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Wiccan school

post #1 of 38
10/31/07 at 10:37am
Thread Starter 
I heard on a morning talk show that I listen to that a Wiccan High Priest won the Maryland lottery and will be using the money to open up a wiccan school. The hosts of the talk show were kind of poking fun but I think that's a neat idea. Other religions and what not have buildings of their beliefs so why shouldn't wiccans be entiltled to one.
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post #2 of 38
10/31/07 at 2:12pm
Interesting! I know a few people that would send their kids there.
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post #3 of 38
10/31/07 at 2:35pm
Cool! Pity they're not in Oz, i could do with somewhere to go and feel safe
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post #4 of 38
10/31/07 at 2:57pm
yeah it's a good idea for their religion, but with the stigma attacked to the wiccas, what community is going to welcome the school?? I would be worried about the safety of students, teachers, and employers.
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post #5 of 38
10/31/07 at 3:08pm
To each their own, but IMO its a waste of money. There are far better things to do with lottery money.

I'd worry about who really will attend the "school"
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post #6 of 38
10/31/07 at 3:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post
To each their own, but IMO its a waste of money. There are far better things to do with lottery money.

I'd worry about who really will attend the "school"

It is not a waste of money. There are schools and churches for everyone BUT pagans. We deserve our own place where we are protected. Pagans have spent hundreds of years having to hide their beliefs and keep their covens secret. Why not finally have a place where they can feel free to practise their beliefs and not be persecuted or feel that they have to hide?

And as for people who attend, i'm sure the rules will be strict. They will be able to see who is and who isnt genuine. Wicca is not for some unruly teen who wants to be like Harry Potter! They will know
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post #7 of 38
10/31/07 at 5:05pm
I believe they even have tax-exempt status now.
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post #8 of 38
10/31/07 at 6:07pm
Many Pagan sects are indeed recognized by the Federal Gvt.

I take offense to using quotes around the word school in such a manner, as well as stating there are better things to do with the money.
As a Druidic Wiccan, I couldn't think of a better use.

I also believe you'd be very surprized at just how many Pagans there are in the US. that remain closeted because of reactions and statements such as those I brought up.

It's really quite sad, Buddists are not treated as badly, yet theirs is also a very ancient Pagan religion.
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post #9 of 38
10/31/07 at 6:17pm
It's alway hard to gage what the "best" thing to do with money is. But one thing's for sure... opening a school for Pagans sure beats buying a new sports car and giant house.

Seriously, I think it's a great idea. I think the best way to help Pagans get accepted is to let them practice out in the open. A lot of the hostility against them is probably due to a fear of the unknown.

I'm actually surprised there aren't already many schools for Pagans. Of course it's not the most common religion in the US, but I know there are many Buddhist centers all across Canada an the US. The same probably applies to most other religions.
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post #10 of 38
10/31/07 at 6:21pm
It is to be expected that this idea (which I think is a great one, by the way) will be met with derision and sarcasm from other religious types. So much for Christian tolerance and love for your fellow man. Those things apply, I'm sure, as long as we're only talking about tolerance and love for your fellow Christians
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post #11 of 38
10/31/07 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva! View Post
It is to be expected that this idea (which I think is a great one, by the way) will be met with derision and sarcasm from other religious types. So much for Christian tolerance and love for your fellow man. Those things apply, I'm sure, as long as we're only talking about tolerance and love for your fellow Christians
How much derision and sarcasm have you seen so far in this thread? Sorry, but IMO this post qualifies for those labels. Sounds like an expression of intolerance to me.
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post #12 of 38
10/31/07 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva! View Post
It is to be expected that this idea (which I think is a great one, by the way) will be met with derision and sarcasm from other religious types. So much for Christian tolerance and love for your fellow man. Those things apply, I'm sure, as long as we're only talking about tolerance and love for your fellow Christians
Is it really fair that you would say such negative things just because one person who participated in this thread said they think the school is a waste of money?
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post #13 of 38
10/31/07 at 6:49pm
Are Buddhists considered pagan? They're polytheistic aren't they? How does that fit in with paganism? It's a serious question....educate me.
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post #14 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:04pm
Irk, bad bad. Stop disagreeing. Just be happy a big group of people are getting the chance to have their own building of worship that everyone else already has!
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post #15 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:08pm
Actually, I'm in favor of it.
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post #16 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
How much derision and sarcasm have you seen so far in this thread? Sorry, but IMO this post qualifies for those labels. Sounds like an expression of intolerance to me.
It might well be - I never said I didn't have any failings. I'm just sick and tired of seeing automatic close-mindedness to anything of this sort - here and in several other threads.

Quote:
Originally Posted by catcaregiver View Post
Is it really fair that you would say such negative things just because one person who participated in this thread said they think the school is a waste of money?
How is it unfair? It's not as though this is the only thread on religion of late, and it's not as though everyone who has posted has been all roses, understanding and love. Not in this thread yet (and not at all, I hope) but it's a trend in all the threads of this type lately.

