http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/PaganCo ... -Pagan.htm (http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/PaganCommunity/tp/Ten-Reasons-Not-To-Become-Pagan.htm)
QuotePeople beecome Pagans or Wiccans for a variety of reasons. Most of those reasons are pretty good - sometimes it involves a connection to the divine, a sense of coming home, or even just a gradual transformation. However, there are plenty of reasons that aren't so great. If yours appear on this list, you might want to rethink your whole spiritual journey and what you hope to get out of it.
1. I want to cast spells on people!
So there's a really cute guy you like, and you figure the best way to get his attention is to start flinging some hot and sexy magical mojo his way. Or maybe you lost your job, and you're thinking a spell aimed at your former boss is a great idea. Well, while both of these are things that you could do, that doesn't mean that you should. Although the majority of Pagans do incorporate magic into their spiritual practice, it's not generally the primary focus. If you're only interested in spellwork, that's fine - but keep in mind that the word work is a key component of that. There's a reason that not everyone in the world practices magic.
Also, keep in mind that some traditions of modern Paganism have guidelines regarding spellwork aimed at other people. Be sure to read about the ethics of love spells before you start targeting the hottie in the next cubicle.
2. I was raised Christian but now I hate going to church.
So for whatever reason, you've decided the Christian religion isn't for you. That's fine - everyone is allowed to evolve and grow and move on. However, if you're seeking out Paganism simply as an act of rebellion against your upbringing, you may find yourself disappointed later on. Many Pagans say they feel more at home in their spiritual path once they realized they were running TO something, instead of trying to get away from something.
If you were raised Christian, and now you're thinking about becoming Pagan, it's important to ask yourself why. Switching religions isn't like trying on a new pair of shoes, and often involves some degree of commitment on your part. Be sure you're exploring Paganism because it feels right to you - not because it seems wrong to your family.
3. I want to conjure up spirits! They're cool
So you read about some guy who conjured up a spirit to do his bidding, and he got all kinds of cool powers, and blah blah blah. Well, while working with the spirit world is something that some Pagans do, it's not something everyone does. And if you do decide to work with the spirit world, it's important to remember that they're not pets or playthings - just because you invoke a spirit doesn't mean it's interested in doing you bidding.
Many people do have spirit guides that visit them periodically - and there are a number of different types. However, if you're going to call upon otherworldly beings, make sure you do so safely. They can be hard to get rid of if you change your mind later on about having them as guests.
4. I'm a seventeenth-generation hereditary Wiccan.
Many people believe that they're descended from a long line of witches - and indeed, some people do have a few witchy branches in their family tree. However, just because someone in your family was a witch or Pagan doesn't automatically make you one by default. Also, it's important to remember that Wicca itself is a fairly new religion, created by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. That means that your great-great-great-great-grandmother who lived in Salem wasn't Wiccan. Also, that ancestor who lived in Appalachia and gathered herbs and was known as a cunning woman? Not Wiccan. However, she may well have been practicing some form of folk magic - much of which co-existed happily with Christianity for centuries. But she still wasn't Wiccan.
5. Everyone knows Pagans are really kinky and open about sex.
If you're thinking about becoming Pagan because it's going to increase your opportunities to get laid, think again. While many Pagans are pretty open about sex - and there are a lot of polyamorous Pagans - that doesn't mean we all want to sleep with you. Open-mindedness and tolerance of different sexual preferences isn't the same as promiscuity. Also, although some Pagan groups include ritual sex as part of practice, if ritual sex is performed, it is nearly always between two individuals who are part of an existing relationship already, and who are of equal levels of power within the dynamic of the coven.
If you want to have kinky sex, go have it. But don't use Paganism or other beliefs as an excuse or justification.
6. I want to be part of a religion that lets me do what I want.
Some people mistakenly believe that Pagan religions, specifically Wicca, are "do whatever you want" belief systems. While there's a lot of room for leeway in how people practice and what they believe, that doesn't necessarily mean you can do things that defy the laws of logic and common sense. For instance, if you want to worship Hecate, go right ahead -- but don't proclaim to everyone that you honor her as a goddess of love and beauty instead of one of sorcery and destruction.
