This is a letter I wrote to someone regarding my dual faiths.
Wicca and Christianity. All references to the persons name and e-mail addy have been removed.
This was the e-mail I got.
Loralai, Hi, I am on the (name omitted) OneList and saw
one of your messages where you wrote " I'm Wiccan and an ordained Christian minister..." OK.
I am Christian, I was "saved" in November, and I had almost gotten into Wicca before I was saved, but everyone was relieved when I decided to go to my current church instead. (church name omitted)
The friends that I go with told me I had to give up my music, (Type O, Zombie, Metallica,Ozzy, Manson etc.) and my clubs (I have 2 on "removed") and that I couldn't lead the same life I was before!!!
That by still associating with that stuff, I was living a sinful life, though I do not believe I am! I still have my screen names on yahoo, (names removed).
And I think people pay more attention to me as these names, then say my other one "name removed" when I go into the Christian chat rooms on "removed". They think that I have given it all up, but, they are just my friends for church.
I used to have them over to my house and stuff, and just couldn't deal with Miss Purity. I don't think that watching "Blade" or "The Mask of Zorro" is sinning, but she thinks it is wrong...
Recently I met a Wiccan priest (place removed) that wants to be saved,and he lives near me, and will be coming to my Church soon.
And I was telling her about it. She doesn't think I should be associating with him! Before I started going to my church, I didn't belong to any organized religion, though I did have my beliefs and values, none of which have changed greatly.
I was baptized Catholic and got thrown out 4 years ago
when I was pregnant, and very ill, and wanted to get married before things got more complicated. My husband wasn't even Christian, and they wouldn't let us get married and stuff snow balled until they told me I was no longer welcome in their church.
So now if I mention ANYTHING about Wicca or anything else, my friend freaks out and tells me to "give it up". I
do a lot in my Church, and a lot of witnessing, mostly on the Internet, and I follow up with these people, and know that they are going to Church and all. I definitely am not obnoxious about it, most people like the fact that I am still "normal" and have been Saved.
Can you tell me a little more about Wicca, and how you are Wiccan and still a Christian?
I am a good person, and don't see how the two would conflict if I remain a good person! (I sent this to you personally because this is "very off topic". I hope you don't mind!
This is what I said in return
I'm glad you wrote. You sound like a wonderful person who has had to make some tough
decisions in her life.
I'm sorry they caused you pain, that is not the purpose of our lives. Our purpose is to love and be loved,
to make our world a better place to be.
I , in and of myself, can find no problems with my faith/s. I believe the creator doesn't care by
what name we worship him/her. I don't think of God as male or female, God just is. The man-made
church tells us he is male, but have they actually SEEN him? For the sake of this letter we'll say he is
male. God created man in his image.. all man, all colors, all sexs, all religions. You don't have to see the
wind to know it's there, nor do you have to SEE God to know he is there. Each sunrise, each dewdrop,
each childs laughter is a reflection of the Creator.
The Wiccn in me has to say something now. WE, as wiccans, MUST live by one rule. An Ye Harm
None (including yourself), Do As Ye Will. We also have the threefold law. Everything you send out
comes back to you times 3. It would be horrid if we sent out hatred and got it back times 3. I'm not
saying that wicca is better. It's not, it's just different on the outside.
Others see us as satan worshippers.. I'm sorry I can't worship something I don't believe in. Nor do I
believe in Hell per say. Our loving God would not send someone there. Even if the church says he does.
He might send a person some place that we would perceive as hell if we hadn't learned what we needed
to in this life. And that persons hell is of their own making. We carry "hell" inside of us.
Remember the Golden rule, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Sounds like our
wiccan rede, An Ye Harm None.
In my opinion, each religion was put here to give us something different to learn from, each is valid in it's
own way. Words from our Creator come in many different forms, angels, spirit guides, leaves on a tree,
the words of a child, the hug of our loved ones.
