witchcraft (wicca) and christianity

[kittyjo]

georgia, are you a Christian?

Sniff, sniff, sniff... Calamity, I think I smell youth spiked with new agey relativism and a whiff of pop-culture socialism... Let's pray that she grows out of it!

[sachi]

Georgesbluegirl:

And once again - we run into the "who wrote the Bible" debate. I'll drop this argument, because from experience I know we're not going to agree: our beliefs about to origins of the Bible are different

You know Georges - you sound a lot like me when I was younger. I had a lot of questions @ myfaith. And I needed a 'safe' place to wonder about these questions, to ask them, and to hear other peoples views.

But in my youth, hey, there was no such thing as Chat Lines.

My parents were very strict. So asking question was tantamount to heresy. :x:

People can't grow spiritually properly then

This board is a good place for you to ask questions.

That is what it is here for.

I hope you feel welcome and not judged.

Hopefully you can hear peoples views without negating them entirely or feeling personally attacked .

But a Christian Chat Line is THE PLACE to COME and ask the questions we have. :il:

You strike me as being a really sincere person who is searching.

And I pray that the Lord whom you love and Who loves you will continue to guide you into ALL truth through His Holy Spirit.

Blessings- Sachi.

[Guest Calamity]

Calamity:

georgia, are you a Christian

Paul says

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."

Roman 10

It doesn't say anything here @ asking question @ about one faith as effecting ones salvation.

sachi, I wasn't being "smart" by asking, I was sincere. After reading through her posts, looking at her profile, clicking the link there, reading some other misc. things there, I wondered. The "God being she or she/he, or "mother", does sound too much like New Age, Mother Earth stuff. Then, there's the "yin/yang" that she mentioned, which is not Christian at all.

[gypc]

(NIV) Gal5:16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

[gypc]

And once again - we run into the "who wrote the Bible" debate. I'll drop this argument, because from experience I know we're not going to agree: our beliefs about to origins of the Bible are different.

(NIV) 2 Tim 3:14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

[georgesbluegirl]

Pop-culture socialism? Hardly - that's all about rebellion. Which is tons of fun sometimes, but I was raised with some very socialist principles simply because much of it is GOOD. Similarly, my dad always had an appreciation for other religions, especially Buddhism, as well as Taoism and Hinduism. That's why my avatar is an "aum" or "om," when you read up about it it's really quite beautiful. It's a great mantra for prayer or meditation, really gets you focused. As far as yin/yang, I said it that way because it was the simplest way to say what I meant. I wasn't about to get into, say, unconscious balance of the masculine and feminine. You get the point.

All God (edit: good...what was that???) Christians, all good followers of any religion, SHOULD challenge their beliefs.

I know that many of you believe that the Bible must be followed by the letter and that it is ALL true, which is the original point of this post. I do not believe that it is infallible - it was completly INSPIRED by God, but transformed into words by men. But we can't debate this point because it's a total catch-22 for both sides. Otherwise, I wouldn't be having the same argument over and over on other threads...

Edited September 10, 2004 by georgesbluegirl

[ayin jade]

The discussion isnt for intellectual stimulation, or sport. The discussion is out of concern for your soul, your place in eternity. We care about your final destination.

[Guest shadow2b]

- but I was raised with some very socialist principles simply because much of it is GOOD.

=COMMUNISM??--MARXISM?? HAS GOOD--PRINCIPLES??-YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING--Name "SOME" of its good principles----

[Catsmeow]

I know that many of you believe that the Bible must be followed by the letter and that it is ALL true,

The majority of people on this board would agree with this statement....

[kittyjo]

Pop-culture socialism? Hardly - that's all about rebellion. Which is tons of fun sometimes, but I was raised with some very socialist principles simply because much of it is GOOD. Similarly, my dad always had an appreciation for other religions, especially Buddhism, as well as Taoism and Hinduism. That's why my avatar is an "aum" or "om," when you read up about it it's really quite beautiful. It's a great mantra for prayer or meditation, really gets you focused. As far as yin/yang, I said it that way because it was the simplest way to say what I meant. I wasn't about to get into, say, unconscious balance of the masculine and feminine. You get the point.

All God Christians, all good followers of any religion, SHOULD challenge their beliefs.

I know that many of you believe that the Bible must be followed by the letter and that it is ALL true, which is the original point of this post. I do not believe that it is infallible - it was completly INSPIRED by God, but transformed into words by men. But we can't debate this point because it's a total catch-22 for both sides. Otherwise, I wouldn't be having the same argument over and over on other threads...

Since you are Catholic, I thought I'd share this with you from the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia Re: Socialism

" The trend of the Socialist movement, then, and the deliberate pronouncements and habitual thought of leaders and followers alike, are almost universally found to be antagonistic to Christianity." Click Here for More

Historically modern socialism, established by Karl Marx, has stood for atheism and is usually found to be rooted in systems that disallow Christian veiwpoints.World wide, socialism has been promoted by atheistic/humanist governments. Simply, socialism is defined as a way to 'even the playing feild', making all people having all things in common. Allowing the goverment to take all things and redistribute them as the government sees fit. Socialism denies private ownership, it negates free will, it takes away the glory and reliance from God and places it on the government.

The Bible [God's Word] is neither socialist or capitalist per se. God's way, allows us to have private ownership, it encourages and instructs us, to show mercy and help the poor, the weak, and to give from the heart as we see fit as an individual by our choice; not to have the government take it by force and give it to whom they desire. Christianity allows private ownership; reward for work/accomplishments; the freedom of choice and reliance on the Lord to meet our needs... So why put so much energy, faith and hoopla in a 'ism'? Isn't God more powerful than a political movement or any 'ism'?

As for the rest of your post... Do you believe the philosophical position that all points of view are equally valid and that all truth is relative to the individual. This means that all moral positions, all religious systems, all art forms, all political movements, etc., are truths that are relative to the individual. This is Relativism.

You have said "I was raised with some very socialist principles", and "my dad always had an appreciation..." You are 18 now, it's time to figure out what you believe and appreciate through your own research, investigation and exploring minus your parents influence. You said "All good Christians, all good followers of any religion, SHOULD challenge their beliefs." It's time to start challenging your own.

Tolerance [the real meaning of the word] and appreciation of others is a good thing but...

The traditional definition of tolerance means simply to recognize and respect others' beliefs, practices, and so forth without necessarily agreeing or sympathizing with them. This attitude, that everyone has a right to his own opinion, is what tolerance means to most of us.

But today's definition is vastly different. This new tolerance means to consider every individual's beliefs, values, lifestyle and truth claims as equally valid. So not only does everyone have an equal right to his beliefs, but all beliefs are equal. The new tolerance goes beyond respecting a person's rights; it demands praise and endorsement of that person's beliefs, values and lifestyle.

Relativism/'new tolerance' is not a good thing it belittles, deminishes all that Christ has done for us... All things are not equal, Jesus said:

John 14 6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Ayin Jade is right, "The discussion isnt for intellectual stimulation, or sport. The discussion is out of concern for your soul, your place in eternity. We care about your final destination."