the environment and crime and murder escalating out of control. It is Clear that Many a Wisdom has not resulted in very a a harmonious living. Furthermore paganism has shown itself not to be Loving or peaceful. The Quot ancients of Carthage participated in mass Slaughter of their babies for their goddess. Ancient Rome went to great lengths to appease the needs of their Djana worshipping masses a they built a coliseum. In it they ruthlessly executed tortured and a a enjoyed watching hungry Lions cat those who professed the name of Jesus Christ As the Only name by which Man could be saved men women and children. A birth love and compassion a All Good traits if Man could achieve them but Man cannot. So we have the a Rule of Law and not of the whims of people As they Are swayed by the forces of nature. Laws based on what on tested principles a principles that withstood the test of time and truly served the common this solve our problem i must say no. But neither can i believe that any one person a tapping Quot into All the Powers of nature can solve our problems because As we have seen Mankind cannot handle Power. As our unknown officer states a magic is the key to the whole thing. The idea that by. Studying and respecting nature All her Powers arc yours a an admission of a a self ish Ness. What right docs this officer have to Wield such Power Over you or i the god of christianity says he has no right. Witchcraft taps into Power contrary to the creator whether it be satan pan or Mother Earth a Power that promotes Pride arrogance and selfishness. And the world has enough of this without inc Aid of the wiccan. Unfortunately Many people have manipulated the gospel of Jesus Christ in the past 2,000 years to the Point that people forget what it is about and those in the a Church Quot begin to look like the gospel Christ is simple love the lord your god the creator with All your heart mind and soul and love your neighbor As yourself. Further we arc All sinners and have a hard time doing even this. I done to want to Burn a teens at the stake but i would certainly like to Burn the Pride and arrogance that causes them to turn their Back on the creator and worship their own abilities As assisted by the Quot nonentity Quot of nature. Trust in god is a Good saying because in reality there is nothing or no one else we can Trust. From another successful officer who chooses to Honor Jesus Christ a Cut James t. Howard a Wiesbaden West Germany i am compelled to respond to the Reader who wrote in stating that satanism and witchcraft Arentt the same religion. I personally applaud your bravery in defending your beliefs. My own a a religion consists mainly of North american Indian rituals calling upon the Power of Crystal stones and the forces of nature. How startling it was Lor me to have a belief system 1 consider natural condemned on a recent visit to the Bible Belt in the United states. I was actually called a a Devil worshipper Quot As Well As a Witch in the same breath. Now i understand that people become defensive when afraid of what they done to understand. I do however think it hypocritical of fundamental c christians to judge then own method of worship As the Only right Way. 1 Here is hut one Iod but Many was to sing his praises. As Tor Tiu Devil tie does t even exist. Unfortunately. 1 am treed to acknowledge the evil that dwells in menus hearts. A a name withheld Weib Rieken West German. It. As a hns tinn i Leel i must respond to the officer who professed to lie a vat he and is a Siek to death Quot of being Eon necked or linked with satan first of All a Witch is a medium Man or woman who utilizes of cultic Powers to bring about Good or evil. This is an individual who attempts to manipulate forces to achieve what he or she wants. Witchcraft is very popular in Europe and . Colleges teach courses in witchcraft. We have movies such As a switches of Eastwick a Etc., and there is Dia a Witch in Ohio that will give readings of Tarot cards Fortune telling and seances. God is the source of the Power of goodness satan is the source of the Power of evil. If you re not getting the Power from the lord then there is Only one other source whether it be elemental forces magic control Over the elements or life a a Rose by any other name will smell As Sweet. A Margaret Holt Raf Greenham common England it was Good seeing a letter explaining witchcraft. Being an american Witch myself and dealing with All the misunderstandings of my religion i was very excited to see this letter in your paper. Almost on a daily basis i have dealt with comments from people who know nothing about my religion or who have been taught that witchcraft is evil. Go out and read a Book written by a Witch about witchcraft. 1 recommend a the Complete Book of witchcraft Quot by Raymond Buckland. Understand our beliefs before you persecute us. A name withheld Rhein main a West Germany. You make general statements concerning christians that Only show your confusion. It comes Down to one thing a god Jesus Christ and a a ally the recorded events that were god breathed through men called the scriptures which eventually were translated into English in the 1600s. A Long time ago before christianity worked its Way into Europe there was god and god allowed men to be used showing a Correct Way to live instead of corrupt a for example in the old testament. A name withheld Pitburg West Germany it sounds to me As though this writers Call for a a fall Holiday might Stem from discrimination in the workplace. The situation is very common. The Pagan worker May wish to have Sambain halloween Oft to celebrate what we consider to be the witches new year and the Day we Honor those who have gone on before us but is denied while Christian co workers Are routinely Given time off to observe their religion. I suggest a trip to the chaplains office. They Are there to Sec to everyone a spiritual needs and not just a select few. They recently helped an airman in Texas secure her right to time off on her holidays in an office where her Christian co