Is it possible to be both Pagan and Christian?

Question

Without redefining Pagan or Christian, can one be both?
Some definitions of Pagn are "other than an Abrahamic religion", or "Believing in mulitple gods".

Christian orthodoxy teaches that there is One God.

It doesn't seem to me that one can believe in the Trinity, hell and heaven, and the necessity of Christ for Salvation; and the authority of the Bible, while still practicing magick, witchcraft and other pagan practices.

There are those who claim to practice Magick, using the Chritian gods as their pantheon, but these seem to ignore Biblical prohibitions against suc practices, and seem tto redefine Christianity. It smacks of a line by Guinevere in "The Mists of Avalon"; "Neither good Christian nor good Pagan".

So, can one be both without redefining either?

I suppose that what I'm looking for, and hasn't been described as yet, is HOW one can, without redefining either, be a Christian and a Pagan at the same time.
I'd really appreciate seeing this.

I don't believe that it has to do with acceptance. I also don't accept the idea that one can simply ignore definitions in the name of acceptance. Calling oneself a Christian doesn't make one so. If one calls themeslves a Christian, but follows only Hindu tradidtions and beliefs, the name means nothing. They are a Hindu, with a mistaken name for their religion. Similarly, if one calls themselves a Christian, but practices some Pagan or neo-pagan religion, aren't they merely a Pagan calling themselves Christian?

If one doesn't accept the Christian teachings, and simply substitutes the name of Christ for a Pagan god, aren't they simply a Pagan with a mistaken name?

Answer 1

As a Pagan I must say that you cannot be both a Christian and a Pagan. It isn't just about being a monotheist or a polytheist. The two religions have completely different ideas about the nature of humanity, and life after death. Christian Salvation is meaningless to a Pagan because, without Original Sin, and with no Hell to go to, there's nothing to be saved from. Paganism and Christianity are mutually exclusive religions.

However, one can practice Magick or Witchcraft and still be whatever religion one chooses. Magick is not a religion, and therefore can be made to be compatible with any religion. Many of the classic books on Magick (most, actually) were written in the Middle Ages and Renaissance by Christian and Jewish authors. Those books (the Grimoires) are more difficult to use if you are not Christian, though it can be done. Christian Magick makes use of the Psalms, the Trinity, and very often Kabbalah.

Answer 2

From an ecclectic witch's standpoint, yes, you can be a witch/magickal practitioner and still be Christian, because there is no "wrong" way to perform magick. Transubstantiation is blatant magick. Also, the Bible has several translations, and not all translations renounce witches, but those who will use trickery and scheming to bring calamity and destruction. There is some argument as whether the word "witch" as it appears in the Bible is a correct translation or whether "witch" used to mean something else that it does today.

Voodoo is a religion steeped in magickal practice which calls upon Gods of various names, but also the Christian Saints and Angels. The Trinity plays a very heavy role in most Pagan paths as well.. The triple goddess, the Triple moon, Triquetra.. etc.

It is also my opinion that Heaven and Hell are actually emotional states in which your soul leaves this incarnation that are intensified. If you are at peace when you leave, you will experience bliss. If you are in turmoil when you leave, you will experience hopelessness. In the time your soul takes to rest and replenish, mysteries of the previous life are revealed to you. Eventually, you come to understand you are neither in a place of bliss or torment, but in the Mother's womb, which is everything.

Some Christian sects do not even believe in Heaven or Hell as actual places. The fiery, sulfur-encrusted netherworld which has come to describe the Christian Hell appears nowhere in the Bible, but rather evolved from Milton's Paradise Lost (a good read, but entirely theories and hypotheses). Don't take my word for it, though.. check it out.

There IS only one God. Even the Bible will tell you God has many faces, and is both male and female, and also neither. God by any name is God, the same God. Any personality or property you can find within a person, you can find in God. For aren't we made entirely in God's image? But just as we give names to different emotions such as love, anger and jealousy, we give names to different facets of God, such as Jesus (teacher and saviour), Diana (protective Mother) and Maat (justice and balance).

From a Christian view, you will probably be hard-pressed to find those who will offer that all paths lead to the same end, so it will be rare the Christian who believes you do not have to altar, redefine or abandon their Christian beliefs; However when a Christian "lays on hands", speaks in tongues, prays to the Virgin Mother for intercession, lights candles at a statuary, burns incense at mass or sprinkles Holy Water for protection, they are practicing witchcraft (the craft of the wise). When people find out there is nothing more sinister in the Craft than that, they quickly lose interest.

Answer 3

This question has been asked within the last two days. Yes I think both can be practiced and believed at the same time. People do not take the time to understand other faiths. They feel they have nothing to learn from it so why bother. There are a lot of misconceptions. Example: "Pagans do not believe in God." The only practice I know of that DOES NOT believe in a God is Atheist. No one has the right to force ANYTHING on to another person. I have said and will always say that religious belief is a matter of opinion. We each choose what we believe is right for us and our families. As long as it causes no harm, how can it be anything but healthy, inspiring, informative and rewarding to the soul?

