OB
Spends too much time here
Nothing is ever what it seems
Posts: 78
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Post by OB on Sept 21, 2007 19:26:45 GMT 1
When I used to sit on a multi-faith committee in Wednesbury as a pagan , we would find that we got loads of invites to multi- faith gatherings, But the main problem was that most fellow pagans did not want anything to do with multi-faith committees just ask around and find out who is sitting on the local committees each parish will have one, and then ask your selves why we were not on the guest list.
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Post by kharma on Sept 22, 2007 15:11:59 GMT 1
I honestly wouldn't know where to start, it seems that it takes enough effort for people to keep the pagan community going, let alone sit on a comitee. i myself am guilty of not putting input into the community, mainly because i find no reward in doing it. I find my religion to be a personal thing, and i am quite uncomfertable with expressing it in public.
Jo
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Post by admin on Sept 22, 2007 17:57:09 GMT 1
because i find no reward in doing it. Jo That's probably because there are no rewards in doing it ;D
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Post by moonsmith on Sept 22, 2007 19:32:56 GMT 1
Oh deary deary me - is it ironic or is it my warped sense of humour: The banner advertisement at the top of the page right now [it will be gone by the time you read this] is "Faith Matters" Catholic Match.com. I have absolutely no quarrel with Roman Catholicism. My own catholicism [not Roman]came very close to its tenets. But When attached to this thread the message would appear to be "Talk but don't touch"
Does anyone remember a song from the seventies about a "Great Big Melting Pot"? It seemed like a good idea back then.
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OB
Spends too much time here
Nothing is ever what it seems
Posts: 78
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Post by OB on Sept 22, 2007 20:52:11 GMT 1
The only reward I got was a cup of tea from the church warden, I stayed on the committee because it was the only way I could see to put across a view of pagans from our view and not from a point of view that placed us as devil worships, having to point out a number of times that we did not follow in the GOA , so no GOA means no Devil,and I liked to know about multi-faith things going on within the area so I could decide to attend or not. If I had been looking for a reward I would have joined the PF.
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Post by kharma on Sept 23, 2007 8:05:31 GMT 1
By reward I mean spiritually I don't get the same goosebumps and shivers practising out in public. I don't need a badge saying what a good pagan i am ;D Jo
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OB
Spends too much time here
Nothing is ever what it seems
Posts: 78
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Post by OB on Sept 23, 2007 13:24:20 GMT 1
I don't have to wear a big badge or have a problem with my faith and sitting in a room with people who would like it if all pagans just kept quiet and not interfere with real Faith meetings and keep there faith that they are ashamed of out of sight of real religions. I know some people have not come out about their beliefs to family ,friends and at work. and some are not to sure if what they are doing is right, so would like to keep quiet until they are sure before stepping out in public. Thats fine.with me. but if more of us attended the multi Faith Committees ,hospital visiting then who knows what will happen.
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duane
New Member
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Post by duane on Sept 24, 2007 9:53:07 GMT 1
I happen to agree with OB, if we close our doors to other people about our faiths then no wonder other relgions think we are all dark and secrective because thats what we doing.
It annoyis me when people moan that paganism isn't been taught in places like school etc but when asked to do it who will actully stand in front of students talking about it? very few.
reason being they don't want there belif to be publicly known.
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OB
Spends too much time here
Nothing is ever what it seems
Posts: 78
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Post by OB on Sept 24, 2007 18:34:29 GMT 1
Greendragon, It takes a lot of bottle to stand up in front of a group of people, and try and explain about what you understand as your faith, as no two pagans would give the same answers to questions. So I would not expect any of us to try and explain it to a group of young inquiring minds as you hopefully would find in a classroom.public speaking is not for everyone.
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Post by ian on Sept 24, 2007 21:16:39 GMT 1
I do fully agree with what OB has said, however I also feel that Duanne has got a very valid point, if we, as Pagans do not stand up and explain to those who think we are all devil worshippers then how will they ever be re-educated away from the spiel that they have been semi-brainwashed with throughout their minds, I do accept that it is a very difficult thing to do and to be honest I would find it extremely difficult to do myself, but we must get the truth out about what we are and what we believe, it is all well and fine that we all, on here, know that we are mostly good and true but the rest of the people do not know this, unless they are taught it, and who will teach them if not ourselves??
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duane
New Member
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Post by duane on Sept 25, 2007 9:12:27 GMT 1
thanks ian thats what i was trying to say.
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Post by wyrdewood on Sept 25, 2007 9:48:20 GMT 1
If someone was to ask me which path I walk, I would say the one beneath my feet. In the same way as one would not ask outright about someones sexual orientation the same should apply to belief. To my mind, the people who have views of Pagans as the anti-Christ and devil worshipers will not be changed as their views are too entrenched within oppressive teachings and dogma. To give time to these people is to lose a valuable part of your life that you could be doing more interesting things with. Often, when people challenge me about my faith, I see that they are in fact seeking answers and possibly feel threatened by what they don't understand. With these people I will give my time to explain but there is no point in banging your head against a brick wall for those that have no ears to listen.
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Post by admin on Sept 25, 2007 9:56:10 GMT 1
Those are very wise words Wyrdewood.
Even if we make reasonable sense to a hardline God of Abraham follower, they will just believe that the devil is putting the words in our mouths to try and trick them. We cannot win in such situations.
The best thing to do is live well and live honestly, so that the more moderate religious types will not be so hardline against us.
Rhiannon
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Post by wyrdewood on Sept 25, 2007 11:58:27 GMT 1
The best thing to do is live well and live honestly, so that the more moderate religious types will not be so hardline against us. Rhiannon Your brevity and succinctness put a finer point on the subject than my meanderings!
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duane
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Post by duane on Sept 25, 2007 16:35:11 GMT 1
actully it depends on whos willing to learn and accapt the teachings. as you could say the same thing about anything else your trying to explain to someone.
example: I have a best mate who has a family whos in serious christian mode and used to "hate" paganism and wouldn't give me a time of day to try and explain, but once I startted to listen and respect there culter and belifs I had a chance to explain mine and they are more accaptable to it then I relised. but my best mate is still narrow minded and religion is still a hard subject for him.
Which takes me to my point, you should try and sit the people(s) down and explain to them what your belifs are and they would in fact either go two ways.
1. still be narrow minded and make you think that your wasting your own personal time. or 2. Be more accaptable to your belifs.
theres no third option in this to be honest.
in my opinion there is a difference though in respecting other people's religion (belifs) and liking or disliking them. I may not lilke some peoples belifs on these forums however that doesn't stop me from respecting them, which i do try.
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