Question for Pagans (Please,no insults)...(See Details)?
598943
I don't see anything wrong with your beliefs.  In fact one of the things that pisses me off most in the Pagan community is Christian bashing.\n\nI believe some of this stems from people who call themselves Christians that ridicule our beliefs calling them false or devil-worshiping.  \n\nHowever, far more, I think, comes from some Pagan and Neo-Pagan authors who try to make Christians out to be the villains.  These people also perpetuate the myth that Christians hate everybody who isn't one and attempt to use the past, such as the crusades, in order to falsely validate this opinion.\n\nI don't think Christians ever blatantly took Pagan beliefs, Although I believe some Pagan practices may have been incorporated into Christianity, the same goes for virtually all religions.  We all take beliefs and/or traditions from religions that came before ours because they had been a part of life. Being Wiccan, I absolutely know Christianity couldn't take any of my beliefs because my religion is fairly new.\n\nAll in all, I see no reason to be at war with Christianity.  On the contrary, we should be working to better understand one anther's belief systems if at least to gain more knowledge about the world around us.
718291
:) Isn't it great to see how much Christianity is Pagan?\n\nDon't forget the Holy Water (Water), Candles (Fire), Incense (Air), and Eucharist (Earth) used at Catholic Masses. Oh, lookie there, all the Alchemical Elements that have always been used by Pagans!\n\nAlso, the entire Rainbow means God's keeping a promise... Hera had a Winged Goddess go across the sky with a bowl and dump out the contents -- a rainbow -- whenever the Gods kept a promise with the people.\n\nDon't forget Osiris, who came back from the dead.\n\nHell was named after Hel, the Norse Goddess of the Underworld.\n\nSatan was created based on how Pan was supposed to look.\n\nJesus was "born" on December 25th... around the time of Yule/Saturnalia, thus making it easier for Pagans to convert. However, based on Astrology, they said Jesus would be an Aries, meaning he was born sometime in April... around the middle.\n\n"Easter". Funny, spelt just like Ester, the Goddess whom is celebrated on Ostara, about March 23rd. Which is about when EASTER is celebrated.\n\n:3 Heehee. Silly Christians. Your stories are for Pagans!\n\nNote: Paganism first came about in 10000 BCE, and Zoroastrianism (first monotheistic religion) came about in 5000 BCE.\n\nTo davlynark: Your Jehovah wasn't even around at that time. Pick up a history book. You learn about the people from the Ice Age. They were Pagan. You keep learning about Pagans, too, for such a long time. Think for a change, won't you?\n\n- 16 yo Pagan
352251
I'm Pagan, and I agree with you. It is seriously annoying that Christians can't answer a single question without quoting the Bible or damning someone to Hell. It happens in most of the Questions on Yahoo! Answers. All I can say is to deal with it, because they still have no substantial proof for their religion. However, Quantum Physics has proven Paganism. Oh well. Their lives, live and let live, right?
1122108
I won't bash a fellow Pagan, but I agree that we should rise above, not rise against. Why should we lower ourselves to petty insults and bashing? If we are angry or hurt because others have attacked us, we should not seek to become that which has caused us pain. To carry that negativity around with us is far more harmful than to walk away and leave it at its source.
782137
My husband and I don't celebrate Christmas in any way. When possible, I offer to work for those who are scheduled to work so that they can celebrate their holiday.\n\nWe are neo-pagans but we don't celebrate a religious holiday in December.  Since our religion is Celtic, we would be correct to have a feast, a holiday tree, wreaths and mistletoe--even though we choose not to.  The Romans occupied the Celtic lands (before Christianity was introduced) and lived with the Celts, so it would also be acceptable for us to burn candles and exchange gifts---even though we choose not to.  So if you take away all of the pagan parts of the season, how much is left?  How do Christians celebrate the birth of their god?  How ever you do it, we don't choose to do that either.
328511
Being pagan I have a LOT of religious objects. Symbols of my religion, statues, and clothing are good examples. I try to live my life for the gods and so my home reflects that. I know you weren't interested in religious texts, but I have a library of archeological books that tell of my religion. These are useful at times when I need to tell others about my religion. I also have an extensive library of christian literature for use when I need to explain christian religion to people who are part of that religion.
336215
Magic in the Wiccan sense is real, so is pagan... but it is called Magick with a k... and i do believe... i am pagan... any further questions contact me at...\nblfittro@yahoo.com
800656
Luckily for me I had no formal religious up bringing. When I was little some one did give me a book called" The greatest story ever told." I was really impressed with a wizard that could walk on water and heal people.  I was probably in my early teens before I realized that it was jesus the book was about.  But  it did not change my perception of the book or jesus for that matter.  So today I am a pagan but I was not forced into any religion.  I did go to a catholic church with my friend once I was really disturbed by the wine and wafer aspect of the rite.. I thought that was a little on the cannibalistic side.
