When you pray for bad things to happen to somebody..is that the same as witchcraft?

Question

If you can't handle the word "pray"...substitute the word "wish".

Answer 1

No.  While some compare witchcraft spells to prayers saying they are the *same*, they are not - and some Christians don't like to even admit the similarities between "miracles" and "magic".  

Witchcraft is a set of skills - most commonly the practice of magic and spellcasting, but also includes such practices as holistic healing, herbal health/healing, and divination.  

Magic is the art of manipulating energy to bring about desired change.  That energy comes from the witch him/herself and sometimes is also drawn from the natural earth elements (fire, water, air, etc.) and is then directed toward a specific goal (no deity need be invoked to work magic), so it is not the same as praying to God to do something and leaving it up to Him to do it or not.

If I were seeking guidance or assistance from my God & Goddess, I pray, similar to you, and let my deities decide on the matter.  

Magic just is - it is not "good" or "evil" - it is the intent of the witch that directs the magic that determines how it is used.  

Now that being said, this whole "good" vs. "evil" concept is Christian, as is the concept of Satan.  Witches do not believe in Satan or a purely evil being.  There is both good and bad right here on Earth.  Witches recognize the need for balance.  There is male and female, day and night, summer and winter, positive and negative, etc.  (Keep in mind that "negative" does not always mean "bad".)

Most modern-day witches I know live by a strong code of ethics and do not wish to cause anyone unnecessary harm.  They are healers - working to help and heal others as well as the Earth itself.  Many are environmental protection and animal rights advocates.

If someone does wrong to me - I may be angry with them, I may dislike them, I may *think* they deserve to be wronged - but my code of ethics catches me and keeps me from *acting* on my emotions, so I adjust my thoughts and remember that karma will catch up with them and move on with my life.

I hope you find peace with your situation.

Blessings.

Answer 2

I don't think that it's witchcraft. I do think that karma is a real thing though. When you do something bad to someone else, it does come back to you. Same with doing something good.

Answer 3

Hi Deenie. Your questions is a little confusing to me because it seems that witchcraft is a bad thing according to the question. Witchcraft is neither good or evil. It is the intent of the person that causes it to be good or evil.

However some prayers are in all tense and purposes witchcraft. Not all prayer is and not all witchcraft is prayers. Spell casting is usually what is labled as witchcraft although as a practicing witch I can say it goes way  beyond that, but in order to answer your  question many christians do cast spells and some of their prayers are spells. In fact I have a article I wrote on my 360 page about spell craft in Christian churches and give one example that is practiced today.

BB

Answer 4

That is terrible!!!  I am not sure if it truly is, but if it were my choice I would classify it as witchcraft.  You are praying a prayer that GOD will most likely not answer.  God loves everyone and he forgives everybody for their sins.  He does not like one person more then another so praying for someone to get hurt is like asking him to injure one of his own children.  Hope this helped : )

Answer 5

Prayer and verbal spell-casting do have a lot in common.  They are both words uttered in an effort to achieved a desired result.  The differences are primarily cultural.

I would contend that, given the power and success rate of both intercessory prayer and spell-casting, the end result is the same.

Answer 6

Witchcraft? Probably not... but praying to, say, Jesus and asking Him to HURT someone - anyone -  is morally repugnant and theologically... well, stupid.

Answer 7

Before you make the mistake of wrecking yourself having a nervous breakdown over a guilty conscience. Consider a more powerful prayer that a bad one. -That would be to sincerely bless the person to see the light, have the skill, the change of heart. A blessing with positive intent is many times more powerful.

Case in point: If there is a parent that is abusive and acting in a self destructive manner you might wish all kinds of atrocities on this person then when a someone kind and meek hurts them and ends up getting hurt or going to jail the abuser is still walking around (sounding like many of your respondents) while the other person is wounded too. You might spend years in therapy wondering if you caused the blight of both people.

A better approach is to sincerely bless the offender forgiving them for their trespasses (sound familiar?) with the intent that the person find the light in their lives that will resolve their hurts (and fears).

Answer 8

I think for it to be witchcraft you would have to pray to the Devil rather than God.

I'm sure the results would be the same either way though.

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What about if you prayed for something bad to happen to someone for a good reason?

If you knew your neighbour was raping children would it be wrong to pray that he got run over by a bus?

Answer 9

praying does not mean asking

Answer 10

You mean if you place a curse or evil spell on someone it properly is.If you repeat it more than 12 times in different languages then they will have bad things happen to them.As they say if your bad to people long enough it will always come back on you.What gos around comes around.Kama

Answer 11

I just answered a question about magic and meditation.  A current physical theory called the String Theory allows for different dimensions in the same space.  Certain theorists believe that consciousness can be transferred from one dimension to the next, explaining both ghosts and the afterlife.

I am an agnostic, refusing to believe in the Judeo-Christian-Muslim god because of my time spent in the Middle East, the so called Holy Land, where no-one can get long.  To answer your question, peace has has never existed in the Middle East due to the ill will experienced on all sides.  Buddhists have had peace for thousands of years just by wishing and praying for it (excluding the atheist beliefs of Communism).  

Even as an atheist I have witnessed the power of positive thought in healing, and I am quite sure it works in reverse.  If ill will is placed strong enough at a certain "target" bad things will come.

Answer 12

I wouldn't say the same but they are equally ineffective at influencing outcomes.

Answer 13

It may not be fair to those who practice witchcraft to compare it with deliberately hoping or praying for bad things to happen to people. Most legitimate witchcraft is intended toward good ends.

I do see your point though, and wanting bad things to happen to somebody through either prayer or witchcraft is a lot like the same thing! I try to keep it to a minimum for my part, but to be honest, occasionally I'll get upset and do a little of both in a mild way. No serious is harm intended. I'm just looking for a little revenge chuckle...