Friends accepting??

[Rosabelle]

has anyone had a bad experience at school or out in which friends or non-friends said nasty stuff about you choice of path? or maybe they just dont want to accept that you are different?
Rosabelle

[mol]

I am not a teen but most of my friends that I have told have been quite accepting. Only one friend of mine actually said something negative and it really wasnt negative. It was just a "what the heck is wrong with you? are you some kind of weirdo?"

And I replied. "Why Yes. Yes I am." :)

[enwyn]

i like that mol! lol. i haven't had any problems with anyone in awhile...but then again i've just moved and no one i've met recently knows as of yet. but i remember when i was in high school when i first began and people began to know about my choice they were all afraid of me! they thought i was going to turn them into frogs or make their hair fall out or something! but in time as Loradana (my sister) and i explained what we were actually all about they began to accept or lose interest. most of the time people have been fairly accepting or just don't want to know though...

that's about it!

*Brightest Blessings!"
enwyn

[Sleeping Ghost]

unfortunatly... I have had quite a few bad experiences in school... My "friend" made me decide between my beliefs and our friendship... and i chose my beliefs. I haven't talked to him since... so I've been pretty quite about it.... although if I feel like it... I'll wear my pentagram necklace to school and soak up stares... but if people want to be closed minded... that's their problem.

[enwyn]

it's true. there are lots of closed minded people out there
and unfortunately everyone's experience is going to be different. i was simply stating from my own experience. i genuinely wish that people around you could be more accepting Sleeping Ghost and as for that friend well...i don't know what to say because i don't want to offend or use any tired old cliches. it took a few years before everyone accepted or lost interest in my school and i'm sorry to be so misleading. anyway i've gotta go 'cause i can't actually talk very long now.

*Brightest Blessings!"
enwyn

[mol]

You know, I just must be out of touch already...just doesnt seem that there would be a lot of problems with acceptance in teens today. Just about every teen I see dresses like the Stoners/Freaks/Weirdos in my day.

Of which I was one...I am proud to say.

[mol]

I just listened to myself say that last post and it sounded judgemental...let me rephrase..

The way it LOOKS from back here...it would seemt that Teens wouldnt be that judgemental.

[Litha]

That's kinda like you playing a song on a keyboard and someone sits down next to you and plays in a different key.
Some of the experiences we have with other people being negative is because they do not resonate with your path.
This is partly due to lack of knowledge on their perspective and the fear this engenders.

There are only 2 basic emotions.
Love and Fear.
It is their fear that stops them from accepting with love.
As recipients of this negativity we also have a choice on how to react.
Which will you choose?

[mol]

Originally posted by Litha

There are only 2 basic emotions.
Love and Fear.
It is their fear that stops them from accepting with love.
As recipients of this negativity we also have a choice on how to react.
Which will you choose?

And I think that about sums it up...it isnt about what people say about you or what they do to you or what they think about you...

its about how you react to them.

Kindness and Love are the most deadliest weapons of all.

[Sleeping Ghost]

In my last post... I think I sounded like ALL my experiences have been bad... some of my friends just look beyond my clothing and religion. They see a male that like to be with people... so they enjoy my company... sure, the people that do this are the "freaks" but I like that group more. They will accept you for who you are (personality-wise) instead of by dress of anything else and that's what makes them great.

[mol]

Freaks!

You know...in school...I was a a long-haired headbanger...I played football and lifted weights (jock)...and I also had a lot of prep friends. So I was an all around guy. I hung out with everyone.

And they were all cool with that.

But, I liked the freaks the best. Between you and me. ;)

[Lady Tana]

Originally posted by mol
But, I liked the freaks the best. Between you and me. ;)

from a 'used to be, still sometimes freak'

thank you.. thank you very much.. heehee
:cheesygrin:

[mol]

Originally posted by Lady Tana

from a 'used to be, still sometimes freak'

thank you.. thank you very much.. heehee
:cheesygrin:

Not you!?

:eek:

[Lady Tana]

Originally posted by mol
Not you!?

