Have you ever had anyone snipe at you for one/some/all of the Gods you honor?

[aluokaloo]

Have you ever had anyone snipe at you for worshipping a specific deity or several deities. I have had it happen twice. Once when i got into a small entanglement with a guiy who followed Tyr, because Fenris just happened to be my patron. He told me I wasn't loyal to either Fenris or any of the other Gods. A second time aound for aligning myself with too many chaos Gods, particlarly Set. Has this ever happened to you? Feel free to share and rant and laugh if you like.

[Malcolm]

No, but then again, unless you asked you would never know what I believe; and I wouldn't tell you either.

[TarotCanada]

You tend to find that with people who are just starting out who haven't developed tolerance and acceptance. It means they still have a lot to work on themselves spiritually speaking. You are the only one who knows what your deity or deities mean to you and they know what you mean to them. It is a personal journey.

Cheryl

[banondraig]

the only Set worshipper i have ever known was a right nutcase. of course that doesn't mean everyone who worships Sets is nuts, but it makes me a little wary, kwim?

[Shadowsong]

People've warned me agains the Morrigan before--but I think They (the Divine) are different with every person. General caution is good, of course--by no means would I say to anyone to just invoke Set or Loki for no reason--but if there is good reason I usually go with what I learn from gut experience. And... uh... I don't go around with a neon sign proclaiming who my gods are either, so for the most part it's not a huge issue :)

[Malcolm]

Loki rocks.

[Agaliha]

No, but then again, unless you asked you would never know what I believe; and I wouldn't tell you either.

That basically sums my answer up.
Though I might tell someone what I believe if they asked and they were genuinely interested and open to things. But then again my beliefs and path are a mixture of all the religions I have researched and looked into (from Baha'i to Catholicism to Buddhism to Wicca to Hinduism and tons in between)-- it's not easy to explain every little detail of my beliefs and views as they are all intertwined and part of me and my growth. Same with my Gods...they are from Kemetic to Hindu, maybe Santeria (is it is Yemaya that came to me), Buddhist, Gnostic and Celtic pantheons...they work fluidly and perfectly with me, but there are some that don't feel the same way about things like that. So I don't really tell.

[Ninjakitten]

Yes, but I worship Yahweh, Sophia, and honor Jesus. According to the Bible, I'm supposed to get flak :kooky:

[Silver Water]

Only when my family sees me reading one of my Celtic or Wicca books. Then I usually get dragged into a long discussion that is definitely not nice. Well, whenever it's with my mother's side of the family. I'd rather avoid them altogether, because they always just want to preach at me in place of letting me give my reasons for believing as I do instead of as they do. They are the strict-minded sort of Christians (yes I'm aware that all Christians are not like that) and are firmly entrenched in the belief that they have the only correct religion and all other ones are wrong. So whenever they find an opening they'll dive in like vultures and pick at everything I try to say. I've almost gotten to the point where they'll just shake their heads and sigh, but I'd love if I could bring it up to make them see a few things without coming out of it feeling like my head's about to explode.

[Aidron]

Not to my knowledge, but then again I don't really discuss my faith or my practices offline. There are of no concern to anyone, thus there is no need for me to include them even by allowing them to know what my faith and my practices are.

There are many, however, who claim to worship the same gods as I whom I have wanted to strangle when they open their mouth and try to cram my gods into new-age stereotypes, but I just leave them to their ignorance. That is between them and the gods.

[Xirian]

I've never had this problem, but I've seen and defended others when they have been attacked. Usually it's someone telling them they can't worship certain deities together, you know from different pantheons. But most of the time the person has been solitary or ecclectic or both, and as far as I am concerned, if you feel a connection to certain deities, then go with it. No one should be able to persuade you to feel differently.

Now if you're wanting a change then that's fine, but if your connections are strong, I'm sure the deities will let you know if they don't like you using deities from different paths and pantheons. Just my opinion though.

[Aidron]

I've never had this problem, but I've seen and defended others when they have been attacked. Usually it's someone telling them they can't worship certain deities together, you know from different pantheons. But most of the time the person has been solitary or ecclectic or both, and as far as I am concerned, if you feel a connection to certain deities, then go with it. No one should be able to persuade you to feel differently.

