Acceptance

[Artemis84]

This kinda ties in with the teen essay topic on WVox. What is the acceptance "level" of your religion? Not Paganism/Wicca in general, but you, yourself.

[Rævyn Cigány]

Thank the Goddess, all my friends are 100% cool with my 'witchiness' (as one of my closest friends put it ;)). My parents~well, more like my mother actually~are not so great with it....my brother and I are both Wiccan and my mother is convinced I'm going straight to Hell in a handbasket. My in-laws know about my interests in anything Celtic (my mother-in-law actually helped me name a doll she gave my daughter for her second birthday~Bride...hmmm...Goddess name....coinkeedink??? :)), but they do not know I have 'strayed from the flock'. My mother in law was raised Roman Catholic and my father in law is an elder of sorts in the Anglican Church. So, I think I just might keep my wiccan butt in the closet as far as they're concerned.

BB

Rae )0(

[Shy Hawk]

My friends are great. One of my non-Pagan friends (who may aswell be my sister) was ready to pack up her and her husband's things and come to the PSG (Pagan Spirit Gathering) with me. Many of my other friends are Pagan. And of those who aren't...they are at least very accepting/interested.
My family ALL dislike/do not accept/reject my choice...of those who know...which is few. My mother who does not know my specific path, but does know that I do not follow hers is very uncomfortable with the idea, and choses not to talk about it.
So....we can't have everything I guess...lol:p

[Socharis]

Im lucky everyone i know accepts that im a Pagan.

But i know this is not the case with everyone.

[D~M]

I feel really blessed, because not only is my best mate a wiccan, but so is my mum's best mate, which means she is sooooo cool about it, cos she knows that it's not all satany or anything. :D

[Kiya]

well, I had to put family and friends because I consider the b/f my family, and one friend is in the know and actually very pleased about it (she just happens to be one of the moderators here, so she WOULD understand, wouldn't she!!!).

The b/f - not pagan, unless you consider hi-fi worship (!) is quite happy as long as I don't (and I quote here) "Turn into an unwashed hippy". Or spill candle wax on his hi-fi.

At work I am securely in the broom closet - it's nobody's business but my own!

[evilslinkycat]

I guess I'm one of the luck ones:D
I would have to say that most of my family are closet pagans.
However, back in High School (grad in 91)
things were MUCH different. I was the school freak because of what I thought my friends stoped talking to me because 'God told me to'

[fantine]

I chose both family and friends, even though there are a limited number of each.

All my friends that know are very accepting about my religious beliefs, and some are interested enough to request being included in a Sabbat celebration, just as observers.

Some people at work know and are completely cool with it, though I have had some fanatical Christians attempt to convert me.

My family is another story. The three people who know accept it and don't judge. The others either don't know, suspect something, or assume a lot and nobody talks about it. Kinda like the military - don't ask, don't tell. I think I'll maintain that until I'm forced out of the broom closet.

--Fantine

[Merrie]

My family is Roman catholic, But my mother is the worst. She's never even considered being anything else and seems a little alarmed that I'm different. She's constantly making side cracks at me about it, and It's starting to get to me. I'm in no way flamboyant(sp) or anything, noone would Know if I didn't tell them, but she finds ways to make fun anyway. My dad is all in favor of open mindedness and religious discovery but I can tell he really wants me to Re-discover Catholicism.

Several of my friends are interested with me. Most of us have been in catholic school all our lives and have almost simultaneously broken out of blind following. We're finally finding on our own the things they never taught us, and finding holes in all the things they did. No offense to the church, It's a wonderful path, but it's just that we're finally getting to see that it's not the only way.It's confusing, It's terrifying, It's a whole lot of fun. Plus, I have my sisters there with me. Yay for friends!!

(Sorry for Babbling!)

[Isis]

MM,

Well, I'm kinda in and I'm kinda out. My mother knows, though I havent told her out right, she's seen my religous material laying around. She's none too pleased about it, my son has an idea, but I havent' out and out told him, I dont want him blabbing it, and then causing problems for himself at school with the other kids making fun and such.

My father barely knows what day of the week it is, and still doesnt bother to answer the phone or the door when he's home, so my religous affiliation is not in his brain. My brother could give a shit, literally! LOL, he and I are close and he wants me to be happy as a clam, and that's all that matters.

Friends are happy, but they want me to put curses on people, LOL. Which of course I refuse to do, lol.

One job, I'm out. The other job, I tried to offer a discussion about religion and I was told that I was going to hell, LOL. Of course I told him that I can't go to a place that I know doesnt exist, LOL. He was none to pleased, but you know I'm happy that I stated how I believed. Though, at this job I'll never do it again.

Out or in, I talk to damn much! LOL

[Myst]

I think I just posted something to this effect earlier but I can't remember. Thus I'll reiterate for those who are interested...

