Pagan betta lovers!

[MaisyDawgThirteen]

Originally Posted by ballyhoo

This right here is the number one problem of all religions. It's not a contest of who can corrupt the most, it as about teaching understanding and faith not hatred and prejudice.
I was raised a catholic, but I don't like to associate myself with the catholic belief of bigotry. I am pro choice, and I believe in marriage rights for all. I may have been raised a strict catholic but my parents taught me that there is more to my religion than to put down and condemn others. I was taught to accept, to forgive, and that "those without sin may cast the first stone". Would I have an abortion? No, never. Would I marry a woman? No. Does that give me the right to refuse that to others? No it does not.

+1

[thekinetic]

Being gay and a witch my contact with christians is jaded at best. I've been deep into the spiritual side of humans and just can't believe in what is preached now. I've even seen the other side and this I'll tell you is nothing like what is said to be heaven or hell.

None the less I respect others' beliefs and ignore the ones who are corrupt.

[homegrown terror]

Originally Posted by MoonShadow

I consider myself a solitary eclectic wiccan. Which means I practice my religion as an individual, rather than as a member of a larger organization and the dogma of my religion has been shaped and molded by numerous other traditions.

i think you'd fall under the heading of Shamanism, basically someone who takes their beliefs purely from themselves, and leads other when they ask, but doesn't try to either follow or force anyone else to follow.

Originally Posted by thekinetic

Being gay and a witch my contact with christians is jaded at best. I've been deep into the spiritual side of humans and just can't believe in what is preached now. I've even seen the other side and this I'll tell you is nothing like what is said to be heaven or hell.

None the less I respect others' beliefs and ignore the ones who are corrupt.

i too respect everyone's right to believe what they do, but i also demand that they afford me the same right :)

Originally Posted by ballyhoo

This right here is the number one problem of all religions. It's not a contest of who can corrupt the most, it as about teaching understanding and faith not hatred and prejudice.
I was raised a catholic, but I don't like to associate myself with the catholic belief of bigotry. I am pro choice, and I believe in marriage rights for all. I may have been raised a strict catholic but my parents taught me that there is more to my religion than to put down and condemn others. I was taught to accept, to forgive, and that "those without sin may cast the first stone". Would I have an abortion? No, never. Would I marry a woman? No. Does that give me the right to refuse that to others? No it does not.

i may catch hell (heh) for saying this, but that is a wonderfully uncharacteristic view for a catholic. i too was raised catholic (Irish catholic, no less) and to this day there are members of my family who i don't associate with because even at the age of 29, they think they can lure me back into their flock. they can't accept that this is one lamb they won't lead to the slaughter.

[ballyhoo]

Originally Posted by homegrown terror

i think you'd fall under the heading of Shamanism, basically someone who takes their beliefs purely from themselves, and leads other when they ask, but doesn't try to either follow or force anyone else to follow.



i too respect everyone's right to believe what they do, but i also demand that they afford me the same right :)



i may catch hell (heh) for saying this, but that is a wonderfully uncharacteristic view for a catholic. i too was raised catholic (Irish catholic, no less) and to this day there are members of my family who i don't associate with because even at the age of 29, they think they can lure me back into their flock. they can't accept that this is one lamb they won't lead to the slaughter.

Thank you :)
I can't say that I wish to continue my life as a catholic, I enjoy the smell of outside much much more than incense... it doesn't really make much sense to me yet

[homegrown terror]

Originally Posted by ballyhoo

Thank you :)
I can't say that I wish to continue my life as a catholic, I enjoy the smell of outside much much more than incense... it doesn't really make much sense to me yet

not to sound like a mormon but you might wanna try reading one of the Eddas (the Poetic Edda is a lot harder to follow, you might wanna start with the Prose Edda) and see if you see what i do in it. just remember to keep an open mind, and if you just find a book of interesting stories, that's fine as well, it's a great read even if you don't believe a word of it :)