david@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Norris) (12/13/83)
> If the government exerted enough pressure, I might also abstain > from sex and alcohol, discard my Tarot cards and renounce Wicca, but my > convictions would not alter one whit. I would still consider responsible > pre-marital sex a good thing, and I would still revere Pan rather than > Christ. Would the fact that I had been browbeaten into living a "Christian" > . . . . > I wonder what your reaction would be, Larry, if someone were to announce > that witchcraft should be the state religion, that Christians should be > pressured (not compelled, of course) by the government into converting, and > that all children in public schools should be told to revere Pan for their > every blessing. I imagine you would be outraged, and so would I. In fact, > if your rights as a Christian were threatened, I would be on your side. (Discard your Tarot cards? !! Get it? :-) While not disinterested in the discussions between Larry and Pam/Tim, I am interested in "Wicca." It would seem to a from of witchcraft, whose god originates from the Greek (?) myth Pan, who (if I remember my mythology correctly) was a half-human, half goat creature who played the fife, and was the shepherd's token god. I do not think the tarot was invented until some time after the Greek legends became just that (legends). What I am getting at is the historical basis for your faith. Based on my (limited) personal knowledge of archeological evidence for Scripture (and the evidence for Christianity in general) vs. knowledge of Greek/Roman mythology, I have accepted Christianity. Am I missing something? (No flames, please, about prejudice or unwillingness to consider anything new, etc.) Thus far I have heard the gamut of hateful statements, biased opinions (from both Christians and non-Christians), and unsupported arguments. I have heard few positive discussions (including, I'm afraid, from myself) about anything. So, how about it, Pam? Tim? Talk to us. Tell us where you are coming from (blech! I hate worn out cliches :-) (Oh, and forgive me for "lumping" you two into the same religion, when you may not be...) -- Dave Norris -- ..!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!david