Wiccan Question (odd)! (rituals, tradition, beliefs, hell, atheist)

[Draka]

Originally Posted by FeathersinHair

It's only droning if people don't want to listen- and we do!

You're too sweet.

[Feathers in Hair]

Daisies! *happy dances* Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!

*joyously contemplates the flowers, before chomping down on them*

Curses! I've got to stop letting the Goat in my personality take over!

[Draka]

Originally Posted by FeathersinHair

Daisies! *happy dances* Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!

*joyously contemplates the flowers, before chomping down on them*

Curses! I've got to stop letting the Goat in my personality take over!

[Draka]

Feathers when are you going to come down here and visit us? You know you want to see the little and have a slice of . Maybe then we can in my yard .

[Feathers in Hair]

I'm all for that!

I've actually got some extra money for gas, and the van's just gotten a tune-up. (Which is the only reason why I haven't popped over to spoil James rotten a hundred times over already!) Let me get my mind together, and I'll PM you?

[Fluffy]

I just want to second the suggestions of those who have put forward pantheism. I am not an atheist but I am an extreme skeptic and this is pretty much where I am headed at the moment.

[Kcnorwood]

I'm new here so please bear with me on this. I have to agree with Draka on this, to be its like calling yourself a wiccan/christian. Most wiccans- Pagans show honor to a higher power & worship a detie/s. I dont think you can call youself one without believeing in something. I guess thats just me

[lilithu]

I don't personally know any atheist Wiccans (tho it wouldn't surprise me if they exist since I know atheist Christians). I do know a few atheist Pagans.

As for the suggestion that you consider pantheism, that's a great suggestion but would it fulfill all of your needs? What I'm asking is, do you just want a way to view the world and our relationship with it? Or do you want to participate in some type of practice?

For me, labels like atheist, pantheist, panentheist, theist, polytheist... are useful in that it gives some information on how we view the world and our relationship with divinity (or whatever it is you want to call what you revere). But those concepts are not in and of themselves a religion. Religions generally have practices that help the adherent to realize whatever goal it is that (s)he wants to realize, whether it's a closer relationship with God or being more mindful of the causes of suffering or remembering to be more respectful and reverent of nature.

I'm a panentheist, which is similar to pantheist but not quite. But being a panentheist in and of itself does not remind me on a regular basis to revere nature and life. (It's too easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget!) For that reason I participate in regular rituals on the solstices and equinoxes, to be mindful of the passage of the seasons and the rhythm of life, and I mark the cycles of the moom, and engage in personal reflection every day.

What is it about Wicca that attracts you? If it's just the way of viewing the world then pantheism may be just right for you. If you're also attracted to the rituals, then you're going to need something else - either Wicca or some form of Paganism.

[SquareC]

I don't honestly think there could be an atheist Wiccan, to honor the Lady and Lord (in whatever fashion, with whatever name) seems to me to be integral to Wicca. That may be my Alexandrian roots showing, though. My view of Wicca, though wide compared to some of the traditionalists, is a bit narrow to some. I honestly believe there are people out there who call themselves Wiccans but who are actually not. I'm not an exclusionary kind of person, I would never tell someone they don't have the right to call themselves Wiccan if they so choose. I may not agree with their reasoning, but they have every right to call themselves whatever they see themselves as being. A few of the more traditionalist Wiccans I've spoken with seem to feel that I "left the church" so to speak when I broke with Alexandrian tradition and left my initiating coven to explore my path further. I guess I'm a Wiccan heretic!