Explaining wicca - easy, getting feedback from a closed mind - a lot tougher

[Artemis84]

Thanks for all the great advice you guys gave me. It really did help me to explain Wicca to my Christian host today. But I don't think I was exactly ready for the feedback I got. After she had told me that she could see eye to eye with me on many of my viewpoints, and I thought that maybe she would be one of the tolerant ones, the conversation took a turn for the worse. After I had finished telling her about the amount of mind power used in the Craft (I don't have much $ so mind magick w/o tools is my favorite) she went on to tell me about her father who was interested in Eastern religions and the power of the mind. Supposedly he got so "into it" that he became telekinetic and could move a pencil across a table (I'm doing a mental rolling eyes thing now. What can I say, I was a little skeptic). Then she proceeds to tell me that he saw the spirit of his mother two weeks before she died. She said that he realized that this "mind power" was evil and Satanic, and thankfully "saw the light."
So with this said, she told me that she had read many books on the Craft and talked with many scholars and proffessors about the subject. Her exact words were, "I hope I'm not offending you or anything, but Wicca is evil. I've done research so I know this in my heart. And I pray for you every day that you will come away from this and see the truth." She said in a round about way that I really was worshipping Satan. Apparantly, Satan either disquises himself as a holy angel so that people will worship him (?) or he scares them so badly, he tries to make people think he's not real. I guess I fit into that last ignorant catagory. I told her she could pray for me, but it might be a long time before I find any evil in the Craft.
I honest to Goddess wish that she had yelled at me, or called me a Satanist. Then this would be easier to cope with. But her peacemaker attitude and her attempt to make me look like a blind teenager really hit home. It's hard when you feel like the world is against you. And I'm scared, because I don't want to have prejudice against Christians. But after more and more of these talks with devoted friends and worried adults, Christians are starting to scare me. I know it sounds awful. But now, every time I hear that someone goes to church or I see a cross around someone's neck, I think, "Uh-oh. I better be careful. I better not say anything about religion." I SO SICK OF HIDING ALL THE TIME!!!!

Thanks for listening to me rant. Blessed Be.

[loopy]

::hugs:: Sorry you had to go through that. I can only imagine what it must have felt like. Just remember that you're not alone, even though it feels that way sometimes. You've got hundreds of people on this message board alone more than willing to discuss and embrace your religious choices. :)

Question-- was your friend there with you during all this? What was her reaction?

[reanna]

BIG ((((((hugs))))) to you!!
Hang in there and don't get discouraged. People fear what they don't understand, but don't seem to be in all that much of a hurry to research info to find out anything about it. *sigh
I know how hard it is to hide in the proverbial "broom closet" it is a really rough not to be able to share the beauty of the universe around us with most people,for fear of all the misunderstood accusations that can and will fly around. Know that you are loved and that you love yourself.
If all people were exactly alike with all the same ideals and beliefs.... we would be drones(clones) of absolutley everyone else. That would not be the most ideal situation either.(IMO)
Give yourself a huge hug from all of us here.

:):):):):):):)

[loopy]

Just had to say-- don't all those smiley faces look like they're all linked together? Like holding hands or...ears or something? :D Just me then. Okie dokie. 8O

[reanna]

Yes! they do! :):):):):):)

too cute!

[Dria El]

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[reanna]

What a wonderful idea Dria!
:):):)

[Elaine]

I'm sorry you had to go through that...my husband is Christian...and a close minded one at that so I know how difficult things like that can be...but please do not let those people discourage you...I have also been discriminated against (other than with my husband...he's a completely different thread all his own!!:D) because of what I believe and it was to the point where I was so discouraged, I was going to leave religion all together and just focus my thoughts on other things instead of my study!! There are some wonderful people on MW that helped me through it and luckily, my study is going better than ever!!! do not get discouraged and do not let it get to you....I know some people that are the "I pray for you cuz you don't go to Church" type (most people in my life don't know about my path...they don't need to know either!!!) and trust me...usually the people that say things like that, are the people that need the prayers!! Do not let people make you scared of others in a particular religion...just because a person feels a certain way, it doesn't mean that everyone of that religion feels the same way!!I've met Christians who are very open to people of all religions and are actually interested in learning a little about our "scary" religion!!! if you need people to help you through this, there are many people on MW that are very good at making you feel better when it comes to this kind of thing!! trust me I know...:) hope all is ok for ya....keep your head up and be proud of what and who you are.....(sorry, I think a lot of that was rambling...but I was trying to make a point and couldn't figure out how to say it directly...I hope I made sense!!!) :D

[loopy]

What a wonderful idea Dria!