Now if you're wanting a change then that's fine, but if your connections are strong, I'm sure the deities will let you know if they don't like you using deities from different paths and pantheons. Just my opinion though.

The thoughts of seeing anyone mix and mingle Roman and Hellenistic deities makes me cringe. I've met a few people who do and when they ask why I am shuddering and I take the time to explain, I've yet to find one who does not go off take a plunge off the cliff of melodrama and start screaming "Persecution!" and try to burn me at the proverbial stake for forcing my views on them. :eyebrow:

[Pure Ahimsa]

I remember someone snapped at me for following Eris, when I told him that I wasn't a part of Discordianism.
"You cant worship OUR God" he didnt even bother saying "Goddess"...
Meh...
People are so.... meh.

[aluokaloo]

The thoughts of seeing anyone mix and mingle Roman and Hellenistic deities makes me cringe. I've met a few people who do and when they ask why I am shuddering and I take the time to explain, I've yet to find one who does not go off take a plunge off the cliff of melodrama and start screaming "Persecution!" and try to burn me at the proverbial stake for forcing my views on them. :eyebrow:


I wasn't talking about like that, more along the lines of You worship so-and-so. You had better be careful or need to stop or you shouldn't. I kinda found it funny about the chaos deity thing, well later I did. I don't choose my Gods, They choose me. I dp happen to be a chaotic person, and I would never slough off my Gods cause someone dissaproved.

[Agaliha]

I wasn't talking about like that, more along the lines of You worship so-and-so. You had better be careful or need to stop or you shouldn't.

Ohh... well I got that a lot with the Morrigan.
"she'll throw you in the deep end and make up swim"
"she'll test you"
"Be careful"
Etc.

Well IMO Gods and Goddesses don't really need to test us as they would know what is in our hearts already, if Morrigan was one that tested people than it would be for "fun" or something...because I don't see any need to test. So I don't really agree with those "warnings"...but that's just me :)

[StormVixen]

yeah but i dunno why... i mean the deity commenly known as Cernunnos seems like a nice chap to me! i mean yeah he scared me once... but... he sneaked up on me! um...

[Etoile]

Ohh... well I got that a lot with the Morrigan.
"she'll throw you in the deep end and make up swim"
"she'll test you"
"Be careful"
Etc.


I got a lot of that, too, but I haven't had any problems working with her. She's great.

[Aidron]

I wasn't talking about like that, more along the lines of You worship so-and-so. You had better be careful or need to stop or you shouldn't. I kinda found it funny about the chaos deity thing, well later I did. I don't choose my Gods, They choose me. I dp happen to be a chaotic person, and I would never slough off my Gods cause someone dissaproved.


I never implied that you were speaking as such. The point is, I'm very likely to snap at people if they go about spouting nonsense about my gods or claim false piety, or treat my gods as if they are interchangeable and divine tools to be used to service oneself.

[Xirian]

I never implied that you were speaking as such. The point is, I'm very likely to snap at people if they go about spouting nonsense about my gods or claim false piety, or treat my gods as if they are interchangeable and divine tools to be used to service oneself.
But are the deities also this other persons deities, as well, whether they interchange them with others or not. Aren't they allowed to worship the deities as they see fit? Isn't much of the purpose of being solitary, to make decisions for yourself, worship whom you like and forge a new spiritual path for yourself.

Why do you feel that you should speak for the deities? If someone is worshiping a deity, you'd think that they'd have a good enough relationship with them to realize when they are overstepping their spiritual boundaries. I can understand you being upset, but why would you tell someone else that they were wrong on this matter of their personal spirituality, when deities mean and represent different things to different people, no matter what you call them? They may not actually see your deities as you see them, they might attribute similar qualities, but have different priorities placed on each quality to suit them, making them view them differently from you.

[Aidron]

But are the deities also this other persons deities, as well, whether they interchange them with others or not. Aren't they allowed to worship the deities as they see fit? Isn't much of the purpose of being solitary, to make decisions for yourself, worship whom you like and forge a new spiritual path for yourself.

That depends. If one is speaking in a context of whom they worship, then anyone can of course pay respect to any deity. If we are speaking in the context of property, then no, to which I sincerely doubt this is the reference being made.

