Pagan Proselytizing

[Sand Dancer]

I don't know of any Christian non-aggressive conversion campaigns.

But many Christians are quite aggressive to convert others to their religion. Their bibles command it.

Laws in the United States prohibit torturing people to convert, so Pagans, who act like Christians, won't be as effective as Christians were when people could be tortured.

Thumb screws, iron maidens, and a host of other torture devices used by Christians (in a very loving way, of course), cannot be used today....at least, not legally used.

In addition to conversion, there is ousting demons. Witch hunts (killed if you are, killed if you aren't, and killed if you might be). Having sex with the overweight, hairy, old pastor "might" save your life (but shhh....don't tell anyone about it or you will harm the church). Exorcisms...there are many ways to torture the evil out of someone if such evil manifested itself (hummed a tune, danced, felt good.....or other such evil).

In modern times, it is evil to worship God "thou shalt not kill" (one must support war, killing, torture camps, and one must vote for gun rights and support the National Rifle Association). In modern times, Christians must worship the pentagon (seat of military power) and the 5 pointed pentagram that could be inscribed within it. In modern times, Christians must attack Iraq (Revelation, a chapter of the New Testament bible, says that we must not attack Babylon or face God's wrath....Revelation 15: seven mutations of covid).

In modern times, the world is upside down. Definitions have been changed. President George W. Bush got his attorney, John Woo (professor of law at Chapman University) to change the definition of torture so that torture never existed anywhere, nor could it ever exist). Redefining is another way of lying.

The world has been redefined. Christians have been lied to. Christians are supposed to now follow Satan to hell.

Christians oppose condoms (which prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs like AIDS).

Christians bar Gay marriage (inheritance, child custody, government programs).

Christians stopped internet gambling (cut taxes for the rich, claiming that we should do what we want with our money).

Christians undid Roe v Wade.

Christians want school prayer (with their bible, to their God)...no more separation of church and state...no more free religion.

Christians want churches to run schools...public schools sold to churches at a fraction of their value.

Christians don't want evolution (or DNA) taught, but want creationism in schools.

Christians voted in great numbers to get presidents (Reagan, Bush, W. Bush, Trump). In turn, appoint supreme court justices (who, in turn, decide elections). W. Bush was appointed by a 5 to 4 decision of the Supreme court, after election tampering (butterfly ballots, double ballots, illegal alien votes, legal citizen's couldn't vote if confused with illegals, hanging chads (chads made by fanning with ballots, fingernails impacted cards).

Christians want NRA (National Rifle Associate). Legitimate war hero, John Kerry, was slandered by Veterans for Truth (later admitted), so W. Bush beat him as a "war hero." W. Bush (as war hero) also defeated triple amputee McClellan.

Perception trumps truth.

Christians voted for a fake Christian (Reagan) and didn't vote for an actual real Christ-like Christian (Carter).

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Christians voted for a fake Christian (Reagan) and didn't vote for an actual real Christ-like Christian (Carter).

Christians also voted for another fake Christian (Trump), despite the fact that his personal behavior is the epitome of the seven deadly sins. And when these Christians were confronted about Trump's morally depraved behavior, their most "go-to" excuse was "I voted for a president and not a pastor." They demonstrated their hypocrisy when they condemned Bill Clinton for his extramarital affairs and womanizing. They obviously don't care that Trump is the polar opposite of their conservative family values because he has been divorced twice, married three times, and is a womanizer and an adulterer. None of these Christians were bothered by the troubling news that Trump had bragged about how he forcibly kissed several women and sexually groped them or when he paid off two of his mistresses (a porn star and a playboy bunny) during his first presidential campaign to keep them quiet about their affair with him.

 

[The Hammer]

I could see pagan proselytizing being an issue. It's really easy to convey the Christian argument. "Jesus loves you." Bam. Done. How do you do the same with paganism? "Zeus loves you and all the other Gods I believe in also love you too!" Maybe this could be shortened to, "The Gods love you." But what "Gods" would that be? Paganism is more than just simple polytheism and there's different pantheons of Gods whom one should respect. All in all this could be very confusing.

