BillyRay
Well-known member
Thanks for waiting Jgremillion83, I should say that your post made me think deep and hard about this subject. I don't claim to have any answers. But you'll be able to see how my reasoning, works - and leads to my opinions on this topic, and by extension, my comments on your post. It's okay if you disagree, too. I'm just sharing my thinking is response to your post and question. \@BillyRay
No worries, it’s all good. 😃
I only posted the article because of the history behind the Greek word, pharmakia that appears in the Bible at Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 18:23. Terms from the same root word appear in Revelation 9:21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15. These are typically translated into English as “sorcery” “witchcraft” or “sorcerer.” There are several websites about pharmakia and the history behind it. Ancient Greek uses of pharmakia closely mirror the generic modern English word drugs; the same Greek root word produced English terms such as pharmacy and pharmacist.
Modern use of the word sorcery evokes images of supernatural power and spells; Biblical use of pharmakia doesn’t fit well with such ideas. Rather, the term suggests various forms of drug abuse. Those might include drug use in pagan worship, as an addiction, or as a poison used to manipulate and control others.
Now don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not saying that everyone that takes prescription medicine is practicing pagan worship, I’m just stating the historical facts behind this practice that’s mentioned a few times in the Bible and it’s connection to sorcery and spiritism.
One of the things that got me interested in looking into this…years ago we had an Awake article 1/8/86 pg. 20-21. This was not long after I quit smoking in 1982. In 1986 this article interested me because it pointed out that nicotine is a drug and the use of is unclean, which I very much agree with.
In the Bible such pharmacy is put in very bad company — “the works of the flesh” whose practicers “will not inherit God’s kingdom.”
Due to the magical use of drugs in Bible times, Galatians 5:20,21 translates pharmakia as “practice of spiritism.” The Kingdom Interlinear shows “druggery” as the literal meaning. Another translation uses “poisoning.”
But now one question that came to my mind was how do you differentiate which drug falls into this category? Ok, they say that drugs that alter the mind and cigarettes are bad but pain killers and such are ok?
Granted, I’m not going to dwell on this because I think that in time we will learn more about this. Also read @Jah-son’s first post in the other thread.
The last part of verse 23, in Revelation chapter 18 says “and by your spiritistic practices ALL the nations were misled.”
Notice that the judgement is on Babylon the Great, not necessarily on those who were misled.
Now I may be totally wrong about this, but it gave me food for thought. And I wouldn’t mind seeing anyone’s thoughts on this.
We all good Billy Ray?
When reading the post, and then seeing it was from you, I pretty much already knew that you posted the article due to the various translations of the word Pharmakia, meaning, sorcery, witchcraft, or sorcerer. The stereotypical "witch" sitting around her cauldron full of bat blood, eye of newt, and toad guts, certainly comes to mind under such circumstances. Or sorcerers and their potions. Or the use of drugs in evil rituals. From what I can see, the negative connotation of the use of the word "Pharmakia usually involves some form of Satanic practice along with the drug use. It appears that he drugs are used as a tool in these practices/rituals - but the drugs themselves don't seem to be the reason behind these evil rituals. They are used as a tool - as a means to an end - whatever that end may be - likely worship of evil - however that's expressed.
Interestingly, in looking at translated definitions, one use of the word Pharmakia is "administering medicines". Now, if all definitions/translations were tied to witchcraft, sorcery, or other evil uses - then why the separate the specific use of "administering medicines"? Wouldn't it just be redundant to list "administering medicines" separately, if they were exclusive to these other evil purposes? Are there other Greek words that can mean two things?
This begs the question.... what about the use of drugs for non Satanic, evil ritualistic practices? Practices that are in no way associated with evil? Or... What if the drugs are used for good purposes - completely opposite from the that of evil? This then makes me wonder - is it the drug itself that is evil? Or is it how the drug is being used, that is evil?
I've seen enough movies to know that there are items besides drugs used in these rituals - goats, knives, daggers, bones, stones, etc.... Each item on its own - away from the ritual - has a legitimate use. Nevertheless, they can also be associated with these evil services.
I remember back in the mid-1980's... My first talk on the TMS.... I started with an illustration: What does a razor blade... a knife... and a hammer, all have in common? The answer was, that each of them could be used for both good, or for evil. I then went forward with examples of how each item could be used for both purposes. I believe that drugs are in the same boat. The majority of what humankind creates, can be used for both good and evil - across almost all spectrum's. And... are the drugs being made today - in labs - ALL evil? Are these modern drugs the same ones that were cooked up by the witches, or sorcerers or devil worshipers? Perhaps some variants of the more illicit drugs. But I doubt you'll see Amoxicillin, or Ibuprofen, or Acetaminophen, or Acetylsalicylic Acid, or any of a hundred other drugs available today, being used during satanic rituals. I doubt that most of these drugs have any benefit in such a ritual or practice at all.
You see - it's got to be black and white for some people. Some drugs have ties to the occult. Therefore, all drugs are tied to the occult. Even the drugs that are used for good, all across the world, every day, by millions of people.
In your third paragraph you mention smoking - and by extension - nicotine, which is indeed a drug. But is it the nicotine that's the problem spiritually? OR is it that smoking is a disgustingly filthy habit? Smoke, ashes, butts, etc... YUCK! So, let me ask you.... Caffeine is listed as a stimulant drug. Yet do you get disfellowshipped for your daily Starbucks run? (I hope not - cause then there is no hope for me at all.) But if you're taking caffeine stimulants for illicit purposes to get cranked, that's a problem.
Now, look at the context in which you mention drugs in paragraph 4. Again, is it the drug, or it's use? In Biblical times, druggery was associated with spiritistic practices - which the Bible warns against. Were there any "good drugs" at that time? I don't know. I wish I could ask Luke. I'm sure there were.
In paragraph 5, if you've read this far, you'll be able to already know how I'm going to answer your question. How do you differentiate? It's all in the use. Pain killers can serve a legitimate medicinal purpose. But like the razor blade, knife, and hammer - they can be used for evil as well. So, who is it up to, in order to make those choices? It's us as individuals.
Lastly, you quote: "The last part of verse 23, in Revelation chapter 18 says “and by your spiritistic practices ALL the nations were misled.” Does it even make any sense to you, that taking an Antibiotic to ward off an infection, counts as a spiritistic practice? Only you can answer that. You already know what my answer is.
NOTE: I'm not addressing in this post - the evils and greed of big pharma. Or the fact that some drugs are poisonous to humans. Or that some people abuse drugs. Or that some doctors incorrectly or unethically prescribe drugs that they shouldn't - to the detriment to the patient. Or that sometimes there are hard choices to make as to whether or not a person wants to take a drug. Each of these could be it's own topic for conversation.