Although it’s not a new concept, there isn’t much written on the practice. Only in about the last 10 years have Christo-Pagans really started branching out with their teachings recorded in the written form.
The standard response could very well be, “it’s a blending of Christianity and Paganism,” but that’s a little too general for me. Christo-Paganism to me, is a path of coming out. It was coming out from a spiritually stunted way of thinking, to a place of knowledge and wisdom awaiting outside the church doors.
I was a Christian for about 10 years when a beloved family member died. I’d certainly had family pass away before, but none to this point of shaking my faith. With this in mind, I found my faith not having what I needed it to have in order to sustain me. I needed something more. I didn’t feel the need to turn my back on Christianity. It did nothing to deserve that type of anger from me and I certainly didn’t have any teachers who failed me in this aspect.
The only resentment I would have, would be with the seemingly endless calls to action. It seemed that every time I turned around I needed to be angered about something. I could only remain outraged for so long. I still find worthy causes to give my time and resources to, but now it’s from a different place in my heart and life. It is from a place of love and caring for the people around me.
When I came to Christo-Paganism, I found that it brought me a sense of peace. Don’t get me wrong, Christianity has many of those aspects in and of itself, however the dogma surrounding the teachings of Christianity is more foreboding than what I believe was originally intended by God.
So what is Christo-Paganism? It is a shedding of the doctrine of man imposed on the church. A way of washing away what doesn’t align with the true intent of God as well as a journey into the vast world of Pagan arts, sciences, and theories of what it all means when it comes to our existence.
I felt secure in being born again. Combining Pagan beliefs with the Christianity that I held so dear was like being born again, and then coming home to grow and learn about life and the joys that deity has given us.
This is a good article stating how Christopagans and Jewitches are accepted. So lovely seeing a Pagan group accepting Christopagans.
Can I ask u a question? I’m curious, when u say you were a “Christian”, does that mean you were going to a Christian church regularly and participating, etc…or were you a “born-again Christian”?
I was in fact an active participant in church, was baptized, and born again. There are some parts of my Christian past that looking back are absolutely cringeworthy, however through further learning and growing as a Christopagan (i.e. studying Pagan beliefs in tandem with viewing Christian scriptures from more of a philosophical mythic work rather than historical truth) I have become a more well-rounded accepting human being.