religious discrimination

extraaction · November 22, 2017, 02:29:03 AM

Few things bother me more than a member of a mainstream religion oppressing a spiritual minority and attemptiing to illegitimize their beliefs simply because their beliefs are challanged. It's the same kind of intellectual cowardice I faced my whole childhood because I dared to question the beliefs of the authority in charge of me (right wing, pray the gay away type christian parents). My voice is silenced by the boot of those that hold minimal power over me. I am prevented from discussion with a community of people who share a common affliction

I've been a pagan for a long time, and while I don't belong to any pagan community, when I meet others I like to have discussions. I refuse to discriminate against christians, though there is a lot of malice held for christians by a large number of pagans. Some of it is for the christian church's oppression of minorities throughout history, though much of it is also held for modern wrongs perpetrateed by christians in the name of Christ.

I've never been helped in a time of need by another pagan, but TRUE christians have aided me time and again, knowing that I don't believe as they do.

But today I had an exchange with someone who continuously attempts to illigitimize my beliefs simply because we believe in different things. I found myself truly dissappointed by this religious intolerance by a member of the mainstream

MaryT · November 22, 2017, 08:31:10 AM

I regard myself as Christian and I am sorry that someone claiming to practice a mainstream religion has made you feel bad.

I personally regard paganism as a mainstream religion, as I think that major polytheistic religions such as Hinduism have much in common with pagan religions of the past and present (I am happy to be corrected by anyone who disagrees). Many people nowadays seem to have forgotten that paganism was a major European religion until at least 1386, when the powerful Lithuanian Duke Jagiello agreed to convert to Christianity in exchange for the throne of Poland (Lithuania and Poland were both much larger and more powerful in those days).

To me, the story of the Good Samaritan makes it clear that the Christian position should be that God is far more interested in people having compassion than in having any particular religious beliefs or rituals.

extraaction · November 22, 2017, 09:07:37 AM

thanks. I've studied many a tradition, and despite it all I've tended to believe that God (or Allah, or Universe, or Source) judges hearts and souls before dogma and rituals. I appreciate your post.

I never felt pagan was even the proper term for what I am, but it's about the closest I can get without doing two pages of explaining my beliefs mildly in depth. It's pretty clear that a) it's unwelcome here and b) even if I felt it were welcome I don't think anyone would much care to read or discuss said beliefs.....

but I guess the reason I feel paganism isn't mainstream is because there are so many pantheons, that the majority of paths that fall under the catchall term of pagan are usually pretty small minority religions; though you made a great point with Hinduism.

again thankis for your kind words. I should have known better than to expect the same rights online that I carry in my home country

ToniB · November 22, 2017, 09:16:22 AM

I have to add a note of positivity to this discussion I am a member of an Anglo/Catholic church that has fully accepted Me as a transwoman .I attend church in a skirt or dress I have communion every week .I do the teas and coffee after mass and this is not a modern happy clappy church the average age is about 70 but I have had nothing but support from the Clergy and parishioner's

extraaction · November 22, 2017, 09:37:27 AM

must be nice to have an accepting body to celebrate a faith with. I am not a christian, and even if I was accepted for my identity at a church, I would not be accepted because I personally don't see christ as the be all end all get out of hell free card. (no offense to christians, this is a valid possibility, just one I personally reject)

I like to have someplace to discuss what I do and feel in regards to spirituality. It keeps my faith from stagnating when by discussing faiths, say a christian or jews beliefs could challange me or introduce me to new concepts that sharpen my faith. I find when people go about religious discussion or debate with an open mind it is an opportunity for both to walk away stronger. But if I go to find a group of people who celebrate faith together in my local community I get ostricized for being trans, or they are only interested in converting me, not really engaging in intellectually stimulating discussion. My Catholic wife is the only person I've had for years I could do this with, and I wish I could broaden my horizons. After seven years we can only challange each other so much.

If anyone with strong faith who enjoys religious disussion without tossing accusations or attempting to convert someone reasonably comfortable in their faith, I'd love to chat. But if someone is interested in stimulating discussion or debate without malice or conversion drop me a line at my openly publiic email (the one I'm not afraid to offer up on a message board). EVERY FAITH/BELIEF SYSTEM WELCOME. The greater number of ideas and beliefs presented the more opportunity I have to reconsider or fortify my beliefs. And feel free to discuss all spiritualities that are familiar. I adore someone who can play Devil's Advocate well

bathtub.alchemist@gmail.com