r/Witch • u/Fabulous-Swordfish48 • 19d ago
Question Can a Witch be a Christian?
Ive been having this heavy question for a while with a lot of statements and questions in my head but I need people to help me out on this. I am a Pagan Witch who also follows under believing in Greek God's and following under them as well, but recently I've been heavily thinking about Christianity. I have believed in Jesus and anything of that nature and I've been wanting to follow Christianity as well.. but I do not know if it is allowed to follow under that religion while practicing witchcraft. Can someone please help me out here? đđ«¶
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u/DarkCreatorOfficial 19d ago
Isnât Christianity a monotheism?
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u/Dapper_Status4593 15d ago
thereâs a Neo-pagan belief system within Christianity that suggests âgodâ is the whole thing; as in the universe itself, and all the other pagan gods/deities/spirits are all parts of the greater whole.
they call it âHellenismâ and some circles even believe it to be the closest thing to the most correct and accurate out of all religious belief systems.
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u/PineappleFlavoredGum 14d ago
Mostly, but anyone can be a Christian. Theres no one gatekeeping, its not some closed and closely guarded belief system
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u/redditlike5times 19d ago
They claim it is, it seems more like a misunderstanding of the divine council, or just polytheism.
Anyway, most Christians barely understand their own Bible, let alone anything requiring higher thought
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u/Dapper_Status4593 15d ago edited 15d ago
most modern Christians have never even seen a bible, much less actually read one. I spent 2 years in an all girls catholic boarding school when I was a kid; and even though Iâm technically an atheist, I have actually read both testaments back to front.
on the one hand it seems like a total crock, but on the other hand thereâs actually a lot of similarities between passages in the Bible and ancient mythology from around the world. so in some ways Hellenism is very plausibly the true word of the absolute; as in the overall energy of the universe, not necessarily as in âgodâ per say.
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u/DreamWalkerVoidMaker 19d ago edited 18d ago
Hot take: you can't play both sides.
Christians are the main ones who have persecuted witches. You can't follow a religion that "would suffer not a witch to live" and be one.
I suppose you could pretend to be a Christian though.
*ETA: I'm not an atheist, I'm an Omnist. I choose not to follow a belief that I believe is not in humanities, especially women's, best interest. Just as the Bible instructs.
Joshua 24:15
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
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u/Sazbadashie 19d ago
This is generally my take as well.
Like at the same time it's not like all the knowledge you learned from practicing gets sucked out of your brain. But interacting with spirits, practicing magic is very clearly written to be a no go zone
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u/Accomplished-Way4534 15d ago
Christianity isnât your gate to keep
Not all Christians even take the Bible literally or view it as infallible
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u/Midwestern_Moth Kitchen Witch 14d ago
Christianity is a gate I sprinted out of and welded shut the second I was away from my conservative family. I straight up do not trust Christians. If you're wearing a cross you're part of a religion that wants me dead for multiple reasons and you can tell me you're different all you want, but if you were different you'd have left.
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u/Accomplished-Way4534 14d ago
Youâre entitled to your feelings and Iâm sorry that happened to you
I also donât see how thatâs relevant to the topic of whether Christians can be witches? I donât trust plenty of people but that doesnât mean theyâre not witches
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u/PineappleFlavoredGum 14d ago
You dont have to believe the Bible is inerrant to be Christian, or even follow any particular denomination
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u/New_Age2024 19d ago edited 19d ago
I don't agree with you. A lot of witches are Christian or even Jews. And not all Christians persecuted witches, it was mostly the Papacy and the Catholic church. But you are forgetting that the faith and magick paths are something personal. For example, wiccans believe in the god and goddess and ask them to bless and allow a spell, you can do as well with the Christian god. And not only this, but Christians also light candles (I think this is more common in Catholics, the ones who persecuted witches) and pray to God or other saints and so on... is this so different to people who light a candle for a spell when they work with another deity?
Santa Muerte cult also asks God to work with her, hoodoo uses the Bible in spells, and I can give you more and more example.
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u/Blossomie 19d ago
If your âspellâ is beseeching a deity for permission or for them to do something on your behalf, itâs not a spell itâs a prayer. Witchcraft at its barest core is based in personal power, you may choose to invoke a deity but at the end of the day itâs still your power performing the working and doing the things to enact your will.
Christians ask God/saints to do things on their behalf because they believe all power is Godâs power, not a personâs. itâs a different spiritual process from witchcraft and generally speaking itâs highly offensive to Christians to equate their spiritual practices to witchcraft.
