Witch Willows WanderingsChristians -VS- Pagans Round 200,000
December 7th 2006 21:21
Here we go yet again, another problem in a public school where it is the Christian righteous versus the Pagan heathen. According to an article in a Charlottesville Virginia news line, a group of Christian students had tried to pass out flyers at Hollymead Elementary School a while back that had to do with vacation bible school. They were trying to use the “backpack mail” process where the kids take info back home to the parents. But because the school had rules in place forbidding it, they were not allowed to do so. UNTIL a father of one of the children contacted Jerry Falwell to go after the county. At that point, the school board reversed their decision and allowed the distribution of the flyers, and deemed it okay for all religious groups to do the same.
So now enter the Pagans. A local Unitarian-Universalist church decided to go the same route for this holiday season and pass out flyers for a local celebration. You can already see where this is heading, right? More or less parents and local Christian church pastors tried their best to “play nice” and then of course add their derogatory thoughts and comments into the mix. A local Christian woman named Cathy posted some comments on her blog. This is what she had to say about the invite:
“The sender(s) of this information call it an "educational program for childeren [sic] of all ages." Well, this "educational program" is to be followed by a pagan ritual. That's an educational experience my children don't need.
I don't know -- yet -- what to do or who to talk to but I will not step aside.”
I have an idea what she can do about it. How about stop complaining about it for one? I would like to thank her for promoting the upcoming event on her blog site by writing about it though, even though it is in the negative. But seriously, when are Christians going to start playing nicer with the rest of the world? Yes, Christianity is one of the biggest religions in the US but in the rest of the world it is not. They need to get off their high horse and just calm down. I know, I know…there are also wackos and the outspoken in the Pagan community as well. It just seems there are more in the Christian following than the Pagan following.
So let’s look at another example of a response to the flier. This is what Pastor Jeff Riddle of a local church said on his blog. Does everyone on the planet have a blog now or what???
“This kind of note adds weight to the argument that it is high time for Christians to leave public schools for reasonable alternatives (homeschooling and private Christian schools).”
And
“note the zeal of pagans to "take back" Christmas.”
He also went as far as warning Christians against pushing the act of returning prayer to school. He said if this happened then there was no assurance that it would be a Christian leading the prayer. It could be *gasp* a Pagan! Oh what ever! I’m starting to reach my limit with all of the Christian fundies waging war against everyone but their own.
Here’s an example of why I’m starting to really dislike the Christian fundies: Isn’t it ironic that some Christians look down upon Muslims, when some Muslims have been known to make comments such as everyone in the world needs to convert or be damned or slain? Sounds ironic to me. I know that was an extreme example but Christian evangelicals are notorious for trying to convert people at any cost. It’s sad that even around the holiday season they can’t stand to show any love, peace, or acceptance to anyone but their own kind of “people”. It’s a never ending battle, and even after all of the work that has been done lately to bring everyone together, I still can’t see an end in sight. I have posted the link to the flyer below. Please take a look at it and notice that it does state “Come for one OR both parts and bring your curiosity”. So it’s not like they were trying to fool anyone into coming for the entire celebration, especially since they stated that the ritual would FOLLOW. And if anyone lives in this area, please give your support and try to attend!
Pagan Flyer
Blessed Be
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Luna Mondlicht
An' it harm none, blessed be.
Comment by Anonymous
Blessed Be
White Willow
P.S. We try to respect all religious beliefs...yours too, however I regret to say that there is no such reciprocity issuing from other religions. If pagans sound a wee bit bitter toward your religious cause, it's probably because many of us came from a non-pagan background and found it, at least for us, to be lacking.
Comment by Lunalia Mondlicht
Comment by Anonymous
I'm one of that little group of people you hardly ever hear from, the "unbeliever" with no agenda to push, just wish everyone would get on with the real world and stop trying to tell me about their own personal imaginary friend in the sky.
Most seem upset if they are questioned in their belief, while they also are quite good at questioning anyone else who thinks otherwise. Indeed, most of the believers that I know personally are happy to just get on with their lives. It's the extremes at both ends of all these systems that seem to be the ones doing most of the shouting at each other. It's really sad to see so much energy and time wasted by so many on these invisible father figures in the sky.
Comment by Anonymous
You're the one who visited this site and by your own admission, after such a long time since the original post. Why even bother to post at all? Be content in your NON belief and get on with it. Or could it be you're actually looking or some validation in which you could become a believer???
Nothing in this universe is an accident, there is a grand design to everything...call it mathematics, magic, religion, it doesn't matter...but there is more here than can be pooh poohed away.
But it matters not, I prefer to believe in something, than walk on a path of anonynimity, with nothing but the here and now...my non belief like a black cloak to enshroud me...but small comfort that. Finding that there is no grand design, no deity to guide us, no afterlife, no angels, no spirit guides, no ghosts of departed souls...Yet, I respect all religions, do not force myself on others, if they seek to know, they will ask me...I offer what I know and what I "believe" and if that's wasting energy...guilty as charged. My invisible god and goddess don't care and neither should you..
Not Anonymous...Michelle White Willow
p.s. this strain was started long before I became moderator of the site. however, I got the message that someone left a comment on my site...
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Comment by Witch Willows Wanderings
Alternative Faith
Why Aren't You Pissed Off?
.. It makes not one iota to me what you believe or don't believe...You found MY Site...I didn't go looking for you. But I choose my battles, my anger is reserved for those things that are worth getting angry over.
I'm always willing to discuss "reasonable alternatives" with resonable people. You have a chip on your shoulder, and it is clear that no conversation with you would end on a satisfactory note for either one of us. There's a lot more I'd like to say, but why bother..clearly it is a waste of my time and yours...so with that I wish you a happy life. I'll take my "invisible flying pink unicorn" any day...
Blessings to you...
Michelle Whyte Willow
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Michelle Whyte Willow
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