Comments:

Bindyree aka Brin - 2008-12-06 17:47:05
Jeff, I have been a committed Pagan since the beginning of 1990 when I happened to date a Pagan guy with a great big bookshelf. I was also stunned in much the same way you have been. If you are afraid for your job just because you might be reading incorrect or unapproved materials? Perosnally if that happened to me, I'd have to take a look back into history and see where else suppression of becoming educated about alterative religious choices took place -- then I'd look around and see where it's happening today, worldwide. If you are interested in reading more about contemporary NeoPaganism, let me recommend 'Drawing Down The Moon' by Margot Adler; any edition of it you can find. I would never in a million skillion years get it into my head to convert you, so please know this is not and will never be my intent! But if you want to read more about it, let me know. You are a good guy who should never be told not to learn!
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ww - 2008-12-06 21:18:50
I was aware that many church traditions were based in Paganism, such as Easter and Christmas falling on winter soltice and spring equinox (I think?). My understanding was it was a way to transition pagans into the church. I wouldn't do anything rash as far as your leadership in the church. Think about it this way: has your *faith* changed or just your understanding of the church? If your faith in God is unaltered, perhaps the church aspect shouldn't mean so much? Appropriating symbols & methods from other religions doesn't mean necessarily bringing those religious *beliefs* along with their symbols & rituals. This is an apt but unpleasant example: the swastika started life as an American Indian hieroglyph, but how many people remember that when they see it? I don't think God is all that concerned with HOW we express our faith, as long as it isn't hurting people (despite those who say otherwise). If you decided that, to show your love for God, you wanted to bang a steel drum 4 times every morning at 5am, I don't think that He would find it any less valid, if your heart was truly in it. Hope any of this is helpful. Being rocked to your core is never easy or enjoyable.
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andy - 2008-12-07 17:35:49
You just made me feel better about missing church for about the 14th Sunday in a row. Maybe I ought to just gather up a group of my similarly disenchanted Christian buddies and decide we're all going to get together at somebody's house once a week for a time of worship, prayer, and Bible Study. It just might solve my problem, especially if it's at my house, and I don't have to worry about "getting there." Seriously, though, I would like to check out that book. I'm sure my landlady would too, as she is a believer who also has something of a chip on her shoulder on account of this subject. Ishtar, etc., Jesus not being born on December 25th, and so forth, are constant table conversations in this household. Grace and Peace, Jeff.
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Kathy - 2008-12-11 23:14:03
My last relationship was with a woman who became an active Wiccan during our time together (it is one of the reasons we broke up) and I knew all of this already. I hope you don't throw out the baby with the bath water! I do understand how you feel and I'm a black and white person, too. But things adapt and change and I don't think that it is bad that we do a lot of things based on the pagan traditions. I am NOT going to stop putting up a tree every year in December in my home! This all happened over hundreds of years hundreds of years ago. And while the original intent may have been to get pagans into Christianity, it certainly isn't that way now. I have been to a few Wiccan rituals and I have to say that none of it resembles anything we do in church or any church I've been to. So relax! I mean get your pastor to read it, but you don't need to change a thing you are doing.
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