6,484
edits
Difference between revisions of "Witch of Endor"
→Views by early Christians
Occultwiki (talk | contribs) |
Occultwiki (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
The Church Fathers and some modern [[Christianity|Christian]] writers have debated the theological issues raised by this text, which would appear at first sight to affirm that it is possible (though forbidden) for humans to summon the spirits of the dead by [[ritual magic]]. | The Church Fathers and some modern [[Christianity|Christian]] writers have debated the theological issues raised by this text, which would appear at first sight to affirm that it is possible (though forbidden) for humans to summon the spirits of the dead by [[ritual magic]]. | ||
King James, in his philosophical treatise ''[[Daemonologie]]'' (1597), rejected the theory that the [[witch]] was performing an act of ventriloquism, but also denied that she had truly summoned the spirit of Samuel. He wrote that [[the Devil]] is permitted at times to take on the likeness of the saints, citing 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says that "[[Satan]] can transform himself into an Angel of light | King James, in his philosophical treatise ''[[Daemonologie]]'' (1597), rejected the theory that the [[witch]] was performing an act of ventriloquism, but also denied that she had truly summoned the spirit of Samuel. He wrote that [[the Devil]] is permitted at times to take on the likeness of the saints, citing 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says that "[[Satan]] can transform himself into an Angel of light." James describes the witch of Endor as "Saul's [[Python]]ese," likening her to the ancient Greek [[oracle]] Pythia. | ||
Other medieval glosses to the [[Bible]] also suggested that what the witch summoned was not the ghost of Samuel, but a [[demon]] taking his shape or an illusion crafted by the witch. Martin Luther, who believed that the dead were unconscious, read that it was "the Devil's ghost," whereas John Calvin read that "it was not the real Samuel, but a spectre." Since this passage states the witch made a loud cry in fear when she saw Samuel's spirit, some interpreters reject the suggestion that the witch was responsible for summoning Samuel's spirit, claiming instead that this was the work of God. | Other medieval glosses to the [[Bible]] also suggested that what the witch summoned was not the ghost of Samuel, but a [[demon]] taking his shape or an illusion crafted by the witch. Martin Luther, who believed that the dead were unconscious, read that it was "the Devil's ghost," whereas John Calvin read that "it was not the real Samuel, but a spectre." Since this passage states the witch made a loud cry in fear when she saw Samuel's spirit, some interpreters reject the suggestion that the witch was responsible for summoning Samuel's spirit, claiming instead that this was the work of God. | ||