I know I haven't been as faithful in these studies as I should. In my defense, it's summer and I haven't been faithful to any studies lately.
This week's Christian Witch Course lesson focued on how certain books became a part of the Bible. Isn't it interesting how many items — things we take for certain as the word of God — were touched by man first? So much is determined on our understanding of the Divine message. How unique...
How long did the Apostols think Jesus would return in their lifetimes? At least 30 years. (I Thessalonians 4:15-17; I Corinthians 15:51-52)
And St. Paul didn't believe he was starting a NEW religion! He thought he was suplementing the Jewish faith!
How much have we lost because of human interpetation? How much have we lost because we didn't really listen to God?
Showing posts with label Christian Witch Course. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Witch Course. Show all posts
Friday, August 10, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Christian Witch Course Week #6
LOTS of reading this week -- or in my case, "these weeks."
I was greatful for the background in Judaism. And the two documents I found most enlightening were "The Laws of the Basic Principles of the Torah" and "First Centurty Judaism." My how things have changed.....
Even after reading these documents, I'm more convinced this is the right path for me. I thank God that I was able to find a way to combine my interests and beliefs to honor Him.
I was greatful for the background in Judaism. And the two documents I found most enlightening were "The Laws of the Basic Principles of the Torah" and "First Centurty Judaism." My how things have changed.....
Even after reading these documents, I'm more convinced this is the right path for me. I thank God that I was able to find a way to combine my interests and beliefs to honor Him.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Christian Witch Course Week #5
This week I finished Scott Cunningham's book. The Book of Shadows was interesting, and I did start my own. I have a 3-inch thick binder that I covered in some Halloween fabric (cats with hats, spiders, and candy corn). I have started to use that.
What I *really* liked was the "Before Time Was" section on page 123. I'll be using that in my own BOS. I also know that I need to be more diligent about adding my own prayers, chants, incantations, and spells to my BOS as I grow in my faith.
On a side note, I heard the BEST description of what I believe. Jesus is who I worship, witchcraft is how I worship. Doesn't that just fit?
Note: This completes module one in the Christian Witch Course.
What I *really* liked was the "Before Time Was" section on page 123. I'll be using that in my own BOS. I also know that I need to be more diligent about adding my own prayers, chants, incantations, and spells to my BOS as I grow in my faith.
On a side note, I heard the BEST description of what I believe. Jesus is who I worship, witchcraft is how I worship. Doesn't that just fit?
Note: This completes module one in the Christian Witch Course.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Christian Witch Course Week #4
This week's assignment was to read section two of "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham. This section discussed the practice of magic. I found some of the basic points so similar to Christianity!
Does any of this change my mind or my path? No. I feel called to continue learning this Earth-based Religion as an extension of my own faith. All Gods and Goddesses are part of the whole — the God I grew up believing in. I believe they're like the "junior executives" of His Universe. How would this book change that belief?
- Invocation. Isn't that the same as asking God?
- Thanking the Gods. Aren't Christians taught as children to give thanks?
- Breathing and Meditation. I've always found I needed to be quiet and focused to pray.
Does any of this change my mind or my path? No. I feel called to continue learning this Earth-based Religion as an extension of my own faith. All Gods and Goddesses are part of the whole — the God I grew up believing in. I believe they're like the "junior executives" of His Universe. How would this book change that belief?
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Statement of Faith
I was raised Christian, although we didn’t attend church often — mostly just Christmas and Easter. As a teen, I realized I was missing something. I started attending church on my own, even walking to the church that was only a few blocks from my house. Eventually, though, I moved away, went to college and decided that sleeping in was more fun than going to church.
Eventually, I joined the military, got married, had a child, and got divorced. I wanted my daughter to have that spiritual family I felt I missed growing up. Once again I looked for a church.
Skip ahead a few years. We moved. I got remarried. We again looked for a church home. We ended up at a Pentecostal church that didn’t quite fit us, but it was close to our house. This church preached a very strict interpretation of the Bible. I was taught there that some of the gifts I’d embraced growing up — a talent for the Tarot; the ability to see, hear and sense spirits; an interest in things other than the Bible — were evil. Finally, I became dissatisfied with the “fire and brimstone” sermons. A disagreement with one of the staff pastors there led us to re-evaluate our situation.
We found a new church, one that embraced our family. The sermons focused on the love of Christ and reminded us of His love. It became a pleasure for each of us to attend the services! What a difference!!
Since that time — roughly three years ago — I have decided to embrace what I’ve come to believe are gifts from God and not something evil. I’ve come to realize that there is one God, but so many different paths to get there. The gifts I’ve been given are to be used to help others in any way I can. I’ve begun taking a Christian Witch course and also have been studying Celtic and Norse Goddesses to learn about my heritage (I’m about one-eight Irish) and how I can combine the Old Ways with what we now think of as Christianity. I want to show others how they can know the love of God and still follow their paths and dreams.
