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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1 |
I'm just curious that wicca worships a horned god and christianity views that god as the devil at least in pictures. Why a horned God why not just "god" and "goddess"?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 63
Amoeba
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Amoeba
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 63 |
Wicca is a much older religion, right? People haven't seen God as a man in Jesus Christ back then...
I don't know, maybe it's to frive fear and obedience and the people? It was all warfare and survival back in those ages. correct me if I'm wrong, please. I know religion is a sensitive subject.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,055
Elephant
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Elephant
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,055 |
Here's some info about the Horned God.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827
Parakeet
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Parakeet
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827 |
Wicca as a religion has been around since about the 1950's. However, it is based in practices much much older than that.
As far as the Horned God goes. There is an incarnation of the Horned God in many mythologies around the world. He is generally a God of the forest and the animals, a God of Earth and all that goes with it.
The Devil is a Christian construct and has no place in Wicca. In a nutshell (and very simplified) when Christianity was on the rise, the governments and Church wanted to erradicate the beliefs of the rural folk in various lands. They wanted to get rid of the old ways.
To do this, they incorporated some into their own practice. For example Imbolc, which honored the Goddess Brigit in the Celtic lands, became St. Bridgets Day and elements of Yule, when we celebrate the return of the Sun by the lengthening of days, became a part of Christmas - like the Yule log or Christmas Tree.
Other practices were placed in a bad light so that the people would reject them. Christianity requires that there be one God and tends to put things like sex and fertility in a more negative light. And so,The Horned God, who was in reality a God of growth, fertility and abundance, became the Devil.
to be continued....
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827
Parakeet
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Parakeet
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827 |
Now.. on to your other question...
Many Pagans and Wiccans do work with a more general God and Goddess form, while others prefer to work with more specific faces of Deity.
Our religion has a lot of individuality in it and not everyone practices in the same way. Our practices are shaped by the history and mythology of various places. So while someone practicing a more Celtic path would honor the Horned God Cernunnos, someone else practicing in an Egyptian path might honor Horus, who has no horns at all.
In general we work with Gods and Goddesses who show us the aspects of Deity that we most resonate with. For some that may be a Mother Goddess like Isis, while others may be drawn to work with a Maiden Goddess like Diana.
What we don't do is let our beliefs be shaped by what someone else's religion says is wrong.
Hope that explains things some
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21 |
*applauds Fiona's thorough reply*
The first thought I had when reading the initial question was ... "not all my Gods have horns". But I can see how many times we'll honor "the horned one" without specifying WHICH of the many (and there are many) horned deities we're referring to.
While many Wiccans and pagans honor the "God and Goddess" or "Lord and Lady", I agree with Fiona. Many choose to work with specific deity at specific times. It may not have to do with our path, but what we are celebrating in the moment, or the magical working we are doing.
There is a balance in both methods of Wicca - honoring "the more general God and Goddess" and honoring a more specific pairing like Osiris and Isis. Neither is right or wrong, and there are times and places for both. To be Wiccan (in my humble opinion) involves learning many mythologies so that you understand the many facets of deity and can incorporate a multitude into your practice.
Great question!
Senebty, (may you be well)
Autumn
What I hate is ignorance, smallness of imagination, the eye that sees no farther than it's own lashes.
-- Egyptian Book of the Dead, Chapter 45
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 253
Shark
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Shark
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 253 |
Maybe the horned god is not the devil. Maybe he's just a demon?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827
Parakeet
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Parakeet
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827 |
The Horned God is a God of abundance and growth, the forest and its plants and animals. None of those things are demonic in any way, they are all part of Nature and it's inherant beauty.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 253
Shark
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Shark
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 253 |
You are correct, nature is not demonic. But what if the horned god is demonic? Wnat if he is lying? Might a demon lie? To deceive?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827
Parakeet
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Parakeet
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 827 |
Lying about the beauty of Nature and about growth and abundance? Those are the things he teaches us so no, I don't think he is lying.
I can see the beauty of Nature and the cycles of life growing and the growth in myself and the abundance of the earth.
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