II'm a Christian witch, but follow no religion. Christianity is my spiritual faith, not my religion....
Nice. I never heard it explained that way. Thank you for the insight.
I think the key term here is "religion". I'm a Christian witch, but follow no religion. Christianity is my spiritual faith, not my religion; from my perspective, all religion is basically designed as a power structure, with priests at the top and everyone else at the bottom. Just makes no sense to me to ask another to interpret G-d for me when I have as much access as the next person.
How does a Christian witch actually perform magic? I thought a witch believes s/he manifests change through their own will. Christians say that prayer can manifest change through God's will. How do you reconcile the two?
So, do gnostic Christians effect magic through their own will or do they channel the power of their God. If it is the latter, does the gnostic christian decide how and when to deploy the magic or does the deity? I'm interest to hear your beliefs, I am only really familiar with Pauline Christians.
Gnostics don't so much effect Magic, rather they achieve a personal direct communion with their God. It's generally considered a Heresy by the big three, because it dispenses with the need for intercession. But Hindus are pretty up with it, and there are still Heretical Gnostic sects of the Abrahmic Religions.
No. This is incorrect. Personal direct communion with God is not considered a heresy in mainstream Christianity.
It is. Christianity is quite clear that the only way to God, is through Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians and Catholics have to pray to one of the Saints, to intercede between them and God. And the resurrected Jesus only speaks to the Pope. That's why the Cathars were put down. It's why Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. It's why Christian Mystics all ways lived up a pole, or in cave somewhere. Christianity accepts Jesus as Messiah. The last Prophet. And God speaking directly to men turns all that on it's head. That's why Christianity is so oppositional to Islam, because Mohammed is claimed to be a Prophet.