Generation Hex

 Christian/Revival Topics  Add comments
Sep 052008
 

Most of my readers know that before coming to Christ, I was a witch, and that after I was saved I founded ExWitch Ministries. A few years later, good friends founded Ancient Crossroads, and they now run both ministries. Although God has moved me on to other projects, EW & AC remain outstanding sister ministries and I highly recommend them.

There were many times in the course of ministry that we desired a book we could put in the hands of Christians that would give them a primer on what Wicca is and what they should do about it. (In fact I set out to write such a book half a dozen times – I still have the drafts!) Well, it’s finally been written!

If there was one book I could put in the hands of every pastor and parent in America, it would be Generation Hex by Dillon Burroughs and Marla Alupoaicei.

Generation Hex covers a lot of ground in a small, easy-to read book. While it’s written for laymen, it possesses the depth that pastors will appreciate. The authors elaborate greatly on one central point: Witchcraft is no longer taboo.1

In fact, the occult pervades our culture – you can’t turn on the television or send the kids to school without encountering it. Generation Hex covers the many places it can be seen and elaborates on the basics of Wiccan belief without going overboard on details. The authors seem to have gone to lengths to seek out Wiccans and record their beliefs in their own words.

They definitely did their research – here’s what they said about researching, in their own words:

Dillon: Marla and I stopped by Barnes and Noble one day and took notes from every Wicca book on the shelf. We got a lot of weird looks! We read hundreds of pages of online content and magazines. We interviewed over 20 people involved or formerly involved in Wicca. I read every conceivable publication on Wicca, both by Christians and Wiccans. It has been my toughest book to write so far because I became part-researcher and part-journalist in seeking out personal stories from people on the inside.

Marla: We did quite a bit of research at libraries, on the Internet, at bookstores, and personally. We interviewed many Wiccans personally and read at least 20-30 books on the subject.

This book covers one bit of ground that surprised and delighted me – Harry Potter. Of course, the authors present concerns over the spiritual content, but they don’t belabor the point. Nor do they blame HP for ALL teenage conversions to paganism. In addition to raising the spiritual concerns, they also point out that the language and violence make these books highly inappropriate for children.

One thing I greatly appreciated about Generation Hex is that the authors are very gentle. Throughout the book, Wiccan beliefs are carefully contrasted with Biblical truth. Stereotypes are challenged. There’s an entire chapter devoted to how Christians can reach out to Wiccans. Christians are admonished to remember that Wiccans are loving, caring, deeply spiritual people who should be treated with love and respect.

Fabulous! Here, read an excerpt!

You should also see what other bloggers are saying:

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1 Generation Hex, Page 42

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 Posted by Kathi at 10:40 am  Tagged with:
  • http://exwitch.ancientcrossroads.org mark

    :) Congrats on finally finding time to read the book Kathi.. :)

  • http://exwitch.ancientcrossroads.org mark

    :) Congrats on finally finding time to read the book Kathi.. :)

  • http://vigilant20.wordpress.com vigilant20

    Thanks for the reading suggestion. It’s an excellent topic. I notice my library just ordered a couple copies so I requested to read it once it comes in.

  • http://vigilant20.wordpress.com vigilant20

    Thanks for the reading suggestion. It’s an excellent topic. I notice my library just ordered a couple copies so I requested to read it once it comes in.

  • Donna

    Kathi, I’m interested in the excerpt but can’t seem to bring up the link. Is there another place to find this?
    Thanks.

  • Donna

    Kathi, I’m interested in the excerpt but can’t seem to bring up the link. Is there another place to find this?
    Thanks.

  • http://johnwmorehead.blogspot.com John W. Morehead

    Readers may want to compare the positive reviews for this book with my own critical review, as an evangelical, at my blog, also posted at the book’s Amazon.com web page. Given the shortcomings of this volume I recommend other resources on Wicca and Paganism, such as Gus diZerega and Philip Johnson’s Beyond the Burning Times: A Pagan and Christian in Dialogue (Lion, 2008), which I had the privilege of editing.

  • http://johnwmorehead.blogspot.com John W. Morehead

    Readers may want to compare the positive reviews for this book with my own critical review, as an evangelical, at my blog, also posted at the book’s Amazon.com web page. Given the shortcomings of this volume I recommend other resources on Wicca and Paganism, such as Gus diZerega and Philip Johnson’s Beyond the Burning Times: A Pagan and Christian in Dialogue (Lion, 2008), which I had the privilege of editing.

