Agreed that honesty is important and an actual understanding rather than simply dealing with the stereotypes. That is one reason I am trying to be very clear in my dispute over the original statement, as I honestly don’t see it as truly representative of the usual way in which Wicca is practiced. It is not the blood. It is the intent and manner in which it is used in the particular stated circumstance.
I’m afraid saying the moral code is the same is a rather large oversimplification. There are a lot more differences between Christianity and Wicca than just the Goddess and magick, though those are indeed fairly large ones
.Some in Wicca will agree with you here, but for others it is indeed actually duotheistic, not monotheistic.
So you are telling me that any Wiccan out there would not give their eye-teeth for a Book of Shadows that is 2000 years old? And no Wiccan ever defers to the High Priestess in Coven (or acts as her own High Priestess if she is solitary)?
Well said…as I say, prayer is a form of magick and magick is a form of prayer!
Yes, I am part Christian after all!
Pretty much the way Christians claim that they are worshipping the same God as the Jews but in a different way. Christians certainly claim an ancient ancestry in which many actions are would now be considered politically and socially incorrect, even morally incorrect (slavery, multiple marriage, stoning disobedient children, genocide, etc).How can someone practice a so-called ‘pagan’ religion and claim ancient ancestry and yet still avoid the modern politically incorrect-nesses (is that even a word???) ah yes…NEO-pagan.
I personally know several Wiccans who would not hold a 2000 year old BOS, while it may be an historical oddity it is not “holy”, above their own experience. While they may defer to their HP, they do so with the understanding that she is a chosen leader of their group…much as many Friends will look to the clerk or elders for guidence…but in the end it is their experience with the Eternal Inner Light that is the true Guide and Teacher…not a book or creed.
Only my great grandma and grandma were Wiccans, but Wicca isn’t exactly ancient, is it? Sure it has many ancient pagan roots, but it has modern elements as well.
It would certainly be very interesting, but no, I would not take every bit of information in the book as truth. Wiccans are allowed to disagree with the High Priest/Priestess, exempting the moral code. Wiccans do not claim that their priestess is infallible.
I agree. Magick is the manipulation of energy and it can be done by anyone who is trained and practiced in it. The issue is not with magick or even the use of magick—but in the delusion that humans can do anything outside of God and escape the consequences of that. NOT the consequences of the magick—the consequences of removing themselves from God.
As a Friend, we believe there is “that of God” in every one. There is a Light Within that illuminates each and everyone of us…it is the Light of Christ…if the Light is present in each of us, then this Light manifests Itself (Himself) in each person, guiding them to do that which is right and good. We may get the “particulars” wrong as the Light Within is filterd through our own perceptions and emotions, but the Light is sufficient Guide to bring us to “Salvation”…without aid of church, ritual or book…for it is the Light which works within us…so it matters not by what “name” I give to this Light…it still is the Light Within.
Magic are words spoken.
You are right. You can pray to the devil or God, just like you can use magic according to God’s will or the devils.
I do not believe in Sola Scriptura. I am Catholic not Protestant. And the Infallibility of the Pope and the Church are two separate things and grossly misunderstood by many, including Catholics. This is where the education comes in that I mentioned in the previous post.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility
Praying is an outward act , yes and calling on a higher power than our own, God.
To paraphrase someone whose blog we read fairly frequently, “just because it’s sacred, doesn’t mean we humans have any business inviting it in and letting it make our decisions for us without applying a moral test to our acts. Just because it’s a god doesn’t mean it’s right, or just, or kind… we are responsible for the gods we choose to worship.”
By their fruits you shall know them. Does evil do good?
I think praying should be an outer and inner act, just like magick is. Most people only make prayer an outer act, which is part of the reason why magick is often quicker and more powerful than prayer. But in the end the are just different forms of the same thing.
The Christian seeks God’s will, we don’t to try have God do our will.
It’s not magick, it is an ongoing relationship secured in faith.