I believe Jesus was God’s son. I’m not sure Jesus was God’s only son. I look at Heaven as a boardroom. God is at the head, the CEO. On one side is the Holy Sprit and the other is the Christ. The rest of the table is filled with the other Gods and Goddesses and angels and saints who are ready and willing to help us along our own paths.
I am hoping to become ordained through Coven of Christ Ministries because I believe that I can follow the path set before me. I firmly believe that the Universe is calling me to help those who are in the position I was. I’m a good listener and I minored in both sociology and psychology in college. I’m able to assist people with their problems and find the answers they seek. (I can’t always do this in my own life, though!) Being ordained and associating with COCM is something that is “brought to my attention” often — through things people say or thoughts I have on my own. These are the signs I believe I’m supposed to be seeing.
In addition to assisting people face-to-face, I am a web designer and author. I know that I can use my gifts in both of these occupations, as well as in my personal life.
I see me closing my web design business in the next 10 years, and focusing on my writing, as well as creating crafts to sell on the Internet — soaps, candles, jewelry, clothing, each of them blessed and produced with love.
My family is my first priority. My faith is my second. I hope to continue to find love, peace and joy in both for years to come.
Eventually, I joined the military, got married, had a child, and got divorced. I wanted my daughter to have that spiritual family I felt I missed growing up. Once again I looked for a church.
Skip ahead a few years. We moved. I got remarried. We again looked for a church home. We ended up at a Pentecostal church that didn’t quite fit us, but it was close to our house. This church preached a very strict interpretation of the Bible. I was taught there that some of the gifts I’d embraced growing up — a talent for the Tarot; the ability to see, hear and sense spirits; an interest in things other than the Bible — were evil. Finally, I became dissatisfied with the “fire and brimstone” sermons. A disagreement with one of the staff pastors there led us to re-evaluate our situation.
We found a new church, one that embraced our family. The sermons focused on the love of Christ and reminded us of His love. It became a pleasure for each of us to attend the services! What a difference!!
Since that time — roughly three years ago — I have decided to embrace what I’ve come to believe are gifts from God and not something evil. I’ve come to realize that there is one God, but so many different paths to get there. The gifts I’ve been given are to be used to help others in any way I can. I’ve begun taking a Christian Witch course and also have been studying Celtic and Norse Goddesses to learn about my heritage (I’m about one-eight Irish) and how I can combine the Old Ways with what we now think of as Christianity. I want to show others how they can know the love of God and still follow their paths and dreams.
I believe Jesus was God’s son. I’m not sure Jesus was God’s only son. I look at Heaven as a boardroom. God is at the head, the CEO. On one side is the Holy Sprit and the other is the Christ. The rest of the table is filled with the other Gods and Goddesses and angels and saints who are ready and willing to help us along our own paths.
I am hoping to become ordained through Coven of Christ Ministries because I believe that I can follow the path set before me. I firmly believe that the Universe is calling me to help those who are in the position I was. I’m a good listener and I minored in both sociology and psychology in college. I’m able to assist people with their problems and find the answers they seek. (I can’t always do this in my own life, though!) Being ordained and associating with COCM is something that is “brought to my attention” often — through things people say or thoughts I have on my own. These are the signs I believe I’m supposed to be seeing.
In addition to assisting people face-to-face, I am a web designer and author. I know that I can use my gifts in both of these occupations, as well as in my personal life.
I see me closing my web design business in the next 10 years, and focusing on my writing, as well as creating crafts to sell on the Internet — soaps, candles, jewelry, clothing, each of them blessed and produced with love.
My family is my first priority. My faith is my second. I hope to continue to find love, peace and joy in both for years to come.
Christian Witch Course Week #3
This week's assignment was to read the preface, introduction and section #1 of "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham.
For the most part I enjoyed the assignment. I agreed with most of the information and found it to be enlightening. I especially found the section on the various tools to be informative. There are some aspects I will probably never use (dance, for example) but I still enjoyed learning about it.
I'm still very drawn to the idea of using the "Old Ways" and the celebrations of those ways. This is a path I really feel called to.
For the most part I enjoyed the assignment. I agreed with most of the information and found it to be enlightening. I especially found the section on the various tools to be informative. There are some aspects I will probably never use (dance, for example) but I still enjoyed learning about it.
I'm still very drawn to the idea of using the "Old Ways" and the celebrations of those ways. This is a path I really feel called to.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Wiccan Rede and the Witch's Creed
I've been studying both of these documents as my Week #2 assignment. In my opinion (and isn't that what this blog is, really?), these documents are a way of remembering the lessons/items that are important. For example, one of them speaks so much of the wind directions. Without the rhyme/poem style, I'm not sure I'd ever remember which is which.
