Reflections on my faith, part 3.....

[poltr1]

I thought I wouldn't have anything more to say on this topic, but I do.

Wicca: Currently the most prevalent form of neopaganism. I view Wicca as a faithful attempt to reconstruct a pre-Christian religion, based on surviving material and the works of scholars. The late Scott Cunningham wrote a wonderful book called The Truth About Witchcraft Today which talks about the roots and origins of Wicca. It mentions folks like Gerald Gardner and Raymond Buckland, along with their works. Wicca doesn't exactly speak to me, since it's based on the folk magick of the British Isles, and I have no English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry. I do like the Wiccan Rede, though. I've seen many forms and variations, but this one (from memory) is my favorite.
"Bide the Wiccan Rede ye must
In perfect love, in perfect trust
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill
An it harms none, do what thou will.
Lest in thy self-defense it be
Remember well the Rule of Three
Follow this with mind and heart
Merry ye meet, and merry part."
The Rule of Three is "what ever good or bad you do to others is returned to you three times over." Kind of like karma, or the Golden Rule.

But Wicca isn't the only pagan game in town. There are the Druids, Asatru or heathens (who worship the Norse pantheon), Hellenistos (followers of the ancient Greek gods), Nova Roma (followers of the ancient Roman gods), ceremonial magicians, and others.

The path I personally follow -- or attempt to follow -- is Stregheria, which is based on Italian folk magick traditions. I am drawn to this as I am Italian (on my father's side of the family). In Italy, it is called La Vecchia Religione, or "the old religion". My favored authority on the topic is Raven Grimmassi, who has a website at http://www.stregheria.com/. I've read a copy of his book Italian Witchcraft (formerly titled Ways of the Strega in previous editions). But reading a book doesn't a priori make me an expert on the topic. I need to read and study more, and perhaps study under Raven himself. One book that's high on my wish list is Charles Leland's Aradia: Gospel of the Witches. This was written around 1890.

Why do I have such a visceral reaction to the information posted on jesus-is-lord.com? First of all, I don't like the holier-than-though tone the author(s) use. It's like conversion by the sword. Repent or die! I also don't like their stance that the King James Bible (KJV) is the One True Bible. (Yes, the same King James that was the nemesis of one of my personal heroes, Sir Edward Coke.)

Their opinion of the Catholic Church makes me bristle. Yes, I still have issues with the Vatican and their inflexible stances on issues. But to say that Catholics aren't true Christians is, in my opinion, rubbish. The Catholic Church came first, with the Protestant sects spinning off from the Catholic Church, not the other way around.

But what really made my hair stand on end was their opinon of the Jewish people. Calling Judaism evil, and the Talmud evil.....hold on there! Your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, wasn't Christian -- he was Jewish! To blackball the faith of the man on whom your faith is based upon is totally illogical, and not worth my time or energy to discuss or debate. Begone.

If you were to ask me, "Would you rather be right, or would you rather be saved?", I'd answer, "I'd rather be right." Yes, I disapprove of what they say. Would I fight to the death their right to say it? Perhaps, but not today.

There's a pickup truck around here that has the words "Spiritual Warfare" on its bumper, or its rear window. I have the same visceral reaction to that vehicle, and its driver. Behind the anger is fear -- fear that I would be confronted by this person.

I just can't -- and don't -- believe in In-Your-Face Christianity. And I don't believe it was God's intention for us to be sheep.

What about the Wallbuilders? That's psuedo-historian David Barton's group. Their website is http://www.wallbuilders.com/. Their mission is to re-inject -- or project -- Christianity into the Founding Fathers of America, claiming that this information has been suppressed by the secular media. I once had a copy of one of their videotapes: America's Godly Heritage. It came highly recommended. But I haven't watched it in a while, and no longer believe in their propaganda, so I got rid of the tape.

Comments

[zorya-thinks.livejournal.com]

I've got Aradia: Gospel of the Witches but it's already packed away. If I get it unpacked before I come back up with Kyle in July for his People to People trip I'll bring it up for you.

[poltr1]

Take your time. I'm so far behind on my reading I can't possibly ever catch up. But I'm glad to hear it's still in print, and that it's one of your keepers.