A question for everyone

[Myah]

To start out, I'm a Wiccan, and am firm in my beliefs, but I've been reading alot of posts, from many different beliefs, and one single question comes to mind for me again and again.

Can you as a person take a step back and look at your beliefs, and say "This is what I believe, but I may be wrong?" I believe the Goddess is with me and I can feel her. But I can also say, " Hey, I might be wrong about that...but that doesn't change what I believe"
Now, I'm not saying anyone is wrong, please don't take this as a questioning of my faith, or that I might need to be ministered to. This is simply from a philosophical standpoint.

 

[MoonlessNight]

I have many theological and philosophical beliefs, so I could have easily chosen "other religion" as my religion for this board. But I chose agnostic because I'm quite devoted to questioning my beliefs. Without doubt there is stagnation, which isn't a good thing unless you have everything right. It doesn't make sense to change one's whole belief system reguarly, but it is a good idea to reexamine and modify one's beliefs slightly from time to time.

 

[Dracil]

Sure, else it would be blind faith.

That said, we can't go through life not taking any stances on anything. It's simply impossible for us humans. Somewhere, somehow, we need to make some assumption about the world and how it works. And from that, everything else follows.

 

[Skummer]

It is imperative that you question your beliefs. How can a person live without thinking about other theological/philosophical perspectives?

We must always consider why we believe what we believe. It's quite natural for one's beliefs to evolve over time, and well they should, for to do otherwise would be to become stagnant.

When I was a wee beast, my father was into demonology and witchcraft. As I entered my teens I took a liking to paganism and occultic practices. Towards the end of my teens, I converted to christianity. Then, in my early thirties, I gave up christendom in favour of taoism.

In each of these "periods" I continually sought more insight about what I believed. I refuse to hinder reason or intellectual curiosity on the grounds that it might adversely affect what I wish to believe.

Anyway, don't ever stop exploring or asking questions about your own beliefs. We must be honest with ourselves at all times in our search for truth.

 

[Nathan David]

Can you as a person take a step back and look at your beliefs, and say "This is what I believe, but I may be wrong?"

Of course. I'd be a fool if I didn't.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Yes, we should all be examining our beliefs regularly to check that we still believe them and that they still make sense to us I believe that all gods are one god, all goddesses one goddess, and I make sure I still beleive that from time to time. That is still 'rings true' in me. Everyone does. I admit that my knowledge is limited by both my age, my time constraints, and my being human. So the margin of error is rather large in any area I decide to utter the words 'I know' in. That's the way of it. Of course, I believe I am correct in believing what I do because it is true to me, feels right, and so on. But I'm ready to say that I may be wrong (remember that big margin?) and what I believe may not be for everyone to believe either

 

[Real Corona]

Of course I think I could be wrong, and then I hope that whoever has it right are a bunch of nice fellows.

 

[Indigo]

I have looked to Eastern philosopy, Native American beliefs and I've touched witchcraft and voo-doo and I can honestly say that all of it has made me understand more what I was taught all my life as a Christian. I have struggled with the label in my profile and have to call myself Spiritual and nothing else as I only walk with the Holy Spirit and to label myself as anything is to limit my potential for Spiritual growth. If you stop doubting yourself, you stop growing and learning.

 

[Icystwolf]

Can you as a person take a step back and look at your beliefs, and say "This is what I believe, but I may be wrong?" I believe the Goddess is with me and I can feel her. But I can also say, " Hey, I might be wrong about that...but that doesn't change what I believe"

This is simply from a philosophical standpoint.

I don't see that as being enough to call it a philosophical standpoint. There is more to it, than simply...have you ever doubted.

You can never doubt forever, nor can you question forever. If you do, then you're always looking back.

In a spiritual context, the eyes of the spirit must open before you can even begin to understand spirituality. Through the Bible, I even understand why "Chi" works....

But wicca, I've noticed it's getting popular with young girls who seems to like getting something for nothing....why? I don't believe love potions ever worked on me.....esspecially when I'm a Christian and spirituality is something I can sense and feel....poor girls, when will they ever learn that I only like Christians and Character...and that magic is all a hoax...for wicca my eyes sees nothing more than dust...............but those are my eyes-> you can interperate them as my opinion

Peace

 

[Invader Pichu]

But wicca, I've noticed it's getting popular with young girls who seems to like getting something for nothing....why? I don't believe love potions ever worked on me.....esspecially when I'm a Christian and spirituality is something I can sense and feel....poor girls, when will they ever learn that I only like Christians and Character...and that magic is all a hoax...for wicca my eyes sees nothing more than dust

Wicca isn't all about potions and ****, you know.

 

[Lyle]

Now, I'm not saying anyone is wrong, please don't take this as a questioning of my faith, or that I might need to be ministered to. This is simply from a philosophical standpoint.

Because, according to Wiccian you don't believe anything is wrong.... Though if you're asking us to step back on the grounds we might be wrong, i odn't see how a Wiccian comes off asking that question..... For is it not that your believe in Polytheism, therefore there isn't only one truth, but rather it's relative.. So it would only go to show that a true Wiccian should not be at odds with anyone...

 

[Icystwolf]

Wicca isn't all about potions and ****, you know.

Yeh, yeh, I heard them all before...

It's boring nothing happens, unlike Christianity....

And I've also noticed a lot of young girls grow out of it, or not practise it full time because it all comes down to nothing. Maybe the young girls finally stepped back and realised how much time they've wasted.....and why they can't get a decent guy....................

it's all for fun...wanting something for nothing....thats what it all comes down to.

Good luck charms, Curses....doesn't work, it's all a sham....I wonder why the ACCC didn't pull over the club......

