there are several references to witchcraft in the bible that strongly condemn such practices. for example, condemns anyone who "..casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. anyone who does these things is detestable to the lord, and because of these detestable practices the lord your god will drive out those nations before you", and states "do not allow a sorceress to live" (or in the king james bible "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"). it has also been suggested that the word "witch" might be a mistranslation of "poisoner."