Than the arbitrary rules that christians like to impose on people?
After all it is a MUCH stricter rule. Read it; "that is harm NONE" that means you too. And harm is a very open ended term. Causing a papercut, or hurting someone's feelings are both considered forms of harm.
Wouldn't life be SO much better if people followed this simple rule?
2007-02-06 08:24:09 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The second quote should read "that IT harm none"
Sorry about that, typing too fast.
2007-02-06 08:25:02 · update #1
I am wiccan and I agree fully. There is no need for such complex rules as printed in the bible it is simply people ever ending need for something greater to control there minds ...
Pretty hard to be a devil worshiper as christians claim we are when that is our one and only rule that as you said is a broad sense ...
2007-02-06 09:17:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The Rede is indeed deeper than it would at first seem. It is applicable to people at all levels of maturity. It isn't a "commandment" as such - it's a commitment; and Wicca is a lifestyle, not a faith. Semantics, I know, but . . . . So - let's pull this thing apart - "An it harm none, do what you Will" It's aligned with the working of Magic - the Will, and relates to all work done in that context. You might say that we are 'working magic' all the time we are conscious, but that depends on your own inner understanding, or conscience. OK, define 'harm'. How do you decide what harm is? Is it OK to 'help' someone by stopping them doing something stupid? Or is it better to let them learn the lesson you can see descending on them like a ton of bricks? Your decision. You must decide whether to 'interfere' with a person's karma, or 'learning by doing', or take another route by perhaps advising them without taking any magical action. Then there is the case of someone acting to harm someone else. Do you interfere? Do you stop them with magical action, ("I'll teach this bastard") or do nothing and let the interaction take its course? Again, your choice. To some people the choice in either of these cases is clear and simple, but to a witch, many variables come into the equation. Now what about this 'none'. What does that include (or exclude)? Does it mean only humans? Does it include all life-forms? This again is a matter for your own discretion. It's all about taking responsibility for your own actions - or inactions. Total responsibility. The buck doesn't even start going anywhere else. It's not easy being a witch - green or not. That's a very simplistic overview, just off the top of my head, but I'm prepared to join in discussing the whole matter at length if there's enough interest. How about a new Yahoo! group?
2016-05-24 00:36:25 · answer #2 · answered by Clararose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rede is not 'harm none' for the very simple fact that harm is a necessity of the life that Wicca hold in respect, you have to 'harm' animals and plants in order to survive for food and shelter and you need to experience harm in order to grow as a human being, as human beings we also cause harm and Wicca does not teach guilt for being human or acting on best interests.
The rede is about cause and effect; that you can't do as you please because you could harm someone; it is an ethical guideline that is taught to Seekers and new initiates in order to make them take responsibility for their actions before a time when they can make their own judgement on situations.
I think it is safe to say that the rede tends to be more prominent in Neo-wicca and is often used by those who have converted from Christianity as a way of controlling their own actions in the absence of such rules that Christianity sets – thus the rede is often just a replacement for the Christian dogma you are claiming it is better than.
The rede never has been nor ever will be a rule within Wicca or Neo-wicca, it is a guideline that is followed by some people of this path, it's basis go back long before Wicca but it's understanding is far more than 'harm none' – don't you think if it was as easy as 'do what you want, just don't be nasty because it's bad, k?' that another religion would have come up with such a guideline long before Wicca emerged a few decades ago?
The 'rules' of Christianity have served them well thus-far, they were created when the religion first formed and for the most part still uphold themselves pretty well, they are far stricter than the idea of the rede or law of return commonly associated with Wicca but some people may well think it is better to be strict because these are laws from God, rather than within Wicca where the morals and ethics are purely personal.
2007-02-06 11:49:01 · answer #3 · answered by Kasha 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a nice rule, but I don't follow it. It doesn't really make sense. If you think about it, you will hurt anything by doing anything. The only way to "Harm None" is to basically not move. I will agree it would be nicer to follow.
2007-02-06 11:44:44 · answer #4 · answered by Ma'iingan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be nice if we could all live by that creed. However, harming none would imply that you are not permitted to act even in self defense. In which case, unfortunately in the human dominated world, you are not going to survive if someone ne'er do well attacks you.
2007-02-06 08:46:08 · answer #5 · answered by rbarc 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I like the Wiccan rede much better then the Ten Commandments. However, myself I go by the Nine Noble Virtues seeing how I'm Asatru.
2007-02-06 08:29:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
The problem is that the individual whom uses this statement can not, and most likely will not be able to see how most actions harm others, anyways. It's a great statement that seems like it could work, but from my experience it was just pretending, and living in a delusion while others do suffer from such active results.
Such is the play of the ego.
2007-02-06 08:37:55 · answer #7 · answered by ruggedwarrior_love 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Oh sure, but where's Jesus in that statement? Where's God? It's evil!
OMG, I was possessed there for a moment. Let down your guard for a minute, and you get c-borged!
Yes, it's much better. As is the 9-fold Buddhist path. Much much better.
2007-02-06 08:34:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is pretty lame. Stealing a dollar from Bill Gates would not harm Bill as he probably would not even notice it. But it is still stealing.
Wicca need to work on their "cute sayings" more.
2007-02-06 10:05:50 · answer #9 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
If you tell it to kids (now or in the future if you do not have them) to "do no harm but do what you want", what do you think will happen to them?
2007-02-06 08:44:54 · answer #10 · answered by Theresa B 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