Why do so man pagans?

Question

get angry at christians for preaching at them??

the most common law among neo-pagans is "and it harm none, do what thou wilt"

yet when a christian decides to do what they wilt and preach at us, we get angry.

i myself welcome my faith being questioned, as it strengthens my faith.

what are some of the ways you think we should start handling christian prosyltizing without being hostile

ok tartz i dont know if your calling me a christian, so i am going to outline this clearly now,

I am a wiccan.
and i totally agree with the police idea. LOL

Answer 1

It's not the act, it's the attitude that gets people angry.

Many Christians don't realize how arrogant and condescending they can be when prosyltizing.

I love polite, respectful, honest inquiries, and I like positive people who say the good things about their faith.

I can't stand self-righteous bungholes who think they're better because they're 'saved' and you aren't.

Answer 2

There's two reasons that I can see.

The first is simply that it starts to get annoying. I've had some wonderful discussions about faith, for sure - had an hour long chat with a nice pair of JWs about a decade ago, very pleasant. That's fine. But drive-by evangelizing, street-corner preachers shouting fire and brimstone? Wrong tactics, and quite often, wrong timing. If I'm trying to get something done, and someone gets in my face about the fact that I'm non-Christian, it puts them on the same level of telemarkets - unwanted and bothersome.

The second angle is that there's a certain amount of arrogance to it. Many evangelists feel that their way is the only correct way, and are willing to go to great lengths to get people to their side. There's no contemplation of the fact that I might be right, that I might enjoy my religious beliefs, that I might not want to hear what they've got to say... The mindset stops treating me like a person, and starts treating me as a number, a convert to be processed before they move on to the next godless heathen. I prefer not to be treated that way.


Oh, and - while "harm none" might be fairly common, it certainly doesn't apply to all of us. And, honestly, even for the folks who do abide by it, there's plenty of ways to define "harm."

Answer 3

I suppose the best answer to this question is determined by the mindset of the individual who is preaching and the individual who is on the receiving end of the preacher. I myself don't mind being preached to... only because I used to do it a long time ago. It is a mindset that Christians fall into, because of how they were brought up and being encouraged constantly to "Evangelize". Sure, I used to be like them... instead I try to first know their mindset... hopefully, learn something from their experience and attempt to share mine. Usually, Christians telling you that you will go to Hell does not know the Bible all too well (fear tactics don't work anymore in this generation) and perhaps an education on their own faith needs to happen. I don't care what belief you believe in as long as you live by it. I try to learn from others and hope others learn from me. So, to conclude when someone is preaching to you... think of it as a childhood mindset... they still need to learn more about themselves and their own faith... even though they feel the need to show their passion with everyone around them... like a kid trying to show a picture they just drew to there Dad (they want attention and you to agree/approve with them). I agree with the answer above, that it is all about attitude when dealing with these situations. These are just some ideas when Christians start to preach to you so that you yourself or they themselves don't become hostile... at least this is what I have found to be useful in the past...

Answer 4

I think that Pagans get angry because they don't like that the Christians will spend so much energy preaching and "converting" but when it is time to listen to the other side of th story, the Pagan side, they have no time for it. They expect the Pagan to sheepishly listen and never question what they say, and not to argue their side of it.
I think that it is very rude to do so, but I also understand why it is done.
I personally look into many different faiths and try to understand everyone's point of view, but I do not like to be preached "at" I would rather be talked "to".

Answer 5

Religion is a sacred topic for most people. They feel that if they aren't out shouting what they belief from the rooftops, then they should be left alone to practice. Most Wiccans believe that you should not force your views on anyone--even raising your children pagan is seen by some as a kind of coercion. So for these people it's deeply disturbing that why they a living and letting live, other people would do everything in their power to convert them. Conversion is a tenant of Christianity, and that among other major differences is why most Christians and most Wiccans will never see eye to eye.

Answer 6

Imagine this secular example. You meet a salesman, he explains his product, all the benefits to buying it, and the exciting deal (In his opinion) he can give you. You decide, despite his efforts, that you will not buy. You thank him and politely say no. Then he continues to try to sell to you, at some point perhaps even insulting you. Do you not think you have a right to be perturbed? What if a second salesman approaches you with the same offer, do you go through the whole process, or do you stop him at some point? I don't know about you, but I have things to do other then listen to arguments I have already considered. In the same light if someone is preaching at me, trying to get my attention to their arguments, and I have heard these arguments before they are now just wasting their time and more importantly wasting MY time.

Answer 7

You just don't get it.

As a Wiccan, I don't mind if you share your Christian faith. I do mind when you tell me that I am going to be judged by your rules. Your rules mean nothing to me - yet you keep telling me that they do. Is that an effective witness of your Christian faith?

I don't think it is - I think it is the need to be right at all costs. I choose to be vocal about the fact that Christianity is not right for me. I am not harming you by voicing my faith - I am not judging you by my faith. You (Christians) are harming others when you judge them according to your own standards.

Your standards may be correct, but I don't believe one second that they are or will be. If Christians accept that and move forward, we can all have much more meaningful dialogue.

Answer 8

If it's on the internet, etc. you can just block it, or don't go there.

If it's in person, and they refuse to stop the FIRST TIME after being told "no", then simply call the police right then and there and report them for harrassment.

No need to get angry, better to just put a stop to it instead.

Answer 9

I don't get angry. I understand that their belief system compels them to do it. But when it changes from simply sharing what they believe to being rude, I leave. Just as I would would politely excuse myself from any other rude person.

Although the Wiccan rede is good advice, it isn't a part of my religion.

Answer 10

Would super-gluing their lips together constitute hostility?

I am not angry with Christians proselytizing at me. I get angry when they won't stop when asked. Also, telling me constantly that I am going to burn in Hell constantly does cause harm.