Am I a Christo-pagan? Not really.

[ianphanes]

• written in response to a discussion in Pantheon.

sindarintech wrote
Most christo-pagans are confused about their paths anyway. You don't get to fully embrace a tradition of witchcraft (just as an example) by sitting on the fence about christianity.

Through the later 1980's and 90s, I used to joke: "I gave up Christianity for Lent. But since I wasn't

Comments

[ianphanes]

I'm having trouble responding because the language of salvation has never been meaninful for me. I certainly don't believe that receiving any initiation gets me a better deal in the afterlife. (That's what salvation meant in the mysteries in Hellenistic society, and that's what got transferred into Christianity.) I am, however, convinced that living out the consequences of initiation can make deep changes in oneself that may influence future lives, if reincarnation happens.

In my Episcopal church, there is a greater emphasis on sanctification than on salvation/justification. That is, sermons are often about how to live as Christians (which includes, but is more than, living virtuous lives), but I don't think I've ever heard one about hell or damnation.

I understand Jesus as a demigod who attained apotheosis via sacrifice. I also see Dionysos as a demigod who attained apotheosis via sacrifice, but my relationship with Jesus is very different than my relationship with Dionysos. For me, Jesus is a god of healing and of connection with others, while Dionysos is a god of ecstasy and freedom. I have need of both in my life.

I'm perfectly willing to answer questions on my polyreligiosity, but I just don't have anything to say about salvation. If you have other questions, I'm happy to answer them. Ask me about the Christian scriptures, stories, liturgy, worship, whatever--so long as it isn't abstract theology.