| Dec 26, 2006 @ 1:22 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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BellaRora8
Posts: 12
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Just curious to know if there's anyone else on here who is.
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 2:05 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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null_geodesic
Posts: 684
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I've seen a few people here and there who mention Wicca in their profiles. Considering there's only a few 100 kilopeople who self identify with the religion in the USA, it does seem to be a pretty high percentage considering the small factional sample size that MD represents in relation to total USA population.
Either that, or the "few 100 kilopeople" statistic is wrong.
I myself am not. But considering it's one of the very few religions that has done no harm to others, and from what little I know, truly human-centric, it has my full admiration.
Null!
ps- Have you seen a doctor yet?
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 4:13 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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BellaRora8
Posts: 12
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You're very right. And I was a little cautious about posting about it and putting it out there that I myself am pagan...because a lot of people have an entirely wrong idea about it. I was hoping to stir some discussion about it. See what people here thought and find a few people talk to since I'm one of very few in the area that I live in.
And no...I havn't seen a doctor yet...but I will. Don't worry.
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 6:24 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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chinabull2000
Posts: 7,012
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Bella, if you go into the Religious Forum you may even find a thread on it, and if not, feel free to star your own there - I'm sure you'll hear plenty of differing opinions. 
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 4:07 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,618
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But don't do it if you're thin-skinned...that and politics can be a little tough.
(And please, take care of yourself!)
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 4:31 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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irish20835
Posts: 1,224
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Considering there's only a few 100 kilopeople who self identify with the religion in the USA,
forgive my ignorance ...is Wicca a religion or a way of life
I have a buddy who is buddist but claims its a way of life not a religion
Bella heres a suggestion ...use the tag feature ..look it up ...might help ya there
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 6:50 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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null_geodesic
Posts: 684
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But don't do it if you're thin-skinned...that and politics can be a little tough.
Yeah, I fully agree 100%. I would stay away unless you're looking for a hardcore debate (which can get pretty ugly). You look like a nice girl. Stay here where it's safe. :)
forgive my ignorance ...is Wicca a religion or a way of life
Wicca is a religion. According to Wikipedia (have you donated yet?), Wicca was declared an officially recognized religion here in the USA in 1985.
However, every religion is a way of life, in some sense. The difference is that very few people are born into Wicca. A Wiccan is a Wiccan by choice. In other words, you don't have a gazillion people who are Wiccan in name only because their mother is Wiccan or their father is Wiccan. It's no small secret that people who convert are very often the most strict adherents to a religion's precepts. In that sense, Wicca is a way of life too.
I think what your friend meant is that Buddhism is compatible with some traditional western style religions. I happen to know many practicing Jews who are also Buddhists.
Null!
ps- In my previous post I wrote "factional", however, I meant "fractional".
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 7:15 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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BellaRora8
Posts: 12
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well wicca and pagan can be two different things or approaches. I don't consider wiccan to be my religion. I hold with a lot of pagan ideals and beliefs. For me it's more a way of life.
And don't worry about me...I can handle anything thrown at me. I'm not worried about being controversial or starting a debate :)
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 9:12 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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null_geodesic
Posts: 684
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No, that's absolutely fine. There's as many opinions as there are people on the face of this planet, and each one is valid and correct. That's one of the great things about our country.
Nevertheless, Wicca is considered an official religion by the United States of America, and is afforded all the rights and protections that every other officially registered religion enjoys in this country.
For example, you cannot be fired from your job for taking time off to practice Wicca. That is a right guaranteed by our Constitution.
In contrast, your company is not bound by law to give you time off to practice one of the official holidays of the religion NullGeodesism.
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 9:16 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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Damn, Null. I put in for all the holidays to my director of human resourses! I can't believe I won't have a day off all year! EEEEK!!!
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| Dec 26, 2006 @ 11:41 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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null_geodesic
Posts: 684
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After rereading my post, I think I might have over-simplified the law.
