wiccan/pagans that used to be christian?

Question

do you think of the god you worshiped then as the same one you worship now? i personally don't...the one i was taught about then wasn't anything like my god now...to me the christian god isn't real...but is a twisted version of the pagan god that they added their own rules to...hmm...i've been thinking about this for a while...hope it made sense...
(p.s this is NOT supposed to insult christians...its just how i feel)
blessed be!

Answer 1

I think they are different Gods, or atleast distinctly different faces of the same. fyi I most closely identify with Wicca.

When I was a Christian I "saw" God a few times. I had a few experiences, one with each of the trinity. Jesus held me in his hand, I felt the presense of the Holy Ghost and pressed myself the the floor, and I also saw something in Heaven and tried to turn around to see God, but he was too bright and I could not look upon him. All three times the Christian God felt completely different than my concept of the God I now know.

I mainly blame these three times of seeing the Christian God to my difficulty in getting to know other Gods. I have no problem identifying with the Goddess.

I have not come to a definite conclusion that either many Gods exist, or simply a God and a Goddess who just appear in different forms. I am leaning towards the later though. If hte later is true then I would agree that they see the God in a very distorted view, or atleast one of us does!

From the times I saw the Christian God I know he demands worship; bowing on my knees was not enough--I had to press myself to the floor. Pagan Gods do not do this; they seem to want more of a respect and relationship rather than obiedient slaves.


The most bizare thing was the last instance, the one where I tried to see God himself, was the event that started my search about religions. At first I didn't question my faith in God, but I seriously started to wonder if how we were worshiping him was correct. You know the rest of the story.

Answer 2

To properly answer your question, it is first necessary to provide some definitions for you. Firstly, Paganism itself is not a religion. "Pagan" is an umbrella term that defines a great number of religions. It is often difficult to define which qualities a religion must have in order to be classified as Pagan, but generally it is used to refer to either Earth/nature based religions or old polytheistic religions. Some modern examples would be Wicca and Druidism, while some older examples would be the religions of the ancient Greeks, Romans and Celts. However there are three religions which are definitely not Pagan and these are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The umbrella term to refer to these religions is "Abrahamic Religions" as they are all based on the religious path that supposedly was founded by the mythical figure Abraham (though Islam was founded by Muhammad, it is an extension of the other two Abrahamic traditional beliefs). Now, Wicca: Wicca is an Earth-based Pagan mystery religion that worships a God and a Goddess. It is also a magical system of witchcraft and traditionally it is also a priesthood. Traditionally people would be initiated into Wicca and in so doing they become priests of Wicca and train as witches. The most notable thing in regards to your question is in what a Christian, Pagan and Wiccan are and whether or not these things can co-exist as a belief system. Wicca and Christianity really can't be joined from the Christian perspective. One of the chief reasons for this is because Wicca is a polytheistic religion (believes in multiple Gods) and Christianity is a monotheistic religion (believes that there is only one God). This means that the two religions are automatically at odds and cannot be unified. You cannot be a Christian and a Wicca. However, you CAN be Wiccan (or a Pagan in general) and still believe that the Christian God exists. The only difference is that in this way, you believe in the Christian God, but not that he is the only God. The Christian God would just be one among many and no better or worse than any other. If you choose this route, then don't expect Christians to look upon you too favourably - especially if you also begin to practice magic, which is frowned upon by the majority of Christians. Now, despite what some people may think, there is actually nothing to stop you being a witch (or any other kind of magic user) and also being Christian. It is true that most English Bibles say that a person must not practice witchcraft, however many scholars (and some Christians) see the use of the word "witchcraft" in Bibles as a mistranslation, misuse, or otherwise not applicable to modern positive uses of witchcraft. I myself know several Christians who also practice magic and it should be noted that the Jews themselves have their own magical systems and that there are some very prominent Christian magicians in history. But it should be noted that just because you are a witch, does not mean that you are a Wiccan. Witchcraft is merely a certain form of magic, while Wicca is a religion that incorporates witchcraft into its beliefs. There are a great many witches in the world today who are not Wiccan. I hope that helped in answering your question. But to summarise: You cannot be a "Christian-Wiccan". You can be a Pagan who believes in the Christian God as just one God among many. You can be a Christian and practice magic, though many Christians will look down on it.

