Pagans! Please Look?

Question

Please tell me how it makes you feel that some people cannot respect your beliefs?
How do you deal with it?

Answer 1

Most "people" have an immediate reaction to several words, but I'll only speak of two. Nearly all the people in Christianity and Islam have been taught that the words Pagan and Witch are the harbingers to everything anathema to their religons and the work of evil. The hypocrisy is, both of the words are creations of the Christians to harrass, torture, murder, and supposedly condemn those labelled such to the Hell of the Christians.

I call myself Pagan. I enjoy the Christian's confusion in how I interact with them. Though I mention my true beliefs and titles they ignore these because they haven't been told what to say about my beliefs as they don't know what they are and no one has added them to their Bible. Therefore, though they try to humble me by calling me a Witch or Atheist, they are just showing their true ignorance and dependence on rote phrases of denigration.

Being what I am and how I was trained, I dwell on truth in religions and become, shall we say, rather upset when untrue statements flow from religious sources--even amongst the Christians versus Christians. So, how do I deal with it. I find questions to belittle and show the falsity of their supposed education in things religious.

I do respect historical religion. I have no respect for the great majority of "religious people of the Book" exercizing their rote rot on YA. I intensely dislike the Protestant bent toward matricide when it comes to the Roman Catholic Christian religion, and their verbal patricide of their Hebrew forefathers and present Hebrews. In these and many other areas the Protestants are becoming famous for not knowing of their own thoughts and efforts "that, of which they speak."

Answer 2

I have started to realize that what others think of my beliefs doesn't matter. It is part of who I am and if they can not execpt that then they are not worth worrying about. Closed minded people can never truely except what they do not understand, no matter how many times you try to explain it. I think that is a true statement no matter what religion or belief system you follow.

Ignorance and intolerance breed the same unless the cycle is broken. This can be seen in every religion, culture, ethnic group and country around the world and it doesn't just stop at religion either.

Frankly, I try to just ignore the closed minded and move on anymore. It is not worth all the extra negative energy it would create to argue with someone over something so personal to one's self. There is more then enough negativity in this world without adding to it.

Blessed be!

Answer 3

I honestly feel sorry for these people that cannot accept that some people have beliefs that are not the same as theirs. Every has the right to believe in what they wish to believe. I respect the beliefs that others have. Now, if it is a harassment or legal issue, then it becomes completely different. I am constantly fighting for people who have been discriminated against for their religious beliefs, with several organizations. I think people need to realize that there always has been and always will be people who do not believe as they do, accept that, and get past it. Religious freedom is something that is for everyone.

Answer 4

It bothers me a little
but more than that I feel sorry for them,
when you lack respect for something just because you don't follow/believe in it....you lose out on a lot of knowledge and oppertunities. After all, I know I wouldn't want to be that closeminded, would you?
But aside from that it doesn't bother me, as one of your earlier answerers has said; my belief too is strong && while I can't say it's the ONLY truth, it's *my* truth. And that doesn't require someone else's respect or approval.

I deal w/ it by trying to educate them, and then listen to their beliefs as well...but if that doesn't work I just respect that they think differently and sympathize with their lack of understanding.

nice question, not one I've thought too much about but a good thought all the same.
Blessed be!
Namaste <3

Answer 5

For MANY tears I have speken and spoken to Pagans about the need for us to become a more communicative people so that we can share our troubles and work together to bring about change. Our Christian cousins follow the tail of the sheep before them and they do whatever they are told which supports their group and gives them a stromg hold on the rest of us. Live and learn seems to be something that Pagans are uncomfortable with so we do nothing about our Rights being taken from us bit by bit.

Pagans, Witches and other alternate religion fear reprisals from the Christians in the form of violence, loss of jobs and complete shunning when we need help. This is wrong in their religion and it is not a part of ours. We are good people and we deserve to be treated with some respect.

Non-Christian, Jews and Muslims need to have our rights respected and protected. The Circle Sanctuary and many Solitaries joined together to fight for the right to display our Pentacle and Pentagram in National cemetaries to honor our soldiers who have died in war protecting the very freedoms that are constantly being denied us. This was a good start, but we can't stop now. Discrimination needs to be removed from everyone's lives.

I'm ranting, sorry.

Answer 6

I let it go. Ignore them. They don't have to agree with me. They don't have to like what I believe. So they can say what they want -- until they actively oppose my rights. Then we must stand up for our right to believe what we want to believe. The right to have the Pentagram on the grave markers of Pagan military is one example of this -- a time to take a stand. I think that many Pagans cry "persecution" a bit too easily. If we pick our battles wisely, fight back when necessary, and don't make asses out of ourselves, then we will be taken seriously. Show by example that we're not the flakes and space-cadets they think we are. Some of them will get it, and some of them won't. That's OK, so long as we continue to have the freedom to believe and worship as we Will.

Answer 7

I have developed a philosophy for life.

I treat everyone as I wish to be treated, for at least a month, often more. Then one day, I flip a switch in my head, and treat each person as they have treated me. If they complain, I explain my system. They will then either:

1) apologise and treat me better - after which I treat them as they treat me.
2) not apologise but treat me better anyway - after which I treat them as they treat me.
3) treat me the same as they have treated me - and nothing changes but they never can complain about their treatment.
4) leave me alone - so I don't have to deal with them.

Occasionally, they will try to treat me worse than they have, but usually they can't keep it up, as they know they were in the wrong. They usually break down and treat me better, often apologising.

Even then I still get people telling me I'm damned and going to hell. I just tell them I don't believe in the hell they are going to by not following their own beliefs. - Sometimes shuts them up for a while.

It's an individual that I treat as the circumstances require.

Good Luck.

Answer 8

There are idiots everywhere. If someone cannot respect my belief, I do not pursue a friendship with them. Anyone seeking to to harm to me, my loved ones, or my community on religious grounds will find that a hate crime will be charged against them.

In my business life, my religion is no ones business.

Answer 9

That others do not respect my beliefs doesn't bother me.

That they LIE about them does.

That they have no interest whatsoever in finding out *from me* what I believe or do makes me lose respect for them.

Fortunately, in my personal life there are very few people like that.

Answer 10

I have various reactions. Mostly it makes me mad as hell. If it is face to face, I talk to them but with a definite edge in my voice that can quickly go to full throttle anger and sarcasm, which isn't pretty. Here, it is easier to tell them off with a lot of florid language, which still solves nothing.

I try to ignore them and pity them, but I don't always take the high road, especially when they are being particularly obtuse. Which is frequently, unfortunately.

love you Ariel!
bb,
LM )0(