BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Pagan Christo-Pagans?

I think I remember someone who practices both Paganism and Christianity together. If so, would you mind sharing what your beliefs are?

Thank you!

Skyrah

When I saw the title of your posting, Skyrah, it made me wonder if you were asking about Pagans who wrap things in fabric, ala Cristo and Jeanne-Claude... LOL...

I'd be interested to hear from Christo-Pagans as well. My husband is a Christian and I'm a Pagan, but we would like to raise our children with both and let them decide which path they want to follow when they're older.

How do you incorporate things from both religions into your lives? Do tell!!

I thought they would be called neo-pagans. Is that the same thing?

Neo-pagan is a term that covers many variations of modern Pagan faiths.

Personally, I wait for people to tell me what they call themselves before using any particular term of address.

I guess I should have been more specific!
I'm talking about those who have combined Christianity with Paganism. Another words, belief both. I've read of one person but I can't remember where. Anyway, if you do practice a form of this, would you mind posting?
Thanks!
~Skyrah

Skyrah, just be aware that your request is "hit or miss" meaning it might be a while before whoever that was comes back to this board and reads it (if ever), and even then, they might only answer if they feel like talking about their spirituality in public.

I guess I would consider myself a Christo-Pagan although that would probably offend some in both of those particular faith groups. I do honor your question though. What I practice is more like an "enriched" Christianity, probably closest to the Celtic version of the faith. I have received education in biblical studies and theology, and in the Craft, so my answer is not fuzzy feelings, but actually well considered. I recognize that the Church has largely shut out the divine feminine and historically I can see how and why and don't buy that it was for any better reason than political... not good enough for me. I also acknowledge that the Church has largely shut out nature, and that is simply damaging to the earth and to our souls. Paganism for me added the missing links. It does not bother me to consider the multitudes of gods/esses. To me they are all facets of a greater being. As I warned in my opening statement, this will likely irk orthodox folks from both camps. My faith is solid, strong and a vital part of my life and is as necessary to me as the air I breathe. Who is to deny that even if it offends one's own orthodoxy?

First, Rae, I love your new pic.
I was raised in a home where my father was Christian and my mother was Pagan. They honored each others gifts. I never felt comfortable in the church, but yet believed and felt strongly about some of the teachings. If I am asked what my spiritual path is I am Pagan/Wicca. But I feel very strongly with the balance of the feminine and the masculine forces. I have discussed this before and have taken great criticism for what I call being a Christian Witch, so I very rarely talk about it. I have a very firm belief that the Holy Ghost is the Goddess. I don�t believe in Satan, but I do believe that there are very negative, dark forces. You can not have light without dark. I hope this answers some of your questions, I am sure there are others out there that share my belief. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, trishh and reddraken, for sharing your beliefs with us.

Thanks very much! You both are very articulate. It's an interesting combination, but I guess with faith and support, it can work for anyone/any family.

Thank you for your replies. I do hope to read more if those are willing to offer.

As a side question to those who honor both, how do you incorporate the 2 different sets of holidays? This is an area I'm trying to work with. I grew up in a Christian household and celebrated Christian holidays. As a Pagan and learning more about the Pagan holidays (I've just started my 2nd year), I've tried to intertwine the 2. I'm very eclectic and follow the beat of my own drum and what holds true for me.

The person I am posting my original message for, also grew up Christian, has found Paganism, but is having a hard time deciding which is true for her. My heart is telling me it's something inbetween, hence my post.

Thanks again for your input!

~Skyrah

Did your old name used to be "Lady valkyre"?

If so your topic in the Bible Basics forum from last year is STILL going strong!!

Jenna, Lady Valkyrie and Skyrah are two different people with very different profiles.

Oh I see... OK! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just wondering...

Lady valkyre was also a Christian Witch. By the way, that art work is BEAUTIFUL!! Was it pain ful on the under side of your arm?

ok to be a chirstian you must believe in JESUS and His Father and the Holy Spirit (Ghost) and the bible!!! thats what makes you CHIRST-LIKE= CHIRSTIAN!!! but you could believe in this and practice pagain ricuals that are not directly spoken against in the bible. like Lady Valkery the chirstian/wiccan. for examlpe Harm none do what you will, do unto others as you would have them do unto you!!! personaly i think you cant marry to religions!!! each religion has something that provents that from happening.
the bible talks about thou shall not suffer a witch to live and thou shall have no other gods before me, go forth and tell the go news...and so on. most Wiccas and Pagains dont believe in the go forth and convert others!!! and most chirstians strongly believe that God and Jesus and the holy spirit are THE ONLY GOD THERE IS so...you could never fit in the chirstian world with pagan believes and you could not fix in to the pagan world and try to convert them. it would be VERY HARD to walk in both faiths!!!

