Paganism refers to a diverse range of religious beliefs and practices that emphasizes the worship of nature and the deities associated with it. Many people might assume that paganism is limited to ancient civilizations or secluded communities far away from modern society. However, paganism is not confined to history books or distant lands - it can be found closer to home than we realize. In today's world, paganism has experienced a revival with adherents practicing their beliefs openly and proudly. One does not need to venture into the depths of a forest or travel to a remote island to find pagans; they could be living next door. With the rise of the internet, pagan communities have become interconnected, allowing practitioners to connect and share their experiences with others who share their beliefs.
I’m a fan of the packaging and production value here, for both decks. You’re getting a meaty full-color guidebook, a sturdy keepsake box that is both beautiful and practical, and good bang for your buck. The raised printing of the line illustration on the front of the box and the gilded detailing is luxurious.
I still bought a spare set but that s just because I now have these in my wallet always, and I wanted another set to just sit and play with in front of the tv. The tools we made help us lead people into deep God-encounters at our tables, and our aim is to attract tarot reading clients, people who are fully into new age practices, psychics, and witches.
With the rise of the internet, pagan communities have become interconnected, allowing practitioners to connect and share their experiences with others who share their beliefs. Additionally, paganism is not limited to one particular culture or tradition. It encompasses a wide range of practices, from Wicca and Druidry to Norse and Greek mythology.
Bethel Statement Regarding “Christian Tarot Cards”
There has been some recent concern about a ministry and their supposed use of “Christian tarot cards” in ministering to people at New Age festivals. While the ministry leaders are connected to several members of our community, they are not formally affiliated with Bethel. We do, however, have a value for what they are seeking to accomplish.
When all of this came to our attention, we reached out to the ministry leaders to make sure we understood what they were doing and how they were trying to accomplish it. We’ve included a letter from them about their way of inviting people to encounter God in the context of festivals (see below). Of course, as we rightly assumed, they are not using “Christian tarot cards,” nor telling the future with cards. They stand in agreement with the Scriptures that all occult practices (like tarot cards) have no place in the kingdom and should not be used.
We understand that the cards have the look of something that Christians don’t value and find dangerous, namely tarot cards. There are times when the way a message is presented is so off-putting that it actually drowns out the intended message. At those times, it is appropriate to speak up and ask questions, and perhaps that is what people are attempting to do. It is our hope that people would direct these questions to the ministry leaders themselves.
Reaching people where they are with the truth and love of God is our job as believers. Many people will not come to our churches, yet they are in great need of a personal encounter with Jesus. The ministry leaders feel called to share the Gospel with a people group that most of us would feel unsure of how to approach. We value their efforts to minister to unbelievers in the ways they can more easily receive it and in the places they are going, like New Age festivals.
The ministry leaders are attempting to contextualize the Gospel and bring people to the realization that God is looking for them and loves them no matter where they are—just like the apostle Paul often did. In Acts 17:22-34, Paul spoke to a group of religious people who didn’t yet know God and lived in a city full of altars, idols, and various religions. In that moment, Paul referred to a single altar in their city that had an inscription to the “unknown god,” and he used this familiar object (something they understood and valued) as a starting point to connect them with the God of all creation. He wasn’t worried that they would get a wrong idea (like that God is merely one of many gods or that idols are appropriate) because he would soon be introducing them to the true God.
This ministry is a form of outreach meant to share Jesus with those who have never met Him, or think they hate Him, or worse, that God hates them. This practice is not what the ministry leaders do in church, in their devotional lives and Bible study, when making major life decisions, or when discipling people. It is not taught as the next great way of maturity, a secret new thing for young Christians, or an easy syncretism. This ministry is a way of getting people to stop and engage with fellow humans so that they might encounter the love of the Father and the truth of His Son Jesus Christ. If one of our sons or daughters was away from the Lord and looking for truth at a festival, we would be praying for them to meet believers like these ministry leaders who know the love and truth of God.
All denominations, particular churches, and individual believers have different levels of comfort with a variety of practices—especially in the ways that we evangelize. Attacking and alternately defending each individual practice is exhausting and tedious. One only has to look at church history to realize that very little fruit comes from constantly being suspicious of each other and reactively dividing from one another, devoid of all the nuance of context, life with God, trust, and love for one another.
At times, some of the efforts of a particular ministry may not be wise risks or best practices, and may need to be addressed. If someone is doing something a fellow believer is concerned about, that believer should go to them directly and privately share their concerns, seeing if they can build mutual trust and value for one another. Perhaps, an explanation will bring understanding, or they can adjust to protect their connection in Christ. But even if they must ultimately disagree about the validity of the belief or practice, they have built a bridge for ongoing dialogue and possible change. One might end up saying, “I don’t appreciate the way they are doing such and such and think there are dangers, but I value their priorities and look with generous eyes to see what they are trying to accomplish.”