  • Anita

    Interesting…

  • Anita

    Interesting…

  • http://iamhealed.net Kathi

    Donna – Do you mean the PDF file? It opens for me, but it takes its sweet time (My computer has NEVER liked PDF’s – dunno why). Is your adobe reader software up to date? That’s the only reason I can think of. :(

    John – I replied to your Amazon critique. I’ve found it impossible to make blanket statements about Wiccans and occultists in general because just when you feel that you can say, “Wiccans don’t believe in satan” (or just about anything you could say about wiccans) – you’ll come across someone who does. A rarity, yes – apart from the norm – but even that is something that Wiccans seem to savor, isn’t it?

    I just read a positive review of the book you recommend by Craig L. Blomberg of Denver Seminary, and was struck by one thing – BTBT seems to be a book about dialogue and understanding where one another is coming from – which is important and foundational for any serious conversation about Christ – but it does not seem to take the reader – or the witches involved – past the point of common ground, to Christ.

    One thing that GenHex authentically tries to do is to move the reader “beyond” – to what is truly important, to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Witches can understand Christians and Christianity all day long and even gain a positive impression of it, but unless they come to Christ and accept Him as their Savior, they’re still going to hell – and what have we accomplished? Good will? I know that I wouldn’t want to answer to God for that.

    We can be as gentle as doves, John – and we should, the church has historically been boorish at best toward people of other religions – but we can’t go pussyfooting around, either.

    Of course I’ll freely admit that I’ve not read BTBT and perhaps I’ve drawn a wrong impression of the book’s intent from the review?

  • http://iamhealed.net Kathi

    Donna – Do you mean the PDF file? It opens for me, but it takes its sweet time (My computer has NEVER liked PDF’s – dunno why). Is your adobe reader software up to date? That’s the only reason I can think of. :(

    John – I replied to your Amazon critique. I’ve found it impossible to make blanket statements about Wiccans and occultists in general because just when you feel that you can say, “Wiccans don’t believe in satan” (or just about anything you could say about wiccans) – you’ll come across someone who does. A rarity, yes – apart from the norm – but even that is something that Wiccans seem to savor, isn’t it?

    I just read a positive review of the book you recommend by Craig L. Blomberg of Denver Seminary, and was struck by one thing – BTBT seems to be a book about dialogue and understanding where one another is coming from – which is important and foundational for any serious conversation about Christ – but it does not seem to take the reader – or the witches involved – past the point of common ground, to Christ.

    One thing that GenHex authentically tries to do is to move the reader “beyond” – to what is truly important, to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Witches can understand Christians and Christianity all day long and even gain a positive impression of it, but unless they come to Christ and accept Him as their Savior, they’re still going to hell – and what have we accomplished? Good will? I know that I wouldn’t want to answer to God for that.

    We can be as gentle as doves, John – and we should, the church has historically been boorish at best toward people of other religions – but we can’t go pussyfooting around, either.

    Of course I’ll freely admit that I’ve not read BTBT and perhaps I’ve drawn a wrong impression of the book’s intent from the review?

  • Ichabod

    (Mr. Bill voice)Ooooh noooo! Too late for me! Oooooooh!

  • Ichabod

    (Mr. Bill voice)Ooooh noooo! Too late for me! Oooooooh!

  • Donna

    Okay, still not able to bring it up on my lap top. Don’t know why. But did find I could get it on the desk top – guess I was too lazy last night to check that one out. ;)
    Not sure my opinion on what I just read, so I won’t say. But I will agree Kathi on making blanket statements about Wiccans/Pagans and what they believe. They can be a very diverse group with very diverse ideas…one can never guess what a Wiccan holds as truth for them. But I find this not much different than the many diversities amongst the Christian groups.

  • Donna

    Okay, still not able to bring it up on my lap top. Don’t know why. But did find I could get it on the desk top – guess I was too lazy last night to check that one out. ;)
    Not sure my opinion on what I just read, so I won’t say. But I will agree Kathi on making blanket statements about Wiccans/Pagans and what they believe. They can be a very diverse group with very diverse ideas…one can never guess what a Wiccan holds as truth for them. But I find this not much different than the many diversities amongst the Christian groups.

  • http://exwitch.ancientcrossroads.org mark

    John, I was going to go through your thoughts on Generation Hex point by point, but I thought that I should commend you instead for your marketing savy.
    After all, to use a competing work’s marketing plan to create more buzz for the work you were involved in seems to be what you are excelling at. :)

    Have a blessed day.

  • http://exwitch.ancientcrossroads.org mark

    John, I was going to go through your thoughts on Generation Hex point by point, but I thought that I should commend you instead for your marketing savy.
    After all, to use a competing work’s marketing plan to create more buzz for the work you were involved in seems to be what you are excelling at. :)

    Have a blessed day.

  • catfantastic

    Holy backhanded compliment, Batman!

    If I thought that a colleague’s argument had something wrong with it, on a subject on which I considered myself an authority, I wouldn’t hesitate to cite my own work in my refutation. Marketing savvy, perhaps, although my understanding is that sales don’t count in academia as much as publication does. But if I think that someone’s spreading wrongitude, why should I sit on the answer I think is right?

