Born Christian, Living Pagan

I grew up somewhere between where the Snow Belt and the Bible Belt smashed into each other in a small town in Ohio. There were Catholics, Protestants, and a few Jews sprinkled in for flavor. I was taught that there was only one right way, the Christian Way, the Jews got a pass because they were Gods chosen people. It seemed that in the eyes of my Christian teachers God would overlook their lack of acceptance of Jesus since they had suffered so much in the name of God. Unless you belonged to one of those groups you could expect to suffer eternal damnation in the pits of hell. Needless to say I had chosen Christianity.

As I grew I learned that anything other than what I had believed was considered a cult and that somewhere in there Satan had to be involved. God knew everything, was the pure emanation of love, and he would smite down anyone who did not agree with his plan for us with the use of fire, flood, or plague. If we were doing well in life it was because God had blessed us but if bad things were happening it was God's will, our own sin, or an act of Satan that had caused it.

Then somewhere in my twenties I saw a video of the movie Gandhi. I was so impressed with the work of Gandhi and the good work that he had done in the world. I realized that if the teachings I had believed in all of my life were true I would have to accept the fact that Gandhi was now suffering for eternity in hell because he had not accepted Jesus as his personal savior. Needless to say I started to reexamine my religion.

Fast forward a few years and I had discovered Paganism, Wicca to be exact. Now to try to describe what a pagan is can be a difficult feat indeed. Pagans vary from person to person in what they believe, somewhat like the difference between Catholics and Quakers. I will speak to you today from the voice of a Wiccan who for the most part follows a Celtic Pantheon. What does that mean you may ask. That means that I practice the art of witchcraft with a focus on the Gods worshiped in ancient Celtic civilization.

What are the differences between what I believe now and what I once believed as a Young Christian.

My belief in God is no longer on a specific single deity but on the Universal Higher Power that manifests itself though the use and image of various archetypes.

I no longer believe in the idea of heaven and hell but I do believe that it is possible to experience either at any moment of my existence and I have the power to change that situation in my life at any time.

I believe that the spark that is the Universal Energy, or spirit, resides in me as it does in all things. I have the ability to use that energy in my life anyway that I see fit.

Now many Christians will think that what I believe is vastly different than what they believe, but I would like to suggest that we are more alike that they may think.

For instance the Wiccans follow a rede that says "Harm None And Do As Ye Will". This is very similar to the Christian "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", however, it is actually much more difficult. To harm none means that you must include everything in that statement. Even yourself. For instance if I am eating sugar and am a diabetic I am harming myself. Therefore I would not be following the Wiccan Rede.

We believe in the three-fold law. What you put out into the world comes back to you three-fold. Be it good or be it bad. We know that we are ultimately responsible for how our lives are going.

The Law of Attraction is how we live our lives. We believe that by keeping ourselves directed for what we want in life we will achieve it. Much like in the world of Christians that suggests that we become the company that we keep.

For the most part Pagans and Christians want the same things. They both desire a world filled with Love, Peace, Health, and Prosperity. The means to get there often looks different but for the good of us all we must learn to accept one another. Blessed Be.