I know this goes agianst alot of Pagan sensibilities, but I'm only asking a question. What if Pagans began to evangelize the way that Christians and Muslims do, going door to door, passing out leaflets, holding vigils and having public scerimoneis. What is your take on this?
2006-09-20 20:36:50 · 16 answers · asked by Wonder Weirdo 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most new age pagan groups don't go for that sort of thing for several reasons. They recognize that there is no One True Faith so there is no pressing reason to gain new converts. Magick. If your faith or group works with magick you will have to take time, effort, and understanding to train new people on how to do it and making sure they understand the moral and ethical results of their actions. This can be, I imagine, intensive. You don't want a bunch of megalomaniacs with insufficient ethical understanding running around. This could be a contributing factor to why many groups that were previously public have gone back underground. There should be a wider 'community' that has a public face for those who are seeking an alternative to Middle Eastern faiths, but actively recruiting converts is really out of the question. Paganism is not really about the fanatical devotion and extremist views of the several One True Faiths out there. It is much more like Buddhism in that it is more about the individual and their connectedness to the Divine, not about social conformity like Middle Eastern True Faiths. Also, it's been said that trying to organize pagans is akin to herding cats.
2006-09-20 21:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Active recruiting would likely offend a number of people - both Pagan and non-Pagan. Public, open ceremonies are okay, but count me out for going door to door, or handing out leaflets on a corner.
2006-09-22 13:51:02 · answer #2 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never should happen. The one unifying factor of most pagan faiths is the independence and free will of the person involved. We're happy to educate the seeker, but forcing it on someone? Totally out of the question. After all, isn't that where many pagans get there start, rebelling against that kind of behavior?
2006-09-23 01:28:22 · answer #3 · answered by Randi L 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LOL!
Actually we do hold a couple public ceremonies a year. It is a community organization and we have never been threatened. Of course the presence of the police probably helps that.
Blessings )O(
2006-09-21 03:40:33 · answer #4 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I would probably change religions at that point. I dislike people who try to force their religions onto other people. Public ceremonies would be fine, though. I see no reason for paganism to hide, just not to try to force other people to join in if they don't want to.
2006-09-21 03:50:49 · answer #5 · answered by nurendi 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
We would most likely be shot on sight,, and our dismembered corpses drug through the streets.
That is the type of thing religious fanatics usually do when people threaten their oooohhh so fragile faith.
Examples:
The crusades
911
The Inquisition
The Salem witch hunts
2006-09-21 03:43:51 · answer #6 · answered by landerscott 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't think it would work because part of paganism's appeal is it's "secrets" and in-group mentality. I doubt anyone wants to join a "mega-coven".
2006-09-21 03:41:39 · answer #7 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It would militarize the Christians.
Magic vs. Messiah!
Excellent question.
2006-09-21 03:43:05 · answer #8 · answered by Sunder Zombie 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yeah, like that has stopped them from doing all sorts of atrocities,
Stop offering low platitudes
lack of originality and sense.
2006-09-21 04:42:19 · answer #9 · answered by You are loved 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
nooo Pagans are too peaceful for that.
2006-09-21 04:01:52 · answer #10 · answered by eightieschick70 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