I'm Pagan, I've had my clothes set on fire, my house egged, people write me nasty letters, people on here call me a hippy weirdo (I don't do any form of drug, I love country music and I'm happily married to one man so the Love Drugs and Rock N' Roll theory doesn't work)
2007-12-15 18:15:55 · 33 answers · asked by Burning Moon 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a Pagan Minister so I cannot "keep my beliefs to myself". Nor would I. They are a huge part of who I am so to keep them quiet would be denying myself.
And, for the person who said "what if Jesus DOES come?" I say, "What if my Goddess comes?" Though we do not believe in Hell, I'm sure She would have some pretty nasty ideas herself if she chose to. Fortunately the Goddess I praise loves EVERYONE and would not ever harm one of Her creations.
2007-12-15 18:31:48 · update #1
*kisses burning moon*
I couldn't agree with you more.
I'm sorry to here that so many people are discriminating against you for what you believe.
I feel most people have had to go through this.
Even Buddhists. The most peaceful religion I can think of, have been murdered and chased out of their land.
I wish we could all learn to be more tolerable of each other.
This does not mean to beleive, but rather just to accept that they will never have power over others to change their minds.
If there is a God (as I see it). He is the only one that can judge us.
Anyway, I think "hippy weirdo" is charming. Be proud of who you are. And try to forgive those who have wronged you.
*smiles*
2007-12-15 19:52:28 · answer #1 · answered by Tohru ♥ Kyo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When people decide it will. I think it's awful the way you've been treated. If it is Christians who are responsible for these acts of intolerance, I'd apologize on their behalf, but I don't think that would help you at all. Just know that they were not representing Christ at all. If you read the Bible, he never did anything with the intent of hurting someone, though he did get under people's skin through more constructive and less damaging methods. No matter what you profess to believe, if you can't treat people with love, then your belief is worthless.
"If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Can anyone disagree with that? It doesn't matter how "religious" you are or how many times you pray or attend worhsip services. It's all about sharing love with people, even if it's something as simple as holding the door open for a stranger, putting the seat down for your wife, leaving a special note for your husband, or making a child's day.
2007-12-15 18:29:41 · answer #2 · answered by Dan in Real Life 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm sorry I breezed by your question at first because I thought, "ah pollyanna". I'm afraid that's the mindset that we have: that there can be no peace between religions, that tolerance is a pipe-dream. And I'm not looking any deeper than myself here. I'm sorry.
Realistically, I think the only way that religious tolerance will happen is when we can each become aware of the fact that "my truth" is not "The Truth". We are each limited by our own perspectives, self-interests, and human finitude. There's no way any one of us can have the whole truth. To think we can is Pride, which only leads to self-righteousness, not true righteousness. I think the relativism and pluralism of modern life is actually contributing to that awareness - but we're also seeing a significant backlash against it, too. That's what you're experiencing. People are threatened by the realization that they may not have absolute truth and absolute certitude. It makes life much harder. But it also makes life so much better. Here's praying for a new consciousness in all of us...
Peace to you.
2007-12-15 18:45:51 · answer #3 · answered by Orpheus Rising 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hate between the religions will stop when there are no more religions. Even though I'm not the one who did those heinous things to you and your belongings, I am truly sorry that my fellow human beings can be so cruel to someone who has a different point of view.
2007-12-15 18:26:16 · answer #4 · answered by sweetgurl13069 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
WHEN RELIGIONS REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME DESTINATION, ..BUT ARE FOLLOWING VARIOUS PATHS UP THE SAME MOUNTAIN. ..I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAVE HAD SUCH NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES. I'M SURE THOUGH THAT MANY HAVE ALSO FOUND THEIR WAY THOUGH THROUGH ROCK-N ROLL WITH A SHARED EXCITED COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE AND EVEN CERTAIN MIND EXPANDING DRUGS THAT FOR SOME CAN REVEAL A MORE SUBTLE WORLD THAN THEY MIGHT HAVE NOT OTHERWISE EXPERIENCED. WE ARE ALL SEEKING SOMETHING LARGER THAN OURSELVES YOUR CHOICES ARE JUST AS VALID AS ANY OTHERS. IF YOU DON'T FIND IT IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY PERHAPS YOU SHOULD SEEK OUT OTHER COMMUNITIES AND FRIENDS THAT WILL SUPPORT YOUR BEAUTIFUL MIND.
2007-12-15 18:34:16 · answer #5 · answered by D C 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No true Christians would hate or hurt u in any way. If you would state a belief contrary to mine i would disagree, but i would leave it at that. I also don't care about the other religions out there, i have enough to deal with in my own...
2007-12-15 18:20:20 · answer #6 · answered by Victor V 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
till human psychology is very much altered. All societies threwout all of time have descriminated. it incredibly is not as a results of fact of ways those people who have been given the shaft acted or regarded that became into the priority yet how our minds innatley fee being diverse from a "%.."
2016-10-11 09:34:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately I don't think there is an answer to this. Religion has been the cause of many major wars and, like any issue, there will always be extremists on every side.
2007-12-15 18:19:27 · answer #8 · answered by Magpie 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is not that we hate you. It is that we feel sorry and discontent between everyone who has fallen in the wrong path.
Think about this, please: What if.. just WHAT IF Jesus does come? (And he will, mind you) What will you do then? It will be too late to repent, to late to say that you believe. You will be sent to Hell, with the rest just like you. With the atheists, with the believers of multiple Gods, with the devil worshipers, with everyone who rejected the real Lord.
Everyday, we pray for those in need. Our prayers do work. We do not need to may up some concoctions or spells to heal people, or to make our lives better. We simply pray, and see results. Sure, they say white magic is good. But is it not, it is still magic, and God forbid Magic.
2007-12-15 18:25:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Hate between religions will never end...It is a tool for those who are straying from their beliefs to divert attention away from their wrongdoings by scapegoating others...It is as ancient as time.
Just do what you believe and forget the naysayers
2007-12-15 18:21:46 · answer #10 · answered by :) 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