pagans/ wiccans/witches, what is your opinion?

Question

that followers of the abrahamic faith, like muslims, jews and christians blindly follow teachings they don't fully understand.
These guys blindly accuse us of witchcraft and divination, worshipping false gods etc.. When they have groups within their faiths, kabballists with jews, sufi's with muslims, gnostics with christians who practice divination, witchcraft, and worship deities, who learn to fully understand the way scripture was written, ie: it makes more sense. Almost like the mystic work was always there, but needed a solid religion to follow it.
So from a pagan view, it's paganism/wicca just with solid background, even in freemasonry, the initiated/adept, as he progresses, learns that versus etc have double meanings and are written a certain way that usually the enlightened can understand.
What you think?

Answer 1

I agree I think most religions have their own mysticism and people who work within such capacity as healers and magi.

The general population may not be aware of such things or are troubled with the burdens of every day life that they don't have the time oportunity or inclination to think about it much.

Also throughout time those who practiced mysticism didn't realy want the general population to know about anyway and turned them away from such as a way of making sure only those with "the right type of mind" learned about such things.

Answer 2

I think you make a lot of presumptions and judgements. Do some Christians/Jews/Muslims blindly follow teachings? Absolutely. Do all of them? Absolutely not. Do most of them? Highly arguable. I've conversed with many well-informed Christians.

Second, they do not "blindly" accuse of of things. According to their faith, our gods are false. That's an informed opinion. Many of us describe what we do as "witchcraft," so I can't blame Christians for actually listening to us (we just disagree on what the word means, but honestly, they're using the more historically correct definition). Also, many of us DO use divination, so again you can't blame someone for acknowleding that fact!

The idea that these faiths "make more sense" when mystical traditions are involved is entirely your opinion, and is probably the reason you gravitated toward a mystical path to begin with. Just because it makes more sense to you does not mean it makes more sense to everyone.

When you say "it's paganism/wicca just with solid background" are you meaning mystical Christianity? If so, I completely disagree. Wicca and Christianity aren't methods, they are beliefs. Adding a bit of mysticism to one doesn't change that. They teach totally different things.

Answer 3

Many people, no matter what the faith, blindly follow ideas, etc. It is sad, but a very true thing. I think we as humans tend to follow blindly and forget to see what we can find out for ourselves as well as what we think about it.

It is in the bible that they are not to follow 'other gods' or 'false gods' (depending upon the version of bible you look at). It is a choice for them to follow a god who is insecure and wanting it all. Maybe this is why so many are insecure themselves and lash out at other religions/people. It is the path that they are to be on to learn what they need to in this lifetime.

With many different interpretations the bible is losing some of its dualistic meanings and some interpretations/meanings all together. It is sad, but alas as humans there is room for error. I suppose it is our 'job' to search and discard the bull. But that requires work, and how many people want to work at their religious or spiritual practice?

Many of the sects/religions have their mysticism embedded within and some play to it more than others. I think those that are working within the mysticism realm are closer to many of the Pagan beliefs and the truth about mysticism.

I think that we are enlightened and then continue to learn and low and behold, we reach another stage of enlightenment. I think it is a process--one of growth and learning, one of enlightenment. I just hope that the majority keep on becoming enlightened and we can be a more accepting and peace-loving society.

Answer 4

Who has not learned something new in their studies? because as Christian, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, etc... grow within their faith and belief system, they learn. So all have "Blindly" Followed teachings they don't fully understand and many will continue to do so because there will NEVER be and all knowing Follower of any belief. I say this because I personally can and will admitt to "blindly" following teachings that I did not understand, as both a Witch, and as a Christian. I studied theology for a while and came to understand that it was "normal" for humans to "blindly" follow what they believe to be right til the day of death. I find this to be upsetting becasue that means that never will there be acceptance among all the different religions, Not to say that any are at fault for this. I understand the pain of being "staked" as a Gay Male Witch following the way of the Fay, Living in a Small town in Missouri along the bible belt. Coming from a very Christian Household. I see it everyday. All I can say is to worry about oneself before the others in this matter. Clear your mind and allow yourself to become apart of the elements, let them show you a way to a passion of love, life, and humanity. I hope that one day we will all see that the ways we choice will bring us together as a whole, because without our brothers and sisters in christ we could not see our selves as whole because they teach us as we teach them as well.

~La Fay~
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Answer 5

hmmm. U make valid points. I like that, a cler mind, free of tainted judgements, and u have a brain to think on your own, on top of it!!! You are right. It IS paganism, but WIcca is a RELIGION, not a joke as ppl would like to think. your statements are correct, dear. I especially love the opening staterment about " christians BLINDLY follow...." Jews, i am not so sure about, but shristians... you hit the nail on the head!! ( another reason i left organized religion).

Answer 6

In a duellist mindset people tend to only think in a 2 option model. When it comes to religion, it creates impossible situations when anything not "your way ot thinking" is lumbered into the "other" category. So to some of the more Fundamentalist Xians, the "other" category combines Catholics, Muslims, Pagans, Buddhists & yes the few Satanists that are out there.

This causs lots of confussion - more so when people trying to educate themselves sometimes will still see things in this model.

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Answer 7

There is a time for Paganism, and a time for Christianity. A time for Atheism, and a time for Islam. Everything has it's season. A time for doubt, a time for faith. A time for holistic thought, a time for narrow mindedness. If you're lucky, you'll get to experience all of these and more in one life.

Answer 8

I'll agree, but don't tell them that! They'll call you heathen and liar! Then burn you at the stake! Too bad people interpret to suit their prejudices.