Well Slap my Wrist and Call me Pagan!  |
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Several years ago when I first got online for more than "Hi, how are ya?" I signed up to a website because I liked their E-cards. I hardly used them though and frankly forgot all about them. Several days ago I received an email from them, the thrust of their message being:
"We want to show the world how important it is to be able to share the Christian faith and that starts with publicly declaring 'I am a Christian'. Sign the declaration today, and enjoy the freedom we have to call ourselves Christians.
Make your declaration now!"
Well I politely declined. I told them that as much as I enjoyed their E-cards, as a now practicing Wiccan, I couldn't participate in their 'public declaration' which entailed adding my name to their online mailing list and having it go who knows where all over the net.
I thought that was the end of it.............. The other day a friend sent me an E-card. And I thought........oh, cool, I'll send one back from the website I have bookmarked.
Well slap my wrist and call me Pagen, because I have now been BANNED from that E-card site! I couldn't get access. So I emailed the admin and this morning I received a terse reply:
"We regretfully inform you that we believe you joined our Christian site under false pretences. May God forgive you for your pagan ways. We can not."
Well needless to say, I've thinned out my bookmarks and made an offering to the Goddess that these 'Christians' one day understand that love and tolerance and understanding comes in many guises...........and not all of them through "Christian Soldiers"!
What's the last website you got banned from (besides mylot! lol)?
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1. fwidman (5306) | 5 months ago | ROFLMAO! I cannot believe anyone could call themselves Christian and do that. I hope you sent them a message back saying that you do not care if they forgive you, their forgiveness is not the pathway to heaven LMAO
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | I fear it would fall on deaf ears my friend. Though the temptation was great! lol I resisted though and will just hope that God stops laughing at them long enough to forgive them.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Of course He laughs. He has too or I'm pretty sure He'd have zapped us and started over a long time ago! LOL
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | LOL, I'll have a word with Him about His aim.........
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darkjedi1 (749) | 5 months ago | Imagine the message I would have sent back lol.
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fwidman (5306) | 5 months ago | hmmm...what message would that be DJ? Just wonderin'...
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | When I read the response, I actually felt sorry for them and their ignorance. We each have a right to find our spiritual path in our own way. I don't for one minute belief that God is as judgmental as some humans. I respect everyone's right to their own belief system, but I must admit, it gets hard sometimes not to lash out when under fire. I have not responded to their latest email and won't. It wouldn't change anything or foster any understanding on their part, as I am well aware. Instead I make my offering, and leave the rest up to God. Blessings on you Oreo.
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FitCoachJess (224) | 5 months ago | Very well said!!! You seem to be what Christianity is supposed to be... Blessings to you friend:)
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Hey Jess..........I was raised Catholic. Once I shed the guilt (lol), I shed the ritual but retained the message of Jesus example........
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cynthiann (2905) | 5 months ago | What guilt, sparkofinsanity? I would love to know.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | The Catholic guilt...............every thought or action is a potential venial or worse sin and without confession there can be no redemption, etc., etc., which simply leaves a normal kid feeling guilty all the time just for living, thinking and breathing. I grew up in a VERY Catholic home where my Mom could make a person feel guilty with just a look.....
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3. jerzgirl (2685) | 5 months ago | These "Christians" have obviously not followed the teachings of Christ who says that we are to forgive and that those who do NOT forgive will NOT be forgiven themselves! Therefore, they are sorry excuses for Christianity. Regardless of whether or not you believe as they do, they are supposed to live up to what they are declaring - and then in an email to you, they openly admit that they are NOT living examples of that which they claim to hold true. You are better off without anyone like that around you. True Christians would have never said that to you. You never joined under false pretenses. I sincerely doubt joining entailed "I join this site because I believe Jesus is the Messiah", so joining only meant you enjoyed their cards. They are very very VERY poor examples of their claimed beliefs and I am ashamed to be even remotely associated with them.
