A question about Christo-Paganism and Jewitchery?

Question

Recently I have come across a number of people who have claimed that Christo-Paganism and Judeo-Paganism (or Jewitchery) are "not really Pagan" because they do not come under the non-Abrahamic definition of Paganism which is widely used today.

This definition is commonly used by Pagans as the most descriptive, but there are a number of Pagans that reject its use (myself included) because it both reinforces the"us vs. them" divisiveness between Abrahamic and Pagan organizations,and it leaves out a number of self-identified "Christo-Pagans" and "Jewitches" who worship Christian or Jewish deities through Pagan ritual and symbolism and"MesoPagans" (as defined by the author Isaac Bonewits who coined the term) who follow a Pagan religion that has been heavily influenced by Christianity (i.e. Santeria and Vodou).

I strongly feel that the exclusion of these Christo-Pagans is simply unfair (and while we're at it, I also have a problem with the "all Pagans are polytheistic" definition - many Pagans nowadays are pantheistic, monotheistic, or even atheistic). I also feel that the Nature-based definition leaves out a significant number of Pagans (such as Hellenic Reconstructionists) who wish to use the term (and usually do so anyway) yet don't consider their Pagan religion to be specifically centred around the reverence of Nature.

What are your opinions on Christo-Paganism and Jewitchery, and what do you personally feel the solution to this dilema could be? :P

If I was to define myself as a Christo-Pagan (I'm not one, but if I was to) would you exclude me from the Pagan umbrella?

Answer 1

answer: they should be classified as pagans since they do break Christian and Judaism prohibitions against worshiping other deities other than the G-d of Abraham. Their beliefs are NOT accepted in either Christianity nor Judaism.



They can claim to be Christo-pagans and Jewitches all they wish - that doesn't make it so. They have taken on other deities and have removed themselves from the Christian and Jewish community.

Answer 2

As much as they would like to call themselves Christo-pagans and many, many other terms, the fact is that what they are doing flys in the face of (in the very least) Christianity and Judaism. Both these doctrines specifically exclude paganism (ie. the have rules against it) and so it's like trying to claim that one is a meat-eating vegan. Yes, you can do it but don't be surprised when people think you are silly.



As it goes with New Agey stuff, there is the noble idea of doing what ever works for you but then the mistaken belief that you can still call it something it isn't. Everyone should be free to do as they choose, even if that means mixing things that are... well... to put it politely... contradictory.. or perhaps even choosing to worship Harry Potter as God. If that makes life seem worth living, then do it!



The problem is that when you try and peg them *all* under the same name of Pagan, the word itself becomes meaningless. If we accept such a wide variety of things to be "pagan" then someone identifying as pagan doesn't actually help explain to us what that persons beliefs might be centered around.



So by all means, anyone can mix their own perception of paganism with whatever they like but then it becomes something else entirely. Why not just come up with a name that reflects that?

Answer 3

Paganism seems to define something by describing what it is not (non-Abrahamic). This is an unhelpful definition in many ways. I say that paganism is something, that is has a body of content and not just "not that." Whatever the thing that paganism is can be combined with Christian deities, Christian thought, Jewish tradition etc.



I logically do not exclude Christo-pagans (and especially not Jewitches) from my circle. That said, just as I would be slightly uncomfortable dealing with a theistic Satanist or a worshiper of Set, I might find myself uncomfortable with how a Christo-pagan describes and relates to his/her God. This is because of my understand of and relationship to the deities these people revere. I try not to let this prejudice get in my way, however, and try to express tolerance.

-Scarlet

Answer 4

I personally don't like the word pagan, don't think it really

has any universal definition, and don't make any attemps

to classify people with it. I also don't exclude anyone...

I'll be glad to talk to anyone about religion, and obviously

some conversations are more productive than others, but

that's to be expected.



Of course you could apply the axiom that the enemy

of my enemy is my friend, and say that since most

Christians or Jews would probably label Christo-Pagans

or Jewitches as "pagan", then we should accept them

as such.

Answer 5

I have met pagans who worship the old pantheons but have included Christ and Yahweh among them. I could accept those individuals under the title of Christo-Pagan, Jew-Pagan or Abrahamic Pagans.

Answer 6

i think its unfair as well, but, its not a good example, as christianty did worse than just exclude pagans in its history

that kinda negativity doesnt go away, and i think anyone saying they are 'christopagan' automatically becomes a bit negative to people, to pagans



i dont know anyone on here whod exclude someone for that, but i know plenty,including me, whod feel a bit 'funny' about it and probably have many questions and at least a will to try to understand



as for the jewitchery, ive never heard of that, but i doubt any or many pagans would have issues with that, on here we have the jpa (jewish pagan alliance/and allies) cos jews and pagans kinda feel bonded









additional



aravah

;-)

i didnt say they were members, thats why i put the allies part in as well, cos i know what that means

i said jews and pagans feel bonded so wont judge each other on what they choose to call themselves

and ive learned that from jpa members on here, thats what they have said inthe past

Answer 7

i do not fairly make it a level to have a tendency to what others have self belief, yet i will claim that Christianity and Wicca are literally incompatible. Christo-Paganism, for my area, isn't really as unfathomable because in a lot of approaches Christianity is paganism. you may want to look at it as Christians who easily provide credence to the position their beliefs got here from, yet except that it type of feels that it would want to be a touch convoluted in both idea and prepare. to study Christianity is to study the existence of one guy and his on the spot followers, yet to study paganism is, really actually, to study cultures and religions that span 1000's of years.

Answer 8

You ain't just whistlin' dixie there Coach!



Say, wouldn't you care for an ice cold Arnold Palmer? Tea and lemonade that is!



Why not ask for an ice cold Arnold Palmer at your next shindig or hootenanny Sgt. Funkity Dookity Poopity Butt?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADuCbafqBDQ

Answer 9

Both terms are contradictory.

But some people use any label they can grab!