Also, some established traditions do have guidelines in place. Many Wiccan groups follow the Wiccan Rede, and other Pagan belief systems may have their own set of rules. If you're joining one of these established groups, you'll be expected to follow their tenets. If you're starting your own tradition, or practicing as a solitary, you can create your own system - but make sure you establish some consistency in things.
7. People are mean to me, and if I'm a witch, they'll be scared to pick on me.
Um, no. If people are mean to you, they're going to continue being mean even if you're a witch. If you're interested in becoming Pagan just because it sounds spooky and scary, that's not a great reason. In fact, you could find yourself having even more problems if you walk around telling the people who are harassing you that you're now Pagan. If you're a student and you're being picked on - for whatever reason - you need to let an adult know so they can intervene. If you're an adult and you're being harassed by others, there are a number of ways to resolve the problem - call the police if it's your neighbor, speak to your boss if it's a co-worker.
Mean people are mean no matter what religion you are. Being Pagan isn't going to change that.
8. All Pagans are peaceful and loving, so I want to be one.
Many people enter into the Pagan community thinking that every event they attend will be full of sunshine and rainbows, with happy Wiccans frolicking in fields, hugging trees and singing Kumbayah. Then, unfortunately, they get a rude awakening when someone at the potluck dinner says something snarky about someone else, one of the Druids makes a comment about the Heathens, and the drum circle erupts into a brawl because the High Priestess' boyfriend drank too much.
Look, Pagans are people just like everyone else. We're not all sparkles and light, and it's unreasonable to expect everyone to be like that. Also, there are so many different sets of beliefs that you can't just assume everyone's going to be hugging it out in a giant gooey love-fest. Some Pagans are peaceful, others are not. But it's a bad idea to expect every single one of us to be exactly the same - you'll be sorely disappointed if you're operating under these misconceptions.
9. I have psychic powers. That makes me a witch.
No. It makes you someone who's psychically gifted. That doesn't necessarily make you witchy or Pagan. There are many people who have varying degrees of psychic abilities - and there are a number of ways you can develop these skills so you can use them in a positive way. Witchcraft, on the other hand, is a matter of practice. In other words, practicing witchcraft makes you a witch, while using your psychic abilities makes you a psychic.
10. I want to be like the girls on Charmed!
This email shows up in the About Pagan/Wiccan mail box about once a week. Charmed is a television show - you can't use magic to change your eye color, levitate, resurrect the dead, or any of the other amazing things that Phoebe and her sisters do. Likewise, The Craft and Harry Potter are make-believe too. While television and movies might have you believe that practicing witches do all this fantastic stuff, most of the time we're just hanging around trying to balance our checkbooks, prepare dinner for our families, get to work on time, and walk the dog.
:-k Does hocus pocus really work? 8-[ Solitary
I suppose the practice can be psychologically powerful...it could psych you up, give you a more confident attitude, that sort of thing; so it could be argued that it may have some positive effect in helping you achieve some goal or another. Or, any perceived benefits could be confirmation bias. Someone should do a study on that.
9. Should read "No, you should see a doctor".
It's interesting that the article combats two mutually-exclusive stereotypes: that witches are spooky/scary and that witches are peaceful/loving.
Quote from: "Mister Agenda"I suppose the practice can be psychologically powerful...it could psych you up, give you a more confident attitude, that sort of thing; so it could be argued that it may have some positive effect in helping you achieve some goal or another. Or, any perceived benefits could be confirmation bias.
Oh, you mean like any other religious belief.
Quote from: "Colanth"Quote from: "Mister Agenda"I suppose the practice can be psychologically powerful...it could psych you up, give you a more confident attitude, that sort of thing; so it could be argued that it may have some positive effect in helping you achieve some goal or another. Or, any perceived benefits could be confirmation bias.
Oh, you mean like any other religious belief.
Oh, like you mean like atheism as well. I am psyched up knowing I don't have a god watching my every move.
I saw nothing on Vestal Virgins.
I studied the occult for the same reason I studied engineering - I want to know how everything works.
My Spiritual Guide is a Thunder Bird---that's why I have such a bad temper. :shock: You can hear him when there is a thunder storm so I know he exists. :P :lol: Solitary
How about there is no reason to buy any superstition? Not Buddhist or Taoist or Hindu or pagan or pantheist or Christian or Muslim or Jewish. Not even new age si fi woo that the universe is a giant "simulation".