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jerzgirl (2685) | 5 months ago | If I were you, I would write a scathing review of their site and post it where many will see it.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | I'm just as sure, should I have entered into a debate with them, that they would have all kinds of quotes to back up their lack of forgiveness. Paganism being an anthema to their belief system. All faiths have their more fanatical factions. That's a given, especially in today's world. Do I condemn them all regardless of the degree of their belief? No. Do I worry about their condemnation of me? No. They are human. They do not have the final word no matter how many quotes they throw at me to convince me they are righteous. Only God has that right, and He and I get along just fine! Hugs to you jerz!
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | I came to your response from email, so missed your second post. Great idea jerz. I think Helium is about to get a shock1 lol
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Meaning, I'll write an article for Helium..............
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OreoCookie3 (18119) | 5 months ago | Hey Sparks? If you belong to AC, there would also be a good place to write. You can post it at Helium, Bukisa, Factoidz, and AC. There would be 4 mediums to post the same article.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Unless AC has changed their policy, they won't pay me cause I'm Canadian. Haven't heard of the others, but will look them up. Thanks Oreo.
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darkjedi1 (749) | 5 months ago | If you want any help with that sparks, I have a few websites I could give you lol. A few of them in my proving christians wrong folder, what a surprise I would have them huh hehehe.
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jerzgirl (2685) | 5 months ago | I may not be clairvoyant, Sparky girl, but I did catch your drift!! LOL
There's also ReviewStream and RipOffReport.com.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Thanks guys..........feel free to pm me links. My memory sucks don't you know! lol
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4. FitCoachJess (224) | 5 months ago | What happened to all that 'love and tolerance' that so many Christians talk about. Just by them saying that they cannot forgive you they are judging you, as well as being unforgiving (not that you need it...). I could be wrong, but I have often heard that Christianity was all about forgiveness. Hmmmmmmmmm..... Paganism and most related practices were around long before Christianity. I would not, and could not, sign such a declaration...as I am not Christian. I do, however, have respect for what others choose to believe or practice. I do what is right for me, do my best to harm none, and live my life according to my own beliefs. So far, I have never been banned from a website...LOL, but I have come across some very mean, closed-minded "Christians" in my day... I do know they are not all that way, but I have experiences so many who are what I call "Sunday Christians" (Im pretty sure that needs no further explanation...) I think I will make an offering to the Goddess for the same:)
Namaste & much love:)
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Namaste to you too sweets. There are so many 'splinter' groups today that call themselves Christian, and they are the ones that drive me up the wall too. But like you I believe in the three fold law, so I leave them and theirs up to God. One can educate an open mind. One can't illuminate a closed one.........
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5. Toxicon (124) | 5 months ago | Please pm me the url of this website so i can join them under false pretences.... I have to admit I have never seen anything so rediculous in my life, they cant honestly think every visitor to thier site is going to be christian. The really need to rethink their policies, for every non-christian they ban, they could be losing who knows how many christian friends that one person might refer to the site. Not only is it bad religous practice to do it the way they did, but it's also bad bussiness. I dont see how a persons faith has anything to do with the products or services offered on any website, I have relatives of various faiths and with the myriad of different holidays I have to get wrapping paper and such for their beliefs even if I dont agree with it, and where would I go to get it, some store or site that specialised in that particular religion. But anyway, before I go off on a tangent here about their obvious stupidity in many social, religeous, and bussiness areas I think I'll stop, add tags, and post.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | As more and more people get computers, the internet has become a powerful tool for ANYONE to get their message out. More and more Christian, Muslim, and other religious sites are coming online. And they all have the same purpose........spread the word of their belief system and change the world. I say let them. I don't have to 'go there'. Because the number of people online who will avoid them will always out number the people who won't. Fanatics attract fanatics and the weak of belief. These sites can have them. Stronger and more balanced minds will prevail in the end I believe.............
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Toxicon (124) | 5 months ago | I have to agree with you there, I think those of us that are comfortable in our beliefs arent as concerned about everyone following our lead so we dont become fanatics trying to convert everyone. It's sad that it happens that way and if more people would research thier religion, and actualy follow it, they would probably lead a happier and more fullfilling life. I really like that one quote you made, "one can educate an open mind. one can't illuminate a closed one.", that is so true in so many ways.
