Why do so many Wiccans or Pagans step off the path and insult Christians?

Question

So many claim that Christians are hateful, useless, ignorant or simply dumb. Having been both, I can't understand how either side can be nasty. And unfortunately, most of the bizarrest behaviour is coming from the non-Christian side. (Yes there are those who claim the Chrisitan side and act rude too.) But my question is posed to the non-Christians. You claim to be peaceful and open, yet you bash just as much as you claim to be bashed.

So far I believe the best answer is Nightwind. To the point, not kiddish or overly defensive.

Just to humor those who wanted proof. (Other than that which others have already posted on this board.) Check out Iowawarlord's boards and the many non-Christian users' replies, who claim one of the many other paths. I never said one side was better than the other in my question. You proved my point by saying it yourselves.

Abriel Lokiskona put her view well also.
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I'd say no childish defensive replies, but that's going to happen anyway and your proving my point. Not that it's one side either way, but that you claim to be above bashing and fall short of you claims.
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Do Good, Speak Good, Inspire Good
Whatever path you choose.

Answer 1

You know, as a Wiccan, I couldn't agree with you more. I simply cannot understand how some of us can scream "tolerance" at the top of our lungs, then turn around and blatantly bash Christianity. Not only does the hypocrisy get to me, but I feel that we should simply be above that. Yes I've been bashed by some people who claim to be Christian, mostly because of my religion or my sexuality, but this doesn't give me the right to bash every Christian who's world view differs from mine. Not to mention that I know it accomplishes absolutely nothing. I know what it's like to be called wrong, depraved, and outright evil and it hasn't changed me or my beliefs so why would it change them. I understand that not all Pagans are peaceful and I certainly advocate defending your beliefs in a logical, well thought out manner, but defending your beliefs does not mean attacking another's, which,if anything it just makes it seem like you haven't moved beyond the childish phase of "he did it first!" I hope that most of us are more mature than that.

I feel that this type of behavior is especially detrimental on sites like this where people are asking questions, serious or not, about different beliefs. Instead of giving intelligent, thought provoking answers, some Pagans immediately throw out the word bigot or ignorant or some other variation, and completely miss the fact that they have been given an opportunity to impart a little knowlage to the poster of the question and whomever happens to read it.

I think that most of the people who do this are simply trying to rebel against Christianity or are influenced by some authors out there who portray Christians as the stereotypical movie villains out to get us. I believe that many of these people are new to their religions and will either learn to think rationally about their beliefs and the beliefs of others or simply leave the religion all together, but I'm afraid that the reputation they give all of Paganism as a group of intolerable hypocrites won't be easy to reverse.

Answer 2

Although I can appreciate where you are coming from I wonder if you understand that many non-believers are Atheist and don't have the same laws to follow as Pagan, Wicca, etc. They do some pretty great bashings. I relate to a lot of Christians online and in my real life and we get along great. It is the fanatical bible thumpers who, instead of asking a question, use this forum to G.D. PREACH! Slam their beliefs into our faces and I for one will bash and attack. I don't pretend to be so enlightened in my life long Pagan ways that I am above getting irritated. Freedom of choice belongs to everyone and when my freedom is taken away by a tyrant, well, guess what? I'm fighting for my freedom. And yes, I don't have to go into their posts but ya know, sometimes I just can't help myself.
I live in a world that has been literally distorted, down graded, abused, and hellish due to those Christian tyrants who destroyed cultures to install their belief upon innocent others. I'm hot about that! And I probably will be until I die.
I can care for anyone, even Lady Saphire, BUT I allow myself my own personal feelings to be expressed to those who insist on splattering their crap!
Blessed Be

Answer 3

Not all Pagans are Wiccans and believe in never doing harm.
I am a Celtic Pagan,and like the followers of Asatru who've answered already I believe that if people attack you you should attack them back.Don't forget the Celts-like the Norse-were a culture with a strong warrior element.Doing no harm is great but not always realistic

I know that many Christians are great people.I respect their religion and most aren't uneducated fundamentalist nutters.

However if those that are fundamentalist nutters attack Pagans on here I will do the same to them.I will not attack all Christians-just individuals.I don't consider pointing out how much of their religion is stolen from various Pagan paths to be insulting them.It's historical fact.

