i'm pagan and often meet wonderful people of all different faiths. this past week i met a great catholic lady and we shared some fun times and great conversation. we want to continue to hang out, but the problem is, i don't know if i should tell her that i'm pagan or not. i feel guilty not telling her because i know some catholics (and other people of different religions) think pagans are evil and won't be friends with us.
so i would like to hear from catholics and pagans if you think i should tell her, and why/why not.
2007-05-19 04:12:17 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
with your answer, please let me know you're relgious views. thanks
2007-05-19 04:16:57 · update #1
If you think the topic is relevent to bring up. Catholics do not shun people as unclean because of their beliefs . They may avoid you if you wear it on your sleeve as if trying to advertise. They also may enter into a light conversation about it , as a matter of curiosity. I am Catholic and a board member of my community theater. The board president is Jewish and his wife is.. something else...vegan, reads auras, spiritualist. I am not sure what. I tell him about Mel Gibson's movies every chance I get, he calls Mel an idiot and then we bait and tease his wife about eating food that food eats and asking her if the force is with her. For us it is an oppotunity for fun. I guess we are all sick in the head. Basically, you are friends as you are. Despite your differences, you can be tolerant. The key to tolerance is humility for you both.
2007-05-19 04:27:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are individuals, just like anyone else. Some know a lot and some don't; some are open-minded and some aren't. While I personally know that being pagan does NOT make a person a devil worshipper, there are some of my fellow Catholics who are still under that misconception.
I personally wouldn't bring up your religion until it comes up naturally in conversation. When it does, you can quickly include some basics about what you DO believe. According to scriptures, Jesus taught us to love one another - he didn't say to just love those who believed like us. She might already be saavy and openminded or you might be the one to inform her that while pagans do not follow the Christian God, they are not to follow evil either.
Don't worry too much about it and don't feel guilty about not telling her off the bat. Religion isn't the only thing in a person's life, after all.
2007-05-19 04:27:40 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should be upfront about it. If you don't then it will always be on your mind - why stress over something you can easily find out about?
Don't expect her to immediately jump for joy at the news, but do be prepared to answer a lot of question or maybe to give her some time to get used to the idea.
Either way, it's not something that's hanging over your head and it's not like you (seemingly) hid it for her to get upset over later.
My reason for this is that I really helped a woman out of a bind(years ago) and she would call me every couple of days to see how I was doing and to thank me over and over again, but then she found out I was Pagan and never called me again. It was "Oh - I didn't know that..." long silence "Well, I have to go. Bye." and that was terrible. It didn't once cross my mind until then that someone wouldn't talk to me because I believed differently then they did.
I say talk to her soon. Just in case she doesn't want to talk to you anymore afterwords. It's better to know sooner then later - and get past it, good or bad.
2007-05-19 19:21:17 · answer #3 · answered by joycrux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is the history of humanity in a nut shell... pagan over looks religious views to make friends but christians never could... even those claiming to accepting us never leave us without a derogatory comment or a bible quote to try and convert us.... in the old days they use to gather and burn us at the stake... but today it's different, be yourself.... if she can't accept you as you are then she really is not friendship material... you see you know she's catholic you should not be ashamed to tell her you are pagan.... We can never get ahead and regain acceptance by behaving with fear. If you cannot accept me why should I call you friend.... I have a poem posted on my blog.. to help people overcome their anxiousness of perhaps being rejected for being themselves..."A rose is just a rose".http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-vYykSFw2fqOksDXTUdx_bQ--?cq=1&l=6&u=9&mx=9&lmt=5
All this anger athiest pagans non christians or non relgious have against christians today is the build up of a one sided consideration for freedom.... We must feel free to be ourselves... we have nothing to be ashamed of.
2007-05-19 04:28:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some religions consider roman catholics pagans. Anyone who basis a relationship on whether you are of the same religion or lack of is very narrow minded. If I am confident in my religious beliefs I am not fearful to mingle with someone of different views. Friendships are more than one topic or part of your life. We grow and learn by variety. I am glad everyone around me isn't just like my views. How boring life would be.
2007-05-19 04:22:16 · answer #5 · answered by alioopisme 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am Catholic, and have a pagan in-law.
Somehow you found out your friend was Catholic. And did you reject her on account of being Catholic? No, of course not.
Assuming your friend is a PROPERLY INSTRUCTED Catholic, there is no reason to believe she will not accept you as a pagan.
2007-05-21 06:27:51 · answer #6 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think main religions in the world would say pagans are evil. For me, it's ok to tell anyone that you're a pagan.
I know having such conversation with other religion is quite interesting. You sure don't want to miss this opportunity. Just tell her.
2007-05-19 04:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by anyone 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, everyones got the right to choose what they want to believe, I'm a christian, and I believe that God gave His sons and Daughters the will to choose they're own path. You should not be afraid to tell her the truth, unless if you really like her a lot. If she refuses to see you anymore, after knowing the truth, well then let her be. The reason why we think that Paganism is bad is because we think that you and your kind are involve in Witch Craft and of course worshipping Deities.
2007-05-19 04:27:14 · answer #8 · answered by Light 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would tell her. If she has a problem with it, then she isn't great friendship material. I have a catholic friend though, and she doesn't care what religion her friends are as long as they're good friends.
I'm pagan.
2007-05-19 10:03:58 · answer #9 · answered by Caity S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Embrace it. Tell Her.
If she has a problem with it, would you really want to call her a true friend?
Not telling her will always stick in the back of your mind and hinder on having the best friendship possible with this person.
No relationship survives when people keep important things from eachother.
2007-05-19 04:15:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