Changes

Concerning occult practices, the [[Israelites]] were told:

Concerning occult practices, the [[Israelites]] were told:

:“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [an ancient occult practice], or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination [detestable] to the LORD…”<ref>Deuteronomy 18:9-12a (KJV).</ref>

:“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [an ancient occult practice], or one who practices [[witchcraft]], or a soothsayer, or one who interprets [omens, or a [[sorcerer]], or one who conjures spells, or a [[medium]], or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an [[abomination]] [detestable] to the LORD…”<ref>Deuteronomy 18:9-12a (KJV).</ref>

Many of these practices are widely regarded as [[superstition]] with no functional basis, and thus ineffective - the [[divination]] rituals will provide no insight into the future, the spells have no influence and the demons will not appear. However, the occult does have fervent believers. In 2006 the Anglican Bishop of Bolton implored retailers not to stock traditional Halloween merchandise, saying that 'occult practices should not be condoned, even if they are only being presented in a caricatured, light-hearted form.'<ref>[http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9106.html Church of England]</ref>

Many of these practices are widely regarded as [[superstition]] with no functional basis, and thus ineffective - the [[divination]] rituals will provide no insight into the future, the spells have no influence and the demons will not appear. However, the occult does have fervent believers. In 2006 the Anglican Bishop of Bolton implored retailers not to stock traditional Halloween merchandise, saying that 'occult practices should not be condoned, even if they are only being presented in a caricatured, light-hearted form.'<ref>[http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9106.html Church of England]</ref>