Talking about religion - Round 2!

[Giselle]

Thats cool! My mom told me that christianity is probably one of the newest form of religions. Thats why it's so similar to most of the other ones?

In relation to all of the religions throughout the world, Christianity is not new but I wouldn't call it old either. Many Christian beliefs and rituals stem from Roman/Greek rituals (i.e. Romans called their rituals sacramenta while Catholics call them sacraments). That's part of why Christianty is so similar to some pagan beliefs.

I can't say I follow a religion. I find them all too restrictive and artificial. I believe in a higher power and I believe this higher power doesn't care if I follow a specific religion as long as I help as many beings as I possibly can.

[junescrater716]

Oh. I'm starting to get interested more in paganism and wiccan. Those are beginning to interest me.

[ramanth]

I can't say I follow a religion. I find them all too restrictive and artificial. I believe in a higher power and I believe this higher power doesn't care if I follow a specific religion as long as I help as many beings as I possibly can.

That's a really great way of looking at it Giselle. I feel the same way, though like Cathy, a lot of my beliefs tend to lean towards the Pagan side.

[Twisterdog]

I don't practice a particular organized religion. I don't believe any religion is any more "right" than any other.

In fact, I rather think that ALL religions are "wrong", simply attempts by humans' puny little minds to catergorize/simplify something we cannot comprehend. I believe in a higher power, but I don't think He/She/It cares at all whether you use the name God, Allah or Dagda.

I think following the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.) is about all it takes. Whichever organized religion makes one want to do that is great for that peron, IMO. I have always liked Abraham Lincoln's take on religion ... "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion."

[Sophist]

CathyBogart: Do you practice mainly on your own, or do you meet with a group of some sort? If you have a group, do you ever meet except for celebrations/holidays?

IRescue452: Have you ever performed any weddings? Perhaps getting a bit off-topic, just a little curious.

And for both of you... are you irritated a lot by all the goth and wanna-be rebellious kids/college students who claim to be Pagan/Wiccan with no real idea of what they are just to sound edgy and dark? I mean, I can think of at least a solid dozen people I know who proudly and loudly proclaim their 'pagan' status based solely on things learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer How do you find serious practicers of your religions to study/celebrate with (assuming you do)?

Well, I may think of some things to share about my on religion later after getting some sleep, but if anyone wants to ask any questions, I am a Latter Day Saint (commonly called 'mormon'). Don't worry about asking questions, trust me, I've just about heard them all .

[Sevaede]

[QUOTE=Sophist]And for both of you... are you irritated a lot by all the goth and wanna-be rebellious kids/college students who claim to be Pagan/Wiccan with no real idea of what they are just to sound edgy and dark? I mean, I can think of at least a solid dozen people I know who proudly and loudly proclaim their 'pagan' status based solely on things learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer How do you find serious practicers of your religions to study/celebrate with (assuming you do)?
QUOTE]

I know this wasn't directed towards me but I just had to answer it. heh.

Yes. I get irritated with the folks who think that because they are in a darker mindset, or follow a trend, or that is just naturally them to be a "goth", that it goes hand in hand with being a Pagan or/and Wiccan. Or people who proclaim they are because they see it as trendy. Things like that.

[IRescue452]

I've sat in on weddings (handfasting ceremonies) but I've yet to be the person performing them. I just finished all the pathworkings not long ago.

I am very much irritated by EMO kids who claim to be wiccan or pagan, which is to be expected from a gardnerian. I think they give real pagans a bad name.

I find serious practicioners quite easily. Members of covens, people who show up to public rituals and festivals, even people at school. Its very easy to pick the serious people from the trendy people with just a small conversation. While I don't know many gardnerians outside of one coven, I know several dozen other pagans that I keep in contact with on a regular basis. Its kinda cool if you think about it, pagans of many sects will work together, but you don't see a groups of Catholics, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witness' doing to many things together. I've got Jehovah Witness family members who wouldn't even stand up during a Catholic funeral for their own mother. That's rediculous and childlike if you ask me.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

I remember the last thread we had about this.. i thought it was very interesting! and I enjoyed getting to know everyone better !...

I am a christian... I was raised in a baptist church growing up and went to a penticostal (sp) church while i was married... and i attend a baptist church now.

I believe in the Bible !! I believe in one God... who is also the trinity. The father, son and holy ghost.

I believe God sent Jesus to earth of a virgin mother, Mary, and He died on the cross for our sins. I believe in salvation. I could go on and on about what all I believe... but to sum it up... I believe in the Bible... I'm not trying to pin a name on it by saying i go to a baptist church... it was just a reference.

[Anita Cholaine]

CathyBogart and IRescue, thank you for the information. I didn't know much about pagans and wiccans, so I found your posts really interesting.

I've gone to a Catholic school since kinder garden, so yes, I am a Catholic. I'm not a 'role model' Catholic, though. I do believe in the Holy Trinity, Virgin Mary, the Saints, the Bible and salvation, but I rarely go to church, and I don't do everything that being a Catholic involves, like confession and eucharist.

I feel a bit tired right now to write something long about Catholicism, but feel free to ask questions

[Karen]

Its kinda cool if you think about it, pagans of many sects will work together, but you don't see a groups of Catholics, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witness' doing to many things together.

That may be true of the individuals you know, but I have been part of many ecumenical gatherings where peoples of various branches of the Judeo-Christian tradition worked together. Happens all the time!

I am Methodist, by the way, which is a branch of the Protestant church.

[NicoleLJ]

Well, I may think of some things to share about my on religion later after getting some sleep, but if anyone wants to ask any questions, I am a Latter Day Saint (commonly called 'mormon'). Don't worry about asking questions, trust me, I've just about heard them all .

Me too. Nice to see a fellow member on here.
Nicole

[CathyBogart]

CathyBogart: Do you practice mainly on your own, or do you meet with a group of some sort? If you have a group, do you ever meet except for celebrations/holidays?

... are you irritated a lot by all the goth and wanna-be rebellious kids/college students who claim to be Pagan/Wiccan with no real idea of what they are just to sound edgy and dark?

I am totally solitary. My experience with covens/circles has involved a lot of bickering and politics, and it really soured me to it, though I would be willing to work with a partner if I met someone who I felt very comfortable with. I have invited my boyfriend to participate in rituals before, he hasn't yet.

Yes, it annoys me when people claim to be wiccan/pagan with no real knowledge of what it involves or desire to be wican/pagan. I discovered Wicca and paganism when I was about 11, and I researched until I was 18 before I felt comfortable calling myself Pagan. It's something that takes a certain level of commitment.

[lady_zana]

Yes, it annoys me when people claim to be wiccan/pagan with no real knowledge of what it involves or desire to be wican/pagan. I discovered Wicca and paganism when I was about 11, and I researched until I was 18 before I felt comfortable calling myself Pagan. It's something that takes a certain level of commitment.

When I was younger, I began looking at Wicca and studied it for a long before deciding while it was a beautiful religion, it simply wasn't for me. When I came to college, I was invited by some of my friends to join the Pagan group on campus. Even though I'm not Pagan, I agreed but once I got there, I found out I knew more about Wicca from studying for a while than some of these people did!

I don't understand why someone would want to join a religion they know nothing about, whether it be Wicca, Christianity, Muslim, or any other religion. It's sad that religions are nothing more than fads to some people. Anyone else remember Britney Spears getting a tattoo to celebrate becoming Jewish....even though that's a no-no in the religion?