"Why Wiccans Suck" article (faith, Christianity, Christians, Christ)

[anami]

Originally Posted by niamhwitch

I thought Namaste meant "I bow to you"... where did you get your translation? Thats interesting.

There is your difference, the American based encyclopedia can not offer such a volume of information while saying it literally means anything. It contradicts itself by giving an option, and negates itself by saying that such a thing as a literal translation could be created.
Different translations come through Indians of one of the some 400 dialects of hindi sanskrit. Mine came from a southern dialect and passed through another human who stated it as he heard it when devoting himself as a yogi and studying Aurvedic medicine. It is a good one of the fourhundred or so possiblities even if you are speaking with a hindi speaking thought process. This is one of the good ways to understand it in an english speaking mind.

it only depends on how deeply the reverence goes.
Which comes from how the speaker intends it. The color to the word given by intonation.

Weikepidia gives not just bow to you (gotta luv 'merica) but also;

"Namaste literally means "I humbly bow to you," from the Sanskrit: Namas: "to bow, obeisance, reverential salutation", and Te: "to you".
A more exalted way to understand this word is to accept the following when greeting another one while bowing with both hands clasped together:

'The God in me greets the God in you

The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you'

In other words, it recognizes the equality of all, and pays honor to the sacredness of all."

Now if you want to go deeper into the reverence and accept that the person before you is as a guru with something to teach you, and change beginning in the self. You can then utilize this as a fuctional way to deal with your inner issues. That is the ultimate in humble respect. Use that interaction to better both and then yet the whole benefiting god. Anyway this proceeds down the rabbit hole quite a bit. Check out a Hindi mandala sometime and you will find they have quite a grasp on the depth in each moment or the sense behind the words.

[Quoth The Raven]

Originally Posted by anami

I will define Namaste here as, "I am the mirror of you you are the mirror of me." To say that that which we find either posative or negative in others is that which we love most or that bothers us most about ourselves.

Sounds like my mother and mother-in-law. They're virtually exactly the same person, but they hate each other because they can't see that what they dislike about each other are their own obnoxious personality traits.
I can understand the fact that this person gets irate about people who decide they're wiccan because they want to **** of their parents and being Goth isn't enough anymore, or they're watched Charmed and want to be able to 'orb', but gee, build a bridge already.
My Kendo instructor used to say of Kendo,'Many are called, few will answer.' Wicca I imagine is much the same.
Whatever initial reason people have for declaring themselves Wiccan, either they will have made a reasoned choice, have their illusions dashed and decide to find out what it's really all about, or lose interest and fall by the wayside. What you have left are the people who are doing things for what could be called valid reasons rather than shock value.
Perhaps the writer started out somewhat 'fluffy' and it's a time they look back on with a degree of embarassment.

[ahunting]

Hmmm....I read the first page that was linked. Although I thought it was written with a great deal of disgust and anger...there are many good points made. I must admit that when I was in an 'eclectic wiccan' coven, there were many times when I was attending a large gathering that I thought to myself:

"oh geez...give me a break, ok?"

I believe there are fanactics in every religion. I also believe that Wicca has become an escape for many misguided people. I can understand the author's reason for the website title, even though I don't agree with it. (if that makes sense...lol) He is right that many of the people he is referring to will be drawn to that site to defend what they believe and maybe, just maybe be enlightened. Unfortunately, that isn't the way to speak to peoples hearts. It will work for some, but for others push them farther away.

So, he did indeed wake up and realize he was disgusted with himself and how he was living and made changes. And then, began a cause to enlighten others.

Only one problem...to each his own. I really could care less if 50,000 teenagers are running around declaring themselves Wiccan/witches/or whatever. They, just like the author or even myself, might one day decide they have wandered down the wrong path or perhaps just caught up in hype. They may even stay where they are at and be quite happy with it.

I will continue to read his site. Maybe I'll learn something. Maybe not. You never know where or when you'll learn something. I think his motives aren't bad. His delivery is just a bit..um...rough.

