I no longer believe in Christianity, but it was forced upon me so much as a child that it is always in the back of my mind. The guilt is always there and I am finding it very difficult to be the true pagan that I want to be.
2007-01-30 02:38:12 · 70 answers · asked by Bewitched 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Perhaps I should elaborate on what I mean by guilt. It is actually not guilt, but WORRY, that there is a small chance I may be wrong in what I believe, and that they may be right...even though I feel that what they believe (burning hell etc) does not make sense! Basically I am torn between my logic, and brainwashing, and Yes, I believe it IS brainwashing, and not holy spirit nagging.
2007-01-30 04:42:39 · update #1
A lot of pagans coming out of christianity have this same problem. One of the things you have to do is determine what you do believe to be true for you. Write it down and affirm that to yourself. I recommend creating a ritual to release all negative programming and guilt from your life.
If you need more tips, feel free to contact me.
Blessings on your path,
Kallan
2007-01-30 03:02:54 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Give it time, you will become the person that you want, without the guilt. The thing that I found was to actually analyze the Bible and realize how ridiculous it is for people in the 21st century to be following the fears and made up stories that they had at a minimum 2000 years ago, let alone longer.
You also start to realize that Jesus probably was formed after the image of some of the earlier demi-gods of other myths that walked the planet performing miracles, or feats not humanly possible. You will also get to a point where you realize it actually would have been impossible for the disciples to write their books (firstly they were written well after Christ's death, also the disciples deaths to) and the disciples were illiterate (they were simple fishermen, etc, who would not have had an opportunity to go to school at all). Amazingly how the Roman Empire was at it's peak and emperor's always hate sharing their power with religion. Since the religions of ancient Rome were as powerful at controlling the minds and will of the people, the emperor had to get rid of them. Best way is to convert to a religion that conveniently had their "god" walk the earth and that religion easily states that the meek and poor shall inherit the earth. That is the best way to control the mind's of the masses, since most of them were meek and poor, but they would get their reward after being treated horribly by the rich powerful ones. Makes you really wonder if the New Testament was not written by Roman spin doctors.
The Old Testament is no better, because you will find parts that indicate God in the plural. You will be told that God said that women were to obey their husband because of Eve and that it is ok to sell your daughters into slavery. That you can kill anyone for working on the sabbath, etc. Wow, now that is a religion that I want to follow.
Nothing has changed throughout history, the ones who can control the minds and will of the masses can accumulate extreme wealth, which is what Christianity has done. All facets of Christianity are the largest land owners on the planet, bring in more revenue, have huge holdings of art, etc. It is great to hear that you have moved on from Christianity, because it is pure corruption.
You will be way happier and start to look at Christianity for what it is. Good for you, and the feelings of guilt are going to go away. That is how they control people, they are taught to feel guilty their whole lives and hence they can not break away. Christians live their lives in a dysfunctional relationship, dealing with the religion is no different than living with someone who always makes you feel guilty for this or that, that is another form of brainwashing. Yet parents subject their children to it, that actually could be construed as child abuse.
2007-01-30 03:29:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was raised a Lutheran (Christian). Though I never truly believed, always had questions no one could answer, I still felt a need to be true to that upbringing. I carried around the guilt of even THINKING I didn't believe. I called myself agnostic for 20 years before I was finally able to say I'm an atheist.
It's a habit, just like biting your nails or cussing too much, that you'll have to take time to break. It will be little things at first, but it will happen.
Just keep doing your pagan rituals and prayers, meet with other pagans, join pagan organizations and read. Immerse yourself in your chosen belief so thoroughly that the remnants of Christianity will just drop away over time.
Good luck on your journey!
2007-01-30 03:39:14 · answer #3 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A wise man once said, "If you give a person a superior thing, he will forget the inferior thing".
What is it that is in the back of your mind? Guilt about what? If paganism is superior to christianity, then those guilt feelings will go away with the application of the teachings of paganism.
If, however, you have abandoned your beliefs falsely, and have taken to something new just to gratify yourself, you will not be satisfied with this either. You must decide if paganism is superior or not. Otherwise, what is the use of it?
2007-01-30 04:18:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Learn the ways of Naturalism, and ALL the religion BS dogma that has cluterred your mind will be erased. Especially the guilt
2007-01-30 04:11:39 · answer #5 · answered by Sean 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that unfortunately you never will be able to eliminate your upbringing completely. Things learned as a small child are nearly imposable to unlearn. I think that you will just have to work hard at it indefinitely. To feel better remember this if you have children of your own. People learn the majority of everything they will ever know before the age of 5 or so I have heard.
2007-01-30 03:53:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you get older, you will overcome the anger of having things forced on you and see the benefits in religous teachings. Myself, I have spent 30 years trying to overcome my religious programming. Thinking everything I try to do might be wrong in Gods eyes.
But true Christians follow the words of Christ. Not mans interpretations. He said we
could do great and powerful things in His name. We are not fearful of spiritual things. We just believe in the ethical use of such things.
2007-01-30 04:09:48 · answer #7 · answered by THE NEXT LEVEL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guilt is difficult to get rid of, especially when the words of your parents are playing that tape over and over in your head. You will need to make a concerted effort to replace that with something else. Read some books on evolution and science. Go out and meet some friends who share your belief system and talk to them. Join a group if you have to. IT will take work but you can over come guilt.
2007-01-30 02:45:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
Strip the dogma down to its basic ethical tenets. Remember what is good about Christianity in terms of ethics. Then evaluate your newfound pagan religion and find those same qualities there. Find what is good and what you still may cherish about Christianity and apply it to paganism. If you apply concepts on this basic level, then the specifics, the "thou shalt nots" will not only make more sense, but it will help put your paganism in perspective with the rest of your life. Then you can reconcile, and not reject.
2007-01-30 02:46:32 · answer #9 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Guilt is there to let us know something isn't right. It's the same with pain or anger.
In your spirit, you know paganism isn't right...and therefore you have guilt in what you are doing because you know it isn't right.
You may have been forced into religion from childhood but you were not a Christian. Being a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ and that my dear is not a religion, that is a relationship.
2007-01-30 03:27:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