What is Christopaganism

A Christopagan Manifesto, Part 2

Christopaganism sounds like a contradiction in terms. The Imperial Church coined the word pagan to contrast themselves from those they wanted to name as enemies who needed to be subjugated.

When I debated whether I wanted to include a definition of pagan in this manifesto, I saw this one and deleted the almost identical words I wrote and chose to quote it instead.

Pagan
noun

(especially in historical contexts) a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized religions.

Definitions from Oxford Languages for [Google English Dictionary] (Feb 8, 2024)

They call us heretics and apostates, but I chose to use the word Christopagan.

Why Christopagan and not simply Pagan?

The Imperial Church has oppressed the Pagan community for centuries. They have fought hard to reclaim that word, and I don’t want to take anything away from their work.

Why still include the word? Pagan comes from the word paganus which means villager. The other options have more difficult origins:

Heretic, apostate, dissident, dissenter, and renegade define people as against something, and I don’t want to define myself by what I am against, but either what I am for or who I am.

For years, I did the dance saying, “I am a Christian, but not that kind of Christian.” That was not only tiresome, but became increasing untenable as the word Christian was defamed even further by the Imperial Church.

As this imperial church wrapped itself in White Christian Nationalism, it has sullied the name of Christian and Christ further. Now, statements like, “Christ is king,” is often used as an antisemitic dog whistle. The very notion that they have turned the invocation of a Jewish man who we believe was the Messiah, a Jewish idea, is used to signal others of the hatred of Jews is horrifying and repugnant.

I don’t know how else we can reject this horrific and damnable hate than to distance ourselves as far as we can from this demonic and foul movement. We need to build a new home and then fight to retake all they have taken from us.

As a devotee of Jesus Christ who lives in the Kingdom of God, the word, Christopagan takes on the meaning Villager of Christ. To use the definition cited above:

Christopagan
noun

a person devoted to the person and/or teachings of Jesus Christ who holds religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized sects.

This definition covers so many of us. We might want to add “earth centered” or “nature centered” to this, since many, if not most of us, feel the need to protect our environment, listen to the earth, and respect our animal and plant neighbors.

As Jesus said:

I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

John 10:16

Christopaganism should be a big tent, welcoming any who hear the call of Christ without pressing any of them into one particular mold or fold. As Jesus taught us and the disciples:

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us."

But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side.

Mark 9:38-40

Most reform movements fail because they focus too much on what they want to fix rather than the changes they are making. The desire to control the beliefs and actions of others is an insidious worm seeking to create new problems for the future.

While we must defeat antisemitism, racism, sexism, ableism, nationalism, homomisia/homophobia, transmisia/transphobia, and all manner of queermisia/queerphobia in the world; we have to focus on building something better.

Christopaganism is…

… A path of liberation and freedom from bondage.

… hearing the call of Christ.

… of many ways.

… living in right relationship honoring the earth and our material existence.

… connecting us with Spirit in a visceral, tangible way.

… honoring the old ways and the new.

… panentheistic seeing God in all things, and all things in God.

… hearing God speaking through everything.

… the Village of Christ living in right relationship.

… standing with our pagan and heathen siblings who, like the mystics and prophets of our tradition, have been persecuted by the Imperial Church to ensure the power of an elite few.

The Way of the Living Flame

There is One Life, divine and undivided,

flowing through all that was, is, and shall be.

Christ is the Light in all lights,

the Word in all words,

the Breath in all breathing.

We walk the path of Jesus, not to possess the truth,

but to be possessed by compassion, justice, and joy.

We honor the Divine wherever it flames—

in oak and ocean, in altar and hearth,

in ancestors, angels, and unseen spirits of place.

We are rooted in the sacred earth,

branches reaching skyward,

bearing fruit of healing, resistance, and love.

We reject all creeds that confine,

and embrace the wild wisdom that liberates.

Our sacraments are breath, bread, and beauty.

Our gospel is alive.

Our faith is the fire that dances between stars and soil.