I'm Wiccan. Ask Me Anything!

[Anonymous]

I don't believe that OP is really this nice of a person. I bet it's ruse to lure people in to reading about this barbaric topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe that OP is really this nice of a person. I bet it's ruse to lure people in to reading about this barbaric topic.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

LOL. Yes, we and our plant-growing, organic gardening, bird-watching wicked Wiccan ways.

Barbaric would be Christians slaughtering each other over transubstantiation, or Jews and Arabs slaughtering each other over... whatever it is today. True Wiccans don't harm people.

[Anonymous]

MarleySkye840 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why, but something about the whole Wiccan/nature-lover thing feels forced and false to me. Like the people doing it are trying to be something they're not. It really does seem like some form of mental illness.

Like most religions?

Do Catholics *really* believe that the wine turns in to Jesus' blood? Not that it is a symbol of his blood, but that it ACTUALLY IS his blood? Or do they just go along with it for shits and giggles?

Do some Jews *really* believe that eating Kosher is keeping you from mixing the milk of a cow with the baby calf? Because how likely is that, with the worldwide transportation of animal products?

So if you ask, do Wiccans *really* believe in the spells and forces of nature, it seems highly plausible.

I'm agnostic (after being raise Roman Catholic), and I respect all religions. I don't necessarily agree, but I respect it. So while it boggles my mind that educated people really believe in the "blood of Christ" thing, I respect that they believe that. I don't see why "paganism" is met with such disdain, it is just another belief. I can understand why an atheist may think that all these religions are BS, but as someone who has a belief in something, why are you going to discount the beliefs of a Wiccan?

You are operating under a false premise. I am Christian, however I am not Catholic. As such, while I take Communion I don't believe it is the blood of Jesus. Instead, it is all about symbolism. Taking part in Communion is about acknowledging His ultimate sacrifice. IMO, those who believe they are taking in true blood are not all there.

re: Jews. I have no idea. I'm not Jewish and don't observe any of their practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Yes, we and our plant-growing, organic gardening, bird-watching wicked Wiccan ways.

Barbaric would be Christians slaughtering each other over transubstantiation, or Jews and Arabs slaughtering each other over... whatever it is today. True Wiccans don't harm people.

Neither do "true" Christians/Arabs/Jews.

BTW, given that anyone can profess to be a witch and partake in all sorts of rituals, you can't really speak to what all Wiccans do. It seems like a fairly underground religion.

Which begs the question: If you are not ashamed of your faith, why not share that you are Wiccan with people? Or like that earlier lady in the thread,share it with her own HUSBAND?

[Anonymous]

Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Yes, we and our plant-growing, organic gardening, bird-watching wicked Wiccan ways.

Barbaric would be Christians slaughtering each other over transubstantiation, or Jews and Arabs slaughtering each other over... whatever it is today. True Wiccans don't harm people.

Neither do "true" Christians/Arabs/Jews.

BTW, given that anyone can profess to be a witch and partake in all sorts of rituals, you can't really speak to what all Wiccans do. It seems like a fairly underground religion.

Which begs the question: If you are not ashamed of your faith, why not share that you are Wiccan with people? Or like that earlier lady in the thread,share it with her own HUSBAND?

So... Israel doesn't represent true Jews? The actions of Israel against the Palestinian people aren't those of true Jews?

The nuns at "the Home" in Ireland, not real Catholics? http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/eight-hundred-dead-irish-children/

Saudi Arabia's systematic repression of women in their society... you wanna go to Saudi Arabia and tell them they aren't "true" Arabs? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/28/saudi-arabias-oppression-of-women-goes-way-beyond-its-ban-on-driving/

I've never done anything as a Wiccan that I am ashamed of. But I was raised Catholic for many years. Lots of shameful history there as far as my own feelings about my faith of origin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Yes, we and our plant-growing, organic gardening, bird-watching wicked Wiccan ways.

Barbaric would be Christians slaughtering each other over transubstantiation, or Jews and Arabs slaughtering each other over... whatever it is today. True Wiccans don't harm people.

Neither do "true" Christians/Arabs/Jews.

BTW, given that anyone can profess to be a witch and partake in all sorts of rituals, you can't really speak to what all Wiccans do. It seems like a fairly underground religion.

