Is the New Testament Bigoted? Second attempt @ Question (Only Pagans/Wiccans answer please).?

Question

SPECIFICALLY THESE VERSES:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -Jesus, John 14:6

"He that believeth (in Jesus) and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." -Mark 16:16

These passages say Jesus is the ONLY way, & those who don't believe will go to hell. So basically, it's saying Jesus is the ONE way to heaven, & that all other ways lead to hell. These are very strong statements that do not acknoweldge salvation by way of any other path except through Jesus alone; they're pretty blunt ways of saying Jesus is the 'one way', & does not acknoweldge salvation any other way.

Also, the NT specifically adressed the topic of Pagan gods, saying: 1 Cor 10:20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 1 Cor 12:2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astay to mute idols.

Are these verses bigoted?

I'm a Christian wondering what Pagans think about this subject. I AM NOT SAYING THESE VERSES ARE BIGOTED, I'M ASKING PAGANS/WICCANS IF THEY THINK THESE VERSES ARE. I had to repost this question because people thought the question was a statement.

What lead me to ask this question, is because whenever a Christian repeats these verses (whether word for word, or in their own words), Christians are called bigots.

MICHAEL C- Thank you for your testimony! That was powerful. I'm already a Christian, and I read the Bible every day, and I am not nor have ever been pagan :) People keep misunderstanding the question :( Ah well :)

Spiritwolf- I wasn't "saying" what you were accusing me of :) My one and only intention was to ask what pagans/wiccans Thought about those two VERSES, that's all! Notice I MYSELF did not say anything. I just wanted to know the pagan/wiccan perspective regarding such scriptures. I'm sorry other Christians have made you feel so sensitive.

Answer 1

Well, first, I own several Bibles and not a single one uses the word Pagan (as during Jesus' and Pauls time, Pagan simply meant a Peasant and had nothing to do with religious belief at all) So I seriously doubt they were talking about Pagans during their time.

It would depend on how it's used. If you had stated that because I am a Pagan that automatically means I bow to idols or give up sacrifices, I would have to say you were misusing those particular verses. You can't take such verses and then assume that all Pagans (modern Pagans) do such things.

As for Jesus saying he is the only way.... Pagan godmen have said the same as well. Mithras, Dionysus, Apollo, Ra, Osiris... it's endless. I don't believe any of them are the Way... certainly not as a person. I believe what they are trying to teach is that they are setting the example as to How one walks that path - The Way. Jesus, like others, placed a lot of emphasis on how one acts. Not what one should do with ones who don't believe in a certain way. If they're damned for belief alone... well... leaves many other things open to interpretation then. But the statement that Pagans offer up to demons is no different than these other people claiming All Christians are ......... fill in the blank. Personally, I don't pay much attention to such generalized judgements.... they're rarely accurate.

The intent behind the use of the verses is what counts. If one is using them to degrade another person, they aren't worth much and would get the speaker the label bigot.

Answer 2

the new testament was hand pick books by the church to standardize the message being put out. as another poster noted, these were picked at a specific time in history, and historical context is a factor. what is bigoted, is when Christians use these verses without taking them in context, in order to belittle the beliefs of others.

there are many varieties of pagans and wiccans, but i feel that the ones that we will see last are those with an almost agnostic approach. for most, religion is a personal spiritual matter, and the most prominent pagans are clear that the symbols used are just that... symbols... wiccans are by nature very forgiving and understanding of others points of view. many Christians are taught the doctrine so fully, that they fail to take the good out of their religion. those often called bigots take the tragedy further, and accent the negative.

Answer 3

The Bible is written to promote convergence. Most people fear death, even if they won't admit it. To tell them they can live forever in the afterlife was, and still is, a very big thing. So to offer the only method to this place as the belief in our god would be a big selling point.

Based on that information alone it is bigoted.

However, I feel that it has been taken out of context. Above all Jesus was a teacher. He wanted to teach the world love, caring, and compassion. I believed in a single god, and wanted to spread that the way to heaven was to worship this god alone, live a good life, and love all as your bother.

I don't think that he was the one way ticket to heaven. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." It really means that live your life like I live mine. I'm setting the guidelines for your salvation. If you do what I do, you too can see heaven.

"He that believeth (in Jesus) and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - First off, the (in Jesus) was added by the church to guide people to their way of thinking. But belief should be in god alone, not a man. However, taken laterally it means to believe in what Jesus is preaching. That is Love and Kindness. The entire Key to the gates is Jesus alone was added much later.

Christians have always used the demons as a way to scare people way from their gods. This is nothing new, and is in no way reserved to the Christians.

Take this into mind and I feel that the words are not bigoted. They are very powerful propaganda.

Answer 4

I'm not a pagan, but I respect their beliefs a bit more than Christian. The Bible is very bigoted against people who do not believe the same way as the reader. It is also bigoted against women (placing women below men at every point), blacks (ridiculuos myths about the origins of Africans), children (ordering stonings of "disrespectful" sons), Egyptians (lies about Israelites being slaves), fellow believers of the God (Jews who didn't follow Jesus' teachings), etc etc etc

Answer 5

bigotry - 1.stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

OK, so by that definition, what is bigoted is when people - *not the words in the scripture you quoted* - are stubbornly and completely intolerant of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from their own.

Do you see the difference?


I don't think that Jesus was a religious bigot - I don't think that he exhibited "stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion" that differed from his own.

He offered what he offered - "salvation" in his own words. He didn't say "I won't tolerate that people may not choose this" or 'you HAVE to choose this".