I have a very open mind and because of it, I am sort of a theologist. I have studied many of the worlds religions, and strangely, most of them have the same messages, just different names for thier "god(s)", and different stories.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | I studied World Religions in Uni and came to the same conclusion.........same message, just different names. It's MAN who complicates and in so many cases, (excuse the noun, but it fits) bastardizes the message, not God.
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Toxicon (124) | 5 months ago | Yes, man has interperited "the word" to suit themselves for whatever situation, you can actualy read plain, word for word, translations and wonder how anyone read that and came up with a certain mesage when whats been written has nothing to do with what they are saying. When I red the new testement, I did it word for word, not reading the sidenotes where it was saying what "they" thought the passages mean, I found them to beconfusing the actual points being made. Basterdize, is an understatement.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | The day God gave us free will, we became a self-serving species.*sigh*
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6. wonttakelong (1549) | 5 months ago | welcome to my world! LOL I am not in the least bit surprised by this I have been treated like crap by many Christians for most of my life and they wonder why so many people are leaving the church?
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Toxicon (124) | 5 months ago | A christian friend of mine asked me to go to church with her once, I sat there through the long drawn out service, then when it ended and everyone met in the lobby on the way out the door, some woman walked up to me and exclaimed I was evil and the devil, it's like somehow she senced I wasnt one of them. I of course did what any sane person in that position would have done... I laughed at her and started quoting things from her own bible, mostly passages refering to "being a good christian" and "do unto others", it nearly started a riot with everyone close by but I found it amusing. I dont consider myself evil in any way, shape, or form, but to be called the devil, in a church, I couldnt help myself from having a little fun.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Wonttakelong...............lol, yep, welcome to 'our' world! I used to get picked on by the Protestants for being Catholic, now I get picked on by the Christians for being Wiccan! Too funny actually. Everyone needs something to biotch about when their tiny little minds can't fathom greater ideas........
Texicon (did I get that right?), you sound like my kind of person! I would have done the same thing in your shoes! lol
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wonttakelong (1549) | 5 months ago | oh I love when they do crap like that they really hate when you throw bible versus up at them LOL
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Sorry..........Toxicon! Damn, I wish when we hit respond we got ALL the comments not just the initial one!
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Toxicon (124) | 5 months ago | Like I said in another reply to this discussion, I'm comfortable with who I am and my beliefs, and my beliefs clearly state, "dont take crap from anyone for being who you are", it seemed to me to be the only recourse when I was called the devil in a church. And since word of mouth is so powerful I've never since been invited to go to a church again. It's ok, I dont mind, I dont like listening to them browbeating others and citing how much money they need to collect "in the name of god".
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darkjedi1 (749) | 5 months ago | I like you texicon, you definetly sound like my type of person lol.
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darkjedi1 (749) | 5 months ago | oops toxicon lol.
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darkangel079 (970) | 5 months ago | Cool beans Toxic. I remember last time I was called a devil in the church. I looked at them and I said, "And your point? Tell me something I don't know?"
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7. dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | As my friend Lyn once said when she got locked over on Yuwie, "I've been kicked out of better joints." So much for tolerance.
Last October I got banned from MoraChat (aka MoronChat) after getting in an argument with the Admin, who had, rather rudely, also falsely, told me that I had been warned several times about posting replies that were too short (I had been warned once that one and two word replies were not allowed) and that if I continued, I would be banned.
Heaven forbid, I told him that it was not true that I had been warned more than once, that I had been specifically warned about one and two word replies and that the ones he was complaining about were one and two sentences, and that calling me "childish" and accusing me of having an attitude were out of line. It went downhill from there. lol
You should have seen my discussion here on it, myklj and loudnproud and some other people had some hilarious replies and one of their moderators came on over and started attacking people. Unfortunately myLot decided to delete it because they didn't want people "dissing other sites".
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | I do believe I know of whom you speak at MoraChat! LOL Sorry I missed your discussion about it. Sounds like something right up my alley! LOL
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | I think it was Princess who came over and started flaming people. It was hilarious. She was accusing me of sarcasm, among other horrible offenses, and Mykl's and Loud's responses were just too funny for words!
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | LOL, I can just imagine. I miss Loud........