In general, it is not our desire to respond to every story where someone claims something about our ministry and links us to something we are unaware of. Paul said it well in 2 Corinthians 4:5, ”For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and ourselves your servant for Jesus’ sake.” It is not our desire to have people who are followers of Bethel, but rather to be followers of Christ and be servants of one another for the honor of Jesus. The ministry leaders are serving those at new age festivals; all of us should focus on the assignment the Lord has for us to preach and live the Gospel, make disciples of nations, and build the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Resources
These two resources will hopefully answer any additional questions you may have regarding this issue:
1) Blog Post by Theresa Dedmon: This post explains a different type of prophetic greeting card, which happens to also be called “Destiny Cards”.
2) The letter we received from the ministry leaders:
Hello, and thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to reply to the recent misunderstandings about our ministry and tarot cards.
Our ministry is a large prophetic evangelism deliverance ministry. Our aim is to get people saved, healed, and set free. Over the last six years, we have developed a very successful tested method for ministering to thousands of new age people. The team see approx 7,000 people per year going into all Australian new age festivals, expos, and events.
The cards we use are our own, and are not tarot nor remotely similar to tarot. We know tarot cards are very dangerous and highly discourage it. The tools we made help us lead people into deep God-encounters at our tables, and our aim is to attract tarot reading clients, people who are fully into new age practices, psychics, and witches. All of these people can immediately recognise that our cards are not tarot once they sit down at our tables.
Card sets, including cards we made named "Psalm cards" with scriptures on them, address the gifting in a person’s life. The color God is showing the person in a prayer encounter will speak to the person through the prophetic image on the front or meaning on the back. It's the same as when we give someone a prophetic painting, just much smaller. They are all non-predictive, but we call them destiny cards as we believe that giftings and callings given by God for people are certainly part of their destiny. All cards contain beautiful paintings by four different world renown prophetic artists and these paintings alone have deep meanings that have led to salvation and healing for many clients.
The team is trained not only to be able to release deep encounters with the Spirit of Truth to clients but to also release words of knowledge and healing. For clients to see Jesus standing before them in an encounter is not uncommon, and many of them get born again.
The prophetic word given over us four years ago was that we would see hundreds of witches come into the kingdom, thousands of people turn from darkness, and that tarot cards would be disabled. Praise God this is happening! As a deliverance ministry, we are able to stop clients ever going to a psychic again and this is our aim.
Thank you so much for all you do for the body of Christ.
At times, some of the efforts of a particular ministry may not be wise risks or best practices, and may need to be addressed. If someone is doing something a fellow believer is concerned about, that believer should go to them directly and privately share their concerns, seeing if they can build mutual trust and value for one another. Perhaps, an explanation will bring understanding, or they can adjust to protect their connection in Christ. But even if they must ultimately disagree about the validity of the belief or practice, they have built a bridge for ongoing dialogue and possible change. One might end up saying, “I don’t appreciate the way they are doing such and such and think there are dangers, but I value their priorities and look with generous eyes to see what they are trying to accomplish.”
Each group may have its unique rituals and beliefs, but they all share a reverence for the natural world and its spiritual significance. Consequently, one might be surprised to discover the diversity of pagan beliefs in their local area. Recognizing the presence of pagans nearby can serve as an opportunity for interfaith dialogue and understanding. Instead of dismissing or stigmatizing those who practice paganism, we should strive to foster an inclusive society where individuals can freely express their spirituality without fear of judgment or persecution. Engaging in respectful conversations can lead to a greater appreciation for the different perspectives and the richness of our collective human experience. In conclusion, paganism is not as distant or elusive as one might think. It is a living, evolving spiritual path that can be found close by if we open our eyes and minds to its existence. By embracing diversity and practicing tolerance, we can create a more accepting society where all individuals, regardless of their beliefs, can feel valued and respected..
Reviews for "Breaking the Stereotypes: Demystifying Paganism in Your Local Community"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars
I was really disappointed with "Pagan close by". The story felt disjointed and confusing, with too many characters that didn't contribute much to the plot. The writing style was also distracting, as it jumped between different time periods without any clear transition. Overall, I found it hard to connect with the story and characters, and it left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars
I couldn't even finish reading "Pagan close by". The writing was incredibly dull and lacked any depth or intrigue. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, and the plot was slow-moving and predictable. I found myself constantly checking how many pages were left, hoping it would be over soon. Definitely not worth the time or money.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars
"Pagan close by" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and chaotic moments. The characters were underdeveloped, making it difficult to care about their fates. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the descriptions were often excessive and unnecessary. I was hoping for a gripping and immersive read, but unfortunately, this book fell short.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars
I picked up "Pagan close by" because of the rave reviews, but I can't understand the hype. The story dragged on and lacked a clear direction. The author seemed to focus more on detailed descriptions and flowery language than actually developing a compelling narrative. I kept waiting for a twist or a surprising revelation, but it never came. It was a disappointing read overall.
5. Jessica - 2/5 stars
I found "Pagan close by" to be a frustrating read. The plot had potential, but it was overshadowed by confusing and convoluted storytelling. The author tried to incorporate too many elements and themes, leaving the story feeling cluttered and hard to follow. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and their actions often felt illogical or contrived. I struggled to become invested in the story and ultimately felt unsatisfied with the reading experience.