(Note: My comments on Christian history are not meant to offend or over-generalize, but are written from an anthropological point of view with brevity in mind.)
With the efforts many on here are exerting trying to educate non-Wiccans on just who we are and what we do, some may be tempted to search the web for more information. While doing so, you might run into terms like "Christian Wicca" or "Christo-Pagans". This is a subject that I have dueled with others on many lists about over the years, and it never fails to provoke debate. Lest anyone get confused, I felt I should clarify some things.
"Christian Wicans"...in short, there is no such thing. Oh, there are those who claim Christian Witch-hood, that is for sure, but these people are either entirely mistaken (always possible), too new to things to really understand (quite coimmon, actually) or deliberately delusional (rare but unfortunate). Now, allow me to elaborate...
Every religion has it's mystical or magickal types. There are Christian magicians, Jewish magicians, Muslim magicians, Buddist magicians, etc...even agnostic magicians (there aren't too many athiest magicians...Issac Bonewitz once said "they tend to become parapsychologists"...heh!). And there are like wise mystics in every (healthy) path. However, to have mystical or even magickal leanings does not a "Witch" make.
It used to be that Witches were Pagan magicians. However, with the spread and diversification of Paganism over the decades, there are now "Pagan Magicians" who are different and distinct from Wiccan Witches. A Witch (in the MOST basic sense) is a magickal user who has a Polytheistic, Pagan theological outlook, ritual magick foundations, and an ethical code originated in early 20th-century British Traditionalist Covens (most often called the "Wiccan Rede"). Witches, while being Matrilinear, acknowledge both masculine and feminine deities, the effectiveness of karma, and the reality (and holiness) of magick.
Christians, on the other hand, are spiritual decendants of of a Jewish splinter sect started by the Apostile Paul in the early parts of the Common Era ("C.E."), based on the teachings (both actual and later invented and attributed to) of Yeshua Ben Joseph, later called "Jesus Christ" by the Greeks. It is a monotheist sect that believes in the inherant sinfulness of humankind, the subsitiutional sacrifice of Yeshua, and the exclusivity of salvation ("None shall come to the Father except through me", etc). It is Patriarchial ideology, heirarchical, etc.
During the subsequent centuries, the church further codified it's mentality of being the "one true faith" by a highly selective choice of sacred writings (codified as the "Holy Bible" in 335 C.E.), political maneuverings, and by the annihilation of rival theologies. While segments of Christiandom have sought to soften and even liberalise it's tenents over the years, the legacy of Paul and other church elders (Augestine, Luther and the like) have left an absolutist strain that has been nigh impossible to exorcise fully. Their modern ideological decendents are the modern evangelists, both on television and elsewhere.
Wicca, on the other hand, is neither Patriarchial OR absolutist...even the most codified Tradition acknowledges that it is but one path amongst many to the divine centre, one spoke on a spiritual "wheel". Even the most matri-focal (Goddess oriented) groups don't deny the importance of the divine masculine. There are important theological differences that render a blending of the two problematic at best, if not intellectually infeasable.
Now, a word on terminology. Some try to justify the term "Christian Witch" or "Christian Wicca" by narrowly splitting hairs in terms of the word "Christian". A few words on the most common ones:
1. "You don't have to agree with the actions of the church to like Jesus" True...many Christians I know are nauseated at what's done in their name. But this doesn't address the theological incongruencies involved.
2. "I ignore the church and take inspiration from what Jesus actually said" The principle problem with this is the fact that we don't know for sure just what Yeshua actually DID say! Sure, scholars have some clues (an excellent book along these lines is "The First Coming: How The Kingdom of God Became Christianity" by Thomas Sheehan), but these are still educated guesses that have radically changed over the years. Centuries of dogmatic meddling with the text of the New Testament by church officials have further muddied the waters. Those who know for sure what Jesus said should tell theologans immeadiately... they'd love to know!
