Open Theism Discussion Board

Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Tearing down walls > What Pagans think of Xianity.

Forum Quick Jump

[ << Previous Thread | Next Thread >> | Show Newest Post First ]

Cibertus
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 57

Posted 11/13/2001 4:05 AM (GMT -6)

I thought it might be good to post this conversation I've had on another site. I was thinking that those who are interested might be quite informed and moved by some of the responses I got from my friends of alterntive religions.

Note: the necessary precautions have been taken to protect the Ciber identities of these individuals. And the necessary permissions have been granted. None of this is for publication blah blah blah etc. and etc.

______________________

Cibertus asks:

Need your help.
Okay everybody I’m writing a paper on why traditional religions no longer appeal to the modern person—christian religions in particular. And I really would VERY much APPRECIATE your help!

I would like to include more than just my opinion on the matter. Therefore if anyone feels up to it please post a short response. What I am particularly interested in is the point at which you decided that traditional religion is not for you. Describe the incident or maybe it was a process that brought you to that conclusion. (Small Note: please restrain yourself from ranting about the unseeming behavior of Christians I understand those but I hope their behavior wasn’t the primary reason for your decision. Eeek! That’d be scary So in short—why does tradiktional Christian religion not work for you? Oh! and please mention what type of traditional religion you were from—your parents’.
________________________________________________________________________

by L
Re: Need your help.

For me, it was in the middle of the primary school Nativity Play, I think it was the second one I'd ever been too... I was playing one of the sheep-herders, I think(long time ago), and I remember just thinking 'this is wrong'. Not sure *why* I thought that, I just did. I went through the motions of the rest of the play, mouthed the formula phrases, realizing all the time that the entire lpay was flat & lifeless... from there, I was an Atheist until around May this year, then I got involved in the occult... grimoires, necromancy, all the usual starting points .
Then I stumbled across Witchcraft, and - rather abitrarily - decided that it was me. From there, I went straight into the Wiccan-style Witchcraft, as the one that has the most information on-line and in books available. I'm veering away from Wiccan Witchcraft into Traditional Witchcraft right now, as I'm thinking that it's more 'me', as it were.

So I guess that the main thing that turned me off from xianity is just the ?insincereness? (Not sure if that's even a valid word, but I'm sure you know what I mean) of the priests, worshippers, and all the rest. After that Nativity, the only role I ever played(and that was only once) was that of a bloodthirsty, evil Roman soldier. and I had it on the best authority that I was the most enthusiastic person on the stage... thirsting for the blood of Jesus(or Joseph... that was also a long time ago).

The main problem with xianity is that it's so dull and lifeless. *Everything* you do is wrong, and if you too much wrong, you burn in everlasting torment for the rest of eternity -- which, BTW, is a contradiction in terms . It's too limited in scope, and the intelligence of your average 'main in the street' has become sharp enough to recognize hipocrasy when he sees it. Every Sunday.

As to which religion my parents are... my Mum started Catholic, them split & went Agnostic-Buddhist-Hindu (if that makes any sense). My Dad(Who will - hopefully - burn in the xian hell he so devoutly believes in) is a strict Catholic. Needless to say, I was never baptized

That's about it Sorry if it's too ranty

101 Ways to Kill yourself: #47
Get your ear stuck in the front wheel of your bike while riding downhill...

____________________________

Whenever an official - church or otherwise - says that what they are doing is for the "greater good", it is a proven fact that they will be doing something morally and/or religiously wrong, and don't want to get slammed for it.

________________________________________________________________________
My fall from Christianity
by MD
I was raised in a small southern town. I was christened into the Catholic faith when I was born, and my mother moved me into the Southern Baptist Church when I was in middle school.

All through high school I attended church. I loved the people. But there was never any spiritual depth. I saw so many with a passion, but it just didn't make sense to me. Looking back I can see I knew all along it wasn't for me, but I did want something in my life. I didn't see the Bible as a literal tool, as many did. I questioned the translations from ancient text, and even how many different versions are out today. I felt that people treated it too simply, when it seemed like it would take a lifetime to research what each verse/chapter/book was all about and what the author was trying to say. Plus I could see that many of them were one way at Church on Sunday, and another during the week. What is it about their God that they cannot even be themselves around him?

Two things changed my views entirely. My mother wanted to be a missionary after I was grown. She felt no purpose to her life and wanted to explore and help people. The Church turned her away because she was a divorced woman (since my Dad cheated on her). How wrong is that?? Plus my uncle is an ordained minister who heads a medium sized church and has for many years. He is also the uncle that molested me as a TWO year old child. What God would let someone like that lead people's lives? He has never even apologized to me, nor has he come clean about it.

