Wicca vs Christianity
The Matter of Fact

This is based on discussions between My Partner and Myself over our religious views:

Lets go over some subtle differences and simularities between the two. Simularities? Yes.

The God issue:

Mckenna (sharing the Wiccan point)

Christians believe in one God and that Jesus is the Son of God Wiccans believe in a Supreme Being and that to reach Him/Her you can speak through other dieties or the God and Goddess under several names. This is not too much different from the Catholics and their Saints. Wiccans do not all doubt that Jesus is the Son of God or that He was a great Teacher and Prophet. But also believe that Mohummad and Buddah were as well and nameless others. When Wiccans pray to the Mother and/or Father they are wanting the same things that a Christian wants and needs when praying to their God. Confession,Guidance,and Understanding. But unlike a Christian, they also take full responsability for their actions. They will not use the term "The Devil made me do it" because They do not believe in Satan. This Entity does not exist. Why? Because of the belief they hold that everything has a dual side. Light/Dark, Good/Evil, Black/White, Up/Down. No Entity causes our misdeeds. Its a failure in our Human Nature and that We must rise above it or pay the 'threefold' consequences....

OGRE (sharing the Christian point)

Christianity Believes in a Solitary Being known only as God. A single being held with both Mother/Father aspects whole. Also the Son of God being only held under Jesus Christ. The roots of Christianity have stemmed broad through many changes and various forms (Catholics Praying to Mary and the Saints whereas Babtists pray straight through Jesus and the Holy Spirit) but the underlying belief is the same. To have faith within the Holy Spirit and Jesus for Spiritual guidance. And as far as 'evil' is concerned; Christians believe that Satan 'influences' mankind through means of deception and lies. The distinctions of human nature and 'evil' are drawn within the spiritual guidelines set forth within the Christian Bible that even though mankind has agressive tendencies that there can also be the 'evil' side beyond and seperate from 'instinct'.

(Lady Mckenna)

Agreeing with the above. As I said before, Wiccans believe in duality. There is light and darkness within a person. We must decide which path to take.

(OGRE)

As well with Christianity that mankind is capable of light and darkness within themselves and that each individual is responsible for their actions whether 'Satan' had a play or not. For each Human has the will to decide each action they take whether good or 'evil' and cannot blame 'Satan' for it(99.9% of the time). And Whether some agree or not, 'Satan made Me do it' is a sorry excuse to use, especially to God. For this is due to that if You truely believe then Satan could have no power to command over You. Falter, be misguided, or 'sin' Yes, but to simply 'pass the buck(blame)' is even to a Christian a 'lame' excuse.

The Holidays:

(Lady Mckenna)

The holidays Wiccans celebrate evolve around the seasonal changes. Back in the beginning the common people used the turning of the Suns and Moons to tell when to harvest, reap,and sow. They also represent the life and death of the Goddess and God.(see Sabbats). Samhain coinsides with All Saints Day. The blending of the two is clearly seen.The Holiest of Nights to the Wiccan and celebrated by showing the Spirits of Loved Ones passed that we are still thinking of them. Yule is the right of passage for our God. Announcing His birth into this Realm. The Yule Log is burned until Candlemas or Imbolc which coinsides with Groundhogs Day. Ostara coinsides with Easter. The time of rebirth and is represented by the 'Easter' egg which is very Pagan oriented. Beltane is a celebration which is aligned with MayDay. The May Pole is a Pagan symbol. Litha is Midsummers Eve.Lughnassad is in August and the harvest time. And Mabon represents our Thanksgiving and our Feast of what was harvested.

(OGRE)

The holidays celebrated by Christians includes in order: Easter: A Memorial celebrated for the death and reserection of Jesus Christ. The date varies from year to year but is generally between March and April. The symbolism used in this holiday generally include the egg which represents birth or rebirth, the same as ostara in pagan belief. Of course this holiday for us does not stem from paganism but has a symbolism all to its own for Christianity. Christmas: This holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is ritualized by the three wise men surrounding the crib of the baby Jesus bringing gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankencense. Of course this has nothing to do with ol' Saint Nick, but at the same time this fellow teaches us the value of giving and recieving and should not be demeaned. With these two Major holidays we should not forget the Roman Catholicism belief in several more subtle but in no way less important celebrated holidays which will not be included in this site. But let us point out that since Catholicism was the first Christian religion that came into pagan Rome, there are similarities within it to corilate between Pagan and Catholic celebrations. Let us point out as well that DOES NOT mean that Catholicism is any way Pagan. But, when two cultures collide there will be a blending. (Hearing the saints bellow now)

Babtism Vs. Wiccaning:

(Lady Mckenna)

Having a child is a unique transition, a passage from singularity into bearing life and being responsible for that little spirit's development. Let us remember that before becoming pregnant that childbirth is a life long commitment, requiring patience, understanding and heaping amounts of love.
Wiccaning, a dedication and naming so much like babtism. For we too, bless our children. Many cultures wait anywhere from three days to three months. Wiccans are no different. White candles, milk, salt, incense and soil are just tools that we use. Our words of blessings may not be fancy, but are out of love and comes comfortably to our lips.

(OGRE)

With the blessings of life there is a starting point. and Child birth begins with the creation of life in the expecting Mother's womb. As with Wicca, the child is blessed with love and care. Upon birth of the child, it is blessed(or 'babtized') and named in front of the congregation for all to know (Catholicism). The defining point in ANY would be family is the youth that has become part of humanity and as such given a personality all of its own.

Marriage Vs. Handfasting

(Lady Mckenna)

Marriage can be the most significant rituals we take part in, for it will have a life long effect on every level of our psyches. But today we seem to have lost conciousness of what marriage is or could be about. By binding ourselves in such a union, we are able to place two souls into a cocoon from which both can emerge with wings. The challenge is to lay a strong spiritual foundation on the onset so that change will bring growth without chaos. Pagans partially address this problem by having two ceremonies. "The Year and a Day" and "The Binding Eternal Right". The "Year and a Day" rite is a trial run to see if the couple wants to enter into the eternal union(two connection of souls). The handfasting ritual reflects and embodies the couple's dreams, ambitions, goals, and the focus for their union. Most Pagans begin with the traditional handfasting ritual, then making alterations to personalize their rite. There are several stages to the handfasting rite that are similar to Christianity. One, group atunement. Two, purification of the circle. Three, statement of intention. Four, invocations. Five, the commitments. Six, symbolic acts of union. Seven, rings. Eight, confirmation of participants. (Letting OGRE show you the similarities)

(OGRE)

Group attunement. Christians as well as Pagans bring family and friends together to celebrate and witness the union. Purification of the circle, Christians may not have a circle but the church is blessed. Statement of intentions, Christianity(father giving the bride away) and by doing so states that He is in favor of the union. Invocations, like Wiccans, We ask Our Lord to join us to witness and bless this union as well. The commitment, where the bride and groom state before the divine the commitments to this marriage symbolic acts of union. Some differences here as well as similarities. The Christians may hold hands during the ceremony where Pagans will have a knotted cord tying their wrists during the ceremony. But the ring exchange is so personalized between the couple that no two is ever the same. Confirmation of participants, Christians as well as Wiccans, of course congradulate the blessed couple, and in both cultures just love a good party.