Pagan Information Question #5 Have we REJECTED another Religion?

Question

I see it worded so negatively by members of other Religions. They approach it from the viewpoint of us having REJECTED their Religion. I think it's quite the other way around.. We searched for something and Goddess and God let us see the positive and good things about our paths and we grew to ACCEPT them, rather than REJECT the others. I know it's a matter of semantics BUT, both require an active, conscious decision. I didn't reject anything. I simply accepted the beliefs of Witchcraft into my life. It filled a spiritual void that no other Religion offered to fill. It struck a resonant chord with me and I began following Goddess and God and incorporating the principles of the Craft into my life.

How many of YOU REJECTED another Religion as oposed to ACCEPTED your path into your life?

Well Fish, I tried your Christ out and he TOO failed to fill that void. Your Bible scared the living daylights out of me although there ARE a lot of uplifitng things in there as well, to be fair. Yet NONE of it addressed the things that Wicca fulfills in me.

LOL Diane, are you trying to flirt with me with that Green Witchcraft comment? ;)

Answer 1

Dear Raji,

you have received many well thought out and terrific answers here.

I thought about the terminology of rejecting one religion as opposed to accepting another. For me, if I hadn't rejected Christianity, or out grown or whatever you want to call it, then it would still be with me even as I accepted paganism into my life. I can honestly say that having looked at it this way, I out grew Christianity and became what I would consider to be a blank slate for many years before finding paganism, first, then Witchcraft.

I out grew Christianity much more than I rejected it in some sort of big angry booting of it from my life. It just faded into dust and became nothing, then I examined the dust, found nothing there and blew it off my hand, leaving me free to analyze it clearly without fearing being struck by lightning. It was then that I got angry at the patriarchy and misogyny and all the rest of the nonsense.

OK, next!
((((((((hugs)))))))
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 2

Not that I believe in burning books at all, but.... I wondered how many burned qurans that day the FL church was supposed to burn them? You are right when you say its only called a religion of peace by nonmuslims who have never read the quran, or by nonradical muslims, or by lying muslims. There are radical Christians (Westboro Baptist), nonradical Christians, and lying Christians. Are Westboro Baptists physically violent? Haven't heard anything that they are. They are verbally violent, most certainly, which is just as bad. No one has died from their hatred, though. People have died from muslim hatred. People forget this in their hatred of Westboro. Funny, that. I've been reading up on the history of the Crusades, for both sides. Fascinating on so many fronts. One author addressed the idea that muslims then were more secular in their thinking in newly developing Islam, than modern muslims set in the firmer concrete of their now established faith. It was considered more of a cohesive social religion, binding together nomadic tribes into forces under one umbrella. They combined because of power, not because of religion. Islam was more of a secondary issue to war and power grabbing, the rallying cry you might say. Christianity also went through something similar. However, Christianity is more of an individual walk. Belief in Jesus Christ instantly binds people who have nothing else in common, true. From what I've experienced personally, people who do not even speak the same language can meet with shared joy in the common fellowship of worshiping God. The Tower of Babel dispersement had no effect whatsoever on the worship of God.

Answer 3

My spiritual search started at the age of 12, and yes, it started in the Christian church, but at that age and the place where I lived it was the most accessible to me, but as my search continued I found that there were many things that did not make sense to me, and did not feel right. I then looked at eastern philosophies such as Buddhism, and while very inspiring, they still did not seem to quite fit.
I then came across Wicca, and it seemed I had found what I was looking for. There were things that didn't fit exactly with me, but I fugured that was just because everyone was different and so nothing would be exactly right. Then I came upon Druidry, and it was like coming home. The search took me about 25 years, but I finally feel I have found where I belong, although my path will always evolve I think, it is just the way of spiritual growth. I still call myself Druid, although I have definite leanings towards green witchcraft ;)

Answer 4

I fought very hard against the recognition of being Pagan. I desperately wanted to be a good Orthodox Christian. However, the Gods had been singing to my heart ever since I was a little girl and first read their stories.

It was coming home for me. I still honor and respect the Orthodox Christianity I was raised with, but it is not for me.
I did not find my spiritual peace until I accepted my path, but now it sustains me even through difficulties (such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina -- I lived in New Orleans at the time)

Answer 5

I think some Pagans fall into the trap of defining themselves by what they are against, or explaining their religion in terms of what they don't do, rather than what they do -- you have noticed that yourself.

But on the Pagan path there is far more that we accept than that we reject. We may REJECT the doctrine of the One True Way (many religions make this claim, not just Christianity). But that rejection frees us to explore all the religious traditions of the world, and accept those doctrines and concepts that strike a chord with us. We may leave the religion of our upbringing, but it isn't out of rebellion that we "reject" it, but rather because we have found something in the Pagan path that we find more meaningful and moving than the church of our parents. We may reject the prejudices, misogyny, homophobia, and restrictive dogmas of certain religions, but only because we have ACCEPTED the idea that human beings are basically good, and that all people deserve freedom, dignity, and respect.

And just because we do not practice your religion, doesn't mean we don't recognize and respect the value and importance of your religion in your life.

Answer 6

Haha Satan fills the void. Looking at the old and new testaments, it seems that the omnipotent and omnipresent god is either schizophrenic, or had a dramatic change of heart (which indicates he's not omnipotent to begin with.) How did you know that Satan didn't write the new testament, and only Jews have it right and are going to heaven?

I've rejected Christianity because it is typical of a work of man. The bible that you're reading was compiled by a pagan emperor.

Answer 7

I did both. I was raised Christian and eventually rejected Christian teachings. I was an atheist and then an agnostic for a number of years before accepting Wicca. Rejecting Christianity and accepting Wicca were two totally different processes. One did not lead to the other.

Answer 8

Right on target, Raji. My path has actually led through many of their belief systems. To me, a spiritual journey is almost literally a journey, with religions being among the waystations where I've rested, refreshed and gained insights, OR the traps that I've had to fight through - also emerging with insights. Either way:

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say

-J.R.R. Tolkien

I might add that Paganism is one of my favorite waystations. I return there often to refresh myself in the love, acceptance, affirmations and incredibly rejuvenating ritual!

-Z, SpiritualAtheistHumanist UnitarianUniversalist SortaPaganishSansDeities BuddhistWannabe - and evolving...............

Answer 9

I believe in all religions. They all have value, and once past the vaneer of culture, god names, picky rules, and such ... they all function the same - as a shared ritualized expression of mythology.

Mythology develops in the collective unconscious with certain universal symbols and archetypes - we may give them different names because they speak to us differently. Cultural context (which is also not a bad thing) helps to shape this.

Now, I may reject the minutia of certain religions, but I never reject the religion itself.

I sometimes reject how self-proclaimed believers of some faiths (including my own!) express their views as an identifying factor in how *I* believe ... but that is a different matter.

Answer 10

I didn't reject Christianity (which I was raised in). I always felt like Christianity rejected me - I never fit in and when I accepted my homosexuality, I definitely felt rejected. It was.... a final straw, Christianity didn't fill the void that was in me and, I agree, the Bible left me feeling cold, not loved.

I found paganism and felt much more at home but not quite. Further exploration and I found Asatru on my quest and "came home".

I wouldn't say I rejected Christianity, more like it NEVER fit with me. I never got that "born again" feeling and the subservient atmosphere rubbed my nature wrong. One reason I became a Marine, I think.