Pagans, Wicca, Atheists and Muslims: Do you feel many negative comments have been made about your religion?
916368
atheism is not a religion. Yes, atheists receive negative comments and attitudes because we do not follow any religion. I don't want to change anyone's mind, I feel comfortable knowing what I know.
599561
I'm a Christian, and I agree with you. I think that if there is no judgement or condemnation in the answer, and if the answer is relevant to the question, there should be no problem. I have gotten rude comments from some of those who are non-religious, but only in the site. \n\nHowever, there is another side to the coin. The sad fact is that the only e-mails I have gotten that were rude and uncalled for were from other Christians, and I've also had other Christians behave rudely on the site. \n\nSeems that some people from all worldviews need to mind their manners now and then.
849905
LOL! I feel bad for laughing...I believe in God, heaven, the Bible, etc,i would call myself more spiritual than religious-Sometimes i think people maybe go a little too far trying to push their beliefs onto someone else...but i think for the most part, it's people who want to tell other people about God..I'm all for anyone who's intentions are to spread the word, tell how they found peace and happiness, or to educate- It's the condemning and persecuting done by the "believer" that disgusts & disappoints me, looking down on other people is not what it's all about..It's supposed to be "about" the exact opposite, anyhoo, i'll quit rambling now..Point is, apparently someone has taught them how to use a computer- maybe God himself did, haha
1066813
wont argue... I am with you to an extent... I am Wiccan and it is a very open religion that doesn't judge others or say my way or the high way. And the "gods" and such are guides and things like that not devine intervention crap...
1051627
I can definitely listen without judging. But do I feel safe? I feel .......uninformed. What scares me is that others will speak of things I know so little about. If they stop and explain to me about aspects of the religion I'm not familiar with, I know I would feel so open and so much more comfortable to intelligently discuss beliefs. It is my fear that people will mistake my lack of knowledge for ignorance and judgement against other religions. In truth.....it is me reaching out saying........."show me." If everyone can have tolerance for our differences, for our beliefs and for our levels of knowledge, religious discussions could be and would be amazingly interesting.
213699
Well, considering I'm a Witch( Wiccan ) in the celtic tradition, have been a witch of 15 years and grew up in a christian household, I'd have to say I agree with you.I've no real problem with the Christain God, it's his followers and the crap that they do in His name that bothers me.
853995
I don't find it curious at all.   Non-pagans object greatly to pagans and when someone posts an answer that shows pagans in a positive light, or one that shows that pagans are educated, intelligent and insightful, non-pagans will react to such things with antagonism.   It is an odd thing people fear pagans becasue they do not understand pagan beliefs.   However, they do not WANT to undestand pagan beliefs, nor do they want anyone else to understand them so that the fear, prejudice, and distrust against pagans can be prepetuated.\n\nIf fact I fully expect to get thumbs downs to this answer for that very reason....
442936
I guess it is quite fine. I mean if someone asked my religion I would not be offended. However, it is important not to insult people because of their religion or not having a religion.
413256
Pagans of all paths tend to be very open minded. We're not the sort to get upset about what someone believes or doesn't believe, and we're not into trying to convert people. If you're meant to walk the path, you'll find it on you're own. If you ask, we'll help as much as we can, but the decision is yours. All religions have their merits, and it's not my place to tell you that you're wrong. Many people think that Pagans have issues with Christianity, but the truth is that most of the time the issues are with they way we are and have been treated. We believe in live and let live.
1047883
I've been told I was upset.  For me it's not being upset, it's having questions.  Since Christians are the majority here it makes no sense for one to ask many questions about other religions as they would just get scrolled over.  Even questions about Christianity that require actual knowledge or thought get scrolled over, so most questions end up being either funny or blatant attacks.  It seems that is the only way to get heard.