:eek:

Me??? oh dost mefenetly... :D

[Nyxee]

My main issues were with friends who are still at school. When you spend most of your day in the same place with the same people for five days out of the week, your experiences tend to be somewhat limited. After you leave school, and get a job, you discover that in the 'real world', who was popular and who was a geek in school doesn't matter so much. No-one cares how many boyfriends you had in year 12. It's hard to make a living when all your talents are things like gossiping, stealing money from your parents, getting drunk, kissing people, and driving fast and recklessly.

My closest friends now are all at least two years older than me, and haven't been in high school for at least three years. Their level of tolerance for people tends to be a bit higher, because they have realised that old high school prejudices have no foundation here. Their interests are more varied, and having a decent conversation that challenges me is much more likely to happen.

Most of my mates from school know of my Pagan beliefs. They take it about as seriously as they do the fact that another girl is a 'bible-basher' or that one of their parents is now a Buddhist - I can show them kewl party tricks :p

Two out-of-school acquaintences of mine are Pagan, as is my bf. This is where I get most of my serious religous discussion from.

Blessings

Mellee

[Lynnaea]

Originally posted by mol
Freaks!
But, I liked the freaks the best. Between you and me. ;)

The freaks are so much more open minded and tolerant, or else they are in their own world so it doesn't matter. hehehe, I'm a product of the 60s, been there.

[Polaris]

MM
yeh peeps do give ya a hard time. who is it? i know some peeps are just like 'yeh-you are a witch cos u dress in black' and 'you are a witch cos u draw on stones in your lessons with a marker pen instead of listening' and when you say 'no, i am not a witch,'they go 'yeh yeh-really(i wont tell anyone(not!))?!!' and the really anoying thing is that it gets spread round the school faster than a speeding bullet. with all the gossips around peeps give u funny looks and distract u and ask u auquard(i cant spell, please tell me how it is spelt) questions that have no relivence, stuff like ' do you dance around naked around oak trees on a full moon' and ' do you ride broomsticks??????????' and 'Do you keep them in your locker????'
well, these are my ramblings, i bet you didnt read half of it, but who cares :)
MP
Polaris
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(rosabelle did that!)

[RavenShadow]

Well, personally, I find that there is very little tolorance for Witches and Wiccans. I suppose that my school is in a very monistic-religion heavy area. I have one friend, who is Morman, who won't leave me alone about it. He keeps trying to 'save me' from the 'sins' that I have comitted. He has resorted to bringing the Book of Mormon to school with him to read excerpts whenever he gets the chance. Then again, on the other hand, I also have friends who have applauded my movements, and actually followed. It seems that there are quite a few varied opinions, all (or at least mostly) due to misinformation distributed by other religions.
Raven

[WiLdFyRe]

I don't often get people trying to save me from my sins anymore. i explained to my friends what Wicca and Paganism are, and now they seem to think I'm some sort of tree-hugging hippy who believes everything she reads :)

BTW, i'm new to here, so hi! :P

[enwyn]

Merry Meet!!!
hi WildFyre! sorry if i didn't get the way you spell your name quite right! :o forgive me? :D *silly grin* anyhoo, welcome to the boards!

*A Cloud with a Silver Lining is Good, but a Cloud with a Gold Lining is Even Better!*
******************************************************************
Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!
enwyn

[Niamh]

I have a friend who "went through that whole pagan phase" when she was a teen ager. She is very polite, but somehow I don't think she takes me seriously. But that's ok, because we don't talk about religion that much... not directly, anyhow! ;)
I have another friend who asks a lot of questions. I had moved into a new apartment in a very old home, and there were some very negative vibrations and energies, and I could feel the energy of a male being who had lived there long ago. Not a nice guy, either.
ANyhow, she could feel it, too. She started talking about God and the Devil and trapped souls, etc. And I kindly tried to say that I didn't think God and the Devil had trapped a soul in my kitchen. She raised her voice: "just because you don't think that's not true doesn't mean I'm wrong!"
That's when I sat her down and explained my views. If it was her kitchen, she'd be right. BUt it was my kitchen and I was working on a spell to rememdy the situation! Now she's very open-minded and respectful!

[RavenShadow]

Maybe you're right, Niamh. If it was *her* kitchen, it would be God and the Devil inhabiting it. That's a really good way to put it. Thank you

[Niamh]

Thanks! I thought it sounded a little strange when I wrote it, but I couldn't think of any other way to put it. I'm glad you were able to get something out of it!