And I have no problems with people worshiping any god as they see fit, but when they worship the gods I do and so in a way that is completely senseless and uncalled for, I tend to look on such people as less of a human being.

Being a solitary is also about being educated in that as a human being you should strive to be educated. It is one thing to accentuate old traditions or forge new ones through careful thought, it's quite another to dismiss all proceeding evidence out of laziness and believe you are just as valid in your ways as everyone else, with validity implying not freedom of choice, but sensibility, which so many people seem to forget.


Why do you feel that you should speak for the deities? If someone is worshiping a deity, you'd think that they'd have a good enough relationship with them to realize when they are overstepping their spiritual boundaries. I can understand you being upset, but why would you tell someone else that they were wrong on this matter of their personal spirituality, when deities mean and represent different things to different people, no matter what you call them? They may not actually see your deities as you see them, they might attribute similar qualities, but have different priorities placed on each quality to suit them, making them view them differently from you.

I don't speak for my deities. I speak for myself. The gods can speak for themselves, I hardly think it necessary for me to put words in their mouth.

And you would think that if someone truly revered any deity, they would know when they were overstepping their boundaries, but it rarely works out that way.

It is not so much a matter of being upset as it is a matter of thinking far less of these hypothetical individuals because of their foolishness. I certainly don't think highly of people who drive while talking on a cell phone, it's foolish and dangerous. This is no different. If you behave in a manner I perceive as foolish, count on me believing you to be a fool, even if I say nothing that alludes to such.

However, when it comes to worshiping ancient deities, one must realize that you cannot force them into a neo-pagan mold and expect to look as credible as one who doesn't. There are many who worship older gods, not everyone worships them as they once were (in fact I sincerely doubt anyone worships them in a way that reflects history all the time), but one should respect the older ways instead of trying to cram them into your lives in a certain mold. They're gods, not appliances you pick up at your local Wal-Mart.

[Xirian]

Thank you for answering those questions. I happen to understand you better now and agree with you on all of the points you made. Thank you for clarifying.

If it is due to laziness, I understand your feelings. I suppose I'd feel the same way, but if it is just how they feel and they have done the research, then I'm just of the mind to leave them alone.

Anyway, thank you, that made complete sense.

Cheers!!!

[HorseCrow]

No, not really.

[Aidron]

No, not really.


I snipe at you for the gods you follow! [smirks]

Now you have. Welcome to the club. I'll teach you the secret handshake sometime.

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

Have you ever had anyone snipe at you for worshipping a specific deity or several deities. I have had it happen twice. Once when i got into a small entanglement with a guiy who followed Tyr, because Fenris just happened to be my patron. He told me I wasn't loyal to either Fenris or any of the other Gods. A second time aound for aligning myself with too many chaos Gods, particlarly Set. Has this ever happened to you? Feel free to share and rant and laugh if you like.

nope never had a problem...only things i've run into were ppl not knowing much if anything about Ullr, and ppl wondering who i manage to be devoted to gods of different cultures (bast & ullr), but no one's given me a hard time about it.

[aluokaloo]

I snipe at you for the gods you follow! [smirks]

Now you have. Welcome to the club. I'll teach you the secret handshake sometime.


You mean the great and powerful and not so secret shake of the gitchie-rumbah-hamburger and shake? :jamsessio

[TaysatWesir]

WTH does drumroll mean chose it anyway! :p

[freakydorky]

YES!! People think because I worship Ixtab that I'm suicidal. (IXTAB= depicted with a rope around her neck, collector of souls lost by suicide)

[freakydorky]

I snipe at you for the gods you follow! [smirks]

Now you have. Welcome to the club. I'll teach you the secret handshake sometime.


We have a handshake! Oh Joy! I've always wanted one of those!

[JadeNSC]

I remember someone snapped at me for following Eris, when I told him that I wasn't a part of Discordianism.
"You cant worship OUR God" he didnt even bother saying "Goddess"...
Meh...
People are so.... meh.

