Wicca is a modern pagan religion influenced by ancient Celtic traditions. It typically involves the worship of a goddess and horned god through seasonal rituals. Wiccans believe in magic and view sex as sacred. While some see the gods as symbols, others believe they are real entities. Wicca rejects authoritarian hierarchy and claims no affiliation with Satanism. The religion emphasizes living in harmony with nature.
A basic description of religion and faith, with a focus on western religion. This is not specific to one religion, but the basic wikipedia definition of religion with visuals. A good introduction.
It is the world’s largest (6 million members) and oldest (3,000 years old) fraternal organization. Freemasons believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.
This presentation gives an insight into various religious cults that exist in the world & concludes showing how Christians(born-again children of God) can resist them.
A basic description of religion and faith, with a focus on western religion. This is not specific to one religion, but the basic wikipedia definition of religion with visuals. A good introduction.
It is the world’s largest (6 million members) and oldest (3,000 years old) fraternal organization. Freemasons believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.
This presentation gives an insight into various religious cults that exist in the world & concludes showing how Christians(born-again children of God) can resist them.
ReligionCosmogony - Origin of the Universe Nature of GodCreat.docxdebishakespeare
Religion
Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Nature of God/Creator
View of Human Nature
View of Good and Evil
View of “Salvation”
View of After Life
Practices and Rituals
Celebrations and Festivals
Week 1
Indigenous Peoples
Most indigenous peoples have creation stories where they believe the Creator or Great Father in the Sky made the earth, the animals and all humans, e.g., the union of Sky Father and Earth Mother. Fisher, 2014, p. 36
Indigenous religions are typically polytheistic and pantheistic, involving a belief that the divine is manifested throughout the physical realm, often involving a supreme god, e.g., Great Spirit. They believe the dark gods of the spirit world are the ones to be afraid of or to placate. Indigenous peoples believe in the importance of maintaining a right relationship with the creator god and the numerous gods governing natural phenomena and forces. Fisher, 2014, p. 40
Indigenous peoples consider themselves connected to all forms of life due to their pantheistic world view. They acknowledge a Circle of Right Relationships, requiring them to respectively cultivate and maintain order among all forms of life and the natural order. Humans are seen as capable of good or bad and under the influence of curses, vows, incantations, or evil spirits. In this sense, they may be animistic. Many have a special shaman or witch doctor who is supposed to help them connect to the spirit world. Fisher, 2014, pp. 34-36, 39 – 52.
Indigenous peoples recognize that both benevolent and malevolent forces exist in the spiritual realm. These forces can have an impact upon individuals, circumstance and events in the physical world.
Good and evil are seen as forces that compete for dominance in a person and in the world. Sometimes there is an ethnocentric idea that ‘our’ group is the good one and all outsiders are ‘bad’. This idea can lead to wars and conflicts. Fisher, 2014, pp. 41, 44 – 46, 51 - 52
The idea of the path or the way or a lifeway is their main idea of salvation. It is the path to the good. This idea is closely aligned with a responsibility for nature and this world, connected with the idea of the Circle of Right Relationships and the holistic connection among all things in the natural world. Oneness with nature is for some seen as a goal of life. Others see ‘salvation’ as surviving and not being defeated by the dark spirits, thus having a long life. Fisher, 2014, pp. 39 - 48
Many indigenous peoples acknowledge a spiritual existence in the afterlife, evidenced by rituals and practices surrounding ancestor veneration. Some groups have a notion of an afterlife, but others do not. For example, some Native American groups believe in a “Happy Hunting Ground’ or that one goes to be with the ancestors and/or the Great Spirit. Many indigenous peoples are terrified of death and use their rituals to ward it off. Fisher, 2014, pp.40 – 41, 53 - 55
Varies by country or group. Some have animal sacrifices or smoke variou ...
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
HANUMAN STORIES: TIMELESS TEACHINGS FOR TODAY’S WORLDLearnyoga
Hanuman Stories: Timeless Teachings for Today’s World" delves into the inspiring tales of Hanuman, highlighting lessons of devotion, strength, and selfless service that resonate in modern life. These stories illustrate how Hanuman's unwavering faith and courage can guide us through challenges and foster resilience. Through these timeless narratives, readers can find profound wisdom to apply in their daily lives.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
2. Overview
Wicca is either one of the oldest or one of the
newest religions in the world
Based in part on the ancient, northern European
pagan beliefs in a fertility goddess and her consort,
a horned god
Recent Wicca is a neo-pagan religion which can be
traced to Gerald Gardner (1884-1964) and
Gardnerian Witchcraft, founded in the UK in the late
1940s
Wicca is based on the symbols, seasonal
days of celebration, beliefs, and deities of
ancient Celtic society
3. Overview
Wicca is often called “The Craft” or “The Craft of the
Wise”
As practiced today, Wicca is in two main forms:
– Traditional Wicca focused on Celtic deities,
seasonal celebrations, and ceremonial magic
practices of secret societies
– Eclectic Wicca combining traditional Wiccan
beliefs with other pagan and non-pagan beliefs
Both of these forms of Wicca are earth-based
religions
4. Overview
A follower of Wicca is called a Wiccan
Wicca and other neo-pagan religions are
experiencing significant growth in the US, Canada, and
Europe
Growth is especially strong among teens and
North Americans of European descent
• Wiccans consider themselves part of all faith groups
that are based on attempts to reconstruct ancient,
extinct religions (neo-pagan)
