I have this friend, N, that has recently started believing things very out of the ordinary. He said that he’s been getting into paganism and studying runes and candles. I told him that was very interesting, it sounded like a fun time and a good hobby to have. N let me know that it wasn’t just a hobby, but that it had a function and purpose, a sort of witchcraft.
I come from an academic background; it doesn’t seem healthy to me to actually believe and try to practice witchcraft, not because it might be real, but because of the mental health associations with it. So I told my concerns to N but he brushed them off, saying that people have the right to believe in what they want. I respect that, but I do not want N to fall into delusion. I let him know, as respectful as I could, that believing in witchcraft does not make it real and that it wasn’t healthy to believe otherwise. He got really bothered when I told him he should talk to his therapist about this stuff. N has a history of mental health issues and was in a deeply abusive relationship for a few years which cause him a lot of grief. I was accused of being rude and trying to impose my beliefs. His last message to me was him asking me to stop and that anyone has a right to believe what they want.
I cherish N a lot as a friend, I do not wish them any harm. I respect that anyone has a right to believe what they want, but I really don’t think this is healthy for my friend. Is there any way I can help him? Is the best way forward to just stop and let him be?
I think by trying to prove or disprove supernatural stuff, you’re completely missing the point of how witchcraft can help your friend.
All forms of magic require discipline and consistency. Almost all schools of thought will have you meditate on the daily, cut down on toxic habits, exercise, eat healthy etc… Even as a hobby it is pretty strict and requires some focus which is never a bad thing especially for people with mental health issues.
The existence or non-existence of deities and spirits and fairies is immaterial to the benefits of the “Great Work” in all of its form. You have people with a 100% neurological psycho-social interpretation of ritualistics. You have people who 100% believe they are talking to their Holy Guardian Angel. All benefit equally. Hell, in the 70s you even had acidheads who communicated with Cthulhu or Elrond ! It’s all flavouring and very much not the point of witchcraft.
Right, I’m not arguing that belief is inherently bad, per se. I think that the external structure of a religion can provide a lot of direct, tangible benefits that can’t be readily had in other ways.
On the other hand, a sincere belief in supernatural effects is not something that can be supported by the existing evidence.