I'd love to say I think you're kidding, but sadly I know you aren't. I don't like this stigma that you can't worship Eris seriously. Like it's a joke, but it isn't to me. I'll laugh and joke about not partaking of hot dog buns on Fridays, but in private it goes much deeper than that. Eris can be a harsh teacher if you don't pay attention and she can be a fun trip too. :)

[aluokaloo]

yah hearing the words Gods and use in that contexts bothers me, reallly really bad. If you wanna use sdomething get power tools geez!

[aluokaloo]

I don't understand why people snipe, I mean the deities interact with us. It is not like only some people have a copyright on them. It especially irks me, if those people have never in their lives Worked with/honored/worshipped those deities, and they have the nerve to tell other people you can't/shouldn't? like tiger lad said, meh.

[Cassie]

A few people have sniped, usually out of ignorance or confusion. I either try to educate them a bit or else just ignore the snipes.

[Silenus]

I had a bijou (think i spelled that right), a catholic, and some that I weren't sure of generally freak out. But then I'm not surprised.
I worship Chaos, not being a being, but the force...if your uncomfortable with that then try just inserting Tiamat or Ao, it helps some.
Amusingly enough, I've noticed that my beliefs and theories are rather satanic but I strive for the middle of the road. Help humanity and humanity will help you. And the theology concerning the goddess and my place to her reflects the drop in a pond (the pond is god, and I'm the drop) belief of the more organized religions like christianity and islam.

[Silenus]

I suppose I should read these threads in more detail before responding.
Ultimately how can anyone who is educated complain about cross-pantheon worship? Deities seem to have the ability to survive religions. And exist within mulitple religions at once. Jehovah is christian, jewish, and islamic all at once. Set, Satan, and Kronos all have similar aspects as do Isis, Gaia, and Tiamat.
Is it not possible that there really is one god? And that dieties merely represent different aspects of said goddess? If one admits to that then they should realize that it doesn't matter which deities are worshipped but what do they mean to the person is all that's important. And most of a condemning nature rarely listen long enough to find out the meaning.
I say, hey! if you want to cross-pantheon worship than all the power to ya!

[WhiteLion]

I've had people snipe at me in more then one way. I've had people snipe as in verbaly and snipe as in try to shot me with a ruger M77 .270 deer rifle.:eek: That man is now in jail though.

[aluokaloo]

I mean to do drumroll, but forgot to put other.

[Hangatyr 13]

I'm very open about my religion. I once had a catholic call me a "wannabe viking". I called him a "gay altar-boy" and told him to shut up. I choked him. He bit me. I gave him a black eye. He hit me with a stick. We became good friends, me and the altar-boy.:achug:

[Ishtara]

Never had this kind of problem... mind you, very few people around me would know enough about the Kemetic pantheon to have an opinion about the Names I worship anyway...

[Cyzarine]

Yes. I've had several tell me that I honor Christian gods and goddess and they are not real or they are not really those deities but others masked by man. My beliefe is that all deities are seperate and are really themselves...not one deity or not masked.

[taijiya]

Years ago when I was a new Wiccan initiate, I had someone tell me I couldn't/shouldn't be "dealing with" Egyptian deities anymore, since they weren't Wiccan. :foh: However, the Egyptian deities weren't through "dealing with" me, so you can guess where that discussion led.



~*~taijiya~*~

[sidhe]

Years ago when I was a new Wiccan initiate, I had someone tell me I couldn't/shouldn't be "dealing with" Egyptian deities anymore, since they weren't Wiccan. :foh: However, the Egyptian deities weren't through "dealing with" me, so you can guess where that discussion led.



~*~taijiya~*~

I can identify with that. I'm a new initiate in a TBW coven, and get flak from my HP for my continuing affection for the Thelemic Babalon. Ain't my fault that the Book of the Law has dragged me around almost since the day I self-identified as pagan. Babalon has something important to show me, and doesn't show any sign of stopping.