Besides...and here's a point some don't think about... Jesus DIDN'T START CHRISTIANITY! Christianity as a religion was started after his death. Jesus was a pious Jew who would have (most likely) disagreed SEVERELY with any who would elevate him to the level of God. "Christ" is a Greek word that means "Anointed one", which is also the Hebrew translation of "Messiah". Jesus may have never heard the word "Christ" in his lifetime (except perhaps from some Greek speaking friends who were talking about "anointed" kings). To call onself "Christian", like it or not, is to semantically link onself to the RELIGION started in his name, even if it's not in the spirit of his teachings (whatever they were).
The CORE beliefs of Christianity (as I understand them) are such: Humans fell from grace through the sin of Adam and Eve. All humans are sinners who are unworthy of God's love and deserving only of God's punishment because we are such wretched sinners. God sent Jesus, his "son" and other self, to earth to die as payment for Adam's transgressions. Only those who claim this blood sacrifice as their own will have eternal life...all others will still be tainted by Adam's sin and be condemned.
These are the core beliefs of Christianity, like it or not. Ask ANY Christian, and while some may try to sugar-coat it, they will admit to their relavence. To be Christian in ANY form means adhering to these basic principles. To ignore these and take a few good ideas from the faith (Do unto others, love your neighbor, judge not lest ye be judged, etc) is NOT to be a Christian. (In fact, a great many of those beliefs are to be found in other places that preceed the bible and Christianity, and were most likely added purposefully by scribes wanting a broad base from which to draw converts).
Wicca, on the other hand, believes in the absolute love of the Gods for their creation, including us. Good and bad deeds are made by our own free will, not by an inherant "evil" or "sinfulness". All are a result of our will and are meant to be lessons, both for us and for others. Wiccans believe that their faith is a personal one, and that other paths can be equally as valid for THEIR followers as well. All are on the wheel of rebirth, and all can grow spiritually, no matter if they follow the Craft or not. Past teachers of other paths (Jesus as well as Buddah, Sitting Bull and others) can be inspirational, but none are absolutely exhalted. Witches don't blame Adam, Satan, or anyone else for our failings...we must take responsibility for our actions. Likewise, "repentance" alone doesn't erase our misdeeds...the "Blood of Jesus" won't cure our karma. Only by learning the lessons meant to be learned and growing accordingly can we escape living the lessons over again.
True, some have incorporated Christian iconography into their practice (VooDoo-style) when living situations would make open practice problematic (disapproval of parents, spouses, etc). Again, this doesn't make them "Christian Wiccans", but rather smart people who know how and when to speak aloud and when to stay quiet.
Now, some have theorised that an attraction to using various magickal techniques with Christian iconography makes them a "Christian Witch" or a "Christo-Pagan". However, like VooDoo, this is NOT Christianity, but rather indiginous folk religion and folk magick with Christian window dressing. Again, if one doesn't accept the core values of Christianity, then one isn't a Christian.
All too often, I see those who attempt to mix Christianity with Wicca because they are unsure of leaving their old path. They have been raised Christian, are attracted to Wicca, and yet have a hard time shaking either their attatchment to the familiar or their fear of eternal damnation. They still want their Christmas trees, or they're not so sure about leaving Jesus behind. And so, they try to mix the two.
However, these people should realise that a: Christmas trees are a Christian adaptation of an old Germanic Pagan practice (just like holly, mistletoe, yule logs, easter eggs, easter bunnies, and so on are all Pagan in origin). Walking a Pagan path doesn't mean giving up popular affectations of holidays, it merely means discovering their true meanings. And b: if they really believe in the Christian concept of damnation, then they should also realise that meddling with anything magickal or mystical will also lead to damnation in the church's eyes.
Even leaving the church behind, the bible also condemns most of what Wicca stands for. JUst using Jesus and Mary as the God and Goddess won't save you from the fires of hell...if you believe in such a thing.
No, the "Christian Witch" is someone who doesn't practice either religion very well, and is sure to piss off genuine adherants to both. A spiritual path is no place for cowardace or indecision, but a place to walk boldly, and unafraid, into the future.
Blessed Be,
Taliesin