witchy movies = brainwashing = evil

[cerridwen]

A bit of a struggle....

I'm openly wiccan in my christian family, which is fairly accepted - but lately when I have my neice (12) and nephew (10) over, they get to pick a movie to watch. And even though the movie may be G or PG rated, it has a witchy theme to it and my sister in law has voiced her opinion that she doesn't want her kids to watch these particular movies or even read the books that I lend my neice.

I've a feeling that she has a problem with what I worship, even though I do my best to not interfere with the way she raises her children. But I get the impression that what I practice rubs her the wrong way, but she won't come out and say it. I've tried to bring it up but with no luck.

What to do?

[Super_Grrl]

People who stomp on other people's beliefs suck. But since she's a family member, I'm going to assume don't want to just stick it and leave... could it be that she hasn't been properly educated? Honestly, before I met actual Wiccans, I had no idea what they were about. I mean you hear things, and frankly none of it is good... or true, as it turns out. So what I'm saying is, maybe she has a problem with something she doesn't understand. Good luck!

[cerridwen]

thanks... Trying to be a voice of reason.... being as open minded as I can and at the same time making it clear that there's nothing bad about what I'm doing... She's having a hard time wrapping her head around it, I think.... time will only tell....

[Kharakov]

Tell her God made wiccans too. Wiccans are made to worship a different aspect of God than Christians. Me, I'm all about the yummie side of God.

[cerridwen]

Well, I'm not really sure that'll be taken all that seriously... what's the yummie side of God?

[velvet]

I think he worships the female body or something? Hehe :)

When it comes to your neice.. maybe this will take for you the ultimate act of openmindedness.. accepting that someone else isn't openminded. As long as her kids are of a minority age you sadly can't really do anything to try to open their minds a little.. you have to respect their mothers wishes here. If they get older and would approach you for information about wicca.. you might want to decide to help educate them in your religion. I know it's harsh.. but not everyone is openminded.. and especially for people of monotheistic religions it might be harder to accept that someone else isn't worshipping the same god. Good luck with it!

[cerridwen]

stan grossman and BlackGuardXIII - what is it with you two? you turn every thread into a bickering between you two... it's quite immature, both of you take it somewhere else.

And yes, I've tried talking about wicca in regards to the nature aspect but it doesn't seem to matter much... ah well, in time I suppose...

[velvet]

And yes, I've tried talking about wicca in regards to the nature aspect but it doesn't seem to matter much... ah well, in time I suppose...
I dated a guy with a pretty fundy Protestant family once for two years.. I tried talking to them about why I'm a vegetarian but they weren't interested in the whole nature/animal wellfare discussion at all.. which was kinda strange to me since it is also gods creation and all (plus I didn't even try to convert them or anything, I just wanted to hear there views on animals and nature but it was like that just didn't existed).. so.. I guess some people are just a bit narrowminded.

[velvet]

If you want to know more about wicca check the paganism forum or cerridwen private forum (the groovy witches book of shadows) or check this link:

http://www.religioustolerance.com/witchcra.htm

After that, feel free to ask more specific questions.

[velvet]

No... Paganism is a very wide term, usually branching out over more defined paths like wicca, asastru (sp?), shamanism etc.

[Amanda N]

No... Paganism is a very wide term, usually branching out over more defined paths like wicca, asastru (sp?), shamanism etc.I class myself as Pagan... but only in it's reference to closeness to nature... the fact of the matter is that I'm an athiest, I just happen to use nature and the natural world to explain my views (which are all based in science, backed up in nature).

Anyway, as for your sister in law, while this might seem a bit sneaky - what she does not know won't harm her. Hhhmmm, OK, that might not be the best advice, but it's all I can think of right now...

[cerridwen]

that is true... but at the same time I wouldn't want someone to bring my kids to church for example, with that same mentality that what I don't know can't hurt me... I want to respect the way she raises her kids but at the same time not leave them misinformed...

[Amanda N]

That's a very good point, I have to admit that I'd be highly upset if I found out my kids were being taken to church (not that I have kids, but you know ;))... so, to her, them watching a "witchy" movie is the same thing...

If/when I do have kids (which I believe I'm going to adopt, rather have my own - too many people on the planet as it is), I'm going to insist they be excused from any religous activities that school might take part in (prayer in assembly, singing hyms, etc..) - the only exception being religious education (as long as it's true religious education, teaching about all diffrent religions and points of view, and not just christanity.

(sorry, mini rant)

[cerridwen]

I absolutely agree and see where you're coming from.

On one hand, I think that a part of me wants to do what you would do as far as religious celebration... but on the other hand, education is key. The more you know about other cultures, other religions, etc, you have a better understanding of 'the way the world works'... and I'd like whatever children I may have to make their own decisions as adults based on their educated upbringing.

If my kids chose, as adults, to practice something other than Wicca (even catholisicm!) then I'd like to think I'd still support them in doing so...

[Amanda N]

I don't believe that religion is vital to a persons life... I'm happy for my kids to learn about religion, as well as other cultures of the world, etc, as long as it's done from an external perspective, and my kids are not forced into preforming any religous rituals themselves...

[velvet]

Amanda.. I find it adoring how you believe it's possible to raise kids without any religion, since you seem so atheistic that it can't be described differentaly than being a religion as well ;)

[Amanda N]

Amanda.. I find it adoring how you believe it's possible to raise kids without any religion, since you seem so atheistic that it can't be described differentaly than being a religion as well ;)Does this not come down to a persons definition of religion? I don't view the way that I live my life as religious (even athiest religous, as you claim :p).

