Fellow Pagans, how 'bout some Respect and Acceptance stories?

Question

We often relate our bad experiences with people of other faiths. What I'd like is to hear some of the GOOD experiences!

For me, I have met *amazingly* loving and accepting people at Interfaith events.

Do you have any IRL stories about accepting, respectful people of other faiths?

Answer 1

A while ago five of us women - two Christians, one Buddhist. one JW, and a Pagan Witch (myself) - went for a walk in the forest, toward sun set. We were new to each other and there was a little tension among us due to our religious differences. We hiked atop a small hill and sat facing the falling sun. We began to notice the sky turn crimson, the magenta clouds, and the shadows fall upon the colorful earth. We were so captivated by this beauty we sat in awe. Soon tears rolled down the cheeks of my Christian friend and mine, before we knew it we were all holding hands, feeling the grace of such beauty in our hearts, as one. Our Buddhist friend said, "I don't care what religion we all are, it's all about this, isn't it? This very precious moment." From that day forward we agreed never to talk about our religious differences, ever. Only to compare our likenesses.
It's more about our humaness than our beliefs.
Blessed Be

Answer 2

Does this have to be a work of fiction or can we just wing it? I have met some wonderful people, but I am distressed that they only know me as the guy down the road with the cute dogs. They don't know anything about my religion and I don't feel like becoming a target of religious prejudice. I'm in a very Christian area and their values are very old fashioned. Since I am retiring here, I'd rather not rock the boat.

The good would come if we could make people respect others based on their works and not their beliefs!

Answer 3

My favorite, that I tell folks of any faith as frequently as possible: my wedding ceremony, which was officiated by a prominent person on these boards, a Wiccan who channelled the entire thing. The audience included my husband's family of fundies, my family of lip-service Christians, and a bunch of friends from Pagan, Wiccan, Atheist, and undefinable faiths. The ceremony did not contain the word Goddess or God, but Their presence was felt by all. Every person I spoke to afterwards, including the fundies and the atheists, talked about how beautiful and special it was. And the other remarkable thing is that not a single person could quote the exact words. Someone tape-recorded it for me and I still haven't found the tape. Still makes me tear up, 18 years later! Thanks so much, dahling - I know you don't take the credit, but you made it happen. Still remember vividly and maybe not so vividly! :)

Answer 4

~ I got this answer from a christian today and that was wonderful!

ou will not get that from me to be sure. I know this question is for pagans to give their experiences but after reading your responses I felt strongly about saying something.

I honestly never realized that you all were persecuted that much. I don't have that much experience with people of other faiths mainly due to the places where I lived were predominately christian. If someone was of another faith they hid that fact.

I have to say that it makes me angered in my spirit that those who claim to be of my faith have treated you the way that you have described. They are ignorant children in their faith.

There is no love in those actions. They broke one of Jesus' main rules - love one another as you love yourselves.

There is no reason for their actions other than the absence of love - hate.

There are less hurtful ways to disagree to be sure!

Sorry...

Blessed Be!
Ariel

Answer 5

One night a number of years ago I was awoken in the night by a group of young and midle aged Christians who had set a burning cross into my front wan, spray painted Bible verses on my our side walls of my house and flattenned my tres on my vehicle. They had hung my cat in an Aspen tree and were screaming hatred at me. I called the sherriff and it just so happenned that there were three deputies less than a mile away. They arrived and arrested the whole group.

Needless to say, the Judge was NOT pleased with their actions and was about to throw the book at them. I stood up and asked to address the court before sentence was pronounced. The Judge agreed. At that point I told the judge that I didn't want to see them go to jail, all I was interested in was that all the damge to my lawn, house and car be reapired, I told him that I bore no ill will against any of them and that I forgave them for being so hateful towards me.

The Judge looked at them and told them that I was MORE Christian in what I said than they could ever hope to be. He sentenced them to do ALL the repairs by the following week and replace my tires. That Saturday, they ALL showed up with 4 new tires, A pickup load of fresh sod for the lawn, and some paint to cover the graffiti. By noontime everything was almost finished and I brouhgt out coffee, sandwiches and sodas for all and we al sat down to eat. During that time, while eating and relaxing for a bit. I told them all about Witchcraft, Showed them my Book of Shadows and they began to read it. They must have been looking for signs of devil worship, as they were studying it so intently. After an hour or so, they handed it back to me and one of them said that he wished HIS Religion had services that were so full of song and dancing and so fulll of Love for God as MINE was.
To this day, we are all god friends and they even attend my public ceremonies on a fairly regular basis. And I have attended their services on occasion as well. I have noticed that they have begun to include a bit more in the way of uplifting music, so I wonder if I haven't had some influence on them a little bit. LOL I haven't made any converts yet but that's perfectly fine with me.

Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 6

At the Humane Society where I used to volunteer, one of the managers -- who is a Southern Baptist -- spoke up and defended me and my faith when another employee made disparaging comments about how I was a "witch". She basically gave the employee chapter and verse about how we do not worship Satan and about how I was a very compassionate and caring person who just happened to have different religious beliefs. It was a very pleasant surprise to hear about later on...

Answer 7

I've run across a few who were in the last stages of C-Hep and didn't want to die. Or waiting too long for transplants.

Got fairly respectful when their livers returned to normal and the medicos gave them a head scratching all clear.

Answer 8

Most experiences I have with people of other religions are neutral at worst, and positive at best. I get more $hit from other pagans than nonpagans.

Answer 9

i have had a few, j

as i have said before my wife and i have some friends over, (both of them Christian ministers) for dinner on a regular basis. we have even been invited to their church, and accepted that invitation. not with the intent of converting us, but with the intent os shareing their worship services with us, as we share our rituals with them.

.........................................

when missionaries come to my door, i tell them, that i will gladly listen to what they have to say. and that my entire family will listen to them as well. i offer to cook them dinner and have a nice long chat about their religion. However i also ask to be extended the same invitation to go to their house and eat dinner and talk to them and their family about my beliefs.

only one has accepted my offer so far. and i am still great friends with her and her family. not only did they gather their family. they brought in the bishop of their church, their weekly preacher. and several of the members. then told me to invite my friends. we ended up with so many people that we had to move the whole thing to t state park and make it a cook out.

i talked to a few of them while playing horse-shoes, and baseball. and at the end of the evening they asked me to speak to all of them together. to which i simply told them all.

"we came here today, Pagans and Mormons. we played games, ate good food. told jokes and laughed together.
if we can do this today, we can do it every day. we may have different beliefs but the end result of it all is that we are neighbours that can live together not only peacfully but happily. " that is what my beliefs are about.

to this day i am friends with many of them.

Answer 10

When my father passed away, there was such an outpouring of genuine love and support from the Christian community. It was very beautiful, touching, and again, very real. Several of these individuals would continue to check in long after the funeral and offered their continued love and support.