How To Justify Wiccan & Christian Faiths Coming Together In A Univ


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As a former Christian, following a Wiccan-ish path now, I've come to know few Wiccans that have much love for the way Christians behave. Of course I can throw a rock down the street and hit a Christian that hates just about every other group besides his/her own denomination.

If you are a Christian Universalist, or Wiccan, or other... how do you see those two ideas of faith existing alongside?

Are one or both false?

Are they just accents of a universal path we are all walking?

Does your Universalism come before your branch of religion?

Edited by Raincloud
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I know a lot of practicing Wiccans who don't realize just how much of what they do stems from an Abrahamic background. They have more in common with Victorian spiritualists and their Christian-influenced worldview than with actual ancient polytheistic cultures.

I see the faiths existing alongside as long as both sides allow the other to behave according to their own beliefs. That means accepting that not everyone or every behavior will be accepted by all religions.

I'm neither Wiccan nor Christian. I won't make judgments about either religion being true or false for those who do follow them, but will only say that I have been personally dissatisfied by both, and found something else entirely.

Accents of a universal path? I honestly don't know.

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The path I follow is that of a Victorian Spiritualist, because I maintain my Christian roots yet don't deny the "pagan" aspects of it.

I can tell you that, IMHO, they are all paths of getting to the same goal. The sooner they realize that, the sooner we can all get along.

I've discovered that, while most religions are guilty of atrocities in the past, Christianity is responsible for more, and on-going, atrocities. But they don't see that. If they did, they'd go back to what Jesus actually taught, which was the same universal love and acceptance that all other religions preach. Well, maybe not Satanism..........

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i am not going to judge any religion,or someones belief in it.whether the are right or wrong is not for me to decide.i live around people who don't agree with me,and that's fine.

i know a few people who identify as"christo-wiccan"and are quite chem down,they omfortable with it.bit if you were to try to pin they are more comfortable with the wiccan part.

by the way,maybe you should learn a little more about satanism.

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In many ways Satanism is far more accepting than Christianity. As a teenage homosexual in the1980's I was certainly not accepted by mainstream Christianity. I sat in a Sunday School classroom in Georgia where my teacher (who did not know I was gay) said with a smile on her face, "If we are to do what the Bible says, we should stone them (homosexuals) to death."

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I'm an atheist and a socialist so I don't see the issue why do you need to reconcile anything if you don't like the ULC over its diversity then go somewhere else. If anything my path is void of any belief in a creative power of the universe whatever guise that is focusing on rationalism and in that beauty of science and the fact I can accept - I don't know - as a reasonable answer to a question.

How did reality start? I don't know. It just is how it all started likely is well over anything we could prove as simple human animals.

But that doesn't mean acting unethically or not trying to make the world better.

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while I have never considered myself a christian or a roman catholic, I did attend religious schools at my parents insistence. I found that most of the more enlightened folks welcomed all beliefs, I could discuss my questions and issues with church law and get rational answers as to why they believe as they do and also that those who shouted loudest against others were sorely lacking in other aspects of "following christ" as well.

hard to say if either is "false" - it's not my truth but that's okay. I figure their belief system resonates with them in the same way that mine does with me

I think they are aspects of a similar path often times and since I don't have a branch of religion I say yes!

In many ways Satanism is far more accepting than Christianity. As a teenage homosexual in the1980's I was certainly not accepted by mainstream Christianity. I sat in a Sunday School classroom in Georgia where my teacher (who did not know I was gay) said with a smile on her face, "If we are to do what the Bible says, we should stone them (homosexuals) to death."

I don't get this, seems the antithesis of the message of jesus (not being a scholar of the bible, I may defer to those who are) sadly, your story is a common one. still I'm sad for your teenage self - and wish I could smack the smile of your sunday school teacher's face :(

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I'd like to start by saying that hypocrisy and intolerance are not traits restricted to the believers of any one faith....

As I claim closest adherence with the teachings of Jesus, and believe that His words of Peace and Goodwill are the hope of all mankind, I call myself a Christian. As such, I think there are several spiritual philosophies that parallel my own, and think that their mutual goals could be facilitated by a closer affiliation. The peaceful practices of the Buddhists are certainly admired, and if aligned with Christian efforts, together they could do much more to alleviate the suffering all across the globe.

However, there are several differences among certain others that would prevent any combined enterprises. I share no illusion of ever seeing enough in common with a Satanic church to join in any endeavor. Their purposes are too diametrically opposed to mine for us to ever find satisfaction in association.

Edited by Songster
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while I have never considered myself a christian or a roman catholic, I did attend religious schools at my parents insistence. I found that most of the more enlightened folks welcomed all beliefs, I could discuss my questions and issues with church law and get rational answers as to why they believe as they do and also that those who shouted loudest against others were sorely lacking in other aspects of "following christ" as well.

hard to say if either is "false" - it's not my truth but that's okay. I figure their belief system resonates with them in the same way that mine does with me

I think they are aspects of a similar path often times and since I don't have a branch of religion I say yes!