The fact of the matter is that the way I act on this forum is not the same as I act in real life, of choose to lead my life. Or indeed the way that I would raise kids.

I choose to believe in what I can see, and what science teaches us, using the simple ideal of doing to others that I would expect them to do to me. I don't see how that can be classed as religious.. it might be a pholosophy, but it's not a religion.

[velvet]

Does this not come down to a persons definition of religion? I don't view the way that I live my life as religious (even athiest religous, as you claim :p).

The fact of the matter is that the way I act on this forum is not the same as I act in real life, of choose to lead my life. Or indeed the way that I would raise kids.

I choose to believe in what I can see, and what science teaches us, using the simple ideal of doing to others that I would expect them to do to me. I don't see how that can be classed as religious.. it might be a pholosophy, but it's not a religion.
What I mean is that you seem so anti-religion that it will be a huge influence on your kids as well.. I was raised Catholic, was baptised, went to church every Sunday as a lot of people here on these boards I don't see why that is totally bad as long as your parents aren't too fundy. Having some traditions and rituals can be enriching for a kid and even add a 'magical' thing to their childhood I think, as long as you are open for other influences as well and accept the kids own wishes and curiousities I think.
I mean.. I'm fine with the fact that you want to raise your kids as atheists, but I still feel that there is little different between that and raising your kid with a (non fundy) religion.. either way you teaching them your views..

You just seem to have such an issue with religion..

[Amanda N]

You just seem to have such an issue with religion..I do, and I admit it... as a scientific person, and as someone that's seen what religion has done in the past, I find it hard to view religion as anything other than bad.

Someone yesterday told me that they view "religion as a good idea gone horrablly wrong", and I would tend to agree with that, so I'm going to do anything I can to protect myself and my family from it.

But I'm allowed to have my view right? It's not like the religous folks here have the monolopy on having their own opinion... I, as an athiest nut, want one too :p

(But, as I said before, the way that I act on this forum is not the same as the way that I act in real life, and while it's fair that you draw your opinion of me based on the way I post here, you're a wee bit off the mark :))

[cerridwen]

I don't believe that religion is vital to a persons life...
you're right, it isn't... we don't have to have religion to survive, but we are by nature very spiritual beings, which is why religion exists in the first place.

I'm happy for my kids to learn about religion, as well as other cultures of the world, etc, as long as it's done from an external perspective, and my kids are not forced into preforming any religous rituals themselves...
I absolutely agree. But on the other hand, there have been studies that proved that children who are raised with some form of spirituality do better in life, in school, socially, etc because they have this type of foundation and respect for life... *just* a thought to ponder...

[Amanda N]

you're right, it isn't... we don't have to have religion to survive, but we are by nature very spiritual beings, which is why religion exists in the first place.Early religion existed because of a persons search to understand the world around them... now that science is able to take over that job... and it's not needed anymore.

[velvet]

Early religion exists because of a persons search to understand the world around them... now that science is able to take over that job... and it's not needed anymore.
Ehm.. not completely true.. we still don't know a LOT of things and even stuff that science presents as 'facts' are just that untill proven otherwise. Or take something like birth.. no matter who detailed science is able to describe the process of conception, pregnancy, genepools etc etc.. it's still a 'miracle' to see a child being born..

Plus science doesn't give an answer to the 'why' questions.. 'why am I on this planet, what's my role here'.. 'why did that child have to die so young'.. etc etc.. even though you can explain scientifically that the kid got aids and died from the consequences of that.. it doesn't explain why THAT kid got it.. you know what I mean?

Just a thought..

No matter how far science will progress.. there will always be room for spirituality. And I think that especially paganism & science go pretty good together, since the core of paganism is nature.. like the phases of the moon, the seasons .. etc etc.. and spellcasting and such can be explain as 'positive thinking' and 'focussing'.. so it doesn't really collide.

I do think it's a lot harder to combine (fundy) monotheism and science though.. especially when they are holding on to books and dogma's from WAY back..

[Amanda N]

no matter who detailed science is able to describe the process of conception, pregnancy, genepools etc etc.. it's still a 'miracle' to see a child being born..LOL, this reminds me of something Bill Hicks said - something like "it's no more a mircale giving birth, than, putting food in your mouth, and shit coming out the other end.. it's just a chemical reaction".. which I tend to agree with, kinda.. (and even if you wanted to say that child birth is a miracle, which I guess to an extent i'll allow.. it just proves that the devine is not needed for miracles).

Plus science doesn't give an answer to the 'why' questions.. 'why am I on this planet, what's my role here'.. 'why did that child have to die so young'.. etc etc.. even though you can explain scientifically that the kid got aids and died from the consequences of that.. it doesn't explain why THAT kid got it.. you know what I mean?But sometimes there is no why... I personally think that the world is goverened by random chaos, sometimes you just need to accept that "shit happens" (that's my view anyway)

No matter how far science will progress.. there will always be room for spirituality. And I think that especially paganism & science go pretty good together, since the core of paganism is nature.. like the phases of the moon, the seasons .. etc etc.. and spellcasting and such can be explain as 'positive thinking' and 'focussing'.. so it doesn't really collide.This is fair point, and I agree with you (i ike to think of myself as a scientific pagan, and in no way am I contradicting myself by saying that, mainly because most of my views have come as a result of looking at things from a scientific point of view).

I do think it's a lot harder to combine (fundy) monotheism and science though.. especially when they are holding on to books and dogma's from WAY back..aye.