I gotta ask...Christian Witchcraft?

[Fr. INRI]

I dont want to sound rude, but this something I just plain don't get. Can any Christian witches explain how you can successfully reconcile the faiths?

[BeachWitch]

It seems almost disingenuous for a poster with the name Fr. INRI to not be familiar with the herbal lore and spell work found within the pages of the Old Testament. But then, I make the assumption that someone using INRI in their screen name actually knows what the letters represent.

As for reconciling, I suggest you do a simple site search and read the 100's of 1000's of posts on the subject. There is an entire sub-forum dedicated just to our path.

And yes, that is annoyed sarcasm you hear in the tone.

[Fr. INRI]

Let's see, miss Beachwitch, exactly which particular meaning of Yud Nun Resh Yud are you speaking of? The IAO formulae in the Hexagram rituals? The several different alchemical principles it stands for? The mottos of several important religious organizations over the centuries? Or perhaps you were under the impression that the crude scrawling above the head of a neo-Jewish heretic nailed to a tree was the only appearance of the letters?

So as far as I can see, from your rather defensive post, you either are frightened of the possibility of people not understanding you, or you're just mean and unpleasant. My only exposure to Christian witchcraft has been you, so am I to believe all Christian witches are crass and insulting when someone seeks to understand their faith? I hope others within your path are more accomodating to genuine questions than you are.



It seems almost disingenuous for a poster with the name Fr. INRI to not be familiar with the herbal lore and spell work found within the pages of the Old Testament. But then, I make the assumption that someone using INRI in their screen name actually knows what the letters represent.

As for reconciling, I suggest you do a simple site search and read the 100's of 1000's of posts on the subject. There is an entire sub-forum dedicated just to our path.

And yes, that is annoyed sarcasm you hear in the tone.

[Meriwen]

I dont want to sound rude, but this something I just plain don't get. Can any Christian witches explain how you can successfully reconcile the faiths?


Not rude, just uninformed. First, I am not a christian, so no agenda. I can't speak for others, only to what I know. I'm from Appalachia and here in the mountains magic has been passed from generation to generation. It'a a part of their lives. There is no written record. They are witches and have never heard of Wicca, New Age, Gardner, Buckland, etc. There is no conflict because they believe magic is a part of God. I'm probablity not explaining this very well cause it is 4 am. They believe that magic comes from everywhere. The plants, the rocks, the water, the air and is to be used.
90% of the witches are traditional the old ways, not New Age(wicca,etc).

[Morgandria]

Witchcraft isn't a religion. Anyone can practice it, regardless of faith.

Perhaps what you wish to ask is how Christian Wiccans reconcile their faiths?

[IvyWitch]

It's not a question of fear or rudeness, it's a question of being aggravated over having to answer the same question over and over again when you can just get the information yourself.

Hey, look, we have an entire FOLDER dedicated to just this topic.

http://mysticwicks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=223

[Mouse]

OT, but witchcraft is a religion, witchcraft being called only a practice is a relitivly new thing. :D

[Morgandria]

I'll agree to disagree with you, Mouse. I don't believe witchcraft is a religion.

[SSanf]

Personally, I would find it hard to reconcile. But, you can think of it like this. Christianity is just another Pantheon.

God =The One
Jesus = The Lord
Mary = The Lady
All saints = The Gods and Goddesses which are aspects of the Lord and Lady

That makes it a fairly easy pantheon to use along with Wicca.

Many people do that because they are familiar with the Christian deities and are comfortable working with them.

[Jenne]

*speaks with soft voice*

Folks, there IS a way to point people towards information without jumping their shit.

Just sayin'._whistle_

[Morgandria]

All of this has been discussed ad nauseam on other threads. Christianity isn't a pantheon - it's a whole, complete faith, and cannot be treated otherwise. Witchcraft is just that - the craft of witches. A religion is not a craft.

*shrugs* Those are my opinions. I shared them. People can and will argue them to death, which is not something I'm interested in.

Fr. INRI, it is in your best interest to go read some of the other threads on combining Christianity with either Wicca or witchcraft, and formulate your own ideas.

[azzeenasman]

OhBoy,can I join in,Im a christian.

Well,by biblical standards I guess I would be burned at the stake for practicing candle magic,and for having an alter in my house.

I seem to have a gift of dreams,and was blessed by the Goddess with my lovely black Tabitha(dont ask me what Goddess,I still dont know,but I am praying to her to let her know I love her)

So,christians say Im a wolf in sheeps clothing,while some pagans acuse me of proselatizing.

