I thought today was Pagan day. What is this Christian/Pagan appreciation day business?
I got the email telling me today is the day for Pagans to share questions and more about our faith. How did it become Christian Pagan Day?
Does everything have to involve the Christians? Not that they are unwelcome, but, COME ON, most of the time it is the Christians who are the most vile toward Pagans. I don't care if Christians want to write answers to the questions telling us we are all going to Hell, they always do that.
It makes no sense to me at all. Yes, this is a rant. It is time we stop pandering to Christians to make them like us more.
We allow them to sit as judge and jury over us, talk to us like children, and report us at every turn if they don't like what we say.
Am i the only one tripping over this?
2007-08-17T10:20:15Z
Carpathian Mage: It is not tolerance to allow others to be abusive toward us. I am all for religious tolerance and acceptance. I am not fond of inviting a persecutor to the feast. There is a big f**king difference.
2007-08-17T10:32:14Z
feona - it is not about being open minded. it is about respect. self - respect as a Pagan means that you know when to put tolerance aside and not allow others to poop on your head.
2007-08-17T10:41:53Z
Madpol - THANK YOU. That is the first really intelligent answer that makes total sense. Now i get it.
I can be slow on the uptake.
Anonymous2007-08-17T10:34:41Z
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You're not the only one. A lot of the Christians are tripping out too. Which is the point of the exercise.
Christians can be pretty nasty people. They draw circles that exclude others. Hate can only be defeated by drawing circles that include all. But being an ****** isn't inherent to any one religion. It's an intrinsic quality in some folks and learned behavior in others.
It's one of the things Pagans share with Jesus. When the Fundies of his day got on his case about hanging out with sinners, he pointed out that that was where the need was.
Paganism, and especially the Craft of the Wise is about growth and learning. To truly learn, you have to teach.
I'm not talking about Proselytizing, Christians do enough of that for everyone. But, the Chrsitians who are causing the problems are the ones who have lost the path of their own Religion.
Pagans LIVE the New Covenant. If we can help even a few Christians find their way back to Christ, we'll have done a good life's work, kept King Arthur's Peace and staved off the next Burning Time for a bit.
More succinctly, DON'T LET THE ******* MAKE YOU ONE TOO.
Fundamentalist Christians of whatever stripe are not the only type of Christian
If the people claiming to be the voice of Christianity in their negative "relationship building' with non Christians would realize that spewing the most inflammatory misconstruing and misrepresentation of other religions that hold to different theologies and cosmologies than their own drives people further away and encourages them to use the same language and misrepresentations against Christianity.
At the very least, those who attack religions not their own (and this goes for atheists as well) should read primary sources from the religious group being critiqued ( and in context) and not just not just 2nd or 3rd hand "hate literature" that is drawn from bigoted sources.
As a Catholic,I can sympathize with those non "Funda.Prot" or "Fund Muslim" people who are constantly misrepresented and being depicted as being stooges and agents of the Devil.
I think the reason it has become that is because the Pagan religion has some of the same values as Christians, like myself. Christians are monotheistic, and Pagans believe is two Higher powers, a male and female God. I think the reasons people look down on Pagans is because they don't understand your religion. How things are about nature, and healing powers of nature. I think that Christians and Pagans can relate if they want to, I was close friends with a Pagan, and she taught me alot about it, and I understand it better now. I believe as a true Christian, that I can except people for who they are and understand them, and to condemn you for what you believe is not what people should do. And, I understand why you are mad, you should have your own day. Stay who you are, and blessed be. I know that is a wicca thing, but I feel it is fitting.
Ummmm....I still saw a LOT of Pagan-specific questions.
And I, for one, am not at all unhappy that there have been the occasional "mutual appreciation" questions.
One of the things that has come out of this - both the Pagan-specific questions AND the "appreciation" questions - is that some lovely and loving Christians have come to my attention that I hadn't known were here.
And based on that result, I'm certainly not going to gripe about the method. That would smack too much of a "follow the party line" thing...
Hi yarn ehm! I noticed last night Pagans were sharing their beliefs in order to help others understand a little better what they believe in. I enjoyed reading the posts and learned quite a lot..i actually thought those who shared were really nice people...it might help break down barriers. Can i just say i have never reported anyone for their beliefs, we all have the right to our opinions..I've never told a/one their going to hell..sorry you feel this way..i hope the rest of your day will be blessed with joy, peace, and good-will. Love T xxxxxxxxxxxxxx