A Question of Faith

Science Vs. Religion

Charity Lynn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:15:27 +0000

Here it is…the great debate. Scientists like to say that religion is all bunk. There is no deity of any sort, that there is just what science can prove. Believers in all faiths like to say either that science is wrong or that science and religion go hand in hand and that science is part of religion.

If you read the Book of Genesis, you will see something that coincides with science right away. When God creates the world, the gathers all the land to one place. This would mean that the continents, as God created them, were all in one big lump that, as science has suggested, separated over time.

What does this mean? That science was right – that the continents were created together and separated over time. Obviously the Bible does not tell us when they separated, but it is obvious that they did.

What is your take on the fact that the Bible clearly states that God gathered all of the waters on earth together in one place, and that all the dry land was in one place, when it clearly is no longer that way now, and that science has pointed this out?

Why Do People Feel Called?

Charity Lynn — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:39:32 +0000

My best friend’s pastor is leaving their church in July to move to a different state and take up with another church there. It’s the same type of church, just a different place. He says he feels he is being called to do so, and that he is at peace with his decision. My question is why?

Why would God call someone from a place in which they are currently happy, to go somewhere across the country or world, to a place where they may not be so happy? Why would God take a pastor who has done so much for a church and move him to another church, leaving the first church to possibly flounder under a new pastor? It just doesn’t make sense.

Wicca Vs Neo-Wicca

Charity Lynn — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:57:16 +0000

I was reading an article on WitchVox about Tradition vs Eclectic Wicca. Basically the gist was that they are not the same. No they aren’t. And even though they may be based on each other, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Corellian, etc aren’t the same either. The writer of the article made some very valid points and missed the biggest one of all.

Many of the “Neo-Wiccans” do not have the opportunity to become involved with or initiated into “Wiccan” traditions. We have to make our own path because we have no access to any other! I would love to study under a teacher of a specific tradition. Guess what? I can’t. I have no access to a Gardnerian coven or Alexandrian coven. Short of saying a prayer to the Goddess and God and then taking out an ad in the area newspapers that screams “I’m looking for a coven of the ____ tradition because I would like to be initiated and be a part of it,” I don’t have a way of being anything but an eclectic Solitary.

The problem is, by enforcing a seperation of Wicca and “Neo-Wicca” you basically invite those who are trying to find their faith to feel like they’re not as good as others because they can’t get access to a coven of “real” Wiccans. It’s not fair to me and the thousands of other solitaries who do not have access to a “traditional Wicca” coven/teacher to be labeled “Neo-Wiccans.” It cheapens our faith, it makes us look like small children playing copycat.

Guess what? There are umpteen different versions of Christianity but they all get to call themselves Christians. Even the ones who haven’t been baptized by the authority of this church or that church can say they are Christians if they are at the very least making an attempt to worship deity in the manner of the Christians. But “Neo-Wiccans” are to be forced to add “Neo” to the beginning of Wicca because we cannot or choose not to be structured by the traditions and covens of “real” Wicca? To be perfectly honest, how fair is that?

Cross posted at Got-Wicca.Org.

Why Fear God?

Charity Lynn — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:03:18 +0000

One of the things I’ve never understood is being taught to fear God. I’ve been told before that the “fear of God” is supposed to be more of a reminder that God can take all you have away at any time. My question is, why would he do that? I’m being completely serious. Why would he do that? To “teach us a lesson?” Ok. Fine. But frankly, unless he makes it perfectly clear what we’re supposed to be learning, it’s not going to work. People don’t cry out to God when they lose what they had, they cry out AGAINST him. They want to know why he took it from them, why he would allow the circumstances that caused the loss in the first place. If they do cry out to God, they blame the Devil, when it was probably something they themselves did and they’re not owning up to it.

I don’t fear my Goddess. I know that if there is a lesson to learn, she will do what is necessary to teach me. However, I also know that even though she could, she would not take everything away from me to prove a point. Unlike the teachings I received as a Christian about a vengeful God who pours out judgments on those who do not worship him as he has commanded them to, my Goddess is loving. It saddens her when people don’t believe in her or worship her, but she is not going to pour out some divine wrath at the end of the world because of it.

So maybe all those judgments at the “end of the world” are the reason people are taught to fear God – because they don’t want to be a part of it. No thank you. I’ll take my loving Goddess instead.

Proselytizing

Charity Lynn — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:48:11 +0000

I have never quite understood the reason behind proselytizing your religion. Why is it that, Christians especially, feel the need to do all they can to convert their friends who are “unbelievers?” Moreover, what exactly constitutes an “unbeliever?”

I am not a follower of Christ. I am a Wiccan. However, to say that I don’t believe in some form of deity would not be true. I am a believer, just not a follower. I believe Christ existed. I believe he did good things for people while he was alive. I just do not follow along with the “Good Book” and I do not feel that it is the only path to deity.

I have often wondered about the fact that anyone who doesn’t follow Christ is called an “unbeliever.” Why say that? Why not simply say that they are not a follower? And again, why must followers of Christ try to convert everyone else? Oh, that’s right…because the Bible says that Christ and God told them to. Silly me.

In other words, instead of allowing people to believe in the form of deity they are comfortable with, you must do all you can to get them to believe what you believe. Nice. Not my preference though.

Last week in church my friend’s pastor instructed the congregation to go out and make friends with at least 3 unbelievers. Take them to lunch, to dinner, take them to church. By the church definition of an unbeliever, they’re already doing that with one. Guess what? It’s not working!

What Is A Question of Faith?

Charity Lynn — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:59:22 +0000

What is A Question of Faith? Well, A Question of Faith is my newest blog, where I am intending to speak my mind and ask questions regarding things that I am hearing when attending a Christian church. I am a Wiccan and I am proud of it, but circumstances have dictated as of late that I attend a Christian church even though I do not hold the same beliefs that they do. What I am planning on doing with this blog is to post my thoughts and questions regarding why the Christians feel the way they do and to point out where there is some erroneous thought or wording in their teachings. I hope you will join me on my journey.

My intent here is not to make Christians question their faith in their deity. It is not to start aggravated discussions about who is right and who is wrong. No one is wrong. I am not attempting to debate any points. I am merely using this blog as a sounding board for my own thoughts and observations.