wiccan (salvation, priest, pray, God)

[clay08]

Hey! I'm writing to you to give you advice on what you posted earlier... I dont think you should convert and become a wiccan. I understand that you grew up in a catholic church, but that is not real christianity. I encourage you to attend a baptist church or a church of that sort instead of a catholic one because they are completely different. I know that it is really hard to believe in a God that you cant see, but that is because he is so beyond our comprehension. You dont want to believe in a God that you can measure up to... God is supposed to be hard to understand... I encourage you to especially read the Bible. I used to have a hard time believe God was real, but I read the Bible and it is SOOO powerful. I will be praying for you and I hope that this letter has helped you. God bless.

[Idunn]

At such a juncture you might choose to follow many paths. Wicca is but one. But perhaps wise to question in advance where each respectively might ultimately lead you. Something you probably cannot fully know at the outset and you can expect to make many a mistake and more than few U-Turns. To be expected. But also in time with knowledge you will become just that much more adept at making choices which best suite your purpose.

But what is it?

You may not even know at this time. If ill at ease and wishing something more or other, it might take many forms. Perhaps no more than a more settled life, and such common things as love, affection and companionship. You might find these in many ways, with religious affiliation one possible avenue. But wise now and in time to question the extent of this.

Probably the vast majority of the religious, no matter the denomination, have little interest in the source of their faith. Rather, they welcome and worship it as a placebo that calms the innate questions that life must raise. At this many are very good and to that extent adequately serve their parishioners. But at best this an inadequate band-aid that cannot cover the full extent of what this life is, only in so far as one willing to acquiesce to dogma and look no further.

Although in the quietest moments the feeling remains.

Most if not all religions are at source precepts searching to understand the nature of this world and what we are. Most if not all have also long since evolved into a particular dogma that most adherents never go beyond.

If you wish something other, particularly in discerning who and what you are, Wicca may be for you. It is not the only path to such knowledge but one more likely than many to lead you in the proper directions. Here too beware there is dogma as well and inflexibility. But at its best it is far more. One might best understand it as a nature based religion that emphasizes our context within all else.

In looking you will find that while Wicca is religion it is closely entwined with Paganism, thence Witchcraft, thence Sorcery.

It would be a huge understatement to say even a fair percentage of your fellows understand the precepts of any of this. In ignorance they usually hold tight that learned since childhood in falsehood, fear and thence repulsion. The nature of what you deal with if you choose to enter into this. But what your fellows do not understand is that while witchcraft deals with lightness and darkness as a matter of course because this world is both, that in doing so this imbues a greater understanding that allows the insight that either might be chosen. In being subjective, either good or evil lies entirely in the heart of the individual witch.

Nature is both, kind and cruel. We as well. But embrace such a path and in understanding tolerance is usually born. With this all at your touch but most often worn softly and applied with judicious care.

So then once more the question of that you seek. If in play or serious. You might never know and be the happier for it, save possibly near death then regret. But if seeking yourself you are only claiming your birthright.

As light we might be so much more.

[FredNotBob]

Originally Posted by kaykay

Oh, and initially I started talking about "evidence" because the OP had said he might try Wiccan and then said he was having trouble believing what he couldn't see. That's how the "evidence" thing got started, skywriter.

In a way, what many of us mean by 'see' is that when we look around us, we feel that we 'see' what the Gods have created; we 'see' their work, and by extension, we 'see' the Gods (as many Wiccans feel that all of creation contains a 'divine spark' or an aspect of Their existance).

Sometimes, when I was Christian, I felt that my faith was somewhat 'removed' from the wider world; I went to church, I sang the hymns, and I went home. Very little was said about 'nature' or the world around me.

When I found this path, I suddenly became aware of very small things: the warmth of a light summer breeze, the sound of the wind and the water, the wonderous silence of a snowfall. Sounds cliche, I know, but...there ya go...

I guess what I'm trying to say, in my long-winded manner, is that I feel more connected to the world, and to my gods, through the natural world than I ever did sitting in a church.

That, in my opinion, is what *I* mean by 'see'.

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by clay08

Hey! I'm writing to you to give you advice on what you posted earlier... I dont think you should convert and become a wiccan. I understand that you grew up in a catholic church, but that is not real christianity. I encourage you to attend a baptist church or a church of that sort instead of a catholic one because they are completely different. I know that it is really hard to believe in a God that you cant see, but that is because he is so beyond our comprehension. You dont want to believe in a God that you can measure up to... God is supposed to be hard to understand... I encourage you to especially read the Bible. I used to have a hard time believe God was real, but I read the Bible and it is SOOO powerful. I will be praying for you and I hope that this letter has helped you. God bless.

I can't believe what I just read; or perhaps I can...

It's interesting to me to sit back and watch almost everyone try to convince the OP not to become a Wiccan and offer explanation as to why their man in the sky is better. I'm not being sarcastic either. It must be utterly confusing trying to pick out the right god.

Something I'd like to ask though, as I don't know much about Wicca. Do the Goddess and Father require worship? If so, what dictates as such? Why is it important to worship something that is seemingly greater? Are you really embracing the religion or belief in these deities or are you just trying to find a niched belief system that caters to your sociological needs?