436182
I am a Wiccan and I am not angry at Christians.  To do so would mean I would not be talking to my spouse nor the rest of my family!  I have no problem with the path each person takes to their own Gods or Goddesses.  I have friends from all religious backgrounds and I have friends that are atheist and agnostic.  I will say that I don't like people from any religion who feel it is their mission to convert me because they feel I need "saving"; but, I am not impolite nor do I talk down to them when they try to do so.  I respect others beliefs and I expect the same in return.  And, even if I don't get it in return, I will respect your right to believe as you will.\n\nBlessed Be.
598633
I feel like people are always judging me.  Most of the people don't understand Islam, or they hate it, because they don't know anything about it exept lies that they hear from friends and family, well some do understand Islam, and are not told lies, but that's a very few of them.  Most people can't even tell where i'm from, and they can't tell my religion until I tell them, and when I do they're just like "ohhhh, cool", but a few days later they act differently around me, and ask me many questions about Islam, which is great, but when I answer them, they always ask why?, what's allah, why don't you belive in God and instead believe in allah????  Most people just don't understand it,and just like to judge Islam, by what happend on 9-11, and I had one person even ask me if Bin Ladin was my cousin...which is pretty funny because it's such a dumb question.  I  just think that there are a few conflicts, but I didn't have that many problems with being Muslim in the US.\n\nWhat about you?
495518
I'm not offended by the term 'witch', its no different from being called Pagan now. Most people use the term witch and pagan interchangeably, or at least among the other pagans I know.\n\nBut I AM offended by people who attack us Pagans as if we're some dirty low trash. This is coming from a girl in a Catholic school with otherwise-nice Catholic teachers, except there was one morning they did a Catholic reflection and called us pagans people of 'aimless prayer', which I found extremely offensive. I was that much short of confronting the teacher who said it.
775723
I have the Wiccan rede and a pentagram tattooed on my back.  I get double the negativity because 1) it's a pentagram!!!!  Oooooo!!!!!  Keep the children away from that girl! and 2) she has tattoos!!!  Oooooo!!!!!  She must be a tramp!!!!  But you see a man with a cross tattooed on his arm or a piece of scripture and isn't he devout?\n\nYes.  I am VERY tired of it.
804176
I don't think that any being/spirit is completely negative.  And I feel that all beings/spirits are capable of some maliciousness.
599224
I think its because religions are polemic.\nReligion is not like sports, were both gymnastics and weight-lifting could be right; or fashion, were both black shoes or pink ones would go with a pink dress and black jacket. (Even though it's barely acceptable to wear a dress and a jacket... (It's SO last season...))\nTo have one religion is to say all others are wrong. Even atheists feel attacked when someone believes a religion, because in doing so, they're implying the atheist is wrong.\nEven in Wicca religions, that supposedly embrace diversity (any Wiccan can be at the same time anything he/she wants), believers are implying that other religions are wrong since they don't let you have more than one religion.\n\nSo really, religion is like a stubborn king, because it refuses to cooperate with other kings and believes he is the only one who should be in the throne. Which cannot be proved wrong because the throne is so narrow...\n\nAnd again, some Wiccan is probably going to stand up offended and say "Any one could be Wiccan and Catholic--" or somehting-- "at the same time!"\n\nBut the truth is that every religion has a set of statements and saying they hold true is saying another religion's don't. I.E.- I've never seen and never expect to see a religion that says "Oh, this other religion is a true religion too, so you can switch between religions if you want. There's honestly no reason why you should choose one and not the other"\n\nSo by being into a religion--or rather, by not being into a certain religion, you offend everyone who is. That's why everybody has something polemic to say, because the nature of the religions is polemic. They don't just say a point is wrong, they say the person who made it is.\n\nHolding a stand is inevitably saying all other stands are wrong. Go ahead, say I'm wrong. Sooner or later you'll get it.
320657
I've been on the other side where I thought that people who didn't believe in god must feel lost.  (I was raised to think they are evil.)  So, I can kinda understand why some religious individuals think that non-believers feel some sort of void or are immoral.  However, I also view that stance as an immature belief.  It doesn't take a lot of looking around to realize that agnostics and atheists are very content with their worldviews and live ethical lives.