Core Beliefs and Values
- Shared Divinity and Universal Call
We recognize a universal divine essence that flows through all creation, equally expressed through the Christian Trinity (God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit) and Pagan deities or nature spirits (e.g., the spirits of earth, sky, and seasons). This sacred essence unites us in a universal call to live in harmony with the Earth and each other, embracing our right to a meaningful spiritual life and our responsibility to protect the planet and community. The Circle and Cross Community Church sees the divine as a guiding light that illuminates both the Christian path of love and redemption and the Pagan path of nature’s wisdom, inviting all to walk this unified journey with purpose.
- Sacred Symbols of Unity
The tree of life and the circle and the cross are equal and complementary symbols of our faith, reflecting the balance of rights and responsibilities. The circle, rooted in Pagan traditions, represents the cycles of life, unity, and our right to connect with nature’s rhythms. The cross, a Christian emblem, embodies faith, redemption, and our responsibility to live with love and integrity. Together, they guide our community, where freedom to worship is paired with the duty to act with truth and care, ensuring harmony between individual liberty and collective well-being.
- The Earth Covenant: Nature and Spirit in Balance
We honor the Earth as a sacred, living system that sustains all life—a truth shared by Pagan reverence for nature and Christian stewardship (e.g., Genesis 2:15, “to tend and keep” the Earth). Through our Earth Covenant, we affirm our right to live in balance with nature and our responsibility to protect it for future generations. This covenant extends to the spiritual realm: through Christ’s teachings of love and salvation, we seek transcendence, and through Pagan reverence for the Earth, we ground ourselves in its cycles. Our faith unites these paths, calling us to live with humility (Christianity) and harmony (Paganism), ensuring that our actions reflect both spiritual growth and environmental duty.
- Community and Celebration: Living Our Shared Duties
We are a congregation united by shared values, fostering a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and purpose. We honor the Pagan seasonal cycles (e.g., equinoxes, solstices) and Christian holy days (e.g., Easter, Christmas) with equal reverence, weaving them into quarterly observances that reflect our core duties (e.g., stewardship at Spring Equinox, humility at Winter Solstice). Our gatherings emphasize practical engagement: we affirm our right to belong to a spiritual family and our responsibility to contribute to its vitality, building connections through truthful relationships and communal acts of service (Christian love).
- Stewardship and Service: Duties in Action
We live by a practical framework of duties that balance rights and responsibilities, guiding us to embody our faith in daily life. These duties include:
- Duty of Stewardship: Our right to access nature comes with the responsibility to protect ecosystems (Pagan and Christian stewardship).
- Duty of Liberty: Our right to personal freedom is paired with the responsibility to respect others’ freedoms.
- Duty of Integrity: Our right to truthful relationships requires us to do what’s right. We shall practice the principle of “Just because we can doesn’t mean we should”.
- Duty of Harmony: Our right to live in balance with nature demands we minimize harm.
- Duty of Humility: Our right to equal worth calls us to avoid arrogance (Christianity).
- Duty of Community: Our right to belong is matched by the responsibility to contribute voluntarily.
Through these duties, we act as stewards of the Earth and servants of each other, blending Pagan reverence for nature with Christian compassion to create a world of balance and love.
- Practical Spirituality: A Path for Modern Lives
We embrace a practical, modern spirituality that offers actionable steps to live our faith. Our practices—such as daily nature connections, seasonal observances, and weekly calls to action—ensure that our beliefs are lived, not just professed. We balance the right to personal spiritual growth with the responsibility to act ethically, and Christian teachings to serve others selflessly. The Circle and Cross Community Church is a guiding light, empowering us to find purpose in a disconnected world while honoring the Earth and the divine in equal measure.
.
What We Do Not Accept or Practice
As Christo-Pagan's we are diverse. While there are just as many ways to believe and practice, ChristoPaganism.org has the following boundaries created: Christo-Paganism is a sanctuary of light, harmony, and unity, dedicated to fostering a spiritual path that honors the divine through Christian and Pagan traditions in equal measure. In alignment with our core beliefs and values, we explicitly do not accept or practice the following:
- Demons and Malevolent Entities: We do not engage with or invoke demons, malevolent spirits, or any entities associated with harm, fear, or negativity. Our focus is on the universal divine essence—expressed through the Christian Trinity and Pagan nature spirits—that uplifts and unites, reflecting the Duty of Harmony and the Christian call to love.
- Satanic Practices: We do not participate in or condone satanic practices, rituals, or ideologies that conflict with our commitment to reverence for the Earth and the divine love of Christ. Our community is rooted in the principles of light, truth, and mutual respect.
- Dark Arts or Harmful Magic: We do not practice or support the dark arts, including any form of magic, spellwork, or ritual intended to cause harm, manipulate others, or disrupt the natural balance. Our Pagan practices center on honoring the Earth’s cycles and spirits for healing and growth, while our Christian practices emphasize compassion and service, ensuring all actions align with the Duty of Stewardship and the responsibility to do no harm.
- Fear-Based or Divisive Practices: We reject any spiritual practices that promote fear, division, or exclusion, as these contradict our mission of unity and community. Our gatherings, rituals, and communal acts are designed to celebrate diversity, foster truthful relationships, and build a sacred space where all are welcome to explore their spirituality in a positive, supportive environment.
Feel we've left something out? Maybe something wasn't communicated well? Let's us know. Kindly use the contact us page and let's have a conversation to create a community for us all.