Christian Witches: Caught in the Middle?
Is there such a thing as a Christian witch?
The answer for most Christians is an unyielding “No!”
The answer for most pagans is equally firm. “No!”
But for a select group of devoutly spiritual people, they most definitely do define themselves as Christian Witches or, if they have a problem with the W-word, as New Age Christians. Christianity and Earth-based spirituality are not mutually exclusive to them.
Often these Christian Witches are former Catholics who can readily tie the Goddess trinity of Maiden, Mother, and Crone to Virgin Mary, Mother Mary, and Saint Mary. It’s not unusual for Christian Witches to attend Catholic or Protestant churches with their families, friends, and neighbors and practice their magick alone or at least discreetly.
They honor Jesus as a prophet, teacher, and ascended Master, at the very least. Some connect the resurrected Jesus with the Green Man mythos or the sacrifice of the God at Lammas. Some believe firmly in the Goddess, whether they call Her Mary or Mother or even the Holy Spirit.
They burn candles readily, usually in petition for protection or healing. They have a fondness for gem stones and crystals, essential oils and herbs, and divination techniques.
They belong to both worlds and yet fit easily in neither.
I suppose a lot depends on your definition of “witch”.
Absolutely, Steve. And those who have been taught only one definition will rarely consider others, though it’s becoming less rare to investigate other belief systems. I was raised Southern Baptist, so I’m definitely one who looked beyond the structure into which I was born.
Hi. The notion of Christian witchery is definitely a conflicting one. Maybe it’s not so much ‘can you be a witch and a Christian?’ but rather ‘should you be one?’
I am Christian but drawn to some aspects of witchcraft, or, I suppose, what would have been considered witchcraft back in the day (herbalism, reiki, shamanism, to name a few). For instance, how does one cast a spell?
“For instance, how does one cast a spell?”
The answer is: Quite easily thank you.
celticspirit
I completely believe one can be both a Wiccan and a Christian, since I have been one for over 40 years. I have found great peace with my beliefs and have found the only problem to be the attitude of others, which strikes me odd since Wicca and Christianity both teach us to be tolerant of others.
Mistywitch
I am a Christian Witch and it is a wonderful path. I can understand the tension though between the two beliefs. But it is not the beliefs but the people. The two greatest sayings are these “Love one another” and “Harm none, Do as YE will.” If we all remember these and apply these then we know each one saying has come from both sides. We are one and hopefully in time we all become more tolerant.
I totally agree!
You said former Catholics, but then you mentioned that often they still attend Catholic churches. I just wanted to say that one isn’t necessarily a “former” Catholic.
True. However, I write of it the way it was expressed to me both by people who consider themselves “former Catholics” who occasionally attend Catholic and NON-Catholic churches with family (to hide that they no longer follow Catholicism and keep from being disowned) as well as those who still attend Catholic churches AND practice Wicca in secret. Since I’ve never been Catholic myself, I let their words stand as they see themselves because I can’t speak to it for myself. BTW, technically I consider myself a “former Southern Baptist” but I’m still on the official roll of a Southern Baptist church in Georgia and I occasionally attend services with friends or relatives. Regardless of my attendance, I don’t consider myself a Baptist. And that I can speak to.
When I clicked on to this site I never thought that I would find people that had some of the same feelings as me! What is wrong with us? I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I truly believe in him. @ God says this is wrong. So why are some of us so drawn to this?
Why do you think there’s something “wrong”? Are you sure GOD says it’s wrong? Or does God’s word, interpreted by man (and sometimes mis-translated), say it’s wrong? Are you going directly to God or allowing others to be substitutes for God and tell you what God thinks? Didn’t God give you the ability to speak to Him and hear Him without an interpreter? You can always find what God thinks/feels/directs in your soul because your soul comes from God. Always go with your connection to God/Deity over what you’re told by people and institutions. And that includes what I tell you 🙂
Wow, this is really interesting. I was raised Catholic and have a very deep spiritual side of me instilled by my mother, but have spent the last 10 years practicing earth based spirituality. I just read, “Anna, Grandmother of Jesus” and have been thinking about all the women involved in the Christ story and relating to them.
I almost consider Christianity/Catholicism as my heritage rather than my religion. I cannot by any way live by a hierarchical dogma especially one with such a bloody past (who refuses to acknowledge the harm they’ve done).
