Witch School International

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Acceptance...

Is any one else having problems? I came on here and shared my beliefs, some agreed, but others told me i wasnt a true pagan. I know how to handle it in real life but what do you do on the internet? I guess its just them but i dont want to be stupid and not change if thats what i need to do...

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Permalink Reply by Lila Morales on August 1, 2009 at 12:53pm
Ignore them.
Don't give them any of your personal power by letting them upset you, or cause you to doubt yourself.
Your beliefs are just as valid as anyone else's.
If you ask me it's those who judge you who are not true pagans, but rather fools, that still are clinging to former religious belifes from a relgion that isn't as accepting of others beliefs if it dosen't go hand in hand with theirs. As long as what your doing isn't hurting anyone else who cares.
Belive me I've been around enough pagans at gatherings that had me scrathing my head and thinking "really? you really belive that ...wow..." but NEVER have I assumed that they are not a true pagan nor would I ever be so rude as to tell them that. I just accept that they belive and practice something different, sometimes enjoy the show , and go on with life.
There is no need to change. If your happy with what you do that is all that really matters.
Permalink Reply by Jenn Davis on August 4, 2009 at 11:16am
I wanted to reply again because like you, I am somewhat new to being excepted for the lifestyle I choose to live. I have just recently built up enough courage to let it be known that I choose to live my life as a pagan. I have structured my life to accomodate everyone else besides myself. I have held back my feelings and beliefs for a very long time because of scrutiny, criticism and just plain bad attitudes from others towards me for it. I have learned that you must have the courage to be true to yourself and your own beliefs no matter what opinion others may give you because they are just that. Just opinions. Mostly from people who have very little knowledge or none at all about the pagan lifestyle. However, I have to say that at least everyone that has replied to this issue have been extremely supportive. You have all made me feel like I have finally found a place to be accepted for who I am without all of the criticism. I sincerely hope the same for all of you, and Morgan too. :)
Permalink Reply by Rev. Andi on August 4, 2009 at 3:41pm
I agree with some of the posts here - there isn't really a definition of a TRUE Pagan.

That said, however, I think anyone who comes close to that phrase is someone who accepts others for who they are and what they CHOOSE to believe.

My personal opinion is anyone who wants to chastise you for your beliefs CANNOT be a 'True' Pagan!

You believe what you wish to believe my dear - and don't change that for anyone but yourself!

Blessings,

Rev. Andi
Permalink Reply by Citrine (Rev) on August 5, 2009 at 7:28am
The reality is that we humans like to place everything and everyone in boxes... in this case "true pagan" or "not true pagan". Unfortunately it means that some of us end up being offended or hurt.. The other reality is that in the end staying offended or forgiving that offence is also a choice we make. What you choose is up to the individual, and no one else's business.

That said... I find the whole "true pagan" thing to be nonsense. Our beliefs are personal and as different as people are... which is why pagans are generally aware of individualism as a force for good. No one has the right to label my beliefs unless I give them the label myself.

