**If you have time, or just are willing to participate**


I don't know about the rest of you, but I get rather annoyed at people who judge my beliefs without knowing anything about me. I expressed this to a friend of mine, who is a very sweet Christian girl. She listened to me complain for a while before responding that she understood what I meant. She told me about being made out to be some kind of narrow-minded b*tch by some kids in her art class at college. She had paint thrown at her and was subjected to rather horrible and lewd comments about her beliefs and her family. Their whole cause was that she was displaying a christian fish on her satchel and a t-shirt with a scriputre verse on the back. She eventually had to leave the class since she couldn't get any work done and really did not want them to see her cry. (...And, the rest of the class was laughing along at this terrible joke.) I've asked myself since then, why did they feel the need to pick on her like that? She doesn't talk to people she doesn't know because she is painfully shy. I also thought that she might have provoked them with wearing symbols of her faith so boldly. But, then why should she hide her religious symbols? Over the last few days, I've come through a winding wilderness of thought over this. If these so called "pagans" (I'm not sure they actually were pagan and not just some a**hole kids making trouble) want to display their icons of belief and force people to accept their views, they should have been willing to do the same. It doesn't matter what beliefs you hold, you should never mock someone else because they hold different views. Most of the religions I have reviewed hold that basic view. "Love thy neighbor" and so forth. I admit that I was very angry about the way that my friend was treated in her classroom. Mainly because her teacher, who was once my teacher, is a professed Wiccan. She tells us every year that she believes that all religions have merrit and are therefore "beautiful dreams of their own." I do not understand why she did not hold her statement of belief dearer than just mere words, since professing at the beginning of each year that she will not tolerate religion bashing of any kind.

So, this is what I am asking: that we all take a stand for a peace between the religions. I know that a lot of us have resentment or anger towards one or other of the major religions. I am no exception. Even though I would sometimes rather yell and rant at someone over what I think about their beliefs, I am going to make the effort to hold my tongue. I am not going to rant against another's beliefs even in my thoughts. I am going to make the effort to spread the tolerance that I would wish from others. Since it is never right to judge someone based on our opinions, I am going to make the effort to leave each person I meet with a good memory of someone of a different belief. If you are at all willing, or have the time, would you consider helping me in this? Let's start the tapestry of tolerance with our own actions and words.

**Thanks for reading through this**

my heart goes out to that poor girl!! those kids couldn't possibly be pagan as that's not the way they're supposed to behave toward others! i've learned that pagans are the most tolerant!! bless her heart!! i hope she's feeling better now but i worry this incident will scar her feelings for life.
big hugs to her and you dear nyn!!
kat

I hope your friend is okay. I've been in a similar situation (but with my sexuality, not my faith). It's not likely that any of those kids were Pagan, coz if they were, they wouldn't have done that. The whole idea of Paganism is to tolerate others as all paths lead to the same place. Though I'm not going to pretend that all Pagans hold this view. Some are VERY resentful to Christians.

I've had many a conversation at college about religion. Most of my friends are Athiest so the conversation usually goes 'Religion is crap'. I have a friend who is a little over the top with his Christianity. By that I mean he preaches the word of God to anyone who stands within hearing distance and tells anyone who isn't Christian that they're going to hell (mostly that's me). Most of the conversations I've heard when he isn't around include the phrase 'He'd be a great person if he wasn't so Christian'

Intolerance happens and we probably wont be able to completely get rid of it, but I'll willing to help you try.

Wait&Hope, I find it terrible when people are made fun of or treated poorly because they are seen to be different. Your friend is in my thoughts at this difficult time in her life. It sounds like she needs support from friends like you at this time. You should also be happy with yourself because you have proven what it means to be a friend. With that, I send positive vibes and peace to the two of you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Blue Dragonfly,

Wow -- I wish we didn't need stories as painful as this one to remind us to do what is right. Still, I thank you for the reminder, and I will do my best to discourage such intolerance.

Peace to you and your friend.

i'm sorry your friend had to go through such intolerance,will send her positve energy.

Let's start a tapestry of tolerance with our own actions and words.

Simply beautiful!