All I know is ,I love God,and serve Christ,and pray for people here(visit my prayer space to see)and I love magic,and so what ever that makes me,thats what I am.I also pray for many on a christian forums too.

I also beleive in a Goddess somewhere who loves me.

So,did I bring Christianity and paganism together?Probably not,but I certianly have been called a paganized christian,and a pagan wannabe.

Also I get a little heat from some who are anti Christian because they just dont like anything about the Christian God.They are intolerant.

But most here have blessed me and put up with me and been respectfull,even though there are arguments at times.

I love all who are here,dearly ,and consider them my friends,and will not cease to lift them up in prayer.

Thats my moto,created to love,and to serve.

[Dave the Druid]

This has been both brutal and enlightening, thank you.

I've been attacked (yes, that is the term I want) by too many xians to believe the two are anything but mutually exclusive.

[MariThorn]

While I can see where Fr. INRI comes from . . . I do think that reading the numerous threads first would have prevented another venue of possible nastiness. Similarly, it is sad that Beachwitch chose to "attack" rather than simply point him to those sights. I, myself, personally agree with Morgandria. I've been a Christian since I was baptized at age 7. The only way to leave Christianity is to completely denounce Christ as God. I have been a witch since I can remember. Following the seasons, working with plants (medicinally and magically), working with fae, etc . . . I'm a Christian Witch. Note I'm not a Christian who tries to practice Wicca, a religion in it's own right. I know there are those who do this, and they are often confused and torn between the two. You cannot serve two Masters . . . Either Godde is all Goddes or you have Many tiny gods that are seperate. Wicca says there is Lord and Lady, and tries to assign those titles to Mary and Jesus. (There are vast ways to try this . . .) Christians would never call Mary the Mother of God his wife . . . they wouldn't even say she is a Goddess. And that is where the crux comes in . . . you either ascribe to Christianity, or make your own religion.

Mind there is nothing wrong with making your own religion. Gerald Gardener formed Wicca, with the aid of others, in 1950. Yes, it's roots may be as old as time, but was created. Mohammed created Islam . . . Buddhu created Buddhism . . . Brigham Young created Mormonism . . . why can't you make your own? Who has the right to tell others what they can or cannot do? When people start to do that they lose sight of the fact that Godde is Love, and that as Godde's children we are to love too.

My two cents . . . really its an opinion, and everyone has one.

[SSanf]

All of this has been discussed ad nauseam on other threads. Christianity isn't a pantheon - it's a whole, complete faith, and cannot be treated otherwise. Witchcraft is just that - the craft of witches. A religion is not a craft.

*shrugs* Those are my opinions. I shared them. People can and will argue them to death, which is not something I'm interested in.

Fr. INRI, it is in your best interest to go read some of the other threads on combining Christianity with either Wicca or witchcraft, and formulate your own ideas.Definitions of pantheon on the Web:

* all the gods of a religion
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Definitions of god on the Web:

* deity: any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

All religions that have god(s) have a pantheon by definition. That does not preclude Christianity from being a complete relgion unto itself.

Christianity has a pantheon of deities which some use. That is one way to reconcile Wicca with Christianity. It obviously CAN be treated otherwise because some do treat it otherwise. I believe that was the question.

Words mean things. If we do not use the same words to mean the same things, we cannot talk or exchange ideas.

[Cyzarine]

To me, Witchcraft is more a way of life then a religion. But anyways, if you get past the dogma...the man is better then woman...the I'm right you're wrong bs that christians have been tought to believe you ultimitely get paganism. Christians were pagans once. It's not like the Christians were beamed here from another planet or something. They were pagan and one day had an idea of how they could become powerful. They did not want to conform to paganism so they went ahead and went against everything pagamism stood for. They switched things around and added things until they became powerful enough to scare. If you don't agree with me that's fine...but that is how I view it. Therefore if you get rid of all that man had wrote to his advantage you have paganism.

Some choose to be pagan but honor Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalen, God (as the universal one with no specific gender), and saints (as gods and goddesses). I know this has little to do with witchcraft...but if you look at what the idea of witchcraft is...it is paganism.

[StarCraftLia]

.

[Morgandria]

"That word...I do not think it means what you think it means."

My statement, was and remains that Christianity is NOT a pantheon. It is a religion. Perhaps what you meant to say was that Christianity HAS its own pantheon - and that it does.

