Pagans and Witches

[New Creation]

Hi there Erica, from a fellow Canuck! (Former easterner now on the Pacific)
I understand where you are coming from as far as being discriminated against because of your religion because I was a pagan for about a decade until January of this year when it ALL finally clicked into place. I definitely experienced discrimination but the funny thing is, I experience more of it now that I have come to Christ. It's bizarre because back in the day, I was CERTAIN that "the Christians" controlled everything. paganism served it's purpose for me in that it was part of an honest search for God. Now it wasn't a comprehensive search, but I might not have been ready to receive Christ at an earlier time.
My best friend and I used to practise together and we did a lot of magik but honey, it was small potatoes compared to what's going on now, I kid you not. Magik can't compare to miracles.
I don't think Wiccans are bad people, I think most of them are searchers, seekers and there are a lot of seductive things out there. I think that most of them have good intentions but what's that saying about the road to hell? (sorry couldn't resist)
Now I"m so new to Christianity that I haven't even read the whole Bible yet so I don't know a lot of what it says about paganism and witches. But I CAN tell you this, when the Holy Spirit of Christ enters your body, it's like you're given an entirely new set of encyclopedias. You've got the old ones with all the old info., which is always helpful, but you get all this NEW stuff too, automatically, and this new knowledge brings new perspective. And my opinion now is paganism is ultimately damaging and I fear for the ones who practise it. Never thought I"d say something like that, but there you go. I have to be honest. And I can say I have a very very good understanding of the religion . It was my lifestyle for a decade. In any case, I know whereof you speak and I welcome you to the board! I hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[RaptureTicketHolder]

Believe it or not, many Christians do see things which are not explicitly Christian as not Satanic. E.g., most cookbooks are not religious in orientation at all. Are they therefore Satanic? How about gardening books? Furniture stores?

Also, FYI, the problem tends to be that if Christians say "This group of religious believers worship Satan," most people take that as literal truth, that this religious group is dedicated to Satan, literally believes in him, and literally worships him. That tends to lead to violence against those religious groups at worst or mischaracterizations of their beliefs at best, leading to discrimination.

Morning Greetings

Its interesting you should bring up something as seemingly basic as a cookbook.

What was in the hearts of those who produced such things? Was it to share with fellow man a good recipe, usually. What it to make money on that wish to share, probably. So, take the next step and wonder where that money might be going - to support greed, to pay off debt that was aquired from something not so kosher?

In many cases, one would never know. HOWEVER, disernment through Christianity does tell me that Satan tries to control greed, and many other daily sins we participate in. If things like greed are saught out, Satan is right there to enjoy the seeking and take in the worship. So, I believe you can indeed seek out and worship Satan without really knowing it. So the purchase of said cookbook can cause a problem. Association games are an excellet way to see this point.

Do I try to avoid this, I do. Do I succeed, sadly not always. When I know what Ive done, Ill correct it and learn from it.

Ive studied just a bit into this wicca stuff and from what Im seeing sex (with or without marriage) is rather important, near worship in many cases, if not part of some ceremony/s. If that rules your heart at some point, who are you pleasing? Yourself, of course, and whom else?

There are many ways to offer up worship and if, from a Christain standpoint, that worship is not directed at the Lord of Heaven above, well, there is just one other who receives and tries to glorify in that effort.


And who is that? Im sure you know..... Pagan and Wicca's do not have the strong hold on this worship, but the base of your worship does not glorify the Lord - nor, I beleive, do you wish it to.

 

[Walking_With_Angels]

I am a faltering christian who has studied wicca, but only from books and such. From what i learned from the books, wicca is a very interesting religion that i almost converted to. i do know that i would never discriminate against you, because i still have christian values (if christian values count for anything for you) that say that you should not judge one another. I think that wicca is a perfectly acceptable religion, and i wish you well with letting people get to know the real you, and look past the fact that you believe in the Lord and Lady. Blessed Be.

 

[kdet]

I think that wicca is a perfectly acceptable religion>

Why do you say this?

 

[Smilin]

I'm a fellow Pagan. I have nothing against fellow Pagans because of their religion. Of course, if you're a jerk, that transcends religion.

Off topic:

Hello there Rae! We've missed you at the other site!
SOOOOOOOO many questions to ask you!

On topic:

What do I think about pagans & wiccans?
They make really great friends!

 

[Smilin]

As a Christian, I hold what the Bible says as near and dear to my heart. I also believe that within its heart, Paganism is just as the Bible says it is.

Do you kill witches then?

What is your opinion on the forced removal/genocide of the Native Americans?

 

[Volos]

Originally posted by : Walking_With_Angels
I am a faltering christian who has studied wicca, but only from books and such. From what i learned from the books, wicca is a very interesting religion that i almost converted to. i do know that i would never discriminate against you, because i still have christian values (if christian values count for anything for you) that say that you should not judge one another. I think that wicca is a perfectly acceptable religion, and i wish you well with letting people get to know the real you, and look past the fact that you believe in the Lord and Lady. Blessed Be.

Two thoughts:
Learning about a religion from a book is truthfully very limiting. Religion is an expression of spirituality and spirituality just doesn’t translate into words.

Good ethical values are good ethical values no matter what religious or philosophical source they spring from.

 

[Smilin]

I just thought of a question.