[DragonSong]

This girl in my class keeps trying to "save my soul" and some of my FAMILY even thinks I'm nuts. But I love my religion and if anyone has bad things to say about it I listen with an open mind, trying to see their side of the story. But like I said, unless YOU aren't secure about your religion, you should adjust.

[Sephiroth]

i was an out cast at my old school palmer high there i was a complete losser to every one because i practices pagan stuff i got teast unil one day that i smashed a kids head in to a locker in the school hall. (an old friend)... then i left that school and went to an alternative school and there i was treated as if i was one with everyone there the gothics didnt kick me around and neather did the prepps.

[RavenShadow]

I know what you mean, DragonSong. My family is just about the most Christian around (my uncle is a pastor, and the rest of them attend the same church. They all go to church 5-6 times a week. It's almost scary...). They keep harassing me. Even my father has grown to call me "Witch-hazel." I guess all families just aren't willing to listen or accept.

[Ari]

My parents, who have a definate alternative streak, were so proud of their little heathen Goddess worshiper that they decided to tell the extended family on my behalf, including my aunt who was a deacon. *sighs*

The majority of my friends really couldn't care less, they're mostly agnostics.

[Rosabelle]

I have always wondered what the differnece between agnostic and athiest is. is it something like agnostics don't believe in anything, but they are willing to be convinced and the athiests aren't or something like that??????????????
Rosy

[RavenShadow]

I know how you feel, Ari. I feel your pain...

[Niamh]

Taking a stab here...
I THINK that agnostics believe in some sort of higher power but have no interest in a spiritual life. Atheists don't believe in a higher power or diety. Let me check my dictionary...

[Niamh]

Agnostic-one who believes that there is no proof of the existence of God but does not deny the possibility that God exists.
from the American Heritage College Dictionary, third edition.

I was a little backwards there.
And atheism is what we've been saying; disbelief in gods or deities.

[random]

yeah', i've had major problems at school about my path. I have lost friends since i came out of the 'broom closet'. I have friends who insist on trying to 'save' me. and i have others who refuse to discuss anything that might led to a discussion wiht me. Most of the kids in my school are either Catholic, Christian, and theres a few athiest. one of which is my best friend.

For one i am the only Goth in my school because the others are already in high school. I have been dissed for that by otehr students, teachers, and even a smelly janitor at the school. Im not saying that all janitors are smelly but, man, this guy reaks!

People use my religion as a diss to me. I got angry in Music Theatre once and one of the preps yelled at the door as I left "I'm gonna cast a spell on you".. which made me even more mad. but i puch a curtain a few times andwas fine, beacuse I wasn;t going to sit down and meditate right in the middle of rehersal... y'know? I had stuff to do.

I have oterh people terrified of me, and since they are so simple minded, i wasn't even going to try and explain anything to them.

Then my english teach was talking about something and I asked her a question (i think it was the Holocaust) like: 'did they gas Wiccans too?' she didnt know what a Wiccan was so i had to tell her. and then she started saying something like that all WIccans are Satanic. That even made me more angry.. than i was that day. and i had to explain to her without losing my temper, a lot of stuff. and she found out that I was WIccan, and strated freaking out and stuff. From that day.. (all of this happened while the whole class was listening) My 'place' in school has almost gone as far down as the 'pot heads/shop lifters'..

[RavenShadow]

I know what you mean. We have a pretty healthy population of Goths at my school, so I'm at least not the only one. But we're still a subject for general fear. Unfortunately, many people have seen the movie *The Craft*, i.e. the worst movie ever produced for Wiccan tolorance. They all expect me to fly around the room and kill them. People pass me in the hall, and cross to the other side, so as not to come too close to me. They're all Mormons and Christians, with a couple Catholics, so they all know the definition of 'witch' from their own context, not ours.

Even most of my teachers are afraid of me. My English, Science, and Algebra teachers all have heard rumors from the others, and are a bit edgy whenever I'm around. My art teacher is absolutely petrified of me. I sketched a pentacle in a drawing once, and she flipped out so bad, my head's still spinning! I guess thats where the rest of them heard it from. I actually do have one cool teacher, though. My history teacher is about the only other free-thinker in the school. She actually gives me books to read on the subject.

