How did you become pagan (rituals, soul, pagans, pray) - Page 2

Draka · #11 06-05-2006, 04:48 PM

I was raised with Christianity, but can't really say that it was instructed or forced. My mother was always very open with things, never went to church, and believed in spirits, divination, and much more that is usually tied to Pagan faiths. I knew by the time I was around 13/14 that I didn't believe in the Bible or Christianity at all. Something was missing. I had my own beliefs but didn't know they fit into any religion until in my twenties. I had been browsing the religion section in a Barnes and Noble (I always have found different religions interesting to study) and was actually looking through books on Buddism when a book on Wicca caught my eye on another shelf. That was it. I started reading on Wicca and everything I was reading made total sense to me for the first time in my life. It was like I just found a name for what I always was. Since then, my knowledge and revelations have broadened my thoughts and beliefs further a bit beyond what Wicca covers, but I strive to define myself in a way that I see fit, not what others see.

Mike182 · #12 06-05-2006, 04:58 PM

wow... how did i miss this thread?

i was brought up in a christian family, my parents being sort of christian, kinda skeptical, with my Aunt being a fundamental christian directing them (along with me and my Brothers - older and younger)

i accepted her stories, and grew into her faith.... came to the age of about 12/13, asked questions, got answers that didn't add up - i got to about 15, and started completely rejecting christian dogma

through out all of that time though, there was something empty feeling about the whole thing for me, that i was missing an important message - that divinity is not somehting alien we must strive for whilest never actually reaching it, divinity manifiests itself throughout all of this world, a few google searches later (on "nature, earth based religions") i was concidering the pagan faith

FantasyDream · #13 08-04-2006, 11:54 PM

I was a Christian at first. I accepted some of the beliefs, but wasn't so sure about some others. After a friend told me about her religion (Wicca), I decided that an earth-based religion would be a better path for me. Since I was little, I was always drawn to nature. I read up a lot about Paganism and Wicca before I chose the Pagan path. It felt like I finally hit "home". Being a Pagan, I feel like I am one with the universe and closer with the deities. Deity isn't such an unreachable thing anymore. I know I made the right choice.

Mike182 · #14 08-05-2006, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FantasyDream

I was a Christian at first. I accepted some of the beliefs, but wasn't so sure about some others. After a friend told me about her religion (Wicca), I decided that an earth-based religion would be a better path for me. Since I was little, I was always drawn to nature. I read up a lot about Paganism and Wicca before I chose the Pagan path. It felt like I finally hit "home". Being a Pagan, I feel like I am one with the universe and closer with the deities. Deity isn't such an unreachable thing anymore. I know I made the right choice.

hoot! bright blessing on your journey!

kreeden · #15 08-05-2006, 02:25 PM

I'm not sure that I am . I grew up in the country , went to Sunday school , and of course grade school , etc . Never found all of the answers in any religion , or science , or philosophy . So , for me it is just a Path to discover who and what I am , and by doing so , discover who and what we all are .

But I feel that I fit the Pagan label better then most .

And if I must wear a label ....

Vigdisdotter · #16 08-08-2006, 11:39 AM

I was 18 and two things happened.

1) my girl friend brought a tarot deck to school an I was just enraptured with the idea and

2) I had the "joy" of spontaneously experiencing past life visions, specifically my death. So much fun that. Anyhow, it spurred me to look for the local pagans, whom I found and when I found them, it was a wonderful realization that people understood me, that I wasn't completely bonkers (just mostly :P) and that there was still so much to learn.

So I became eclectic pagan, then wiccan....now I'm heathen

Zephyr · #17 08-08-2006, 12:19 PM

A while ago I looked around at Wicca for a bit, but it was way too fluffy for me. It was just so inconsistant and fruity. After a while I read some stuff here on RF, and it got me curious about Asatru. I studied it a lot more and here you have it.

Draka · #18 08-09-2006, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyr

A while ago I looked around at Wicca for a bit, but it was way too fluffy for me. It was just so inconsistant and fruity. After a while I read some stuff here on RF, and it got me curious about Asatru. I studied it a lot more and here you have it.

Do you think it would be possible for you to do the kindness of not insulting a recognized religion in a forum that happens to include such a religion? You have qualms with Wicca then either keep it to yourself or take it to debate. This is not the arena to voice your insults.

Vigdisdotter · #19 08-09-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draka

Do you think it would be possible for you to do the kindness of not insulting a recognized religion in a forum that happens to include such a religion?

Not trying to speak for Zephyr, I doubt that insult was meant. I can understand what he means because that DOES describe a lot of books out there. And there is a huge difference between the "Wicca" found in books and that which is actually practiced by those who know the mysteries.

Zephyr · #20 08-09-2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vigdisdotter

Not trying to speak for Zephyr, I doubt that insult was meant. I can understand what he means because that DOES describe a lot of books out there. And there is a huge difference between the "Wicca" found in books and that which is actually practiced by those who know the mysteries.

Indeed. All I meant was that from my experiences it just really wasn't right for me. I'm sorry if I offended you. It was not my intention.