borrowing from other faiths

[mara]

what is so wrong with taking bits and pieces of different faiths and applying them to your own religion? I have a lot to learn from other cultures and faiths..Christians, Jews, satanists, and Buddists. I am always hearing people say how ridiculous this is..I just want to know why.

[Shanti]

Nothing wrong with it at all. I believe in a little from many but totally from none!

[mara]

That sounds a lot like me, Shanti.

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

I think that there is nothing wrong with it as long as it is done correctly, with respect for all of the paths.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[DragonDawn]

I see nothing wrong with it. I barrow from alot of paths to create my own. I just make sure I acknowledge the paths I barrow from.

[dragenfly]

what is so wrong with taking bits and pieces of different faiths and applying them to your own religion? I have a lot to learn from other cultures and faiths..Christians, Jews, satanists, and Buddists. I am always hearing people say how ridiculous this is..I just want to know why.
Absolutely nothing I think its the best way to be true to yourself and what you believe...

[chrestomancie]

I see nothing wrong with it either. I like a little from one religion and symbols from another, so when pushed I am an Eclectic Spiritualist. I don't put myself in any established religion.

[{Tigress}]

For me, Truth is Truth no matter where you find it. So, if you find Truth in various religions by all means make those truths your own. However, I do agree that you show respect for the religion you pull something from and be sure to acknowledge where it came from when you're talking about it.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

The problem many people have with it, is that there is a large number who when borrowing from other paths don't really understand what it is they are borrowing, how it fits into the full path of those people, and how it evolved. If you're going to incorporate something into your path it is important that you understand all aspects of it. That's like people who work with the various Celtic deities not understanding that they weren't really gods in the same sense that Greek or Roman deities are. Knowing that changes the whole relationship. Another very common example is people who profess a belief in karma, but fail to realize that the pagan definition of the word is quite different from the Hindu concept of karma, which is where the idea originated. Or people who talk about the Summerlands and attributing that to the Celts, which is a faulty idea. The Irish Otherworld is Tir na Og, not the Summerlands, which is actually something from Arthurian legend.

So what I'm saying, is that as long you fully understand the path you are borrowing from as well as the aspects that you are borrowing then there is nothing wrong with it. But when you "borrow" without that true understanding, that's when there are problems.

[WandererInGray]

The problem many people have with it, is that there is a large number who when borrowing from other paths don't really understand what it is they are borrowing, how it fits into the full path of those people, and how it evolved. If you're going to incorporate something into your path it is important that you understand all aspects of it. That's like people who work with the various Celtic deities not understanding that they weren't really gods in the same sense that Greek or Roman deities are. Knowing that changes the whole relationship. Another very common example is people who profess a belief in karma, but fail to realize that the pagan definition of the word is quite different from the Hindu concept of karma, which is where the idea originated. Or people who talk about the Summerlands and attributing that to the Celts, which is a faulty idea. The Irish Otherworld is Tir na Og, not the Summerlands, which is actually something from Arthurian legend.

So what I'm saying, is that as long you fully understand the path you are borrowing from as well as the aspects that you are borrowing then there is nothing wrong with it. But when you "borrow" without that true understanding, that's when there are problems.

*nods in agreement* Well said, Mòrag. Warping and twisting something to fit your own personal foibles and desires is something that some of us find repugnant.

[Crystal_Raye]

There's nothing wrong with it, in my opinion. Believe in what feels best to you. As long as you're not hurting someone then why should it matter?

[Deranged Hermit]

I'm pretty new to all this myself, but I think it's better to take the different aspects that you believe from different faiths, rather than change what you believe so that it fits a definition.

[mara]

I'm pretty new to all this myself, but I think it's better to take the different aspects that you believe from different faiths, rather than change what you believe so that it fits a definition.
I like what you say here and I think It's true.

[DebLipp]

you have to make sure of a few things; first that you're respectful and knowledgeable of the other faiths, second that the other faiths don't OBJECT to your borrowing (i.e. not stealing secrets or "ripping off culture"), and three, that the various things you borrow fit well together.