You may have a JudeoChristianIslamic pantheon - ie. the gods/demigods/prophets/messiahs/etc. they all honour and share in common - but it doesn't make Christianity itself a pantheon, any more than Druidism is a pantheon, or Wicca is a pantheon.

[Mithrea]

SUPERMOD MODE

The paths forum is to be a repository of information. It is not for the arguing over the validity of the finer points of anyone's faith. Each thread in the Paths forum should be representative of the path being discussed, because this is where people will come when they have questions about other people's paths or are looking for their own.

So, talk about your faith in Paths in a way that enlightens people. If you want to debate Theology, take it to the Theology and Philosophy forum.

Those of you who are Christian Witches, please feel free to talk about your experiences with your practice and how the two things, seemingly disimiliar to others, comes together for you.

Anyone who wants to debate their right to do it from a theological standpoint can go to T&P and do so.

The bickering in Path's is not going to continue anymore.

[David19]

I think christianity and witchcraft are combinable because witchcraft is not a religion, a witch is someone who does magic but a lot of people who are pagan or wiccan seem to think that they have the right to the word when there are lots of satanic witches, christian, jewish, wiccan, Hellenic, probably muslim too.

[Mithrea]

I think christianity and witchcraft are combinable because witchcraft is not a religion, a witch is someone who does magic but a lot of people who are pagan or wiccan seem to think that they have the right to the word when there are lots of satanic witches, christian, jewish, wiccan, Hellenic, probably muslim too.

Hrmm. I don't know any pagans who think they own the rights to that word. I do know lots of them who want to make magic into something it's not ;)

I find that the more I read about early Christianity, the more sense Christian Witchcraft makes. I was skeptical in the beginning, I have to admit, but reading about Gnostic and Celtic Christianity very much opened my eyes.

[charmedkisses1]

There's already 50 threads on this subject.

[SSanf]

"That word...I do not think it means what you think it means."

My statement, was and remains that Christianity is NOT a pantheon. It is a religion. Perhaps what you meant to say was that Christianity HAS its own pantheon - and that it does.

You may have a JudeoChristianIslamic pantheon - ie. the gods/demigods/prophets/messiahs/etc. they all honour and share in common - but it doesn't make Christianity itself a pantheon, any more than Druidism is a pantheon, or Wicca is a pantheon.AH! HA!

You got me! I DID write it wrong!

Right you are.

Thanks for that correction.

[Ninjakitten]

Personally, I practice witchcraft with a Wiccan influence to it (though I won't claim to really know enough about Wicca to speak for Wiccans, nor would I call myself a Christian Wiccan) and that's because I find Wicca to be a beautiful religion with beautiful practices. I am a Christian that practices witchcraft, and I take the Bible and use it as a guide and try to learn more about the original translations that I can and don't take the Bible as being the literal and infallable Word of God.

I have a faith in Christ, though not as most mainstream Christians do, and see him as a human that was given Divine Authority to accomplish a mission that only someone that was given Divine Authority could do, and that is to reconcile our imperfections as flawed beings so that we can be in harmony with a perfect Diety (who has more than one aspect to Him/Her) without sacrificing justice by saying "oh, Hell, let's just pretend you're all good and that you can do good and are worthy of the ultimate good that is Heaven. I do not think that to "come to Christ" is a concious choice, and so you don't have to say a few magic words about Christ being your saviour to have the blessing of his mission. I feel to follow him is a spiritual thing and not a cognitive thing, and that following him is simply to try to be the best person you can be and to try to do the right things when you can.

I don't feel the Bible, in it's original intent and translations, conflicts with the use of magic at all. I look in the Old Testament and see a lot of things the ancient Hebrews did, and it sounds really "witchy" to me. I feel using magic is a way to touch into the Divine Creative Energies that is what I call the "fingerprint of Godde" that shows that there was indeed a Creator/Creatrix to everything, and we can use these energies to get closer to Creation, and have a greater appreciation for the Creator/Creatrix. I also feel that these energies have been called many things, including magic, chi, and in some cases interpreted as spirits and/or Reiki energy, and that some forms of it are very intelligent and show the intelligence behind Creation.

