Does anyone understand their religion anymore?

Question

I get so mad at Christians who care more about judging and comdemning others than exibiting the love and acceptance taught by Christ. Then at the same time there are Pagans telling me that they don't cast spells, that's something that Wiccans do. Do they not know that a Wiccan is a Pagan just as a Baptist is a Christian? Read a book people!

Answer 1

Very few people are religious, as we move into the new age there is more emphasis on personal faith rather than organised religion and as such very few people follow specifics within religions, more that they take influences and simply associate themselves with the closest religion they can associate to as there is yet to be another way to define what a person is outside of simply associating themselves to a religious group this way.

A lot of Christianity is about judging and condemning, you cannot judge the whole of Christianity by your standards just as you cannot lump the whole of Christianity together. Peoples beliefs will always be their own, no two Christians have the same beliefs, they simply have more in common than say a Christian with a Buddhist so find common ground within a common definition.

Wicca is a Pagan religion, but a very specific religion – Wicca is a hard-polytheist pagan mystery oath-bound initiate-only lineage priesthood. Paganism is a broad term, in its traditional sense it relates to pre-Christian religions or any religion outside of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Commonly when someone says they are Pagan they mean they are Neo-Pagan, this is an umbrella term for any group or person who follows either pantheist or polytheist beliefs; pantheism equates to the belief that the divine is present in all, polytheism equates to the belief in many gods.

Not all Pagans cast spells by a long shot, Wicca is one Pagan religion that uses lower [and higher] magic by it's very definition, Neo-wicca commonly use magic, but by no means do all Pagans cast spells, no more than all Christians cast spells – magic being just as likely in Christianity or any other religion as in Paganism.

I have been Pagan for 23 years, I studdied to become Wicca, as well as that I have taught Wicca and worked for several Pagan organisations, I know not only what Pagan is, but also what my religion is - or specifically, what my beliefs are as what I define myself as a Pagan-atheist. There is nothing within Paganism or my own personal 'religion' or beliefs that would say I need to use magic in any form.

~ All Wicca are Pagans*, not all Pagans are Wicca ~
*Excluding of course Wicca who have converted or no longer practicing – once initiated a person is always considered Wicca.

To some degree I would agree with you, there are a great number of people for example who claim to be Wicca without the faintest idea of what Wicca is, instead believing they can simply make it up as they go along, snubbing initiation and so in turn the religion of Wicca itself, while still claiming to be Wicca. That is not in the sense you are thinking though, a person will always know their personal beliefs, how a religion is specifically defined is something different – e.g. Pagans don't all cast spells by definition, Christians aren't all sweetness and light by definition, Wicca is a priesthood by definition.

Answer 2

I was a pagan for years.
As a Pagan I attended rituals, for example,
On full moon ceremoniess after smudging, we meditated with tobacco bundles in our hands.Then we cast it into a fire for full moon ceremony. After we chanted and had ceremonial drumming.To some this would be classified as a 'spell', but to Native Americans, its just a ritual.

The intent could be the same, a blessing, a wish, a hope.
But its just not called a 'spell'

Most Wiccans that I know will call themselves Wiccans. Not Pagans, as its assumed that everybody knows that they are Pagan.

Reading a book did not make me a better Christian. When I was a Pagan, I read the Bible, out of interest and although I had the facts, I never beleived in Jesus. Once I opened my heart, and my mind to the teachings of Christ I telt the most amazing peace come over my life.

Answer 3

I am a neo-pagan because I follow a neo-pagan path. My religious path does not include casting spells, but it is not necessarily against them either. I am not Wiccan, I have never practiced Wicca and my path is not Wiccan-based. I understand that Wicca is one of many neo-pagan religions and I think it is a beautiful path for those called to it. Are you saying that to worship my deities that I need to cast spells? Are you saying that all polytheistic people have to do spellwork? Occasionally I do spellwork but it is not a part of my religious tradition, nor do I wish it to be required. I could live my religion happily without ever casting another spell. Yes, I've read books. Plenty of them. How many books have you read about neo-pagan religions that are not Wiccan-based?

Answer 4

I understand my religion perfectly. Not all Wiccans cast spells, not all people who cast spells are Wiccan. I am Pagan, I am not Wiccan, my religion is a far cry from Wicca. I cast spells, but I don't have to. No Pagan has to. No Wiccan has to.

Answer 5

Jebus H Christ and his trained apostles *facepalms*

Wiccans are pagans. This does not mean all pagans are wiccans. Thats like saying catholics are christians, so therefore all christians are catholic.

And yes, I understand my religion far too well.

Answer 6

you can certainly have pegan beleifs without casting spells, first off most wiccans are very careful of what spells they cast. they beleive that it comes back to them in threes...thats not just the movie thing...thats true. also...i was told once by a wiccan...a spell is nothing more than a prayer put to ryme.

Answer 7

Hmm.. being a member of a religion doesn't automatically make them a good member of that religion. One can be a bad Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist etc. but that doesn't mean that you aren't still a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist etc.

I would probably say that it is unwise to tar all members of a religion with the same brush.

Answer 8

I understand my (lack of) religion fine.

Also, I believe that, while similar, Wicca and Paganism are seperate entities, not just a subsection of the same thing.

Answer 9

shadow_wings83....do you think that reading a book makes you closer to God? Buy this book and you will understand so much more. Eckhart Tolle "The Power of Now" Buy the CD version and listen to it slowly...take your time...It may help you understand things much better. Good luck!!!

Answer 10

I think we ALL need to worry about our own religions and stop picking others apart.