Why does Paganism scare Christians?

[steve_bakr]

Everyone is evil to God - their ways at least. That is the whole point of needing a Savior and repentance in Christianity. If a Christian is judging you for being pagan, while (I don't know) eating easter eggs, Christmas ham, and heart shaped candies, then they will be judged for their own wrongs with equal measure. For Christians if you even tell a white lie, God's Universal Law says you have to die (goes for intangibles/spirits.)

God said not to murder, and Christ said turn the other cheek, especially if you are with sin. Perhaps those who killed people in the name of God were not worshipping the Christian God, as both Christ and God do not console murder or killing for judgment if He doesn't order it. Pagans are not and should not be so much of a threat that they should be killed. On the contrary, Christians are supposed to preach the words to everyone. I am sure you know history is filled with men and women that swear by the people's gods in the name of demagoguery and conquest. Everyone is supposed to test the fruit of the tree/body. A murderer murders, a liar lies, and an adulterer cheats - these thing meaning a perpetual sinning. You can claim to be Christian all day long, but if you unrepentantly sin and more so, don't care about those sins, then you are not a Christian. I can claim to be a Muslim, but I have never read the entire Koran, and I don't believe in prophet Muhammad. I would not be considered Muslim, so why are these spiritual invalids that murder with little remorse considered Christians? Salem, slavery, the inquisition, imperialism under "god" - no follower of Christ would do these things, IMO. I think perhaps people are offended by pagans because many of those people do the exact same things pagans do, and it convicts them in that perhaps they are just Christian for show. Some may even be worried they will be exposed for their pagan Christianity.

Religious history has its dark moments indeed, and Christians still sin, sometimes grievously.

Pagan Christianity? Well, Christian thinkers have used Pagan thought, such as that of Plato, Aristotle, and even the Muslim philosopher Averroes.

I don't really have a problem with Pagans, although I was having dinner at a Pagan's house once wherein she refused me a prayer before the meal. A lot of animosity towards Christianity, but I took it in stride.

I confess that I tried very hard to demonstrate that Christians can be kind and compassionate, but she could not see past the religious barriers between us.

 

[Lollerskates]

Religious history has its dark moments indeed, and Christians still sin, sometimes grievously.

Pagan Christianity? Well, Christian thinkers have used Pagan thought, such as that of Plato, Aristotle, and even the Muslim philosopher Averroes.

I don't really have a problem with Pagans, although I was having dinner at a Pagan's house once wherein she refused me a prayer before the meal. A lot of animosity towards Christianity, but I took it in stride.

I confess that I tried very hard to demonstrate that Christians can be kind and compassionate, but she could not see past the religious barriers between us.

Oh, that isn't pagan Christianity. I am talking about feasts, holidays, rituals, practices, etc. Many Christians condemn pagans without realizing they are perhaps more pagan than who they accuse.

On a note about the dinner...I was friends with an atheist in uni and I asked her for a ride. She knew I was christian, and I knew she was atheist. The sad part is she had some terrible experienced with Christians I believe, because she didn't even think I would want to ride in the car with her because she was Atheist. That shocked me to shingles.

 

[elephunky]

Oh, that isn't pagan Christianity. I am talking about feasts, holidays, rituals, practices, etc. Many Christians condemn pagans without realizing they are perhaps more pagan than who they accuse.

On a note about the dinner...I was friends with an atheist in uni and I asked her for a ride. She knew I was christian, and I knew she was atheist. The sad part is she had some terrible experienced with Christians I believe, because she didn't even think I would want to ride in the car with her because she was Atheist. That shocked me to shingles.

There is christopaganism which just blows my mind. I cant figure out how that would work.

It is sad but some people really do think that about christians because they get bullied, ignored, avoided or harassed if they are atheists. Or they have heard about all the horror stories from other atheists who have been on the receiving end of such behaviour.

 

[Lollerskates]

There is christopaganism which just blows my mind. I cant figure out how that would work.

I am still trying to figure out how that works, but it not only works it flourishes.

It is sad but some people really do think that about christians because they get bullied, ignored, avoided or harassed if they are atheists. Or they have heard about all the horror stories from other atheists who have been on the receiving end of such behaviour.

It is sad. It was sad then. I I have had many encounters similarly, and the more it happened the more I understood, as unfortunate as that may sound. think that is why I am so hard/argumentative with Christians here. We get a bad reputation, but some of us do [try to] act like Christ. Actually, many of us do. And, when one of us is not "doing what we are supposed to do," but professing Christ, it looks hypocritical of us. And, hypocrisy, hate, voracious judgment, and ignorance isn't what Christianity is about. We aren't even supposed to pound Christ to non believers.

