Views on marriage between a Pagan and Occult follower?

[DarkLotus]

My husband and I are trying to find ourselves in the spiritual/religious sense. He leans more towards the Occult/Satanic kind of thing (I'm not well educated on it, so I apologize if I'm using incorrect terminology) and I lean more towards the Pagan ways.
We're still exploring, nothing is set in stone. From what he's read, it's not exactly a "good thing," but it doesn't bother me in the slightest, I want him to follow whatever makes him happy. I think of us as yin and yang.

But I wanted to see what people's viewpoints are in a relationship like ours, simply out of curiousity. :)

[Cassie]

I'm not sure exactly what you want to know really. Since you are already married you are hopefully in a happy and stable relationship. I think it is good and healthy for you both to be exploring your spiritual directions and it shouldn't be a problem if you end up following slightly different paths. From the terminology you use, I would guess that you are both in the early stages of your spiritual explorations. Maybe it is better to wait untill you are both a bit more fixed in your beliefs and understandings before worrying how it will effect your relationship.
And yes, ying-yang types of relationships are often very strong. :)

[Darth Brooks]

DarkLotus, why do you lump "Satanic" together with "Occult," but not Pagan? I tend to think of Paganism and Satanism as both being occult paths, or at least they can be (though I understand some pagans would take issue with the word "occult" because they do not see themselves as doing anything secretive or esoteric, and even Anton Szandor LaVey wrote in his books that Satanism was not "occult" for the very same reason - in fact in many ways he considered it to be adversarial toward "occult fads.") I find the terminology of the thread title and the OP to be problematic.

To answer your question, I don't see why there should be any problems in a Satanist/Pagan marriage based solely on religious principles. There really isn't so much of a difference between the two when you really think about it. You probably already share far more similarities with your husband than you would with a Calvinist or a Shi'ite.

[Nox_Mortus]

I don't see why there would be a problem, you and your husband don't need to have the same religion or or even the same philosophies on life in order to be happily married.

[Caitlin.ann]

Umm I'm going to marry an atheist and there's no cosmic law against that. :P

Lol really there is nothing wrong with your union and I don't understand exactly where either of you would get that impression. Paganism is an umbrella term for all non-Abrahamic paths including Satanism so really you're both "pagans". And "occult" only means hidden, nothing more or less.

[David19]

DarkLotus, why do you lump "Satanic" together with "Occult," but not Pagan? I tend to think of Paganism and Satanism as both being occult paths, or at least they can be (though I understand some pagans would take issue with the word "occult" because they do not see themselves as doing anything secretive or esoteric, and even Anton Szandor LaVey wrote in his books that Satanism was not "occult" for the very same reason - in fact in many ways he considered it to be adversarial toward "occult fads.") I find the terminology of the thread title and the OP to be problematic.

To answer your question, I don't see why there should be any problems in a Satanist/Pagan marriage based solely on religious principles. There really isn't so much of a difference between the two when you really think about it. You probably already share far more similarities with your husband than you would with a Calvinist or a Shi'ite.

I agree, and, also, a lot of Pagans are into the occult, not all, but, a lot, so, I don't see why a Pagan wouldn't have a happy marriage with an occultist or Satanist (and Satanism and occultism are actually different, occultism is about magic, Satanism is a variety of different religions and paths, some Theistic, some Atheistic, some a mixture, etc, some Satanists are occultists, some aren't, and don't believe in magic).

Hope this helps, I'm sure you and your husband have a good marriage, I see nothing wrong with marrying someone from another path, as long as you both respect each others path :).

[DarkLotus]

I don't want to be mis-understood, I have no doubts about my marriage because we're following different spiritual paths, I'm not asking if it's OK, because it simply does not matter to us. We're happy regardless of what path(s) we're on.

I just wanted to know people's views on it.

As for the occult being associated with Paganism, I wasn't sure on that because I just haven't done that much research in that area. I appreciate all of the feedback in regards to the similarities, great stepping stones for beginning studies on it!

[HetHert]

For my husband and I it matters in so much as we are able to share that aspect of ourselves and mesh on that level quite easily. We see eye to eye and he has such keen insights into magics, healings, and practices that I can say something to him and he's already on the page and finishing the sentence. This works well for us in a magical and mundane sense.

I guess what I'm saying is that it is one of many avenues and opportunities for us to sync ourselves. I think it deepens and strengthens our bond but it's not a deal breaker by any means.

[Dio]

Ewwww, a pagan and an occultist? That will ruin the sanctity of marriage!!!

In all seriousness, do what you wanna do. There are no known rules against it, and if there were, **** 'em. The biggest challenge is just being married in general. ;)

[Louisvillian]

Well, since the early 20th century pagan revival that led to the neopagan movement was a branch off of the general Occult and Esoterica movement of the late 19th century, it's not that much of a stretch for you two to understand and respect each others' religious paths. They share some common history.

Either way, I think you're worrying too much.

[Karri Morgan]

I am not that enlightened either, but from what I have read, there seem to be a lot of similarities between a pagan and a satanist.

I used to, like many others, put satanism on a different shelf, viewing it as a negative and destructive path. After reading about it, and talking to several that follows the path, I completely changed my mind. I would not follow that path, but I have respect for those who do. I really now find it to be little different than most other pagan religions.

I guess there are some differences, like how they view the ego, and social issues. My sister is not a satanist, but I always say she should have been. Because she has a lot of "opinions" and attitude matching the Satanic rule-set. If someone punches you in the face, punch them harder! If someone messes with your family, crush them into dust.. Lol..

(Sorry, if anyone get`s insulted by this, I really have read a little, and fully respect it)

I am more of the butterfly type. So often, when it comes to values and attitudes towards others we argue a lot. Also on principles and ideals.
So, sure, I would have thought there`d be some challenges, but at the same time, it does not have to be. I respect my sisters opinions, and if there is something we cannot agree on, then we just don`t argue about the matter.
Of course, if it`s a matter of great importance, then one can always find a middleway both are willing to follow. But that has really nothing to do with religion, as you do have to agree to disagree, and make common ground on all areas of a relationship. So if the relationship is strong, and both parts are willing to communicate and treat each other with respect, I dont think it matters what kind of religion one has.