The final line in each document, though, is probably the most important. "An ye harm none, do what you will" is the last line of both the rede and the creed. In my opinion, that's the line we as humans need to live by anyway.
Week #3, here I come!
The final line in each document, though, is probably the most important. "An ye harm none, do what you will" is the last line of both the rede and the creed. In my opinion, that's the line we as humans need to live by anyway.
Week #3, here I come!
13 Goals of a Witch
Week #2 of the Christian Witch Class deals with the Wiccan Rede, the Witch's Creed, and the 13 Goals of a Witch. Each item is copywritten and because of that I'm not going to put any of those documents here. I am, however, going to discuss what I think each of them mean.
The 13 goals of a witch are simplistic. They are the things you want to do to be a better person. If I were to write a list of goals for MY life, this would be it. Same with most of the Christians I know. (Ok, theirs might say "Honor God" instead of having a reference to a Goddess.) The items about exercising and eating right, the are the same! The ones about keeping pure words and thoughts, same! Learning, knowing your "craft" and yourself? All the same!
So, are they really the goals of a witch? Or are they the goals of a human? The goals of a person who is striving to be more spiritual? The goals of someone who is working toward a path of enlightenment and is curious as to where that path is headed?
That's what I think.
The 13 goals of a witch are simplistic. They are the things you want to do to be a better person. If I were to write a list of goals for MY life, this would be it. Same with most of the Christians I know. (Ok, theirs might say "Honor God" instead of having a reference to a Goddess.) The items about exercising and eating right, the are the same! The ones about keeping pure words and thoughts, same! Learning, knowing your "craft" and yourself? All the same!
So, are they really the goals of a witch? Or are they the goals of a human? The goals of a person who is striving to be more spiritual? The goals of someone who is working toward a path of enlightenment and is curious as to where that path is headed?
That's what I think.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Christian Witch Course Week #1
I've decided to take the Christian Witch Course through yahoogroups. I'm going to use this forum for the assignments. (By the way, this is my tattoo. It's a tribute to my life as a writer and to my spirituality.)- Is there a Divine Being? Yes. I believe there is.
Is it male, female, both, or neither? I think neither. The Bible says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27) That tells me that God created men and women in an image, but how can both sexes be God's image?
How does the Universe work? Honestly? How should I know? I'm a small cog in the universe! I know that if you put something out there, then it will come to pass. How that happens, though, I have no idea.
Are there angels? Yes.
Are there ghosts? Yes. I've seen them.
Are there demons? Yes.
Is there a Satan? Yes.
Do you believe in good and evil? Yes. I don't think you can have one without the other.
Do you believe in sin? Yes. The original meaning of "sin" was to "miss the mark." We've all missed the mark at some point in our lives.
Do you believe in Karma? Yes. It's why mostly good things happen to those who are good and eventually something bad will happen to those who are butts. (Job 4:8; Proverbs 11:18; Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 10:12; and of course Galatians 6:7-8)
Do you believe that Yeshua (Jesus) existed? Yes.
Do you believe that he should be worshipped? I'm not sure. He was God's son and the Messiah. Yes. That I believe. Do I think we should pray to Jesus? I don't know. Exodus 20:5 says "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...." Maybe we're to worship God only. If that's true, how can we then worship Jesus?
Do you believe that he is the Messiah? See above.
Do you believe that you must believe that Yeshua is the Messiah in order to go to Heaven? Yes. The Bible says no one will get to the Father except through the Son. (John 14:6)
Do you believe in Heaven? Yes.
Do you believe in Hell? Yes. Back to that "you can't have one without the other" thing.
Do you believe in an afterlife at all? Yes.
Do you believe that there is a soul? Yes. The laws of physics state that energy can't "disappear" it needs to go somewhere. I think the energy that is "us" is our soul.
What is the soul? Oops. See question above!
How is the soul connected to our mind? I think our mind is a "section" of our soul.
Are we fated or do we have a choice in our direction in life? Both. There is a plan. There are lessons we must learn. If we select not to learn them the first tim (our choice, right?), then they will keep showing up until we do. Kind of like how a woman can keep attracting the wrong guy until she makes the CHOICE to select something else.
What is the meaning of life? If I knew *that* there would be nothing else to learn, would there?
Is there reincarnation? I'm not sure. There are good arguments for both sides of this one.
Is there only one true religion? Any way that you get to God (which, I believe is through the Son) is correct. If you get there by believing Jesus was a fantastic prophit, that's fine. If you get there by being a devout Christian, that's fine, too.
OK, so there's my "Week #1" assignment. On to week #2!
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