Ditto!! :) I'm the one third row from the bottom, fourth from the right. :D

[Semele]

Christians are taught from the beginning that other religions, particularly those involving the word craft, are wrong. It is pounded in thier head that they have to save the world through witnessing to them. I used to always wonder about missionaries who go to far away places where folks have never even heard of Jesus. They go witness to them so that they can know Jesus and accept him into their life....anyway I remember asking the teacher at vacation bible school if people who never heard about Jesus would go to hell and she said no. So in my mind I was thinking...why don't we leave them alone then. If we tell them and then they choose not to believe...they go to hell because they refused him. Didn't make sense then and it doesn't now.

When someone offers to pray for you...accept it and get on with your life, knowing that it is niether your duty or right to try to convince them otherwise. We love you here and would never try to change you or tell you what you are studying and believing is wrong.

[Rævyn Cigány]

Originally posted by Dria El

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

AAAHHHH...Dria you blinded me this early in the morning....with that said, the one thing I wish for you sweetie is a mate that embraces YOU, and doesn't give a fig about your Faith. No, not that really, just that he accepts you for the way you are with or without Wicca, know what I mean? Sigh...maybe not...but put it this way~ I thank the Goddess every day that I have a husband who loves me madly no matter who I look to for Divine Guidance. I wish that for you (and at least three kids...hey, misery loves company! hehehe ;))

My thoughts are with you, Artemis :heartthro

Rae )0(

[Mariposa De La Luna]

Don't get discouraged by all Chirstians. I had a wierd experience the other weekend when we were visiting my sisters. My husband told my oldest sister he doesn't believe in God, not totally factual, he is Pagan, but he knows I'm not ready to come out of the broom closet yet. Well we were all raised Catholic but now she is going to Lakewood Church which I think is broadcast all over the country, its based in Houston, and its evangelical as far as I can tell. Well she starts going on about he will go to hell, not mean or rude but very adamantly, and how could he not want to circumcise his son, its a covenant with God and its cleaner, and every one but TRUE christians will go to hell, there are alot of false prophets out there, even Christian ones. The Jewish people are automatically going to heaven because they are God's chosen people. Pagans worship idols, which my husband set her straight about but I don't know if she believed him. The stuff they have her believing in and she was spouting was amazing! She believes the end of the world is coming and we will see Jesus Christ in our lifetime. She believes that she doesn't have to live a good and moral life becuase as long as she asks God to forgive her sins on her death bed and says she truly believes in him she will go to one of the three heavens, I won't get into what she believes about those right now. So while she is saying all this my youngest sister is listening but not saying anything and my second oldest sister is :rolleyes: rolling her eyes and saying "Oh no, hes got her started again!" She is still Catholic and thinks my sister is brainwashed and takes what she says with a grain of salt. She thinks my oldest sister is crazy :crazy: and would never preach to anyone or fall for that stuff. I think she would be the most accepting, she has called me a witch and I didn't deny it, even though I rightly could.

Fortunately my oldest sister never asked me what I believed in. I think she honestly doesn't want to know and would rather believe I'm still Catholic. I think she would feel very bad for me because I was going to hell and my kids too. I think that is at the root of it. And there is no way you are going to open thier minds because they have it so ingrained, the concept of hell, and can't let it go. Have you noticed the Christians on here that are opened minded don't really believe in that kind of hell that people are scared of, if at all. They are not going to preach to you because there is nothing to save you from, there is nothing to save anyone from. Its the ones that truly believe in hell and want to save you from going there that are the loudest or, worst yet, pity you and try to guilt you and make you feel bad for what you believe in. It really doesn't depend on if they are Christian but what type of church they attend. The "scare you into heaven" type or the worship of god type. There are differences among them it just may be in your area there are not so many peaceful types. At least you have us if you need anything. We are your support group, you are not alone, even if its just in cyberspace. :)

[widukind]

I know it's tough, Artemis. I had the same with an atheist, who claimed religion is enslaving the mind. It's even harder convincing them they are wrong than convincing a Christian Paganism and Wicca aren't evil. The satan story is really sad. I can't believe she believed herself to be rational. Did you ask her if she thought she felt rational while saying that? The devil disguising himself as an angel? Her father becoming convinced mind work is evil? I don't see how that could be convincing, even to that person's father. I think he got scared because he was not ready for the powers he was harnessing, and that's why he called it evil. That might have been easier than to admit then him not being ready.
Remember, in Christianity, spiritual growth is not evident. You are immediately supposed to be ready after you take tour initiation into Christianity at twelve or whatever age. If you are not, you blame it on the devil. That hardly seems rational.
I'm not being judgemental, I'm just being critical about whether she truly believes Wicca to be evil, or just tells herself that so she wouldn't have to go out into the unknown world of a new religion.