The Constitution does grant me the right of free exercise, it's true. But that's very different from preventing my employer for dinging me for taking off of work to observe Yom Kippur. Free exercise simply means that Congress can't pass a law that makes eating challah on Friday night illegal. I'm fairly certain that really doesn't touch on what an employer is, and is not, allowed to do.
So I went to Wikipedia (have you donated yet?) and did some research.
I was right (in that I was wrong). It's the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that guarantees me the right to take off of work (within reason) to observe my religious holidays.
On a completely different note, I just got my USB dancing mat and downloaded Stepmania (it's open source software). I'm about to make like a teenage Japanese kid in a video arcade and dance.... :-) The only thing that's missing is bubble tea.
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| Dec 27, 2006 @ 1:29 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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Bambooo
Posts: 195
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I remember a few on the religion thread. So...pagan? Do you believe in Odin, Thor, Loki and those guys?
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| Dec 27, 2006 @ 1:40 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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I just love those belief systems where there is a priest and a priestess. I believe in the masculine and feminine principles in the universe. Its everywhere in nature and we have postive and negatively charged particles in atomic structures. Yin and Yang. Early Christians, the Gnostic sects, had a somewhat pagan and eastern mysticism. Women had a higher regard and place. A few thousand years later after a group of fanatical Christians got stoned from eating rotten bread infected with ergot fungus and proceed to burn a few girls at the steak for being Witches. I bet if they were Gnostic Christians, they would have been celebrating instead.
Don't get me started. The Inquistions, Crusades, the Dark Ages and Medival tortures. I better stop now before I go off on a rant.
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| Dec 27, 2006 @ 1:46 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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there I go with the spelling errors again. I meant stake, not steak. I guess its because I missed my lunch today.
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| Dec 27, 2006 @ 2:19 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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MotownManiax
Posts: 9,737
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Oooops, thought it said "Wiggans"....sowwy. 
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| Jan 1, 2007 @ 8:31 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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WhiteThunder1969
Posts: 846
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Does being eclectic with aspects of Zen Buddhism, Native American Shamanism, Alchemy and other beliefs count and a past background in wicca as well?
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| Jan 2, 2007 @ 12:02 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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winterrenegade
Posts: 1,528
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i am native american and don't believe the whole constitution act of freedom of beliefs. I know a man that is also ndn and has/had long hair due too his beliefs, his job told him too either cut his hair or lose his job. when he fought this unfair request, he lost it in the court system and had too cut his hair. i have seen people fired from their jobs due too their beliefs. in todays society if you are not a christian then you are in a lot of trouble.
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| Jan 2, 2007 @ 12:21 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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WhiteThunder1969
Posts: 846
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That is so very true.... fortunately I never had a problem when I had long hair... it was tolerated and I had so many girls ask me how I got it so long.... lol..... I cut it on my own accord and been asked by many why did I do it.... lol
But indeed, one cannot express themselves anymore... either religiously or individually. We all are expected to conform to the general society expectations. I probably keep rebelling in a little way till my grave and even been thinking if to grow back my long hair. Of course, it was more individualistic than belief....
Fortunately, I am proud to say I am not Christian, they ask me if I am this religion or that and the answer is always no I am not.... they never guess what I believe in and so it should be, what one believes is a personal thing and not something that should be a public aspect about oneself... If they really persistent, I tell them I am an Alchemist, which is true.... but they usually have no idea what real alchemists are other than the myths about turning lead into gold.
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| Jan 2, 2007 @ 12:47 AM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD?
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winterrenegade
Posts: 1,528
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the world now a days is run by so called christians and i beleive this is why our world is being destroyed. if they would open their eyes and see how we beleive the world would be a much better place too live
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| Jan 2, 2007 @ 12:18 PM |
Any wiccans/pagans on MD? |
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gyspydreamer
Posts: 403
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the world now a days is run by so called christians Maybe not, but they sure are trying now aren't they? Have had to deal with, and have been sickened by so many of them, I have been calling them "hypochristians" for years.
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