I know this is somewhat generalising but I just wondered, I used to be a christian and I used to work at the altar on sundays and stuff,
The vicar and the vicars wife used to talk about the occult and paganism in a very negative way,
I have avoided telling people about who I am now, we are allowed secrecy
But I just wondered how You all felt about it or is it just the Church of England congregation that feels this way

If one attempts to strip away "pagan" religious concepts, rituals, icons, motifs, etc. from the Old and New Testament, one is left with books shredded as if they've been through a paper shredder. The books would be left in tatters there is so much "pagan" in them that goes unrecognized for what it is, e.g, the very idea of Jesus as a literal Son of God being very much like the dying/resurrection god-men familiar to pagan audiences in the ancient world. Solomon's Temple follows the pagan Canaanite temple designs and the whole story of Peter with his keys to the kingdom is taken straight out of pagan myths of Father (Pater, Peter) Janus, Roman god of doors and keeper of the keys to heaven.

I am Christian but consider pagan Canaanites closer to me in their understanding of the Son of God concept than traditional Christians who took another pagan understanding of this primary Christian idea.

I've come across individuals who call themselves Fundamentalist Christians, and they are very much against Pagans... for that matter, very much against anyone who believes/lives differently than they do.
as for the normal denominations of Christians that I'm more familiar with, I've never known any who express that kind of hostility toward folks of other beliefs.

And one can certainly see evidence of that in some of the people who post on this forum, no?

I had a friend who was an ordained Christian minister (I forget the denomination) but who also studied all other religions, as well as Zen. When I asked him why, if he was a Christian, he continued to practice other religions, he replied, "I'm also a licensed pilot. When I'm flying through a storm or at night, I keep my eye on all of my instruments, not just one."

__________________
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead one to sovereign power.
Tennyson

Bahai-soujourner: What a wise friend you have!

As to the original question: I don't think you can generalize. Some Christians (usually Fundamentalist types) are very anti-pagan but many Christians are neither for or against pagans, they simply see them as regular people.

Maggie

__________________
So much to learn and see and do

[quote=bahai-sojourner]And one can certainly see evidence of that in some of the people who post on this forum, no?

am I one of them?

Not that I can see, dear friend; not that I can see.

__________________
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead one to sovereign power.
Tennyson

I belong to a Pagan site where the mods include different Pagan paths, a Satanist (me) another is a Chrisitan (a good friend of mine) and my best friend on line is a devout Muslim in Egypt. How you act is your decision and responsibility. Don't blame that on your religion.

__________________

You are the place where I find shelter left out in the cold.
You are the Hell in helter skelter

no comment....

like everyone else said.... wise man indeed.

__________________
[belief is NOT the same as TRUTH]

Shucks! Does that mean I can't say, "The devil made me buy this dress!" anymore?

__________________
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead one to sovereign power.
Tennyson