Is this how tolerant Christianity is...?

Question

In a town in Illinois, there is a witch school that has opened up. Now this pagan school is from what I understand mostly an online thing, but many of the residents in the area seem to object to their mere being in the town. Half of the churches are actively outspoken against their being there, and one pastor is even quoted saying that they are in the midst of "spiritual warfare."


Is anyone else sickened by the level of intolerance that is in this country? Christians, how do you feel about your brother's ignorance and bigotry against any and all who don't believe exactly as they do?

Open minded people of all religions (or lack of) answers are welcome. If you think that witchcraft is equivalent to satanism please better use your time to look up wicca instead of answering this question as you will not earn 10 points for this.

here is an online article I just found:


http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1111WitchSchool1111.html


This is supposed to be a free nation where anyone of any religion can practice without discrimination. Is it too free that people actually think they have a right to bully other religions out of their town?

I'm not surprised by this, steven d, I'm just ashamed that this still goes on!

cadaisy, there is a big difference between selling incense meant for rituals and paying girls to strip for tips!

cybertoo: then you choose to remain, an unworldy fool.

solo: do you think you deserve an opinion?

sky3000: I understand this, I am a former christian after all, but this attitude of anti-witch is not healthy for society. Christians should update on it like they have for women's rights.

Thomas Watts: I can read (and I have read the Constitution FYI), but after reading your narrowed minded answer it makes me want to stab my good eye out!

What you call older and wiser I call aged and inflexible.

Mikey: there is a big difference between me expressing my opinion here on Y!A and a couple town pastors trying to run an organization of a different religion out of town!

akingsfa: here in the USA, show me an example of wiccans, or others of any other religion, or atheists who pursue getting another belief to leave town, and I will take your argument seriously.

is that a threat of a report lucid?

Answer 1

Now I live about 20 minutes from this itty bitty Illinois town and it's not as big a deal as people are making it. What made it an issue is Halloween and the nearby paper The Journal doing an article on it. A couple pastors made comments about how even though their beliefs are different they still deserve to be extended the love of Christ. The school is an online thing but they have a shop in town for some of their gatherings and rituals and that is what had some people antsy. Mostly because they didn't know what was going on. If people want to spend their time with pointless powerless wicca stuff then just let them. It's their waste of time.....not mine.

Answer 2

They should respect the freedom of religion they themselves once fought for. When will Christians learn that Wiccans and Pagans arent characters from Macbeth? I dont believe we can blame all of Christianity for this superstitious lot though. I do believe it's time to give the superstitious ones a reality check. 'Spiritual Warfare'. I've heard that one too. What do they think, that this school is going to explode into a cloud of burning World of Warcraft type demons and attack all the Churches? Arent these people supposed to believe in an All Powerful God? So what exactly are they so afraid about?

Answer 3

You know whats really sad? That America*USA* is ruled by Christians even if America is free....

Our money is Christian..and if your not Christian having to use this money even if its against your beliefs...there is nothing you can do about it...

America is suppose to be free, but it's not...I honestly believe America has gone downhill...Our ancestors *All colors* have died for us to live in freedom and get away from Kings/Emperors/etc...Yet we have a dumbass President*Who likes to Veto everything* and the government rules us....Is this not what we fought to get away from? *Sorry had to put that in x x;*

Anyways, the reason why the churches are actively outspoken against them is because they think that if your not into their religion then you are going to hell...litterally *My grandma is a johava witness and use to preach to me about if I wasnt into Jahova then I was going to hell..no wonder why Im an atheist...kind of...* They are also scarred of them and wont give them the time of day to actually look up what Wicca means...They are not babykillers...they do not sacrifice animals or humans...They are not Satan/Devil worshippers...

Wiccans worship gods and godesses..which are mainly all tied to mother nature...


I just think that people should be more open minded...and be more into the 21st century instead of the dark ages...

I dont have a religion..and I'm not a wiccan either...but my beliefs are strictly to Mother Nature because she *Earth* is something that I know is there and I KNOW has given life to everything that is on this earth...

*I would write more, but I got to get back to watching my movie...hopefully someone will understand what Im saying?*

Answer 4

One thing all Western religions have in common is that they forbid their followers to learn about any religions other than their own for fear that they might find one that fits them better and they then lose control over them, which at it's most elemental basic is what all organized religions are about: control of the many by a select few.

So those few brand all others as "evil" and to be feared and hated and at all costs avoided. Knowledge is the first causality in organized religion.

Answer 5

um...i have a logical paradigm. If you ask everyone to be tolerant (hence article), then aren't you yourself being intolerant of the intolerant? Doesn't being tolerant mean being tolerant to everyone, not selective? It seems that you are doing exactly what you are declaring these 'Christians' to be.


I understand that Christianity does declare tolerance. But it also decalres intolerance. Intolerance does not always mean hate - your parents probably were intolerant of bad behavior. Why??? Could it be that they love you? There are Christians that act inappropriately to what Christ preaches in the Bible. But Christ also told people to repent from their sins and wrong doing. And these Christians who act contrary shouldn't make everyone lumped together. Atheists often demand for equality for their point of view - isn't tolerance giving Christians the same? What about YOUR brothers who discriminiate against good Christians who aren't discriminatory because of ignorance and bigotry?

Answer 6

That's terrible...

Being a Wiccan who lives in the very forward-thinking California, I guess I'm a bit more sheltered than others who live elsewhere. I've never had a huge problem (though that might be because I keep my beliefs to myself in real life).

Answer 7

Christians, it seems to me, are like any other group of people. Some of them are open minded and some aren't. I think the problem is that only the intolerant people are vocal with their opinions. I went to a Methodist church where everyone was very tolerant and the ministers would even perform wedding ceremonies for gay couples, even though there was no legal meaning. However, I bet that you have never heard of that. On the other hand we always hear about the church that protests the funerals of American soldiers because they believe that God is killing them to punish America for its tolerance of homosexuality. Perhaps those of us with a tolerant world view need to become more vocal.

Answer 8

Witch Craft is fake and the people who "practice" it haven't found god yet. I'm not sickened by the intolerance, i'm sickened by the idiocy of some of the people who live in this country.

Answer 9

Interestingly, these are the same people who read Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. It's okay to read it, but not have your neighbor live that way, right?

Gimme a break. While I don't agree with witchcraft, people are people and they shouldn't push their beliefs onto someone else.

Answer 10

Just be glad Christians dont chop off ones head and conduct public executions for disagreeing with them.

You know my answer wasnt fully thought out and not very fair. I dont agree with them protesting. I do understand their concern; however going public and picketing is another thing. Is that what is going on? Would love a link if you have one.

EDIT: Link, it doesnt fly in the face of freedom, they have the same freedom to decry the school as much as the school has the right to be there. Freedom is a two way street my friend, not just a voice that maintains the status quo.

Wow Zombie: Youre a treat arent you?

Do you mean the Inquisition that happened in the 12th century by the RCC or the Crusades by the RCC again about 900 years ago? Havent heard of a whole lotta head lobbin in the last 1000 years...Turn on some news

IN ref to your Mikey details: Youre right there is a difference, they have the right of free speech in real life in that town, you on Yahoo do not have the right to free speech because of Yahoo's guidelines.