Do you know anything about the Christo-Pagan movement?

Question

From what I understand, Christo-Paganism is similar to Christian Wicca, but not the same thing. Do you practice either, or know anyone who does? Could you sum up your (or his/her) beliefs and practices?

Answer 1

Greetings,

My group (Loxley Abbey Church) practices Medieval Style Paganism, which incorporates the Pagan medieval practices of the remote peasant villagers blended with the Christian teachings of the Church.

As an example,, We will celebrate Midsummer & St. John's Day. Because the Church converted Pagan holidays & Gods to Christian it is easy to blend both.

St. John had rustic temples build & was sometymes pictured with horns. St. Francis protector of animals is natural Pagan.

How about St. Cathrines Wheel the symbol of the Solstice? Pagan Wells were renamed with Saint in front of the Pagan Gods name.

There are many ways to honour the Pagan ways whilst blending in Christian practices. We also have Pagan Baptism.

It is easy to blend the two just as the Medieval Church blended Paganism with Christianity in order to make the transition easier. Pagans can do it in reverse. :)

I personally like to discuss the true teachings of Jesus. Not what the Bible says but what I beleive he said. Like to live your life as a honest, harding working, sharing person. Not to kill, harm or harass people who believe differently from you. To show your beliefs by the way you act.

That's it from me. Thanks.

Wassail,

Samantha L. Heart

Answer 2

I've heard of people combining the two religions together. Witchvox.com usually has a few articles at a time about the subject. I know that many Christians all over the world have practiced witchcraft while holding their Christian beliefs, but using witchcraft (which is a tool/technique, not a religion itself) and believing in pagan tenants are different.



For me, the combination of the Christian belief and the Pagan belief is too difficult to work out. Pagan beliefs could make it work, but Christian beliefs condemn Pagan ones all around.



Many Pagans would say to a Christian-Wiccan or, as you call it, a Christo-Pagan (I like that term, rolls off of the tongue) that they are just holding onto their old Christian beliefs in fear, and that they need to make a decision on their beliefs one way or another. I remember when I "came home" to Paganism, I was scared to shake off the Catholicism I was raised with. I held fast to Mary (admittedly, not so fast to Jesus,... I dropped him almost instantly), and did alot of research. I went from Mary, to Mary of Magdalene, to Sophia, and outward and onward. Eventually, I shook off Christianity as something that was there, another facet of the great big jewel that is The Ultimate, but something that I generally don't agree with, nor enjoy.



I'm not saying that other people can't enjoy practicing Pagan and Christian beliefs together, but for me, after doing the research, reading the bible, taking the classes, I find that the two don't really mix, and I was much happier picking one.

Answer 3

It's possible to mix Christianity and Paganism, though doing so will probably get you shut out of both groups. The major stumbling block in mixing the two lies with the Christian side of things. Since Jesus said "no one comes to the father except through me" back in the book of John, it makes worshipping other gods sort of difficult.



However, if you take a more open and gnostic approach to Christianity the two mix decently well. The Gnostic Christian universe is full of gods, both male and female, and Judeo-Christian myth is full of divine figures that you can use in worship.



If you choose to worship in a Wiccan-inspired way, you can use angels to mark the four cardinal points, and use either Mary Magdalene or Mary the Mother of Jesus as your "Goddess" figure. Obviously Jesus would be worshipped as "The God," even if he doesn't have horns (at least crown of thorns rhymes with horns).



When it comes to "beliefs," I know dozens of Christians who hold the natural world to be sacred, just like Pagans. Respect for the earth should be a universal.

Answer 4

Wiccans follow the Rede (pronounced "Reed") which simply put is "An' it Harm None, Do What Thou Wilst". In other words, do what you want as long as it doesn't harm anyone or anything. Wicca is an earth-based religion.

Answer 5

in my opinion most of them have an intrest in the so called Occult. like tarot cards or fortune telling. and use the excuese that their beliefs or gifts (in some cases) come from god. because they are either too scared to tell their family, or too fearful of the christian hell, to admit (even to themselves) that they need more from their religion.

Answer 6

well what you are describing is an oxymoron. There can be no true Christian Wiccan in any form - there can be false or anti-christian wiccan, but there can not be Christian Wiccan, the same with Christo-paganism!