do all gods point to the same god?

I say that all are calling on the same God…it is not good to feel that my religion is true and the other religions are false. All seek the same object. A mother prepares dishes to suit the stomachs of her children….God has made religions to suit different aspirants, times and countries. All doctrines are only so many paths.

~Ramakrishna

LOL! What a crock! This statement is posted on a website that I have seen pop up more frequently. In addition, a Wiccan minister posted a similar comment on this blog recently. Now before I get into this, I want to be absolutely clear that it is not my intent here to bash either of these folks for expressing their views! In fact, I appreciate that someone of another faith would drop by here to share their thoughts! I love the dialogue!

However, I do feel that it is important to address a perspective that has been thrown my way several times recently, and that is this idea that all gods are one god.

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interview :: marla alupoaicei and dillon burroughs

Recently I have had the opportunity to review the book Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca. This book written by Marla Alupoaicei and Dillon Burroughs is an interesting study into the world of witchcraft and spirituality. In addition to reviewing the book BibleDude.net had the pleasure of picking Marla’s and Dillon’s brains about the topic. Here are the results of that interview…

BibleDude.net: Where did you get the idea for the book?

Dillon: I had already worked on three world religion books where I had included some material on Wicca. However, most of my research showed most people were either unaware of Wicca or were misinformed. I thought a book that included talking with Wiccans and sharing what they had to say before comparing it to my faith made the most sense. Our publisher, located in Eugene, Oregon, is in a very strong Wiccan community and saw the need for the project. We did our homework on the proposal and after sharing our passion for it at a meeting during ICRS in 2007, were offered a contract in less than 30 days.

 

Marla: Dillon asked me to partner with him on the book to provide the female perspective on Wicca and to interview women who are involved in the practice.

 

BibleDude.net: What are the major themes of the book?

 

Dillon: It’s simply one, two: “What is Wicca?” and “What Should I Do about Wicca?” In 176 pages, we cover the basic of what Wicca is, why it matters, and how to influence those involved in it with the love of Christ. I guess you could say it’s part awareness, part outreach.

 

Marla: Each chapter addresses a different element of Wicca or witchcraft. We talk about Harry Potter and other media and their influence, the history of Wicca and witchcraft in America (including the Salem witch trials), the practices of Wicca, what Wiccans believe, how you can share the gospel with a Wiccan, how Wicca is spreading on college campuses, what Wiccans believe about the God and the Goddess, and much more.

 

BibleDude.net: What do you think are the biggest similarities between Biblical Christianity and Wicca?

Dillon: Both care about people, spiritual power, community, the environment, and many other common positive issues. As we wrote in Generation Hex, “Would Jesus have invested time in those involved in Wicca if they had lived during His time on earth? Yes! They would have been very interested in His concerns for all creation, the poor, human rights, women, and His love for all humanity.”

 

Marla: Both teach people to honor God, to care for the earth, to care for other human beings. In both systems, people understand that there is a power that exists outside of themselves. Both systems reveal the fact that mankind is searching for meaning and truth. In a sense, both are “positive” religious systems.

 

BibleDude.net: What do you think are the biggest differences between Biblical Christianity and Wicca?

Dillon: The number one difference is that Wiccans worship a different God. In Wicca, the focus in on the God and the Goddess. Many Wiccans also revere additional deities, ranging from the gods and goddesses of Greco-Roman mythology to African and even East Asian deities.
 
A second concern is that Wicca is an earth-based religion that worships the creation rather than its Creator. The apostle Paul addresses this issue in Romans 1.
 
Third, Wiccans emphasize magic, defining magic as having both positive and negative methods (white magic or magick versus black magick). From a biblical perspective all forms of spell-casting are considered sinful practices.
 
Finally, many Wiccans communicate with spirits of the dead. Again, the Bible is clear that this is a sinful practice in which those who follow Christ are not allowed to practice.

 

 

Marla: There are at least five major differences. Primary is the difference between what Christians believe about Scripture and what Wiccans believe. We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the standard for our lives. Wiccans believe it is a book that may contain some good teachings, but it is not their standard.