Thank you all for your concern towards my little sweetie. She is holding up, but has decided to drop out of the art program because they simply will not leave her alone. I went with her today to clean out her locker of supplies, and saw what she was talking about. They are not Pagans. They are punk-a** brats who are trying to cause trouble while claiming a belief that they know nothing about... I slipped up and chewed them out for belittling two belief structures with their actions. I did go back later and apologize to them and explain myself. Tolerance should spread to the idiot chidren of society as well as the sincere people... that equality is going to be the hard part for me...

TribalRaven: I am happy to hear that your Christian friend is passionate about his faith; I know that those who tell us we are going to hell have a deep love for us and for humanity in general, though it doesn't always seem so.

Blue Dragonfly: She prays for me every day, and I include her in my blessing tree; any way that you look at it, we are both sending positive energy to strengthen each other.

EM: I am worried that she will bear scars on her heart from this, she is such a sweet and sensitive girl; she still cries when Bambi's mother dies, "because there are so many children without their mothers in their lives," she is truly a gentle soul.

That's a very sad story. I think that people tend to think that if your a Christian and you want to share your views (even if its just wearing it on your shirt) that your trying to force your opinion on others. That is not necessarily true. Sometimes Christians really care and want people to share in their faith so people can find happiness and redemption.
I found when I was going to college that if you mentioned any kind of Christian views that you got bombarded with people making assumptions about you and your religious and political beliefs. I got to the point I just always kept my mouth shut about anything to do with my views.
Its sad that people feel that everyone is entitled to their religious beliefs but they don't practice what they preach. I have found Wiccans to be very respecting of other religions, even Christianity and I appreciate that.
I am sorry about your friend. I hope she feels better soon and I will keep her in my prayers. If there is one thing these boards have taught me its to be more tolerant of people whose religious beliefs differ from mine.

quote:

Originally posted by TribalRaven:
I hope your friend is okay. I've been in a similar situation (but with my sexuality, not my faith).

props to you for being open!!! know you're accepted and loved!!

quote:

Originally posted by Wait&Hope:
TribalRaven: I am happy to hear that your Christian friend is passionate about his faith; I know that those who tell us we are going to hell have a deep love for us and for humanity in general, though it doesn't always seem so.

I agree, my friend is a very caring person. He just over-does it at times

quote:

Originally posted by ethan's mommy:

quote:

Originally posted by TribalRaven:
I hope your friend is okay. I've been in a similar situation (but with my sexuality, not my faith).

props to you for being open!!! know you're accepted and loved!!

Thanks Kat I wasn't even completely aware of my sexuality when people started making fun of me. Being raised in a Christian household taught me it was wrong to not be straight. It was only after the taunts of 'bisexual, gay, homo, bi' ended and I found peace within Paganism that I realised and accepted that I was in fact bisexual.

wow that is a terrible experience thankfully I"ve not had to deal with anything that bad my thoughts go to your friend and just to say if anyone knows the reason to be open minded it aught to be anyone who is Wiccan or claimes to be

Even though I'm not in the best state of mind and spirit right now I will reply a best as I can.

I hope your friend is ok. I know what it is like to be hated for your faith. In middle and High school I was hated, taunted and picked on for beign pagan (barly anyone want to fight with me though for beign such a big guy, I was around 6 foor in 6 or 7 grade, I'm 6ft5 now lol) and was even sent to a mental hopsitial for being a pagan. . Even now I'm still percicuted although it's kind of worse now since I go to a blind school and all most everyone is christian to the point of intolerence. Few things keep going in life but Music and my personal faith in Druidism helps me at the end of the day. I will have your friend in my thoughts and prayers.

Rae I know what it is like to be hated for your sexuality. One of the things I was percuicuted against besides my faith is the fact that I'm Bi so I know what it is like. Very few people give me probs with it now so yya know lol

~C. Wolf

Gosh, Nyn this is soooo sad. I hope your friend finds strength from you. You are such a good person. ((((hug)))) your friend for me.

Tribal and C-Wolf, stay strong. Just don't become intolerant. There are alot of wonderful people in this world until you start talking politics or religion and yes, sexual orientation! Sad but true. If you show tolerance not only will YOU feel better about it, but you'll let others learn from you. Someday we may ALL get it right! (((((hugs)))) for you both.