These are just my point of view. I think that every faith has a following of people that need a particular way of thinking in order to connect with their higher and inner self. I just feel that with most Christian faiths, the people that are attracted just want the easy way out. If they say they are a Christian, then people will think they are a good person, right? That's what society says, how much easier can it be.

______________________________________________________________________________________

by WF
Re: Need your help.

Well, I guess I can thank my sister. She got with this one guy how was very bad news for her. His Mom practiced and introduced it to her. Well, she got mad at me and decided it was a good idea to us it against me. (She paid the price) I had a friend how was teaching me to protect my self. That was about 3 years ago. And Her I am today slowly learning.

____________________________
As long as you are with the ones you love all will be ok

______________________________________________________________________
Re: Need your help.
by Darkstar
Well, I was raised around Episcopal (sp?) and Presbyterian Churches. My father was an Athiest (but a child of nature) and my mother was a non-practicing Christian.. she still is. Every summer I'd get carted off to one of my grandparents, and I'd go to church with them. I always really liked the Episcopal "Masses" because of the ritual involved. I realize now that it was ONLY the ritual in Churches that interested me. Somewhere in that back of my mind I think I knew that those rituals were far more ancient and important then even the priests knew.

I also felt like I could understand the power felt inside a "Holy" place when any large group of people gets together to join in worship. I knew that the power of God/Goddess was with them... but I always felt like the power they were calling down was being diluted by the individuality of the practioners. When everyone bows their heads to pray, they all begin to pray for seperate things... I rarely saw these people join together for Group Prayer, and besides their "Social Hours" after the service, I rarely saw these people taking the "good vibes" they'd got from the service and making a differnece in the world. There are always exceptions, but I've found they are few and far between.

When I was in 5th grade, the son of a Baptist Minister kept taunting me about how I was going to "Hell" for swearing (yes kiddies, I have and have always had a foul mouth)and that all of my friends and family were going there too. What a trip to lay on a kid! I told him to %^&* off! lol!

I've always been interested in Astrology, but I was never a spiritual person before... I have always been an empath with a degree of Phychic ability. I never really felt a need for "connection", but then my father died. I was 18 and in major transition. I needed guidance and I really wanted HIS guidance... I really wanted him back! And so it began.. the ritual just poured out of me. I was calling down the Elements and Goddess into the candles on my (now I would call it) alter without evening knowing that this was Pagan Worship... I looked towards the elements as guides to help me reach out to my father... and to find my spiritual self... and he sent me the Goddess for strength. Within 2 months I was grabbing every book on Witchcraft, Druidry and Shamanism I could find, and I've been on the path ever since.

Cibertus, I'm gonna look for a post I put up a while back about "How Paganism Changed My Life".. there might be some insights there that will be helpful for you in your quest to write the perfect paper. As always, I wish you Brightest Blessings in All You Do!

And too, I think that there's a bit of the "Feminist" wrapped into it.. even Pagan Men seem to know "what's going on".

There's something about being able to reclaim your Goddess (whether you are male or female)... to get in touch with and come to terms with the Maiden, Mother & Crone...

Traditionally, Christianity has subjugated women... they are "objects" who must not only love and honor their husbands, but OBEY them as well. The Christian God (though his "teachers" & "guides") shuns Feminine Sexuality.. after all, aren't we the world's original sin? And shall we pay for that for the rest of our lives? I think NOT!

I think that for many women, myself included, we can never go back to Christianity because of the Mental, Physical, Pshycological & Spiritual repression that goes on within it's doctrines. Enlightened Men tend to view this similarly and rejoice in the freedom of self afforded to their female Pagan partners.

Just a thought.

________________________________________________________________________________

by LH
Re: Need your help.

For my reply, look under my posting on our spiritual paths and how this has affected us (sorry, can't remember the exact subject - it's late and I'm really tired!!!).

However, to add to my message - I to feel that much of christianity is all about actions on Sunday during church services and this felt totally false to me. I wanted something more real, shamanism and witchcraft is that to me. It gives me personal responsibility for my spiritual life, allowing me to discover things which are right for me, whilst still considering the important other two 'rules' which I think are relevant no matter where you are or in what time - 'Do what ye will an harm none' and the law of threefold return. These two 'rules' cover a multitude of things and also require thought to put into action.

Does that help answer your question?
____________________________________________________________________________

Cibertus

Anabaptists demonstrate a total lack of intelligence. There is nothing to be learned from their ideas.--John Calvin

Edited by - Cibertus on 11/13/2001 09:09:04 AM

Forum Information

Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 11:05 AM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads

Need Support? | Forum Help Manual