Think on this one thing: There has been more perpetuating and justifying of hate, war, murder and further inhumanities all in the name of a God.

Christians: What if during all of the condemning, hating, and ugliness toward "non-believers" God decides to send the second Messiah the bible talks about. What if he teaches EXACTLY what he taught the last time: love, tolerance, forgiveness, "love thy neighbor". Because he teaches different than what you have come to "think" is Christian faith, you kill him again! What if its already happened. What then?!

Hate does no one any good. Until we learn true tolerance and true "love thy neighbor" we will never see even a glimpse of the peace we all are hungry for.

Bright Blessings to all

Answer 4

By definition Judaism is One God. It is called Monotheism, the word MONO meaning ONE.
Christianity finessed the One God doctrine by making Jesus the Son of God. No wonder the Jews of that time saw him as a blasphemer and wanted him killed. The Catholic Church went them one better when it created Saints.
But they all rested on the One God premise.
The so called Pagan is defined as one who is not a Jew, Christain or Muslim. In fact, they have no religion at all. So you can't have it both ways. You either have one God or none. Heathens are those who worship any other god or gods. Polytheism is the worship of a number of different gods. It was common to have a different god in charge of each need. So there were gods in charge of war, peace, love, home, the weather, etc.
My own native American background has given me an insight into the many gods of the different tribes.
So your answer is no, even if you try to "redefine" what is who or which, the basics are in place.
I for one favor the Grecian pantheon. They had some really neat gods and goddesses and lots of interesting and sexy sprites and spirits. An Olympian soap opera.
Since I don't believe in anything supernatural, I get to pick and choose who I want for a god. Try it. You might like it.

Answer 5

The word "Pagan" is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of different religions. It is not a unified faith.

Magic and witchcraft are NOT necessarily Pagan (or Neo-Pagan) practices. There are many Pagans who have nothing to do with such things.

The two thing that most of the Neo-Pagan religions, at least, do hold in common is (1) the idea that God/dess is immanent, that is, not separate from the world, and (2) the idea that there is no Original Sin that requires atonement. In those senses, it would be very difficult to be a Neo-Pagan and a Christian -- but some people do try.

http://www.christopagan.net/

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2592/

Answer 6

I just wanted to add that there is a difference between Pagans and Witches...

Witches (most commonly referred to as "Wiccans" now...) are just one small twig on the tree of pagans...

Pagan (which means 'of the people') is a large umbrella category that includes osatru, mayans, native americans, swahili, aboriginee and many others... even Hindus could be included.

So to say that a person cannot be "pagan" and Christian at the same time is simply not true... It accounts for the largest number of Christians... whose customs have been melding with the larger populous for thousands of years...

We have Christmas Trees - which are pagan.. Easter eggs - which are pagan - Santa Claus - which is pagan... There are patron saints - which are pagan. There is the symbology of gift-giving to bring about "holiday cheer"... There are rituals that involve incantations (ash wednesday)....

The list goes on and on and on... In fact, I would say that very little of what we know as Christianity is based on Christ.

I guess what you're looking for is "Christ-like" beliefs that are pagan... you might want to look into Prometheus... he was a demi-god who (in mythology) stole fire from God so as to have mercy on the people and bring them closer to the heavens... In return, he was decieved and thus "crucified" for his charity... oh and by the way... this is where we get Wedding Rings from too... They are actually reminders of the bondage of prometheus.

Answer 7

Most of Christian's beliefs are pagan. The tree on Christmas was a pagan belief. December 25th was chosen because it was a pagan holiday. Christianity absorbed a lot of beliefs from other religions so that it could appeal to everyone. I recommend reading Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions.

Answer 8

I think it is possible, yet difficult. You can chose to follow a more eclectic path you call whatever you want- taking beliefs and practices you like. While Christianity follows a one god faith and Paganism can follow many, it is what you chose that is important. Take in consideration that entering into a Christian church is what makes it difficult.

If you want to follow a Pagan path, but don't want to abandon your Christian roots, then eclectic Paganism is the better path.

Answer 9

If a person is truly a Christian, they cannot be a pagan also. Nor would they want to be, as a Christian worships only Jehovah God. God commands that we worship no other gods.
I can't tell you who a pagan claims to worship, but I can assure you that even if they claim to worship God as well as other gods, they are not a Christian in any sense of the word.

Answer 10

.I have no idea how you could be both unless you have no knowledge of the bible what so ever.This seems to be common with people who are coming out of Christianity to paganism and feel bad about it . They need to hang on to some of it because they feel evil or god is going to be mad and send them to hell.
Then again there are traditions in other parts of the world that do mix catholic saints with traditional practices of the area .But will this fit into the meaning of "Christian" maybe not .And most that would call themselves Christian would claim that their god will throw them into the pit of fire so he can enjoy their burning flesh when they die.