Crap is crap and bullshit is bullshit. Humans have a huge problem with accepting that this is it and we are finite and the universe does not give one fuck about the crap we invent to placate are childish insecurities.
Our best data to date as of now points to everything being a result of a natural process not requiring a prime mover or cause. I liken it to "all this" being nothing more than a weather pattern in which we are simply got lucky and manifested as a result of the local conditions over a long period of time based on NATURAL UNCAUSED SCIENCE.
I greatly contest #5. While there are a lot of bisexual Pagans, I've yet to meet any that are polyamorous. And believe me, I've tried to find one.
Quote from: "Solitary":-k Does hocus pocus really work? 8-[ Solitary
Not at my house. :rollin:
Quote from: "Broede"I greatly contest #5. While there are a lot of bisexual Pagans, I've yet to meet any that are polyamorous. And believe me, I've tried to find one.
There's a bunch near where I used to live - outside of Philly. Sooooo.... good luck with that. :-D :-D
I saw no mention of Tooth Fairianism so I'm rather disappointed. Since I became a faithful follower of her dental deity I've gotten a promise from the VA to pull my bad teeth and replace them with false teeth and my understanding is the Tooth Fairy is OK with false teeth. My old teeth will be used to make fossils out of to fool Christians into believing that maybe evolution is real.. Pretty slick, eh?
Quote from: "AllPurposeAtheist"I saw no mention of Tooth Fairianism so I'm rather disappointed. Since I became a faithful follower of her dental deity I've gotten a promise from the VA to pull my bad teeth and replace them with false teeth and my understanding is the Tooth Fairy is OK with false teeth. My old teeth will be used to make fossils out of to fool Christians into believing that maybe evolution is real.. Pretty slick, eh?
You'd need to let the powers that be in paganism that they've failed to include "ToothFairyism". Cause I have no power to see that it's included. K? LOL :rollin:
Quote from: "jansnyder"Paganism is something that atheists do, who are sick of Christianity and perversely need to believe in a fantasy of their own personal power, rather than the power of the divine or the loss of power they experienced in Christianity. They allow themselves to believe in magic intentionally.
Paganism isn't belief in magic, it's theism, but of religions not in the mainstream. The Romans considered Christians to be Pagans, since they didn't believe in the mainstream (Roman) gods.
Quote from: "jansnyder"Paganism is something that atheists do, who are sick of Christianity and perversely need to believe in a fantasy of their own personal power, rather than the power of the divine or the loss of power they experienced in Christianity. They allow themselves to believe in magic intentionally.
This can be a first step toward the realisation that atheists need civil rights and not magic.
#-o I'm warning you not to piss off the witch! [-X Unless you want this to happen to you. (//http://i.imgur.com/HDAKr3m.gif) :-$ Solitary
Quote from: "WitchSabrina"Quote from: "AllPurposeAtheist"I saw no mention of Tooth Fairianism so I'm rather disappointed. Since I became a faithful follower of her dental deity I've gotten a promise from the VA to pull my bad teeth and replace them with false teeth and my understanding is the Tooth Fairy is OK with false teeth. My old teeth will be used to make fossils out of to fool Christians into believing that maybe evolution is real.. Pretty slick, eh?
You'd need to let the powers that be in paganism that they've failed to include "ToothFairyism". Cause I have no power to see that it's included. K? LOL :rollin:
As Miss Fairy's sole representing entity on earth I grant you permission to pass along these sacred words.
5¢ please. :)
A penny for your thoughts AllPurposeAtheist? :wink: :popcorn: Got to go make supper and have a glass of wine. I'd have some pot too, but my lungs don't like it. :evil: Solitary
Quote from: "Mister Agenda"I suppose the practice can be psychologically powerful...it could psych you up, give you a more confident attitude, that sort of thing; so it could be argued that it may have some positive effect in helping you achieve some goal or another. Or, any perceived benefits could be confirmation bias. Someone should do a study on that.
Some people listen to this to get psyched up..
//http://youtu.be/EctftWOwHao
Quote from: "Broede"I greatly contest #5. While there are a lot of bisexual Pagans
I knew one fairly well, but she didn't describe herself as bi. Something more like, pan-sexual.
