i want to learn about wiccan and buddism and shintoism  but im only 16 and my every time i try to bring a book about them into my house my mom takes them away and give them to the library. she then takes me to talk to our preacher for like 10 hours but im still curios what should i do ?
134794
check out the book world religions by huston smith.  not only is it a classic, but it's one of the best propaedeutic texts on the subject.  it's fairly short, so you can probably just read it at the library.\n\ntry to talk to you mom candidly.  make sure that you are respectful and even-tempered, but be firm in expressing your belief that your relationship with divinity is between you and god.  tell her you appreciate her input, but remind her that it is ultimately your decision.  tell her that it hurts you when she tries to control something so important to you.  remember--you are going to have to be the adult in this discussion--be calm, collected, sensitive and reasonable--but firm.\n\np.s.  you might consider holding off on the wiccanism.  modern day wiccans trace their roots to ancient pagan lineages, but whether they admit it or not, wiccans in the modern world are very much a reaction to the prevailing christian influences.  since this ideology will probably be particularly offensive to your mother, you may be served well to wait until you are no longer so dependent on your mother to explore this theme.  it will still be there in a couple of years, and displaying deference and forbearance toward a woman who cares for you deeply (and is probably very sensitive about such things) by compromising on this issue may do wonders to preserve the integrity of your relationship.  remember, she wants what is best for you and simply was raised in an environment that makes it difficult to understand new and different ideas.  summon all your love and maturity when you discuss these things with her.
676131
Have you tried a Unitarian Universalist church? I'm Wiccan and I go sometimes (even though they sing Christian hymns) because the sermons are more about self-empowerment and how to change the world into a better place by being the example. It's more spiritual than it is dogmatic, also. \n\nThere should be one in your area. I hope the ink below helps you out.
669053
Goodness, no!  Why would I invite a stranger into my house?  That's a silly question.  Who knows what would happen next.  My daughter might be exposed to religion way before her time, my family might be burned at the stake because we're Wiccan, who knows.  I'd rather keep my door firmly shut.
320461
There is a philosophy section if you wish to find a non-religious answer.  Philosophy is not religious.  You can go to a library or bookstore and find philosophy books.  They are usually found in non-fiction #100 to #199.  They include Aristotle and Plato and many others.  I do recommmend a book on philosophy for beginners:  "The COmplete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy".  I have it on my bookshelf and it is like "Cliff's Notes" of philosophy.  Check it out if you want.\n\nIf I may share something?  There is no "exact answer" or "perfect answer".  We can only find the answers that will fit us, that will "do it" for us individually and privately.  I understood this years ago after Wicca did not help me spiritually anymore.  What works for one will not work for another. :-)
348258
What your mom is objecting to is the distance you want to travel to church.She is'nt against you practising your religion.Only that you do so,at a local church.35miles to go to church,is a bit far
282244
Eh, read Dante's Inferno. :D\n\n- 16 yo Pagan
565375
OK. You say you're a pagan and a witch. I'm not sure if by witch you mean Wiccan, some make a point of it being two different thing while others don't. Anyway, I think I know where you're coming from. I'm Native American, and walk Red Road. I think that qualifies me as pagan. Shamans, or medicine men/women conjure, cast "spells", work with herbs to heal, etc. & etc. From just that short description I think you'll see we have things in common. MY experience with the same question you ask ... Christian belief is based on ancient texts that have been mistranslated and so changed over the hundreds of years they've existed as to, in all probability, have very little resembelance to any original documents. That, plus the fact that these are read within cultural contexts altogether foriegn to those of the original authors coupled with dire ignorance of the culture & etc. OF the authors makes for a totally misunderstood, and perhaps totally "misunderstandable", book. But its all they know. They never really study other faiths. And when they do they almost never go to the source, but rather read books by Christians ABOUT other faiths. Which thing is biased, because nearly all of those books seek out whats WRONG with the other faith, from a "Christian" perspective, rather than highlighting whats good or pointing out any common ground. The result of all this? Ignorance. Both of their own faith, and the faiths of others. Now, add this ... Scriptural quotes such as ... "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." And add to THAT sort of thing an over powering desire to see the other poor devil (pun intended) saved from eternal hell fire! The result of all THIS? Everything from witch burning to strong arm evangelization. I know its un-cool. But ... It just is what it is. The current version of Christianism simply fosters the sort of thing your question describes. Happily not all segments of "Churchanity" fall into this trap, and neither do all Christians. But enough of them do that, well, I know exactly how you feel. Its ignorance and bigotry, I sincerely believe, based primarily on the above. A simple come back might be, if you're in a situation where you feel safe in doing this, to reply to such hatred with ... "I'll pray to the Goddess that your soul be saved from hateful depravity." Smile, and walk away ... Real fast. ;-) ~ Peace & Blessings ~
222646
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/index.htm\n\nthere are tons of free books on the internet, that you can read off site & even download.  Also check out amazon.com used books often you can find used books between 3-5 bucks.  Try the library, and see if your local new age shop has a reading room or if they know of a pagan reading room in your area.  Local covens also offer libraries to there outer court members, so even if you are not in the coven proper you have acesss to reading materials.  Good luck to you!
