Statements of Religious Belief , Wiccan and Christianity
A statement of faith could be a prayer or a sert of rules that a member of a religion will follow. In this article, you will learn some of the beliefs associated with Wicca and Christianity.
Major statements of the Wiccan faith include the Charge of the Goddess and the Wiccan Rede. The Charge of the Goddess provides followers with a traditional test full of inspiration that is sometimes used in Wicca. There are many different versions that exist, most of which stand on the same basic foundation. In the end, it is believed that sets of instructions are given by a Great Goddess to those who worship her. Keeping in line with the ancient Roman belief that the Goddess Isis possessed about 10,000 different names, the following is a sample of the beginning lines of the Charge of the Goddess:
“Listen to the words of the Great Mother; she who of old was also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other names.”
The Wiccan Rede consists of a saying that encompasses a blend of overall ethics associated with the Wiccan religion. Derived from Middle English, ‘rede’ means ‘advice’ or ‘counsel.’ In its most common form, you will encounter “An it harm none, do what ye will.” Throughout the years, an assortment of variations have emerged, including ” Do what you will, so long as it harms none” and ” That it harm none, do as thou wilt.”
As for Christianity, the Apostles’ Creed is known as one of the oldest associated with the religion. This text pays homage to all of the 12 Apostles and links one phrase of the creed to each Apostle. When taking a look at the common worship translation, you will encounter:
“I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.”
Another creed linked to the Christian faith is the Nicene Creed, which mentions basic themes of the religion, such as the Trinity. This statement of faith is accepted throughout the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, the Lutherans, Methodists, and the Presbyterian Church. In association with the First Council of Nicea, the following is a sample from the text:
“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father”