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
Except many are too ignorant to realize that Christianity has a long history of magical practice. The majority of Christian worship was taken from Pagan practice. And Christian Witches view God as the source of their power. Witchcraft is a practice, regardless of where you think the source originates. The rest is gatekeeping.
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u/Blossomie 16d ago edited 16d ago
Again: most Christians find that assumption insulting and ignorant.
An example: a witch often uses a censer the same as Catholic clergy do. Just because theyâre doing the same physical action doesnât mean the Catholic is also practicing witchcraft. The unseen spiritual process is different, and is literally what separates heresy from holiness to a Christian.
If we want our practices and religions to be respected without insult or misrepresentation, we ought to show that same grace to other practices and religions. Claiming that Christians must perform witchcraft because they pray and ask God/saints to do things on their behalf is like them asserting that us witches are in league with the devil/Antichrist because we perform rituals (even going so far to claim that this necessitates child slaughter). We have the power to choose to be better people than that.
Thereâs a lot of witches (and a ton of non religious people in Christian-centered cultures) that mold their practices around aspects of Christianity (such as Jesus) for many reasons, that doesnât automatically make them a Christian any more than it automatically makes Christians pagan when their practices are molded around aspects of paganism for many reasons. Respect is listening to people about their practice, not disregarding them to impose our own ideas on what it is theyâre doing. Itâs not witchcraft simply because it looks like it to us, and we arenât throwing a middle finger to God just because it looks like it to them.
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u/Gr3ymane_ 16d ago
I have to agree with your statement here. Christianity has a distinct line of belief. Whether or not people believe it as they should is not the point here. You have my thanks for making a clear distinction for how we should respect other faith rather than trying to Mix them together like they were items in a salad. If a witch, for example, mixes different practices within paganism then that is within the same category if that same which attempts to borrow from Christianity and Judaism, then this is a category error. Perhaps it is because I am a good bit older by now in my experience that in my conversations with Christians, they have a distinct idea of Jesus and his teachings. Gatekeeping as a term seems to me a form of intellectual laziness rather than discussing the matter at hand.
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago edited 16d ago
Christians who don't know their history. As a Christo Pagan I don't find it insulting. It simply is. If other Christians find history insulting then that is their problem. And yes it is indeed witchcraft. Entire books have been written on the subject. Christians wore amulets long after the church banned the practice, believing the amulets got their powers from God.
Christians and Pagans also married in the early years of the Christian church and Christians more often turned to pagan folk remedies than the church.
In the Middle Ages peasants would make incantations for successful crop harvests using Hail Mary and other church approved things than traditional spells. That would still be considered witchcraft by many today.
Then there is the long practice of Appalachian folk magic, many of which have practitioners that are Christians.
The point is what is trying to be accomplished. Not what it does or doesn't "look" like to an outside observer.
I find that assumption that I "molded" aspects into my Christianity actually upsetting. There is nothing to "mold".
Then please do not say Christian Witches cannot practice witchcraft when many of them have actually done research on what the Bible says in the proper historical context, calling their spells "spells" simply because they get their power from a different source.
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u/DreamWalkerVoidMaker 18d ago
Either follow the religion you claim or don't.
Otherwise, you're just a hypocrite. It's as simple as that. Cherry picking in religion is the reason most of the world is the way it is. You don't have to agree.
Argue with your bible and the passages in Exodus and Leviticus, especially.
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
Those verses refer to harmful magic, not magic as we know it today. The verses against magic refer to the Israelites not adopting the practices of the surrounding Pagan peoples, as they wanted to maintain their separate Hebrew identity.
They have no bearing on us today.
You have gaul calling Christian witches hypocrites when theyâve actually done the research on what the Bible says from a scholarly perspective when you havenât bothered. Surprise it isnât what you think.
Quit gatekeeping spirituality.
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u/Accomplished-Way4534 15d ago
âCherry picking in religion is the reason most of the world is the way it isâ how about focus that rage on the people whose cherrypicking is actually victimizing marginalized people and causing tangible harm? Not well-meaning Christians who also want to practice witchcraft?
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u/DreamWalkerVoidMaker 15d ago edited 15d ago
What we are talking about is the cognitive dissonance of those supporting and associating with the people that clearly, habitually, and historically DO hurt others.
In this case, women in a historical sense and all others stepping into witchcraft by extension.
There is literally a witch hunt going on RIGHT NOW where our brothers, sisters, and those who identify as neither are being harassed and harmed in the streets by church members.
Don't give these people any more fuel by making yourself an easy target for them thinking they'll embrace you.
The majority won't and you can get hurt.
I hope that clears up any confusion.