  • catfantastic

    Holy backhanded compliment, Batman!

    If I thought that a colleague’s argument had something wrong with it, on a subject on which I considered myself an authority, I wouldn’t hesitate to cite my own work in my refutation. Marketing savvy, perhaps, although my understanding is that sales don’t count in academia as much as publication does. But if I think that someone’s spreading wrongitude, why should I sit on the answer I think is right?

  • http://ancientcrossroads.org mark

    :)

  • http://ancientcrossroads.org mark

    :)

  • http://www.arrowsforthelord.blogspot.com Jennifer

    Hi Kathi ~ thanks for giving me a place to start. I recently found out my sister-in-law is deeper into the occult than I first realized. No one, locally, seems to be able to give me any encouragement on how to talk with her about it. I don’t want to make her stop talking to me…but I know I have to talk to her…it feels like I am denying Christ if I don’t. Do you know if there are any ex-witches that would be willing to talk to me over the phone? I would appreciate any help I can get.
    Bless you for all you do. I feel God has brought me to your site and am grateful. Thanks again ~ Jennifer

  • http://www.arrowsforthelord.blogspot.com Jennifer

    Hi Kathi ~ thanks for giving me a place to start. I recently found out my sister-in-law is deeper into the occult than I first realized. No one, locally, seems to be able to give me any encouragement on how to talk with her about it. I don’t want to make her stop talking to me…but I know I have to talk to her…it feels like I am denying Christ if I don’t. Do you know if there are any ex-witches that would be willing to talk to me over the phone? I would appreciate any help I can get.
    Bless you for all you do. I feel God has brought me to your site and am grateful. Thanks again ~ Jennifer

  • http://ancientcrossroads.org mark

    Jennifer,

    Be looking for an email from ‘Flutecrafter’

    mark

  • http://ancientcrossroads.org mark

    Jennifer,

    Be looking for an email from ‘Flutecrafter’

    mark

  • Anita

    Jennifer – all the best in your endeavours to oontinue relationship and talks with your sister in law. Bles you for your efforts :)

  • Anita

    Jennifer – all the best in your endeavours to oontinue relationship and talks with your sister in law. Bles you for your efforts :)

  • http://Abunga.com Kristin

    My name is Kristin, and I work with Abunga.com, a family-friendly bookstore, which is hosting an online chat with Dillon Burroughs and Marla Alupoaicei, to discuss “Generation Hex,” on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 2-3 p.m. EDT. Please join us if you can at Abunga.com/AuthorsAtAbunga! You will be able to ask the authors questions directly to help you learn more and speak with others about it.

  • http://Abunga.com Kristin

    My name is Kristin, and I work with Abunga.com, a family-friendly bookstore, which is hosting an online chat with Dillon Burroughs and Marla Alupoaicei, to discuss “Generation Hex,” on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 2-3 p.m. EDT. Please join us if you can at Abunga.com/AuthorsAtAbunga! You will be able to ask the authors questions directly to help you learn more and speak with others about it.

  • Ichabod

    I bought this book from Amazon out of curiousity. I’ve read other books like it (“dangers” of Wicca, etc.); this book certainly is the most “gentle” of the bunch. The message the book puts out is the same:

    Wicca = Bad
    Christianity = Good.

    And I wonder why a chapter is devoted to Wiccans in the military; are Wiccans a threat to our armed forces?

    Mrs. Alupoaicei was kind enough to autograph her book for me – one of them nasty ol’ pagans… :)

  • Ichabod

    I bought this book from Amazon out of curiousity. I’ve read other books like it (“dangers” of Wicca, etc.); this book certainly is the most “gentle” of the bunch. The message the book puts out is the same:

    Wicca = Bad
    Christianity = Good.

    And I wonder why a chapter is devoted to Wiccans in the military; are Wiccans a threat to our armed forces?

    Mrs. Alupoaicei was kind enough to autograph her book for me – one of them nasty ol’ pagans… :)

  • http://ancientcrossroads.org mark

    :)
    glad you got your’s autographed, I’m not sure why you consider pagans to be nasty though..:P

  • http://ancientcrossroads.org mark

    :)
    glad you got your’s autographed, I’m not sure why you consider pagans to be nasty though..:P

   

Kay Sharpe


I'm a laid-down lover of Jesus Christ. I write about my King and His Kingdom, the Bible, revival, healing, prophecy, faith, and more... plus I throw in recipes, tips, news and politics items, reviews, and all sorts of random things just for fun. Until recently, I was known as "Kathi"... but my name is now Kay. It's a good, God thing... :) The opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine only - not necessarily shared by my husband, our church, my employers, or anyone else.

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