Comments on: Paganism and the Search for Truth and Proof

By: Jamie

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:02:18 +0000

Ailora, Christians speak with certainty because that is the way that Jesus Christ spoke. It was He who said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through me.” (John 14:6) For a follower of Jesus who accepts His claim to being Emmanuel (which means “God with us”) it stands to reason that he/she will have a lot of confidence in the uniqueness of their faith.

For me, not only am I convinced because of the claims of Jesus but because of the way that the Bible describes humanity. When Paul writes in the Bible about the struggle within his own heart over not doing the things he knows he should do and doing the things he knows he shouldn’t do (Romans 7:14-25), I recognize myself in that. The Bible also describes the problem of humanity that we want to be independent of authority and be free to establish our own standards and purpose in life. As I look at the world around me and the conflicts and troubles that we have, that really fits.

What secures it for me though is the unique way that Jesus transforms that human condition. All other religions and world views that I have looked at put the onus on humanity to make the change. Sometimes that is through setting up rules to govern actions, or rituals that appease God, or attaining a level of enlightenment that transcends the human condition. Jesus’ unique solution is that He, as God, could only provide an escape from that condition we all are slaves to. He had to leave His life in Heaven and humble Himself to become one of us, only to then die to pay the penalty for our rebellious nature against God (our desire to be independent and self-determined). He was the solution, not anything we do or say. The Bible says that He who knew no sin [Jesus] became sin so that we who had only known sin and rebellion could be transformed into His perfection. It is an amazing story of self-sacrifice for the ones that He loves.

Now I have to admit Ailora, I don’t the details of what you believe as a pagan. Does your worldview describe well the human condition? What is the solution that your faith describes for the resolution of that condition? I agree with you that in order for something to be real there needs to be an inherent feeling of confirmation, but I think there needs to be a logical foundation for your worldview as well. We see all kinds of sincere people who feel that they are right, who in reality are very misguided. That’s why I love talking to people about what they believe because I want to make sure I am not misguided.

Would you describe how your pagan faith makes sense to you? What are the things that attracted you to that world view?

By: Ailora Luna

Ailora Luna — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:57:50 +0000

I’m amazed by the Christian’s ability to speak with such surety and fortitude. When it’s a crap shoot. You’ve no more proof of your religion and God than I do of mine. I take that back, I feel it inherently. I’ve always been a spiritual person and I feel no ‘darkness’ or ‘evil’. I turned to Paganism because of my disappointment in the typical Christian. So self righteous, so willing to sing on high about how good they are, but not very willing to live it. And, so very destructive towards Mother Earth and her creatures. Good Christians, like any good person, would not live so callously and would realize that ALL life is sacred. I would not hurt another living creature. My truth is that all life is sacred. So tell me, does my spirituality originate in darkness???

By: Brenda

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:42:10 +0000

Mary Elizabeth, you say that nothing in Christianity is original, but I choose to believe in the Word of God that states the following: “35Or who has first given God anything that he might be paid back or that he could claim a recompense?

36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).” [Romans 11:35-36, Amplified]

I understand that you do not believe in the God of the Bible, and that you see it as a religion of hatred, but I see it differently. I view it as a relationship with Jesus, and He says, “18Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

19By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,

20Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].[1 John 3:18-20, Amplified]

He also says in John 8:32: “And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” I believe that the Truth is Jesus Christ and He is Love. I know Him and I am free from bondage to the life of fear and anxiety and hatred that I once lived. And I am grateful. I am grateful that I found the Hope in Christ Jesus that I could not find in any other source. I pray others who are searching find Him too.