Some people accept it and others don't, I guess. If we could erase the hatred enforced by the main religions, we might be a lot better off...

[random]

Originally posted by RavenShadow
*The Craft*

that movie's funny.. hee hee.

[Armitage]

The movie's not bad as far as entertainment value goes, but as for accuracy....Not something HWood's ever been known for, though.
I've never really been teased or preached-at per se, but I don't really tell too many people outside of my friends, and even then a few friends don't know. A certain Chaos magician likes to poke fun at me for being a tree-hugger, but that's about it.

[mythril]

It seems that people are slowly becoming tolerant of aother religions and beliefs, thats the way it is in south africa.

I mean a few years ago, if someone found out you were a wiccan etc, they wouldn't even try to let you explain but now, when people find out, they actually ask what it is all about.

[moonmagick4]

I am also not a teen,but my friends are alright with it.They really could care less about my choice.Some of my friends are also interested in this path!They borrow my books and ask questions!

[RavenShadow]

Has anyone heard about the Mormon policy on homosexuals? I just heard it the other day, during an extended argument with a Mormon 'friend' of mine, and it completely took me by surprize! I don't know if he is extreme or something, but a quote from him was "I think all fags should die. They aren't allowed in God's Kingdom, anyway." We got in a big screaming fight, and 2 of my friends helped me, but some of the things he said and thought were justified were unbelievable! At one point, he claimed he was not prejudiced at all. 3 sentences later, however, he said that he didn't think that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry, hold jobs in society, vote, or even exist!

I was curious if this was true for all religions outside ours, so I asked a Christian friend wether that was true in his religion, too. He said no. Of course, he also said, in the same sentence, mind you, that he had nothing against 'them', but he just didn't think it was 'right.'

This greatly intrigues me. Prejudice justified by religion... Is it just me, or does that give you a feeling of the word Nazi?

[Lavender]

I made a BIG MISTAKE of letting my sister talked me into going on a Women's weekend retreat with her church. Imagine 1 little pagan witch, away on an island, with 50-60 very "spiritual' Christian women! *Shudder* Never again!

[Eyesofthewolf]

I think it is great that there is so many people now a days standing up to the system and letting them know this is who I am and if you dont like it.. "too bad."


My experiences when I was younger were pretty bad. My family didnt except it. And friends were like "you are practicing and believing in What?" Heart failure.. school outcast with all the other freaks.. But hey.. thats life in school no matter what you believe..

Now a days I blow it off when someone doesnt like what I believe in.

I had a battle with my boyfriends mother (she is a true blue catholic.. It is always god this and jesus this)The battle was over my son going to church with her. My mother let me know about religion. Explained when I was older I got to pick what was right for me. And I give to my son the same freedom. This just didnt set well with the other grandmother. I tried to explain that I was happy for her that she found peace and happiness in her way of beliefs, but there was no way my son would be pushed into believing her way as well.. "Unless he wants to" (when he is older).. Still to this day.. the issue has not been resolved.. and it probably never will.. LOL... Which does not surprise me.. =)

Also, at work we were in a care class for customer service, and everyone kept talking about filters and how we tend to not except people who are different. LOL.. Mainly they were talking about race until I brought up how religion and not excepting people who are not like you in that aspect is a filter also..
it was a heated conversation, mainly because I was the only Non-christian in the room.. Or the only one to say I was different..

Like I always say..
Be true to yourself.. Never let anyone change your mind about that..

Something I am instilling in my son now.. He is his own person..
Harm non but be true to what is right for you..

Blessed Be...

Jenn.. Eyesofthewolf..

[Eyesofthewolf]

I think it is great that there is so many people now a days standing up to the system and letting them know this is who I am and if you dont like it.. "too bad."


My experiences when I was younger were pretty bad. My family didnt except it. And friends were like "you are practicing and believing in What?" Heart failure.. school outcast with all the other freaks.. But hey.. thats life in school no matter what you believe..

Now a days I blow it off when someone doesnt like what I believe in.