I love the way I can be immediately stepped on by two people because of one post, and yet if I make any comments I'm the bad guy. These days I just feel negative, worn out, and increasingly disillusioned with the state of the world and people's attitudes to it. Perhaps I should just bow out of all discussions until I have more positive comments to add.
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post #17 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
Are Buddhists considered pagan? They're polytheistic aren't they? How does that fit in with paganism? It's a serious question....educate me.
Well, I don't know what defines paganism, so I'm not sure if Buddhists can fit into that category.
However, Buddhists are not polytheistic. There are no Gods in Buddhism. Buddha himself was not a God, nor was he a messenger of God(s) or chosen by God(s) in any way. He was born a human being, married, had a son but eventually set out to figure out how to overcome the suffering that all living things endure. According to Buddhism, he was the first to become enlightened and thus end his own suffering. Throughout history, many others have become enlightened. These are known as Boddhisatvas (not sure of the spelling on that one). These can be "worshiped" in a way, but they are not Gods.

To be fair, there might be some schools of Buddhism that consider Buddha and the Boddhisatvas as "Gods" of sorts, but if it is the case, the definition of "Gods" would be different from what most people would think.
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post #18 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:17pm
I think that's why some people consider Buddhism more of a life philosophy than a religion. One of the surgeons I work with gets very angry if you call Buddhism a religion. I wonder what the `criteria' are, so to speak, for that classification.
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post #19 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:19pm
WHY not I am very monotheist but Wiccan is its base mimics alot of Native American religions ....
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post #20 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva! View Post
How is it unfair? It's not as though this is the only thread on religion of late, and it's not as though everyone who has posted has been all roses, understanding and love. Not in this thread yet (and not at all, I hope) but it's a trend in all the threads of this type lately.
That is true...there seems to be many threads in regards to religion lately and the bible thumping istarts mmediately and continues for 15+ pages.

However it is IMO and everyone is entitled to their opinions. I've seen threads where I've felt chased out or threads that are just pointless to have in IMO because the OP or the majority wants to keep it one sided or one thought.

Going back to the OP, I am not wiccan, but welcome any religion of school as long as they will preach peace and respect for each other and ALL human minds.
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post #21 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by marie-p View Post
... These are known as Boddhisatvas (not sure of the spelling on that one). These can be "worshiped" in a way, but they are not Gods.
OK, thanks for the explanation. I think that's where my confusion came in.
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post #22 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:34pm
Wicca is a recognized religion. I don't see any problem with them having their own schools and their own meeting places. So long as the schools comply with the same educational requirements and so forth that any other schools have to comply with. And I presume that's what the intent is.
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post #23 of 38
10/31/07 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lunasmom View Post
That is true...there seems to be many threads in regards to religion lately and the bible thumping istarts mmediately and continues for 15+ pages.
normaly you it seems you have couple of people speaking up for the bible,
the rest jump in and bash it. like that last thread. or of someone says something like thank god in the lounge you end with X posts after bashing god, the person, christens etc. atheist to me always seem to be very angery and bitter people. must come from not have any faith.

anyway to the subject at hand, who cares, its her money.
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post #24 of 38
10/31/07 at 8:00pm
Who said atheists don't have faith? They might not have religion - that's a different thing. Funny - most atheists come across bitterness and anger in religious types. I guess there's nasty and angry people in all walks of life - but it shouldn't be considered the norm.

I know lots of wonderful, beautiful Christians - in fact one of our best friends teaches beliefs and values at a Christian college. He is very spiritual and has what he describes as a profound relationship with God. Those Christians that I know would be happy about this school - I think they would feel that as long as people have some spirituality and faith in their lives, that is a good start!
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post #25 of 38
10/31/07 at 8:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva! View Post
Who said atheists don't have faith?
In the conversations I had with my atheist coworker, I maintained that atheism was a belief system -- one could no more prove there was no God than one could prove there was -- so atheism required faith just as Christianity did. However, he was quite adamant that atheism didn't require faith.
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post #26 of 38
10/31/07 at 8:23pm
Friends, Wicca is the religion du jour in this thread, and specifically the funding of a school. Can we please leave aside discussion of the others, for one thread, unless there is a pertinent comparison to make. Thanks.
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post #27 of 38
11/1/07 at 11:22am
Ok I did watch the little video clip on this that was posted on yahoo.news.

Seems this school is not for kids - its for adults. They mentioned about some of the stuff they will teach. I was thinking it was kid related and that the kids would not have the normal mandatory school ciriculum that should be taught.
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post #28 of 38
11/1/07 at 11:34am
There is a Wiccan school in my town - who'd a thunk it - and it is open to adults and young adults that have an interest in learning about the Wiccan belief system.

It seems funny to me that this would make national news - it must be the fact that most who are not familiar with Wicca would automatically think: Oh, look, a Hogworts!

With regard to the meaning of the word pagan, it was invented by the christians and specifically means: One who is not a christian.
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post #29 of 38
11/1/07 at 11:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
In the conversations I had with my atheist coworker, I maintained that atheism was a belief system -- one could no more prove there was no God than one could prove there was -- so atheism required faith just as Christianity did. However, he was quite adamant that atheism didn't require faith.
I believe that too! Even by them stating they don't have a belief means they have thought about it and decided one way or another for them personally. It involves a value system and blind faith too!

Opening a Wicca school sounds just fine, many other religions have their own institutions.
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post #30 of 38
11/1/07 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eburgess View Post
yeah it's a good idea for their religion, but with the stigma attacked to the wiccas, what community is going to welcome the school?? I would be worried about the safety of students, teachers, and employers.
I can think of plenty, from what I know of Ohio, I can't imagine Maryland is much different. Just as there are areas where everyone is very conservative and old-fashioned, there are places where everyone is very liberal and wouldn't mind this school one bit. And in pretty much any big city, people mostly leave everyone else to mind their own business.

If anything did happen to people or the school, it would reflect very poorly on them.
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