146336
what a horrible grandmother. id say dont teach my child religion you horrid bat ps be sure to tell your kid grannys a bit off in the head and to ignore what she says about Jesus and the bible im glad i didnt deal with fundies until i was older.  man im furious. redhead makes a good point. remind yoru mom that this is YOUR kid and you will raise her as you see fit. ps ignore the fundie christian fuckwits. they are just as bad as granny
204606
There is nothing wrong with learning about other religions. This does not make you a bad Catholic, it just allows you to be informed about other beliefs so you can better understand your own. You may change your beliefs, maybe not, but it is always worthwhile to be open minded and learn about new things. At the very least it can help you understand your friend a little better. Best Wishes.\n\nP.S. as to maguirebasebal's response, this person obviously is very ignorant about the Wiccan beliefs. They do not worship Satan, many of them don't even believe in the existence of an official devil. They worship and respect nature, among other things. I am a Christian with many Wiccan friends whom I respect dearly. I have learned alot about their faith and they have learned alot about mine. I think it allowed all of us to grow as people.
75518
Many church groups are all about indoctrination and control rather than about a loving god.  They sit around in bible study focusing on Satan in the world and evil, etc. etc., or are running around with the collections plate.  Not all are like that, but many are.  You are at a vulnerable age and time, where the adults around you see you as fertile ground to be planted, where they can program you with their image of God.  \n\nGod is a very personal, individual experience, and I loathe organized religion for its short-sightedness and money-oriented agenda.  They can give you WRONG information.  As much as I hate being an adult, I realize that most adults have no idea what is true or real, especially in spiritual matters.  I would be very cautious about any church.  Protect your own spirit first--you have to set your own path in your spiritual growth, NOT your parents.  They are just doing what their parents did to them, and the same errors, hatreds, etc. get passed from generation to generation like a disease.  \n\nStudy lots of different faiths, even if you can do it at school.  You need to make informed decisions about your spiritual welfare, AND express that statement to your parents.  It will piss them off, but it will show that you are maturing, and have chosen to put things in your own hands.  \n\nThe christian churches I have been to all preach about the evils of this and that, and how God hates this and that.  WRONG.  God hates no thing, because hate is out of ignorance, not knowledge.  God understands the whole entirety of the universe, and every single being in it.  \n\nFor example, a bible study I was in spent 2 hours on how Harry Potter is "EVIL," and that people going to his movies are sinners.  CHEESE!  Your parents' church may not be so extreme, but be sure to decide for yourself.\n\nAlso, you can invite God to help you in your situation.  You don't need preachers, decons, or adults in your relationship with God--you only need a true intention and a prayer.  God will show you your own unique path; all you have to do is ask.  Set the intention every night before you go to bed: "God, show me my spiritual path.  Show me how to have a relationship with you."  Then don't think of it any more.  I wish you all the best.
