Is it all in good fun, or is there a more sinister motive behind the release of Disney’s new Hocus Pocus Spell Book? According to the book’s cover, it is “A Guide to Spells, Potions, and Hexes for the Aspiring Salem Witch.” Of course, one could argue that it’s all just pretend, but with the recent direction Disney has taken at targeting and grooming children, one should look at such indoctrination with serious discernment—especially as Christians.

This book, and the movie, for that matter, appears to be aimed at removing the stigma from the practice of witchcraft and normalizing it. To be clear, witchcraft is a demonic practice that the Scriptures, both the Old Testament and the New Testament denounce. God’s law was clear to the Israelites that practicing such things as necromancy was strictly forbidden:

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” —Leviticus 20:6

And God revealed to John in Revelation 21:8 that those who practice such things, “their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” So there is no ambiguity when it comes to the practice of witchcraft with God, it is strictly forbidden—it is sin.

Yet, unfortunately, with the cartooning of witchcraft through movies like Hocus Pocus, that stigma is removed and things God hates are made light of. And while one could argue that it isn’t real and that it’s merely entertainment, that begs the question: is God entertained? You can decide that for yourself. But Disney takes it a step further than mere entertainment when they offer a book to children that teaches children how to deeply immerse themselves into these practices. It goes beyond watching it on a screen to actually teaching children how to recite spells and call upon the dead. Is that real? Again, God’s law treats it as real and forbidden.

Here are some excerpts from the book that were brought to my attention. The first is a teaching on the dead—a practice of necromancy and teaching where the dead can “be found wandering.”

The next is a prayer to a false god, an invocation of Helios, the god of sun.

And another invocation of a false deity:

And another:

I’m not telling you what to do with your kids, but if you’re thinking about exposing your children to this movie and this book, beware of the sinister motive behind it. It takes a depraved mind to come up with such anti-Christian material and to gear it toward children takes an even more sinister mind. The whole idea is to try to persuade young, impressionable minds that these things that God hates are actually okay and acceptable. Just know that when you go down that road.

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. —Matthew 18:6