Christian Witchery! What do I do?

[Kitfox]

I'm a long time Pagan and three year old Wiccan, who's been pretty openly Wiccan to her friends through highschool and now college. My best friend, Annie, is Lutheran. We love to talk about religion together because we really believe in a lot of the same things, though not always the same way of getting there.

She's always been interested in what I do and I recently felt comfortable enough to invite her to a ritual with a few other Pagans that I love and trust (and who love and know Annie).

She said it was probably the most moving thing that ever happened to her and that's she's really interested in learning more.

However, she is, for all intensive purposes, Lutheran.

I just don't really know what to teach her or tell her. I mean, I know her, I trust her, it's got nothing to do with the whole "Are you worthy" deal some people like to play.

I just don't know what to teach her! I mean, I want to respect her beliefs as a Lutheran and a Christian, but at the same time, so much of magick and spellcraft is tied to into the God and Goddess, at least on my part, that I don't know how! And I can't subsitute Jesus and Mary for the God and Goddess cause...well, that's just uncomfortable for me.

And what about the elements? How do those fit in with a Christian belief? I just don't want to force anything on her in my enthuasium (can't spell)!

I basically just need some advice from any Christian Witches or any good books to recommend to her.

[Athene]

Blessings kitfox,

I have great admiration for you. Many people, despite considering themselves tolerant and enlightened, will, given the chance, push their beliefs on others. You are doing a truly spiritual thing by taking her personal beliefs into consideration.

This is only my personal opinion of course...

I don't really believe we are to 'teach' those that are coming into a path or questioning their own. For me, 'teaching' takes affect when somebody is sure of their path and wants to deepen their knowledge. At the stage your friend is at, she needs guidance.

So you can simply show her what YOU do, tell her how there are many pagan paths, and that there are many Christian paths that include nature focus, magic and so on.

There are countless books on Pagan ways, witchcraft and unorthodox Christian concepts. There is almost nothing on combining Christianity with witchcraft (although I'm working on that)
There is a Christian Wiccan book, found in Amazon called, 'Christian Wicca' - Nancy Pittman (member here at MW).
Also-
'Pagans & Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience'.
'Embracing Jesus and the Goddess: A Radical Call for Spiritual Sanity'
'The Goddess in the Gospels: Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine'
I haven't read these yet.

Of course, if she has Internet access, then this is the best way right now, as so much Christian witch or Wicca information is to be found here. There is my website (link in sig) but many others.

Give her information or the place to find information, and let her explore on her own, making yourself available for questions.

You sound like a great friend, she is lucky to have you.

Please feel free to contact me.

blessings

[Kitfox]

Thanks so much! I'm going to check out your website and try to get a hold of Pagans and Chrisitians, which I have read and really liked.

[Calen]

I agree. What you're doing for your friend is really cool. My advice would be to try and pinpoint the parts of the experience that affected her the most, and go from there. Obviously, if it really resonated with her, it's a good place to start. Help her find some sites or books that discuss that, and she'll probably progress from there on her own, with one very good friend to help with any questions she might have.

[gurlygurl2004]

I've found that a lot of witches/Wiccans/pagans are converted Christians(me as well). She sounds really liberal and I know from personal experience that if you have had fundamentalism, or evangelicalism in your background it can be really tough and painful to convert or to even accept Christianity again after converting.

Anyway I suggest you tell her your opinion and let her know that pagans are different, there's tons of religious/pagan branches and religions so show her some website that talk about tons of different religions.

[MariThorn]

I agree with what Athene says. Her sight is a good one for Christian witches. As for the part about the elements, some Christians see the four gospels as the elements, and others use the four archangels. Just be there for her and guide her.

Good luck,
Marithorn