469971
first you need to go and get a book and just read the begining of it all and then decide if you want to become wiccan just remember everything comes back 3 time harder
221742
First, let me tell you something about my past that should help you out.\n\nAbout 15 yrs ago I converted from Christianity to Wiccan.  Yes, a religion that most other religions totally hate.  My family was STRONG catholics and they were expecting me to become a priest since I knew the religion well.\n\nI became very scared of what everyone would think that I kept it a secret for about 4 years.  One day, when me and my mother was debating an issue it just slipped out.  This caused a fight.  I tried to explain the truth behind my religion, but she would not listen.  \n\nFor about 6-9 months after that the only time we talked we were fighting over religion until one day I decided I don't need to justify my religion to anybody.  She would bring it up and I would either say, "We will agree to disagree" or I would change subjects. After about a month if that of doing that we never fought about it again.\n\nMy advice to you is first let them know.  If you don't it will either cause tention as mine did until it came out or it will spill out and you will feal like you have to defend yourselfs.\n\nAfter telling her parents then don't try to justify yourselves.  You don't need to and it will only cause fights.\n\nTo finish my story me and my family got along great and still do even though a couple years after that I changed my religion again and am still today in that same religion and always will be.
376469
I'm an atheist too, but on occasion (Christmas, Easter, etc)I go to church with my parents (who only know that I'm not a Christian) because it's part of what we do as a family and also part of our culture (though not a very good part, I think). \n\nAt 15, it's not necessary for your friend to cause a ruckus with her parents, and she may well bring a whole host of problems down on herself - as a minor they can do a lot of things to her that she *really* wouldn't like - and depending on how fundamentalist they are, such actions may not be too far fetched.\n\nI suggest that she simply bring her skeptical viewpoint to church with her and view the whole thing as a learning situation until she either turns 18 or moves out of the house. Not believing in god doesn't require active proselytizing (unlike religion). Eyes and ears open, mouth shut (for a while).
412674
I have been going through the same thing right now.  I have done a lot of research and it is something that is really hard to prove.  Also there are 5 or 6 books that aren't in there and it makes me wonder who decided which books belong in the Bible and which don't.  Also have you noticed that other religions are just a loyal and believe just as strongly in their religions or "bibles" laws.  It's a strange thing.  Sometimes it makes me wonder if I always believed just because I was born here and my parents do .... I'm interested to see the answers you get though.
106265
It really depends on the Wiccan. Many of them wont outwardly say what they believe in either. It's a very spiritual thing that varies from person to person. Many believe in higher powers other than the Goddess, called the "All", some believe she is the "All". Personally I believe that she's everything and everyone. Both metaphysical like the christian god, and physically. Think of her as being your mother. That's what she is. She guides our path. As far as spirits go, they're everywhere. That's a really complicated subject that could take hours to type. =D Wiccans also practice forms of magick, usually staying away from variant forms of "black" magick. And we also believe in Karma, both from past lives (yes, reincarnation), and from the things we do today. There's no "sin" like in Christianity, but, when you do something "bad" it affects your Karma in this life and the next. There's a lot about Wicca that's hard to explain, you're best bet would be to find a website. If you do a google search tons of stuff will come up. \n\nSome of the words of the Great Mother (the Goddess) were: \n"And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: If that wich you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."
71688
I was baptized Catholic as a baby, and raised that way throughout my early childhood. Eventually my parents stopped attending church, and so did I. I never really felt connected to what the Church preached, but I didn't question it because I had never been exposed to anything else. Eventually, I went on a self-exploration. I took it upon myself to find, research, and learn about other religions, views, beliefs, practices, philosophies, theories, etc.\n\nDuring my soul-search, I made a collaboration of different things I found to be logical, reasonable, logical, and sensible in my own personal opinion. I basically created my own religion. I followed that path for a while, and relished not conforming to an organized religion, because my beliefs were free to grow and change as I grew and changed (and learned). Then one day a friend introduced me to Wicca.\n\nWicca is a Neopagan religion, first reformed by Gerald Gardener in 1940 based on what is believed to be the beliefs of the ancient Celts. The more I learned about it, the more in coincided with the beliefs I'd already pieced together on my own. Its lack of dogma allows any follower to define his or her own beliefs within little restriction. This allowed my beliefs to continue to grow and change with me. It also does not require any follower to conform to any other follower's specific ideas, as you can either practice in a coven with others who hold the same views, or practice solitarily (like I do).\n\nI would recommend it to anyone looking for something to believe in. You can find out about it here:\n\nBut remember one thing! Because the specifics of the religion are free to be defined by the individual practitioner, no two Wiccans (or Pagans for that matter) will ever agree on everything. I am an open book to any questions you might have if you'd like to contact me through my profile page, or you can find nonbiased information about Wicca here: http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm