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Why should I hide my beliefs?

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
I personally think you can do whatever you want so long as its legal, decent and honest. Unfortunately there are others who think people can do whatever they want so long as they agree with it. I have always found a percentage of christians are nasty, vindictive people and have learned to stay out of their way


some people don't like it when you question authority



 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
Well, Satan is seen as evil in Christianity so I suppose there's no way around that. You can't change how people will respond to you. That doesn't mean people should mistreat you over it.
I understand. I just wish they'd try at least to understand my beliefs or at the very least admit they dont want to understand and drop the topic rather then try to force me to not practice my beliefs. I would never do that to them so why do it to me? I agree people should never mistreat someone on the basis of religion.

Edit: can you explain their problem with me worshipping pagan gods and why they feel the need to try to stop me when I would never stop them from worshipping their's
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
@ChristineM reminded me that I've been meaning to post on this topic when she commented this on my previous thread My religious journey so far in response to me saying I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer


Why should I hide my beliefs? Why is it as a pagan I am always told not to put up an altar or pray to my gods in a room where there are Christians? This goes for outside the group home too. People often speak of freedom of religion. But the moment I practice my beliefs whether it be pagan or in this case satanic I am immediately told that it's offensive to christians to practice my beliefs around them just because I believe differently. Why is that?


Do you have shelves in your room that maybe has pictures or a table with a television? You can have a portable altar (or even in the restroom) and when you're done praying, just pack it up.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
Do you have shelves in your room that maybe has pictures or a table with a television? You can have a portable altar (or even in the restroom) and when you're done praying, just pack it up.
Oh I'll just not say who its for. The people at the group home already know I am a pagan.
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
I understand. I just wish they'd try at least to understand my beliefs or at the very least admit they dont want to understand and drop the topic rather then try to force me to not practice my beliefs. I would never do that to them so why do it to me? I agree people should never mistreat someone on the basis of religion.

Edit: can you explain their problem with me worshipping pagan gods and why they feel the need to try to stop me when I would never stop them from worshipping their's
A lot of Christians view pagan deities as demons who are lying to people. I personally have more nuanced views about it, myself, but many don't.

Let's be honest, it really sucks to be a religious minority anywhere. I am a religious minority, myself. I live in Ohio and was Catholic. I spent much time arguing with and being insulted by Protestants over my beliefs over the years. Now I am drawing closer to Orthodox Christianity and that will make me even more of a misunderstood minority than being Catholic. Most people don't even seem aware of the existence of Orthodoxy, as basically everything but Protestant and Catholic is ignored. People are very sheltered.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
A lot of Christians view pagan deities as demons who are lying to people. I personally have more nuanced views about it, myself, but many don't.
May I outta curiousity ask what your views are? Feel free not to answer. I feel it might be complicated due to you using the word nuanced.
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
May I outta curiousity ask what your views are? Feel free not to answer. I feel it might be complicated due to you using the word nuanced.
Well, as a monotheist, I do not believe they are deities as I believe there is only one God. However, some of them can be angels that people started worshipping, some can be what could be called nature spirits, some are ancestors and other deceased people, etc. Some deities people worship are demons, I feel, depending on what they're influencing you to do. Hell, there's people who do actually worship demons.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
Well, as a monotheist, I do not believe they are deities as I believe there is only one God. However, some of them can be angels that people started worshipping, some can be what could be called nature spirits, some are ancestors and other deceased people, etc. Some deities people worship are demons, I feel, depending on what they're influencing you to do. Hell, there's people who do actually worship demons.
Thank you for your answer.
 

SigurdReginson

Grēne Mann
Premium Member
Hmmm... As an atheist in a predominantly christian nation, I've definitely experienced pushback on my beliefs and have had to adjust what I can and can't do and say according to that pushback.

Most christians in the US can look at someone who is an atheist and just find disagreement or someone who has been mislead by satan. At worst, they might think that an atheist is a selfish or spiteful person who wants to tear down christianity, but they don't usually think there's anything demonic about atheists (usually).

With pagan practices it's even worse - especially with satanism. With paganism, many christians here think that their practices are demonic, and they conflate paganism in all of it's forms with witchcraft... And the bible says many things in relation with witches. As for satanism, they usually just think that someone is in league with the devil at that point.

How much power do these people have over your life and what you can and can't do there? As long as they have some kind of power, it might be wise to hold back on some of your practices (or to be more private with your practices) until you are able to more freely do as you please without as much pushback.

Now, I just want to reiterate that not all christians in the US believe as I mentioned above. The majority definitely do, though.
 

A Vestigial Mote

Well-Known Member
@ChristineM reminded me that I've been meaning to post on this topic when she commented this on my previous thread My religious journey so far in response to me saying I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer


Why should I hide my beliefs? Why is it as a pagan I am always told not to put up an altar or pray to my gods in a room where there are Christians? This goes for outside the group home too. People often speak of freedom of religion. But the moment I practice my beliefs whether it be pagan or in this case satanic I am immediately told that it's offensive to christians to practice my beliefs around them just because I believe differently. Why is that?
In my opinion, it goes something like this: "Do as you will, but be prepared for any and all backlash."

So, in the case of religion - sure, you can be open and honest about everything you believe, etc. But if someone is keen on challenging you, then you need to be ready to defend yourself, display your rationalizations for doing as you do, or believing as you believe - especially if you are the one who brought it to their front door.

And in the case that you aren't ready to defend yourself, or you don't have those rationalizations and good reasons shored up for that defense, then the best thing you can probably do if you are worried about reprisals is keep it to yourself.

It isn't about telling you "you can't do this" - it is about making sure you are prepared for the pushback you most certainly will encounter if it is probable that your activities or beliefs will be judged by some as unjustified.
 
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VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
In my opinion, it goes something like this: "Do as you will, but be prepared for any and all backlash."

So, in the case of religion - sure, you can be open and honest about everything you believe, etc. But if someone is keen on challenging you, then you need to be ready to defend yourself, display your rationalizations for doing as you do, or believing as you believe - especially if you are the one who brought it to their front door.

And in the case that you aren't ready to defend yourself, or you don't have those rationalizations and good reasons shored up for that defense, then the best thing you can probably do if you are worried about reprisals is keep it to yourself.

It isn't about telling you "you can't do this" - it is about making sure you are prepared for the pushback you most certainly will encounter if your activities or beliefs are probable to be judged unjustified.
This is great advice.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Just a little numbers game for @PureX to consider

download (5).jpeg
 

Vee

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
@ChristineM reminded me that I've been meaning to post on this topic when she commented this on my previous thread My religious journey so far in response to me saying I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer


Why should I hide my beliefs? Why is it as a pagan I am always told not to put up an altar or pray to my gods in a room where there are Christians? This goes for outside the group home too. People often speak of freedom of religion. But the moment I practice my beliefs whether it be pagan or in this case satanic I am immediately told that it's offensive to christians to practice my beliefs around them just because I believe differently. Why is that?

Lets talk context, ok? If you ask to come to my house and put up an altar to Lucifer in my living room, the answer will be a big round NO. However, if you want to put that altar in your house, that's your personal space and you can do as you please.
Heads up, if you have Christian friends don't expect them to be open to the idea of worshiping the enemy of God. You'll probably need to find more likeminded people to be friends with.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Lets talk context, ok? If you ask to come to my house and put up an altar to Lucifer in my living room, the answer will be a big round NO. However, if you want to put that altar in your house, that's your personal space and you can do as you please.
Heads up, if you have Christian friends don't expect them to be open to the idea of worshiping the enemy of God. You'll probably need to find more likeminded people to be friends with.
Two points. The question was about an altar in a private living area. Personal space as you put it. Second, the Lucifer of Luciferians is not the Lucifer of the Bible.
 

Vee

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Ok. I would respect that as long as you arent having me live there with you. I do wonder if there's some hypocrisy tho. If a Muslim was in your house. It gets to be one of those 5 times they pray. Would you stop them from praying? Is it anyone whose beliefs differ from yours youd stop from practicing their beliefs in your presence?

I wouldn't live with someone whose beliefs are opposed to mine.
Would I stop someone from practicing their beliefs in my presence? Depends on the beliefs and where we are. In my house, my rules. In other places I stay away from other people's business. The advantage of being on neutral ground is that if I see something I don't like I can simply leave.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
I wouldn't live with someone whose beliefs are opposed to mine.
Would I stop someone from practicing their beliefs in my presence? Depends on the beliefs and where we are. In my house, my rules. In other places I stay away from other people's business. The advantage of being on neutral ground is that if I see something I don't like I can simply leave.
That seems very reasonable to me.
 
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We Never Know

No Slack
I personally think you can do whatever you want so long as its legal, decent and honest. Unfortunately there are others who think people can do whatever they want so long as they agree with it. I have always found a percentage of christians are nasty, vindictive people and have learned to stay out of their way

When two people that accept/believe different things but legally do what they want in the presence of each other, in my opinion they either need to compromise or seperate. If not nothing good will come out of it.
 

We Never Know

No Slack
@ChristineM reminded me that I've been meaning to post on this topic when she commented this on my previous thread My religious journey so far in response to me saying I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer


Why should I hide my beliefs? Why is it as a pagan I am always told not to put up an altar or pray to my gods in a room where there are Christians? This goes for outside the group home too. People often speak of freedom of religion. But the moment I practice my beliefs whether it be pagan or in this case satanic I am immediately told that it's offensive to christians to practice my beliefs around them just because I believe differently. Why is that?

I don't know about hiding it but maybe be aware of how it will effect others to avoid unwanted negativity. To me its about respect of others. I myself won't do things that I know will upset others around me and I expect the same out of them. Unfortunately it doesn't always work out that way.
 
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