Answer 3

No, they are not the same Gods. I believe that there are many gods, goddesses, ancestors, and spirits, and that they are all different, individual, and unique. They are all real -- the Christian God, the Pagan Gods, divinities of all pantheons -- they all have their worshipers, and they are all in some way different. The Gods I worship now are not the same as the God I worshiped as a Christian. I don't think any God is any better or any worse than any other God -- but I do believe that the Gods choose us, and that some Gods are more attune to where we are in our lives at any given stage than others. So, I no longer have a connection with Jesus or Jehovah. My relationship is with Aphrodite, Hermes, Pan, Persephone, Demeter, Zeus, Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis, Ganesha, Isis, Osiris, Nuit, Hadit, and Horus. It doesn't bother me at all that other people worship other Gods. They have their Gods, and I have mine.

Answer 4

Though I was Christian, I've really not had to change my idea of god to become Wiccan. Though if I'd have to change my idea of god to become dogmatic Christian. It was my refusal to see god in a Christian sense that prompted me to look for answers (of course the show Charmed gave me a point in the right direction). I know that the pagan gods and the Christian god are all the same One. There are just many ways to see god. Basically, yes they are all the same god.

Answer 5

Im sure there are many whom were christened catholic by parents as a baby but grew up to adopt another religion more suited to them. The catholics did adapt some of their celebrations from the pagans and then said that the pagans had nothing to do with it. much discussion may be had on this subject email me if you like. Blessed be(Teacher of the wiccan religion)

Answer 6

Having been acquainted with both beliefs I see GOD as a single entity. But how the two religions perceive Him/Her is very different.

Christians pray through Jesus and Pagans use many lesser gods as the focus for their worship and prayers. There are other major differences in these two very different belief systems, of course.

But from what I can see, the end result is basically the same...that being, to worship and pray and reach GOD with our prayers. Blessings and Blessed Be!

Answer 7

I feel that the Gods and Goddesses of the Pagan faith have nothing to do with the Christian God. I think that men made him up to suit their purposes. They took ideas and stories that they liked, and twisted those stories into their mythos for an easier integration of the Pagans and dissolution of their religious beliefs.
)o( Blessed Be!

Answer 8

I agree. One reason I went looking when Christianity just didn't fit and I received no answers after years of praying.

I was in Wicca/paganism for a number of years but didn't find the pantheon right for me until I explored heathenism. I found contact with the deities and that they were nothing like the god described in Christianity.

I think you'll find this with a lot of pagans, Wiccans and heathens - everyone I know don't believe that the Christian god is the one for them and not like the gods they've found.

Answer 9

Look at the Christian who answered "They weren't really Christian in the first place". My problem with the "mainstream" religions is not the religions themselves but the people in them.

In any case, the pagan religions of the world are the "true" religions as they existed 1,000's of years before the NEW and CORRECT religions.......;-).

I believe that "God" is something so complex that the human mind cannot begin to understand exactly what God is. I believe that there are many aspects to God and thusly, the different religions that exist. I believe the people of "non-book" faiths are much wiser than those of the "book" faiths mainly because they are able to connect with God in ways the book people never will.

I like that you said "this isn't supposed to insult Christians" honestly my friend, who cares, let them be insulted because any one of them who would read this thread should be avoiding it because it is their "devil" and are only here to harass and insult us enlightened ones.

Its funny that Christians don't realize that they are God by proxy and Jesus would most likely smack some of their faces for being so hateful.

Praise be to all roads which all lead to God and those are the things that embrace love, compassion, and light.

Best wishes and may your path be filled with light.

Answer 10

I don't think you have much of a question there. I do believe that you are trying to imply something. God has a name it is "I AM" he has a son Jesus Christ. Jesus loves you, you loves you so much that as a person without sin took on all the sin of the world for you. Jesus is a loving,compassionate, merciful, GOD who will return in his second coming and it is very important that you understand how much he loves you and how much he wants to be that close friend to you that you so desperately seek. All you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord and personal Savior and that you will always follow him. Those words will get you saved if you mean them wholeheartedly. You then have to distance yourself from this other nonsenses that you have been involved in. Jesus Christ is the only way. The BIBLE says that the only way to GOD or To the father is through the son, which is Jesus Christ. Pray to GOD and he will talk back to you. Quit letting others lead you down the dark path. Follow Jesus Christ through the path of the righteous and earn a spot in the BOOK OF LIFE.

I will pray for you.
Have a Merry Christmas!