03850
WATER WITCHING
The question to be answered is this, "Is water witching part of the
Occult?"
FACTS:
1. There does not seem to be any explanation for the phenomena, either
logically, nor scientifically. Some suggest that it has to do with the
magnetic fields, yet if this is true, why are water witchers incorrect
at times. (They do not always find water.) If a law of nature is in effect
when it works, then the phenomena should work at all times.
2. The Encyclopedia Americana, nor The Illustrated World Encyclopedia,
nor the New Universal Standard Encyclopedia contain an entry under the
heading water witching and the Encyclopedia Americana has none under the
term Dowsing. If there were solid evidence to the truth of the practice
it would seem that they would discuss it.
3. The book of Job tells us in the first two chapters that the Devil
can control nature within the limits that God places upon him. He is able
to control specifically in the book of Job: People, 1:16,17; fire, 1:16;
Wind, 1:19; man's physical diseases, 2:7.
4. Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary under water witch states, "One
that dowses for water". (By permission. From Webster's Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary copyright 1991 by Merriam-Webster Inc., publisher of the Merriam-Webster
(registered) Dictionaries.) Another term used is dousing for water. It
comes from douse which means to place into water. A water witcher is one
that claims to be able to find water below the surface of the earth by
using special powers.
The use of terms like "power", "witch", and "divining" would indicate
that someone in the past - the one that first used these terms thought
that there was more to the effect than natural activities.
The usage of the term "supposed" would indicate that Webster had a question
in his mind as to the validity of the practice.
6. Dowsing is not only used for finding water, but minerals as well.
(One author mentions that the practice started with the location of minerals
in England many years ago.)
7. "It works." is usually the comment to those questioning the practice.
"It works." does not make it right, proper, scientific, nor from God.
Job tells us that Satan controlled nature to the extent that God allowed.
"It worked!" but it wasn't right, proper, scientific, nor from God, it
was from the Devil. "It works." is no proof at all.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There seems to be little, if any, scientific evidence to support
the phenomena.
2. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have heard the figure
of it's working 50% of the time, more than once. If it were scientific
and related to the laws of nature, 100% of the time would be more appropriate.
3. If it works there is no natural explanation for it from science.
(At least to this point, I have seen none offered.)
4. Most dowsers claim power to find water. Where does the power come
from? If God sent it, why didn't He tell us about it. Others call it a
special gift. Again, if it is from God why did He not mention it in the
Word? Indeed, why didn't he give it for the use of the Israelites in the
wilderness? (Don't tell me that was what Moses was doing with his rod,
either.)
5. The terms used in relation to the practice seem to be terms that
normally relate to Satan rather than God. "a power", "witch", "witching",
and "Divining".
6. If it works for metal ore and water, then why haven't scientists
been able to:
a. Verify the process.
b. Develop the process.
c. Explain the process.
And finally if you can dowse for metals and water, then why not oil
and other valuables. If all of this is possible, then why do so many scientific
companies spend billions of dollars on exploration for these substances.
7. To prove with Scripture that water witching is part of the Demonic
tool chest, there is no verse to quote, yet the principles of finding things
that are unknowable by common channels is soundly rejected within the scriptures.
At best water witching would be classed in the area of wives tales,
and at worst it could be attributed to Satan.
If there is no proof that it works, then it would seem to fit in the
first category. If there is no rational explanation for it, and it works,
then the later seems to be the more appropriate.
NOTES OF INTEREST:
It has been reported that the armed forces tried to witch for land mines
in Viet-Nam. The validity of this is questionable since there is no documentation
that I know of, but if it were true, then why did they take mine detectors
and detonators to the Middle East as they did in 1991?
There is an entry in a book that attributes the process of water witching
to the category of fakery. (Danny Korem & Paul Meier, M.D., "THE FAKERS",
Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.) Pages 52 through 59 give logical explanation
to the phenomena.
I personally reject the fakery aspect and feel that from what I have
read and heard that it probably is a process by which you can find water
at times. I further would hold that this is accomplished by a power, not
of God, but of the Devil.
Some references that relate to the topic indirectly:
The finding of water through water witching is basically finding out
information that cannot be known by natural senses and means, or from God.
The Scripture seems to deal with this at times under the topic of divination.
The following references speak to that subject. Nu. 22:7; Nu. 23:23; De.
18:10; II Ki. 17:17; Jer. 14:14; Eze. 12:24; Eze. 13:6,7,23; Eze. 21:21,22,23;
Acts 16:16.
You might desire to look up the term diviners also. Ge. 44:15; I Sa.
28:8; Pr. 16:10; Mic. 3:6,11; Zech. 10:2.
FINAL DISCLAIMER:
If at any time scientific evidence is given to prove contrary to the
above information I will be pleased to give it consideration.
If at any time Biblical evidence is given to prove contrary to the above
information I will be pleased to give it consideration.
By the same token before you, the reader, set the thoughts set forth
aside, it is your responsibility to prove with some evidence that the thoughts
are incorrect. A phrase like "It works!" is not valid evidence that the
process of water witching is not of the occult.
You must also deal with the thought that all information comes from
the Word, the things that we can sense through the senses, those things
that we can learn from scientific observation/experimentation, and those
things which we can logically deduce. Water witching is not related to
any of these sources other than the sense of sight in what might be observed,
which is suspect to fakery, and taste, if water is found.
I would enjoy seeing rebuttals, responses and rotten tomatoes raised
by these thoughts. (REMEMBER, I WANT TO SEE THE TOMATOES, NOT WEAR THEM.)