It is very simple to incorporate both Christianity and Wicca in the same life. I have done it all my life as does my brother. My mother was Luthern/Wiccan when I was a child and as adults we have all became LDS (Mormon) and Wiccan. We celebrate all holidays equally and realize that many "Christian" holidays actually have their roots in older "Pagan" holidays. Our belief is that the God/Lord of Wicca is the Christian Heavenly Father and that the Goddess/Lady of Wicca is the LDS Heavenly Mother. Jesus Christ was a healer & prophet, Wicca believes in healing and prophesy. The "witches" the Bible refers to I believe are people who tried to force others to do their will through coercing them and other "black arts". Not what Wiccans believe in "an it harm none". Just my opion. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> May the Lord & Lady bless you all.

I agree with meshewolf. We don't walk in 2 faiths, we walk in one. And as far as converting others, for me, it is a matter of example, not preaching. Blending 2 faiths or marrying them as you put it has be happening forever, that is how we have so many different variations of Christianity. As for "Not suffering a witch to live", the bible has be interpreted so many times from it's original language and chapters left out that no one really knows what the original verbiage was. That quote alone has be justification for scores of innocent people to suffer and die, all in the name of God. I was taught, by my Christian Father, that if it is right in your heart, it is right with the God and Goddess. To depend on God/Goddess to talk to heart, not to depend on what man says or writes.

I wished more Chirstians depended on God to tell them whats right instead of what preachers and bible interpeters say!!! good job Reddraken!!!

I also agree with Meshewolf too. I think the Wiccan Religian and practices are for the most part not what the bible is talking about when it says thou shall not suffer a witch to live. i think if you boil every thing down you get the BESTEST Differance is that Chirstians believe in the Father SOn Holy Spirit and Wiccans believe in more then one God...so i guess i change my mind...you can marry the two!!! but how could you go to chirstian church while being Wiccan to? most church folks would ripe you a new one!!! I am a Reiki Master but i dont say so in churches!!! been there done that it aint pretty!!!

If you don't think they are talking about Wicca, then what do you think they are talking about?

There are Christian-oriented editors on this site who think that Fiona's Wiccan site, the Pagan one I write and Lauren's New Age site are very wrong and they use those exact arguments against us.

My personal belief is that they are speaking of "witches" who would try to force others to do things through their craft, not people who live their own lives doing no harm. The Isrealites dealt with many different religions around them all the time and the only times God told them anything about "witches" being evil was when they were being influenced by them to do other than God's will. I don't personally believe todays Wiccans have anything to do with the "witches" of the Bible. In fact today's Wiccans have more in common with those who the Bible says are "good"-- healers, prophets, seers, etc. (see 1 Corinthians 12:10 & 28 for the Gifts of the Spirit). I also have to agree with Reddraken above when they said:
As for "Not suffering a witch to live", the bible has be interpreted so many times from it's original language and chapters left out that no one really knows what the original verbiage was.
This is so true, even the most correct translation (King James) has many errors that Joseph Smith tried to correct but was not listened to by most of the "christian" church at the time.
Please remember this is not mainstream LDS thinking, my family is a little different from most and for the most part do not advertise our differences at church. If people come to our homes it's different, but we just try to avoid conflict when we can.
Also, one of the tenents of the LDS faith is that all religions have truth, just not all faiths have all of the truth. We are very tolerant of other faiths and part of our "Articles of Faith" (creed) is to "allow all people the privilege of worshiping how, where or what they may."
Hope this explains me a little.

PS Can anyone explain Reiki for me? Being a solitary family, it's not something I have heard of before. Thanks!

The "witches" line in the Bible is actually a misquote. If translated properly, it would have been "poisoner" not "witch". There are many sources to support this.

The "no other gods" commandment, well, god didn't write the Bible, nor the 10 Commandments. Boys who wanted to control their constituency did. So, if you wanted your people to believe they were going to hell for not believing in the certain things, why not make it easier by just making them answer to one god?? Also, pre-Jesus and not directly a part of Jesus' teachings...

Agreeing with some of the others, I too think it is just important to live divinely. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, in my eyes, that would make you a Christian. The Bible was written long after Jesus was dead, and creatively edited ever since it was written. If you support the basic gist of his teachings, I think that is about as Christian as you can get. If you choose to pull from other religions to further support his teachings, I feel you are using all of the "tools" presented to you to reach divinity...

I am not a "Christo-Pagan." These are just my ideas on religion in general. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/music.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

Reiki is a form of energy healing. I am first degree Reiki, and have been practicing for about 10 years now.

Freebubbles,
You asked how I go to a christian church and not get ripped a new one. Well, I don't go to church, and when I have I don't discuss it, and if they show up at my door, which they have, I let them know I have my own path and thank them. If they persist, well then that is on them and they are on my territory. I have many Christian friends and we honor each others path. They have even come to me on a few occasions for help, which I have shown them the Christian rituals in the Old Testament that they can perform to help themselves. They have also asked me to do Reiki on them and I have.