My belief system lies within the independent Baptist. There are 3 different forms of Baptist churches; you have southern Baptist, independent baptist and free will Baptist. All 3 of the Baptist churches and segregates belief something totally different while believing in the same God. The primary difference is the belief in how to get to heaven when we die. Independent means that we are not bound by a council and preach what we want when we want and that we are positive what we are learning is the truth. We believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and if you ask our heavenly to save you…you are saved and will never go to hell. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

The community of the Independent Baptist church, we have a nursery and a children’s church so the parents will not be distracted and the children learn the same lesson but more on their level of understanding. I have also requested help and received help from one of my churches when I have needed it.  We sing, pray, and read the bible to learn more about Jesus and to receive specific lessons given to us. We also feel the head of the church; our preacher was chosen by god to lead us in this community in this church.

One of the common myths behind Independent Baptist churches (or rather Baptist churches in general) is that we can trace our origins back to John the Baptist; however, we were created after john the Baptist. So the myth we can trace our start back to Christ is false. However, we do trace it to sometime after John the Baptist. Another myth is that we believe in doctrinal uniformity, which is not something we believe in. I have often heard “why separate the three different Baptist churches, Free will, southern, and independent? Don’t they all believe the same thing?” This would be a myth as well, the only thing we all have in common is how the Baptism is done (fully adult immersion in the water). Other than that, how we believe in how we are going to get to heaven is different.

The Baptist as a whole has very few rituals; our most famous ones are baptism, communion, and even baby dedication services, although these are NOT required and simply a choice matter.  The ethical systems for the Baptist are very simple actually. Our ethical system is based on faith and science, environmental stewardship,   interfaith engagement and encoded racism. My emotional experiences vary. The one that sticks out the most is when I finally understood my religion and understood what it was about and what I was learning.

When I was a kid I just thought I was going to go to heaven regardless, but I did not understand it was because Jesus died for us. Or that we had to ask him to let us in heaven and forgive us for our sins. I knew his name, I knew who he was. But I didn’t understand the meaning behind Easter or Christmas. I finally realized this when I was 14 and that appeared to be the best thing in my life.  Coming to the realization of who Jesus really was, what he did for us, and why we needed him to die for us.

I have a bible that sits on my desk, a cross that I wear every day, and even other books dealing with religion that sit on my bookshelf.  I also have a painting in my house put up the says ‘God is in this house” and I own quite a collection of cds, some of those are contemporary Christian cds. The most sacred thing I own is my bible. I take care of my bible as I do my children.

The religion I have chosen to examine is Wicca. This is one of those religions that has many stereotypes, but me, as a Christian who is into the Gothic way of life has been drawn to learning more about the Wicca ways in my time I have also acquired friends who are Wicca. I have learned what is and what is not true in regards to the Wicca religion/way of life. It is true that most Wicca’s practice witchcraft. I have not met one personally who does not, but that does not mean they are not there.

Wicca is under the same category as pagan however, they also have beliefs and rituals that are different from each other. The Wicca religion, before it was honored as a religion, dates as far back as the Salem witch trials and even further then that. Those caught practicing witchcraft were burned at the stake. Wicca is what we would call “witchcraft” religion. They are duothesist where they worship a god or a goddess, and have many.

The Wicca have a strong respect for nature, believe in gender equality and human sexuality, and even the afterlife. They also have the three fold law as well as the Wicca reed. This is their rules. The three-fold law is “All good that a person does to another returns three fold in this life; harm is also returned three fold.” The Wicca reed is ““A’in it harm none, do what thou wilt” (Translation: “As long as it doesn’t harm anyone including yourself and future generations, do whatever you want to”)

The Wicca hold what is called “circle” which is when they have the religious rituals and spells that give to them their form of worship. They sing, dance, and sometimes will do so naked. Some Wicca “cults” (I use that term lightly because cults does not necessarily mean it is a bad thing) will even have sex or as they call it “ritual sex”. It is done strictly for a specific ritual that they feel needs to be done so that they may worship their god or goddess how they see fit.

In a conversation with a friend of mine who is Wicca, was raised Wicca and as she puts it, will die a Wicca. I asked her once “so, is it really true that you worship Satan?” she looked at me and said “Let me ask you this. Can we worship something or someone we do not believe exist?” when I told her no, she explained that they do not believe in Heaven or Hell and therefore could not worship the king of Hell, prince of darkness or whatever term you wish. This is one of the major myths surrounded by the Wicca faith and religion. When I see a Pentagram I see a symbol that I have been told was evil my entire life, but to them, it is not evil. It is a sacred symbol just like to Christians the cross and the holy bible are sacred symbols.

What do you believe? What is your religion? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you.