BellaOnline Forums Family Christian Living To the Christian Living Editor

Dear Lynne,

I have had several run-ins with members of your religion on Bella On-line, and I would like you to refran from demonizing my faith. If you will notice, the "Pagan" editors on Bella do not attack Christianity and yet you and one other editor, who I will not mention do. If you are strong in you faith you should not have to resort to bashing another's.

I ask you, how long would you last if you started to bash Muslim's or for that matter Jews? It seems like Pagans and Wiccans are open season for Christians, and that is wrong.

Turn the other cheek. We are not attacking you. If you feel threatened by Paganism, and feel that we are "stealing" away Christains to our faith, then find out why. What is it that Paganism gives that Christianity doesn't. What you may find is that the male dominated dogma, hatred and mistrust of others and rejection of science and Renaissance advancement i.e., humanism, is the reason most people leave your church.

There is an old Hindu proverb you may consider.

"That which you reject, will enslave you."

Also before you start trying to take the thorn out of my eye, look to the log in your ear.

Peace,
Arius
An American in Denmark.

Arius,
I just answered your email to me. I see that you have written the same thing here.

I wonder why you feel you must read articles on the Christian Living site. I tend to think that we are drawn to what we need to learn.

This was a book review.

I happen to agree with the author. I"m not bashing anyone. I'm speaking to Christians about Christian beliefs.

There are those who won't agree but that doesn't make my beliefs any less valid.

Lynne,

I found your article because it came up in a Google News search for "Wiccan". I do not normally monitor Bella Online for content. It just came up with normal daily Pagan and Wiccan news searches I do for my Yahoo group and my blog.

When you speak to Christians about Christian beliefs, is the putting down of another's faith a common topic? What I feel is books like the ones you have reviewed, spread lies, hatred and misconceptions about the Wiccan/Pagan faiths.

If you would like to discuse the myths of religion, I would be more than happy to oblige. I have a Masters in Comparative Religion from the University of Washington, and would be happy to discuse the origins of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, whatever.

The problems these books cause is disastrous. Look at the world today. Fear and violence are spread by "Hate" literature. Continuing to do so will only make a bad situation worse.

As a Christian, do you wish to spead hate? Or love?

Arius

http://thepaganleft.blogspot.com/

This book is not hate literature. It says nothing about hating or even disliking wiccans, pagans, witches or anyone.

It is speaking to Christians about Christian beliefs. I'm sorry that you don't agree with what it says.

It is my belief that it is a parent's duty to teach their children what, from their own experience, they consider to be the most beneficial path in life. In the fast paced life, many forget to pay attention to what their children are doing. This book addresses that.

It's not? Steve Russo is an avid witch basher who has made a fine living spreading hate and misconceptions. If your not apart of the answer then your apart of the problem.

Christianity is on the decline. In Europe where I live only 5% of Christians attend church. Catholic countries are doing better at around 25%. Even in America attendence is down, and by the last census Wicca, Paganism, and Heathenism rose from zip in 1990 to over a million and a half.

I think that a much better book that your readers should check out is:

Drawing Down the Moon : Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today
by Margot Adler

Amazon writes:
Popular demand for this clear-sighted compendium of information about the rebirth of Pagan religions hasn't waned since its initial publication in 1979. Distinguished by the journalism of National Public Radio columnist Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon explains this diverse and burgeoning religion's philosophies and activities while dispelling stereotypes that have long been associated with it. Most people don't realize that pagan simply refers to pre-Christian polytheistic nature religions, such as the various Native American creeds, Japanese Shinto, Celtic Druid, and Western European Wicca. Originally, the word pagan meant "country dweller" and was a derogatory term in Rome in the third century A.D., not unlike calling someone a hick today. If you find yourself feeling queasy when you hear the words witch or pagan, a healthy dose of reeducation via Drawing Down the Moon could be the cure. --P. Randall Cohan

I'm sorry I came on your forum and had my say. But I'm am so tired of Christian Fundimentalism and what it is doing to destroy America and the world. Islamic Fundimentalism is every bit as bad, but it is the Christian version that has divided America the most.

Sincerly,
Arius

http://thepaganleft.blogspot.com/

Arius,
We could go to the library or to Amazon and find many books from differing points of view and discuss them all day long, but this is the Christian Living forum.

(If you are not a part of the answer then you're a part of the problem.) My sentiments exactly.

Thanks for stopping by and for giving my review so much publicity.

I guess Lynne, I've struck a nerve. You don't like your ideas challenged. So it seems you'll continue to spread lies about another's faith to further either your personal goals or the political ones of your faith. Very sad.

That's the problem with many religions nowadays. The people that follow the faith, do just that, follow. Like blind sheep they bleat out what their leaders tell them too, never wondering, why, and never using their creator's given brain to do just that...learn.

The problem is with the clergy. They tell you that you have to go through them to commune with your creator. This is a tool of control and has been for 2000 years. Christians say they go by the litural truth of the Bible, yet for many, they only follow those passages that suit them at a particular time.

Oh well. I'm not a sheep. I question authority.

Peace!
Arius

http://thepaganleft.blogspot.com/

You are a little behind on your Christian truths. Since Jesus Christ, we commune with God on our own thru our relationship with Him.

I will ask you to be careful how you word your posts. You have changed your approach and I will not have hate spread by anyone in this forum. You included.

Arius, I've not read the book that you two are talking about, so I can't really make any comments about it, but I can say that I do not go through my pastor to talk to God.

It is a VERY personal relationship with me.

As far as Christianity falling in "popularity" (sorry, just couldn't think of the other word I wanted to use. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />)
There are references in the Revelations that the world will fall into worse times, and will fall farther and farther from God the nearer we draw to the Rapture, the tribulations, and the Second Coming of Christ. So this could very well be the reason that Christianity is on a decline.

I believe most people would have to admit that the world is becoming more and more corrupt even as we try to work harder as humans to pass laws to make it better. And as we turn to Psychiatry to explain things (and believe me, I'm not knocking this science, I suffer from severe depression myself). But instead of child abuse becoming less, its more; even though we know more about it. Aids is more rampant, even though we know how to protect ourselves and what causes it. Drug addictions and sales are up even though we have more task forces than ever. The world is in a decline. Even the environment - with all of the people working so hard to make others aware of the dangers - is still deteriorating.

Sorry, soapbox. I'm just saying, it seems like we ARE drawing closer to those end times, whether we like to admit it or not.

Lynne,

That was the whole point of this. You don't allow hate on this forum becuse your the one spreading it in the first place. Anyway, I'm done. Trying to talk to Christians is like trying to talk to a brick wall. They're so stuck in their Dogma that to show them the real world is pointless.

Have a nice life. And remember to love your neighbor even if they disagree with you.

Oh and thanks Lynne for promoting my blog.

Arius