Sould I try paganism?

Question

My BF of 6 months and I have talked about taking things to the next step, and he is a pagan. I don't really know were I stand as far as religion goes, except I believe in God. I do find it interesting and would not mind learning more, and I have seen him do a tarot reading and I was OK with it. I was raised Christian and my mother is Extremely religious. I know that paganism is very much misunderstood, any advise?

Answer 1

Nope
Christianity is the way to go.........

Paganism is not misunderstood

It is a practice of Godlessness

I know this will fall of deaf ears, but you should get another BF.....He is leading you away from God

Answer 2

Hi Wendy,

I don't think you should 'try' paganism if you don't want to. You can be pagan and still believe in God. Yes paganism is very misunderstood and yes I know where you are at with a close family member being extremely religious. You and you BF should be open to you both having your own set of ideas and opinions. I am married to an Anglican... You will find it is very hard for people who have been raised in formal religion life style to accept your decision of turning pagan. A lot of them are not open to you believing in anything other than god, where pagans believe that there is a God and Goddess and in many aspects. The God that you were brought up to know is just 1 aspect of the entire god. It is a lot for people who aren't totally open to the idea to take in.

Doing Tarot does not mean that you are pagan by any means. Tarot can lead of course to other things. Ultimatley paganism is a lifestyle not a trend, but you really need to follow your feelings and do what you think is right for you and not for your BF.

Good Luck in your decision.

Zora

Answer 3

If you have doubts, check it out. Try on-line, bookstores,etc. The answer that was given about only wiccans & witches (only) read tarot is BS. I'm a long time pagan, I reject most religions because they are a way of controlling the masses. I prefer to be a solitary practitioner. I read runes, tarot & people in general. I'm not wiccan, some may call me a witch because I practice magick & also practice Native American Medicine (magick). Do what feels right for you. That's what this is all about. If it doesn't feel right for you, then it isn't. But investigate before you make your decision. And remember paganism is not wicca. Wiccans are pagan. Wicca is really a relatively new religion. It has taken bits from ceremonial magick (which is very christian), bits of paganism, & bits of anything else they could find that sounded good & called it Wicca. I know I'll P.O. a lot of wiccans with these statements, but do your studies. Paganism has been around longer than any of them. But as for yourself, do what feels right or you'll never be happy.

Answer 4

I think you should read and research Paganism first before you just jump in. Becoming Pagan or Wiccan is a major step. You need to be able to back up facts and fiction if you decide to leave the Christian Faith. See I am Pagan and as a child I had no strong back ground in Christianity, so when I became Pagan it was of no great loss to me. I did for a while have some fear in God and thought I was going to hell, until I discovered that there is no such thing as hell! Then there is a few of my friends who have a very strong Christian back ground and they did struggle with their decision for a while. If you do decide to become Pagan be prepared for all the negativity that will come your way due to peoples ignorance of Paganism. Also hopefully your mother is an open minded mother and maybe after some reasearch you can help her understand your belief system. I hope all turns out well for you.

Blessed Be!

Answer 5

Paganism can be a way of life, some don't call it a religion, some do. You have to do what's right for yourself, if you are interested, you can still enjoy events, fests, rituals, and other Pagan friends of your boyfriend, You can still enjoy everything he does and still keep your own beliefs. You can still honor our Mother Earth and NOT be Pagan! But as you explore, meet people, enjoy events, and if you feel that's something you really are sure about getting into, then, and only then make that big desission, right now don't make any big choices.

You don't have to be Pagan to learn divinations, candles, aromatherapy, ect, if your interested in divinations and such, read about it, there are pleanty of books on the subjects that aren't necessarily Pagan.

We all will agree, we all follow a lifes journey, we learn every day, and if your path takes you towards Paganism you will know within yourself and only you will know what you really want inside, nobody can make that choice for you. Listen to your heart!

Answer 6

Hi Wendy,
I'm going to fly in the face of most of things that everyone has said. If your both serious about you FAITH, then there is no choice to be made. What feels "right" is what you should study more. If you "Know" there is a god, study Abrahamic religions. If your not sure study theology and discover which path works for you.

Faith is something that's always there. I always knew my path, i just didn't find the name until i was 17, but i have learnt and studied for 8 years now. I havent even touched the sides, but my faith has grown with my knowledge. Religion is the dogma. Its what starts wars and debates. Religion is the reason you were "OK" with your B/F reading tarot, rather then interested.