And, I didn't mean any malign toward pagans when I said, "Oh, that isn't pagan Christianity..." I was pointing out that as some Christians judge pagans, they don't realize they are celebrating a smogishboard of ancient, modern and nuanced paganism. So as Christ says... cast out the beam in your own eye before you even begin to cast out the speck in your brother/sister's eye. I am not calling anyone out at all; I am talking general life. Judge us by out fruits.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

A common impression I get from many Christians concerning Paganism is that us pagans are a sex cult that loves to murder babies. Overall it is fear and confusion as it seems that so many Christians cannot handle the fact that Pagans exist and do not engage in Satanic activities, primarily because Pagans do not believe in Satan.
What are the perceptions you have on the Neo-Paganism movement?

I have nothing against pagans, or witches for that matter.


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[Zoness]

I have nothing against pagans, or witches for that matter.


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Yay! The more people who don't hate us, the better lol.

 

[morningstar2651]

Fear. Confusion. Hatred. Why do adherents of a particular philosophy always think others are afraid of them or that they hate them? I've heard the same accusations from the homosexual community: "Why are you so scared of us? Why do you hate us?"

Speaking for myself, I'm not afraid or hateful of pagans or homosexuals. It's really just a disagreement of philosophies at a fundamental level. Confusion? Maybe. But fear and hatred? Not at all.

I dunno...maybe the homosexuals wonder why people would beat or murder a homosexual for being a homosexual?

Gunman shoots 32-year-old Mark Carson dead in Greenwich Village bias attack: officialsÂ[bless and do not curse] - NY Daily News
Mesquite lesbian brutally beaten defending girlfriend’s son from bullying
Gay-bashing attacks on the rise in city, could double last year’s total - NY Daily News

Maybe us Pagans would appreciate it if people didn't attack us in our homes because they disagree with us? Anti-Pagan crimes aren't as common as anti-gay crimes, but they do still exist.

– ‘F**king Witch!’ Florida Pagan Family The Target Of Hate Crimes

Just because you're not a criminally violent jerk to people that are different from you doesn't mean your fellow Christians aren't. Rather than overlooking their actions, you should be condemning them as hard as you can. A Christian who kills people for being gay is much more memorable than a Christian who tolerates people for being gay...is that the sort of thing you want your religion to be known for? I doubt it.

 

[morningstar2651]

Actually, they don't even meet until 1947 which is the year Crowley dies. It is true that the first edition of Garner's book contained a lot of phrases from Crowley but these were removed in later editions.

Gardnerian Wicca is Thelema Lite.

 

[morningstar2651]

Did that video have no impact on you at all?

Nope. None. Didn't watch it.

When you do magik you are calling upon demonic forces.

I believe you mean magic...or alternatively, magick. I'd love to hear you explain the mechanics of magick, since you must have studied it in-depth to have a greater understanding of it than a practitioner of the art.

If you do some research you will see gardeners connection to Alistair Crowley, it is said Crowley wrote Wiccas book of shadows.

His name is Aleister Crowley and whoever said he wrote the Gardnerian book of shadows is wrong. Crowley and Gardner have two drastically different writing styles. Gardner copied (and water-downed) a lot of materials from Crowley's rituals, but those later were changed.

I used to be pagan until I realized it's origins are evil (demonic) I am now a Christian and I urge you to bow your head to God, confess and repent your involvement with the occult.

What was I thinking? After ten years of study and practice, a random stranger on the internet, misspelling the names of notable figures of Paganism, misrepresenting their writings, misrepresenting their beliefs, misrepresenting their practices, and calling them demonic has shown me the light.

Look up YouTube videos of derrick prince deliverance videos (just to be safe)

If you want to continue been pagan that's on you, but I have warned you.

What are these videos going to protect me from? You haven't warned anyone of anything.

 

[morningstar2651]

Christians havn't ever feared pagans.

King James (yes, the King James of Bible publishing fame) was terrified of witches and witchcraft. He was convinced that they were out to get him.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

There is christopaganism which just blows my mind. I cant figure out how that would work.

Given the self-proclaimed exclusivist nature of Christianity, it certainly does boggle the mind at first.

However, since eclecticism is almost unavoidable no matter how much you attempt to keep a specific ideology or culture "pure", it is not as much of a stretch as one might be tempted to think - and there certainly have been weirder splinter groups in the wider realm of Christian offshoots.

 

[smaneck]

King James (yes, the King James of Bible publishing fame) was terrified of witches and witchcraft. He was convinced that they were out to get him.

Well, at least he wasn't homophobic.

 

[Zoness]

Given the self-proclaimed exclusivist nature of Christianity, it certainly does boggle the mind at first.