To pagans/wiccans only: do you/the pagans/wiccans you know find the term "witch(es)" offensive?

Do you mind when a non-religious person calls you a "witch," if it is in a positive, non-spiteful way?

Is it common for pagans/wiccans to call eachother "witches"?

Good question truncate.

I find it rather annoying that Puritans termed certain members of the Native American Clans as 'witches'. But that was out of ignorance, just as Columbus termed the natives 'Indians'. However, the labels have stuck.

Traditional Native American beliefs are termed 'pagan' by most Christian fundamentalists. While this false label is out of ignorance of the traditions of our cultures, I have no problem being termed 'pagan'...
Since some of the kindest people I know are Pagans.

 

[Smilin]

I think that wicca is a perfectly acceptable religion>

Why do you say this?

Freedom of Religion.

Many of us fought for it, many have shed their life's blood for it, it is a freedom held highly.

 

[Smilin]

And who is that? Im sure you know..... Pagan and Wicca's do not have the strong hold on this worship, but the base of your worship does not glorify the Lord - nor, I beleive, do you wish it to.

And I'm quite sure you have no clue what you're talking about.

Do a google search on 'Walking the Red Path'.

 

[kdet]

Freedom of Religion.

Many of us fought for it, many have shed their life's blood for it, it is a freedom held highly.

This is NOT an answer to my question and frankly it doesn't even make sense.

 

[Smilin]

This is NOT an answer to my question and frankly it doesn't even make sense.

The Constitution guarantees us freedom of religion.
If we wish to resort to Greek Mythology as our religion we are free to do so.

You are an American citizen and the concepts of our freedoms do not make sense to you?

Many have sacrificed for what we hold upon high.

Wicca is a perfectly acceptable religion as guaranteed by our Constitution.

 

[kdet]

The Constitution guarantees us freedom of religion.
If we wish to resort to Greek Mythology as our religion we are free to do so.

You are an American citizen and the concepts of our freedoms do not make sense to you?

Many have sacrificed for what we hold upon high.

Wicca is a perfectly acceptable religion as guaranteed by our Constitution.

I was asking someone that I thought was a Christian why she would say that Wicca is an acceptable religion..therefore your answer to me makes NO sense.

 

[SqueezetheShaman]

This is NOT an answer to my question and frankly it doesn't even make sense.

man you can be a mean kitty.
and not the smartest one if you don't understand the answer.
why do you think christianity is an acceptable religion?
because it is the truth? in your eyes maybe. there are other events that guide others to another truth, and how dare anyone knock them for believing what they do.

 

[Smilin]

I was asking someone that I thought was a Christian why she would say that Wicca is an acceptable religion..therefore your answer to me makes NO sense.

If the Constitution makes no sense to you then I can offer no more of an explanation.

Do all Christians believe that Christianity is the ONLY acceptable religion?

 

[kdet]

If the Constitution makes no sense to you then I can offer no more of an explanation.

Do all Christians believe that Christianity is the ONLY acceptable religion?

You are the one that brought up the Constitution. Again, I was speaking to another poster...not you. I was not talking about Freedom of Religion or anything else that you have managed to try to throw into this discussion. I simply asked someone who I thought to be a Christian why Wiica is an acceptable religion to HER...now do you understand??

 

[kdet]

man you can be a mean kitty.
and not the smartest one if you don't understand the answer.
why do you think christianity is an acceptable religion?
because it is the truth? in your eyes maybe. there are other events that guide others to another truth, and how dare anyone knock them for believing what they do.

You can stop with the personal insults anytime
And I asked a question..I haven't knocked ANYTHING.

 

[Lotar]

If the Constitution makes no sense to you then I can offer no more of an explanation.

Do all Christians believe that Christianity is the ONLY acceptable religion?

It matters what you mean by acceptable. If you mean do I think that we should start burning them at the stake, suppress them, or hate them, no I don't support that.

But Christianity is the ONLY acceptable religon. All other religons are wrong. Plain and simple. Sorry if you disagree there, but thats what we believe.

 

[Smilin]

You are the one that brought up the Constitution. Again, I was speaking to another poster...not you. I was not talking about Freedom of Religion or anything else that you have managed to try to throw into this discussion. I simply asked someone who I thought to be a Christian why Wiica is an acceptable religion to HER...now do you understand??

This is a public forum, and public posts can be commented on from any member. That is allowed under the rules. I realized you were addressing someone else. However, anyone is allowed to comment on this personal (and public) post to you under the rules. That's the way it works. If you don't wish me to throw my two cents worth in an open debate, you can always use the PM function. Public posts ARE open to comments from any and all.

Now relax and have a monster smiley kissy......

(cats are soooooooooo touchy...but they do make great Bar-B-que!)

 

[kdet]

This is a public forum, and public posts can be commented on from any member. That is allowed under the rules. I realized you were addressing someone else. However, anyone is allowed to comment on this personal (and public) post to you under the rules. That's the way it works. If you don't wish me to throw my two cents worth in an open debate, you can always use the PM function. Public posts ARE open to comments from any and all.

Now relax and have a monster smiley kissy......

(cats are soooooooooo touchy...but they do make great Bar-B-que!)

I realize that anyone can comment on a post but your comments didn't make a lot of sense in reference to my asking another Christian why she said what she said.