please be nice. am i a Christian Witch or Eclectic pagan? i worship YHVH, but in a pagan way.?

Question

Religiously, i had a bad childhood. the only source i got about religion was my intolerant republican father (not bashing repubs, just hear me out).when i was a teen i seriously wanted change. i got into wicca and loved all the imagery and the tolerance. my parents, yelled at me and burned my books and shatterd my self esteem and faith. my parents think im an awful kid now.they think im in a gang and do drugs or w.e, just because i worshiped something THEY didnt worship. well, recently, ive been feeling a pull towards christianity now that im older. and now i worship Yahweh. i still feel right with the nature approach to wicca tho. like, i worship Yahweh, i believe in no goddess. just the trinity (Yahweh). i belive jesus died for our sins, but i think jesus was just a form of YHVH. i still use Herbs and candles in prayer, but just to add a nature feel. i wear a pentacle, but to me, it symbolizes my stuggle, and it represents Yahweh, and how everything is connected.

Answer 1

Boy, that's a really complicated question. According to traditional mainline Christianity what you are doing is very very dangerous and they would insist that if you want to worship God you must renounce anything to do with Pagan practice.

Off hand I would say strictly as a Christian there is nothing wrong with your practice as I believe that the Catholic church uses incense in worship and many Christian sects use candles.

And the pentacle was at one time thought to represent the wounds of Christ, and some Christians used it as a protective talisman. So even though most would find it a problem your use of a pentacle is perfectly legitimate.

Most Pagans would say that anyone with even the slightest thought of including Jesus or the Christian God in their faith, or is not a Polytheist is in no way Pagan. And calling yourself a Witch would more or less depend on what exactly you are doing that you believe makes you a Witch.

Strictly speaking, Witchcraft (NOT Wicca, they are not the same) is a skill set, unrelated to any particular faith so it is feasible to practice a religion and Witchcraft at the same time. But, mainline Christianity doesn't allow for the practice of Witchcraft, though many argue that many long past Christian sects did practice some forms of magic.

But from what you have described is your practice I think that you would likely be referred to as a "Nature Mystic", someone who finds God in nature and for whom the inclusion of nature in their worship is extremely important.

So if you were looking for a label I'd say maybe a Nature mystic or a Christian Mystic. I've also heard this referred to as Earth based Christianity.

Answer 2

Pagans seem to not mind the mixing of their religions with anything except for Christianity. You know what? If blending elements of Christianity and Wicca works for you, nobody should make you do otherwise. I wouldn't call it traditional Wicca or Christianity, of course, but that doesn't mean those beliefs don't have validity for you. Additionally, all religions are products of blendings of various traditions down through the centuries (and many of them even encountered the same sort of narrowmindedness you did!)

I second the person above who recommended Christian Wicca. I'd also suggest looking into Christian gnosticism and Christian mysticism. While Christianity has primarily become an organized, dogmatic religion it can still be a personal, mystic relationship between you and the Divine.

Answer 3

You sound like a Christian Witch to me. I'd say keep exploring. There are other people like you out there. But, at your age, it may be that you were able to use Wicca as a way of finding your own Christian path. The Christianity your parents offered you was bleak and authoritarian. Their way is not the only way. Try a new church, one that is more vibrant and loving. Alot of young people try out Wicca, because it is different and it's inclusive. But most move on to another spirituality. There is nothing wrong with that. You are still finding your way. You've done nothing that would cause your creator to be upset with you. In fact you've put more effort into your faith and into seeking out your god than most people ever do. Good for you!

Answer 4

I feel yeah!
This sounds like my own story yet to come. I have dumped Christianity in an effort to free myself from its bondage and guilt trips. I am learning so much about paganism and other beliefs.
I'm glad you have learned to make both work. Just dont expect to be a fundamentalist in either religion. Maybe, for psychological reasons you are being drawn back. The bible says "train them in the way that they should go , and when they are older they will not depart". Its a form of brain washing. Its stamped in you now because you have had it as a part of your life for so long, its hard to erase really. like the priest who said "give me a child when he is born, and when he becomes 7 you will have a full blown catholic". If you can find a tolerance christian practice then fine.
Dont want to be a downer, but you may be dealing with it your entire life.

Answer 5

Hmmm. Interesting...I'm not sure about it.

You say you worship Yahweh and believe in the Trinity, so that's ok.

No goddess. that's ok, too.

Herbs and candles in prayer, to add to a nature feel--I don't think there would be anything wrong with that -- herbs are used in the passover celebration, and candles are used in almost every church in the world, so those things are probably ok -- especially if you're just using them to enhance your worship environment -- churches do that too.

The pentacle-- I don't know. On the one hand, it has particular symbolism for you representing your struggle, and Yahweh, and how everything is connected, all of which *might* be ok. But on the other hand, my only question about it might be that because it is used in Wicca, it has more meaning than just what you describe, and so might be misunderstood by others. If you're comfortable with that right now because of its personal meaning to you, then I won't condemn you for it---no one has the right to choose what is meaningful symbolism for another.

You sound as though you're on the right path -- and I hope you keep walking on it, because it is clear that Jesus is calling you to a closer relationship with him.

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Answer 6

You sound confused.

But, you cannot be wiccan and a christian. In the Bible, it strictly forbids witchcraft. Wicca is a form of witchcraft. Wiccans are not Christians. Christians are not Wiccans. Christianity and Witchcraft does not, nor will it ever, blend in a logical manner. They're simply too different. Also, Wiccans worship a goddess. Goddess worship is one of the most important things in their belief system. Christians do not worship a goddess. You can't cherry-pick religion. Religion doesn't work that way.

I suggest that you stick with your parents for now. They may seem hard on you, but they really just care for you. You're young, and you can figure out which religious Path is best for yourself as you mature.

Answer 7

Do not blame your parents for things they don't understand. The pentacle being the symbol of the 5 elements and the immortal together is something that can be very personal to all of us. The Druids taught that all Gods are One God, and all Goddess are One Goddess. An immortal has decided to call you to their worship. No one has the right to question or overrule the will of a god. God has made you a certain way, and He will choose to speak to you and be heard by you in what ever way He will. The Goddess is known to many by the name Mary, she is also known as Eve. There are many names and pictures that mankind can place on the Immortals. These are the makings of man, Gods are not so petty as to need to be classed in such a way. Don't let a human tell you what a god wants. God will let you know.

Answer 8

LOL!! You should drop by www.christianwicca.org - or visit our e-list [e-mail] and also the newer list [e-mail]. Actually, since you are ChristoPagan - Wicca requires a feminine balance. YHVH is actually a quadrinity - Father, Mother, Son, Daughter (the two Hee's are really "shes - *smiles*)
Christian's have practiced magick for 2,000 years in alternative forms of folk Catholicism, Hoodoo, Pow-Wow, and Curanderismo. Blended or parallel paths are nothing new for some of us - especially in family traditions.

Answer 9

If you're a monotheist, your practice really isn't very Wiccan. Just because you are drawn to nature doesn't mean you're Wiccan. There are plenty of nature oriented Christians. I see nothing pagan, much less wiccan or witchy, in what you describe. You're a Christian who sees God in nature, among other things. (and he did make everything, right?) There are people who call themselves Christo-Pagans, but from what you describe I don't think you're even that. (They frequently are Gnostics) You're a Christian. Follow your heart and worship who you believe in.

Answer 10

I'm a Christian, but I've been very impressed by the beauty of the Wiccan faith as well. Don't worry about labels. Truth is wherever you find it. Don't allow people to put you into a box, just be who you are.

Peace to you.