[Vincent Verthaine]

From:THE BOOK OF ERIS (http://www.verthaine.sphosting.com/ss.html)

The Discordian and the Two Wiccans

Once there were 3 pagans who had gathered together to do invocations. The first two were Wiccan, while the third was a Discordian. They planned to take turns performing invocations, each according to their own traditions.
The first Wiccan did an invocation and began to tremble. Then he spoke in a strange voice, "I am the hunter and the hunted. I am light and darkness. I am birth and death." Then he collapsed to the floor. A few moments later, he regained consciousness. The first and second Wiccan were impressed that they had received Ancient Wisdom
. The second Wiccan did an invocation and began to tremble. Then he spoke in a strange voice, "I am the hunter and the hunted. I am light and darkness. I am birth and death." Then he collapsed to the floor. A few moments later, he regained consciousness. The first and second Wiccan were impressed that they had received Ancient Wisdom
The Discordian said that she might try to invoke her deity if her deity felt like it. But she did not tremble. She did not speak in a strange voice. She did not even collapse. Instead, she just laughed and laughed in her own voice. The two Wiccans glared at her. "You lack the solemnity needed to do proper invocations," one of them told her. But Eris, who had filled the Discordian, just laughed and threw pop tarts at them and danced out of the room and giggled, "You can't tell a goddess how to behave."
At this, neither of the two Wiccans were enlightened. Possibly because neither one of them liked pop-tarts.

happens to discordians all the time.

[Ninjakitten]

LOL! I'm starting to want to take a peek at Discordianism and Eris! I like her style!

[Qeniheru]

I've been chastised for worshipping Dagda, as well as my methods of worship by a friend of mine, but then again the person in question usually thinks hes superior to everyone, so I just ignore him. :D

[amakaliani]

my father tells me that Kali is nothing more than an avatar and that She is dead..........

what an a$$

[cowdragon]

Noticed alot of talk about Loki and Set here. Wanted to chime in that although I consider myself a Heathen, I tend to revere the chaos gods highly. I also have both Swedish and Egyptian in my blood. So revering both of them is not unusual for me.

Now back on topic! :)

I have had the usual "aren't you afraid that satan has tricked you into worshipping false gods?" BS! I simply retort with something like, "nope, I don't beleive in satan. However, I'm sorry to inform you that Odin shapechanged into a carpenter (Jesus) about 2,000 years ago and you have been worshipping him ever since." ;)

Shuts people up quick! I know it's not the nicest answer but it puts it into perspective for most people.



The Cowdragon _wiz_

[Whitewolf]

I tend to connect with Gods [or Goddesses] that are destructive, violent,dark and Chaotic. Set has been calling me and his presence is the one I feel the most. I 've never had anyone snipe at me because I honor him. That's probably because I don't tell anyone what Gods I honor. Actually, I did tell my boyfriend but since he is open minded I didn't think it would matter to him.


-Jessica [aka Whitewolf]

[RunningRiot]

lol I think it's sort of odd how people nowa days, whorshipping conflicting gods, can still fight with each other. They use to do that back in the old days, and it still happens! Amazing.. I admire them.

The only people the give me grief is my Mother, who made me cry like a baby for honoring Eostara at Easter, instead of Jesus. She said she'd "pray for my soul" (she's Christian), and my brother had to come stand up for me because I couldn't even breathe. I really didn't expect her to react that way.

[Amber Wynd]

From:THE BOOK OF ERIS (http://www.verthaine.sphosting.com/ss.html)

happens to discordians all the time.
Even to discordian witches. (Hello Verthaine, it's your Goddess Mama here.)

As a matter of fact, I have a Christian friend I dearly love. We've been friends for almost 18 years and we raised our girls together. She was calling Eris the Anti-Christ the other day. She became very upset when I explained that Eris was here before Christ was born, and that she isn't anti-anything, as chaos embodies the entire universe, including order. If anything, she is pro-diversity, pro-joy, pro-poptarts, and recognizes that we each have the capacity to be anything if only we can see past the walls and the barriers we erect for ourselves and for others.

Then I told her that Christ is not the Anti-Eris, either. That he wasn't afraid of people who are different and I think he would have enjoyed a good game of poker with Eris and the other dieties.

My friend hung up on me and I don't think we're friends anymore. It's very sad, but I've seen it coming for a long time.

[Little Billy]

From:THE BOOK OF ERIS (http://www.verthaine.sphosting.com/ss.html)

happens to discordians all the time.