QuoteIf you want to have kinky sex, go have it.
Easier said than done. Unless there is something to that "wiccans are promiscuous" thing after all...
QuoteI want to conjure up spirits! They're cool
I heard they are stuck-up bitches.
QuoteDoes hocus pocus really work? 8-[ Solitary
I love that movie!
[youtube:2xhza7x3]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E816_PNfIVg[/youtube:2xhza7x3]
Ten reasons to be a Pagan:
Quote10 reasons to why I'm Pagan
1) Writing
The Pagans invented letters, writing, literature, fiction, fact books, even ink and printing press.
2) Surgery
Saves lives, and have been saving and improving lives since Pagans invented it a couple of thousand years ago. Pagans also invented the rest of medicine, or most of it. Thank a Pagan every time you go and see a doctor or take medicine.
3) Astronomy
and navigation, sailing, ship building, aviation, space travels, moon walk... all thanks to Pagans.
4) Democracy
The Greek had it, the Vikings had it... also freedom of religion, freedom of speech and practically all civil and human rights.
5) Tolerance
Multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance, openmindedness, curiosity, will and ability to learn... the Romans especially were amazing with their ability to adapt and adopt... Really, if you go to meet other cultures with the idea of that they are stupid, primitive and lesser wilds, you won't learn anything from them.
6) Drums
Frankly, Pagans "invented" all music, but drums are my favorite.
7) Visual art
Cave paintings might not be advanced, but they do engage you, even today... And the Greek sculptures... or Scythian sculptures. Or Indian sculptures, or Chinese or... well... most Pagan sculptures are amazing.
I fully appreciate the beauty of nature, but mankind has beautified the world.
8) Pantheon
or Newgrange, the seven wonders of antique world, Great Wall of China; or a lot of other Pagan buildings. Frankly, we have to thank Pagans for the fact that we have houses to begin with.
9) Animal husbandry
Thank Pagans when you pet your cat or dog.
10) Zero
and the principles of mathematics. But zero is... divinely beautiful in its perfection.
Also, Pagans invented the wheel, cooking, metallurgy and all the other crafts, agriculture, irrigation, laws and hundreds of other things. Heron inventor would be a reason in himself.
Also, mead. Claude Lévi-Strauss thought the invention of mead as a marker of the passage "from nature to culture".
Solitary
I can think of two good reasons not to be a witch....
(//http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t651/smartzie/supernaturalbro_zps5d6e275e.jpg) (//http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/smartzie/media/supernaturalbro_zps5d6e275e.jpg.html)
Sorry, I've been watching a lot of Supernatural lately....
Quote from: "missingnocchi"QuoteIf you want to have kinky sex, go have it.
Easier said than done. Unless there is something to that "wiccans are promiscuous" thing after all...
I won't speak for all wiccans but the only wiccans I know are in committed relationship with each other so the promiscuous label doesn't really apply to them. However I will also speak for several of our mutual friends who aren't really practicing wiccan but have attended several wiccan events with this couple. And if their experiences at these events are any indication, then there is definitely something to the 'wiccans are promiscuous' rumor.
Unfortunately, from what I understand there is also something to the '3 out of 5 in the wiccan community have herpes' rumor so I was never tempted to find out first hand just how promiscuous they were. Its also the reason I never tried to hook up with any of the skydive chicks that hung around the dropzone when I was working as a jump pilot.
Great list -- I've been exploring paganism off and on for some time now. I like the scenery and the garb, but I'm neutral about the beliefs.
I was born and raised pagan, eclectic to say the least. (Much less traumatic than what many here experienced, so I count that as lucky). Like so many others who spend half their lives shaking off ingrained childhood habits, I often find myself thinking, "Dammit, blowing out candles is FINE! Stop smothering them from superstition," or, "No fucking spirits are closer to me just because it's nearly Samhain" and other benign, but hard to kick habits. I'm more than halfway through an astrophysics program, have been an atheist since I was at least 13, and I still kind of think I could fairly call myself a Kitchen Witch. :D
Quote from: "Solitary"Ten reasons to be a Pagan:
Quote10 reasons to why I'm Pagan
1) Writing
The Pagans invented letters, writing, literature, fiction, fact books, even ink and printing press.