Hello, I have been having some things occur recently to me that I would like to get some experienced advice or counsel on. I’d like to know the best way to figure out what I can do to deal wit certain gifts I believe I might have, since you have been a Wiccan for so long I was wondering if you can email me to put me on the right path. Thankyou for your time
After reading about Witchcraft for 7 years, I finally figured out how I was going to combine it with the basic Christian beliefs I had and was raised with.
They were never up for trade, so I had to figure how to bring Wicca in. I did my own Wicca initiation ceremony for myself in Dec. 1998.
I wear a gold pentacle with a few other pendants.
Here in Texas, the 5 point Lone Star is seen all over the place in a circle, so pentacles are Everywhere.
Very few say anything about my pendant one way or another.
It’s wonderful to find sites like this one !
Thank You !
So where would one go from here? Christian Witch fits perfectly in my heart. But it’s so very painful because there is no church that would embrace it. Where would one go? How would one find others? As a women, I have a need for fellowship and connection of like ideals and practice.
I’m stumped.
Clare
Clare, I’m at a point in my life where I’m able to see pretty much all religions as metaphors for Universal Law, and it feels very right to me. This has helped me come to terms with a lot of the Christian terminology I’ve had trouble with in the past. Are there churches that are for Christian witches and New Age Christians and other similar paths? Yes. I’ve done some work at a Unity church about 2 hours’ drive from where I am. The closest that is accepting of my path, should I choose to attend church in the way it’s expected to look, would be the Unitarians. Check them out because they tend to be accepting of all paths as part of a greater path.
The way I think of conflicting information about what or who to believe is if it comes from another mortal, (which would include the saints) it is subject to error simply because humans make errors in interpretation.
(The Bible is Full of contradictions.)
If I was face to face with someone criticizing my beliefs, I would try to find a polite way to say “You are no less mortal than I am, so I am not accepting your opinion. If that’s how you feel, then that’s what YOU should do ….As for me, what I believe and how I choose to show it is between me and God and it is None Of Your Business.”
This is a great site and so me! How do you deal with christian family members though as an adult? Do you tell them a bit, hide it?
Some you can be open with and some you can’t. Depends on so many different things. Some will surprise you and be open-minded. The only thing I can suggest you NOT do is act like there’s something wrong with your choices. Be confident in who you are and what you believe. There’s no need to defend yourself if you’re 100% confident…and usually little point in trying if you’re not.
Is is right for Christian-witches to cast spells/Should Christian-witches cast spells, and if so..what kind? 🙂
Beautiful thoughts of unity and oneness. Thank you!
I was once a Christian, now I am Pagan. While I love your use of metaphors to show how the two could blend, I could never find a way for the two to meet halfway. Some of my family members reject me for leaving organized religion and their way of thinking/believing, but I am completely happy as a solo practitioner.
Its nice to hear that there are others like me in the world. Growing up Baptist put me at odds with my psychic ability for so many years and at odds with things I did naturally that turned out to be “witchy”.
I stopped going to church because I didn’t want the hate being spewed from the pulpit to influence my children. “Christian” ministers don’t tend to be loving and accepting guys a good deal of the time. There is enough hate in the world without religion adding to it. (note i said religion, not God)
I believe that if God is capable of miracles, and he is, why would he limit our lives? I know there is more than the preachers are saying and why shouldn’t there be? God IS magical and mystical and wonderful.
I found a United Church of Christ-God is still speaking church. The congregation is wonderful and diverse. The sermons are uplifting and filled with love. The church offers Reiki classes. Its what I envision when I think about what God wants for his people.
I don’t have to give up God to be who I am. He made me and gave me the gifts that I have. I can cast a circle with the best of them, and while I’m in it I pray to my God. I don’t even bother to hide my “weirdness” any more. I don’t often throw it out there for everyone to see but I don’t hide behind the falseness of “church thought”.
P.S. to address Christian witches casting spells…. what is a spell? In my opinion it is a prayer to the universe for a need or a wish. When I first started on this path my first teacher, who was not a Christian, made it clear: worship who I want to worship and the circle and the spell are a concentrated prayer.
The two worlds don’t traditionally mesh well. But in the past my pagan friends have always been very supportive, i was called the ‘one God witch’ for a long time before I finally chose my path. I don’t address my beliefs unless asked, which no matter what your religion, should be the case.
I have a very hardcore Baptist background, too, but I see spells exactly as I used to see prayer in the Baptist church, or at least the way prayer should be. Search for “Prayer” on the search engine here for more articles on it…there’s one about prayer not being exactly what I thought that you might find interesting.
thanks for the tip! 🙂