 

[Patiently waiting]

I personally don't question my belief in Jesus. I do, however, question which christian religion is the right one for me.

 

[MediocrityInAction]

As I currently stand, no. There is no way that I can currently change my belief system, nor could I as things stand admit that it could be wrong. I'm a non-spiritual atheist because that is what I am. I chose the best-fitting of the one choice I had available to me. For me, it just seems essentially 'correct' that there is no higher power, nor is there any intrinsic purpose to life.
But that does not make me close-minded. My worldview stems from my perception of reality. Were my perception of it to change, then my worldview would with it.

 

[Icystwolf]

As I currently stand, no. There is no way that I can currently change my belief system, nor could I as things stand admit that it could be wrong. I'm a non-spiritual atheist because that is what I am. I chose the best-fitting of the one choice I had available to me. For me, it just seems essentially 'correct' that there is no higher power, nor is there any intrinsic purpose to life.
But that does not make me close-minded. My worldview stems from my perception of reality. Were my perception of it to change, then my worldview would with it.

So in otherwords you have a close relationship with the world, or I should say, a lifesource that is the world, in such a way that stepping back makes no differences as to stepping forward because you're still connected with the world...

is that right?

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

And I've also noticed a lot of young girls grow out of it, or not practise it full time because it all comes down to nothing. Maybe the young girls finally stepped back and realised how much time they've wasted.....and why they can't get a decent guy....................

it's all for fun...wanting something for nothing....thats what it all comes down to.

Good luck charms, Curses....doesn't work, it's all a sham....I wonder why the ACCC didn't pull over the club......

Well, for one - this thread is not about Wicca vs. anything so... what's your rambling for? I don't think it matters what religion you are, everyone questions their beliefs from time to time. I think the OP was about if that was okay and normal to do so, please stop trying to hijack the thread - I'm sure the OP doesn't appreciate it and I certiantly don't because this is a worth topic that you seem to be trying to derail - If you want to start a thread about why you think Wicca or paganism is bad then feel free. Peace to you.

 

[MediocrityInAction]

So in otherwords you have a close relationship with the world, or I should say, a lifesource that is the world, in such a way that stepping back makes no differences as to stepping forward because you're still connected with the world...

is that right?

Yes and no. I cannot voluntarily alter my perceptions of the world, and hence, I cannot voluntarily alter my worldview. But this is not a lifesource.

Picture a pebble in the palm of your hand. Just an ordinary, smooth pebble you picked up on the beach. It is grey with a white vein of quartz running through it. That is how you percieve this pebble. That is how it is. It is a pebble. Nothing more, nothing less.
Now try to alter your perception of the pebble. Try and think of it as a branch. A rough branch, just over a foot in length. Sheared off messily at one end, with a few limp leaves hanging onto it. Can you?
Now, what do you have in your hand? Is it truly a branch? Can you believe it to be a branch so much that you percieve it to be one? Is it a rough foot-long length of wood? No. It isn't. Its just an ordinary, smooth pebble you picked up off the beach. Look, there is a vein of white quartz passing through it.
And the point of this rambling? I cannot voluntarily change my perception of the pebble anymore than you can. If I cannot do this to one insignificant pebble, then I cannot do it to my entire worldview, for it and the pebble are of equal weight.

 

[Nathan David]

Good luck charms, Curses....doesn't work, it's all a sham....

Good luck charms and curses are exactly as effective as prayer.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

To start out, I'm a Wiccan, and am firm in my beliefs, but I've been reading alot of posts, from many different beliefs, and one single question comes to mind for me again and again.

Can you as a person take a step back and look at your beliefs, and say "This is what I believe, but I may be wrong?" I believe the Goddess is with me and I can feel her. But I can also say, " Hey, I might be wrong about that...but that doesn't change what I believe"
Now, I'm not saying anyone is wrong, please don't take this as a questioning of my faith, or that I might need to be ministered to. This is simply from a philosophical standpoint.

It depends on how the person arrives at their religion, because, depending on the religion, people believe it for a variety of reasons. In ourselves, *we* can be wrong, but God cannot be. So when His Holy Spirit indwells us, it isn't a belief anymore. It's knowledge. He is real, actual Spirit. All-powerful. When He testifies, you know.

Now, sometimes a Christian may have doubts because things are presented to his/her mind by the world, the flesh, or the devil. But God will make the truth known. In time, the Christian who has spent many years with the Spirit knows not to place trust in oneself. When our trust is in God, when we're actively seeking knowledge from Him and devoting ourselves to it, when we live according to His will to the best of our ability, He reveals secrets. He alone has access to the truth. And when we have access to Him, we have access to what He knows. That is what distinguishes it from belief.

 

[Myah]

I don't see that as being enough to call it a philosophical standpoint. There is more to it, than simply...have you ever doubted.

You can never doubt forever, nor can you question forever. If you do, then you're always looking back.

In a spiritual context, the eyes of the spirit must open before you can even begin to understand spirituality. Through the Bible, I even understand why "Chi" works....

But wicca, I've noticed it's getting popular with young girls who seems to like getting something for nothing....why? I don't believe love potions ever worked on me.....esspecially when I'm a Christian and spirituality is something I can sense and feel....poor girls, when will they ever learn that I only like Christians and Character...and that magic is all a hoax...for wicca my eyes sees nothing more than dust...............but those are my eyes-> you can interperate them as my opinion

Peace

I think the point I was trying to make was can anyone recognize the fact that they may be wrong. I believe what I am doing is the right path for me, but that doesn't take away the logical part of me that acknowledges that just because I believe that doesn't mean that I may not be wrong.