According to almost every pagan I've talked to concerning Christianity, their biggest bitch about the religion is the corruptness and fighting within the different sects and faiths. It's definitely mine and I have no need to tell anyone my experiences because I'm sure they've had the same or similar. Yet, do we have these same grievances in paganism as well?
When I first started exploring my pagan beliefs with others I joined a Yahoo e-group. It was great and, for awhile, we all played nicely together. Then, as we got to know one another more and I learned about the differences in traditions, little things were said about how one tradition was older than another and which traditions took their roots from others and which tradition was the greatest of them all. Needless to say, I was very confused, and the seeds of doubt crept into my incorrect thinking that pagan society as a whole was united and loving.
The worst thing about doubt is that when it enters it takes change for it to leave and I listened to what the others said and became biased in the way I thought. Then, I thought about every person in my group and every pagan I knew and I asked myself if I was biased of any of them because each and every person had a belief that was slightly different than another. And then I asked myself how different am I than from any Christian who believes that their faith's way is the only way to get to a place of blessedness in the afterlife? So instead of questioning everyone's beliefs, I began looking closer at the people who talked the most about other traditions. Was it insecurity on their part? I think so and I also believe that they were negative about other traditions because it made them feel self important and intelligent.
Can paganism become a whole without this self-doubt and negativity? Can each tradition be looked at with equality? Yes, I definitely think it can but it will take Elders to teach us NOT to behave like others we have come to loathe. It will take self-awakening and wisdom. It will take enlightenment. It will be up to every pagan to ask him/herself if what they say to others is negative or positive. Paganism is beautiful and unique in that everyone can have their own belief system without prejudice or spite. Let's keep it this way people because isn't acceptance and love what it's truly all about?
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