workers were allowed that right but she was not. In the chaplain refuses to help you because of your beliefs then that too is wrong and should be reported. While it is True that we Are no longer burned for our Faith we Are still being persecuted for it a from the minor hassles of being linked to the evil practices of satanists and child molesters to being the butt of jokes and the target of people determined to a save our souls a to the major abuse of threatening letters and phone Calls and frequent reports of legally assembled coven meetings being disrupted. Peoples houses have been ransacked and witches have been assaulted and sometimes killed. It is sad that anyone should be made to feel unsafe in their Job or Community if their religion becomes known and even sadder if that person is in the military and is supposed to be protecting them. That however is the state of things and the Only Way to combat it is with the same dignity and patience our kind has always shown and with a lot More tolerance than has been shown to us. Pray to the Mother that if it does no to get belter that at least there will be no return to the a Jeanine Gravitt Raf late Cheath England i am a Christian. I want to stand up for what i fee is right As Well As stand up for the truth love and god. God does love everyone including those into satanism and witchcraft but god is also a just god who will judge god docs not go along with these practices because com Milting them is a sin. In fact the Bible mentions witchcraft several times. It says those who practice witchcraft will not inherit the kingdom of god and also that they w do he throw n into the Lake of lire. Filhes Nui Ai. Fin god of against god there is no straddling the line. Ii it of Are against god you Are serving satan and his demons. Satanism and Witch a Craft May not practice in the same manner but they serve the same master. If you Are for god you will want to live and do the things of god that arc written in the Bible. A name withheld Giessen West Germany., i would like to invite the writer to visit just the los Angeles police department alone not to mention other departments As Well on nov. I. She May count on a dispatch log recording the deaths of children teen agers and adults directly related to human sacrifice for satan worship witchcraft and the occult. The exposure of the facts is a Long time overdue. Her suggestion that halloween be changed to a fall Holiday to celebrate Church and stale separation is Fine for anyone who May choose to observe it that Way. But since her letter is directed at christians she might need to understand that Many christians believe that god rules in the affairs of men and women today and we would not celebrate such a Holiday. I find it interesting that the writer cites history to justify her position arid to paint a picture of a a ally christians As if an in depth study of her religion were made aside from what i or others believe she would find it going beyond the great american indians to the ancient mystery religions of baby Ion to satan himself. Spec. A Wen a g. Shrewsbury Sand to Fen West Germany. I applaud the air Force officer who wrote the letter entitled Quot satanism and witchcraft not same his article is a very Nice explanation of the Craft and serves As a wonderfully descriptive summary of our Way of life. Being a Witch for Over seven years now i have enjoyed life from a perspective that has no equal and experienced prejudice and discrimination that is be Cath contempt. After the news leaked from the orderly room that the new no was a Witch i was approached with questions of All sorts ranging from Idle curiosity to sincere interest to contemptuous comments. After a Jot of thought i decided to prepare and distribute an information Handbill to the local comm i included the basics the fundamental Rifle Rencs Between christianity and witchcraft the outright statement that we have no connection with satanism and that we look to nature for that which is beneficial to our health and Well being. I presented this Handbill to the local chaplains office for approval and upon obtaining the verbal of after pointing out that everything contained in the Handbill could be found in their handbook on the sub Jeeto a Pam 165-13i began to distribute them. Incidentally the handbook has a very concise entry from the american Council of witches. Happy ending right wrong i took copies to the Post office main Exchange Library Etc. The one in the Post office lasted about three Days before someone demanded it be removed in the name of their religion. We As witches by our very nature believe that everyone has the right to believe in god the Way he or she chooses we All stand on the Circle looking toward the same Center. It is this Basic belief and the Joy of communion with nature that makes witchcraft such a wonder jul Way of life. Then Why Pray Tell should anyone have the right to order my Handbill removed i received a phone Call from the chaplains office skin a handbills were the subject of complaints and that there now was something inflammatory in the Levy l i visited the same chaplains office to resolve the situation conc Emong the text i was informed 1 could not use the word a a satan or Quot Devil Quot in quota-vvmi011 because it implied we did not believe in it Well we done to absolute evil is a concept we simply Don t address. I was told. I could not use the word Pagan in my information bulletin. Pagan is a term on a Par in its generally with the word protestant whereas in our specific tradition wicca is a much More descriptive one. Lagan Quot conies from the latin word a Pagani Quot and simply Means a people who live in the Fie Tamly inc \ Asl number of us in limes of old lived in the w oods. And so armed with my newly revised generic Harui Fiji Ului am i to sex Peel Nickl a More censorship i Dunk nor. I is a fee Hng i share with my conveners o Noi hide 1ui�?� lraltl0l longer. So Public awareness through our of cohesion and Public anti Vii is in order. A so. Robert 11. Gash Augsburg West germans
