Are people seriously Wiccan?

[So]

I mean, I understand that people believe the bigger religions, for various reasons. But are there really people honestly who believe in pagan gods as genuine powerful supernatural beings, or are they just joining a group whose philosophical outlook they agree with? If there are any professed neopagans here, I'm genuinely curious.

 

[queenrobot]

My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

 

[EGGO]

Head on over to Bryn Mawr College. Yes, there are PLENTY.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: So
I mean, I understand that people believe the bigger religions because, for various reasons. But are there really people honestly who believe in pagan gods as genuine powerful supernatural beings, or are they just joining a group whose philosophical outlook they agree with? If there are any professed neopagans here, I'm genuinely curious.

I'd guess it's this. But now that I've said that, there's going to be someone who comes in and tried to sell me on there being forest spirits who wouldn't take kindly to me dismissing them.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: queenrobot
My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

So, the question is, does he genuinely believe that there is a real horned god (or whatever, that's what I picked up from the 'pedia) out there?

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: So
If there are any professed neopagans here, I'm genuinely curious.

So if they are not any professed neopagans here, are you not genuinely curious?

 

[nakedfrog]

I identify as neo-pagan on religious identity tests, and I have a nice pentacle on the wall, but I don't actually practice anything. When I was younger I went to a few meetings/study sessions.

This exact one pentacle, actually
The outer ring says "I am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars."

 

[So]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: So
If there are any professed neopagans here, I'm genuinely curious.

So if they are not any professed neopagans here, are you not genuinely curious?

Well, I'm only curious enough to ask around here. I'm not going to go driving around town looking for them.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

you know all religion is modeled off of pagan religions and the pagan calendar more or less

 

[sourceninja]

People will believe anything that helps make them feel good about themselves.

 

[LordMaul]

I knew this one guy who was in my Counter Strike clan about 8 years ago back in the early beta days who was hardcore Wiccan. He was a hell of a player, but really very strange. Always drunk and angry, though he was only 19. I had a few conversations with him and hearing him go on and on about being a "healing witch" was frankly hysterical. I ended up pissing him off due to my "lack of acceptance."

Also, when visiting Manitou Springs in CO one year, I found the town packed with all sorts of strange "wizard" and "magic crystal" shops with lots of people dressed up like hippies proclaiming new-age religion and Wiccan crap. It was pretty entertaining as well, kind of seemed like one last town that never left the 70s.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I identify as neo-pagan on religious identity tests, and I have a nice pentacle on the wall, but I don't actually practice anything. When I was younger I went to a few meetings/study sessions.

This exact one pentacle, actually
The outer ring says "I am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars."

To address my question: Do you believe that there are actual supernatural pagan deities, or is it just a philosophical thing?

 

[queenrobot]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot
My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

So, the question is, does he genuinely believe that there is a real horned god (or whatever, that's what I picked up from the 'pedia) out there?

Yes, I believe he does. He believes in gods and goddesses, and that each serve a purpose in his life. He used to have a group that he met with. They called themselves the Temple of the Triple Goddess. He is more of a solitary practitioner now.

 

[Dumac]

Most Wiccans and such that I have known simply don the name for attention or to be different without seriously believing or reviewing the religion's beliefs.

That said, I'm sure there are plenty serious believers of pagan religions. I see little reason to give credit to one religion over the other. At least pagan religions usually adore nature, which is visible to the human eye.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot
My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

So, the question is, does he genuinely believe that there is a real horned god (or whatever, that's what I picked up from the 'pedia) out there?

Yes, I believe he does. He believes in gods and goddesses, and that each serve a purpose in his life. He used to have a group that he met with. They called themselves the Temple of the Triple Goddess. He is more of a solitary practitioner now.

Thanks. It's just so strange to me, I guess I just can't see how people can become convinced of such things.

 

[ggnl]

I've met a couple people that were into it. In a nut shell, they didn't believe in the religion literally, it was more of a spiritual way for them to exercise their philosophical beliefs.

Also it provides a sort of counter-culture to the Christian status quo (i.e. Anton LaVey's Satanists).