I look at Creation and see an the artwork of a Master Craftsman that should be awed and admired. I see the harm humans do to it and see it as a slap in the face to our duty that we are to be stewards of Creation. I see truth in other religions, though I admit to seeing more truth about direct knowledge about the Divine through Christ, even if I can't see Christ in those who claim to follow Him in how he taught about Godde and about how we are to treat others. I feel the Bible was manipulated by the Church and so it is something that must be read prayerfully in order to get Godde's intent in the messages that lie within.

I believe in the God YHWH and his consort, the Sophia (Wisdom), and that she was written about in Proverbs and in Solomon's Book of Wisdom (in the Apocrypha, a series of Hellenistic Christian writings excluded from the Bible) This is how I incorporate a Goddess into my worship, and how I see balance. I also see how in Genesis, God said "let US create THEM in OUR image", and I don't feel that was a mistake.

This is some of what I believe to be true in my search for truth (preferrably without the modern Christian church and the agendas of most modern Christians), and without having grown up brainwashed into believing I'm going to Hell for not having a "churchy" version of believing in Christ. I came to Christ as an adult who hated Christianity and the stuff Christians do, and was almost a member of the Church of Satan. I don't come to Christ out of fear, or to have a safe place to come back to, or because I can't figure out what I believe in like naysayers try to claim. I come out of love and with experiences that I've had (not in church) that could only be explained as Godde approaching me... or I'm insane, one of the two :lol:

[Agaliha]

I am not a Christian Witch or anything like that, but here are some sites on the matter that may be helpful:
http://www.christianwitch.net/
http://groups.msn.com/ChristianCraft
http://members.aol.com/RawnaMoon/
http://www.geocities.com/musette_oleander/
http://www.northco.net/chenke/comp_1.html
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4885/cwj_index.html
http://www.geocities.com/wiccanchristian/

Also try Yahoo and Google, you'll get some there too.
And of course the whole Christian-Pagan section here.

[Teresa]

I know of a few Christians that practice witchcraft as a means to help others. They consider themselves spiritual advisors and do things from reading cards and refering the person in need to verses to meditate upon to types of energy healings to helping break jinxes etc. Things to promote prosperity. They are people just like us. I have seen the things the few I know do work and it does not hender their religion from what I have observed.Some of the things Jesus was reported to do in the Bible appear to be along the lines of magic ( like spitting into the dirt and putting it on the blind mans eyes then telling him to go bath in a certain place or turning water intp wine.)and to me that makes perfect sense that they would do the same.There are some things in my practice where we use verses from the Bible in rituals. (Like uncrossing rituals for example)

[BeachWitch]

Totally mean and nasty and sick to death of yet another post on Xian Wicca, Christian Witchcraft of the impossibility of either.

I watched as, a few months ago, the tiniest hint of disresprct towards Christians had the mods crashing down like the Red Tide (no not the luminescent plankton currently on our coast, the other one), and yet here we are again with yet another thread challenging the legitimacy of this particular path.

So, nice try on the "are you afraid" track. And for the record, the literate ramblings of ceremonialism and qabbala references were really overkill.

But hey, go ahead and list all the reasons why the path is invalid. At this point I'm of the opinion that any publicity is good publicity.

Tell everyone why the path is invalid.... *yawn*

[Mouse]

Morgandria, I'm happy to agree to disagree with you :hahugh:

Cyzarine, All religions, when practiced properly/the way they where intended to be practiced, are a way of life.

[Mithrea]

Totally mean and nasty and sick to death of yet another post on Xian Wicca, Christian Witchcraft of the impossibility of either.

I watched as, a few months ago, the tiniest hint of disresprct towards Christians had the mods crashing down like the Red Tide (no not the luminescent plankton currently on our coast, the other one), and yet here we are again with yet another thread challenging the legitimacy of this particular path.

So, nice try on the "are you afraid" track. And for the record, the literate ramblings of ceremonialism and qabbala references were really overkill.

But hey, go ahead and list all the reasons why the path is invalid. At this point I'm of the opinion that any publicity is good publicity.

Tell everyone why the path is invalid.... *yawn*


***SUPERMOD MODE (AGAIN)***

Beachwitch, perhaps you did not see my moderation. As I said in my moderation, this kind of crap is not what Paths is about and it will stop. Respect works both ways.

When you post in Paths, you represent the path you speak of. Please consider how your words might affect those who are interested in following the same path as you.