Almost all my friends are Pagan. Those who aren't know about it and respect it whether they are Atheists or church going Christians. Otherwise they wouldn't be my friends (ie. if you can't handle the real me then I can't be bothered to change or pretend)

My entire family knows. My mother's side is half Indian and all celebrate Christian holidays with no religion behind it, are Atheist, can't be bothered with religion, or are also Pagan.

My fiance follows the path of the Warrior with no specific religion or Gods - he prefers to rely on himself, but often attends our Pagan rituals and participates as well as often asking me about and teaching himself about our practices. This is vastly different from my ex who, while also without religion, absolutely refused to let me talk about it - part of the reason why he's my ex.

My fiance's family celebrate Christian holidays without religion, or go to Church irregularly, but all know about my path and accept it. His youngest sister is recently finding her own way to Paganism as well.

The only people who matter are those who care about me, and the people who care about me accept it. :)

[Airyn]

I haven't actually told my parents anything, because they are very christian, and when I told them as a child that I didn't believe their religion, they were very offended and they shipped me off to a "confirmation class". I hated it. I felt as if I was mocking the religion, because I didn't believe it, and I hated the fact that I was being forced against my will and there was nothing I could do about it. I decided after that, that I would not bring it up. My parents know that I'm interested in the metaphysical stuff, they know I have a deck of oraqle cards, that I love fairies, dragons and what not, but I don't think they know the specifics. My sister is also interested in the same things, but she also doesn't know much yet.

As for my friends? Many of them are pagan, or at least open- minded. The ones that know lots are all really supportive, and my best friend could be considered the one who got me interested.

[Dria El]

I didn't vote cus I don't really fit into any of those categories. I don't have many friends but the ones I have, know. Some of my family knows as well. My kids definitely know. My oldest knows when the moon is full mom's got to go do her 'thing'. lol He's so smart! :D I don't hide my witchiness but I don't scream it from the rooftops either.

[sherry]

My family had the hardest time understanding the choice I have made but finally after all this time they get it !! No one has been turned into anything and I am not a social misfit!!( this is what they had pictured.) Now that they see I am finally happy with my choices they are calmer around me.

Friends are very aware and always have questions but are no longer affraid of who and what I am!! They don't even mind when their children ask questions

I feel VERY fortunate to finally be totally out although I do not shout from thee rooftops either this iss a small town and I am the new person in town.:)

[Margie]

I got lucky in that my boyfriend and I met and fell in love and then found out we were both Pagan/Wiccan...into the craft I guess you would say.

We've worked to better each other and further our learning of nature in the past 4 years.

[Niamh]

Well, I've been a big wuss about telling my family, although my little sister (not so little; she's 20) has an inkling. They are all very strong in their faith, the one in which I was raised, and I"ve been afraid to talk to them about it.
Now that I re-read that, it seems stupid to think that just because they are strong in THEIR faith doesn't mean they would mock me. As a matter of fact, my sister in law was a religious studies major and is a campus minister (she deals with all faiths and denominations for this job) and I think she would be one of the first people I wuold speak with in my family.
Anyhow, enough from me...

[Illuminatus]

Nobody agrees with me.

In the land of religions, the Atheist walks alone.

But everyone accepts me. Because they know if they don't, the'll get a FACEFULL OF FIST!!!!!!!!

[sylphanie]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Nobody agrees with me.

In the land of religions, the Atheist walks alone.


What about other Atheists? Or are you all having too many disagreements on which god you don't believe in? ;)

Sylph
Teeheehee <<friendly poke>>

[Myst]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
In the land of religions, the Atheist walks alone.


Awwwwww poor baby :rolleyes:


8O

[willowfairy]

i am in the broomcloset, except on the net. ;) and you guys are my friends, but i think this is an off-line thing. but i plan to tell some of my close friends soon..... i just want people to accept me. i'm only --going to be-- in 7th grade, dammit! but then again... i could find people who are interested in the same path as me. you know? :confused:

[Earth Walker]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Nobody agrees with me.

In the land of religions, the Atheist walks alone.

But everyone accepts me. Because they know if they don't, the'll get a FACEFULL OF FIST!!!!!!!!


