Faith-related musings.

[royalmarriage]

Although I'm not a Pagan, I've found myself drifting in the past year or so towards an interest in Christian mysticism (although I've not done anything of note about it; I just find ideas like the Lectio Divina, "practicing the Presence of God", Christian meditation, and Centering prayer really interesting. Although the church tradition I'm part of - through choice - tends towards loud, lively exuberant worship, I'm also drawn to the notion of stillness and quietness and peace as I seek to commune with God) and I guess it's partly because of that interest that I've found myself increasingly interested in Paganism. Not that I could specify exactly what it is about it that I find fascinating about it (possibly the fact that it's so eclectic and covers a multitude of beliefs and deities? Certainly the notion of being attuned to nature), but I've found myself wondering if some sort of syncretism of Paganism and Christianity may be a path I could take. Certainly there are Christo-pagans and Christian Wiccans. Whether either of them - or something else entirely - may be right for me, I don't know. But I'm going to explore. I don't yet know where I'm heading. But I suspect it's going to be an interesting journey.

As part of that journey, I've found Mystic Wicks, an online Pagan community, which even has a section dedicated to Christian Witchcraft. I feel very at home there. Which is pleasant.

Comments

[the-barlow.livejournal.com]

Although I'm not a Pagan, I've found myself drifting in the past year or so towards an interest in Christian mysticism.

I must admit when I first read this statement I was a tad confused, after all, being into Christian Mysticism doesn't by any means suggest you might be a pagan!

That said, I think one of the reasons that I'm drawn toward Christian Mysticism is that Celtic Christianity has quite a special place in my life (my mother's Welsh, and I lived in Scotland for four years), and Celtic Christianity, which does focus a lot on the sort of spiritual excercises you mentioned does indeed draw itself from the pagan customs that were prevalent in the celtic societies before the introduction of Christianity. It's interesting as well that you should mention modern paganism as that too attempts to revive a lot of ancient Celtic practices and attitudes.

E
x

[miriammoules.livejournal.com]

Mysticism is a legit branch of Christendom. "Two worlds are ours" by Mcquarrie is a good introduction.

Also, Rowan Williams has written on Mysticism.

Well, I'm not a Christian...

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

but I'm utterly absorbed and fascinated by Gnosticism and other early Christian sects - so it's not just you. *g*

[amberb-uk.livejournal.com]

I've found myself wondering if some sort of syncretism of Paganism and Christianity may be a path I could take

It wouldn't be the first time there's been such a melding of these faiths *grins, winks and chuckles*. By the way, I'm also fascinated by Gnosticism and Celtic Christianity, although I'm a Pagan rather than a Christian.

My path was founded in Christianity, that was where my grandfather started teaching me principles for living. It just got wider than one religion, as his search for his path also did.