I won't convert just because I've found my religion. I was pretty devout as a child but that was of my own doing. My parents never made religion an issue. If you had faith then Mum would take me/let me go to church on Sunday if I wanted to. Now that I'm older, I've rediscovered my faith but it's something that's just for me. I'm re-Christian-ated? I'm not interested in all the politics of the church. Plus I think God can see I'm doing okay by myself. I don't drink or smoke. I obstain and my guilty pleasure is indulging in internet p0rns of the awesome variety.
I'm proud of my faith though, we should all be. I don't care if people think it's stupid that I wear a cross everyday and when I take it off at night I kiss it and say karma. (That's my one-worded prayer I invented. God knows what I mean. :P) It shouldn't be an issue. It's a right. Respect it, live it, own it.
I'm just sorry that you've incurred challenges because of your faith. I've always found it to be the only religion I've considered converting to. :)
I tend to get along much better with Christians like you, who live their faith as a personal connection to God, than with those people who call themselves Christians but merely go to church once a week and never bring their spirituality into their daily lives. Some folks want the religious equivalent of McDonald's - drive in, get your mass produced meal, then drive on, and forget about it as soon as you toss the wrappers in the trash. I have a lot more respect for people who make their faith personal and carry it everywhere, like your cross
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I'd really like to talk to you about your religion sometime. I'm a devout Baptist (lesbian, go figure), but I think Neo-Paganism is so interesting and cool, I'd love to learn more about it.
I love that you wear your cross every day because of that bitch LOL. Some people can't just fucking live and let live.
I'd be happy to talk to you about it. Lois is pagan too, though we were trained in different traditions (she was in a small Gypsy Witchcraft coven of 3 people, I did a lot of women's spirituality, Dianic Wicca, and groups of 40 or more).
I can also point you toward a lot of good reading on the subject. Ultimately, Neo-Paganism is a religion of individuals, and just about anyone can find a niche within it. I do know a woman who was raised Baptist but practices witchcraft. She calls herself a Christian Witch, and says that nowhere in the craft does it say you can't claimed Jesus as your god.
Ya know in some ways I think of myself as a Christian Pagan ... but not quite. I've kind of wanted to write more about this on my LJ but I tend to shy away from talking religion on my journal. Thing is there are a lot of things about Christianity that appeal to me - though I tend to think of Jesus more as a great teacher than any sort of god perse (but then my view of the gods and goddesses is somewhat skewed from a lot of pagans ... ) - just as there is a lot of things about Wicca and Paganism that appeal to me.
Ah, but the beauty of Neo-Paganism is that darned near anyone can find their own niche within it. And no one can point to a single book or position of authority to say, "Lea, the way you practice your faith is all wrong! You must convert immediately to my way of thinking."
I agree with you on Christ's teachings - it's His followers that I have problems with, and not all of them, just the ones trying to twist His words to justify their own prejudices.
I still go to church - once a year. My mom and I always go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve together, and it's a powerful spiritual experience for me. I love that my religion doesn't deny other faiths, so I can have that connection to the religion of my childhood and still practice a religion more in line with my beliefs now.
Of course, now I'm curious about your views. Why do you shy from talking religion on your LJ? Because it's the ultimate mother of all wank-starters? :D If so, I totally understand.
Hmm, I only converted once- or de-converted scene as atheism isn't a religion (or really a belief- more the lack of belief). But that wasn't a sudden conversion, I just slowly came to realise Catholicism wasn't for me which surprise a lot of people who knew me because I had previously been very devout and faithful. I heavily re-searched a lot of religions, including Pagan ones, before realizing I didn't have to have one at all and let me tell you that was a liberating decision.
Lol at you wearing you pentacle every day to annoy that woman as well. I have no problem with other people's beliefs and I even admire ones like you who'll stand up for them in the face of challenges. What I can't stand are people like the fundies who think that everyone should believe what they believe. (and worse the ones who find out you're an atheist then look at you sympathetically and say, 'I'll pray for you')
I've just had too many profound spiritual experiences to deny the existence of something divine. But then, I prefer the term spirituality to religion anyway. Religion, to me, almost always means bureacracy, and I can certainly do without that
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I'm proud of my faith though, we should all be. I don't care if people think it's stupid that I wear a cross everyday and when I take it off at night I kiss it and say karma. (That's my one-worded prayer I invented. God knows what I mean. :P) It shouldn't be an issue. It's a right. Respect it, live it, own it.
I'm just sorry that you've incurred challenges because of your faith. I've always found it to be the only religion I've considered converting to. :)
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I love that you wear your cross every day because of that bitch LOL. Some people can't just fucking live and let live.
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I can also point you toward a lot of good reading on the subject. Ultimately, Neo-Paganism is a religion of individuals, and just about anyone can find a niche within it. I do know a woman who was raised Baptist but practices witchcraft. She calls herself a Christian Witch, and says that nowhere in the craft does it say you can't claimed Jesus as your god.
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I enjoyed reading this post, Anissa! <3
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I agree with you on Christ's teachings - it's His followers that I have problems with, and not all of them, just the ones trying to twist His words to justify their own prejudices.
I still go to church - once a year. My mom and I always go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve together, and it's a powerful spiritual experience for me. I love that my religion doesn't deny other faiths, so I can have that connection to the religion of my childhood and still practice a religion more in line with my beliefs now.
Of course, now I'm curious about your views. Why do you shy from talking religion on your LJ? Because it's the ultimate mother of all wank-starters? :D If so, I totally understand.
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Lol at you wearing you pentacle every day to annoy that woman as well. I have no problem with other people's beliefs and I even admire ones like you who'll stand up for them in the face of challenges. What I can't stand are people like the fundies who think that everyone should believe what they believe. (and worse the ones who find out you're an atheist then look at you sympathetically and say, 'I'll pray for you')
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