2) Surgery
Saves lives, and have been saving and improving lives since Pagans invented it a couple of thousand years ago. Pagans also invented the rest of medicine, or most of it. Thank a Pagan every time you go and see a doctor or take medicine.
3) Astronomy
and navigation, sailing, ship building, aviation, space travels, moon walk... all thanks to Pagans.
4) Democracy
The Greek had it, the Vikings had it... also freedom of religion, freedom of speech and practically all civil and human rights.
5) Tolerance
Multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance, openmindedness, curiosity, will and ability to learn... the Romans especially were amazing with their ability to adapt and adopt... Really, if you go to meet other cultures with the idea of that they are stupid, primitive and lesser wilds, you won't learn anything from them.
6) Drums
Frankly, Pagans "invented" all music, but drums are my favorite.
7) Visual art
Cave paintings might not be advanced, but they do engage you, even today... And the Greek sculptures... or Scythian sculptures. Or Indian sculptures, or Chinese or... well... most Pagan sculptures are amazing.
I fully appreciate the beauty of nature, but mankind has beautified the world.
8) Pantheon
or Newgrange, the seven wonders of antique world, Great Wall of China; or a lot of other Pagan buildings. Frankly, we have to thank Pagans for the fact that we have houses to begin with.
9) Animal husbandry
Thank Pagans when you pet your cat or dog.
10) Zero
and the principles of mathematics. But zero is... divinely beautiful in its perfection.
Also, Pagans invented the wheel, cooking, metallurgy and all the other crafts, agriculture, irrigation, laws and hundreds of other things. Heron inventor would be a reason in himself.
Also, mead. Claude Lévi-Strauss thought the invention of mead as a marker of the passage "from nature to culture".
Solitary
Not to rain on the parade, but "pagan" covers a pretty broad class of people (essentially everyone who didn't adhere to an Abrahamic religion). So yeah, one would expect a lot of inventions/innovations there.
And also, does the printing press inventor refer Bi Sheng or Gutenberg? Because I'm fairly certain Gutenberg was a Catholic. And he's the one credited with large-scale printing.
Quote from: "OtterPop"I was born and raised pagan, eclectic to say the least. (Much less traumatic than what many here experienced, so I count that as lucky). Like so many others who spend half their lives shaking off ingrained childhood habits, I often find myself thinking, "Dammit, blowing out candles is FINE! Stop smothering them from superstition," or, "No fucking spirits are closer to me just because it's nearly Samhain" and other benign, but hard to kick habits. I'm more than halfway through an astrophysics program, have been an atheist since I was at least 13, and I still kind of think I could fairly call myself a Kitchen Witch. :D
I think the whole "kitchen witch" idea came about because women used to be healers in their community, concocting remedies in their homes from various herbs, plants, and flowers. Then Christians came along, insisting that if God wants someone to recover from their sickness, he will do it himself, and if they die, it was God's will. They declared women healers to be witches who were concocting magic brews and casting spells on people, or conjuring demons. But it wasn't originally about Harry Potter-style magic, but about making people well and preventing illness using the abundance of natural remedies that are available almost anywhere. Modern pagans/witches/Wiccans think it's about doing actual magic with crystals and sage and whatnot. Good luck with that!
No, what I meant was that I was raised doing the types of shit you mentioned - herbal remedies and such, and even though I've long been parted from the religion, the old habits die hard.
This seems specific to wicca
Quote from: "dgirl1986"This seems specific to wicca
Now, pretty much. Our resident witch, Sabrina, has been absent. Don't know if we pissed her off- a possibility- or is she just got tired of the forum. She's missed, in any case.
The movement of Christianity into Europe was largely responsible for the end of naturalistic beliefs. In cultures like the Celts, women were held on equal terms with men and were often healers and keepers of herbal knowledge. Abrahamic beliefs are very much male dominated, with priesthoods and Imams and so on. The word pagan means anything not specific to the Abrahamic beliefs or specific Eastern beliefs, so it has become a catch all name.
As everybody knows, our holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter are all blendings of pagan and Abrahamic beliefs. What Christianity couldn't erase it absorbed.