I had a battle with my boyfriends mother (she is a true blue catholic.. It is always god this and jesus this)The battle was over my son going to church with her. My mother let me know about religion. Explained when I was older I got to pick what was right for me. And I give to my son the same freedom. This just didnt set well with the other grandmother. I tried to explain that I was happy for her that she found peace and happiness in her way of beliefs, but there was no way my son would be pushed into believing her way as well.. "Unless he wants to" (when he is older).. Still to this day.. the issue has not been resolved.. and it probably never will.. LOL... Which does not surprise me.. =)

Also, at work we were in a care class for customer service, and everyone kept talking about filters and how we tend to not except people who are different. LOL.. Mainly they were talking about race until I brought up how religion and not excepting people who are not like you in that aspect is a filter also..
it was a heated conversation, mainly because I was the only Non-christian in the room.. Or the only one to say I was different..

Like I always say..
Be true to yourself.. Never let anyone change your mind about that..

Something I am instilling in my son now.. He is his own person..
Harm none but be true to what is right for you..

Blessed Be...

Jenn.. Eyesofthewolf..

[Alphyna]

In school people didn't really know, but if they asked I was honest. Mostly they made jokes about putting spells on teachers and stuff, a couple people wanted to learn more with me so I was more than willing to point them in the direction. I find now that I am older (21) and married with a child, when we go out in public we get a bad reaction from people. My husband and I both wear our pentagram necklaces, and have our septums peirced, and we live in Lethbridge, which is a HIGHLY Mormon town. When they see us with our child, they smile at Ezrah, but they tend to be very weary of Dustin and I. We don't mind, because we know how much love is between all of us, and isn't that what really matters?
In Love and Light, Alphyna

[Dria El]

Originally posted by RavenShadow
Has anyone heard about the Mormon policy on homosexuals? I just heard it the other day, during an extended argument with a Mormon 'friend' of mine, and it completely took me by surprize! I don't know if he is extreme or something, but a quote from him was "I think all fags should die. They aren't allowed in God's Kingdom, anyway." We got in a big screaming fight, and 2 of my friends helped me, but some of the things he said and thought were justified were unbelievable! At one point, he claimed he was not prejudiced at all. 3 sentences later, however, he said that he didn't think that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry, hold jobs in society, vote, or even exist!

This greatly intrigues me. Prejudice justified by religion... Is it just me, or does that give you a feeling of the word Nazi?

That's pretty extreme. I grew up Mormon. Most of my family is still Mormon. So far 3 of my 6 brothers have gone on missions. They don't think it's right and think that they will go to the Telestial (sp?) kingdom (Mormons don't believe in 'hell' per se, they believe in the 3 kingdoms of heaven, the Celestial, the Terrestial, and the Telestial) but thinking 'they should die' is waaay over the top. That goes against what Mormons (at least the brand of Mormonism I was raised in) believe in.

[Calen]

All the friends whom I am close enough to to discus religion with know, and are fine with it. The only negative comment I've ever gotten was from my sister, who informed me that I was 'all kinds of messed up.' But even she was basically joking. That's not to say my family wholeheartedly supports it, but they support me, and that's what matters.

[Sephiroth]

wow this tread is still around. i remember this from along time ago

[9-2-2]

Heheh, where to begin...

I brush off stares. Anyone who remarks to me like a child, I just wink at them or blow them a kiss... that'll back 'em off :)
I have been dragged into screaming matches in class after class, while indifferent teachers either stood by, amused with the situation, or they told the jerks to shut the hell up (some of my teachers had grit, I won't lie there). I've been shoved around in the halls, had my belongings stolen / destroyed, been humiliated in front of the whole school, had things thrown at me while walking home (glass bottles, text books, trash, etc.), my education and future sabotaged (unsuccessfully), my lunch tray knocked over, and had food thrown at me.

It sucked back then, but when I look back nowadays, I can only be amused by people's retardedness. Magick is well worth their stupidity.

[halfwaynowhere]

well, not particularly... one of my best friends ins secretly trying to convert me, and its kind of funny... and then one of my friends from school who is born-again christian obviously dissaproves. the other day i was talking to her about why i think its good to have beliefs, not necessarily religion, but at least some form of spirituality, no matter what form, and she got all mad at me, because obviously she feels that she is on the only right path... i just laugh it off though, i don't let it get to me.