By: Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:31:37 +0000

This whole page is preaching.
It’s totally great and amazing to have such a strong relationship with your savior Jesus! He was a real man, and a great one at that. No doubt about it. And it’s absolutely gorgeous when somebody has that much faith, trust me. I was raised Pagan, but I go to Youth Group, and I have a blast. People there know how I stand on relationships with deities. I don’t want to be preached to. I want to be taught actual historical facts. None of this where “Believe that Jesus died for your sins. He loves you.” There is no actual proof.
I can supply you with 50 simple facts of it all. —> http://godisimaginary.com/i6.htm
Paganism isn’t about “calling the dark forces,” because we simply don’t. It’s THAT easy. We worship Mother Nature, and do the best we can to prolong her. We absolutely do not worship any entity called/known as “Satan” or “The Devil” because we don’t believe in any such person or thing. Our religion was not taught to us by fallen angels themselves, that’s utterly ridiculous. Christianity is a snow ball that rolled over a dozen or so pagan religions. It’s true.
“Nothing in Christianity is original. The pre-Christian God Mithras – called the Son of God and the Light of the World – was born on December 25, died, was buried in a rock tomb, and then resurrected in three days. By the way, December 25 is also the birthday or Osiris, Adonis, and Dionysus. The newborn Krishna was presented with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Even Christianity’s weekly holy day was stolen from the pagans.”
“The vestiges of pagan religion in Christian symbology are undeniable. Egyptian sun disks became the halos of Catholic saints. Pictograms of Isis nursing her miraculously conceived son Horus became the blueprint for our modern images of the Virgin Mary nursing Baby Jesus. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual – the miter, the altar, the doxology, and communion, the act of “God-eating” – were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions.”
I am so sick and tired of people saying that all Pagans and Wiccan’s do is sacrifice humans, worship the devil, learn from fallen angels, and play with dark forces. That would be Satanism, my friends and local fellowships. Not Paganism. Do a little more research, this is getting a little irritating.
I know I came on to this site, and it’s my fault for reading and all that. Don’t post this stuff on the PUBLIC internet, then.
Thank you, and farewell. And if by all means, Blessed be!

By: Darren Hewer

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:07:58 +0000

Cady, thank you for your comments! As I noted in one of the comments below, defining paganism, wicca, etc is quite difficult because there is no universally accepted scriptures or guidelines for what it means. Thank you for taking the time to explain certain distinctions that the author may not have made clear or wasn’t aware of.

It was interesting to hear that you journeyed from a Christian upbringing into Wicca. What were the reasons that convinced you that Christianity is untrue but Wicca is?

Your comments brought to mind the story of Marcia Montenegro, another lady who was raised in the church but eventually left, studied astrology and other beliefs generally associated with paganism and “new age” worldviews. She was heavily involved in this world for many years and it even became her occupation. You can read her story here: Marcia’s Story: A Strange but True Spiritual Journey. I won’t give away what happens but it may surprise you!

By: Shelley

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:38:05 +0000

Pagans! I know they exist because my mother liked to read her fortune all the time, everyday in the house. One time when i went to Cuba for a mission trip. I saw the other side of Cuba in pagan worship, as you entered this restaurant she was there with her statue and drink for you to take. God had me go around her and when she was not there I went into the restaurant without her knowing it. She could read my spirit from what she believed and my Spirit from whom I believe. God did that for me!

By: Sharon

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:33:19 +0000

if anyone doesn’t believe in God look at creation, even then on how it got made, there has to be a God, otherwise who or what made the beautiful trees especially when they are in blosoms

By: Lord Vincithias

Lord Vincithias — Sat, 28 May 2011 16:12:33 +0000

Pagans would do well to read The Lost Book of Enoch. Their religion was taught to them by fallen angels themselves.

By: Darren Hewer

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:21:52 +0000

anonymous, I’m sorry to hear your experience of Christianity has been that is “spurns hatred.” There is no doubt that often unfortunately happens, and when it does, the people who engage in those actions are living contrary to what they claim to believe. It’s sad, but it’s not a particularly Christian problem, it’s more of a human problem: There are hypocrites in every religion, it’s just that there are sometimes more Christians around to use as obvious targets.

Re paganism being “dark”, as another commenter pointed out, it probably depends somewhat on how a person who is pagan defines their religion. Unlike Christianity there is no official pagan scriptures that defines what it means, and so certain beliefs may indeed be classified as “dark”.

There can be truth in any religion, as the author of this article says, but obviously the author differs in their appraisal of paganism’s truthfulness. They believe paganism (in its broadest sense) is untrue and therefore “dark”. Since you believe that Christianity “spurns hatred” it sounds like you believe it is likewise untrue and might even call it “dark”. That’s your certainly right to do so, but also my right to disagree.

I would suggest that there is actually good evidence that the resurrection is not merely myth but actually did happen. When you call it myth, what do you mean? And how did you come to that conclusion?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:45:56 +0000

Do more research. Nothing about paganism is “dark”, it’s beautiful and light. It gives me something that is a lot more fulfilling than an organized religion that spurns hatred for those that don’t believe or are gay/lesbian or stray from the path of perfection that the Bible asks for, and bases their religion on a myth about a man that rose from the grave three days after being executed. Just because they may have different names does not mean that there is no god, nor does it mean that it isn’t the same exact thing. A lot of holiday traditions and even some holidays are based around pagan ones, which are practiced by Christians everywhere, so it’s hard to escape from paganism in a religion that hates it so much.