I'd focus on asking people to honor the Spirits of Nature around them, their Ancestors, and the Gods (with no emphasis on which Gods). I feel this just about covers most pagan beliefs in a broad enough sense to be welcoming.

 

[The Hammer]

Christ came to me in a dream. He was carried by three men into an alley and beheaded. As he was beheaded, he looked directly at me and I felt an electric shock hit me. I was hit with a sudden, intense sympathetic connection with Christ. Since then, I've interpreted the myth of Christ from a personal, mystical perspective that has added special meaning to my own spiritual path.

Pan came to me in the woods, through artwork, music, and through literature. I've always been drawn to classic and modern art of Pan, and literature (such as the quoted example in my signature). I grew up rural, spending much of life in the woods, often alone and sleeping in them. I gained a deep love of the wild and primitive, and I eventually equated this with a calling from the wild and primitive horned God, with Pan being the perfect avatar for me.

I equate the two as symbols for the Whole Psyche and understanding oneself as part of the Universe.

So my own Paganism incorporates Christian myth in a way that enhances my spiritual path.

I left mainstream Christianity for various reasons:

-Lack of depth beyond the literal
-Lack of evidence or logical rationales for its claims
-Overuse of guilt for behavior control
-It felt sterile; none of the visceral impact that a pagan ritual around a campfire or in a secluded wood had
-It only added shame to my already chaotic teenage emotions dealing with peaking sexuality
-Clear discriminating beliefs against particular groups

As a pagan (even before the addition of mystical Christian mythology), there was a creative and inspiring element to my practice that has kept me on a healthy path.

This was fascinating

 

[firedragon]

Yes, but that's not how anyone outside of Christianity uses that term now. It refers to a specific spirituality.

I know I know. I am not debating or debunking anyone. This is something everyone knows.

 

[ElishaElijah]

Should the Neo-Pagan religions take a page out of the Christian playbook, and begin an assertive (non-aggressive), conversion campaign, as well as running for and winning political office?

I say yes.

It's about time we pushed back against the monotheistic majority.

Edit: Howl if your with me.

No I don’t think Neo-pagan religions should do a conversion campaign because the end of the road for this is death and destruction. This lifestyle is a progression of sinful patterns that led me to rehab and all kinds of depraved behavior and as I convinced other people to join me it ruined their lives as well. It was fun at the beginning but ended in misery.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

No I don’t think Neo-pagan religions should do a conversion campaign because the end of the road for this is death and destruction. This lifestyle is a progression of sinful patterns that led me to rehab and all kinds of depraved behavior and as I convinced other people to join me it ruined their lives as well. It was fun at the beginning but ended in misery.

It led YOU to rehab because it wasn't the right fit.

I have found it to be the opposite for myself.

 

[ElishaElijah]

It led YOU to rehab because it wasn't the right fit.

I have found it to be the opposite for myself.

Well, yes it did and I went back and apologized to people that I led into that kind of life, not everyone ended up like I did but many did some in jail or dead. I’m saying that when talking about having a conversion campaign maybe think through the consequences first. Some people will be led to their destruction, it wasn’t intentional in my case but nevertheless that was the result.

 

[VoidCat]

It led YOU to rehab because it wasn't the right fit.

I have found it to be the opposite for myself.

Same I have been led to a very happy life through paganism and sycreticism

Well, yes it did and I went back and apologized to people that I led into that kind of life, not everyone ended up like I did but many did some in jail or dead. I’m saying that when talking about having a conversion campaign maybe think through the consequences first. Some people will be led to their destruction, it wasn’t intentional in my case but nevertheless that was the result.

Christians then should also think on the consquences of converting folk. Christianity led to my destruction before I became a pagan.

 

[ElishaElijah]

Same I have been led to a very happy life through paganism and sycreticism


Christians then should also think on the consquences of converting folk. Christianity led to my destruction before I became a pagan.