Amy

[ahunting]

Originally Posted by niamhwitch

Also, I really dont like that when he said that if you wear obvious Wiccan jewelry or flaunt your religion that you are not a 'real' Wiccan. (I dont have a quote, but that was somewhere on that site... I have read that site several times and I know thats in there, I just dont want to search it at the moment lol) I dont think there is any problem 'flaunting' ones religion. Hell, Christians do it all the time... doesnt bother me any. I often wear a pentacle necklace (I have many... I make hemp jewelry and like to show it off... nothing wrong with that), I also have several Wiccan/Pagan patches on my college bookbag, my husband and I have Wiccan/Pagan bumperstickers on our vehicles, and we both have religious tattoos that other ppl can see. Does all that make us 'less' Wiccan or 'less' knowledgable about our religion? I dont think so at all. But anywho... look at me, now I am ranting LOL....

I forgot about that point when I posted earlier. When I was Christian, I wore a cross. For two years I wore a rune symbol around my neck and now have it tattooed on my chest. Why? Not to make people look at me and know I am a Pagan or because I was a Christian back then...but because it meant something to ME. These are expressions of who I am and what I believe and are significant to ME. Eh, but many people of all religions do use and wear such symbols and I mean tons of them just so other people will see them and then know without a doubt that they love God or JC or the Goddess or who or whatever.

Amy

[Shadow Wolf]

Ive seen that article before, I think someone from RF gave a link for when I first saw it.
I think the author mainly points a finger at what I call "fad-witches." People who get into Wicca, or any other religion that practices magick, for the wrong reasons. They get into it not for the spiritual reasons, but to fit in with some ignorant clique that likes to say things like "Im a witch, I have power, I can make your life pleasant, or make it hell, so respect me." The type of people who swear that there wiccan, but a clueless when you mention something basic, like an athame.

[Fluffy]

Ive seen that article before, I think someone from RF gave a link for when I first saw it.
I think the author mainly points a finger at what I call "fad-witches." People who get into Wicca, or any other religion that practices magick, for the wrong reasons. They get into it not for the spiritual reasons, but to fit in with some ignorant clique that likes to say things like "Im a witch, I have power, I can make your life pleasant, or make it hell, so respect me." The type of people who swear that there wiccan, but a clueless when you mention something basic, like an athame.

Maybe but who are we to judge what is right for these people? They don't just do it for the hell of it. It gives them comfort and a place in society and I'm not about to deny them that when they don't mean to cause offence.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

Maybe but who are we to judge what is right for these people? They don't just do it for the hell of it. It gives them comfort and a place in society and I'm not about to deny them that when they don't mean to cause offence.

I agree with you in principle fluffy, but they may not MEAN to cause offence, but they do so - obviously, to Luke wolf for one. English jurisprudence says that 'to be ignorant of a law is no excuse for breaking it' - I think there ought to be a similar 'thread' in society - from the conversations we've had, I'm pretty sure you'd agree.

[Fluffy]

I agree with you in principle fluffy, but they may not MEAN to cause offence, but they do so - obviously, to Luke wolf for one. English jurisprudence says that 'to be ignorant of a law is no excuse for breaking it' - I think there ought to be a similar 'thread' in society - from the conversations we've had, I'm pretty sure you'd agree.

Argh... I am in two minds over this but its like my brain keeps on switching between 2 extreme points of view as it sympathises with either side. Its so confusing.

I often liken this to that of a car crash. None of the drivers involved meant to cause it but they still chose to drive their cars. Its all a question of how much risk you take in causing harm to others and WHY that harm is being caused. If someone smashs into me then it is their fault but should I still take the blame because I chose to drive? Why do people take offense over these things? Am I going out of my way to insult, discredit or damage your religion? Maybe these feelings come more from your own insecurities than by any action on my part? I honestly don't know the answer to any of those questions even in the car crash scenario which I'm sure most people would find clear cut.

[Shadow Wolf]

Its not that im offended by it, just annoyed. To me, someone who studies the occult just to fit it isn't taking it seriously, and is disrespecting the spiritual realm.

[Fluffy]

Its not that im offended by it, just annoyed. To me, someone who studies the occult just to fit it isn't taking it seriously, and is disrespecting the spiritual realm.

I can understand your annoyance because it used to annoy me as well. And I agree that they are causing disrespect.