I think everyone has guided you on the right course though, would be interesting to find out how you get on.

Blessed Be

Lexx

Answer 7

Hey Wendy,
I reckon you should try multiple religions and find one that best suits you. There are a lot of misconceptions with Paganism. I once went out with a pagan as well. People think they are devil worshippers etc. Who really cares though? So your mum is a christian. Most mums in australia are, but that should not just limit you to being a christian your whole life. I would do a lot of research on the net. Do a google search, I am sure you will find heaps about it. There is nothing stupider than people hopping onto a religion and knowing nothing about the actual beliefs. Be smarter than that.
So do what you feel is right, don't care about others and do your research.
Hope this helps you out.

Answer 8

You mentioned what you boyfriend's and your mother's religious preferences are, and those people are obviously important to you, but the person who matters most in making this decision is *you*. You have two different people in your life who represent these two religious ideals (Paganism and Christianity) and you can see that depending on the person, either religion can be the correct one. So, what do you believe? Deciding on your spiritual path is one of the most important and personal choices you can make in your life and it is your choice to make. Listen to others, and observe if their religious choices are working for them by helping them to be happier, healthier people, then decide if that path may or may not also work for you. Is your boyfriend a happy and well-adjusted person as a by-product of his spirituality? Is your mother? How about other people you know? You may decide that neither Paganism or Christianity speak to you on a spiritual level, and you may find yourself following the Buddhist or Hindu path, for instance. Whatever works for *you* is right, and both your boyfriend and your mother should accept your personal choices.

So, learn more about Paganism either from your boyfriend, books (I can recommend some), or find another Pagan to talk to and if what they tell you doesn't sound or feel right to you then it's not your path. Very simple. You will know when you've found the spirituality that is right for you because it will just feel right and you won't feel the need to ask anyone else. :}

Personally, I believe that all Gods are one and that we all honor the same deity but use different names and methods of prayer and devotion. Who's to say that another's spiritual path is right or wrong? No one but them.

Blessa ~
Scout

Answer 9

Broaden your mind, then you can make an informed decision. Paganism includes many paths, with similarities across the spectrum. These religions are far older than Christianity, and you may find that Christianity has borrowed a lot of stories from far older pagan stories. You may find this very interesting and eye-opening. Then you may wonder why you have been so heavily influenced by everything around you, to deny and be afraid of religions which go back to the beginning of man. Which are respectful of the Earth, ethical and loving, and generous in spirit to all life. There are pagans who consider themselves to be Christian and Pagan. Pagans are peaceful normal people, but they have been slandered and murdered. You will find that a lot of people don't know anything about them, and are afraid of them, and blinded by the prejudices that they have been taught.

Answer 10

You have a deity that you believe in. That's a start. The main purpose of a religion is to have ways of worshiping/honoring a deity(s) and build a closer relationship with that deity(s). Does your boyfriend use his tarot reading to do this or is his readings for other reasons? A person does not need to be religious to read tarot cards. Is your main interest in a religion or in magical practices? Do you feel that your relationship with your deity would be deepened by honoring that deity with the religious ways of your boyfriend? If so, perhaps a pagan path would be good for you.

Do you and your boyfriend share the same deity/ies? After all, the main point of a religion is centered on a deity/ies. I think that if you focus on your deity, your path will become clear. Many blessings and good luck on your journey!

Answer 11

I am a teacher, a "pastor" (the high priest of a temple) and a practicing pagan for over thirty 5 years. I will tell you what I tell anyone - including my own kids: Learn about as many different religions as you can and then choose the one that is in agreement with your own spirituality. Look into his chosen path for sure but you can't practice a religion that you don't believe in. Pagan religions are not about going to the occasional ritual for a sabbat or esbat, it is about living each day as apart of the entire universe and striving to understand your place in that universe. It is a life of personal responsibility and growth. You will learn to take the credit for what you earn and the responsibility for what goes wrong in your life. You will learn to have a personal communication with the deity(s) that you become closest to. You will learn that you are part of the whole community of the universe, irreplaceable but also just one part in a community of an infinite number of parts. You will learn that you are a partner in the creation and destruction of the universe.