Any Christian Wiccans here?

[MaddLlama]

That makes literally no sense at all. Why on earth would you want to be called a "christian (insert other religion here)" when you follow none of the commands of the Christian God, in fact doing the opposite of what he says, and don't really believe in the bible? Why not just call yourself a wiccan?

Who said they don't follow any of the commandments of God, and don't believe in the Bible?

 

[fascist_crusader]

and don't believe in the Bible?

You did, actually. You stated that Christian Wiccans either ignore the Bible's teachings or say it "isn't for them, only the Israelites." You can't just pick and choose from the Bible, either you believe all of it, or you don't really believe any of it.

What if I were to say that, despite teachings in Hinduism, Hinduism is actually worship of the Judeo-Christian Satan, and I call myself a Hindu while worshiping Lucifer, would that really be Hinduism?

 

[MaddLlama]

You did, actually. You stated that Christian Wiccans either ignore the Bible's teachings or say it "isn't for them, only the Israelites." You can't just pick and choose from the Bible, either you believe all of it, or you don't really believe any of it.

Actually what I said was that they don't take the Bible literally, and are more interested in historical and cultural context than most Christians are today.
Are Christians commanded to be Biblical literalists and ignore context?

BTW, who said they don't follow any of the commandments of god?

 

[Azakel]

You can't just pick and choose from the Bible, either you believe all of it, or you don't really believe any of it.

Sorry to go off topic but, then way are so many books left out of it in the first place, seem to me like the early Christians were picking and choosing there.

 

[fascist_crusader]

Sorry to go off topic but, then way are so many books left out of it in the first place, seem to me like the early Christians were picking and choosing there.

They were led by God in their choosing. It was a long process to canonize scripture. What is in the bible now is all true, there is no adding to it or taking away parts of it.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

That makes literally no sense at all. Why on earth would you want to be called a "christian (insert other religion here)" when you follow none of the commands of the Christian God, in fact doing the opposite of what he says, and don't really believe in the bible? Why not just call yourself a wiccan?

It helps to look at it through the metaphor of a puzzle. Each religious belief is a piece of a puzzle derived through interpretations of reality. How the pieces fit together as a whole determine the individual's label. Christian Wiccans borrow pieces from both Christian and Wiccan worldviews.

Historical, Christianity has done the same thing on many occasions. The Harrowing of Hell is a retelling of several ancient Descent myths. The battle between Satan and God has its roots in Zoroastrianism. There are parallels between the Day of Judgement and Egyptian myth.

In the end, "Christian Wiccan" is a label with as much usefulness and danger as "Christian," or "Wiccan." Denying the label is irrelevant when it comes to the beliefs of the individual.

 

[Mike182]

That makes literally no sense at all. Why on earth would you want to be called a "christian (insert other religion here)" when you follow none of the commands of the Christian God, in fact doing the opposite of what he says, and don't really believe in the bible? Why not just call yourself a wiccan?

That's like a group of people calling themselves "Islamic Communists," but this group only follows the Quran, doesn't believe in Marx's theories, rejects class struggle theory, and doesn't like socialism. They aren't actually communists, they're just throwing the name out there for public appeal or some other motive.

did you read my earlier post? some CW's believe in the contradictory values of One God and the Holy Trinity, they just use that theology as the basis for the magic they use. the fact that the Deity of Jesus Christ takes a big role in a CW's worship and practice means they are entitled to name themselves Christian (followers of Christ) and then Wiccan or Witch or Pagan or Buddhist or Hindu or what ever if they then draw upon other sources.

when Jesus was questioned on the commandments, and i don't know what verse it is because it's been a while since i read the Bible, Jesus replied "Love the Lord thy God, and Love your neighbor as yourself." - CWs can tick that box.

 

[Mike182]

They were led by God in their choosing. It was a long process to canonize scripture. What is in the bible now is all true, there is no adding to it or taking away parts of it.

did they just pray to God for him to speak to them? or did they use mediumship? both are magical ways of communicating with the Divine at any rate.

 

[spiritually inclined]

You did, actually. You stated that Christian Wiccans either ignore the Bible's teachings or say it "isn't for them, only the Israelites." You can't just pick and choose from the Bible, either you believe all of it, or you don't really believe any of it.

You can't just pick and choose...how often I hear this. Read the Old Testament, and really pay attention to it, especially about the parts in which the Isrealites murder women, children, and infants because of their pagan religion. I bet you'll never hear those scriptures read across the pulpit at your church. What about the ones where children are stoned to death for dishonoring their parents? And the regulations in the Old Testament for the legal practice of SLAVERY? You pick and choose just like anyone else.

Christian Wicca doesn't look at the Bible the way fundamentalists do, so your point is moot. They may draw inspiration from Jesus and the Bible (thus the "Christian" part of the lable), but that doesn't mean they take every word as the literal word of God. And this is true of moderate and liberal Christians as well.

James

 

[Hope]

I too believe Christianity and Wicca are mutually exclusive.

One of the reasons God forbids magic/sorcery and all that pertains to it, is because it is a counterfeit. Example: when Moses stood before Pharoah, Pharoah's magicians had a little duel with Moses. At first it seemed they could do the same "tricks," until Moses' snake swallowed up their snakes, demonstrating God's supremacy and power.