• Wiccans drop the “neo” and proudly refer to
themselves as pagan
5. Overview
Some Wiccans consider “Wicca” and “Witchcraft” to
be synonyms. Others distinguish between the two
words, considering Wicca a religion only, and
Witchcraft as the practice of magic
Most Wiccans practice magic. However, some do not,
claiming to focus only on spirituality
6. What Does Being A Wiccan Involve?
• The recognition of the goddess and her consort, the
horned god
• May view these as real entities, or as symbols
• Wicca is highly individualistic & based on the
“Wiccan Rede”: “In it [the craft] harm none, do what
thou wilt.”
• Domination, manipulation, and control are prohibited
(but Wiccans have the right to define these terms)
• There is usually a dedication ritual at the start of the
one year and a day training period
• An initiation ritual follows completion of training,
either alone or in the coven
7. Deities
Depending on one’s point of view, Wicca can be
considered monotheistic, duotheistic, polytheistic, or
atheistic
– Monotheistic: Some Wiccans believe in a single,
supreme being called “the all” or “the one”. The goddess
and god are viewed as the female and male aspects of a
single deity
– Duotheistic: Some worship both a female and male
goddess and god, often called the lady and the lord
– Polytheistic: Some recognize the existence of many
ancient gods and goddesses (Pan, Diana, Dionysius, etc.)
– Atheistic: Some recognize the gods and goddesses as
symbols, not living entities
8. Worship Ceremonies
There are similarities as well as differences in the
way Wiccans and other religions worship their
deities
– Similarity: Wiccans often engage in conversational, as
well as ritual, prayers to their goddess and/or god
– Difference: Many Wiccans believe in “the necessity of
reciprocal communion” between supplicants and their
particular deities---belief that individual Wiccans need the
goddess and god, and that the goddess and god need the
wiccan(s) too.
– Thus, worship is communion between supplicant and
deity based on mutual need
9. Worship Ceremonies
In all cases, worship supposedly involves direct
encounters with the deities which do not require the
intermediacy of a priest or other minister
There is a non-obligatory dedication ritual for
newborns similar to a baptism
Numerous rituals are written by individual Wiccans
for personal or Coven use to commemorate various
life passages, as well as “issue-based needs”
Many Wiccans observe “Esbat” rituals at each of the
full moon and new moon phases (the full moon
phases are called Sabbats)
10. Wicca & Satanism
• While Wiccans consider themselves to be neo-pagan
witches, they do not consider themselves to be
Satanists (at least that’s their publicity)
• Wiccans consider Satan to be a “Christian anti-god,”
and claim to have no place for him in their pantheon,
either mythologically or theologically
• Wiccans do not recognize the existence of an all-evil
supernatural being similar to Satan
• Wiccans do, however, admit to similarities between
themselves and satanists
The symbol of the five pointed star
Ritual ceremonies performed within a circle marked on the
floor
Performance of magic
11. Principles of Wiccan Belief
Rituals are practiced to attune oneself with the
natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of
the moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross
Quarters
Human intelligence gives individuals a unique
responsibility to the environment. Therefore, within
an evolutionary concept, one must seek to live in
harmony with nature and ecological balance to
achieve fulfillment in life
There is a supernatural depth of power resident
within all humans that is naturally potential to all
12. Principles of Wiccan Belief
The creative power in the universe manifests itself
as male and female and operates within all people.
Sex is valued as pleasure and the embodiment of
life. It is a source of energy and used in the practice
of magic and worship
The interaction of both the material and spiritual
worlds – or the “collective unconscious” – form the
basis for paranormal phenomena and magic.
Neither are to be neglected
No authoritarian hierarchy is recognized; those who
break with authoritarian teachings, and teach others
to do the same, are to be honored
13. Principles of Wiccan Belief
A worldview and lifestyle that unites religion, magic,
and wisdom-in-living are acknowledged as
witchcraft, or “The Wiccan Way”
A witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself
that make life possible in order to live wisely and
well, without harm to others and in harmony with
nature
Life is affirmed and fulfilled in a continuation of
evolution, and in the development of consciousness
that gives meaning to the universe and one’s
personal role within it
14. Principles of Wiccan Belief
Animosity toward Christianity, or any other religion
or philosophy of life, is limited to the extent of its
claim to be “the only way,” and its activities to
suppress the free expression of other beliefs and
practices
Witches are not threatened by debates over the
history of the craft, the origins of various terms, or
the origins of various practices
Wicca does not accept the concept of absolute evil,
nor does it worship any entity known as Satan or the
Devil, as defined by Christian tradition
One should seek within nature that which is
15. So, What is The Answer?
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full
armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand
(Eph 6:12-13).
In Other Words
16. And having disarmed the powers and
authorities, he made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them by the
cross (Col 2:15).
17. In Summary:
we live is a world of darkness
seeking light in equally dark
teachings
Is There an Answer?
Is There Hope?
18. “For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have
eternal life” ---Jesus