The popular Harry Potter books, the many witchcraft-related television shows and recent Halloween trick-or-treating tempt many people to regard witchcraft as fun, fanciful or just plain harmless.
Tim Baker, in his surprising book Dewitched: What You Need to Know About the Dangers of Wicca and Witchcraft, serves well to counteract these ideas by informing young people of the surprising and not-so innocent facts about these religions.
Part of Baker’s motivation in writing the book comes from his own personal contact with witchcraft.
“I’ve never really been a Wiccan,” he said, “but I’ve had this dance around it.”
According to Baker, this “dance” included a family background that accepted almost every form of religion, high school friends who dabbled in witchcraft and most recently, the discovery that a close friend is a practicing Wiccan.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is that Baker takes the compassion that comes from these personal experiences with witchcraft, mixed with his thorough research on the topic, and uses it to present a superbly balanced Christian discussion of Wicca and witchcraft.
In this discussion, Baker never engages in any name-calling, wild claims or judgmental statements. In fact, he devotes an entire chapter of his book to debunking the most popular myths associated with Wicca and Satanism, including the myths that witches cast spells on people and that Satanists can cast demons into people.
Just as striking as Baker’s compassionate honesty in his presentation is his uncompromising, yet kind stand against the false beliefs of Wicca and Satanism.
Although he makes sure to present the different belief systems of Wicca and Satanism, such as Wicca being earth-based while Satanism is not, he also connects Wicca and Satanism through their founders and certain aspects of their beliefs.
He also does not hesitate to point out the errors of Wicca and Satanism. Wiccans and Satanists are in desperate need of the example of the followers of Christ to show them the way, the truth and the life.
For instance, after presenting the Wiccan and Satanist understandings of humanity, Baker writes, “The Biblical description of the human conflicts with Wicca’s and Satanism’s descriptions…Ultimately, Wicca and Satanism don’t offer any purpose or hope.”
Baker does not ignore the dangers of these religions. The disturbing fiction story that runs throughout the book is a powerful, though somewhat dramatized, reminder of these dangers.
“The story is a living portrayal of witchcraft sneaking in and corrupting the church,” Baker said. “I want [the readers] to see this happens all the time in churches.”
Ultimately, Dewitched accomplishes its goal of educating its readers about Wicca and witchcraft in order for them to be prepared to face and even welcome Wiccans and Satanists in Christ’s name.
“Our job is to walk through life with unbelievers,” Baker said.
“Hopefully we see a clear distinction between Wiccans and Christians, which will help us to be ready when the time comes.”