And in any case, threats of hell file and damnation are...well, pretty pointless, if you don't believe in such a place as "Hell".

Telling a pagan that she's going to burn in "Hell" is like calling offsides on the *spectators* at a football game.

**** EDIT

Bobby, hunny (sorry - Spirit Wolf), you've got to learn to take this more lightly, and just let it wash over you. Unless and until they get to the point of actual persecution, leave them be.

Answer 6

I feel I have the right to answer this question since I was a practicing Wiccan (among others) for about 15 years and was quite experienced and, for a Wiccan, quite powerful. At the time I did not feel that the NT was bigoted, overly one-sided or super opinionated in anyway. I did get the impression that, well, both testaments actually-old and new-that it assumed you already believed in God and/or Jesus Christ and so didn't really NEED to try convincing or converting you by way of its strong opinions. I do think that is why most non-christians (not just pagans and wiccans) feel that the Bible (both OT and NT) as a whole is bigoted. It is just like a calculus book. Will it try to explain all that you need to know BEFORE you can even THINK about trying calculus? NO! It assumes you already know the other stuff. So, in looking at the calculus book in that aspect, wouldn't the calculus book also be bigoted or at the very least, prejudiced because it can only be understood by a select group of people?
Now, as far as proof goes, have you ever EVER seen a pagan or wiccan God or I guess more appropriately Goddess? In all the 15 years I practiced, I have seen demons...several...but NEVER ANY KIND OF GOD-LIKE/GODDESS-LIKE entity or being at all. The demons never even pretended to be nor did they ever mention one. In the HUGE wiccan circles I frequented/ belonged to, nobody I knew ever saw one either. I know lots of people (yes know...not know of) that have seen Jesus or God or both. How do you argue with that? It leaves you speechless. What are you gonna say back? "Well, I saw a demon and got it to talk to me!" Yayyy...you win THAT argument. I do think Wiccans are much less accepting than Christians. How is that for bigotry? Me? I choose Jesus Christ. He died for me and that is more than I can say for any part of Wicca, Voodoo, Hoodoo, Santeria, Qaballah, Pagans, Rosicrucians, or the Minions of Ashtoreth. I followed logic and gave up the instant gratification that was never reliable and always left me and everyone I knew empty and searching for more. I found the more...the MOST as a matter of fact. Don't want to even crack open a Bible? You are only asking for one group to answer your question? THAT IS BIGOTRY! Don't you see what you are doing to yourself?? God does love you very much and Jesus did die for you even though you are a sinner. He did it anyway. How many of your Wiccan or Pagan friends would do that for you? If you want to ask questions to things you already know or think you already know and then tweak the way answers come in by limiting the beliefs of the answerers, that is like asking, "is Kool Aid only red? PS-only cherry flavor is allowed." Well, of COURSE you are going to get the answer you are looking for!! You limited it so far that it is the only choice left! I shall pray for you because I don't want you to suffer anymore. I can tell just by your choice of words and the way you ask the questions that you are unhappy. I hope you find what you are REALLY looking for...real truth, real love, real life.

Answer 7

First of all, you have to understand that the Bible wasn't written while Jesus was alive, nor what it written by anyone who personally KNEW Jesus. It's like a 100 year old game of telephone.
I have read other interpretations of the Bible which postulate was Jesus was REALLY saying, and it's not prejudiced at all. He was saying the only way was to be LIKE him, not to worship him.
But honestly, I can't use up any more of my energy caring about what some people wrote 1900 years ago who were pulling information out of their butts.

Answer 8

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -Jesus, John 14:6

There are many ways to truth.

"He that believeth (in Jesus) and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." -Mark 16:16

This is a SICK statement! Do you know how much it Hurts to have this thrown in our faces, just because we worship our Gods?

We believe with ALL our heart that our Gods ARE real, and that they love us. (Just wanted to say that I'm using the Caps to emphasize not yell ^_^) If you want us to love your God you should show love to us, dont tell us were going to burn forever in a fiery hell of pain and torement.



1 Cor 10:20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 1 Cor 12:2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astay to mute idols.

And this one is just wrong to say. Let me put it this way.
If someone came up to you and told you that same thing about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit How would you feel?
We Love our Gods just as much as you love your God, when you guys say that about our Gods it hurts us, because we give these Gods our lives, our love, our hearts, and when you say there not real, it feels like your ripping our hearts out throwing them on the ground and stomping on them.

You may wonder how we can feel something like this about "Gods that arent real" but if you cant understand then let me put it this way. "There real to us" so please dont say such rude, disgusting things about our Gods, Please.

Answer 9

Christians believe that Jesus is the only way. That is their belief, and they have every right to it.

I don't think its bigoted, I think its just what Christians choose to believe.

I, however, prefer to believe a different way. Do I think Wicca/Paganism is bigoted? Nope. Its just the way I choose to believe. You don't have to agree, but let me have my right to religious freedom as granted to me by the Constitution of the United States of America.

Answer 10

Is that really bigoted? What if I told you the only way to get your engine and transmission running again in your car was have a mechanic fix it, would that be bigoted? Would I dare presume to know the ONLY way your car can be fixed?

What if I told you to avoid poison ivy, is that bigoted? Somethings are harmful and contrary to our faith like paganism and we are warned over and over in Scripture to watch out for it!

I would characterize bigotry in statements like "All Christians are dumb" "All Muslims are evil" "All blacks love to steal" "All Jews are going to hell." These types of statements make claims purely on the basis of sterotyping, racism, and just pure general hatred. The Bibical message of the Gospel is not a hate message, but rather good news for peop-le that want to be saved! It is anything BUT bad news.