 

Secondly, we believe in the One True God as described in the Bible. Wiccans believe in a God and a Goddess who are equal, as well as a pantheon of lower gods and goddesses.

 

Probably most important, we believe in the person of Jesus Christ as the perfect God-Man, the Savior of the world, who bore the sins of all humanity on the cross for us and then rose from the dead so we could have eternal life. Some Wiccans believe that Jesus lived. Some believe that he may have been Gaius or another “god,” but they don’t believe that He was part of the triune God, and they do not worship Him.

 

Fourth, we believe that each believer receives the Holy Spirit at the time that he or she establishes a relationship with God through faith in Christ. Some Wiccans (esp. Christian Wiccans) believe that the Holy Spirit is feminine, which the Bible does not support. Other Wiccans don’t believe in the Holy Spirit at all.

 

Last, we believe that Satan does exist and that he opposed God and was cast to the earth along with a third of the angels, who became demons. He is the “prince of this world” and seeks to deceive people and destroy those whom God loves. Wiccans don’t believe in a literal Satan.

 

One of our goals with Generation Hex is to educate and enlighten those caught up in Wicca’s practices in order that they might know God and come to a knowledge of His truth.

 

BibleDude.net: How can I talk about Jesus with someone involved in witchcraft?

Dillon: First, you have to stop looking at Wiccans or those involved in witchcraft as what I call a “potential buyer of Christianity.” People will know if you are showing interest in them only to convert them. When we think someone is talking to us just to sell us something, we automatically withdraw from that person. We don’t think that he or she truly cares about us as an individual; we think he or she is just trying to sell us a product. The same is true in talking about Jesus with Wiccans.

 

We don’t know exactly how to reach Wiccans and help them get to the point of making the decision to turn their lives over to Jesus, but we can tell you how to show them the love of Jesus. Treat them well. Listen to them. Smile. Be friendly. Care. When you do, people want to become more like you. They want the same joy that you have. When we see someone who radiates joy and shows real love, we automatically think, I wish I could be more like her. That’s your goal. Once a person desires what you have, tell them, “It’s Jesus. He’s the difference-maker.” Make your life and your actions stand out, and you’ll have the opportunity to tell people why you are so extraordinary. A life transformed by God speaks volumes!

 

BibleDude.net: Amen!

book review :: generation hex, understanding the subtle dangers of wicca

One topic that I have been hoping to write about for some time is that of the Christian approach to dealing with those in Wicca. I was very happy to see my friend “Hopeful Spirit” of On the Horizon posting in the “What My Neighbor Believes…” series on the topic of Wicca. I have always been fascinated by this belief system, and think that it is important for Christians to understand it better. Wicca can easily become a realistic alternative to Christianity for people who are turned off by the church somehow.

The recently published Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca is, in my humble opinion, a very important piece of work about this belief system. Written by Marla Alupoaicei and Dillon Burroughs, this book answers the questions, “What is Wicca?” and “What Should I Do About Wicca?”. I was excited to get the chance to review this bookbecause it offered an amazing glimpse into the world of Wicca and how Christian should respond. The media release for the book describes it best…

Wicca is America’s fastest growing religion. By the year 2012, it’s projected to be the third largest religion in the United States.

In Generation Hex, Alupoaicei and Burroughs explore the history, culture, and practices of Wicca. As part of their research, they interviewed travelers to historic Salem, Massachusetts, consulted practitioners of leading neopagan conferences in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, and dialogued with several current and former adherents of Wicca and other forms of witchcraft to evaluate the past and present of this growing spiritual tradition.

The result is a compelling account that will inform and equip Christians (especially parents) to understand Wiccan and New Age teachings. Readers will have confidence to explain this belief system to others and to communicate the gospel to those caught up in this practice.

Generation Hex identifies with the spiritual hunger of a generation seeking truth, authenticity, and hope in a fragmented world.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who knows someone who practices Wicca, or would like to simply be well informed about these practices. It is well written, and extremely informative. If you are like me, then there are probably several people around you that are in some way involved with this religious practice. I wish that I had this bookmany years ago, because it certainly would have helped clear up many of my misconceptions about this religious practice.

If you are interested, you can check out what others are saying about the book…