earthmagick: thegreenwolf: fuckyeahpaganism: ...

thegreenwolf:

fuckyeahpaganism:

WHY DOESN’T THIS COME IN MY SIZE!! :’( :’( :’(

…what’s the point? I mean, really? isn’t it about damned time pagans stopped defining themselves by what they’re not (not Christian)? Does this sort of reactionary antagonism really gain anyone anything?

I agree with Lupa. I really don’t understand why Pagans keep on saying they are accepting of other faiths and spiritual paths yet they say things like this toward Christianity? Yes many of us are angered with what Christianity has done to many cultures that were taken over, invaded, colonized, and forced to forget their original practices and beliefs to Christianity. This doesn’t just fall to colored people whether they are of African descent, Latin American, Polynesian, Asian, South East Asian, but also to those of other European descents that were also invaded by other European cultures and forced to convert or die. However all that is in the past and don’t say Christianity was the only one who did this because historically Pagans also condemned this new monotheistic faith during the beginning of Christianity and did the same. Was it right? No it’s morally wrong and despite the many, many, decades that have passed it’s still going on. Why don’t you just suck it up, accept the past and what your ancestors have done in the name of their spiritual practice and move on.

Christianity is a beautiful religion just like every other religion and spiritual practice. Is it right for me? No, which is why I haven’t been a Christian in almost 11 years now. But does that mean I condmen and hate Christianity and Christians and mock fun of their beliefs even if I don’t agree with some of them? Absolutely not. I see all these people hating on Christianity and I think to myself, why? It’s not the religion that’s the problem but the people who are condemning other faiths and practices, themselves going against their own religious beliefs. I believe Jesus was a real man with very wise words just like the Buddha. I don’t believe he’s a God but a very spiritual person who’s teachings were about loving each other, treating one another with respect and love whether they are male or female, poor or rich, of different skin color, or practicising different spiritual beliefs.

Now don’t ask me and tell me oh who are you to understand our hatred? Our anger towards Christianity? I understand because I’m a minority in a minority faith, whose beliefs, traditions, and culture was thought of as savage, primitive, and according to Spanish missionaries, works of the devil. My ancestors were treated like dirt, they called us “indios” like how the first settlers of the America’s called the natives “Indians”, caused neighboring groups of people and tribes to attack each other in the name of Roman Catholicism and to get control of the islands, the people. They raped our women, insulted our traditions and beliefs, seperated groups of people, closed us in our own little box away from the foreign trade of places like China, Japan, the empires of India, and other nearby countries such as Indonesia & Malaysia that was prosperous before the Spaniards came. They cut us off from our way of life, condemned our Babaylans, our shamanic priestesses, or sometimes priests, killed them off and occasionally fed them to the crocodiles. They destroyed our stone and wooden idols that were revered and worshipped for our ancestors and deities, told to wear “proper clothing”, instilled in the minds of our women to be submissive and be what the Spaniards thought was proper for a lady, when our women were equals to our men. They condemned our tattooing culture that once thrived and now only is alive through the remaining upper mountain tribes who weren’t influenced and the younger generations who are starting to realize and revive our culture’s traditions, said it was the marks of the devil and of primitive practices. All for what? In the name of Christianity and to colonize these so called “barbaric and primitive people”?

Of course I have a resentment toward the ancestors of the Spaniards who did all these but do I hate Spain, the people of Spain, and Christianity? No, however what I resent is the actions of their ancestors, not the people or the religion itself. Does that make my ancestors to be innocent as well? Again no. Why? Because my ancestors did the same thing. They had slaves, they took and bought slaves from nearby communities, they raided other communities and took prisoners, slaves, women, merchandise, and land. Now not all the people of what is today the Philippines did all this. This was mostly done in the Visaya’s and parts of Mindanao, and seeing as I’m Visayan I know my ancestors did this, and I accept it. Do I agree with their actions? No but I’ve accepted it and just like what I said above it’s ALL IN THE PAST. Move on, accept the past, and start doing the opposite of what your ancestors did and start respecting one another regardless of spiritual beliefs, or race, gender, sexuality, culture. Again that was all in the past so MOVE ON.

End of my long rant for the day.