Dewitched: What You Need to Know about the Dangers of Witchcraft and Wicca

by Tim Baker

Book Overview

Wicca is the fastest-growing religion on today's college campuses, and is even featured on the covers of popular teen magazines. Christian teens need to know what to believe when it comes to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0849944341
• ISBN13: 9780849944345
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Worth my time to read

This book was really very good. Basically it talks about the differences between wicca and christianity. It goes into the history of the religion and then goes into detail about different aspects of it like the afterlife, symbols and morality. I especially liked the story that comes with each chapter because it helped me see some of the struggles Believers face. One of my favorite things about this book was the attitude of the book. It doesn't speak down to you and it doesn't point fingers either. Except that it does kind of talk to Christians and tells them to be kinder to people who believe differently. There's also a section were it talks about the lies people tell about wicca. This was really insightful. I thought this book was fantastic.

I liked this book

I liked this book and found it helpful and informative. One thing I'd like to say: The author makes it clear that he is a Christian and the book is written for those who are Christians looking for help to understand how to reach teens who are into this. I guess those who are into wicca and witchcraft don't want them to do that! But there are books on many different subjects and for many different kinds of people. I think we have to be tolerant of others. So I see nothing wrong with this book. I liked it!

This is a good book

I've read this book, and I've read the reviews here. Amazing how people review based on their agendas instead of reading the book with an open mind. First, the book is not hate speech. Actually there is nothing hateful about the book. It says over and over to Christians (the audience to whom the book is addressed ) to chill out and stop attacking Wiccans and Satanists. The book says honestly to Christians to take their time and research the subject for themselves. The book also says to stop pointing fingers at Hollywood, music and other industries who do more to distort the truth about these beliefs than they do to promote its accuracy. I felt the book bent over backwards to be tolerant. Second, the book says over and over the Wicca and Satanism are not the same beliefs. The reviews that have said that the book says they're the same are completely untrue. There is no place in the book where the author says that Wiccans worship Satan, and there is no place where it says they're the same religion. The story implies this, but based on the different ways people abuse Wiccan beliefs, this is very real to what actually happens in the real world. Since the author is obviously a Christian and believes the Bible is true, his claim that any belief that doesn't believe in the God of the Bible is Biblically accurate. Third, the book encourages readers to research on their own. There are almost no Christian sources listed in the bibliography, and the website for the book (www.dewitched.com) lists additional non-Christian sites where readers can research for themselves. It's absolutely essential that the readers of this book go beyond the book and research these beliefs The book makes this clear in many places. Fourth, the excessive information on Satanism is absolutely necessary, since most Christians get Wicca and Satanism confused. Noting the differences between the two is essential, and helps point out the differences between the two beliefs. Fifth, The elements and differences between Wicca and Satanism are completely clear. The author has gone into detail on the documented history of Satanism, and weeded through the interesting history of Wicca to put together a resource that the novice Christian who has no idea about these beliefs can grasp. Since the book is for Christian students, a long, detailed history or list of practices would make the book useless for the audience. I found a good way to read this book - first read the story, then read the informational sections. Sixth, The story is a reach. But, it seems meant to be so. It doesn't take any research at all to see that every day teenagers take whatever beliefs they want to borrow from and create all kinds of wacky beliefs and practices. The facts about Wicca and Satanism don't change, but people's perception of these religions and their perceptions of the practices are all over the place. Both Wiccans and Satanists seem to be frustrated that this happens all the time. The story seems to

A Step In the Right Direction

There is a pressing need in the Church for a book on the dangers of the Neo-Pagan movement and the Occult. This book needs to give accurate information in a readable format to pastors, parents, children, teens, college students and anyone whose life may be impacted in any way by the Occult. "Dewitched" by Tim Baker is not it, but is a step in the right direction. "Dewitched" consists of many short chapters that are readable and filled with information. Each chapter is then subdivided into two parts: a fictional story of teens dabbling with witchcraft and the occult and then a non-fiction section that provides accurate information on Witchcraft and Satanism. "Dewitched" has many positive aspects. The first is that the chapters are short, interesting and informative. The reader is not left reading long, seemingly pointless portions of text. The second is that the book gives accurate information on the beliefs of the Neo-Pagan movement and compares them with Christianity. Finally the book shows that there is no such things as a "White Witch" or a "Black Witch", but rather that all aspects of the Occult are evil and that Jesus Christ is the only true God. That being stated, "Dewitched" also has several shortcomings. To begin with the fictional story is fairly foolish and gets worse until it finally reaches a ridiculous, completely unreal climax at the book's end. The book also contains an excessive amount of information on Satanism; something I felt was unnecessary. My last complaint is that the author gave too much information on the actual practicing of Witchcraft and referenced resources that have been produced by the Neo-Pagan movement. This is extremely dangerous. I have to wonder why he did not list more resources that are similar to his own book. Overall "Dewitched" is a good book for people whom the Occult is entering their life and who do not know much about it.