Message #492 - WICCA 
   Date: 08-25-96 21:07
   From: Herb Mitchell
     To: All
Subject: Something from MSN
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@PID: SUtil v1.04  Reg: Unregistered, Evaluation Copy
This and the next post are reposted from the MicroSoftNetwork, with
permission of the author. I think it could be a welcome addition throughout
PODS...

From:       TheWayfairingOne
Date:       Sunday, August 18, 1996 11:21 AM
To:         Pagan/Wicca
Subject:    To the Christians Who Visit Our Grove (BBS)

    You may think that you are the first to visit our humble grove, to
"witness" to us, to tell us of the "wrongness" of our ways.  You may think
that it is your place to "correct" us and "save" our souls. You may think
that we're a bunch of "Satan loving" and "baby sacrificing" sinners.  You may
think that yours is the only "true" religion and that we need to be reminded
of your "authority." We have had many come to our grove, most to preach.  We
have been told that your Jesus is the only savior, according to your Bible. 
We have been criticized for our loving, peaceful way.  We don't accept your
Bible as the only authority, nor do we accept your God's claim that He is the
only God. (BTW, I, for one, have read the Bible 3 times, and was astounded by
the murder, war, and destruction done in your God's name!) What about all the
other religions in the World?  What about all the atrocities performed in the
name of your God and Christ?  (If you need examples, I will gladly furnish
them.) All we ask is that, if you visit our grove, you come in friendship, to
listen and share, not preach and criticize.  We don't go to your BBS and
preach, condemn, criticize, abuse.  You might even learn that we are real
people, with the trials and tribulations of others.  But, we also suffer
because of our beliefs and have to deal with those who have no idea what we
believe.  I feel that this path we tread is a difficult one, and not one for
the timid soul, because we have to choose to "stay in the closet" and not be
true to ourselves, or to be public and suffer abuse from the ignorant. What
if you were accused of sacrificing babies?  Wouldn't you be horrified and
hostile?  What if you were told that your God and Jesus were "Satan"?  What
if you were judged and prejudiced because of ancient lies that have not, as
of yet, been corrected? What if you were constantly told that the only way to
"heaven" was through the Goddess, not your God and Jesus?  (If "heaven"
really was a place where everyone wears white robes and spends eternity
singing praises to your God, I'm sorry but I, for one, would rather keep
celebrating the Goddesses and Gods that touch my soul.) If you really want to
know about our beliefs and our practices, just ask. You will find many
different answers, but, at the heart, there is one thing that we all hold
true:   Love is ALL. ~Wayf

PS -  To those Christians who come to listen and share, welcome and pull up a
chair!  To those that have joined us in our conversations and treated us with
respect, thank you.  We apreciate you - if we haven't told you before.

PPS - Sorry, gang, but I just had to get that off my chest.  Sorry for
speaking for all without getting your permission.  Sorry for taking the
initiative. (Just plain sorry - been one of those weekends when I have been
told constantly that I am wrong by zboyz and gotten into the habit of
apologizing.)  If you think I've gone too far, have Mahima remove my post.

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