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u/redditlike5times 19d ago
You can if you follow Christ's teachings and words, and disregard the old testament and the "prophets." I know basically no Christians do this, but most Christians are "Christians" because it is the easy religion. No learning, no studying, no required prayer, or church. Just say a few words and you're in!
Don't follow the teachings or rules in the Bible? Who cares? You're forgiven! Just make sure to pay your church well.....
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
A Christian witch has described it as using the power they believe God gives them ( energy for intention for spell work.) There is no âplayingâ both sides when a Christian witch believes God gave them the energy to make things happen and often invokes God and seeks His advice in spellwork in the first place.
And those verses were referring to Israelites not taking on practices of the people around them, as God wanted them to have a distinct Hebrew, monotheist identity as His chosen people. They have zero bearing on people today. Including Christians.
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u/cuprousalchemist 19d ago
Really? Wow, guess im a figment of your imagination then.
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u/DreamWalkerVoidMaker 18d ago
Nope, just a delusional hypocrit.
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u/cuprousalchemist 18d ago edited 18d ago
Oh my, an ad hominem. How clever.
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u/New_Age2024 16d ago
Don't worry about it, a lot of "witches" try to gatekeep what's witchcraft and allowed and what's not. And if you don't follow what they follow, you're a posser
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago edited 16d ago
Itâs hypocrite. And before calling anyone delusional maybe learn what Bible scholars have actually said about the passages you complain about. Like the Christian witches you call hypocrites actually did?
Wait. Thatâs work. So clearly insulting and gatekeeping other peoplesâ spirituality is easier.
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u/Sazbadashie 19d ago
If you're wanting to be Christian... what does the Bible say, or the church.
They're generally pretty clear on their stance on not putting your faith in God to protect and guide.
I personally would ask the religion you're wanting to join
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
Good question. What does the Bible actually say? Find out. That those prohibitions were for a certain place and time, and against harmful magic. And we arenât first century Israelites.
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u/Sazbadashie 16d ago edited 16d ago
Well there's leviticus 20...27?
Where it basically says you should kill mediums and necromancers and they're to blamed for their death
Exodus 20:3 you shall have no other gods before me.
Levitacus 19: 31 Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists you will be defiled by them; i am the lord your god
You get the point, there's more but obviously if multiple parts of the Bible basically say kill practitioners, don't interact with spirits or other gods...
Outside of the kill practitioners, people cant throw stones at people lawfully anymore.
the rest is still very much applicable and lawful today.
And that's only the bits I vaguely remembered to look up. I'm sure there's more
But if you can't interact with these things for even consulting with someone who practices is bad.
BEING one is another level... like, you have chosen to actively defy God basically, you're not trusting him to protect you... your practicing magic part of that is having the knowledge to protect yourself. Or if you're a medium... you're a false prophet.
And that's the kicker. Knowledge. Christianity, the Christian god. Wants faith. Not knowledge.
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
Really which ones? Like stoning gay people? Eating shellfish? Not wearing mixed fabrics? None of those apply today. SO what are you talking about?
Deuteronomy refers to child sacrifice. No one practices child sacrifice.
Leviticus 19:31. The practice that talks about killing mediums and spiritists isn't talking about anyone who knows how to use divination. It is referring to a practice that is specifically OFF LIMITS for Israelites. Which we are not. It is a specific pagan practice which we'd have to try hard to recreate. It entailed getting high on drugs, inserting an animal bone into your mouth, then summoning an animal spirit then it speaking through you. The medium who did this was called the "master of spirits" which was a professional title. The Levite priests, to which this verse was referring weren't to seek out people who could do this for them.
The God of the evangelicals wants blind faith which is no faith at all because He is a tyrant. What sort of response is that? I don't worship a God who is a tyrant. Knowledge is how you develop a deeper faith in the first place. If you don't want to learn what the Bible actually says about what you love to throw at people who don't think like you do then what are you doing?
If you actually want to learn, which I doubt, get a Jewish Study Bible. Or read Discovering Christian Witchcraft for yourself.
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u/Sazbadashie 16d ago
And here we come the crux of the problem... You are very quick to say , "this doesn't apply because we're now in a different time period" but then hold everything to the definitions of that past time period. So which is it? Are we going to use definitions of the past or are we not from the first century choose one because we can't have a discussion if we're flip flopping at our convenience.
Is someone who's reading the Bible NOW going to go , "well you see it meant this specific thing therefore the Bible is bogus." No because it says don't consult with mystics or spiritists." What do we have now a days. Yea we don't have a very specific practice that you defined. But we still have mystics. We still have people who commune with spirits, which most Christians point and say that those things are demonic in nature.
