interfaith relations/sharing thread

[nearlythree]

Given the atmosphere on some sections of Mnet, and the lovely time we had on the Shana Tova thread, I was wondering if anyone was up for an interfaith sharing thread?

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I'm up for interfaith... not entirely sure what we're doing, but I'll join anything me

ok..i'm up for that.....not really posted on hear, but did on the shana tova thread and also followed interesting discussion about witches the other night....so yep..count me in...love a good chat about stuff!

meant 'here'!

Okay!

Well, right now for me as a Christian I'm really saddened by some of the stuff that has been posted on Mnet recently about Muslims and also people who believe in general. Also I live in a part of the country that isn't multiracial or multifaith at all, and whilst I know that the dcs will be learning about other faiths it's much better to share these things with people who actually practise them.

Obviously Hallowe'en is coming up, which I know puts the wind up a few Christians. So it'd be good to hear from any pagans as to how they feel about Samhain (and how it has become commercialised as Halowe'en) and what they will be doing; I think too many Christians are scared of paganism when they don't need to be. And we'll be celebrating All Saint's and All Soul's days at the same time.

Anyone else with any ideas?

Hiya, I'm a pagan and a witch.

I have been stunned by how easily religion seems to be laughed at, and if it isn't what you believe, then it is clearly nuts. I am guilty of doing it myself with scientology though, so I am trying not too

Samhain - It doesn't really bother me how it is treated by other religions, or commericialism. I feel that yes, partly christian festivals were influenced by the pagan ones as it all merged, but also that these times (sabbats for pagans etc) are special for a reason that we don't understand - that we celebrate on these dates because we are meant to (does that make any sense????)

For me, it is the start of the new year, and will be seen in in style - my friend does a great Samhain bash... pumpkins and decorations galore, the kind of party that other people throw on new year's eve. I then do my own private bit on the night itself.

My DC are being raised to know what I believe, and also the Christian festivals that their father was raised in (raised Catholic). I want them to learn about as many religions as possible so that when the time comes, they can choose what they believe. At the moment they just think its great that they get more festivals and presents .

i'm Jewish and not particularly observant..but love learning more about my own religion and other faiths...so am going to pop in here more often...chat threads going a bit bonkers/ judgemental and odd at the moment....

Hi, flamebat and lulumama.

Flamebat, very interested in what you say about Samhain. Totally agree about Christianity pragmatically including pagan customs and festivals, but I'd never thought of it as that being how it was meant. I do think we are all heading in the same direction, just by different paths.

It's weird how religion has become something to be laughed at - paganism probably gets even a worse deal than Christianity in that repsect. What is really odd is that people can't see what they've replaced it with - consumerism and the cult of celebrity all just fill a void.

So your dh was raised a Catholic? Is he lapsed now? I really want our dcs to learn about as many ways of faith as they can too, because even though we are raising them as Christian I think that you can learn so much from other faiths. Lots of Christians are taking part in Earth Blessings that are more pagan in content than traditional Christian, and/or use Bhuddist-style meditation or yoga in their spirituality. And as a family we don't belong to one denomination or another so I like to think our dcs will be pretty free-thinking about their faith.

One thing I'd like to ask you if I may. What place does the Occult have in paganism?

Lulumama, there are some horrible threads going on atm, aren't they? I don't know about you but I end up thinking about them far too much. You are right about people being judgemental, it's not hard to see why some people are getting so upset.

Can I lurk for a bit please??

Of course!!

i think there is a lot of bitching and criticising...and a lot of judging..does all good to remember there are more things here than we can see and understand and the world does not begin and end with 'i'm a better person than you because xyz..'

if that makes sense!

Yes, also think there is a bit too much "this is an open forum, I have a right to free speech". I think this a slightly bullyish way to say it's your view or no view, IYSWIM.

Oh, that was a quick lurk...

LOL annie -

people say the most appalling and rude things and then go
free speech free speech

like that makes being a rude and aggressive ok?

we could have a disagrement now and i bet it woudn't descend into personal attack

as this is an internet forum, people say things they wouldn't say face to face

therefore i am resolved to spend a bit more time here....being a bit 'deeper'

Think the 'free speech' argument is often used to justify some pretty unpleasant opinions.