Cry me a river and I'll take you fishing

or

Call 1-800-976-Whaa


Patriarchy had a specific beginning in history.
It will also have an end. :smash:

[random]

this year im going into 9th grade... I came out last year... in 8th. that was a struggle... I only came out 'cause my language arts teacher was trying to tell me that all witches were satanic... that kinda pissed me off and i ended up saying something like... "i'm pagan and Im not satanic" which kinda shut her up. then again, I did this in front of my whole english class which was maybe 15 people from all different "classes" of the school.... word got around... other teachers began to dismiss me easily and not answer my questions... so just ignored me in the halls, (thos ewho didnt teach me), or just gave me odd looks and thats about it. my friends... oh, there were big problems there... you know how certain groups of people sit a certain lunch tables in satus? well, at the time, I was... i guess, in the alternatives... which were mainly all female... Some of them, which i condiered my friends, heard the rumor and asked me about it, and then ended up telling me "Im sorry you're going to hell." which at I rolled my eyes and moved down the table. There were a couple who were open minded like... Ellen, Emily, Leslie (my bestest frined in the whole world), and Kristin... All who are very intelligent people.... I ended up sitting on the other end of "our table"... which eventually got harassed enough by them that I moved to a different one, where no one sat... bye the window... so i got to look out at the gym windows and the sidewalk- YAY!.... Ellen was in my lunch hour then and moved away from the table in which we were at and came to eat with me... (she didnt really like any of them apparently) ... from which came me becomming an outcast at my school... Which didnt really surprise me much... though, it's good, 'cause i made new friends... Jason, Saunder, AJ, Mark, Caleb, Jacob(well, this one was kinda odd, 'cause he's two years ounger than I am, very baptist, also very open minded.)..... Jason, Saunder and AJ are the main geeks of the school..... Mark, well, he's, I guess, a freak, you know... considering, he has longer finger nails than I do and hardly ever talks.... Calebs just.... himself. doesnt comform, doesnt give a damn about what anyone says... and he's totally awesome once you get past the intimidating part... well, enough about that... the bad thing about being out, is that you can't tell ppl that you changed your beliefs... which evidently, I have... but there's a plus... Im goign into the high school this year.. new people to get to know... and then Ill be moving after this school year.... umm... my family.... my imeditate fam knows... they understand, i guess... I never really asked or wanted to know what they thought of it... my mom is semi-christian, believes in one god... my dad athiest... and my bro and sis... they're confused on everything... though, they told my very christian cousins that Im a witch, and their parents didnt take it lightly when my other cousin told them his fiance was Pagan, who is pregnant, and called their unborn baby a "little witch baby"... behind their backs... so im not sure if they know about me yet, I hope not... 'cause if anything happens to my parents, I go to them... -eek! dear elements, i hope nothing happens to my parents... .........

too much typing,

-christy-

[willowfairy]

wow. see? that is what i am afraid of. everyone disliking me. but i sounds like you go to a big school (but hey, i could be wrong) and mine is very small. it shouldn't make a difference though....

[random]

eek, no... I wish i went to a bigger school. but there's about 100 kids to a grade... more or less... small town, small school...

know what else hit me?

my father actually told me one time that I fit the description of being able to do a columbine (which is one of the reasons he wouldn't let me get a new trench coat. :( )... except that im female... (this was during all those copy-cats... one of which was in the general area of kansas, which i live... luckily, no one got hurt.) Dude, that was a pain, it took me forever to explain to him that the people in my area know each other too well for ANYone to do that... except this one kid, but he was decleared legally insane... the fact is, i've only been living here since 6th grade... in which I have only gone to the JR. High... moved twice in the town.. and went through some really hard times emotionally... well, who knows... my dad can be really scary sometimes...

-christy-

[Merrie]

Originally posted by random
eek, no... I wish i went to a bigger school. but there's about 100 kids to a grade... more or less... small town, small school...

My school only has 36 in the junior grade right now...total.

[Andromeda]

Not alot of people know of my faith, a few of my friends and my boyfriend. My mom I think knows...we just don't talk about it. She just bought me a lovely neckless with a cross on it. She told me I needed to wear it.

[SpikesPet5150]

All of my friends know.. my fiance knows.. my sisters know... my fiance's parents and sister knows... and they all accept it. I haven't told my parents, for some stupid reason, I'm kind of scared to, even though they're really not religious. My friend Mike, in PA, called me the cutest name once... my friend Jami sent out one of those email questionaire things.. ya know, asking you all sorts of stupid questions that you have to answer and then send on to your friends? Anyways, one of the questions was, "If you could classify your friends (IE--Sally is my Partying Friend or Jake is my Best Friend in the World) how would you classify them?" And he put me down as his "Angel on a Broomstick." I thought that was adorable!!
~Bree
:elf:

[faeriedust]

my family is "Southern Baptist" and my husband is Catholic and so is his mom. whats a girl to do?????????????? My mother doesn't like anything i do so it would only confirm to her that i am the lost one and i am positive she would try to have my kids taken away. so excuse me why i close the closet door!! lol

[witchywench]

In the broomcloset, but some friends think I am a 'bit witchy'

Ha! more than a bit!