[Ron]

IRNI also stands for "in nomine regisque infinatis"

[Airin]

I dont want to sound rude, but this something I just plain don't get. Can any Christian witches explain how you can successfully reconcile the faiths? i'm not going to try to sound smart and explain how this could work out, but luckily i've been asked this numerous times by CHristians wanting to know if its possible. I say, look here. This is an essay from religioustolerance.org and is very well written and nice.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcr5.htm

[Sage Rainsong]

Originally Posted by Fr. INRI
I dont want to sound rude, but this something I just plain don't get. Can any Christian witches explain how you can successfully reconcile the faiths?

Im not a Chrstian so Im not sure how valid my opinion is but I suppose reconciling the two is linked to how you view and define them. If you define Chrisitianity as being a member of a church and you take the bible literally (creationism and the whole Jesus is the ONLY way ect..) and believe then it may not be possible to reconcile them. However if you view it as simply the worshiping of Christ then it may be more possible. That would leave more room for interperatation as to the nature of christ. Maybe you can see him as part of the masculine divine. I knew a girl who considered herself a christian witch. She viewed Jesus as a patron of sorts and she felt that the whole "do unto others" and love thy neighbor as thyself are Jesus' only real rules and the rest is corrupted by the institution of the church. That can fit in with the whole harm none way of life. While I disagreed with her on many things her views on christianity and wicca are just as valid as any other. Anyway I hoped that helped.

[Faeawyn]

I am a Christian Witch...altho Christians may not see me as such. I believe in the Christian God, but I do not believe in the bible. I view it more as a collection of stories written by men "about" Jesus. I believe in Jesus, but see him more as an example sent by God of how mankind should be...as was Buddha, and others. I pray to God, and to Mary.....I also pray to Guan Yin and Gaia when the situation calls for it...so I'm obviously a mish mosh of stuff :D But my roots are Christian...and I practice spellcraft as a means of tapping in to the universal energy that I believe was created by "God" for us. So......thats me :)

[nido]

While I can see where Fr. INRI comes from . . . I do think that reading the numerous threads first would have prevented another venue of possible nastiness. Similarly, it is sad that Beachwitch chose to "attack" rather than simply point him to those sights. I, myself, personally agree with Morgandria. I've been a Christian since I was baptized at age 7. The only way to leave Christianity is to completely denounce Christ as God. I have been a witch since I can remember. Following the seasons, working with plants (medicinally and magically), working with fae, etc . . . I'm a Christian Witch. Note I'm not a Christian who tries to practice Wicca, a religion in it's own right. I know there are those who do this, and they are often confused and torn between the two. You cannot serve two Masters . . . Either Godde is all Goddes or you have Many tiny gods that are seperate. Wicca says there is Lord and Lady, and tries to assign those titles to Mary and Jesus. (There are vast ways to try this . . .) Christians would never call Mary the Mother of God his wife . . . they wouldn't even say she is a Goddess. And that is where the crux comes in . . . you either ascribe to Christianity, or make your own religion

Mind there is nothing wrong with making your own religion. Gerald Gardener formed Wicca, with the aid of others, in 1950. Yes, it's roots may be as old as time, but was created. Mohammed created Islam . . . Buddhu created Buddhism . . . Brigham Young created Mormonism . . . why can't you make your own? Who has the right to tell others what they can or cannot do? When people start to do that they lose sight of the fact that Godde is Love, and that as Godde's children we are to love too.

My two cents . . . really its an opinion, and everyone has one.

Yes Gerald Gardener formed wicca in the 1950s now unfortunately everybody assumes Witches are wiccans, that sort of shows you something doesnt it? WTF are u all going on about. You made it so clear, if you cant be bothered to go by the constraints laid down by a belief system, you simply change the rules and make new ones up to suit yourself!:viking:

[Shield_Wolf]

Yes Gerald Gardener formed wicca in the 1950s now unfortunately everybody assumes Witches are wiccans, that sort of shows you something doesnt it? WTF are u all going on about. You made it so clear, if you cant be bothered to go by the constraints laid down by a belief system, you simply change the rules and make new ones up to suit yourself!:viking:

Hey guess what, that's how most new religions get start in the first place. Look at Christianity back in Olden Times, Cathlicism was the first Christian church right, then Martin Luther didn't like the way it work so he change some rule and made a new branch right. Now there are hundred of different Christian branches. Same for Buddhist, there are different schools of it that teach slightly different believe.
There a saying I like from Buddha himself: "There are as many Religions as there are people in the world".

[nido]

Think you completely missed the point but hey I wont waste my breath!