Certainly people can attempt to use magic for good, and I have no doubt those who are professing pagans on here want only to do good. So I would never say all Wiccans are evil people who are going around casting dark spells. However, I would say that pagans are misled as to where that power to do magic comes from. Certainly it often resembles the power displayed by Christians, as some have pointed out. But that does not mean the power comes from the same source. It is a counterfeit power, that does not glorify God (as fascist crusader pointed out), therefore God hates it.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but those are my beliefs as a Christian.

 

[MaddLlama]

This is actually a really good article on the subject, from a fairly objective POV:

http://wicca.timerift.net/christianwicca.shtml

 

[Hope]

It helps to look at it through the metaphor of a puzzle. Each religious belief is a piece of a puzzle derived through interpretations of reality. How the pieces fit together as a whole determine the individual's label. Christian Wiccans borrow pieces from both Christian and Wiccan worldviews.

Historical, Christianity has done the same thing on many occasions. The Harrowing of Hell is a retelling of several ancient Descent myths. The battle between Satan and God has its roots in Zoroastrianism. There are parallels between the Day of Judgement and Egyptian myth.

Your logic can just as easily be turned around. I believe all the pagan/non-Judeo-Christian myths out there are simply a retelling or distortion of the truth contained in the Bible. For some reason people are always quick to discredit the Bible, but readily believe other information passed down through the ages. Who can really prove which versions are correct? Whatever your stance, you have to have a measure of faith.

 

[Azakel]

Your logic can just as easily be turned around. I believe all the pagan/non-Judeo-Christian myths out there are simply a retelling or distortion of the truth contained in the Bible. For some reason people are always quick to discredit the Bible, but readily believe other information passed down through the ages. Who can really prove which versions are correct? Whatever your stance, you have to have a measure of faith.

True it can be, but when you look at History you find that the Culture that where around for 1000s of year before Christianity had stories like that how did they retell the stories in the Bible. Oh I know they per-stole it right...hehe, sorry I have hard people say this tough.

 

[Draka]

Your logic can just as easily be turned around. I believe all the pagan/non-Judeo-Christian myths out there are simply a retelling or distortion of the truth contained in the Bible. For some reason people are always quick to discredit the Bible, but readily believe other information passed down through the ages. Who can really prove which versions are correct? Whatever your stance, you have to have a measure of faith.

The problem with that is that Christianity, in the grand scheme of things, is pretty young in comparison to other faiths. Cultures from all over the world that far pre-date Christianity have many coinciding myths. Myths that Christianity shares. It is a universal archetype thing. As much as you want to claim that the other myths arise out of Christianity, that simply isn't so. Christianity is just one of many who have come up with the same ideas and morals and so on. Just one of the latest in a long line.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Your logic can just as easily be turned around. I believe all the pagan/non-Judeo-Christian myths out there are simply a retelling or distortion of the truth contained in the Bible. For some reason people are always quick to discredit the Bible, but readily believe other information passed down through the ages. Who can really prove which versions are correct? Whatever your stance, you have to have a measure of faith.

Actually, that's pretty much what I meant.

I don't see that as discrediting so much as examining the source of the myth. The reason why I focused on Christian myth (in fact, I don't think any of the myths I mentioned are actually present in the Bible--but as I mentioned somewhere else, I'm no Biblical scholar) is because that was the source being portrayed as unquestionable.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Christianity is just one of many who have come up with the same ideas and morals and so on. Just one of the latest in a long line.

Indeed!

The similiarities between the spiritual cultures of the world arise because they share a common source. There is no "older," or "better."

In fact, I would say that a myth is only as old or as good as you percieve it.

 

[Hope]

The problem with that is that Christianity, in the grand scheme of things, is pretty young in comparison to other faiths. Cultures from all over the world that far pre-date Christianity have many coinciding myths. Myths that Christianity shares. It is a universal archetype thing. As much as you want to claim that the other myths arise out of Christianity, that simply isn't so. Christianity is just one of many who have come up with the same ideas and morals and so on. Just one of the latest in a long line.

What you're forgetting is that while Christianity may be "young," it has its roots in Judaism. And the roots of Judaism are pretty ancient, even though it didn't become an actual, established religion till much later. Again, I find the argument weak. It's no more valid than mine. All I'm saying is that neither side can claim they have the truth without admitting they are going mainly on faith, as none of us obviously existed way back then to give an eyewitness account. (Though I do think the Bible is a reliable historical record, based on archeological findings, but that is for another thread....)

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Louisiana-styled Voodoo also appears to add some Christian elements to traditional African folk magic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Laveau

Arthurian legend is another example of magickal Paganism and Christianity being fused.

It is no surprise that seemingly opposing mythologies mesh. As ideas are assimilated into our reality, we tend to keep the ones that we associate positively with (or are forced to associate with).

 

[Guitar's Cry]

What you're forgetting is that while Christianity may be "young," it has its roots in Judaism.

Wicca is even younger. Certain elements in it could be traced back to Christian influence. I see it as a positive thing!

 

[doppelganger]

Once you get over the initial hump of not being trapped in symbols and language, but recognizing that the meaning they have is the meaning you choose to give them, it gradually becomes very easy to listen to the "truth" of other symbolic systems and merge ideas and symbols from one meaningfully with ideas and symbols from another.

The entire history of all religions exemplifies this neverending process. Christianity and Islam, as noted by several posters above, are no exception, though the obstinate denial of that fact by most of their practitioners sets them apart from most other "traditions."