Usually from other Discordians. :hehehehe:

[Vincent Verthaine]

Usually from other Discordians. :hehehehe:
Thats why we "discordians are to stick apart".
If you can't handle chaos,confusion,and strife from your fellow discordians,you have no business messing with Eris,goddess of Chaos herself.
It's just our way of weeding out the weak.

[eldora_avalon]

And I have no problems with people worshiping any god as they see fit, but when they worship the gods I do and so in a way that is completely senseless and uncalled for, I tend to look on such people as less of a human being.
That's why we have so many denominations of xianity, no one thinks anyone else is doing it right.

I personally don't think I have any right to tell anyone they are doing it right or wrong. I have had some interesting discussions with lots of people from lots of different religions. I have taught some xians about some things in the bible that they didn't know were there. I have come up against closed minds. I have never thought anyone was less of a human being. I feel sad for people who have been brainwashed by church leaders and try to help them see the bigger picture. This goes for pagan, xian, muslim and everything in between.

[Whitewolf]

Yeah I've had some one snipe at me for the God I honor. It was on this forum. And no Set isn't evil. He is a chaos god. He has a purpose just like every other deity. How come he always gets a bad reputation?:rant:


-Jessica [aka Whitewolf]

[cowdragon]

whitewolf,
I like Set. I know what you're saying actually. I also actualy like Loki alot too.


The Cowdragon _wiz_

[Little Billy]

Thats why we "discordians are to stick apart".
If you can't handle chaos,confusion,and strife from your fellow discordians,you have no business messing with Eris,goddess of Chaos herself.
It's just our way of weeding out the weak.

Troof. But I think I took it all just a LITTLE too far. :lol:

[IrishDancer]

Surprisingly, I can relate to a lot of people on this board. I've had friends who didn't even know I was a Christian (because it either hadn't come up yet or because I never want anyone to feel I'm pushing it on them), and when they've found out eventually, they've become very angry and started insulting me and calling me names.

I understand that a lot of people have had problems with mean Christians, but becoming mean towards them doesn't solve the problem, it just creates more of one. The same goes for Pagans insulting other Pagans for varying beliefs. That makes even less sense.

[Little Billy]

Yeah I've had some one bitch at me for the God I honor. It was on this forum actually. And no Set isn't evil. He is a chaos god. He has a purpose just like every other deity. How come he always gets a bad reputation?:rant:


-Jessica [aka Whitewolf]

If you're referring to me, I wasn't bitching at you.

And I think he gets that reputation for, you know, the whole "murdering his brother" thing.

[Akhkharu Asgard]

I have gotten b**ched about being a Christian and a Pagan. You cannot win. The world is filled with people who don't like what others believe, no matter what it is.

[Whitewolf]

That's the reason why my boyfriend is the only one who I've told. I have some friends who might have a clue that I'm a Pagan. No, I'm not telling any of them.

-Jessica [aka Whitewolf]

[Meabh23]

I have gotten sniped at for reverencing Macha but I took it lightly seeing as the sniper knew neither myself nor Macha well enough to make intelligence come out from his pompous lips.

Usually I avoid this mess by keeping my preferences and reverences private.

[LadyCelt]

today someone i talk to online was mean about jesus. they said the Bible lied etc and jesus was really bad, pretty much the antichrist. they also said no way could i be into paganism and believe in jesus as God and that the two faiths conflict and its not possible. I just tried to be the bigger person by not mocking them back.

[Cain]

Never happened to me. But I tend not to tell people my beliefs unless asked anyway.

[cowdragon]

re: Meabh23

I promise I won't snipe... but what's Macha? Just that I never heard of it before. Back to the previously scheduled thread.


The Cowdragon _wiz_

[Little Billy]

Have you ever had anyone snipe at you for worshipping a specific deity or several deities.

Yeah, it's happening in PP right now.

Apparently, the Discordians are to stop practicing their religion immediately.

Or so one poster is saying.

[Meabh23]

re: Meabh23

I promise I won't snipe... but what's Macha? Just that I never heard of it before. Back to the previously scheduled thread.


The Cowdragon _wiz_

Macha is an earl Irish Goddess. Many Neopagans seem to have preconceived notions about who she is and what she stands for, but most of them have no clue, really.