I make no apologies. Nothing in the Wiccan religion says turn the other cheek, I respect true Christians. I will treat you respectfully and I expect the same in return. I am here because I wish to reconnect with friends, not re-engage enemies.
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Last edited by John Atkinson; 07-05-2014 at 11:05 PM.
I make no apologies. Nothing in the Wiccan religion says turn the other cheek, I respect true Christians. I will treat you respectfully and I expect the same in return. I am here because I wish to reconnect with friends, not re-engage enemies.
Ah...a little more info. So you joined Wicca?
Nuts..when you said old gods, I was thinking Norse gods...I kinda figured you for one of them
For some reason Odin came to mind when you said "old gods"
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
I make no apologies. Nothing in the Wiccan religion says turn the other cheek, I respect true Christians. I will treat you respectfully and I expect the same in return. I am here because I wish to reconnect with friends, not re-engage enemies.
First let me say hello to John Atkinson, you had been a fair and kind admin back of the old GNC, So, I had gathered over the years interacting with you that you are not a bad guy.
You went into Wicca? Please forgive me, but Wicca isn't an ancient religion but was formulated by Gerald Gardner in his attempts to distance himself from his old friend Alistair Crowley. You said and I will post the quote....
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Atkinson
I was once Apostolic, as some of you know.
Now I am not, haven't been in awhile.
I didn't backslide into lesser forms of Christianity,
I went full on pagan, I honor the old gods and goddesses.
I will never proselytize, but I would like to take part.
With your permission, else I won't post again
Well, you really cannot be "HONORING" the old gods and goddess because if you are following Wicca, you are pretty much flying by the seat of your pants. Gerald Gardner (anyone else for that matter) really doesn't have a true template for a practice and celebration for the ancient European deities. The Roman Empire (NON-CHRISTIAN) first order of duty when they occupied the hostile Celts, Brits, and Gauls were to remove the religious leadership. Romans were pretty open minded to foreign religions, but only those religions they didn't see as a threat to their governmental power to rule over occupied territories. Another thing that causes a problem in worshiping or celebrating these "old" gods and goddesses is that the ancient European cults really didn't leave much to work from, also as far as the Druids are concerned their liturgy, and teachings were orally handed down through generations to generations. No Druid bible to glean from or Druid lexicon, but just a bunch of legends pieced together from what history jotted down about these groups.
Form Julius Caesar we get information on the Druids, but the first Emperor of Rome wasn't what we call a religious scholar, or researcher. He was making an observation of people he felt were lower then he was and therefore mocked their rituals.
Take Stonehenge for instance, no one has the slightest idea what it was, why it was built, or what it was primarily used for. Yet, would be pagans gather there for make it up as you go along rituals.
John, you left something that has thousands of years of information and documentation behind it. Something that has endured the hammers of the naysayers, and every non-Christian who wanted it erased from the earth.
Wicca isn't ancient, it is as made up as Kwanzaa, and good old American Mormonism.
Going into paganism to look for more really is another way of saying I needed a beer, wanted to smoke cigarettes, and found it a good excuse to run around naked in Farmer Wilson's Orange Grove.
Not saying you are doing that mind you, but everyone I ever met who left any sort of Churchanity were already dealing with some issues. Again not saying you are doing that, but just that I guess people never make a connection for a plethora of reasons which can be debated, and argued.
All I can say is sorry to see you leave and I hope you come back soon.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
First let me say hello to John Atkinson, you had been a fair and kind admin back of the old GNC, So, I had gathered over the years interacting with you that you are not a bad guy.
You went into Wicca? Please forgive me, but Wicca isn't an ancient religion but was formulated by Gerald Gardner in his attempts to distance himself from his old friend Alistair Crowley. You said and I will post the quote....
Well, you really cannot be "HONORING" the old gods and goddess because if you are following Wicca, you are pretty much flying by the seat of your pants. Gerald Gardner (anyone else for that matter) really doesn't have a true template for a practice and celebration for the ancient European deities. The Roman Empire (NON-CHRISTIAN) first order of duty when they occupied the hostile Celts, Brits, and Gauls were to remove the religious leadership. Romans were pretty open minded to foreign religions, but only those religions they didn't see as a threat to their governmental power to rule over occupied territories. Another thing that causes a problem in worshiping or celebrating these "old" gods and goddesses is that the ancient European cults really didn't leave much to work from, also as far as the Druids are concerned their liturgy, and teachings were orally handed down through generations to generations. No Druid bible to glean from or Druid lexicon, but just a bunch of legends pieced together from what history jotted down about these groups.
Form Julius Caesar we get information on the Druids, but the first Emperor of Rome wasn't what we call a religious scholar, or researcher. He was making an observation of people he felt were lower then he was and therefore mocked their rituals.
Take Stonehenge for instance, no one has the slightest idea what it was, why it was built, or what it was primarily used for. Yet, would be pagans gather there for make it up as you go along rituals.
John, you left something that has thousands of years of information and documentation behind it. Something that has endured the hammers of the naysayers, and every non-Christian who wanted it erased from the earth.
Wicca isn't ancient, it is as made up as Kwanzaa, and good old American Mormonism.
Going into paganism to look for more really is another way of saying I needed a beer, wanted to smoke cigarettes, and found it a good excuse to run around naked in Farmer Wilson's Orange Grove.
Not saying you are doing that mind you, but everyone I ever met who left any sort of Churchanity were already dealing with some issues. Again not saying you are doing that, but just that I guess people never make a connection for a plethora of reasons which can be debated, and argued.
All I can say is sorry to see you leave and I hope you come back soon.
Well..........
__________________
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Do Not Argue With Idiots, they will just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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It's nice to see you Brother Benincasa. It's been a long time!
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
It's nice to see you Brother Benincasa. It's been a long time!
Nice to see you too my friend, hope all is well.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
What is the fuss? Has John said he was here to proselytize? AFF has atheists, agnostics, at least one Mormon, present Apostolics, past Apostolics, and has for years allowed some people to openly call into question the Bible and things of faith.
John comes back, didn't make any wrongful posts (at least not till some here rejected him) & because he used to be an ultra-con and now is upfront and shares he is a pagan, he isn't wanted and yet others may remain?
I don't understand. Why the uproar over him when he hasn't tried to push his beliefs on this board?
What is the fuss? Has John said he was here to proselytize? AFF has atheists, agnostics, at least one Mormon, present Apostolics, past Apostolics, and has for years allowed some people to openly call into question the Bible and things of faith.
John comes back, didn't make any wrongful posts (at least not till some here rejected him) & because he used to be an ultra-con and now is upfront and shares he is a pagan, he isn't wanted and yet others may remain?
I don't understand. Why the uproar over him when he hasn't tried to push his beliefs on this board?
What is the fuss? Has John said he was here to proselytize? AFF has atheists, agnostics, at least one Mormon, present Apostolics, past Apostolics, and has for years allowed some people to openly call into question the Bible and things of faith.
John comes back, didn't make any wrongful posts (at least not till some here rejected him) & because he used to be an ultra-con and now is upfront and shares he is a pagan, he isn't wanted and yet others may remain?
I don't understand. Why the uproar over him when he hasn't tried to push his beliefs on this board?
__________________ As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.- Gal. 6:14
Hybrid Mode
