Not many people would think that Christians and Pagans would get along. Granted, there are those who I do not like to talk to, but those are generally few and far between. However, I like Christians. I mean, I was raised as one, so I know what, more or less, makes them tick.

I have no problem discussing religion with Christians, but I prefer it done face-to-face. People find it too easy to hide behind an e-mail or chat handle and attack others. I was banned from a Christian chat room once for no reason. A person and I were having a legitimate discussion about God when suddenly the screen said "Forbidden." Apparently, someone must have felt that questioning or representing another viewpoint was wrong! The discussion had been courteous and respectful. I did nothing to deserve being banned, much less a warning! Oh well...we all must move on and away from those who are closed-minded. It's too bad, too...the person I was talking to was very nice, and though he was not going to budge on his religious beliefs, he was at least understanding to why I chose mine.

Though it bothers me that I was banned by a Christian, I find it even more bothersome when I hear Pagans and others openly bashing another religion. I find it ironic when I hear teenage Pagans saying that they think Christians are hypocritical, and then they turn around and say that Paganism is "The one TRUE religion." Hello kettle? Come in kettle! This is the pot! YOU'RE BLACK! I don't care what religion a person follows...if s/he wants tolerance extended towards his/her religion, s/he's going to have to give it in return. I have and will slam members of any religion for treating each other in a hypocritical manner. And to be fair, I try to avoid blanket statements about the religions, themselves. I go after attitudes like this on a case-by-case, person-by-person basis instead of criticizing all members of any given religion at once. It's not the religions that bother me...it's the followers of the religions. To put it mildly, if you want people of another religion to be tolerant and kind to you, you're going to have to show them the same. It's simply a matter of "treat others the way you want to be treated." I honestly do not believe that treating others poorly because they have done it to you in the past will garner any understanding or goodwill among different religions. If you don't want people to treat you well, then don't complain about it...but don't ruin it for the rest of us, please.

There are so many things that Pagans and Christians have in common. First of all, Christianity uses the same holidays as do Pagans. The early Roman Catholic Church used the holidays as a way to bring country dwellers ("pagans" from the Latin "paganus" meaning "country dweller" or "heathens" meaning "those who live on a heath") into the Church. By adopting the same holidays, they would have no reason to NOT become Christian, especially when they have the threat of Hellfire and Brimstone as a reason to save their souls. So since we have virtually the same holidays, we should be able to celebrate them together in peace, right?

The deity concept is also similar. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost equal the Maiden, Mother, and Crone...and I also think of a Father, Son, Holy Ghost format for the God of my beliefs. The duality of male/female is necessary to me, as is the three phases of life to spirituality. (Though actually I tend to use four phases--with a "Warrior" phase between Youth and Parenthood...it's basically the stage of life that we're in now. Not innocent like the youth, but not parents. We're slightly rebellious, and this is the time when we begin to fight for what we believe in.)

Some covens also have a hierarchy that can arguably be considered similar to Christianity. The purpose of a High Priest and High Priestess is the same as that of a minister or priest or preacher. It's to teach the Mysteries and guide the ethics of those in their care. For those groups that use a degree system, a Third Degree is the minister, the Second Degrees are the various other positions all the way down to the acolytes, the First Degrees are the congregation, and the potential members are the guests in the congregation.

So with all these similarities, one may wonder why I don't revert back to Christianity. Well, frankly, as much as I respect the beliefs of Christians, I feel more comfortable as a Wiccan, and the belief system suits me better. I prefer the acknowledged male/female duality, the high respect for nature, the belief in the cycles of life and of the year. I don't prefer hierarchy or over-structure of either belief if they are taught and upheld too rigidly. I think we should be allowed to question and follow the belief that suits us best. Religion is a personal choice. Wicca is mine.

(to About Rhaevyn)