leaving the church (moral, theist, pagans, faith, moral)

[robtex]

What is expected of you and what do you do when someone leaves your church? Can you still be friends with them openly or only convertly. Or is either a non-option. What, accroding to your faith is your ethical and moral responsblity to them if they decide to leave your church and faith?

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by robtex

What is expected of you and what do you do when someone leaves your church? Can you still be friends with them openly or only convertly. Or is either a non-option. What, accroding to your faith is your ethical and moral responsblity to them if they decide to leave your church and faith?

How good of friends are you with them?

[robtex]

binyamin it is a hypothical not a real life senerio. In your belief system what is the generally accepted notion and how close do you stick to it?

[Feathers in Hair]

I'm not sure what there is formally written about 'how to treat' people that turn from paganism to other paths. I've never resented anyone nor questioned their motives in choosing another belief-system, and I would be suspicious of any group that thought I should treat a person differently if they did. My ethical and moral responsibility would be the same to them as if they hadn't left- to respect and celebrate them, and to remind them of who they are if they need it.

The only thing that seems to be commonly held is that if a person leaves a coven or group, that they will not divulge the people who'd been members of the group to other people. Of course, since this is also a spoken/ unspoken rule of most groups for people that aren't 'out of the broom closet' anyway, it's not that much of a change.

One does always hope that the person leaving doesn't decide to lie about the group they were in or the path they followed. (For example, saying that infant sacrifices happened, or dancing with goats.) (Actually, the former will occasionally happen, but only because goats are so charming and such good dancers.) There's usually a bit of resentment toward the person if they do that, but I think that's more due to human nature than the path itself.

[standing_on_one_foot]

Well...if you asked some people, they'd say you couldn't really stop being a Jew. I don't think you can do it passively, at any rate (you have to convert to something, not just stop being Jewish). Mind you, if a Jewish friend of mine were to convert to another religion, I'd consider them part of that religion, and I'd like to think it wouldn't affect our friendship (although I can't see any of my Jewish friends converting, honestly), so long as they didn't try to convert me too.

It's all a bit complicated. Anyone know more about how Orthodox Jews would see it? Mostly I've got the Reform view.

[robtex]

Feathers, Pagan is popular in Austin and down here if someone leaves the covenent they are treated the same as they were when they were in. Nobody seems to question or hassel them around here. They can rejoin later if they wish or not. It is one of the most non-judgemental groups I have ever seen. Because of the religious pluralism of Austin there doesn't seem to be a "secrecy code" with them and many Pagans are very open about their faith. Members are free to come and go as they please it seems no questions asked.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

Well...if you asked some people, they'd say you couldn't really stop being a Jew. I don't think you can do it passively, at any rate (you have to convert to something, not just stop being Jewish). Mind you, if a Jewish friend of mine were to convert to another religion, I'd consider them part of that religion, and I'd like to think it wouldn't affect our friendship (although I can't see any of my Jewish friends converting, honestly), so long as they didn't try to convert me too.

It's all a bit complicated. Anyone know more about how Orthodox Jews would see it? Mostly I've got the Reform view.

If my understanding of Judiasm is accurate, a person born from a Jewish woman is a Jew for life to the Jews irrgardless if they leave or not. Judaism traces it's linage through the woman as opposed to the man. If they lose a belief in God they are seen as secular jews by theist jews.

From the Jews in Austin it seems they can leave as they please with no questions asked but since membership predicates an educational, and spirtual committment re-entry may be difficult.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by robtex

What is expected of you and what do you do when someone leaves your church? Can you still be friends with them openly or only convertly. Or is either a non-option. What, accroding to your faith is your ethical and moral responsblity to them if they decide to leave your church and faith?

In my Church, it would be entirely appropriate to continue to be friendly with this individual. We don't ostracize those who leave the Church or anything like that.