can you use a paring knife as an athame?

Question

i am interested in wicca well i want to study it and i was wondering could you use a paring knife as a athame? can a christian be a wiccan?

Answer 1

Yes, you can use any kind of knife you want to use even a plastic one as your athame. You are the only tool that's essential, after that any tool you want to use is a-ok as long as YOU have no issues with using it. Some people are rule bound and will never be happy with an athame that is not a double bladed black handled knife, but if that's not you, then there's no problem.



As to your second question can a christian be a wiccan. The answer is it depends on what kind of christian you are. If you are the type of christian who believes that only praying on your knees is kosher, that the KJV must be read literally, and that Jesus objects to everything but singing The Old Rugged Cross then you probably can't be christian and wiccan.



There is, however, a relatively "new" syncretic wiccan tradition called Trinitarian Wicca and those wiccans do claim to successfully combine wicca with christianity. My understanding is that they combine wiccan ritual with a belief in the christian trinity. Since wicca is a religion with no sacred dogma, wiccans across the wicca spectrum share similar ritual practices, and a similar world view, but they are not obligated to share the same gods. So although there is a certain segment of the wiccan population who will tell you it "cannot" be done that is their personal opinion since there are wiccans who are doing it successfully every day.



If this is your cup of tea don't listen to the nay-sayers. You are entitled to call yourself Trinitarian Wiccan or Christian Wiccan if that's what you do and you are also entitled to have your choices treated with respect especially if no one can point to a written wiccan rule that your choices clearly violate.



All these many years after R.Buckland brought self-dedication to the USA there are still Trad wiccans who insist that non-trad wiccans or eclectic wiccans or solitary wiccans are not REAL wiccans when indeed they not only are REAL, they are accepted as "REAL" by all but a bigoted minority. In other words some people just feel the need to claim that they are the ONLY REAL DEAL. Christianity has those kinds of people. Islam has those kinds of people, Hinduism has those kinds of people. It shouldn't really be surprising that Wicca has those kinds of people too. Stick to your guns. In 20 years time, Trinitarians will be just another interesting patch in the wiccan quilt; some newer tradition will be in the Hot Seat, and "everybody" will be poo-pooing them instead of you.

Answer 2

Merry Meet!



It sounds as if you have two diffrent questions here. Let me awnser your first one. Yes, any type of knife, be it a paring knife or a sword can be used in the Wiccan practice, so long as it is seperate from mundane use, and then blessed and dedicated to the Lord and Lady. As for your other question, this all depends on ones own spiritual bleiefs. Most Christians would say no, and that in the Christian Bible, all types of sorcery are condemed and considered an abomination to thei God, however, you may want to research Christian Wicca, and figure this out for yourself. Find your own Spiritual path-one that suits your needs and your beliefs, and dont just accept anything that anyone tells you as fact.

Answer 3

A knife is a knife; but my athame is unsharpened because I don't cut anything with it. I wouldn't wave a sharp knife around, myself, I'm too clumsy, so kitchen knives would not be part of my ritual. It's not necessary anyway; it's just a tool.



I think your problem is that you are not aware that Wicca is a religion.



Wicca & Witchcraft aren't the same thing. Witchcraft is a practice, that's probably what you are looking for.



You can't be Christian and Wiccan at the same time because they are two different beliefs. Christianity is based on the belief of Jesus sacrificing himself for people's sins, and that everyone is eternally rewarded or punished in the end... In Wicca, there can be no such concept. We don't believe in moral absolutes, we don't believe the Gods punish people and we don't believe anyone can die to give us forgiveness-- a core tenet of Wicca is to be responsible and accountable for your own actions.

Answer 4

MM. Wiccan High Priestess here, with a few points. I'm going to address your second question first. There are absolutely people who identify as Christian Wiccans or Christian Witches, however there are many Wiccans and Christians alike who argue that the two ideologies are not at all compatible. There are many reasons for this, and one of those is that Wiccans do not generally believe in a fall from grace that requires redemption by a messiah, while it appears that the need for spiritual redemption is a core belief of most Christians. There are many other incompatibilities as well. That said, there is a man in my Wiccan Tradition who goes regularly to a (very liberal) Baptist church. So basically, it's up to you, but just know that if you identify as having both Christian and Neo-Pagan Wicca-based beliefs, you'll encounter a lot of people who will challenge you on it.



Notice that I said "Neo-Pagan Wicca-based beliefs." In Wicca, there are different Traditions (like Christian denominations), and the teachings are passed from Initiate to student through study, supervised practice, and formal initiation/elevation. There are many people who believe that Wicca is "whatever you want it to be." This isn't true. Those who read books and create their own practices are eclectic Neo-Pagans. There's nothing wrong at all with practicing eclectic Neo-Paganism. But it's not Wicca.



Regarding an appropriate athame (which is some times used in various Neo-Pagan practices, not just Wicca), it depends on whom you ask. To me, an athame is a black handled, steel bladed, double edged dagger, approximately wrist-to-middle-finger-tip length that has been empowered using a coven sword and presented to an initiated Wiccan. Otherwise, it's a knife. However, many eclectic Pagans dedicate their own blades, and some times they even use ceremonial knives that are made of obsidian, wood, or quartz crystal. So really, if you are an eclectic, you can use what works for you.

Answer 5

Whatever floats your bat. Learn more about the religion first before worrying about what tools you're gonna need and whatnot. Learn more about mythology as well so you can more or less know which gods and goddesses you want to and will work with. You may even decide that you don't want to be a Wiccan after all.

Answer 6

Well, I don't see why not.



As for your second question, it is kind of like asking if a dog could be a cat. They are completely separate religions with a different belief system.



As for just starting out, however, I wouldn't worry yourself too much with things like athames right now. If you're truly interested in learning about Wicca, then I suggest you devote a lot of time and research to truly understand it before partaking in any of the ritualistic aspects of it

Answer 7

You can use any knife you want, or you can just use your fingers.



As for your question of whether or not a Christian can be a Wiccan, I ask only this: Do you understand that Wicca is *not* the practice of rituals or spells, but a full-fledged religion, in its own right, which involves gods who are not the Christian god? Before getting into the whole syncreticization of Wicca with Christianity, I want to know if you're ready to dedicate to our gods and their expectations of their people....if not, then it doesn't matter, because what you're doing isn't Wicca.

Answer 8

Christianity and Wicca are incompatable. How many Jewish Muslims do you see? Or Hindu Buddhists? You don't see any because different systems don't combine well together. Christianity and Wicca clash, particularly since Wicca embraces numerous deities, whereas Christianity DEMANDS their followers to worship only one.



As for the Athame, any knife will do.

Answer 9

You can use whatever knife you want for an athame.



Wicca is a polytheistic religion. If you're a Christian, why would you want to worship gods you don't believe exist? Why would you want a relationship with what you consider imaginary things?



So, no, you can't be both. It's illogical. You can't honestly claim it. The core beliefs are contradictory.

Answer 10

that's used as a wand, to direct capacity with the aid of concentration and 'pointing'. some human beings prefer to apply an athame particularly than a wand, some the two. As a ritual gadget that is going to likely be blessed and used only for 'magical' applications. as an occasion, I in specific circumstances use mine to scribe words or symbols onto candles. it would not be used to decrease a sandwich (till you have been making use of a sandwich on your working lol). It additionally represents the Male ingredient, as maximum Pagans have faith in the two the female and Lord. A cup or chalice ought to symbolize the female, a wand or athame could be male, figures!

Answer 11

If it has a double edged blade and black handle. Being a wiccan is silly and anyone can pretend.

Answer 12

Sure, Christians do loads of stupid things