User:Kim Dent-Brown/Christian Wicca

Christianity and neopaganism overlap when the beliefs or practices of one religious path influence, or are adopted by, the other. Historically, Christianity sometimes took advantage of traditional pagan beliefs when it spread to new areas - a process known as syncretism. Thus newly established Churches took on sites, practices or images belonging to indigenous belief systems as a way of making the new faith more acceptable.

More recently, in a parallel process, some followers of modern pagan paths have developed practices such as Christian Wicca or ChristoPaganism by attempting to blend Christian elements into Neopagan practice.

The combination of two religions, each traditionally considered at odds with the other, is frequently criticized by those who are members of only one.

Historical syncretism
Christianity and classical Paganism had an uneasy relationship with each being at different times persecutor or persecuted. However each also influenced the other. For example, a 10th/11th Century manuscript in the British Library known as the Lacnunga describes a charm against poison said to have been invented by Christ while on the cross, which has parallels in Anglo-Saxon magic.

Modern syncretism
In the modern era examples of syncretism may include Christians seeking to incorporate concepts of the Divine Feminine from Neopaganism into Christianity, or Neopagans seeking to incorporate figures such as Jesus or Mary (mother of Jesus) into, for example, Wiccan worship.

Christian Wicca
This has been described in a self-published book by Nancy Chandler who now prefers the term Trinitarian Tradition. Chandler asserts that "This tradition is not eclectic nor is it ChristoPagan because our devotion lies exclusively with the Christian pantheon. Trinitarian practitioners celebrate the Wiccan Way, observing the 8 Sabbats, the 13 Esbats, and upholding the Wiccan Rede."

ChristoPaganism
Others use this term, somewhat confusingly as it is already in use in academic circles to describe historical accommodations to indigenous religions by Christianity as it was carried to new lands by missionaries. Joyce and River Higginbotham define ChristoPaganism as: "A spirituality that combines beliefs and practices of Christianity with beliefs and practices of Paganism, or that observes them in parallel." They give as examples people identifying as Pagan but observing both Pagan and Christian liturgical years, using the Rosary or observing a form of Communion.

Objections by Christians
The most common objections to Christian Wicca are the direct objections to witchcraft found in the Old Testament, particularly in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Contemporary Christians may object to Neopagan beliefs in reincarnation, to their rejection of the existence of the Devil or to their polytheism.

Objections by Neopagans
Neopagans may object to this syncretism for some of the same reasons as Christians. Other reasons cited include a Neopagan rejection of the doctrine of Original sin, an objection to evangelising and a rejection at least some of the Ten Commandments.