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Page 1 of 'Wiccans and Christians: Some Mutual Challanges' by Philip S. Johnson.
Before we take the plunge and consider how Wiccans and Christians have valid challenges to offer one another, I would like to make a few preliminary comments, which should bring more clarity to the ensuing discussion.
Some readers may be very unfamiliar with, or even feel uncomfortable about Christians and Wiccans talking to one another. Wicca and Christianity are two very different faiths or spiritual pathways. Wiccans follow a nature-based approach, devoted to the Goddess and God. Christians follow Jesus' teachings, with devotion to God. So here we have two separate faiths and each has a distinct and different view about the Creator(s).
The purpose of dialogue between Wiccans and Christians is not to mix-and-match or amalgamate the faiths. To attempt an amalgamation would involve a serious distortion of one another's faith. Rather dialogue about each side gaining a clear understanding of one another's positions. Straw man pictures can be cast aside as each party is compelled to discover the truth about one another. So a dialogical exercise can help clarify what has been previously obscure or misunderstood by either party.
Another benefit of open and honest dialogue is that by looking at the other person's view, the contrasts between them bring your own beliefs into sharp focus. Sometimes that may underscore for both parties the need for more clarification on a given teaching. For example, in early church history some breakaway movements, like the Arians, developed views about Christ that highlighted the need for greater clarity. In responding to the Arians, the mainstream Christians arrived at a clearer understanding about Christ's nature. In the same way, Wiccans can benefit from seeing their own teachings in contrast to Christian ones, and vice versa.
I am certainly not saying that Wiccans and Christians teach the same things. What I am indicating is that there are areas where both Wiccans and Christians have mutual interests, even though their core teachings and values are quite different. Christians should be able to see that Wiccan views do indeed compel us to go back to scripture for a deeper look and in doing that we might rediscover some biblical truths we have overlooked. Likewise any Wiccans who read this, should be able to see how the message of Christianity presents some challenges for them to reflect on too.
The last decades of the twentieth century have unfolded with some tremendous upheavals in Western thought. The assumptions of modernity were grounded in an anti-supernatural bias with an overarching confidence in European based rationalism, science and technology as the pre-eminent tools for understanding reality. This system of thought brought many advances and powerfully shaped our technologically based way of life. Yet, its assumptions have proven inadequate in the context of an emerging global civilization. The modern era is passing away as another framework, known as postmodernity or globalism supplants it.
The postmodern mindset has offered some razor sharp insights into the shortcomings of modernity. The suppression or disparagement of spirituality has been quite rightly regarded as an aberrational outworking of Cartesian thought. Now the accent is back on the spiritual, with the grass roots emphasis on spirituality as a lifestyle issue. Indeed seekers tend to favour spirituality expressed beyond the formal structures of church, temple and mosque.
3 feedback items found, listing newest first
Jesus the way
Hi, I believe Jesus was a sign for all to see. His message was simple, love all, let love be your guide, wish the best for all as though they were all you had. Die for your friends if need be. Do not discriminate, for all are equal. This life was not meant to be easy and it was meant to try our love for each other, Jesus said this life was not important in contrast to eternity. He shows us by example that love conquers all, and in the end all we have is love, faith, and hope. I do believe that GOD sent Jesus as our sign and example of his love, and through Jesus he will conquer all that are not of the character God, which is his love towards us all equally. One day we will all be friends and conquered by his love. It can start in this life, now if you like, just be like Jesus. When we die and stand before God, we will understand that it by his great love for us that he accepts us as we are no matter what, and that nothing will be held against us, sounds to good to be true, but it is true. What about evil people like Hitler etc... We will finally understand what it is to be evil and we will move on, life on earth was just an educational lesson in good and evil. It is written God is not a man and he is no respecter of persons. So you want to be a Christian? Let God love you and love others as yourself and do not be sucked in by Christian denominations that have corrupted the pure love of God by their greed for money and their own self centered programs and scams. God is not in their congregations.
Prayer
I'm a new Christian and I'm interested in what the person posting this reply had to say about prayer. Although I'm reading the Bible there is obviously quite a lot to read, I was hoping that someone could point me to the verses where Jesus describes how to prey. The page I was looking at is www.jesus.com.au/html/feedback/preface#466.
"The absurdity of this comes in when you consider Jesus's own, biblical advise on the subject specifically directs that people do not pray in public, as heathens and hypocrites do, but to pray in thier closet, and that they will be heard and responded to in private. He also tells people not to pray loudly, or repetitively."
I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me where to read about the quoted items.
With thanks, Andrew
Jesus Teachings
The above states that part of what defines a Christian as opposed to a Wiccan is that Christians follow the teachings of Jesus. I am not a wiccan, but would you kindly show me a Christian that follows ANY teachings of Jesus? Following the teachings of Jesus cannot truly be a defining characteristic of Christians, for no Christian derived faith actually follows all of the teachings of Jesus, even as they are written (rather shoddily) in the modern translations of the New Testament collection of writings. Take School Prayer for example. School Prayer was an issue brought forward by Christians only about Christian-specific praying in schools, with many Christian faiths weighing in that it was absolutely necessary for children to pray in school (specifically to the Christian God, especially). The absurdity of this comes in when you consider Jesus's own, biblical advise on the subject specifically directs that people do not pray in public, as heathens and hypocrites do, but to pray in thier closet, and that they will be heard and responded to in private. He also tells people not to pray loudly, or repetitively. By definition, anyone saying they are a Christian, but also saying they are Pro-School Prayer, or who go to Church to pray, or pray loudly, or repeat words during prayer, who do not pray in thier closet, CANNOT be following the teachings of Jesus. He was quite specific. This excludes nearly EVERYONE who claims to be a christian from actually being a follower of the teachings of Jesus. Further, there are warnings in other parts of the bible which say that whoever teaches a different teaching then the original one laid down is cursed by God. Therefore, people who say they are Christians who infer to others that it is inherent to the teachings of Christ that they pray in Church, in Public or in School, are by definition, according to the Christian bible, cursed by God.
It's all in the good book, folks. So, who is a Christian again? Who amongst you follows the teachings of Jesus? When I say Jesus, I mean, Jesus. Not what your father says about Jesus. Not what some priest (don't even get me started about Jesus's thoughts on "priesthood") says about Jesus. What does it say Jesus told you to do? Why are you not following that and yet saying that you are?
You're all quite mad. And Jesus knows it.