The Christian Pentagram

The pentagram (also the pentacle) is a highly popular symbol in modern times and its use is continuously spreading across the world. A good deal of cultures uses the pentagram for their magical practices and as a representation of what some of their beliefs stand for. The pentagram is often used as a symbol of unity, protection, and nature. Practitioners might use it to represent & correspond with the elements and a whole lot of other things. We can see that the pentagram was used and is used by the Japanese, Chinese, Wiccans, Satanists, other Occultists, and a wide range of religions & spiritual paths. The usage of the pentagram doesnt stop with magical practitioners though. When we look through history, we can see that the pentagram was a symbol often used by royals, Pythagoras, and groups following them. Early Christian even used the pentagram as a symbol relating to Jesus Christ.

An origin of the pentagram being used in Christianity started with Judaism. I say this because Christianity grew from and adds on to Judaism. Ancient Jews would use the pentagram to represent the Pentateuch (the Torah > the first five books of the holy scripture). They used the pentagram as a symbol of truth because of this. Jerusalem used the pentagram as an official seal too. Early Christians had incorporated the pentagram as a symbol of protection. They would wear it as jewelry and amulets before the rise of the cross. The pentagram was strongly used to represent the Wounds of Christ. Though, early Christians using the pentagram had grew into popularity when Constantine (a Roman emperor) had converted to Christianity. He used the pentagram for his seal and amulet.

Each point of the pentagram was thought to of represent each wound that Jesus was given during his crucifixion. These wounds include: His Heart/Side, Right Hand, Left Hand, Left Foot, and Right Foot. Those are the Wounds of Christ. Some practitioners, including myself, may conclude that the pentagram was also used for protection relating to the Original Sin. The five wounds of Christ are said to correspond to the five wounds of Original Sin. These wounds include: Death, Darkness, Malice, Irascibility, and Sensuality. It is possible that the pentagram was thought to be a symbol of protection & healing because of this. With the Scourging at The Pillar and the Crowning of Thorns, it is believed that Jesus gave us reparation and healed the Five Wounds of Original Sin. Since the pentagram can be drawn in one continuous movement, a few sources insist it represents the Alpha and the Omega as one.

Some people and scholars have concluded that the pentagram was used against witches, demons, and other evil beings during the Renaissance & Middle Ages. Though, it should be noted that the use of the pentagram in Christianity started to die down during this time. The church started to use the cross as a more appropriated symbol; much like how the cross is used now. During this time, Christian Kabbalists thought the pentagram was proof of Christs divinity. The pentagram had symbolized the Holy Spirit being Jesus. There are further suggestions that the pentacle makes references to the feminine side & feminine doctrine of Christianity. We can find the pentagram in several historical churches throughout the world.

The idea of these pagan symbols becoming satanic is a new-age movement that started in the 14th & 15th century with the rise of alchemy and other occult practices. Some of these occult practices took Judeo-Christian elements which the church had a problem with. A few sources insist that when the church condemned these practices, they had condemned anything relating to these practices (even the pentagram). The idea that pentagram & other pagan symbols being satanic became more known in the 19th century by Eliphas Levi, but grew popularity in the 20th century from both Christians and Occultists. Hollywood uses the pentagram for their scary-entertainment purposes and other figures (like the Church of Satan) uses it for the logos.

A good deal of cultures uses the pentagram for their magical practices and as a representation of what some of their beliefs stand for. It is a symbol with some strong & diverse backgrounds. We use it for unity, the elements, nature, life, Christ, and whole lot of different representations. Wiccans, Christians, Satanists, and more have made the pentagram such a recognizing symbol. As a Christian Witch, a new-age meaning that I have given it is it is a symbol of diversity, unity, change, and time. The Christian Pentagram is truly a symbol that has had a long forgotten-changing background. The pentagram is a remnant of a forgotten past.

Sources:

• https://www.opusangelorum.org/English/Fivewounds.html
• http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/EastEurope/ConstantineConverts.html
• http://symboldictionary.net/?p=1893
• https://www.paganspath.com/magik/pentacle1.htm
• https://www.theodysseyonline.com/everything-thought-knew-pentagrams-wrong
• https://www.gotquestions.org/pentagram-meaning.html
• http://www.templestudy.com/2008/02/04/the-ancient-pentagram-a-christian-symbol/

Thank you for reading! I would love to hear any questions, comments, and add-ons that you have. Love light!

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I think you mean a Pentacle. Pentagrams are different from Pentacles - Pentagrams are used by Satanists in Satanism (primarily). It's an upside-down Pentacle (upside-down star), while the Pentacle stays right side up. Other than that this is a really fantastic article, thank you for posting.

Though pentagrams have been known with Satanism, by those who don't really know what it is and symbolises, that's not where it originated from nor the limit of its use.

Magickal, I suggest you do more reasearch on what the two are and what they symbolize before trying to tell someone else this misinformation.

Good work on the post Zea

Sorry I have a hard time reconciling the term "Christian Witch" considering how many witches the church murdered.

Thank you, Ms.Sparrow! For a second there I almost thought your first comment was about me. I sure did almost have a brain fart there. Haha. :) I do hope to post more soon.

MagickalXen, the association with the pentagram/pentacle with Satan is a new-age movement. That means the idea is modern and within the recent couple hundreds of years. The pentagram is known to be a star while a pentacle is said to be a star with a circle. Some practitioners will use both terms & symbols interchangeably. Ms.Sparrow is right. You should go and do more research on this subject as I did. I'm also still continuously researching this topic myself so I can have a greater understanding of where my beliefs lie. Misinformation is not a good thing, but we can always correct our mistakes.

Oroboros, you should really read my thread called The Witchy Christian under Other Paths. That would probably be a more appropriate thread to have a discussion in. This thread was meant to display the connection & history of the pentagram with Christianity. You make a valid case, yes. Though, it does sound like the kind of arguments like how can someone be a Christian and still be homosexual or how someone can be a Jew in Germany. I believe we often have a temptation to use religion as a justification to perform actions that the public may see as good or bad. This can be seen due to fear, anger, and even war. We can see this happening in our world now. Our cultures and practices will change over-time as theyve always done.

All of your comments are very appreciated! Love light everyone :)

A lot of the Witchcraft we practice today and a lot of Traditional Craft from Europe - was heavily Christian - without Christianity, Magic wouldn't be what it is today.

Well said. Thank you.

MagicalXen - The Pentacle does not always stay right side up. And the idea that the inverted Pentacle/Pentagram is necessarily Satanic is incorrect.

In some Traditions of Wicca the upside-down pentacle is used to represent someone who has received their second-degree initiation. In that case the point-down represents the movement of energy from the heavens back to the Earth, and the work of the second-degree in drawing down the Divine energy and sending it out into the community.