However, since eclecticism is almost unavoidable no matter how much you attempt to keep a specific ideology or culture "pure", it is not as much of a stretch as one might be tempted to think - and there certainly have been weirder splinter groups in the wider realm of Christian offshoots.

Exactly and many of them don't go by names. I know loads of Christians who'd consider themselves devout but theologically they're 'mutts' so to speak. I know Christians who attend conservative Baptist churches but are open to other religions, I know Christians who do all sorts of religious practices that would infuriate a lot of the Christians here. Obviously they don't talk about it openly in their churches but eclecticism is more widespread than people imagine.

 

[elephunky]

I dunno...maybe the homosexuals wonder why people would beat or murder a homosexual for being a homosexual?

Gunman shoots 32-year-old Mark Carson dead in Greenwich Village bias attack: officialsÂ[bless and do not curse] - NY Daily News
Mesquite lesbian brutally beaten defending girlfriend’s son from bullying
Gay-bashing attacks on the rise in city, could double last year’s total - NY Daily News

Actually, yes.

Maybe us Pagans would appreciate it if people didn't attack us in our homes because they disagree with us? Anti-Pagan crimes aren't as common as anti-gay crimes, but they do still exist.

– ‘F**king Witch!’ Florida Pagan Family The Target Of Hate Crimes

Just because you're not a criminally violent jerk to people that are different from you doesn't mean your fellow Christians aren't. Rather than overlooking their actions, you should be condemning them as hard as you can. A Christian who kills people for being gay is much more memorable than a Christian who tolerates people for being gay...is that the sort of thing you want your religion to be known for? I doubt it.

I think anyone that is of a non mainstream/accepted orientation, religion, identity, race etc would appreciate it if they were not focused on for being different, living differently or believing in something different.

 

[steve_bakr]

Exactly and many of them don't go by names. I know loads of Christians who'd consider themselves devout but theologically they're 'mutts' so to speak. I know Christians who attend conservative Baptist churches but are open to other religions, I know Christians who do all sorts of religious practices that would infuriate a lot of the Christians here. Obviously they don't talk about it openly in their churches but eclecticism is more widespread than people imagine.

Hhmm. I've not thought of myself as a mutt! But I have studied several religions and have acquired some concepts and even practices that might raise eyebrows among my fellow parishioners.

I don't talk about that element of my spiritual life because most people are not ready for what Bede Griffiths calls interspirituality. There are Catholics who do practice interspirituality, but none in my parish that I'm aware of.

 

[Zoness]

Hhmm. I've not thought of myself as a mutt! But I have studied several religions and have acquired some concepts and even practices that might raise eyebrows among my fellow parishioners.

I don't talk about that element of my spiritual life because most people are not ready for what Bede Griffiths calls interspirituality. There are Catholics who do practice interspirituality, but none in my parish that I'm aware of.

I think my original point stands in your case; if there are those practicing this interspirituality, they probably aren't going to just announce themselves. I am sure Christians have much less pleasant words than 'mutt' to describe people that would hold to such beliefs.

Personally I see nothing wrong with it. It's actually quite refreshing.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

One of my favourite contemporary Christian mystics (Willigis Jäger/Ko-un Roshi) is both a Benedictine monk and a zen master.
Hardliner Joseph Ratzinger (then the appointed chairman of the congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) tried to muzzle him in 2001, but his brothers stood with him and he found a way to carry on.

 

[cloudyday2]

One of my favourite contemporary Christian mystics (Willigis Jäger/Ko-un Roshi) is both a Benedictine monk and a zen master.
Hardliner Joseph Ratzinger (then the appointed chairman of the congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) tried to muzzle him in 2001, but his brothers stood with him and he found a way to carry on.

Buddhism seems to be based on practices and reasoning from common sense assumptions. So it tends to mix well with religions that are not based on any of these things. For example, Tibetan Buddhism seems to be a mix of Buddhism and the indigenous shamanism.

 

[BruceDLimber]

One of my favourite contemporary Christian mystics (Willigis Jäger/Ko-un Roshi) is both a Benedictine monk and a zen master.

Hardliner Joseph Ratzinger (then the appointed chairman of the congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) . . .

Which is, of course, the renamed office of the Inquisistion.


Bruce

 

[Huntun]

There aren't many religions that would earn a prize for religious tolerance so the Abrahamic ones are not alone. Often Buddhism is held up as super ecumenical and tolerant of other religions but even it has a mixed history there. We have our "only my form of Buddhism is true and everyone who practices a different version is going to Avici hell for millions of kalpas and then will be reborn as an animal " people too. There usually wasn't too much in the way of paganphobia though. Many forms of Buddhism even found ways to work in local gods or spirits as protectors of the Dharma.