May I ask...

[wednes]

Can I please ask the witches out there what you do when non-bleivers ask about your beleif system? I am having trouble with some well meaning athiests who want to ask questions after question but are totally ignorant as to the ways of the witch. I don't want to be rude, but I have a pretty short fuse for ignorant questions.

Comments

Re: What do I do?

[lirrin.livejournal.com]

Of course people with crucifixes don't get asked a lot of questions. How many crucifixes do you see in public vs. pentacles? And of those you do see, how many crucifixes on TV are "positive" symbols, and how many pentacles are "negative"? Catholicism, for good or bad, is pretty commonly known even among non-Catholics. And frankly, I find the crucifix to be completely gruesome. Ew. Jesus hanging on a cross. Yuck. The fish makes so much more sense as a nice Christian symbol. (Or the Buddy Christ, from Dogma...)

That's so hysterical...I get asked if I'm Jewish sometimes too, both from the pentacle ring (count the points kids, it's missing one for Jewish) and because sometimes I simply say, "I'm not Christian". Want to make me swallow my tongue figuratively speaking? Coworker, coming up to me at work, pointing at my ring or the charm bracelet I sometimes wear, and saying, "You Wiccan?" Uh...uhhhh....I never know WHAT to say at that point. Usually a feeble, "Yes?" even though that's not really true, I'm just hoping they'll go away. :)

If you don't want to debate your religion, don't feel pressured to do so. I don't debate mine either. And I generally begin by saying that it's just my belief. I know my faith isn't provable, that's what makes it faith. It's what makes my subscription to Skeptical Inquirer such a scream, too. *heh* I don't like anyone of any faith or bent or group who wants to convert and proselytize and prove they're right and you're wrong, and I tend to end conversations with them by wandering off, or changing the subject, or leaving. Only very occasionally do I get rude. I always try to remember that someone trying to convert you because they think you're going to hell is actually trying to do you a favor, and is concerned about your eternal soul more than your momentary comfort (in theory...). They're not trying to get you to buy Amway. ;-) I usually say, "Thank you, but I'm comfortable with my beliefs, and I hope you are with yours, and we will just have to know we don't agree."

You should really get The Other People, by the Aquarian Tabernacle Church. It's like one of those obnoxious little Chick Tracts, only it's from the Pagan perspective. It talks about Cain's wife (who DID he marry, anyway?) and a few internal inconsistencies in the Bible, and about how Pagans aren't evil, they're just not Christians. I used to carry one in my purse, mostly for the shock value.

And bonus points for using "if I were" properly instead of "if I was". ;-)

Re: What do I do?

[wednes.livejournal.com]

For awhile, i was bombarded by people who would give me those little pamphlets that are comics about Jesus or God's love and the like. While my friends was often told that she could be cured of her homosexuality, and often got fliers and ads for groups or churches that could "help" with this.

We eventually put together our own pamphlet explaining things a bit, and gave them out when we received a Christian pamphlet. In a few weeks, the problem had gone away, as if by magic...