Frequently Asked Questions

   Collated by Rhiannon NosTylluan

   

FAQ for February 2005 What is a witch? What is god to you? If you don't believe in hell, what makes you be a good person?            What is a witch? I see the term "witch" as a non-religious one. A witch is someone who uses energy/magic/whatever you may call it to alter and influence the world around him/her. S/he may be a healer, for example, or may dabble in spells and curses. S/he follows certain "laws" of witchcraft - such as circle casting, calling the quarters and using tools. There are many energy-workers out there who define themselves as witches - Christian witches, Wiccan witches, Odinist witches, Voudoun witches - some of whom link their religious beliefs and practices with their witchcraft. There are also many witches out there whose religion and magic are not related. Most Christian witches, for example, do not define their witchcraft as a way of practising Christianity. It is a skill, a craft, they perform using "God-given" powers, but seperate to their faith. The way a person practices witchcraft can be viewed as a religion - and many people consider it to indeed ,be a religious path. But consider this - it is capable of being used by diametrically opposed religious groups (such as Christianity, Wicca and Voudoun) who see themselves as using it correctly, and may believe the others misuse it. To me this means it is no more a religion than politics, sex, education, eating etc are. Anything can gain religious overtones or value - it depends upon how the person practicing it views it and uses it. ~ Catherine M A witch is simply someone who is able to manipulate energy - internal and external. There are those who call themselves witches, and their definitions are likely to be different to mine. But to me, anyone able to heal, catch glimpses of future events etc fit the concept of witch. I don't like the term though - it is laden with misconceptions and assumptions and centuries of fear and paranoia. ~ L.S. A witch is an individual who manipulates the universal energy through meditation and ritual to bring about positive change in their environment. ~ BrighidsFlame A witch is someone that I feel is in tune with nature, and is able to call upon the forces of nature to assist her in whatever way she needs. I believe that in the old days, the witches knew about herbs, nature, and childbirth. They knew things that others didn't know, and the uneducated were afraid. So they persecuted them. ~ J.T.        What is god to you? The Divine is a candle flame. The flame's energy is always there, but it takes a conscious act to bring it into the range of visual perception -- to light the flame. It's that conscious act that defines the form the divine takes. Faith is the wax pillar that feeds the flame and religion the lantern within which it sits. The lantern has thousands of small faceted windows set in black leading - each a different tint. Depending on which you gaze through, you see a different image of the flame. But the flame never alters in the divine's reality - only in our perception, in the individual's reality. ~ Catherine M. To me the concept of "god" is a fallacy. Within our minds is the Buddha - or god - already. We are all sleeping gods, and we all possess the ability to become Buddha (awakened gods). But I do not see "godhood" as what many others do - I shall not become a divine being throwing lightning bolts, or sitting up in heaven passing judgement. Being god is not about controlling others but about oneself. ~ L.S. God is the compilation of the gods and goddesses of the world. I don't think that there is one all seeing, all knowing super power, but a collective group. Each with their own "specialty", if you will. I believe that if we knew precisely which one to call on, that the world might make more sense. ~ J.T.        If you don't believe in hell, what makes you be a good person? Hell is a form of negative reinforcement - be good and do as we say of you'll really get a walloping. I don't believe negative reinforcement is effective as a way of ensuring moral and ethical behaviour - I think that comes from self-discipline, compassion for others, a sense of self-worth and responsibility, and altruism. And I think that those traits tend to encourage more reliable "good people" than a fear of hell. The fear of hell only works while one is thinking of it - otherwise all those good, moral people out there would never stray from the straight and narrow path. The fact that they do stray shows that hell is not a good deterant. Personal traits such as those listed above work whether one is aware of them or not - and those traits are ones we work to build in our children and ourselves because we want to be better people - not because we fear hell. Love is a much stronger reason to be good than fear. ~ Catherine M. As a Buddist I believe in personal responsibility and also personal karma. The actions I take in my life create reactions and consequences. Those consequences teach me in this lifetime and the next how to reach the Buddha state, and ultimately to reach Nirvana. Until I become truely enlightened I will continue to be reborn - each lifetime I will learn more and hopefully progress along the path of enlightenment until the last lifetime where I become Buddha. Since I believe that reaching the Buddha state is the ultimate reason for life - in the process we experience and learn and shed all the trappings of humanity that imprison us until we are free - this is my reason for being a "good" person. It is possible that my definition of "good" and yours may not, however be entirely the same. I do not see good as being dependent upon my worshipping some god and following laws laid down by that god. Goodness, to me, involves reaching and practicing a state of compassionate love for all, bringing harm to none - including myself, and living in a mindful state of the "now". Goodness, to me, is about not wasting time and energy chasing wasteful things - including religion and its trappings. These are my beliefs - and it is good that I do not try to force them upon you, or give in to what you try to force upon me. ~ L.S. Hell, in my opinion, was an idea created long ago to scare the uneducated non christians into accepting a belief system. What makes me a good person, is that I believe in a karma of sorts. If I am a good person, and care about others, and take care of others, it should come back on me. If it doesn't, that's ok. I will have a good afterlife, I believe. I don't think that someone is going to be good out of fear of the unknown. I know that if I am a good person, my children may emulate me. My friends may too. That is reason enough to be a "good person". ~ J.T.

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