Date rape drugs, and in general using chemicals like drugs and alcohol to induce someone into sex is literal witchcraft as defined by the Bible. A thread.

NB: “witchcraft” here is not being used to talk about modern day Wicca, etc. 1/16

Witchcraft is a somewhat variable English word that was used in different translations in differently. In English OT it’s sometimes used for where modern translations say “diviner”. And the Hebrew text has several words with various nuances 2/16

But what’s interesting is when we get to Greek. The LXX (early Greek translation of the OT) uses “pharmakia” for places such as Ex 22:17 which the KJV says “not suffer a witch to live”. Also in Gal 5:20 and Rev 18:23 for detestable sins and practices. 3/16

Now many are likely to think what is in view is “magic” that looks something like fantasy magic, or casting a spell to try and heal a disease. But that’s not what going on. In fact, “pharmakia” is where we get the word pharmacy from. 4/16

In ancient Greece “pharmakia” carried a range of meanings that focused on creating potions, and often in particular, poisons. Interestingly the Greek does not use “magos” (like in Acts 13:8) in Exodus, Galatians, or Revelation – a word more likely meaning “magician/wizard” 5/16

Moving into the Middle Ages we see this is still a connected idea. And, not surprisingly, the accusation of "witchcraft" (maleficum) sometimes involved mixing potions – in particular poisons that supposedly caused crops to die, or people to die, or suffer misfortune. 6/16

There was, of course, much more to the whole concept of “witchcraft” in the late middle ages, (causing storms, and night meetings, etc) but regardless – mixing potions to cause death was a central idea among other things. 7/16

In the later 16th century, in Nicholas Remy’s Demonolotry – a book on investigating witchcraft - he talks a lot about magic potions being use to harm people. Witches were poisoners who were accused of getting their powers by contact with devils. 8/16

But "love potions" were a thing! The early Medieval Code of Justinian specifically defined illegal magic as causing death or also inducing people to lust. It’s important to note that only the sorcerer and the one who used the potion are guilty, not the person it was used on. 9/16

The 15th century Malleus Maleficarum I.VII mentions this as something people were accused of doing as part of witchcraft, and how it would “work”. Love potions also appear in several Arthurian tales, it was a popular aspect of folk lore. 10/16

The final piece of the puzzle is that in many ways the accusation of witchcraft was about control and terrorism over others. The supposed witch was using power harm or dominate. In using a potion to force someone to "love" another – the person had been “bewitched” 11/16

NB: This is not to say that is *all* the witch trails were about, nor am I arguing some kind of blanket idea they were "reasonable" - this is just to show a trajectory from the NT/Greek to support what I'm arguing the NT is saying. 12/16

So, broadly speaking, “witchcraft” often was an accusation that a person had used some dark arts to create a potion or mixture which resulted in death, destruction, *or* control and domination over another person – for “love”. 13/16

In fact, later 17-19th century Grimoires would contain various charms and spells to force people to dance naked, or fall in love with you even if they’re not interested in you, etc. 14/16

Putting it together: the sin of witchcraft that is likely in view that the Bible says is worthy of damnation would be to use potions and mixtures to cause pain, suffering, death, or control others against their will – including for sexual purposes. 15/16

Thus, to use drugs (inc. alcohol) in an attempt to manipulate the will of someone, or lower their inhibitions, so that you can impose your will on them sexually or otherwise is witchcraft/pharmakia, or maleficum, thus in danger of eternal damnation according to Rev 22:15. 16/16