Christianity to Paganism and Vice-Versa?

Question

How many here have been Christian and becaome Pagan and vice-versa and why?

I was a Christian myself, many years ago, and found it never fitted or should I say, 'I' never fitted...The round peg in a square whole thing.

I've described it as like a pair of shoes. Chrsitianity never fitted right, always felt uncomfortable...Where as Paganism is like a pair of lovely old slippers :D

Anyone else?

Oops sorry about typos...lol

FOA ~ Please don't come here and say that. I have made my choice just as you have made yours. I don't come to you and say how sorry I feel for you because you are, obviously, christian, don't don't do the same here.

Soror Pernelle the Alchemist &
wiccanhpp -

Coming home is a lovely way of putting it and I couldn't agree more.

The_Cricket: VT! - Yes Wicca in itself is not so old. It seems we both went through a similar way except I realised I was Pagan/Witch and you a Christian...Sometimes we have to try on many shoes before I find the ones that feel right and yes, I too find Satanism very disturbing.

I have friends that are both Pagan and Chrisitian and I'm pleased to say that my Christian friends have never felt a need to convert me nor say that it upsets them that I have chosen the Pagan path. They actually love who I am and learn from it.

I am really pleased you found your way and that you are now truly happy. Well done!

Steve b Seeking after salvation ~ Shall I be frank with you hon. I became Chrstian as a child, I felt I needed to find something in common with my paternal grandmother and christianity was it. What made me realise it was wrong for me is that I had a hard time believing in the bible etc. Now I don't deny that a man name Jesus existed and that he was a good man. A healer, well there are healers now, I am a Reiki Master myself. So I am not saying I don't believe in the man, only in the way christianity believes in him and the whole bible thing.

And if truth be known, this wasn't meant to be a debate on how on path CAN'T believe why another path made their choice now was it?!

Answer 1

I've compared my change in beliefs to "coming home". I never felt like I was REALLY comfortable with what I believed, and I truly believed it, because it was all I knew. But once someone introduced me to the spiritual path I'm now on, it was like coming home. All of the things I believed that I WAS comfortable with, I kept as part of my belief system. It was as if I had a whole new house, with all of my most precious belongings already inside, waiting for me, but with new and wonderful things yet to discover.

Edit: @ Thaddeus - Thank you for your service! And it's great to know that there are Chaplains like you working for all of those who protect me and my children. It is important to me that our service men and women are able to hold to their faith, whatever it might be, while serving.

Answer 2

Because Paganism is so easy. You don't really have to do anything yet you can fool yourself into believing that you are some sort of spiritual being. The Judeo/Christian based religions require real action in your life. The Ten Commandments is a good example of this. There is a belief in a God, the all powerful moral judge of man's behavior.

It is not easy to truly live life by these absolute moral imperatives. It is far easier to participate in some silliness or other especially if you can hide behind it an convince others that you are somehow spiritual rather than self-centered. The focus of your life is your feelings. Paganism is a primitive belief in magic. Magic excused a lot of bad behavior back in the old days.

Christianity will never fit those who are not willing to put themselves and what feels good second. It is not for everybody. Christianity is a hard row to hoe. Paganism? Pretty much just call yourself a Pagan and I guess that makes you a Pagan. Wow, that was easy!

Merry Christmas!

.

Answer 3

I was raised Baptist and forced into a baptism I didn't even understand (My Mom and the preacher took me into the preacher's office and yelled at me, red-faced, until I was actually in tears...and I wasn't ever in trouble, a bad kid, nothing. This HAS to be child abuse or at least horrible manipulation.) I was given a set of rules and tenents that I didn't agree with (no make-up, no dancing, must wear dresses, etc) -- yet was not allowed to explore other religions (they always try to keep you locked into their religion and don't want you around others who might open your mind...sounds like a cult, huh?-- sorry, but it's true).

I have been Pagan for many years now and you're right: you get a feeling of "coming home". When I began to study the religion, I knew that 'this is who/what I really am! I didn't know there was a religion that teaches what I believe!' I was very upset that I hadn't been raised this way, as it is who I am inside. I am sure that other people feel the same way about their (different) religion, but this is a perfect fit for me. God and Goddess bless you for finding your true path! Happy, Blessed and Safe Yule!