I had a major problem with a christian church that I was baptised in. They said a married woman could
not go to their church without her husband. My husband was in another country fighting in a conflict with our military. I needed
them very much at that time. So I broke with the organised church. I didn't walk away from God, just
the man made church. I also believe he led me to Wicca as a way to learn tolerance and humility, and a
way to learn not to harm myself.
When I pray, be it in a Wiccan ritual or with other christians it doesn't matter what name I use. The
Creator hears me no matter what. He/she hears all of us.
I have not given up my music either, it isn't the music that's the "sin" it's how you perceive it and what
you do with that. Personally I LOVE Rob Zombie, he makes me laugh and it's good music to clean house
to. As for Type O, ok.. I'm in love with Mr. Steele. He is a fantasy to me. I also love Gregorian
Chants, they make me weep for the beauty of our Creator. Two of my favorite hymns are Rock of Ages
and That Old Rugged Cross. They also make me weep for all the love I have for the Creator and my
family/friends, even the ones I haven't met yet or will never meet.
Both religions teach us to care for each other, to turn the pain away and let it go. Holding it to you will
make you hurt more each day. Take the hurt, look at it from every angle, learn from it and learn to let it
go. The ones who are telling you to get rid of the things you like are still holding on to the pain. They don't
mean to hurt you. Even things done with the utmost love can cause pain. They can only tell you what they
know. But in the end when we stand in front of our Creator and have to give reasons and explain our
lives the only one that is going to be there is YOU! Understand that they are doing it out of genuine caring
and respect them for it. Never give them less respect than they are due, if you do that you get less in
return.
My husband is southern baptist and he has no problem with anything I believe. He loves me and respects
that I have my own mind and free will. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm so far from that, after all, I'm only
human. With all the faults of any other human.
As for your church friends, tolerance is a big hard thing to learn. When you are together with them it
won't hurt you to give a bit. Listen to the type of music they do. It does have much beauty and merit.
Each of us steps on toes in our lives, but if we remember to hug the owner of the toe and say I'm sorry,
then life is easier and sweeter.
I don't and won't preach in a church. I also don't believe that the Bible is the EXACT word of God. It's
is MANS interpetation of it. Your heart will tell you the meanings of the words.
The only thing we can do in each of our religions is to be HONEST. Walk away from hatred, from hurt
or any kind of negativity. And no I don't think Type O's music is negative at all. Since 99% of it is written
by Peter Steele, it is just his emotions, his thoughts and feelings. His honesty. I would imagine he has been
through a lot of pain in his life and this is his outlet for it. He also might not know any other way to deal
with it. He's as wounded as the rest of us.
If I may ask some personal questions. How old are you? I'm not meaning to be rude or anything. Just
the opposite. It's a quest for knowledge. If you are of legal age and your ( you said you were married)
spouse doesn't mind then buy the book called: Wicca- A Guide For The Solitary Practioner" By Scott
Cunningham. It explains Wicca better than I ever could.
I also said once to another person that I would never go into a church again. That's wrong, I would go
if the people there knew what I was and would not try to "convert" me since my relationship with the
Creator is just fine. I would joyfully raise my meager voice in song, listen to the sermons with an open
love-filled heart and find much joy in doing that. If others would understand that I am who and what I am.
Just one person who is trying to live this life with out hurting anyone, not taking our wonderous planet for
granted and not being so arrogant as to think that one religion is ALL there is.
I'm glad you do find joy in your religion. to me that is the most important thing. The Creator does not
want us to hate how we worship. Joy in religion is our gift to Him/Her, and theirs in return to us.
I hoped I helped in some small way. I know I'm long winded and tend to repeat myself a bit, but it's
done from love.
BTW, Wicca is descended from the village wise-woman back before they had doctors. Wicca is called
the Craft of the Wise for that very reason.
Be well, sing, laugh and love with joy. May the God/dess light your way always, even in times of
sorrow.
Lorelai
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