Religion, Ethics, Faith

Sometimes, I just sit at my Altar and I pray. I don’t know what or who I am praying to, really. The Divine, energies, nature, the forces of the universe. I don’t suppose it matters anyway, really. I think prayer works in the same way under all religious paths: I firmly believe that if something is meant to be then one day it will be. I think prayer, even witchcraft, is partly psychological because if you want something hard enough to pray for it perhaps you’re more likely to make it happen. Perhaps it’s the energies of the universe working in your favour. Or maybe there’s a God, a Goddess, answering people’s calls: seemingly those most tedious rather than those requiring the most attention. I don’t know.

Wednesday, 09 September 2009 at 18:26

I'm not really sure why I'm writing this. It's partially for my own benefit so I can clarify things for myself and make sure they sound right to myself. But it's also partially to make people more aware of different religions and eliiminate some popular misconceptions, while simply expressing my personal beliefs and opinions.

Warning: I am certainly not looking for any insulting comments, and I have absolutely no intention of causing anybody offense. So please, if I say something you find insulting, or take offense to - be mature about it. I'll try and explain it if I can, and we can have a healthy debate or agree to disagree.

I most certainly do not intend to cause any amount of offence.

So. Sometimes people make comments to me about all religion being a bad idea. All it does is cause wars - they tell me. Religions are all just formed around power hungry people, who don't care about anyone but themselves. This is another one I often hear.

I think these are comments made from people who have poorly researched, and followed the popular misconceptions, or beliefs about mainstream religions. I am more than aware that religion causes so many problems within the world. I am more than aware, that mainstream religions have way too much power, and way too much money.

Please, no offense intended - just a personal view. Christianity, for instance. All the big deal about helping people and making the world a better place. Yet, there are such horrific phrases in the bible condemning so many people to death, or saying that so many things are wrong. Not to be taken literally, some people say? I say contradictory. Also, the Church has probably more money than everyone in the world combined (maybe a little exaggeration), and yet, a low percentage of it goes on helping people in poverty or whatever.

However, on the flip side - I completely respect and agree with having faith. I think this is healthy, and I think everyone deserves it. I completely respect their beliefs in God, or creation, and a lot of things really. I don't personally believe these things, but I respect that they do. I do know that Christians are often very lovely people, that DO want to help people. My criticism was mainly against the Church. I know people who go to other countries and help out to make their lives a better place. They are lovely people, and I do have a lot of respect for the Christians that I know. As long as they don't try to inflict their views on me, then that's just dandy. I love to visit churches and cathedrals, I love the history of them, but it just shows how much money has been wasted time & time again - billions of pounds that could have helped billions of people? Just saying.

Wicca.

My own personal religious and ethical beliefs are routed and lie under this heading, and actually are the main reason I am posting this - before I started rambling about Christianity and people's misconceptions, mainstream religions, and that it's unfair to generalise all religions because of some religions' flaws.

Okay so Wicca is a recognised, but under publicised (at least not reasonably) religion. It falls under the grouping of being a Pagan religion, an earth based religion. Wicca follows the cycle of the year, and celebrates significant points, such as the changing of seasons. These also have relevance to the God and the Goddess, but it's basically just celebrating life and nature.

Me personally.

I completely respect and love nature, all that it brings. I love the world, I love plants, I love animals. And yeah, I guess I love humans too. I want to do all I can in my life to help make the world a better place. I do have an idealistic wish for the world, but I am also aware that this is unachievable. I wish that the world could be a Paradise (or what is in my eyes) without anyone harming each other or the world, everyone being full of love, and respect. Yeah, balance of good and evil, blah blah. I know my idealistic view is never going to come to truth. However, I do not, and will never, think this a good enough reason not to try to do my best. And I have no respect for anybody who doesn't think that. I know I am constantly being let down by everyone and everything in the world. But I will never stop trying.

Going back to the idea of Paradise. I'm aware that it could be ambiguous in terms of the world as a whole, because what is one person's Paradise may not be another person's. Someone's idea of Paradise may include death and chaos, where mine certainly includes the opposite. I also believe that Paradise is more of a state of mind, than a physical existance.