Do YOU think you're a true pagan? Yes? THEN YOU ARE

Thanks for listening,

Citrine
Permalink Reply by Feyheart Levia Moonsong on August 5, 2009 at 9:27am
the main thing i love about paganism and wicca is that you basically take what you need and leave the rest. that's how you have your christo-pagans etc. i have many beliefs that find opposition with my peers. if you believe you're pagan or a witch then you are. Rene Descartes said it perfectly, "Cogito, ergo sum" which can be loosely "i think, therefore i am." What we think makes who we are. don't let anyone tell you how to think or act. just always be yourself. change is good when you think you should change for your reasons, not for someone else.
Permalink Reply by LilyOfTheValley on August 8, 2009 at 6:24pm
A "true" pagan knows not to judge another.
Permalink Reply by Derric Santibanez on September 6, 2009 at 12:08am
Paganism was defined by the Roman Catholic church. Any worship that has nothing to do with the manipulated Bible of the Roman Catholic Church is considered pagan. It easy to be defined a true pagan. I respect everyone's beliefs because I am agnostic and opened mimded to all beliefs. Anything is possible. Do what your intuition feels is right. You don't need to change, but become more specific with the definition of who you are. I believe god is my higherself. The impersonal aspect of god always gives us obsticles to overcome with our personal higherself. But I do see the possibility of intelligent beings of human or non-human nature having supernatural abilities considered by humans to be worthy of being defined as gods. I believe the true god creator is infinite, and therefore can never be reached. So it is only pragmatic to seek the personal god that can be reached. This is the reachable intelligence that is higher than your physical self.
Permalink Reply by Carol Adams on June 21, 2010 at 12:32pm
Well expressed! :-)
Permalink Reply by evinithear silverleaf on December 8, 2009 at 3:10am
i believe that nobody can tell if you are a true pagan or not,it is up to you to decide what you are and you shouldnt let people like that get to you. there will always be people on the internet that will want to just start a fight or say hurtfull/stupid things.i tend to just ignore people who have hurtfull things to say.
Permalink Reply by Carol Wandcrafter on December 8, 2009 at 10:13pm
I'm glad to see that so many are responding with my first thought, which was something along the lines of "What on earth is a "true" pagan???" The history of paganism is so diverse that the source, the path and the destination must, naturally, be equally diverse. Likely our own personal histories within paganism are equally diverse... how can there be "one way"?

One thing I have tried to stay away from - or maybe escape from - for as long as I have been conscious of my own thoughts is the belief that there is one "right" religious truth. How could there be? If there is such a thing as a god or God or goddess, he/she/they would be so far beyond our ken that for us to believe we understand enough to claim "truth" is arrogant, ego-centric, immature. No human can possibly say what "right" is, religiously, and to think that we can is ignorant and limited... the cop out of sheep.

So... when I take the lessons here on the wiccan way, I see the ideas as "one possible way" - which I think the author/s of the lessons is/are careful to point out.

There is no One Way. There are multiple paths to enlightenment. There are probably some absolute truths, but they are not religious truths. In the end, we each have to find our own truth, our own path.

As for me, my "religious" beliefs derive from unequal parts Catholicism, Judaism, music, science/social fiction, mathematics, physics, smatterings of other religions I've bumped up against in greater or lesser detail, my childhood worship of the rising sun, my silent communion with the stars, my once-upon-a-time belief that Frodo Lives and trees are conscious, my dream travels, my awareness of mind-body connections in my own life, the family lore that says that all females in our line have ESP, my innate severe skepticism and my life as a scientist. So... I'm conflicted. And I think I'm probably pagan. Then again labels are reductive, lose the richness of information, and don't really matter (except in that they help connect us to other like-minded people).

Newbie comment - ignore at will.
Permalink Reply by Jennifer Surdam on December 10, 2009 at 9:37am
It's interesting to me that you've posted this and gotten so much support, given that you felt people hadn't supported you previously, Morgan! I think you can put that argument to rest at this point, eh? LOL ;) My first thought was that I really haven't experienced anything related to it, as I've had very little problems feeling supported on this site--only ran into literally one person here who's been unfriendly. Everyone else has been supportive and kind, and very welcoming to boot! I think that is one of the things that's so great about WSI!

And my next thought WTH? How are people defining a "true" Pagan? Do THEY even have a clue? Cuz Paganism is a pretty broad umbrella term for so many different religions, it's kinda hard to have a real definition--the definition is AT BEST pretty loose! So to hear everyone else here tell you pretty much what I was thinking was good to see--it helped me to know that I wasn't blindly going around thinking one thing that wasn't accurate! :)

With all this support, I hope you're feeling better now?

Hugs and BB,
jen :)
Permalink Reply by Hexynwind on December 10, 2009 at 11:28am
Keep following your path....leave those who are negative to the side, they are not necessary in your adventure. I am Wiccan and I have my beliefs and many may say the same about me as they say about you...but it isn't what they say that matters at all, it is what is inside us, what we believe in that matters. Blessed be!

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