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | yeah, me too...:-(
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Have you heard from her at all? I'll email her this afternoon and see how she is....hopefully she'll respond. Will let you know if she does.
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | I have e-mailed her a couple of times and she's said hi back, no news. Just sent her one that said, "we miss you, come baaaack"....
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leenie50 (1743) | 5 months ago | What happened to loudnproud? now that you mention it, I have not seen her around.
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | She says she left because she got bored. No drama or anything that I'm aware of.
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8. sulynsi (235) | 5 months ago | Banned? From buying their product? That's just weird.
If Walmart bans me from walking in their door to plunk down my hard earned cash, I wouldn't give it a second thought. I'd just go next door to Zellers.
Just plain weird.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Their 'product' is free. They are more about their Christian message, and when I admitted to being Wiccan, that's when I got banned.
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | I think I'm gonna go on over there and tell them I'm a devil worshiper who wants to be saved and see what they say....
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | LOL Dawn, ................. dancing with the devil! ROFL
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | Somehow I don't expect they're gonna be lol though!!!
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Watch out for flying crosses and splashing holy water! LOL
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | ouch it burns it burns....
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Passing over the garlic for the ................ok, we'll call it a burn. LOL
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sulynsi (235) | 5 months ago | Buying a product whether it is tangible, like a card, or intangible, like an ideology it doesn't make sense to mistreat your "customer".
I think they'd give me as hard a time, or harder if they knew MY persuasion, dawn.
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dawnald (9195) | 5 months ago | I'm sure they would...
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9. scorpiobabes (1529) | 5 months ago | This post contains content of a mature nature. You must be Signed in or Registered to have the option to view this content.
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | I was raised Catholic in the 50's. When they turned the alter around and did away with the Latin Mass, they lost me. But I retain much of my Catholic belief system, though I shed the residual guilt. lol I've gone back to the roots of belief in a Higher Power (God) be studying Wiccan and my life is much happier now. I too have friends of all different faiths. I really don't have any problem with what your belief system is as long as you respect mine as I respect yours and that certainly doesn't include setting yourself (the born agains) above God and claiming the right to judge me........... I think Ignorance should be the FIRST deadly sin!
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scorpiobabes (1529) | 5 months ago | Sparks, let's just say I'm the ultimate 'good' Catholic girl! I find comfort in the rituals and I detest change...I prefer taking my sins (as they are) directly to God, rather than reporting them to a priest. I've also broken most of the ten commandments (quite proudly in come cases!) and I believe in a woman's right to choose, so I guess you could say that I'm a Catholic that refuses to follow the tenants of the law (of Catholicism). Catholicism is (to me anyways), just a particular method of worshiping a higher power...when it all comes down to it, I believe in the Lord, Jesus (who died for my sins) and as long as I continue to believe, I will be welcomed into Heaven, no matter WHAT I do here on earth.
And yes, I do respect your beliefs. I think ultimately, with the exception of the agnostics, that everyone does believe in a higher power, no matter what you call it (God, Lord, Allah) and we should learn to respect that simple fact. 
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | LOL, I know exactly what you mean scorpio about being the 'good' Catholic girl. I was that all through my twenties and thirties even though I didn't go to Church every Sunday. It was in my forties I really began to question all organized religions, and in my fifties that I opted out of them completely. But my Catholic endoctrination will live in me until the Big Guy in the Sky and I meet, and I have no problem with that at all.
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10. leenie50 (1743) | 5 months ago | Oh Daffy, Another banned site? You really must quit making people angry!! Personally Daffy, it seems like no great loss!! Who needs to be part of a site that insists on rules that control your life? Bless your little Pagan heart!! Sorry, I've never been banned so far from any site. Hugsssss Little Sister, Leenie
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | Hey Louie, hang around me long enough and you'll be surprised where you'll get banned from! ROFL
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leenie50 (1743) | 5 months ago | OK Daffy, I'll stick close!!!
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sparkofinsanity (3446) | 5 months ago | You're a little lacking in sanity aren't you Louie? ROFL Good for you!
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leenie50 (1743) | 5 months ago | Oh Daffy, I hope so. It makes life sooooo much more fun.!!! Love Ya, leenie
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