Brightest Blessings…Kristie

I am currently studying theology at university, and it seems to me that you cannot look at christianity without diverting to Paganism. As christianity arose from a society whose state religion was paganism, it was only natural that some of the customs were moulded to fit in with the new emerging religion.

It also seems that this debate is more relevant to sociology as well as theology, in that you need to look at the desire for man to worship and revere the unknown, or the higher being. Which ever way this is done doesn’t really matter, it is up to the individual to decide. As to the paganism of Christianity, i think it adds to the fabric that makes up the religion. And it solved issues at the time of establishment, (i.e. Constantinoplian Rome). Also if you look at the society as a whole, it was still largely an agricultural one. Paganism provided practices and beliefs aimed specifically at worshipping gods of the material. that being earth,air, fire and water. For example the pagan practices and festvals of beltaine, Lugnasad, and samhain just to name a few.

This could go on forever, so i think it is up to the individual to take from religion whatever they want. If you think that Christianity is this pure and holy religion uintouched by the evil of paganism – ok. If you think that Christianity and pagainsm are closely intertwined – ok. If you think that Christianity is a load of bull – ok. I think there should be a healthy respect for all religions, and to look at more than just the theology of religion as there was way more to it than that. And when you look without prejudice or contempt at religion, you will find that they all share some similarities, in one way or the other.

Ziggy Marley

I have lived both sides of the fence. I admit that I really do not know. I have my opinions and my knowlege, but what good would arguing it do to those who already have their minds made up? Peace and love

People are on this Earth, yes. But where does is say anywhere that we all have to be identical to eachother? Nowhere. No two people are alike so who’s to say that we all have to believe in the exact same thing?

Paganism is an umbrella term, not a specific belief. It’s not dogmatic, so there are no set rules that needed to be followed. But some people prefer the structure. Others don’t.

I personally am Pagan. I was not born into a Pagan family. Actually, my mothers side of the family was originally Protestant then converted for personal reasons to Roman Catholic. My fathers side is Jewish. I was raised to be Roman Catholic but chose to be pagan. I found that Paganism was closer to what I personally believed. Do I believe in a higher being? Yes. Do I think it’s the “God” spoke of in church? No. That “God” punishes his people because they don’t do as he says. I don’t tihnk that’s right, in anyway, shape or form. A “God” to me is supposed to love you no matter what. And damning to to the fires of hell just doesn’t seem like love.

Although we all don’t believe the exact same thing, what does that have to do with who we are as people? Nothing. We are who we are because that’s how we are. Period. One of my best friends is a strict Orthidox Christian but we are still friends cause we don’t see eachother by the color of our skins or by our beliefs. We just see the girl standing in front of us, and love her no matter what.

Why can’t the rest of the world?

There have been many valid and invalid points made on this article. But you can’t force someone to believe something that they don’t. If you think that something isn’t true, it’ll never truely be true to you. And that’s the way it is.

So take a step back and look at the world around you. This is your home. The person standing next to you also lives here. Treat them and the Earth with respect. Cause once one of them is gone, they’re gone forever.

Nicole Dobshinsky (age 17)