asked a Pagan? (priest, rituals, moral, virginity, tradition)

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by gracie

what is the general pagan view of suffering- e.g why suffering exists, the purpose it serves, what humans can do about it...

thank you!

a brilliant question, thanks for this one!

why does suffering exist? suffering has many causes:

1) suffering caused by nasty people towards other people, this is sadly a result of nasty people having free will.

2) natural suffering, such as volcanoes, tornadoes, earth quakes etc hurting people in their way. i am no geographer/environmental scientist, but if volcanoes didn't explode, the pressure would mount up in the earth and the whole world would explode - natural evils are natures lesser of two evils.

3) disease, medicines can cure some diseases, releave the symptoms of others, but disease will always be apart of our world.

4) famine, the world powers have not yet gotten their act together and eliminated world poverty

5) war and conflicts will always exist so long as their are politicians.

in Christian theology, suffering is a *problem* because a God that is all loving and has the power to stop this suffering would surely stop it, but the suffering goes on - this is a *problem* because either God doesn't exist, or he is not all loving or all powerful.

in Pagan theology, this isn't really an issue, because not many Pagans claim their Gods to be all loving or all powerful, so really we just accept that suffering exists, and do what we can to help. does it serve a purpose? a tough question. i have grown through suffering the painful events of my life, if i hadn't suffered them i would not have grown to where i am now, a more mature person. but people suffer an aweful lot more that i do, i would never deny that - people die of hunger, thirst, disease every few seconds.

everyone has to die, that is a given, and it is impossible to assure you that your death will not be painful - but i think the general Pagan view is that life has to go on, it is good to do what we can to help but we have to do it, and we have to keep in mind that we can't do everything.

i think most Pagans would take a humanitarian approach to suffering, while some may believe the Gods work through the arts of Reiki and energy healing, and they may work towards comfoting those in need, it is ultimatley up to us to help those who are suffering.

[Mike182]

Mike, as a Goth yourself, do you see a connection between Goth culture, Occultism, and Paganism?

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by Mike182

Mike, as a Goth yourself, do you see a connection between Goth culture, Occultism, and Paganism?

Greetings young Mike, what a curious mind!

Goth culture is not in any way linked with Occultism or Paganism, however in my experience those who are involved in Goth culture are more open to accepting the principles that are the basis of Occultism and Paganism.

of course there are a lot of individual people who are open to Occultism and Paganism who are not involved in Goth culture, but as a group, Goths are the most open to Occultims and Paganism in my oppinion.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Mike182

the pentagram and the pentacle? the 5 pointed star is the pentacle, and the 5 pointed star with a ring around it is the pentagram - most jewlers put a ring around the pentacle because it just looks better, i wasn't aware of any Pagan related significance in this

I was under the impression that it was the other way around, that the pentacle had the circle and the circle was to represent a sense of unity within all five elements, tie them all together and such...

[ayani]

thank you, Mike! very much.

[Gentoo]

I actually have a question and would like another Pagan's input.

The purpose of the Wicca oath is to keep the coven and covendom a secret, break it and you have to face the wrath of the Goddess. As a solitary, I feel that it is unnecessary to take the oath, as there is no coven or covendom to keep a secret. What are your thoughts?

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I actually have a question and would like another Pagan's input.

The purpose of the Wicca oath is to keep the coven and covendom a secret, break it and you have to face the wrath of the Goddess. As a solitary, I feel that it is unnecessary to take the oath, as there is no coven or covendom to keep a secret. What are your thoughts?

I didn't know this, why is this? And do any pagans here do this?

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

I didn't know this, why is this? And do any pagans here do this?

The Oath is mainly for Traditions, to keep the group and it's members safe from people who might wish/do them harm. It's taken (at least in the Gardnerian Tradition) during a person's first Initiation after studying the art as a dedicant for a a year and a day. The Oath also bars members from talking about what goes on in the Circle as well, for much of the same reasons...