I agree and one of the great things about AA is people share their experience, strength and hope. There is no cross talk in meetings. People hear testimonies, you identify with people’s stories, get to know people and it’s very uplifting, everyone should make their own decisions, be thoroughly convinced and live out their lives.
So I’m not for the conversion campaign that’s being discussed here.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Well, yes it did and I went back and apologized to people that I led into that kind of life, not everyone ended up like I did but many did some in jail or dead. I’m saying that when talking about having a conversion campaign maybe think through the consequences first. Some people will be led to their destruction, it wasn’t intentional in my case but nevertheless that was the result.

Ditto with Christianity.

 

[ElishaElijah]

Ditto with Christianity.

I don’t think believers in Christ should try to force or manipulate people into a relationship with Christ either, it won’t work and that’s not how Jesus lived or instructed us. But if the building is on fire I’m going to warn people, I’m also going to share what God has done for me and my relationship with Him, what He has promised me. This has been the single best decision I made in life.
But what you’re saying you can’t stand with Christianity about the manipulation and fear tactics, which I don’t like either, although I’m not going to shy away from talking about the consequences of rejecting Christ, just not here. Seems that’s the direction you’re going with the pagan conversion campaign.
The main point is I don’t think a pagan conversion campaign is a good idea and without intention could influence someone to their destruction.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I don’t think believers in Christ should try to force or manipulate people into a relationship with Christ either, it won’t work and that’s not how Jesus lived or instructed us. But if the building is on fire I’m going to warn people, I’m also going to share what God has done for me and my relationship with Him, what He has promised me. This has been the single best decision I made in life.
But what your saying you can’t stand with Christianity about the manipulation and fear tactics, which I don’t like either, although I’m not going to shy away from talking about the consequences of rejecting Christ, just not here.
The main point is I don’t think a pagan conversion campaign is a good idea and without intention could influence someone to their destruction.

And vice-versa.

 

[PruePhillip]

Good luck.

Hope you realize that's tongue in cheek.

 

[JustGeorge]

This lifestyle is a progression of sinful patterns that led me to rehab and all kinds of depraved behavior and as I convinced other people to join me it ruined their lives as well. It was fun at the beginning but ended in misery.

You were a Pagan at one time? What tradition?

 

[The Hammer]

No I don’t think Neo-pagan religions should do a conversion campaign because the end of the road for this is death and destruction. This lifestyle is a progression of sinful patterns that led me to rehab and all kinds of depraved behavior and as I convinced other people to join me it ruined their lives as well. It was fun at the beginning but ended in misery.

And it worked the exact opposite for me. It helped me deal with things from a more Spiritual and Positive perspective. I'm more in tune with the Earth, my Ancestors, and the Gods that make all this order possible.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I have found it to be the opposite for myself.

Same I have been led to a very happy life through paganism and sycreticism

I'm finding that to be true in my life. The quality of my emotional well-being has vastly improved since I disavowed my belief in God and abandoned my faith. And despite the struggles I'm facing, I still feel hopeful and positive about my life. It took me a long time to overcome the feeling that I had to rely on God in order for me to make the right decisions for my life or for my family, but I don't feel that way now. I'm stronger emotionally than I've ever been before, so I no longer need the emotional crutch of having God in my life.

 

[The Hammer]

Ok so far we've got a Proselytizing campaign centered on the Spirits, Ancestors, and Gods.

What next? What existential concerns does Paganism address for you?

 

[Viker]

The main point is I don’t think a pagan conversion campaign is a good idea and without intention could influence someone to their destruction

Same thing can be said about Christian and even Islamic conversion campaigns.

 

[JustGeorge]

Ok so far we've got a Proselytizing campaign centered on the Spirits, Ancestors, and Gods.

What next? What existential concerns does Paganism address for you?

I think you might get somewhere with laying out how Paganism generally advocates for a healthy environment.