You can lead a horse to knowledge but you can't make them think.

True, but I still gotta try. I like to make people think. Sometimes you actually get through to someone and other times the looks you get on their faces are more than enough to make the effort worth it.

hahaha ignorance i can put up with all day long- we are all ignorant about million's of thing;s. what i have a hard time with is just plain old stupidity- hahaha

hahaha

a wise old chinese demon - "Kungfoocifer" stated that " chit happen's" you can ohhhhmmmm on that for a while -

Just because he was arrested multiple times does not make him a loon or a bad person. Take MLK, Jr. For example. How many times was he arrested for standing up for what he believed in and he was even doing it in the name of God. Good people are arrested all the time because other people don't understand them.

Excuse my ignorance but how is insisting on "educating" someone on your personal beliefs different from any Christian proselytizing about their sect in an effort to bring their religion's "message" to you?

pros·e·ly·tize (prs-l-tz)
v. pros·e·ly·tized, pros·e·ly·tiz·ing, pros·e·ly·tiz·es
v.intr.
1. To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
2. To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
v.tr.
To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.


..................................



Dictionary:
educate
(ĕj'ə-kāt') pronunciation


v., -cat·ed, -cat·ing, -cates.

v.tr.

1. To develop the innate capacities of, especially by schooling or instruction. See synonyms at teach.
2. To provide with knowledge or training in a particular area or for a particular purpose: decided to educate herself in foreign languages; entered a seminary to be educated for the priesthood.
3.
1. To provide with information; inform: a campaign that educated the public about the dangers of smoking.
2. To bring to an understanding or acceptance: hoped to educate the voters to the need for increased spending on public schools.
4. To stimulate or develop the mental or moral growth of.
5. To develop or refine (one's taste or appreciation, for example).

v.intr.

To teach or instruct a person or group.


.....................................



Pagans do not try to convert. The idea of educating is to get rid of the misconceptions, ie: pagans are all satanic etc.

Thanks Karma for the definitions as well but the big difference is that when I post stuff like this it is in response to a question that was asked or somebody saying something that just isn't true and I feel the need to correct them so that other people don't fall into the same misconceptions.

I never make a post saying that Paganism or Wicca is the best religion out there and we have all the right answers so if you want to be saved and not go to hell and live in eternal happiness you should drop your religion and come join us. We are the way to go. I just educate people when they ask questions, (Like people did in this post) or when they say something incorrect and without true knowledge to what they are talking about. (Like they also did in this post)

That is the difference between proselytizing and educating. I could care less if anyone out there drops their religion to become a pagan. Not like I am getting a commission bonus or anything. I am just educating those out there that don't understand.

I U guys... Brains are such a turn on...

To add to the prostelatizing debate, a true "teacher" of the old religion will send a seeker away when they first ask to be taught, they are to gain their own knowledge first, and this also shows dedication to the path. If they give up, and don't come back they were not truly looking for inner knowledge, they were looking for a quick fix, and we don't waste our time with that.

As clergy, I don't have time to teach every person who wants to "be Pagan" because they think it's something it's not. I will freely share the information I have, but to actually teach someone...That takes dedication.

Thank you for that too Lily, you make a very good point. I am not here to teach anyone anything mainly because a majority of the people here don't want to be taught. I am just here to learn myself from listening to others talk and see what it is they believe and why. I am also here to educate people on misconceptions I see them have.

Yes, I do see the terms "teach" and "educate" as different things. To teach someone something takes a lot of time, patience, and understanding on both parties levels. The person has to want to learn like you said. To educate is to although others to see there are two sides to every story. So when someone says that all pagans are devil worshippers, not everyone knows that is not true. So I am merely educating the people who have never heard of paganism before that they are not devil worshippers and they don't even have a concept of the devil or hell at all.

So like you Lily, I will gladly share the information and knowledge I have gathered and will do it with a smile on my face. Although I am not here to teach the religion to others.

very well said...

I don't have a Pagan belief system. I have a Christian belief system, thank God. Thank God for Christ who came to earth and died for us while we were yet sinners.

God is so big that once he gets in you, you don't have room for a Pagan belief system. That's what Joshua was talking about when he said "For me and my house, we will serve the Lord." He was chosing a faith-based belief system over the Pagan belief system of his times.

It could still be a choice that we face today, for all that I know.

That is not what was going on with Joshua. He was somewhat upset because many people were leaving his charge and going off on their own and marrying people of another race, and refusing to obey his demands and commands. He had lost control of a lot of his people. They were turning away from him, and with good reason. He was rather ruthless. But he still had a strong grip on his family, ruling them with an iron hand.

He declared that he would remain true to his faith and serve his Lord and Master no matter what anyone else did.

It is silly to say that it was about "God being so big you don't have room for a pagan belief system." That is not what that was about. It was simply about a man making a statement to remain with his convictions.

JB

yasha, that's awesome for you, and i'm glad that fulfills your need for sopiritual growth, but the topic IS Pagan belief systems...

I think you're right, JB. Joshua was taking a stand for what he would do, irregardless of those around him. Didn't mean to be off topic. Just wanted to talk about what an alternative to a Pagan belief system might be.

Pagan beliefs? Is that belief in a motorcycle gang?

Oh look a comodian....

The odd thing about that is that True pagans who have found their path have no interest in an alternative to their belief system. Just as you have no interest in an alternative to your beliefs. Pagan's are comfortable with their religious beliefs and happy with the freedom that comes from those beliefs. Happy to have an open mind to the world around them and just happy to be alive. They have no use for alternate belief systems that only wish to hamper and control them for fear of eternal suffering. So I am sorry but I don't think you will find many converts here.

Are you sure you're only 20 something???