Witchcraft Goes Mainstrain — Bibliography
Bibliography for Witchcraft Goes Mainstream, by Brooks Alexander
Research resources on religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues
Category: Books
Chapter 2: The Halloween Witch is Dead: The Changing Face of Modern Witchcraft
The Halloween witch is dead. The old crone on a broomstick with a black cat, a peaked hat and a wart on her nose is history. She has been replaced by a young, beautiful, sexually magnetic maiden who reveres nature, honors a goddess, practices magic and wields mysterious psychic powers. Such indeed is the image of the modern, Neopagan Witch today.
This is Chapter 2 of Witchcraft Goes Mainstream, by Brooks Alexander
This is Chapter 2 of Witchcraft Goes Mainstream, by Brooks Alexander
Appendix B: A Brief Annotated Bibliography for Further Reading
The cultural shift that we are undergoing (aka the culture "war") means that Christians will be called upon to explain and exemplify the gospel in new situations, to a new kind of audience, using new communication tools and skills. It also means that an active new "mission field" is not only here among us, it will shortly come looking for you. The day is coming, and probably sooner than you think, when you or someone you know will meet a Witch or some other variety of Neopagan in a social or professional situation.
When that day comes, you will want to be prepared ahead of time with enough information to respond knowledgably and to navigate the encounter with confidence and skill.
When that day comes, you will want to be prepared ahead of time with enough information to respond knowledgably and to navigate the encounter with confidence and skill.
Appendix A: Witchcraft in the Military
For Christians and other cultural conservatives, the Fort Hood Witchcraft flap was a public relations debacle. The anti-Witch crusaders entered the fray with great fanfare and left it looking foolish. Indeed, their campaign failed so completely that every item on their agenda was rejected. Worst of all, the crusaders themselves were widely perceived to be intemperate and uninformed.
It was also a public relations triumph for modern Witchcraft. In effect, the episode put an exclamation point on a decade filled with changes in the way that Witchcraft is seen and understood. It both symbolized and speeded up the process of transformation that was already taking place.
It was also a public relations triumph for modern Witchcraft. In effect, the episode put an exclamation point on a decade filled with changes in the way that Witchcraft is seen and understood. It both symbolized and speeded up the process of transformation that was already taking place.
A Final Word From the Author: What Now?
It is impossible to know at this juncture whether our culture can be brought back from the brink of (self) destruction or not. But we don't need that knowledge in order to prepare for the next stage of our spiritual warfare.
Whether the culture collapses completely or struggles back to its feet, Christians will be called upon to represent the Gospel in relation to resurgent paganism of all kinds. Therefore we should expect to be in contact with Neopagans and expect to have opportunities for apologetic and evangelistic interaction and we should prepare ourselves accordingly.
Whether the culture collapses completely or struggles back to its feet, Christians will be called upon to represent the Gospel in relation to resurgent paganism of all kinds. Therefore we should expect to be in contact with Neopagans and expect to have opportunities for apologetic and evangelistic interaction and we should prepare ourselves accordingly.
About the Author, Brooks Alexander
Brooks Alexander is the founder of The Spiritual Couterfeits Project (SCP), an evangelical ministry and think-tank in Berkeley, California that studies new religions and spiritual movements.
An experienced journalist who is educated in law, his personal experience in the occult and his subsequent conversion to Christ give him a unique perspective on current spiritual trends.
An experienced journalist who is educated in law, his personal experience in the occult and his subsequent conversion to Christ give him a unique perspective on current spiritual trends.
Witchcraft Goes Mainstream: Copyright and Additional Information
Copyright and formatting information for the online version of Witchcraft Goes Mainstream, by Brooks Alexander
Witchcraft Goes Mainstream — Table of Contents
Chapters and publication information for Witchcraft Goes Mainstream
A Note on Terms and Capitalization
The terms "Wicca," "Witchcraft" and "Neopaganism" all refer to different aspects of the movement we are talking about in this book. Think of them them as a series of concentric circles. …
Introduction: My Encounters With Modern Witchcraft
Before we can share the message of Christianity with Neopagans, we must first understand the truth about them. We need to know who we are talking to before the conversation starts. We owe them that respect in order to gain a hearing for the message that we bear.
Chapter 1: “Witchcraft,” “Neopaganism”: What Are We Talking About, Exactly?
If you walk onto an average college campus and ask four different people what "witchcraft" is, you will probably get four different answers. I know, because I tried the experiment.
"Witchcraft" has at least four different meanings -- four distinct ways the word is employed -- and those different meanings get mixed up in the ways that people use and understand the term.
"Witchcraft" has at least four different meanings -- four distinct ways the word is employed -- and those different meanings get mixed up in the ways that people use and understand the term.
Appendix: Issues in Recovery
Many themes and issues have emerged from these stories of people recovering from churches that abuse. These are often more implicit than explicit.
Thinking through these issues in the following terms may be helpful to victims of abuse and those who seek to counsel them.
Thinking through these issues in the following terms may be helpful to victims of abuse and those who seek to counsel them.
Epilogue: Can Churches Change?
The testimony of Recovering From Churches That Abuse is that battered believers can recover. But is rehabilitation possible for churches that abuse? Can a spiritually abusive system be changed? The answer is yes, even though in reality many churches do not experience significant change.
But some do answer these calls, and as evidence Dr. Ronald Enroth cites two groups described in Churches That Abuse.
But some do answer these calls, and as evidence Dr. Ronald Enroth cites two groups described in Churches That Abuse.
Chapter 8: Grace Is the Best Thing in the World
The message of this book is that "mending" is possible! There is hope. You can trust again.
However, it is important to understand that although there are some common aspects to the process of recovery and healing, the route is different and can be more tortuous for some than for others according to their personalities and the special problems they encountered in the church.
However, it is important to understand that although there are some common aspects to the process of recovery and healing, the route is different and can be more tortuous for some than for others according to their personalities and the special problems they encountered in the church.
Chapter 7: God Took Time to Visit His Lost Child
"When a member leaves an abusive church or is forced to leave, he walks out with virtually nothing. He leaves a part of himself behind; the years he has invested are gone. You need to deal with loss and bereavement, confusion and anger, and finally, acceptance of. that loss.
Many fail to accept it and move on. They need to understand that their significance is not in what they had, but it is in their relationship with Christ. They have lost a few years, but they have not lost their soul."
Many fail to accept it and move on. They need to understand that their significance is not in what they had, but it is in their relationship with Christ. They have lost a few years, but they have not lost their soul."