[LadyCelt]

While I do not consider myself a witch, I believe in certain things with Paganism. I believe in and restarted my connection to the goddess. I've also got interested in tarot. I am into the power of healing from gemstones.

Can I validate it within my faith? Probably not. But, I am not into defending myself. I don't "come out" to everybody. But, to me, if you ignore what you feel and believe it, it can be miserable. Faith isn't always about validating it and proving it to others.

[Bella Canolli]

Christians practicing magic is nothing new. Actually Neo-Paganism is newer than folk magic (which is christondom). Although, Witchcraft is based in ancient practices, the neo-pagan movement has only been on the move since Gardener, which is circa 1956, however Christian Mystics, Folk Magic, Religico Magico systems and cult of Saints has been practiced since the establishment of the Church, and is based on pre-chrisitan ancient systems and religions.


Assimilations of cultures is what leads to syncretism. Systems such as Vodou, Santeria, and Catholic Craft successfully syncrete (the blending of two or more beliefs systems without losing the main agendas of either). It humors me that Pagans can be so jumpy about it, especially neo-pagans. And, it is so offensive when neo-pagans try to accuse Christian magic as 'selling out', it is nothing of the sort.


Why do and have people practiced Christian magic for centuries? Simple; IT WORKS. Really well I might add. As would anything you believe in vehemently.


A lot, of this issue comes down to semantics; what is witch, what was the OT reasoning of a witch, and what is Earth Based Spirituality.


To say it is an oxymoron, puts us in great company with another energy force- who was it that said “ I am the beginning and the End”? Jesus, blessed, healed, and he cursed and he talked to the dead, and told his followers we have this power within us.


FR. INRI, you may be under the false assumption that many neo-pagans are; that Christian is synonymous with Fundamentalist. This is an error. Go to any Catholic church, you will see the most Christianized pagans around.


I pose a question. Is it possible that like many beliefs systems prior from Etruscan and Greek up to Roman religion that assimilated and borrowed and then traded with the Celts and Northern Europe, that in this Christianity was meant to be an evolution. Look at Hellenistic society, however that evolution went wrong, become too politically motivated and a system that otherwise may have enlighten millions was corrupted during history and used, thus taking it off the original course which may have been to assimilate and evolve?



If I may suggest a few fiction novels based on Historic events by Marion Zimmer Bradley; The Mists of Avalon (a long one) and The Priestess of Avalon (easy short read very good) which use fictional stories based on actual historical events which explain much of a time when Christians and Pagans lived together side by side and worshipped. There was a time in history when the paths were blended and retained, it lasted about 300 years. Perhaps, this was meant to be the outcome- syncretion and not oppression and men seeking power let politics get in the way of the Divine.


Did you know the pentagram was a Christian symbol ? Constatine changed it the symbol which appeared on the Roman armies shields from a Pentrgam to a cross.

I practice what some would call Christian Witchcraft. Some would call Folk Magic, some may say Heresy- but I practice it, my mother , her mother , and her mother before her. It packs a punch and in many Mediterranean and Latin cultures there is nothing odd about it. I also honor the ALL in all its form ne that Diana, the Lao,Mary, Angels, demi-gods , the breathe of a newborn baby or the numen contained in a rock on the ground. It is really not that difficult to reconcile.


The Craft is just that a craft, a science that can be applied to any religion. My religion is christian and Vodou my magic is folk in nature, but in the end I am a witch. I am so lucky, my kids are extra lucky, we have 8 sabbats, esabbats, feste' all year and major holidays, Oh yeah and a cute nonna witch who brings treats on the 12th night! I mean , why wouldn't anyone embrace that! :lol:
[If you have gotten this far, thanks for reading the Soap Box, I am coming down now…:rant:

[imapepper]

Christians would never call Mary the Mother of God his wife . . . they wouldn't even say she is a Goddess. And that is where the crux comes in . . . you either ascribe to Christianity, or make your own religion.

Hi Mari! Actually, as a Roman Catholic who practices Mexican Folk Magic (this is the best web site I can find with info on my specific path http://www.ojinaga.com/store/curanderos) I can tell you that many Mexicans consider La Virgen de Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary) not as a goddess but the goddess i.e. there is only one and she's it. The Aztecs even called her 'Santa Maria Tonantzin' (they even built the Basilica de Guadalupe over Tonantzins pyramid here in Mexico City http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonantzin). So, some Christian Witches (or in my case Catholic Curanderas) do see the Virgin Mary as Goddess.

Just wanted to clarify! :)