is Christianity an initiatory religion?

Question

because i hear alot of people say you cant be a christian unless you go to church, and i get told that i cant be a wiccan unless i'm in a coven, and wicca is an initiatory religion so does this make christianity and initiatory religion?

where you must be initiated to be in the religion, in this case you must belong to a church to be a christian

Answer 1

Could you put a solid definition to "initiatory religion" so we know precisely what you're asking?

Thank you for defining your terms--very interesting question. I would say that belonging physically to a Christian Church is not a requirement of Christianity. In fact, physical church membership is not even mentioned in the Bible, though the Christian Scripture does exhort Christians to gather together which is only natural for any group of people who have something at the core of their being in common, not to mention that brotherhood, community and group support are healthy for anyone. However, you may notice my use of the term "physical" church. As a Christian, I believe that being a true Christian involves a change in one's being (spirit) that does indeed "initiate" them into the Church spiritually. The Bible speaks of this as being "grafted" into the Body of Christ. The initiation into this spiritual group is spiritual baptism (also called spiritual circumcision/cleansing/being born again). The book of Hebrews talks about types and shadows in the physical world that are symbolic of what takes place in the spiritual realm. For the Christian (at least the brand to which I subscribe), physical baptism and physical church membership is merely a symbol of what takes place spiritual and as such, these physical initiatory actions are important only as symbols and powerful outward reminders of what have taken place spiritually. It's the spiritual transformation/initiation, however, that is really required.

Keep in mind, however, that this is generally the view of Protestant Christianity. Catholicism and Orthodoxy would probably view this differently. I don't want to put words in their mouths, but I believe their view officially is that physical baptism (which automatically leads to church membership) is indeed necessary for Christianity. Perhaps our Catholic and Orthodox brethren/sisteren can clarify this for us here.

So you can see, the answer to your question is both yes and no. Hope that helps :)

Answer 2

Generally Christians get baptized or have First Communion of something to signify an initiation into the religion. For Wiccans, a self-initiation is just as valid as one through a coven. Margot Adler discusses this in "Drawing Down the Moon." She makes it clear that whenever the person being initiated is overcome with the ecstasy of religious initiation, the initiation is valid, regardless of the participants.

Answer 3

Absolutely. The Church (and Scripture is clear on this) has always taught Baptismal regeneration and the New Birth. You become a Christian when you are Baptized. As the catechism says: "The Church is the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head, and all Baptized persons are the members."

Answer 4

Well, in a way, yes.. you have to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior to be "saved" and get to go to Heaven, which is the ultimate goal for any Christian.

As for Wicca.. you don't have to belong to a coven, you technically have to be initated by either a Garderian or Alexandrian Wiccan priest/priestess. There are many people who say that you can be a solitary wiccan. On the one hand this is correct, IF you have already been initated by a group and then chose to practice on your own. However, you cannot initate yourself and say that you are Wiccan. You can initate yourself and be pagan or have wiccan influences, but by the very definition of the Wiccan religion, you MUST be initiated.

Good question. :)

Answer 5

According to the doctrine I was brought up in, the only 'initiation' converts have to go through, if you could even call it that, is saying a prayer of salvation (and meaning it). After that, it stands to reason that if you were truly serious that you'd WANT to go to Church, get baptised, evagalize, etc., although it isn't necessary for salvation. Ie, if you die before you get to do any of those things but you really meant what you prayed you'll go to heaven anyway. I believe that's the Souther Baptists's answer, other sects may be different. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Just because one religion is initiate-only does not mean all religions are initiate-only.

Wicca is initiate-only because it is a priesthood, unlike Christianity that has laity, Wicca is also oath-bound where as Christian beliefs are public knowledge.

Christianity is a large religious group where as Wicca could easily still be seen as being in cult or sect status, as such Christianity has a huge variation on beliefs.

Answer 7

This kind of talk is why I say you aren't a christian. You want to add works, like going to church, in to being a christian. Being a christian is 100% devotion to God (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). by faith not by works. You have added a worship of nature as your God and denied that God would keep His word to protect the Bible... You are now but need to be come a christian and turn away from the creation and to the creator.... Jim

Answer 8

Christianity is the main suitable secret faith. For the 1st few centuries, inquirers and catechumens weren't admitted to areas of the centers meant in basic terms for initiates. they'd hear the Bible and its interpretations interior the Liturgy of the be conscious, yet have been pushed aside earlier the party of the Divine LIturgy/Eucharist. the great secret of entering into the dark/Hades, freedom from this realm and return type the inspiration of all secret religions - inclusive of Christianity. To partake of the Eucharist became to partake additionally in this great secret - which additionally celebrates the Divine solidarity of God and guy and all issues. human beings overlook that the bible became created to be for public intake and became the tip yet particularly the start of christian enlightenment - which began in earnest upon being baptized and chrismated and admitted to the eucharist. human beings additionally overlook that interior the early centuries, baptism became carried out interior the nude. The white outfits that are many times donned to day for baptism replaced the nudity. the two characterize the unique physique of light that guy became meant to be endowed with. the capability of the genuine mysteries in Christianity can nonetheless be discovered - alongside with teachings of the cost of the dad or mum Angel and Illumination -yet they have been specifically forgotten via the hundreds who concentration on a series of regulations particularly than a journey meant to stability our being with the Divine. we've forgotten that sin isn't a contravention of a regulation, yet particularly an imbalance that desires rectification. This became the unique which potential of salvation in early Christianity and it remains understood via thousands and thousands in jap Christendom. Christ gave us a sparkling regulation and that's LOVE. Turning our will to love will carry lower back the stability that became lost. one subject pronounced via Roman Glass is maximum appropriate - and that's the impossibility of the total comprehension of God. The mysteries provide us understanding and understand yet by no potential complete comprehension - what would be hubris and the introduction of an idol.

Answer 9

Your premise is untrue. Going to church is a good idea, we are told not to forsake the assembling of the saints. But.... you can mesh with the other Christians without going to "church" We are the church. "Where 2 or more are gathered in My (Jesus) name, there am I in the midst of them." Going to a building for a meeting is not a requirement.

Answer 10

lest u start creating ur own religion with the name of God in it, please go through the Bible and quit practicing what u shouldnt be practicing as a christian. which part of my last answer to you did u not understand?

for the sake of ur convenience i shall repost my answers here.
Look below.

God created authority(the Bible says all authority came from Him) , God created money, God created all things, and yet some men turned away from Him and served His creation, instead of Him.

Some serve the authority, seeking after it all their life. some seek money, offering their life to it. It came from God, it all did, however what u do with it matters.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart also is".

PS. when God said US in Genesis, he referred to the holy trinity, not that there are other gods like those in witchcraft and stuff! oh no look at how "magic" has diverted u from your Bible.