My 19 yo boyfriend used to be an Atheist. However, after being w/ me for a year -- of his own decision + findings -- he has (been?) chosen to be Pagan.
The thing is, he lives with a very Catholic Hispanic family. They're not too swift of him having been Atheist, and they want him to try to be Catholic again, for 6 months. He started being Atheist when he was around 15.
He's continuously getting signs to switch to Kemeticism (Egyptian Paganism) from flipping thru channels and finding things about Egypt, to looking for books and finding Egyptian History books for cheap, and lots of other things.
He agrees he wants to be Pagan... but his mom said "brujeria" (Spanish for witchcraft) is evil.
What should he do? Should he just hold out til he moves out? Should he tell his parents what he believes?
I think he should tell his parents, because I know if I was them I wouldn't want to have been lied to the entire time.
He doesn't want to be Christian, so don't suggest it please.
2006-08-17 13:23:25 · 51 answers · asked by Lady Myrkr 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvXus_SlVLGDp7vRhgvh4ofsy6IX?qid=20060817150551AAaqiDS <~~ A related question I wrote
2006-08-17 13:24:13 · update #1
I am Pagan.
If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it at all, or reword it so it's not as rude.
2006-08-17 13:39:52 · update #2
... Look, okay? My boyfriend chose to be Pagan on his own, so, get off my case, people. I didn't force him to do anything. I told him I loved him for him, not for his religion. I love him whether he be Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, Jewish, Islamic, or even SCIENTOLOGIST! I don't care what his religion is, so long as he wants to be it. He chose to be Pagan. So, help with what I asked instead of saying that he should stay Atheist or that I shouldn't influence him or anything like that.
2006-08-18 09:22:36 · update #3
Tell him to go to http://www.netjer.org/ and he can find all he wants about Kemetic Orthodoxy. It is my religion and we have forums there too if he has any questions or just needs to talk. I would have him tell his parents. My parents are Catholic too. I told my mom I was switching. Now we aren't Hispanic by any means but all my family are Christians and they are all praying that I will see the light. It is his decision what his religion is going to be. It isn't up to his parents. He could also tell them that believing in any God would be better than not believing in a God at all right? Some of us are just called to this religion. If he has any questions or just wants to talk, let me know. I will be glad to help out all I can.
2006-08-17 13:36:21 · answer #1 · answered by Mawyemsekhmet 5 · 9⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't dream of suggesting he be Christian I my self am Buddhist, but that's neither here nor there. I think that what he's doing is right and if he truly believes in what he is doing he should Paganism isn't as bad as people think it's just all the other religions that don't have a "place" in today's society. Paganism has been around longer than Christianity
2006-08-25 00:51:23 · answer #2 · answered by Rachel 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am in no way trying to be rude but it seems that the only thing he is sure of according to u is that he doesn't want to b cristian. he does not seem like he can really make up his mind and stick with anything. he should read and get enough information on anything that interests him so he will be able to make an informed decision on his own. he is 19 years old brought up in a strict catholic family that can tend to turn a person against something they felt forced into. However making an informed decision and commiting to it part of that would have the ability not to be ashamed or afraid to defend his beliefs to anyone. personaly i think either you or both of you are making a big deal out of nothing, he has plenty of time to find his comfort zone.
2006-08-24 16:13:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello again.
I think it is easier said than done, coming out of the broom closet to loved ones who do not understand. And for him to keep it from them is just as divisive as telling the truth. So my advice would be to keep the peace. If they are better off with his being atheist, then let them keep that. At least he won't be barraged with ideology of hellfires for being pagan- which is actually really closely related to Catholicism. (I know this from personal experience.) Sometimes the truth hurts more than an untruth. Maybe down the road a little, he will be able to be truthful with them as to his religious preference. At this point, however, I see the most important thing for him to do would be to get a job that will pay his necessities to live on his own, and then he will be free to pursue whatever religiousity he prefers, out from under his parent's misunderstanding of paganism.
Blessed Be, sister of the Craft.
2006-08-19 07:15:30 · answer #4 · answered by Lauralanthalasa 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I did not read any of the other comments... so I could tell you that I Know Paganism to be a very viable belief...
...almost all of Christianity ceremonies are based on paganism and it is my understanding that Pagans worship "mother earth"....
...Maybe if we respect and worship mother earth we won't blow each other up with Nukes.
...as for the mother question, keep it to yourself...it is never any-ones business. The closer you come to God the more you need to only share with people who are at the same level...blessed be
2006-08-25 13:25:32 · answer #5 · answered by Rada S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He just has a curious mind. Reading and learning about all kinds of religions and beliefs. He's still young. Sooner or later he will probably latch on to one or another religious belief that he will call his own or maybe he won't believe in any of them and go back to being an atheist. Maybe he should tell his parents he's not sure what he believes right now. He can always tell him what his beliefs are or aren't when he figures it out.
2006-08-25 09:04:42 · answer #6 · answered by sagerider 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He should tell his parents,about what the religion is what it means(to him to), and give them 1 or 2 pages to read in the book.
I am also (no offance)
a freek about egyptian history, and religion
There is a yahoo group called Isis moon temple and they have there own mini yahoo groups. The offer clases about the egyptian religion.
http://www.llewellyn.com is the biggest publisher for pagan books of all kinds.Under surch type egyptian paganism for beginners.
2006-08-23 07:55:34 · answer #7 · answered by ScoobyLover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your boyfriend is in his middle teens, then there is nothing wrong with being fickle on what religion you want. Eventually he will come to believe some things more than others.
I would say that he should look to find things to validate his beliefs. And by this I don't mean "signs" I mean hard empirical fact.
Humans have an unusual propensity for being able to delude themselves. If we really want to see reality for what it truly is then we should truly examine what we think we know and how we look at the world. And never hesitate to change our perspective upon the application of new evidence contrary to our current perspectives.
2006-08-25 12:51:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person has the right to believe in what ever they chose, so long as they don't force their religion or beliefs on anyone else. Just tell him to be respectful around is parents, and not talk about it to them if they disapprove, but here is the thing. It is her house, no he doesn't have to belief in the same thing that she does. But he is 19 ain't it time for him to move out anyways!
2006-08-25 10:30:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He should got to Kemet.org. Kemeticism is very beautiful! I try to follow ma'at in my daily life! He should keep studying about ancient Egypt as well; it's very interesting even if it's just from an academic study!
If he is comfortable, he should just work on showing his family that other religious paths are not evil. Even if he is unable to discuss what he personally believes right now, perhaps in the future he will be able to do so.
My husband and I are both Pagan, but we've never told our families. His family is crazy-Christian, so we sometimes go to church with them on the holidays just to keep the peace. My extended family is Catholic, and I would go to church with my Great-Grandmother, but I just wouldn't take communion. No one really cared. I really don't think it's a big deal if one's family doesn't know the intimate details of one's religious beliefs. As long as your boyfriend demonstrates that he is a responsible and caring human being, the peace should be kept.
Blessed be!
2006-08-17 13:40:54 · answer #10 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