You can borrow fashion styles from different cultures too, but they don't necessarily work as an outfit together. Athena may not WANT to be on an altar with Coyote.

[xblue420x]

theres absolutly nothing wrong with it, alot of us do it. i second Deb..the main reason some people would tell you its 'wrong' is if you say you made it up on your own or if you take a bunch of beliefs from a bunch of different religions and still try to say that your wiccan or whatever...just know that your some sort of eclectic pagan and not christian or satanist or whatever other religions youve been inspired by. and most importantly dont let anyone try to tell you that your wrong for doing that and never ever let someone try to say that its ridiculous..you might even want to tell them to take a closer look at what they believe in-theyre probably doing the same thing without even realizing it..
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blue

[Sleet]

Rejecting an idea for no reason other than that the wrong people thought of it first doesn't seem like a reasonable thing to do. Borrow away, says I, just make sure you understand, and treat respectfully, that which you borrow.

[LittlePerson]

I agree with hermit. I mean since the closest label I can use for myself right now is uu, a lot of us do this. We don't practice one religion, we are spiritual and take ritual, images, idols, and various other things from all or various world religions and spiritual practices. It doesn't mean we are being disrespectful, it just means we studied those religions enought that we took something meaningful from them with us and incorporate it into our lives to help us and strengthen our beliefs. I don't see how doing this can be disrespectful because it'd be impossible to take something away from a religion and be totally niave about the meaning behind it, when it order to use it we derive meaning or learn it first. As the wiccans say do as we will and harm none. I say do all things out of a love and compassion for each other and the rest will stem from there. Don't think so much in terms of polarity, right and wrong, but in an ocean of belief and ritual they are all rivers leading to the same ocean. Ride the wave. Play in the water if you want to and if you get tired, go play in the sand, or ride a boat down the river. Anyway you want to do things as long as you are okay with it and not being intentionally harmful or spiteful to someone else is the name of the game.

[Romani Vixen]

Some people find it offensive. I'm Ecletic myself... it's a matter of whatever feels right to you!!!

[Athena-Nadine]

*...nods...* Some people find it offensive because some people indiscriminately pick and choose without knowing what they're taking or what any of it really means. Some people will take something and twist it, with no respect for the culture or gods it came from, and then teach it to others as fact. Those same people are the ones who will yell at others and call them "elitist" for telling them they are spreading wrong information.

Being eclectic doesn't mean doing whatever you want whenever you want to. Being eclectic requires that a person study much more than someone who isn't. Deciding to take or leave something from a specific religion is a very serious decision and isn't to be done lightly. It's not done on a whim; it's not done just because "it feels good." It's done with true understanding of what you are using and why; it's done with deep consideration.

There is nothing wrong with being eclectic. There is nothing wrong with using ideas and practices from another religion. Just know why those things were practiced in the first place. Don't take all meaning from them by disregarding the culture, gods, and reasons they came from. It's not your (general) place to completely mangle and destroy another culture and their history (and that is exactly what happens when people do this with no education). It's rude, disrespectful, and makes you look stupid.

[SacredWithin]

There's nothing wrong with it, in my opinion. Believe in what feels best to you. As long as you're not hurting someone then why should it matter?

I totally agree. I think if you do choose to take something, make sure you know what it's original meaning is and everything so you can have accuracy.

[LittlePerson]

But I have to mention one thing and that is that there are major religions that have taken from other religions before it and twisted it, and there are people don't know the real meanings behind some things that their religions have taught incorrectly for centuries.

[Athena-Nadine]

But I have to mention one thing and that is that there are major religions that have taken from other religions before it and twisted it, and there are people don't know the real meanings behind some things that their religions have taught incorrectly for centuries.Which is one of the reasons it is so wrong to do so. Entire cultures have been lost and near lost because of this.