I don't get this, seems the antithesis of the message of jesus (not being a scholar of the bible, I may defer to those who are) sadly, your story is a common one. still I'm sad for your teenage self - and wish I could smack the smile of your sunday school teacher's face :(

I appreciate the sentiment (about slapping the teacher), but I have learned to overlook alot of those situations. She was a product of her upbringing and the prevalent viewpoint in the microcosm in which she lived. Without some type of catalyst to challenge her beliefs, people like her just perpetuate what they were taught. Years ago I worked with a 62 year old Pentecostal nurse who had been brought up with a Fundamentalist world view. But after having a tragic death in her immediate family and years of dealing with her adult children who had addiction issues and legal problems, she had learned compassion and tolerance. She said that too often people are gulity of focusing on a neighbor's sin (mote in his eye) so they don't have to focus on their own (beam in theirs). Whether she agreed with something or not, she felt that it was for her God to judge, not her personally. I often wonder if my Sunday School teacher would have maintained her strict beliefs if she had experienced some event or situation that "rocked her boat" as it were.

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I am a Christian Universalist. I dont believes that means every path leads to God, just that eventually God will draw all people to the right path, either in this world or the one to come. I also don't believe that God accepts all traditions or religions, just that he accepts all his children and will not allow any one of them to be lost forever.

Having said that, I believe god is a god of revelation and relationship not religion. He asks you to respond in faith as he has revealed himself to you and that he can use any spiritual or religious path to call one home. Certainly, some paths lend themselves more easily to his revelation of himself as the very essence and embodiment of love, both within and without the "Christian" brand. Wicca, as I understand it, worships and communes with a single divine source, often represented as god/goddess deities. They live in the harmony of the natural music of the earth, and wish no harm on anyone. I think that gives God plenty to work with, maybe more than can be found in many Christian congregations and confessions. CS Lewis once remaked that a good Muslim is closer to God than a bad Christian. God is love, those who respond to that love, no matter their affiliation, are operating in the salvific work of God. Wiccans, Christians, whatever. I believe we are all one in Christ Jesus, loved by him ans his father with an undying love. If Christ can love and accept all people just as they are and condemning none (whille always praying and calling them to reach higher), what kind of a follower would I be if I did not do the same.

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One of the joys of the ULC is the to walk your spiritual path with freedom. I enfoy blending Buddhism, with Sanatana Veda Dharma (a.k.a. Hinduism), and Christianity. I also enjoy learning from other spiritual paths, and I always find something of value. It is the freedom that we in the ULC have, and we do not have to justify our beliefs no matter how strange they might seem to others. :cowboy:

Hermano Luis

Moriviví Hermitage

Edited by emalpaiz
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As a former Christian, following a Wiccan-ish path now, I've come to know few Wiccans that have much love for the way Christians behave. Of course I can throw a rock down the street and hit a Christian that hates just about every other group besides his/her own denomination.

If you are a Christian Universalist, or Wiccan, or other... how do you see those two ideas of faith existing alongside?

As long as both parties are respectful, they exist alongside each other just fine. We actually share more beliefs than we disagree.

Are one or both false?

I don't believe any religion that encourages love, peace acceptance and good morals as false.

Are they just accents of a universal path we are all walking?

Sort of. I think we all go to the same place in the end, no matter what you call that "place". Think of it as many roads to the same town.

Does your Universalism come before your branch of religion?

No. The road you take doesn't matter as long as it's the one you want to be on and believe in.

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I'm an atheist and a socialist so I don't see the issue why do you need to reconcile anything if you don't like the ULC over its diversity then go somewhere else. If anything my path is void of any belief in a creative power of the universe whatever guise that is focusing on rationalism and in that beauty of science and the fact I can accept - I don't know - as a reasonable answer to a question.

How did reality start?

I don't know. It just is how it all started likely is well over anything we could prove as simple human animals.

But that doesn't mean acting unethically or not trying to make the world better.

iT DIDN'T.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN FLUX.

SOME SEE THIS FOREVER-EXISTING REALITY AS GOD HIM/HER/IT/SELF.

Edited by Bro. Hex
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Speaking as a Christian, Wiccan and other witches hold a special place in my heart. But I will admit that it's not because of my Christian training. It may be due, at least in part, to my understanding of Yeshua's teachings since I began studying the Bible on my own rather than just going to Church and listening to what the pastor had to say. More likely though, it is because my mother was a witch. I'm not sure if it was Wiccan or another path, none the less, she called herself a witch.

You see I grew up in a house where herbal remedies were common. Burning candles of a specific color for a specific result was common. Psychics were regular visitors. Crystals held power. Palm readings, common. Astral projection was possible, although dangerous if not done under controlled conditions. All this and much more.

My paternal Grandmother, on the other hand was a Fundamentalist Pentacostal from the early years of the movement. Faith healing happened on a regular basis. Prayer filled needs supernaturally. Prophets came through the Church all the time. More than a few men of God had been taken to Heaven, and returned to tell about the experience.

As has already been said, there are many similarities.

Oh by the way, you say

"I've come to know few Wiccans that have much love for the way Christians behave."

Many Christians don't emulate Yeshua in their daily lives. Usually the ones that are misbehaving are the ones who get noticed while the ones who try to emulate Yeshua's treatment of others are simply overlooked.

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