Steve B...let's see if I can make an analogy. You meet a girl and you really like her. You even believe that you love her after awhile, so you marry her. Years later, after you know much more about her, you decide she's not really who you thought and you're just not happy. So, you get a divorce, date other women and finally find one who is awesome from the start. She is true to you all along and never misrepresented herself. After over a year of knowing her, she is still perfect for you. The more you learn about her, the more in love you fall. So, you marry Paganism and are happier than you ever were in your life. Understand better now?

Answer 4

I was raised Lutheran - born into and baptized - until I began to doubt it when I was 22 years old. It took me over a year to realize that christianity is a fable and officially renounced it.

I can agree with Hestia - I studied the Greek Gods in high school - and I was fascinated by them even then.

It was when I was still 22 that I began to study the Greek God Pan, though I'm not sure why or how I found out about him - maybe it was an "accident"...I studied Him and found my way back to Them. I don't think I have Greek Ancestry, I can't find any anywhere. But the Greek Gods called and I answered. And like Hestia, I wasn't truly at peace until I accepted their call.

I also feel the call of the Norse Gods as well. That one is obvious - I'm Swedish and Norwegian. Though Asatru doesn't quite fit well, the Gods insist it can. Not sure how.

Today, I can say that I've met Pan and prayed to Zeus, and they've both answered my prayers. Seeing a Goat-man walking around your bedroom is quite an interesting sight. Lol! Maybe Pan is my patron deity. :)

Hail Zeus!
Hail Pan!

Answer 5

This seems like a very familiar story to me as well. I too began as a Christian. I was born into an Orthodox Christian family who were very devout. There was always something missing in it for me.

I began reading the stories of the Greek Gods and Heroes when I was a small child as they were as much a part of my cultural heritage as the religion I was taught.

I felt the call to my heart and soul of the Hellenic Gods and although I sincerely tried to remain Christian, I was never at peace until I accepted the call of my Gods...

I realize that my religion is not right for everyone and that some people will feel that I made the wrong decision. I can only say to them that I differ with them on that......

Answer 6

Merry Meet,
I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic Church...it was ok as a child an adolescent, but as a teenager and young adult it still didn't feel quite "right". I ended up getting married Presbyterian and while that was better, it still didn't click.
It is only now at age 51 that I began my study of Wicca and truly feel "at home" (as others have said). I am completely comfortable being a witch. My family is ok with it and I have never felt more at peace. Even my depression of the last couple of years has lifted. I think the main reason is the feeling of empowerment Paganism/Wicca offers. I feel like I can truly participate in this religion as I could not in Christianity.
Blessed Be!

Answer 7

I was into witchcraft in high school. What happened to me was, I was looking for the "source" of all religion. At first I studied Wicca, but although Wicca is based on older religions, Wicca itself isn't that old.

But I felt that something was missing. Witchcraft was very effective, and I enjoyed the rituals immensely, though I didn't have any friends who shared my views...so I was a solitary practitioner...I liked the fact that I made my own rules (apart from not harming others, I was free to do what I wanted)...but something was lacking.

I renounced witchcraft about six years ago, and spent the time between then and a year ago just studying other religions. I read books on Buddhism (I found that lacking), Islam, Hinduism, and several different forms of mythology. I had also already studied LaVeyan Satanism. The Satanic bible is one of the most disturbing things I've ever read, ever.

I finally became a Christian a year ago, at the age of twenty-five, almost 26. I don't feel anything is missing from it. The more I study, the more fulfilled and convinced I become.

Answer 8

I was raised Southern Baptist but it never took. I always felt out of place and like I "wasn't getting it" I left Christianity and tried alcohol for awhile but that was just self destructive.

When I found paganism and then heathenism, it was as if I found the perfect pair of boots and "came home."

I think this is probably pretty common in the U.S. among pagans.

Added: To Steve - it wasn't that I believed in Christianity. It was that I WANTED to believe but never felt it was real for me. The doubts plagued me from childhood until I became an adult. I never really believed in the Christian god or Jesus. Does that explain it a little better? I went looking and found my path in heathenism.

Answer 9

I was born a Christian, and became a pagan because it's more psychologically healthy, in my opinion. I feel if "God is Love," a premise by which I live my life, then he'll understand any search I do, and therefore I should go with what I feel will best help me achieve the most I can. Using Jungian Archetypes, I've been able to have quite a successful life thus far.

Answer 10

I can not compare these two as they are two different ways of expressing your faith and spirituality. I myself am a Pagan. I have went to Christian churches in the past and I am currently a chaplain assistant in the United States Army. The text religions never offered what I was looking for, Paganism did. Even though I work around Christians every day I still enjoy my Pagan practices and beliefs without waiver.