potter fever?

[tulc]

Wicca is far less harmful to its practitioners and society than Christianity

...right now, yeah. But what if wicca was the main religion? For example when Christianity was a persecuted minority we were percieved as pretty harmless, but when we tried to rule countries, not so much. Do you really believe Wicca would wield world wrath well?
tulc(sorry that alliteration was just too fun to avoid)

 

[Skellybones]

Wiccans do not persecute other religions, nor would they.

 

[tulc]

Wiccans do not persecute other religions, nor would they.

We didn't either. Until we were in charge. Then it's about power not the Gospel, and human nature kicks in. Remember God works on a timeline different from ours, He draws people, we sometimes try and take the shortcut of driving others to do what we think is right. All the people I've known involved in being Wiccas have been fun and cool, the problem is they are all still people. And to quote the Muppets "People is people" all I'm saying is you give anyone power there are going to be abusers. This isn't said as a slam but as something to be aware of. That's all.
tulc(who needs a lot more coffee but probably isn't going to get it for a while )

 

[Nathan David]

I'm with you, Tulc. Power corrupts. I don't buy the "Wiccans wouldn't persecute because it's against our beliefs" any more than "Christians wouldn't murder because it's against our beliefs".

 

[tulc]

"Christians wouldn't murder because it's against our beliefs".

Sad but true.
tulc(still looking for coffee)

 

[Skellybones]

These are different times, tulc, christianity came into power awhile back...things were different then.

 

[Arikay]

Edit:

 

[Arikay]

I think wiccans would be much less inclined, but there are always people that call themselves one thing and then do another.

 

[tulc]

These are different times, tulc, christianity came into power awhile back...things were different then

Yes, but I don't believe people are all that different. A little taller maybe, a little longer lived (some) but again: peoples are people.
Arikay is also right. Arikay is also right again!
tulc(found his coffee!)

 

[Nathan David]

there are always people that call themselves one thing and then do another.

Yep! You gotta look at what they do, not just what they say.

 

[tulc]

Yep! You gotta look at what they do, not just what they say.

Or as Jesus said:
Matthew 7:15-23
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
a word for all Christians, I think.
tulc(think I'll have another cup!)

 

[Skellybones]

I think wiccans would be much less inclined, but there are always people that call themselves one thing and then do another.

Very true. Very true indeed.

 

[Havoc]

I'm with you, Tulc. Power corrupts. I don't buy the "Wiccans wouldn't persecute because it's against our beliefs" any more than "Christians wouldn't murder because it's against our beliefs".

As a Wiccan I'm afraid I must admit I don't buy it either. Wicca has just as much potential to be usurp by the power hungry and corrupt as does any religion. We don't currently seem to have been infected with the disease of absolutism, but that possibilityy is always there.

Now we as Wiccans can hide our heads in the sand and cover ourselves with the blanket of "no true scotsman" fallacy like some religions we're all aware of, but that is a sure road to becoming what we most despise.

Goddess grant that we may be wise enough to learn from the mistakes of others, and thus avoid becoming the next tyrant in turn.

 

[tulc]

Goddess grant that we may be wise enough to learn from the mistakes of others, and thus avoid becoming the next tyrant in turn.

Which reminded me of something my dad used to say to me, usually right before he called the police to have me ejected from the house. Again. He would look at me with that little glint in his right eye, (the glass one as it happened) and he'd say in the gentle voice of his (like the sound of broken bones grinding together) He'd say "tulc (well not really because tulc isn't the name I was born with I sort of "earned" it after a long night running from the police, but that's another story, one I'm bound by a confidentiality agreement to never discuss on pain of a quick, but I am assured very painful, execution. But I digress.) Anyway he'd say "tulc (well not really because.....no wait I said all this! Never mind) ..."tulc If you can't be a good example, at least you can be a terrible warning." And I've tried to live by those words.
tulc(who's Dad also taught him "sometimes it's just not worth chewing through the restraining straps to get up in the morning" sometimes I really miss my dad. Like when I have something very contagious.)

 

[transientlife]

always love reading your posts, Tulc

 

[Lifesaver]

Now we as Wiccans can hide our heads in the sand and cover ourselves with the blanket of "no true scotsman" fallacy like some religions we're all aware of, but that is a sure road to becoming what we most despise.

It's a little too late for that, I'm affraid. I am yet to see a Wiccan who doesn't agree with "anyone who uses magic for evil purposes is not Wiccan".

 

[Rae]

Wicca has nothing to do with Harry Potter. In an interview, IIRC, J.K. Rowling said she had no idea that there was a religion of witchcraft until fundies in America started screaming about her books containing it. Her ideas aren't based on Wicca. Anyone who knows anything about it can see that. Her ideas are based on English folklore magics.

I guarantee you, no real Witch (other than maybe a Discordian Pagan amused by the fuss that silly people are making over Rowling) would use a wand and state short Latin phrases expecting to change animals into furniture or bring something into her/his hand by making it soar through the air. Harry Potter books are to Wicca what Betty Crocker cookbooks are to Christianity: utterly unrelated.

 

[Havoc]

It's a little too late for that, I'm affraid. I am yet to see a Wiccan who doesn't agree with "anyone who uses magic for evil purposes is not Wiccan".

Judging by the quality of your descriptions, I'd say it's highly unlikely you've ever actually met a Wiccan. Or at least if you had you'd not likely paid any attention.

I think my post itself proves at least some of us are capable of honest self-examination. I don't expect that you'd be willing to allow for that. You've shown no particular bent for honesty in regards to our faith so far.

 

[Kira Faye]

Harry potter is a great book, but I'm a little late starting to read it cause I was under the impression it was more childish then I foudn it was. I loved it! I wish I could have an owl! No I woudl comment on the other things but I wouldn;t beign sayign anythign different from what my fellow pagans and some christians and athiest and agnostics etc..have said so until then and when its not midnight, I still love harry potter

 

[katherinethegreat]

this is a wiccan moralrity site again...not what i meant wheni started it....