Which begs the question: If you are not ashamed of your faith, why not share that you are Wiccan with people? Or like that earlier lady in the thread,share it with her own HUSBAND?

So... Israel doesn't represent true Jews? The actions of Israel against the Palestinian people aren't those of true Jews?

The nuns at "the Home" in Ireland, not real Catholics? http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/eight-hundred-dead-irish-children/

Saudi Arabia's systematic repression of women in their society... you wanna go to Saudi Arabia and tell them they aren't "true" Arabs? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/28/saudi-arabias-oppression-of-women-goes-way-beyond-its-ban-on-driving/

I've never done anything as a Wiccan that I am ashamed of. But I was raised Catholic for many years. Lots of shameful history there as far as my own feelings about my faith of origin.

Being a "true" any sort of religion is not about where you're located, but rather how faithful you are to your faith. Surely, you know that, right?

I'm Christian and it would never enter my mind to be ashamed about my faith. The actions of misguided and evil people (who protest to be Christian) does not change God's Word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

Not too long ago? Really? That can't really be your answer for why you don't proudly declare your faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

Not too long ago? Really? That can't really be your answer for why you don't proudly declare your faith.

Oh, that "can't" be the reason? Well I'm sure you know best!

Take a look at this article on how the mere accusation of being Pagan can affect custody battles. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2011/08/religions-role-in-custody-battles.html

Judges can be prejudiced, too. It's still not safe to be a minority religion in this country. I don't feel safe. So that is my reason whether you believe it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

Not too long ago? Really? That can't really be your answer for why you don't proudly declare your faith.

(Not op)
A. Some if us believe our spiritual beliefs can be held privately. Sharing info on an anon forum is one thing, but in my day to day life, my spirituality is none of anyone's business and I don't share it with anyone I don't know well.

B. People still lose children in divorce, etc, due to being of pagan beliefs. Getting your job back after you get fired for not being mainstream religion takes time. I'm in childcare. I could lose my job tomorrow just because I celebrated Yule instead of Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

Not too long ago? Really? That can't really be your answer for why you don't proudly declare your faith.

Oh, that "can't" be the reason? Well I'm sure you know best!

Take a look at this article on how the mere accusation of being Pagan can affect custody battles. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2011/08/religions-role-in-custody-battles.html

Judges can be prejudiced, too. It's still not safe to be a minority religion in this country. I don't feel safe. So that is my reason whether you believe it or not.

I don't think that's the reason at all. I think you believe people will find you weird. I would never be able to believe and/or take part in a religion if I were not able to proudly proclaim it. Even by fear of death. There is no force that would make me denounce and/or deny my faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

Not too long ago? Really? That can't really be your answer for why you don't proudly declare your faith.

(Not op)
A. Some if us believe our spiritual beliefs can be held privately. Sharing info on an anon forum is one thing, but in my day to day life, my spirituality is none of anyone's business and I don't share it with anyone I don't know well.

B. People still lose children in divorce, etc, due to being of pagan beliefs. Getting your job back after you get fired for not being mainstream religion takes time. I'm in childcare. I could lose my job tomorrow just because I celebrated Yule instead of Christmas.

Again...I find the more you all post, the more unreasonable you become.

[Anonymous]

Here's an article about people hiding Wicca from the NYT...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/us/16wiccan.html?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of prejudice. Not too long ago, people accused of being witches were murdered in horrible ways. Pressed to death under stones. Drowned. Hung. Never mind other prejudice/harassment from neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Frankly it still does not feel safe to me to be a minority religion, especially given recent reactionary attitudes about "Christian persecution" and fearmongering regarding non-Christian religions - Not OP

Not too long ago? Really? That can't really be your answer for why you don't proudly declare your faith.

(Not op)
A. Some if us believe our spiritual beliefs can be held privately. Sharing info on an anon forum is one thing, but in my day to day life, my spirituality is none of anyone's business and I don't share it with anyone I don't know well.

B. People still lose children in divorce, etc, due to being of pagan beliefs. Getting your job back after you get fired for not being mainstream religion takes time. I'm in childcare. I could lose my job tomorrow just because I celebrated Yule instead of Christmas.

Again...I find the more you all post, the more unreasonable you become.

Well you are talking to more than one "unreasonable" person who fears going public with their faith.