following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
But I have to add. the thread you started seemed to be ASKING to be converted AM I WRONG???
Mouthy, I started the thread asking Christians to tell me why I should become Christian. All my life I've met Christians who wanted to convert me so I thought I'd give the Christians a chance and at least listen to what they had to say. Sirona
breakthrough!.
i spoke to my jw mum about the new watchtower study magazine and how in the first issue there is a change in "light" regarding the anointed.. she was floored and totally accepted that if they started to accept new anointed ones (non-replacements) that it *could* indicate that the society are extending the time once again regarding the coming of armageddon.
the idea is that if they accept new anointed ones, then they could be fairly young, hence they could still be around for a lot more years!.
Not a breakthrough.
JW mum got herself a copy of this new article and read it. She tried saying there was no change in doctrine. After some discussion she admitted they'd changed doctrine and that the anointed were still being "called", but that "it is a good thing"
They are so indoctrinated they can't see that this is just a ploy for the society to make armageddon even further away.
Sirona
breakthrough!.
i spoke to my jw mum about the new watchtower study magazine and how in the first issue there is a change in "light" regarding the anointed.. she was floored and totally accepted that if they started to accept new anointed ones (non-replacements) that it *could* indicate that the society are extending the time once again regarding the coming of armageddon.
the idea is that if they accept new anointed ones, then they could be fairly young, hence they could still be around for a lot more years!.
bttt
?
Sirona
following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
Mouthy,
Thanks for giving your story.
I have experienced profound feelings of peace - a loving presence - a feeling of "it all being OK" too. I just didn't attribute those feelings to Jesus.
I think that the point you made about love is a good one. Love is something that many pagans view as being paramount.....in fact certain traditions aim to treat each other with "perfect love and perfect trust". Also the pagan idea "an it harm none, do as ye will" doesn't mean just doing what you want - it means harming none, not even yourself...and searching out what your Divine Will is.
I don't need to try and convert anyone to Paganism because I do believe that Christians are on the right path FOR THEM and pagans are also on the right path for them.
It just becomes a problem when Christians demand that we all become Christian!
Blessings
Sirona
following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
Do you believe God's (or your "other gods") love can be demanded?
No pagan God has ever demanded anything of me. Gentle pushes, maybe. They accept love if given and they give love back.
It is a shame that your God doesn't see fit to accept all humans.
Sirona
Edited to add - gentle pushes or slaps upside the head LOL
following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
But I don't believe you have to be a Christian to experience that - we're all on a journey, some of us can live our lives dedicated 'to the unknown god' as the Greeks whom Paul encountered in Acts. He's looking at our hearts, not so much at what we do.
Sad emo, yes indeed! You don't have to be Christian to experience things like that. I don't see God as the God of the bible though.
Sirona
i have recently been noticing my mother's and other relatives' increased fervent and frantic activity in the wt society.. i wondered why they are becoming so fanatical and decided to take an indepth look at the latest watchtowers.. i believe there is a very worrying trend in the wt society now for a apocalyptic zeal that borders on fanaticism and now the wt is tightening the screws with its demand for 'cultic obedience.'.
in the past i wondered whether another 'jonestown,' or similar scenario, was possible, but though the wt may well not ask its members to take their own lives i wonder what the wtbts will ask them to do.. notice these quotes from the december 15th watchtower for 2007:.
page 18 paragraph 15:.
*mistaken post*
following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
Magick
if you convert to paganism because you were disolusioned with the witnesses or were "stumbled by a brother or sister" in the congregation...be cautious. there must be a "spiritual experience" or a conscious decision based on research. just because you are "curious" or it looks good on your myspace page isn't enough.
I see what you mean.
I converted to Paganism after lots of research. I've had lots of spiritual experiences as a pagan too, things which didn't happen when I was Christian.
I was asking the question because I felt like being challenged. I felt like thinking outside of my Pagan box for a bit.
I think its highly unlikely I'd convert, but I'd like to hear the cases for conversion, since Christians are always saying how we "should" be Christian.
SIrona
following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
There is an amazing power in Christianity. Since I became a Christian there has been an incredible change that has occurred in my life. God has made me into a better person. I am filled with love, peace and contentment. He has blessed me, healed me and answered my prayers. I spent years in therapy because of being a child abuse victim and that didn’t heal me the way God has. Therapy is good, I don’t want to knock it, but it’s no substitute for Jesus. My husband noticed the change in me and became a Christian a few months later.
Saoirse,
I enjoyed reading your story. Thanks. I think this is great - it sounds like you've really found something there. Did you have a "moment" when you knew you were born again?
I have found that Jesus is far more powerful than any spell and is more loving than you could ever imagine. It can't be proven or disproven. It’s really hard to explain in a way that a non-Christian can understand, you almost have to experience it for yourself.
I don't really do spells, not anymore. I have interacted with the gods on occasion and yes, "powerful" is the word. To be honest, the idea that we are sinful and need to ask God to change us just doesn't make sense to me. You see, I believe that the material world is holy and we are not "sinful".
Sirona
following on from terry's thread about mind filters and being open minded....... i'm neo-pagan.
for a loose definition of my beliefs see here http://www.religioustolerance.org/neopaga1.htm.
but i'm willing to consider christian belief systems.. just recently i've been studying the jewish kabballah (qabalah).
When Christ finally came, it was as though the myths of paganism suddenly became reality. The long-awaited Event at the core of these myths finally occurred; God became Man to redeem us, fulfilling both the Messianic prophecies of Scripture and the "good dreams" of rightous Gentiles.
Interesting idea, but totally false, IMHO.
The themes within mythology are so widespread, not restricted to "righteous Gentiles". The Jesus story is another myth, whether Jesus existed or not.
I think myths are extremely valueable. So to be honest viewing the Jesus story as a myth would not necessarily stop me converting to Christianity, if there were enough other reasons to do so.
It is revealing that out of all the Christians on this board, only a few are answering this thread. I am pagan, it is true, but I was also willing to read what is said with an open mind.
Sirona