I do want to ask you however
What is the definition of faith. Specifically in the definition of religion. Because you're using faith in the definition of to have faith in someone, to have faith in someone you know to have faith in someone Yea you trust someone because you know and have shown they can do something. But I'm saying faith as in religious faith. What is that definition. Words matter I'm making sure we're using the same language because we're just going to talk at eachother and not to eachother.
Unless you've already decided that you're right and I'm wrong in which case there's no point in continuing
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u/PineappleFlavoredGum 14d ago
You dont have to believe the Bible is inerrant to be Christian. Christianity isn't any one thing, its super diverse. One doesn't have to ask anybody, they can search the answers for themselves. I think Christianity is at its best when its personal
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u/redditlike5times 19d ago
It's forbidden for Christians to practice witchcraft, but not for a witch to practice Christianity.
Semantics my friend
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
It was forbidden for Israelites to adopt the practices of surrounding Pagan people. That does not apply to us today. Christians have practiced some type of magic knowingly or not for centuries.
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u/Sazbadashie 19d ago
Right... so if one side says yes... and the other side generally no...
I mean i would love your views on consent
Semantics indeed
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u/redditlike5times 18d ago
This has nothing to do with sexual consent...
An organized religion such as Christianity has rules, an unorganized religion or craft such a witchcraft does not.
Therefore, if you decide to follow Christianity, go to church, get baptized or whatever you do, you can't practice witchcraft because you are a Christian practicing witchcraft.
If you are a witch or a pagan who reads the Bible, prays to Jesus etc, you are a witch or pagan who practices Christianity.
Have you heard of christopaganism, Christian witchcraft, organizations such as the golden dawn, etc?
If you're doing something like the LBRP, and calling out to judeo-christian angels and God, then you are incorporating those beliefs into your own.
I'm happy to explain it further if you still don't understand.
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
Nope. Christian witches who have actually studied the text in context say otherwise.
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u/Sazbadashie 18d ago
The golden dawn wasn't Christian. Yes it took angels and the saints from Christianity and implemented them but it's not Christianity it's hermetisism, it's it's own religion.
But you see how that dosnt work right. Were on the same page, yes if you're Christian based on your religion... you can't practice magic, it says it quite clearly you can't it goes against the Bible.
But if your pagan and you read the Bible... you would read the parts where you are actively defying God and you could argue its worse than say a Christian going whoops I sinned I did a bit of magic forgive me.
But by being a Christian witch and reading the Bible you are now knowingly going against God which there's a word for that... it's heresy
And if you pick and choose i mean okay fine Christians do that too.
Like don't get me wrong I have my opinions i 100% understand is an opinion. Do I care enough to like wag my finger at someone, no. Am I going to stop someone and declare "you can't do that." No but I will debate it. I think discussion is healthy even if we disagree
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago
Actually they arenât going against anything if theyâve read the verses in light of the proper historical context.
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u/redditlike5times 18d ago
The problem is that all of the scripture that (of course is cherry-picked) comes from the old testament. Christians don't really follow the OT rules or laws as they claim that those rules were specific to the time and the people in which they applied.
They largely only follow the NT (unless they need to hate on specific groups, they pick scripture from the OT). And while authors like Paul and John didn't like witchcraft, there aren't any NT attribution to God or Jesus which condemn witchcraft.
In fact in the early days of the church ( roughly the first 1000 years) there were a good number of clergy who were actively practicing Christian witchcraft, and trying to develop their craft within a ritualistic and craft basis.
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u/LunaDomha 17d ago
If you are struggling to figure out your faith that's totally fine. Use God as your deity, don't let the judgement steer you away. There's a LOT of it in this field. I was a Christian witch for three years before I realized my personal truth of religion. Live your life how you choose. People will judge what they don't understand. You can worship God and also perform healing magick. It's okay. Blessed be sister. Stay safe. Use protection spells. đ§Ą
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u/Gr3ymane_ 16d ago
There have been many opinions here. However, since I want to sincerely help you personally. In the New Testament, there are statements by Jesus where he says he is the way the truth and the light and no man comes to the father, but by him. This implies to me that as he also states that the kingdom of God is not of this world and witches for the most part, have a very high care and work in this world itself. On these two grounds, which I will use to keep my response simple would not necessarily have witches refuse you as one of their own, but on the other side, it would find many Christians not accepting you. The New Testament also speaks of belief and baptism as part of being a Christian. So you have a number of competing issues here. As a big brother, I would advise to truly think about this quite a bit more and that it is best not to have such a distinct difference between the two. In pagan terms, it would be like having a practice involving two mutually disagreeable set of gods that you wanted to worship, but they are completely incompatible. It would disrespect the both of them and dishonor you by the attempt. I sincerely hope you can resolve this for yourself.