484552
I'm Wiccan.  I've had a relationship with Artemis since before I understood that there were other religions besides Christianity.  I first learned about Her when I was in sixth grade during a section in Social Studies on mythology.  I drew a picture of her that I still have to this day, and it's my Goddess image!  I feel closest to her, although I'm no longer a virgin.  I called upon Her during my childbirth, and I think She helped to the point where the doctor told me that I was "made just perfectly to have babies" during delivery, which was a real shock to someone who had barely weighed over 100 lbs and had absolutely no hips for most of her adult life until that point!  I think She helped to spread my hips farther than they were naturally designed to go because none of my female relatives have had it as easy with their first as I did!\n\nOther than Her, I've always felt closest to the Celtic Deities.  Cernunnos and Brigit are my especial favorites.\n\nSpeaking of, you mentioned Christians coopting the idea for a trinity?  Well, look at most of the Catholic saints and you will find old pagan Deities!  Go figure, huh?  Gotta placate the masses you want to convert by letting them keep their old traditions and gods, just in a slightly different form.
217856
The only person I celebrate is Jesus at Christmas time, and show honor and respect at Easter. More than once I've had people mad at me for not celebrating pagan holidays. Sorry, don't do idols or false gods.
1000584
At the risk of receiving another letter from an offended practitioner of the Wicca religion, I'll offer this historical and Christian perspective on it with the disclaimer that it does not apply to everyone who calls themself a Wiccan.\n\n\nWicca Spells - What is Wicca?\nWhat is Wicca and what are Wicca spells? While it is rooted in ancient pagan beliefs, the Wicca religion, as it is practiced now, is only about 50-years-old. Wicca is a belief system cobbled together in the 1940's and 1950's by Gerald Gardner from a variety of religious traditions and beliefs as well as Freemason rituals. Since Gardner published several books espousing his system of worship, many offshoots and variations of Wicca have sprung up. \n\nThere is no particular agreement between Wiccans, or "wise ones" concerning what they believe and worship. Some worship the "Goddess," some worship the "God," and some worship both. Others worship nature. Some Wiccans say they embrace Christian doctrine, while others reject it. Most promoters of Wicca believe in reincarnation. \n\nOne thing most Wiccans agree on is the fact that Satan is not a part of their pantheon and they vehemently deny Satan-worship as one of their practices. This is because they disavow the notion of moral absolutes. There is no such thing as good or evil, because it is all relative. Wiccans have only one law that they bind themselves to, called "The Rede." It simply states, "Do what ye will, harm ye none." In other words: "Do what ever you want to as long as no one gets hurt." The Three-fold Law governs consequences, and is a law of returns that states, "All good that a person does to another returns three-fold in this life; harm is also returned three-fold." \n\nWicca Spells - Mind Control\nWhat about Wicca spells? Not all Wiccans practice witchcraft (which they call "magick" to set themselves apart from illusionists and magicians). Magick is to Wicca what prayer is to Christianity. Wiccans claim that the practice of magick is simply using their minds to control matter, while Christians call upon God to heal people and to intervene and work in their lives. Because the Rede forbids harming others and the Three-fold Law sets forth consequences for those who do, Wiccans view themselves as "white witches" or "nature witches." \n\nWicca is basically a religion that is about minding your own business and living peaceably with your neighbors and environment. Wiccans are eager to draw parallels between themselves and biblical Christianity for the sake of earning credibility, but what does the Bible have to say about this religion? You won't find the word "wicca" in the Bible, so let's evaluate the beliefs in light of what God says about them. \n\nWicca spells are idolism - Romans 1:25 says, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things, rather than the Creator…" Who wants to settle for second best? In Isaiah 40, God paints a very cool picture of how much greater the Creator is than His creation. If you are worshipping anything besides the Creator, you are just spinning your wheels.\n\n\nWicca spells bring false hope - Hebrews 9:27 says, "…Man is destined to die once, after that, to face judgment." God says we get one chance at life, and that is it. There are no do-overs. If we don't accept God's gift of Jesus in our lifetime, He judges us as unwilling to be in His presence, and we are sent to Hell. \n\n\nWicca spells bring disillusionment - Mark 7:8 says, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men". God is God, and we are not. We have a decision to make. Are we going to take God at His word and adopt His worldview, or not? Knowing God is hard work that takes a lot of discipline. Wicca is a religion that takes a pack of lies, ties it in a romantic ribb
122460
Why is pagan not good? Honestly, that is the religion that makes the most sense. Paying tribute to things that actually exist...And I am an atheist, not a pagan.
341138
Pagan is a prechristian religion.  It's mainly based on understanding the cycles of nature and living with th earth.  It makes much more sense to me than modern religions like Christianity.
476595
Thank you for asking this question. Very good point. I am a Pagan, and Paganism pre-dates Chrisitianity and our festivals did come first. Any book will confirm this!
1102782
There's no set way to become Pagan. Just go out into Nature, behold it, meditate and become part of your surroundings. When you open your eyes and you see that it is Holy, and you are Holy too because you are an integral part of it, then you will be Pagan.
165506
paganism?  From what I could find on the net it seems similar to Norse mythology.  \n\nThis website had some interesting information.\n\nhttp://www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/pagangods.html
779551
I am not a pagan or wiccan but I have also read a bit about their religion. I have been very attracted to the naturalist observances they have and the use of ritual. I think even as a nonreligious person rituals and life marking ceremonies and observances fill a psychology need for most of us. I have incorporated some into my life in a naturalist, nonsupernatural way. One simple letting go of a relationship ritual I know is to take something that is a symbol of the relationship and think about releasing your emotions and then burn the item. I found this link below describing this and also suggesting writing a letter and another site about constructing your own personal rituals.