Answer 4

I do not Bash. I point out things that do not make sense to me spirutally. I am useally attacked first when it comes to things. As I Hellenist (Greek Polytheist) I am no ways bound by the "three fold law" I am bound by Xeina (hospilatiy) One brakes this rule of Hospiatality I have full force to use the tools that my disposal. Oddly enough I have grown past bashing Christians for no reason.Though most pagans are scare of "open discussion", with christians is it becomes a preching pulpit for the Christians to say how are faith is invaild because we have no savoir. This is not always the case.A lot of new Neopagans and Wiccans useally are Christians who where treated badly by the faith or didn't like it. So they need that release.

If this doesn't make sense sorry I am limited on answers at the current moment.
Have a Good Day
praise the Immortal Ones

Answer 5

Well, some folks - and it's unfortunately common among some of the newer Pagans - do it as a reactionary thing. In some of these cases, the person has a legitimate gripe, they're scarred by past experiences - in others, they're just angry, and venting.

Some folks do it out of amusement, just because they like stirring up a hornet's nest.

Some folks do it just because they're sick and tired of getting crap from fundies. Even the most patient of us can get annoyed by drive-by conversion attempts and repeated smears. It's not quite a "they were mean first" schoolyard response - more a sign that a person's tolerance level has maxed out, and they need a bit of a breather.

Though, I've got to say, not all of us claim to be peaceful. Being sociable is something I prize, but my religion doesn't say I need to suffer fools lightly.

Answer 6

I haven't heard any insults to Christians from Wiccans or Pagans (but I don't know many), but there is a lot of bashing from Atheists. The reasons are probably because Christianity is the most common religion in the US and there tends to be quite a few hypocritical Christians that give Christianity a bad name. I just wish that people who base all thier ideas about Christianity on one person would realize that not everyone is like that.

Answer 7

I understand what you're talking about. But many times, it's mostly from those who are either new to their path or who are a bit shallow in their faith. I've seldom seen this type of bashing from those who have follow a neo-pagan path long term.

It seems to me that the less time away from a person's previous religion, the more likely they are to bash it. I imagine that it would be very difficult to turn away from the beliefs a person once held dearly and begin anew. Those who have been raised in neo-pagan religions don't seem to have resentments against other religions. They (like me) have no more reasons to resent Christianity than any other religion that we've never practiced. We have nothing to prove or disprove. We see all religions as simply ways that different folks use to develop a closer connection with their deity/ies.

Of course this attitude is also found in many people who weren't raised in neo-pagan faiths but sometimes it takes a little time to get there due to all of the complex issues that folks need to deal with when they make major changes in their belief systems.

Answer 8

The only times I have ever seen Pagans "bashing" anyone of *any* Tradition, Christian or otherwise, has been as a defense mechanism - human nature being what it is, many people DO slip into that when faced with questions and/or judgement of their beliefs and/or choices. Doesn't make ANY of it right, but then again, have haven't you ever *once* got defensive when someone judged your choices?
There are folks of *every* belief system who judge others of *every other* belief system - many Pagans tend to feel a real rage towards the religions they were raised with, be it Christianity, Judaism, what have you.....because of things said or done or bad feelings based on actions or things said or done in one's youth.....I certainly turned away from Christianity when I was told as a child that my mother and I were both going to Hell because she had never married and I was a bastard......I didn't believe it then and don't believe it now, but to be told that by those who truly believed it....well......it's offensive. Bitter, you say? Many are....but they also feel they've earned the right over the years to BE bitter. *shrugs* It's not as if they are given much respect, perhaps the defense mechanism is the only thing they feel that gives them a fighting chance against ALL the prosthletizing.

Answer 9

First off, who says we're all peaceful and pacifist? You included other pagans, which overlaps into Asatru.
We don't do that "an it harm none" thing.

Here's part of the Aesirian Code of Nine:

9. The Code is CONFLICT
Those who follow the way must know the art of combat, weapons, and vengeance.
War is part of the path.
Always be prepared for hostility.
It is a destiny woven into the fibers of our people.
Keep body, mind, and training up at all times.
Have no remorse in the savagery of conflict.
Win, prevail, and survive.


When attacked, I don't turn the other cheek or "an it harm none."

Answer 10

I have never claimed to be peaceful, I am however open, I try not to hide behind a comforting lie if I am asked a question that I have an answer to, nor do I go out of my way to hound and harass those asking honest questions.

I am as peaceful as nature, as is my religious path.

I do prefer tolerance and people getting along, but I will not be silent in the face of a bigot of any kind, ethnic, national, sexual orientation, age, or religious.

Silence and inaction in the face of bullying is called enabling