Brightest Blessings!

Widukind

[SnowStar]

Glad to know I'm not the only one dealing with these sort of issues at the moment...
I guess the reason why it gets to me is because I rarely have to deal with it.
I met this guy...(oh , geeze, one of those stories) we got along great...I guess you could say we still get along okay (after less than a week...) but when I mentioned that I was Pagan (no big secret might I add) he like went into Christian auto-pilot. You know what I'm talking about? The whole cookie-cutter schpiel about spend enough time around me and you'll become Christian, don't worry we'll get you saved, I like you too much to let you go to hell...:rolleyes:
So anyway, I tell him as calmly as I can considering I was very offended at his automatic reaction (he did[/B] say he wanted to know everything about me) that I am very happy with the skin I'm in, I don't care to be "saved", I don't believe in hell, and don't tell me how to believe because I'm not telling you how to believe. So then he asks me what I think is going to happen to me when I die. I explain that I believe that I will be reincarnated. Then he tells me to be serious! Oy vey...
He also had it in his head that Pagan=Athiest. Great. I'm dealing with someone who has NO idea what I'm talking about...explaining Paganism AND my stance on Christianity in a nutshell...I'm famous for it...he's still in the dark after that.
Finally he says that the topic "depresses" him and that he doesn't want to talk about it anymore. Being the pushy person I am I say "What? It depresses you because we're a lot less alike than you thought?" He goes on to tell me that it is the Christian belief that anyone who doesn't accept Jesus will go to hell, etc, etc, blah blah blah...well, you guys have heard it too I'm sure. I remind him that I go to a Catholic school...I [I]know...but its not my belief! I wish I could have remembered that bible verse I think its in Corinthians someplace about how everyone is forgiven and no one goes to hell...I don't remember exactly, but I wish I could...it makes for some good argument, or rather makes for a good end to one.

Well, thanks...I needed that.

[widukind]

Different streams within Christianity stress different parts of the Bible. You'd be surprised how different the monks from two different monasteries here in Belgium can view life, while they are all Christian and all trust in the bible.

Brightest Blessings!

[MistOfTheSea86]

I know exactly how you feel on this subject. When I was in 8th grade I had a friend. This friend was Chirstian. NOw at this time i had figured out that I was Bi-sexual. I Wanted to tell him. SO I did. The response I got was not pretty. HE said that he pitied me and was sorry that Satan had gotton control of me. And that he would pray every night so that god would help me, and tha he would still be my friend. Of course icouldn't believe that he could be my friend knowing in his heart that I am evil and will go hell. ( imind you I was not Pagan at this time) I confronted him about this and all he said is that I can live without you as a friend in heaven. It made me cry so badly that night. I was so sad, because it was so hard to cope. BUt eventually I got over it and all the rest of my friends supported me and made me feel better. I then found Wiccansim and my life has been 10x better ever since. Some people are just so one-sided when it comes to religion. you just have to make them aware of that. And to respect what you believe in. Who are they to call you evil. They have no right, and they have is tehir opinions. And no where in the bible does it say use your opinions to judge others. I also have a philosophy on this. If they pray evreynight for us not to be Bi or Gay to god, and God does not answer what does that say? Either there is no god or he does not care and he loves which if i were christian would be my full belief.

[Elaine]

posted by mistofthesea
-They have no right, and they have is tehir opinions. And no where in the bible does it say use your opinions to judge others. I also have a philosophy on this. If they pray evreynight for us not to be Bi or Gay to god, and God does not answer what does that say? Either there is no god or he does not care and he loves which if i were christian would be my full belief.-


#1. you know what they say about opinions!!!! :D

#2. That's what I never understood about people who say "I'll pray for you" they feel that they are so much better than you because you are not Christian or Catholic or straight etc etc....if they DO believe in God...they would realise (in THIER belief system) that God made everything and that everything "He" made is beautiful....I don't remember where it is...but why doesn't anyone ever remember that THAT is in the Bible!!! "He" also said "Love your neighbor as yourself" that doesn't seem like love to me!!!!