Wicca, basically, all boils down to the one rule. 'An it harm none, do what you will.' This is often criticised for being too open to different interpretations. But I think that's pretty stupid to be honest. All it's saying, is don't intentionally do anything to hurt someone or something. It's not hard. There's also something called the threefold law, which has ideas similar to that of Karma. Basically, it states the belief that whatever you do, good or bad, will one day come back to you threefold. This is something I am currently struggling with intensely.

Wiccans do not seek to 'turn' or 'convert' people. Neither do they offer ultimatums, (?) or use fear to gain them power and get people to join their religion. There is no Hell, believe it and follow it if you want - if you don't, don't. Wiccans respect equality and diversity, and respect everyone having their own beliefs and opinions.

Some Wiccans believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation. For a long time, I've not really been sure about this. This one completely depends on the person you speak to.

Creation? All very Scientific, as far as I'm concerned. Evolution all the way for me. In Wicca there is a God and a Goddess, known as the triple Goddess and the Horned God to many. These Gods and Goddesses then often split into different Gods and Goddesses, each representing something different. This is also different with every Wiccan, because some believe in a physical, existing God and Goddess. I personally think of the God and the Goddess as basically 'everything there is' each representing different points in the world and in nature. Basically energy, life, existence. Basically, I would use the God and the Goddess in my prayer to the universe to help be more specific on what I am asking for. As explained below.

Of course, then there's the big one. Witchcraft. One of the least understood terms in today's Society. First of all, Witchcraft is not a religion. You can practice witchcraft and not be Wiccan, and you can be Wiccan and not practice Witchcraft. Witchcraft and Wicca are NOT one of the same. Also varying with everyone you talk to - I believe in Witchcraft as being that everything in the universe is connected to everything, therefore messages being sent asking for certain, reasonable things. I believe in Witchcraft as the transferral of energy. Not Hocus Pocus. Probably the biggest thing, for me, about Witchcraft - is that it's more Psychological. If I want something enough to ask the universe for it, I am likely to be making decisions and following the path afterwards to lead me towards what I want. I am likely to try harder.

Another misconception would be the involvement of Satanism. I know I have been rambling, so I will try to be as brief as I can here.

Satanism is in no way related, or similar, to Wicca. Other than the practice of Witchcraft. Satanism does not practice the worship of Satan. It does however, view him as an idol and they would try to see aspects of him in themselves. Not in a Hellish way, in more of a - give what you get, way. It's about revenge, from my interpretation. It's about looking after you and yours, and only you and yours. It's often very much opposite to Wicca. Though I have met plenty of Satanists, who have been lovely, respectable people. Is Satanism also a Pagan religion? I don't know. It depends on your definition of Paganism. A long time ago, it just meant 'person with no religion, or not a Christian'. Now, it can either mean 'an earth based religion' or 'religion that is not either Christianity, Muslim, and a few more that I'm unclear of because I've forgot'. Either way, it's pretty controversial, and Wiccans and religions alike often like to use the term neo-Paganism to brand themselves to avoid the controversy.

I would personally say that Paganism includes earth based religions, and I would not brand Satanism under this.

I may have made some mistakes with some of the information, due to poor research. Everything I have written is true as far as I'm aware - but feel free to discuss anything if you're not sure. I understand there will be a lot of bias in there, and I understand that the language when speaking about religions other than my own will reflect that they are not my own :P and I am sorry about this, but I did say I was going to put my own opinions. I'm sorry if anyone finds these unreasonable, and I'm sorry about the unavoidable language-reflecting bias. Like I said, I still have upmost respect for everyone who does not believe the same things I do, we're all people at the end of the day. I have my opinions, but I will look upon everyone as an individual and not judge them on their religion. Something I wish more people would be capable of. Both historically, and in modern Society.

I've probably missed loads, but yeah. If anyone actually read that far, I would welcome questions and comments. Thank you :)