[Ball-Bhreac Ròn]

Well, I don't go shouting it from the rooftops, but if someone asks me about my religion, I always tell them the truth. I mean, why not? If they don't accept you and alienate you, it's their loss :):):)

[Illuminatus]

Anyone who doesn't accept my religion gets a FISTFULL OF FACE, BUDDY. Punching People = Comedy Gold! I'm just good like that. Hail Eris.

[clef0628]

My friends know about my beliefs, my family does not. I'm getting close to telling them. I figure if they ask about it I'll let them know.

[Shadowulfe]

Merry Meet Everyone!,
Everyone who is close to me know that I am Pagan...heck even the people who only know about me is Pagan and they are cool with it. The majority of my "circle of friends" are Pagan or Pagan friendly so they are cool with it too!

[witchywench]

Shadowulfe you are lucky!

I don't know anybody out there who is pagan, I am self dedicated in my little closet!

You guys are my first contact!

You are all a true blessing!

[clef0628]

Then again my Mom is still does not like my snake. And She is real friendly!

[witchywench]

Bump!:)

[Avena]

My family knows. Do they accept? Hmm not sure. They are definitely not happy with it, but don't banish me or something. But they aren't very religious anyway. My mom is Roman Catholic but doesn't go to church. My dad is...dunno what he is...maybe a Buddhist or something... *shrug*
Only my old grandparents have a problem with anything that's not Christian. But I very early stopped trying to explain them anything about my believe. They grew up differently, they have a different world view and a different understanding of faith. Would be senseless to try to talk them out of anything (And what right did I have to do so?).

Friends know. Most of them. They don't question me about it, but find it somewhat funny I think. As long as they still take me seriously I can live with it. :p

[bansidhe]

my family all know. there have been two main reactions. a few grandparents disowned me (thanx nanny and grandda tom), most think its juss a phase im going thru (im looking at you mom and dad) and my grandma, who always has to be an exception, died. (this is the kinda reactions you get when youre born and bred in northern ireland)
my friends are all accepting, and one or two of my 'sistas' are beginning to get into a bit. my boyf used to be wiccan and is now getting back into it, so no probs there.
i go to a christian skool, not outta my choice, but im moving and completing my last year of skool somewhere else next year because unfortunately some of these luthern teachers get a bit touchy about being fair with celtic pagans. its probly juss a coincidence that i get suspended for things that usually get a detention or nothing, such as swearing. and how i get straight A's and A+'s in all assignments and tests, but get an overall C or D is beyond me. *shrug* then again, i was never good at maths.
ive been told by so many people that ive lost count, that im going straight to hell. my usual reply is that i ll probly see them there or that thats alright, im a fire sign. (go leos!!!)
at the end of the day, as long as i get thru the stuf i want to and i stick by my code of honour, im a happy bansidhe. and if others dont like it, i ll happily explain to them the differences between celtic pagans and satanists and set them back, straightened, on their merry way.
take care and brightest blessings,
bans. :bubbles:

[Emy]

well, most people are ok with it... but then again, not everyone knows, or has figured it out yet etc... :)

[celticstorm76]

My friends and family are pretty understanding, my spouse is a great support system. His father was very interested in learning of my path, even attended a few funtions with us, until he remarried. I do not take it personal he has broken a lot of hearts with his new marriage, so not wanting to be part of my path is the least of my worries.

My mom is well my mom she truely has no path but worries "what if you are wrong dear and there is a hell?" to that I say any and all gods/goddess should be happy that I am a good person.

My friends well my non pagan friends are funny...I think I am the token pagan to them, but they at least ask questions now instead of thinking the movies/tv are always correct. I do not shove it in anyones face, but I do not hide the broomcloset either. At work pretty much everyone knows, but hey we have a mulititude of paths here from christain, to Jewish, to Indian, to Agnostic, it's a nice melting pot.
I am thankful for the people in my life and that they let me be me and that is what they like the most about me :)

[Astara Seague]

All my friends and my Husband and my kids but not my parents or brothers and sisters etc

[Tigerlily]

My mom would kill me if she knew.

My new friend thinks it cool.

[Zephyrstorm]

I didn't vote because there isn't an option for "some family acceptance, all friends accept it."

One of my sisters and one of my brothers are very accepting of my Path. The others, for the most part are aware, but don't quite know what to make of it. My mother varies between down right rude and purposefully ignorant of my Path. most of the time she pretends not to know. One of my sisters doesn't know because she and I simply aren't close.

All my friends know.
Neheti

[lonewhitewolf]

My parents and my boyfriend know. My really close friends I'm not so sure they know exactly about my beliefs, but they are so open minded that it doesn't matter. I haven't told my cousins, aunts, or uncle. But it's not because I don't think they wouldn't accept me. I just know I'm not ready to tell them.



-Jessica [aka Whitewolf]