What's so strange about what I believe?

Question

I'm a Pagan but I believe no religion is 100% right or wrong depending on the person. I have studied christian religions but I will not follow them. I'm engaged to an open minded christian who some people call a hypocrite for being with a Pagan priestess.

I believe the christian god may exist but I think he's wrong (my view but as I said he maybe wrong to me but right to others) and too much of a power freak as well as self centered and I will not follow him. My husband to be has no problem with this.

I believe christains shouldn't judge me as I do not judge them, I don't like what they follow but I have christian friends who are open-minded.

So tell me, why do so many people attack me in day to day life and go nuts when they see my penticale? Wearing it is no worse than wearing a cross. Honest answers please, no bashing each other. I really want to understand why people think it is ok to treat me like s**t because I don't share their veiws.

Answer 1

I'm really sorry that people look down on you and treat you badly because of your beliefs. Some Christians feel they're on a mission from God to point out everyone who doesn't believe the same way they do and if, they can't get them to accept the good news, humiliate them until they can take no pride in what they practice.

As a Christian, I think that's detestable. But I've learned a long time ago that you can't change people who are too self-righteous to realize they aren't helping anyone.

My father is a Pagan, and he has told me that one of the things he values most about the Pagan path is that it allows him to hold his head high and walk arm in arm with the ancient Gods who had such a huge impact on the development on civilization and mankind. So just hold your head high, link arms with your Gods, and walk right past those who point fingers and try to bring you down!

Oh, and by the way, I totally support your idea that certain religions are "right" for certain people. Just because being a Christian works for me doesn't mean it has to work for you. Good luck with your marriage, too, btw!

Answer 2

As christianity is perceived it is hypocritical to consider one's self as a Pagan Priestess and Christian simultaneously. But, to each their own. If christians actually practiced their beliefs they wouldn't be judging anyone either because they should realize they are sinners in their religion's eyes. Personally, I've never been attacked (physically or verbally) for wearing my pentacle and I've worn it to many public places including my kids' school. Its a matter of their narrow-mindedness and lack of education since the pentagram was also used as a symbol for protection in early christianity much as it is in Paganism today.

Answer 3

I agree with some of the people that answered that they think you are a satanist and they fear what they don't know and would rather push it aside and call it evil than actually engage in something that might be interesting.

Me for one, would not treat you like ****, I'd probably be the one that would follow you around and ask a lot of questions about your beliefs because I have never met a pagen before in life and all of the ones I have met on the net are very nice people.

Answer 4

I believe that, for some people, religion is used (actually, misused in my humble opinion) to create a sense of certainty about the world. The universe becomes a simpler place when you can say with absolute certainty that some act, thought, belief, doctrine is "right" or "wrong" in some absolute sense.

The vast majority of mainstream Christian thinkers would entirely reject such thinking, by the way.

Anyway, judging for such individuals becomes necessary, psychologically speaking. Because to do otherwise is to threaten that sense of certainty (which they equate with holiness).

Peace to you.

Answer 5

I'm not exactly sure what people are doing to you that you consider "treating you like sh*t".
Most people in real life don't give 2 hoots about what other people believe. But assuming people are mistreating you, you should cut them out of your life.

If you are a regular here, you must see that no one group is immune from pretty harsh criticism on these boards. Atheists fire away at believers, and vice versa. So I don't see what is unique about your complaint.

Stick with the people who support you. What everyone else may think is none of your business.

Answer 6

The only thing strange about your beliefs is the whole idea that something could be true for one person but not true for another. I suspect that either you don't mean "true" in the correspondence sense of the word, or else you mean "true" in the subjective sense rather than the objective sense.

If we were talking about personal preferences for, say, ice cream, it would make sense to say that "Ice cream tastes good" could be true for one person but not for another. The reason is that the statement is subjective--it's about the preferences of the person making the claim. It's not really about ice cream.

But if a person says, "Ice cream is made with milk," then the statement is either true or false. It either corresponds with reality or it doesn't. It has nothing to do with whether anybody believes it or not. If it happens to be true, then it's true for everybody, even if they don't believe it.

Christianity may be wrong, but make no mistake about what they are claiming. Claims such as "God exists," are not personal preference kinds of claims. They are not subjective claims. They are objective claims. They are claims about reality, not about personal preference. If, in reality, God exists, then the claim is true for everybody whether they believe it or not. If, in reality, God does not exist, then the claim is false for everybody whether they believe it or not.

So it's impossible for Christianity to be true for one person but not for another. If all you mean is that simply that some people believe in Christianity and some people don't, then you probably shouldn't say "true for some but not for others," because that just causes confusion. You should just say that some people believe in Christianity and some people don't.

(I'm providing a link at the bottom to a blog about the meaning of "truth")

That answers the first part of your question. Lemme answer the second part. I think everybody has a right to disagree with anybody. People have a right to vigorously disagree with you and even to give their arguments for why they disagree with you. I think ideas are open to everybody's critique. But I don't think anybody has the right to treat you like **** just because they disagree with your ideas.



If something is objectively true in the correspondence sense of the word, then that'

Answer 7

Well just look at Catholics Crusader up there. Perfect example. God said they could and if you don't want to play by Gods rules well then they get to say whatever they want. The Bible says so. *insert eye roll*
Not all Christians are like that. Stick to the open minded ones and feel sorry for the ignorant ones. To live a life so black and white is the true tragedy.

Answer 8

I see nothing wrong whatsoever with your view. Each to his or her own I say. I agree, there is no one single right, true religion and thus making all the rest false and wrong. IMO, so long as a religion works for at least one person (which is all that really matters), then it is right, thus all religions are right and true.

Answer 9

Nothing is strange about what you believe.. too many people are narrow minded and allow no headroom for beliefs and thoughts of others.
Regarding the Pentacle I have found that many people fear what they do not understand. As a former Christian I can attest to that personally.

Answer 10

Im agnostic yet i fail to work out why that's directed at christians i mean muslims and jews and hindus have faith in divine beings to boot it style of feels style of stupid to easily ask questions as though their the only ones.