 

[loup garou]

People are seriously Wiccan because, for various reasons.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I identify as neo-pagan on religious identity tests, and I have a nice pentacle on the wall, but I don't actually practice anything. When I was younger I went to a few meetings/study sessions.

This exact one pentacle, actually
The outer ring says "I am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars."

To address my question: Do you believe that there are actual supernatural pagan deities, or is it just a philosophical thing?

More of a philosophical thing, I suppose, I don't seem to have it in me to be devout
I tend to think of it more as a conceptualization, a frame of understanding.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: ggnl
I've met a couple people that were into it. In a nut shell, they didn't believe in the religion literally, it was more of a spiritual way for them to exercise their philosophical beliefs.

Also it provides a sort of counter-culture to the Christian status quo (i.e. Anton LaVey's Satanists).

how are you comparing satanism and pagans.....really?

 

[So]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I identify as neo-pagan on religious identity tests, and I have a nice pentacle on the wall, but I don't actually practice anything. When I was younger I went to a few meetings/study sessions.

This exact one pentacle, actually
The outer ring says "I am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars."

To address my question: Do you believe that there are actual supernatural pagan deities, or is it just a philosophical thing?

More of a philosophical thing, I suppose, I don't seem to have it in me to be devout
I tend to think of it more as a conceptualization, a frame of understanding.

This I can see -- I can't say that I agree with what I perceive to be the "wiccan" philosophy, but I can understand the logic behind it.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot
My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

So, the question is, does he genuinely believe that there is a real horned god (or whatever, that's what I picked up from the 'pedia) out there?

Yes, I believe he does. He believes in gods and goddesses, and that each serve a purpose in his life. He used to have a group that he met with. They called themselves the Temple of the Triple Goddess. He is more of a solitary practitioner now.

Thanks. It's just so strange to me, I guess I just can't see how people can become convinced of such things.

People are easily convinced of anything. 87% of people don't think for themselves.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot
My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

So, the question is, does he genuinely believe that there is a real horned god (or whatever, that's what I picked up from the 'pedia) out there?

Yes, I believe he does. He believes in gods and goddesses, and that each serve a purpose in his life. He used to have a group that he met with. They called themselves the Temple of the Triple Goddess. He is more of a solitary practitioner now.

Thanks. It's just so strange to me, I guess I just can't see how people can become convinced of such things.

People are easily convinced of anything. 87% of people don't think for themselves.

94% of statistics are made up on the spot too, but I agree with your general point. You think many people just join these groups to fit in and then can convince themselves of whatever someone babbles in their ear because they refuse to put effort into thinking critically? I guess I can see that.

 

[queenrobot]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: queenrobot
My father is. He says he has been for 35 years. It was kinda weird growing up sometimes.

So, the question is, does he genuinely believe that there is a real horned god (or whatever, that's what I picked up from the 'pedia) out there?

Yes, I believe he does. He believes in gods and goddesses, and that each serve a purpose in his life. He used to have a group that he met with. They called themselves the Temple of the Triple Goddess. He is more of a solitary practitioner now.

Thanks. It's just so strange to me, I guess I just can't see how people can become convinced of such things.

People are easily convinced of anything. 87% of people don't think for themselves.

I don't see much difference in believing in Wicca then any other religion. It is all about having faith in something that can not be proven easily. IMO, of course.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: ggnl
I've met a couple people that were into it. In a nut shell, they didn't believe in the religion literally, it was more of a spiritual way for them to exercise their philosophical beliefs.

Also it provides a sort of counter-culture to the Christian status quo (i.e. Anton LaVey's Satanists).

how are you comparing satanism and pagans.....really?

It's not an invalid comparison.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: ggnl
I've met a couple people that were into it. In a nut shell, they didn't believe in the religion literally, it was more of a spiritual way for them to exercise their philosophical beliefs.

Also it provides a sort of counter-culture to the Christian status quo (i.e. Anton LaVey's Satanists).

how are you comparing satanism and pagans.....really?

It's not an invalid comparison.

sure it is since paganism is essentially anything that falls outside of montheism(christianit, islam, judaism) of which satanist believe that lucifer is the one true god making it a monotheistic religion. Do you know anything about this or you just guessing?