I'm a big believer in trying to see the divine in everyone (not always easy and often impossible). We are all valuable. I can't get my head around why women seem to enjoy tearing into each other so much.

nearlythree - i agree

i have been somewhat shocked at some of the aggresion shown on here..and threads that look perfectly innocent end up with name calling and shouting!
it's hard enough to get through the day sometimes

anyway - as i said, i am not observant, but try to live live thus

'do unto others as you would have done to yourself'

i try to do the right thing and see both sides of a story..

Also, I try and 'get' the sentiment of the post rather than the words used to express it, do you know what I mean? Sometimes something can come across a bit abrupt in the written word.

I don't know, there are some threads I just don't ever post on because I know my blood pressure will rise just reading it!!

As this is interfaith, I should say I was raised Catholic, but for various reasons I don't go to church. My dds all go with DH and they go to a Catholic school. I am one of those people who are a bit of a cop out and say I'm spiritual rather than religious, but I am open to all ideas/beliefs and my pet danger threads are those to do with faith schools!!

lulumama, I think some of the aggression gets carried from thread to thread. I've been here off and on for four yrs now and it does seem to be getting nastier, certainly people are expressing the types of opinions that they weren't a while ago. I wonder if that isn't a reflection of our society as a whole though?

If only we'd all treat others as we would wish to be treated the world would be so much better.

So when you say you aren't observant how much do you practise your faith, if you don't mind me asking?

i don't mind

i sometimes light candles on a friday -- sometimes observe the high holy days..like rosh hashana and yom kippor..
we had a jewish wedding, our children have hebrew names.aswell as english ones!

i like annie , am more spiritual than religious.!

i believe in god and try to pray and give thanks once in a while!

my DS knows he is Jewish and at appropriate times , i talk to him about things and try to teach him a little bit
hubby is an atheist so its hard without the support

evilannie, I know what you mean (I avoid bf/ff threads now, and some you just know from the title are a bad idea)

Don't think it's a cop-out to be spiritual rather than religious. I hate it when people say I'm religious, I think the word has so many connotations of piety and rules. I used to go to a CofE church but have left too for various reasons - partly because of the idiocy and cruelty over the gay issue, partly because I now see the churhc as self-serving rather than God-serving, and partly because at a local level our church wouldn't do anything on a Sunday for children under five (which my three all are). I feel very strongly that our dcs shoudl be raised to believe in God's justice, and there is no justice in a place where people are still discriminated against because of gender or sexuality.

Also my theological beliefs aren't really compatible with what you are supposed to believe in the CofE. I'm still sorting out exactly what I do believe, but it's not what I am 'supposed' to.

interesting...i agree wholeheartedly with what you say about what religion dictates you must believe

a lot seems to go against the notion of a forgiving god and an acceptance of all people.

must go to bed soon.....not done any ironing either....

Agree, nearly3. Find it hard to take seriously an organisation that promotes itself as all forgiving, but would then condemn to hell fire and damnation my best friends because of who they choose to share their bedroom with!

All very muddly for my pregnant brain at the moment, but something to be explored on here.

Am off to bed!

Goodnight all, and good on you for starting a 'nice' thread!

night guys!! more tomorrow.....

lulumama, from a Christian pov I think what happens at home matters far more than what happens in church as far as children are concerned. Don't know if it is the same if you are Jewish?(I mean synagogue, obviously!)

My dh doesn't really seem to know what he believes. I think he believes in God sometimes, but I know he found it hard when our friends lost their ds. I don't believe in a God who plans things or pre-destines them, but I think that is how dh saw God, and he couldn't understand how God could take a little boy away from his family. Our dds have been baptised but we're not sure about where to get ds 'done'!

I read recently that the church is made up of 'living stones', and a building that can't be made up of stones of every shape and size doesn't deserve to stand.

Thank you for such a lovely chat. Hope to get on here tomorrow.

God bless!