By Cernowain
It would sometimes seem that Christians and Wiccans have nothing in common. While there are many differences that tend to alienate us from one another, it is helpful to recognize that there truly are some things which we agree upon, or at least, things which are similar to both our faiths.
in a three-fold God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
in a multitude of angels
in offering prayers of confession followed by a symbolic meal called Communion
"what you sow, you shall reap"
in living ethically as Jesus taught "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you"
we do not believe in animal or human sacrifice
that there is a "priesthood of believers" meaning individuals can directly approach God
in ancient stories from the Bible which inspire our faith
in a spiritual realm where there are "prncipalities, powers and rulers of the air"
in baptism, a symbolic immersion in water, for forgiveness of sins
that God called the creation "good"
that God is omnipresent
Many Christians believe...
in holy days based upon a lunar calendar, such as Easter, Epiphany, and Pentecost.
in having retreats and summer camps which are in the woods
in the baptism or dedication of infants to God, called a"Christening"
that human beings are called to be care-takers of the earth
that there is "neither male nor female... that all are one in Christ"
that male and female are both created "in the image of God", therefore there are male and female aspects of God
in a future age of peace when the love of Jesus will reign over all, called the Millennium
we have a holy day in the fall called "All Saints Day", in which we call to mind saints and special loved ones who have died.
that death is not the end of life and we will be resurrected and will live eternally
in uniting a man and woman in a ceremony called a "wedding"
in doing works of compassion as Jesus did, helping the poor, for all we have is a gift from God.
in a three-fold Goddess (Maiden, Mother, Crone)
in a multitude of lesser gods
in doing rituals and prayers followed by a symbolic meal described as "grounding the power"
in the "three-fold law", which says whatever good or harm you do shall return to you three-fold
in living ethically according to the Wiccan reed:
"Do as you will, and harm none"
we do not believe in animal or human sacrifice
that all wiccans are priestesses and priests who do their own rituals and speak directly to the Goddess
in ancient stories from our own and other cultureswhich inspire our faith
in a spiritual realm where there are gods, spirits, faeries, etc.
in ritual bathing, before conducting rites,for purification
that creation is good
that the Goddess dwells in all things
Many Wiccans believe...
in Esbats and Sabbats, which are sacred days and holidays based upon a lunar calendar
in holding our rituals in nature
in dedicating infants to the Goddess, which is called a "Wiccaning"
that we are to live in harmony with nature and respect it and care for it
in the equality of women and men
that within the godhead of Divinity there is both female and male, which we call the Goddess and the God
in a future age of peace, love and harmony, where the balance will be restored, sometimes called the Age of Aquarius
we have a holiday in the fall called Samhain, in which we feel close to those who have died, especially loved ones.
that death is not the end of life and that after we die, we live again through reincarnation
in binding a couple together in a ceremony called a "handfasting"
in being generous and sharing what we have, being a part of the community, for everything we have is a gift of the Goddess