[LittlePerson]

Yes, but even pagans have done this too with wicca. Anyway, I'm just saying that if we are not forming a religion and it's done for individual spirituality there shouldn't be a big problem. Certainly unless one's spiritualty includes missioning, which I'm against in any way. Forcing one's beliefs on another is not the way to peace and free will. By missioning, "twisted" meanings could be spread, not quite the way that Emperor Constantine did or anything, but it still can. But practicing something differently on one's own for a reason it stays there and doesn't offend people or change history. It only changes one's personal faith and/or belief in deity, making it better or worse. Hopefully better because that person chose to do things in their own way.

[Athena-Nadine]

Yes, but even pagans have done this too with wicca. Anyway, I'm just saying that if we are not forming a religion and it's done for individual spirituality there shouldn't be a big problem. Certainly unless one's spiritualty includes missioning, which I'm against in any way. Forcing one's beliefs on another is not the way to peace and free will. By missioning, "twisted" meanings could be spread, not quite the way that Emperor Constantine did or anything, but it still can. But practicing something differently on one's own for a reason it stays there and doesn't offend people or change history. It only changes one's personal faith and/or belief in deity, making it better or worse. Hopefully better because that person chose to do things in their own way.A nice thought, and if it were that simple I would agree with you that it really wouldn't matter. Then the only issue I would have with it would be a personal pet peeve and I wouldn't bother mentioning it. Unfortunately, people don't have to be missionaries of their religion or part of a proselytizing religion to spread wrong information to the point that it comes to be taken as fact by many.

I can't tell you how often I have seen someone come on to a message board (this one included) requesting information about one god or another (for example) and given information that completely flies in the face of everything that god has ever stood for.

We live in the information age. We live in the age of people looking for the fastest answers to their questions with the least amount of work. All it takes is one person giving one other person a piece of informatin as fact for it to be spread like a disease. And along with that misinformation is passed the idea that respect for knowledge, the gods, and Their culture is unnecessary.

But more than that, pulling from different cultures and religion willy-nilly, with no real knowledge of what you're taking, is disrespectful and rude (again I will say that there is nothing wrong with being eclectic). Saying that it doesn't matter if it's done is the same thing as saying that it makes no difference if a Pagan practices their religion with integrity or not. "As long as it isn't hurting anyone," I've seen stated here more than once. Yet when the people of the cultures and religions that are being raped (for that is what it is when it is done without respect) say that it is harmful to their cultures and religions, they are all blown off.

*...shrugs...* "Do What You Want," seems to have become the new creed for Today's Pagan™, where once it was "Practice with Integrity and Respect for All Religions and Cultures as well as Your Own." It's sad to me indeed, that so many seem to think that it is of no consequence if they practice their religion with no respect for themselves, their gods, their religion, or from where it came. Personally, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I were to show such flagrant disrespect for my own religion.

And yes, I am aware that not everyone is like this or does this.

[SacredWithin]

I have one thing to say out of all of this.

There are as many religions as there are people.~ Gandhi (it goes something like that, sorry if I got it wrong)

Even in faiths with set rules and beliefs, people still differ. I mean, the main question Who is God (What is the Trinity)? will differ among many Christians. Imagine all the rest of the religions.

[soilsigh aingeal]

what is so wrong with taking bits and pieces of different faiths and applying them to your own religion? I have a lot to learn from other cultures and faiths..Christians, Jews, satanists, and Buddists. I am always hearing people say how ridiculous this is..I just want to know why.
Absolutely nothing, everyone has their own beliefs about all sorts of different things, what's the difference w/religion? It's only a conflict if you make it one yourself, who cares what other people think.

[Kalika]

what is so wrong with taking bits and pieces of different faiths and applying them to your own religion? I have a lot to learn from other cultures and faiths..Christians, Jews, satanists, and Buddists. I am always hearing people say how ridiculous this is..I just want to know why.

Absolutely nothing. :)

Religion is one of those things where you need to do what is right for YOU... believe what resonates with you.

This is a place where you won't find people to bash you for your choices - you'll find people who will want to talk to you about them, help you to learn and grow, and explore your faith. :)