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

[quote=GCSTroop;2230138]I can't believe what I just read; or perhaps I can...

I agree. I attend a Baptist church and I would never say that Catholics are not Christians! And I don't believe God is supposed to be hard to understand, just the opposite.

[aimhigh]

Originally Posted by clay08

Hey! I'm writing to you to give you advice on what you posted earlier... I dont think you should convert and become a wiccan. I understand that you grew up in a catholic church, but that is not real christianity. I encourage you to attend a baptist church or a church of that sort instead of a catholic one because they are completely different. I know that it is really hard to believe in a God that you cant see, but that is because he is so beyond our comprehension. You dont want to believe in a God that you can measure up to... God is supposed to be hard to understand... I encourage you to especially read the Bible. I used to have a hard time believe God was real, but I read the Bible and it is SOOO powerful. I will be praying for you and I hope that this letter has helped you. God bless.

Why not become Wiccan? Where is the harm? Btw, Wicca is a religion recognized by the Govt. as a real religion, just like Baptist, Catholic, etc.
I am not Wiccan. I chose to become a solitary Pagan. I searched for years to find a belief I could truly believe in. It took me many years to find out that I am a Pagan and when I did finally find my path I was overcome with relief and joy.
I have not read the bible cover to cover, but I have read some of it and it wasn't for me. Yes, there is wisdom in the bible, but once I became a Pagan, I understood much more about myself than the bible could ever show me.
I revere the Gods and Goddesses of Paganism. My church is my backyard, the forest, the ocean, etc. I see the Goddess in all nature. I can feel her,see her, smell her, etc. Once you really understand Paganism, you cannot understand how much you really feel like a part of nature. To me, Paganism is pure. There are no attachments, dogma, rules....except to harm none.
I am happy for you that you found your way to your God, but that doesn't mean the OP should follow the same path. Sometimes it takes many paths to finally find the one that will lead you in the right direction. I am so thankful I found mine.

[FredNotBob]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

I can't believe what I just read; or perhaps I can...

It's interesting to me to sit back and watch almost everyone try to convince the OP not to become a Wiccan and offer explanation as to why their man in the sky is better. I'm not being sarcastic either. It must be utterly confusing trying to pick out the right god.

Something I'd like to ask though, as I don't know much about Wicca. Do the Goddess and Father require worship? If so, what dictates as such? Why is it important to worship something that is seemingly greater? Are you really embracing the religion or belief in these deities or are you just trying to find a niched belief system that caters to your sociological needs?

The deities, however we see them, listen with open ears to any prayer or call for aid. Rather than being a 'required' thing, however, our rituals and prayers are by-and-large spontaneous -- anywhere that we cast our circle becomes 'sacred space', and any words and/or actions that are heartfelt and sincere will do.

Personally, I've never been entirely comfortable with the word 'worship', because it carries with it a certain weight. I prefer to say that I 'revere' the gods -- inaccurate, to be sure, but 'worship' feels too much like I'm grovelling, and I'm not certain the gods would want me to grovel.

As for whether we're really embracing the religion, I'd have to say that those Wiccans that I've met are quite sincere in their beliefs. To the sociological aspect: *all* religions cater to a sociological need, whether the message be 'Love thy Neighbor' or 'An it harm none, do what thou wilt'.

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by FredNotBob

The deities, however we see them, listen with open ears to any prayer or call for aid. Rather than being a 'required' thing, however, our rituals and prayers are by-and-large spontaneous -- anywhere that we cast our circle becomes 'sacred space', and any words and/or actions that are heartfelt and sincere will do.

Personally, I've never been entirely comfortable with the word 'worship', because it carries with it a certain weight. I prefer to say that I 'revere' the gods -- inaccurate, to be sure, but 'worship' feels too much like I'm grovelling, and I'm not certain the gods would want me to grovel.

OK, I think I understand what you're saying. Personally, I like the way you differentiated between 'revering' and 'worshiping'.

The reason people pray to God is so that he doesn't squash them like bugs. - House M.D.

[Tricky D]

"The reason people pray to God is so that he doesn't squash them like bugs." - House M.D.

I always thought that people worshipped God because they can only see themselves as bugs.

REVERENCE, n. The spiritual attitude of a man to a god and a dog to a man.

Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
US author & satirist (1842 - 1914)

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/12637.html

[aimhigh]

Originally Posted by FredNotBob

The deities, however we see them, listen with open ears to any prayer or call for aid. Rather than being a 'required' thing, however, our rituals and prayers are by-and-large spontaneous -- anywhere that we cast our circle becomes 'sacred space', and any words and/or actions that are heartfelt and sincere will do.

Personally, I've never been entirely comfortable with the word 'worship', because it carries with it a certain weight. I prefer to say that I 'revere' the gods -- inaccurate, to be sure, but 'worship' feels too much like I'm grovelling, and I'm not certain the gods would want me to grovel.

As for whether we're really embracing the religion, I'd have to say that those Wiccans that I've met are quite sincere in their beliefs. To the sociological aspect: *all* religions cater to a sociological need, whether the message be 'Love thy Neighbor' or 'An it harm none, do what thou wilt'.

Lovely post!
I agree with you regarding worship vs. revere. I personally prefer reverence or honor instead of worship.