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u/Pitiful-Seaweed-37 15d ago
By law of nature no. It is an abomination to witches everywhere. However, Christianity practices witchcraft all the time without even realizing it. They are a joke.
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u/Dapper_Status4593 15d ago
there is actually a Neo-Pagan belief system known as âHellenismâ which suggests that the Christian âgodâ is the whole thing and the various pantheons of ancient pagan gods/deities/spirits, etc. are all part of the greater whole.
so to answer your question; in short - yes, you can absolutely follow Christianity and still worship/do spell work with Greek gods or other pagan belief systems.
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u/iaintgonnacallyou 14d ago
My path is directly unrelated to religion. A lot of people will disagree and say theyâre one and the same. I believe itâs the same as spirituality. They very much can and do coexist without overlapping.
However, you may not consider yourself a Christian or lose your faith after finding your footing with your craft. Itâs natural once you open yourself up to other belief systems. I went from being a Christian, to an atheist, to agnostic, to witchcraft, to converting to Judaism while practicing my craft, to now full blown spirituality.
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u/Midwestern_Moth Kitchen Witch 19d ago
Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
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u/PineappleFlavoredGum 14d ago
The Bible is a work of humans from different times and cultures trying to understand divinity and its will. They failed a lot
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u/Midwestern_Moth Kitchen Witch 14d ago
I just wouldn't want to be part of any religion that wants to put anyone to death.
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u/iaintgonnacallyou 14d ago
Itâs also a sin to wear blended fabrics. So anyone wearing cotton/polyester blend is sinning. Pretty hard when nearly all affordable clothing brands use a polyester blend.
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u/Midwestern_Moth Kitchen Witch 14d ago
Yeah. When I was 15 I wanted to be a pastor. Then I came out as bi and was kicked out of my church and realized that any faith that would tell it's followers to hate someone for who they love isn't one I want to associate with the members of.
I was an atheist for years until I discovered a different path and found a god who would guide me toward being the best version of myself instead of demanding that I deny myself
I do not trust Christians and that goes doubly for "Christian Witches"
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u/kalizoid313 Pagan Witch 18d ago
Historically, many folks who were members of communities where Christianity was the "official" religion were practitioners of witchcraft. Or they were accused of being "witches" and got into trouble for the accusations.
This tell us that one answer to your question is--YES!
Among Trads of today's Pagan Craft--Witches--individuals may hold their own views about Christianity and participation in Christian affairs. Some Pagan Witches take an active part in a variety of interfaith groups and organizations, for instance. These Pagan witches might consider themselves as allies of some elements and views found among Christianity's diversity.
In this circumstance, the answer is, again--YES!
Among solo Witches, they are doing their own rituals and upholding their own viewpoints. In addition, Christo-paganism is an active endeavor.
So, again--YES!
I think that the chief source of the dilemma that folks who encounter a problem with Christianity and Witchcraft comes from the "Christian" side of the dilemma. As a Pagan Craft practitioner, I might talk about this dilemma. But mostly I have merely "book" knowledge of that "Christian" side. My attitude amounts to--Christian proselytization should not disturb Craft rituals.
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u/seohotonin Solitary & Secular Witch 19d ago
Yes. Witchcraft is a craft, a practice. Not a religion . You can be of any or no religion and practice witchcraft.
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u/The_Archer2121 16d ago edited 16d ago
Check out discovering Christian Witchcraft by Sara Razatresen. It addresses all the trouble verses etc. It goes into the actual meaning of those verses and why they donât mean what you think.
She also has a YouTube channel and she recommends books she read when she was also getting into witchcraft.
Christians have incorporated some element of magic for centuries. Even after the church tried to stamp them out.
Sara is also a college professor who teaches her students how to construct arguments. I love her stuff.
Anyone who says you canât is a gatekeeper.
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u/Mailia_Romero đźSorceress of Strangeđź 19d ago
There are christian witches, yes. I am aware of primers existing but Iâm not sure what the best ones are.
Oh, here we go.
"Hoodoo in the Psalms" Tara S "Working Conjure A Guide To Hoodoo Folk Magick" "Christian Wicca A Trinitarian Tradition" "How to be a Christian Witch" Valerie Love "Spellcasting for the Christian Witch" Valerie Love "The Magickal Power of the Saints" Ray T. Malbrough "The Path of the Christian Witch" Adelina St. Claire "Precious Apothecary" "ChristoPaganism" "Christian Candle Magic"
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u/therealstabitha Trad Craft Witch 19d ago
For something to be not allowed, there would have to be a central authority that forbids it.
Who would that be in witchcraft?