Question for pagan nurses about nature and storytelling as healing therapy

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I have followed your posts with interest because you say that Christianity is a religion is that seeks to dominate and control others. I am sorry you see it that way. It appears that you personal experience with a small segment of a religion that has billions of followers has effected you deeply and I apologize to you for the those experiences. Still I suggest that the comments you make about Christianity show exactly the same type of bias you have experienced. I have a niece who is a Pagan as well as a practicing Wicca and I grow many of the sacred herbs she uses in my garden - because I am extremely interested traditional healing practices.

Although I consider myself a Christian I do not belong to any specific denomination for exactly the reasons you cite. I have a general policy to not discuss religion or politics in the workplace as well as many other places. Still most of my co-workers and friends have mentioned that I seem to be pretty well balanced and happy individual. If they ask why I tell them what I believe and invite them to make their own decisions. For instance a subject did come up at work about an issue which seems to invoke strong religious opinions from people who think of themselves as Christian. I was asked how I felt about it _ I simply stated "Even if you believe this is a sin - Did Jesus Christ not instruct you to Judge Not?" That stopped the discussion pretty quickly.

Simply put there a many people who identify as Christian who do not exhibit Christian behavior but far more who are good decent people just as there are many Pagan, Muslim, Hindi and Jewish people who are good decent people.

Hppy

[vetpharmtech]

I have followed your posts with interest because you say that Christianity is a religion is that seeks to dominate and control others. I am sorry you see it that way. It appears that you personal experience with a small segment of a religion that has billions of followers has effected you deeply and I apologize to you for the those experiences. Still I suggest that the comments you make about Christianity show exactly the same type of bias you have experienced. I have a niece who is a Pagan as well as a practicing Wicca and I grow many of the sacred herbs she uses in my garden - because I am extremely interested traditional healing practices.

Although I consider myself a Christian I do not belong to any specific denomination for exactly the reasons you cite. I have a general policy to not discuss religion or politics in the workplace as well as many other places. Still most of my co-workers and friends have mentioned that I seem to be pretty well balanced and happy individual. If they ask why I tell them what I believe and invite them to make their own decisions. For instance a subject did come up at work about an issue which seems to invoke strong religious opinions from people who think of themselves as Christian. I was asked how I felt about it _ I simply stated "Even if you believe this is a sin - Did Jesus Christ not instruct you to Judge Not?" That stopped the discussion pretty quickly.

Simply put there a many people who identify as Christian who do not exhibit Christian behavior but far more who are good decent people just as there are many Pagan, Muslim, Hindi and Jewish people who are good decent people.

Hppy

Why can't American Christians in politics be like you? Why can't nurses in this board be like you?

The world would be a better place to live. Spirituality board would be more fun and productive for everyone instead of proselytization and slamming each other.

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

I know this isn't directed at me, but had to respond to it.

Why can't American Christians in politics be like you? Why can't nurses in this board be like you?

The world would be a better place to live. Spirituality board would be more fun and productive for everyone instead of proselytization and slamming each other.

I think some of us can't be like @ hppygr8ful because of posters that have a mindset and a very outspoken opinion like yourself @ vetpharmtech. When you start poking and questioning someone else's beliefs whether its cultural, spiritual, religious, etc etc, that person will always respond with the opposite of what you say if he/she does not agree or thinks otherwise. It does not matter whether you think the term is poking, bashing, talking, arguing. It's all the above. Then the bickering goes back and forth. Happens everywhere, here, in practice, in politics, at home. On a more general note, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Truth be told and very cliche, but we live in a world of free speech.

I check out some threads here and there on this forum thread, and I don't see that much "slamming" as you say unless it's response to your posts and your replies .

[vetpharmtech]

Why can't American Christians in politics be like you? Why can't nurses in this board be like you?

The world would be a better place to live. Spirituality board would be more fun and productive for everyone instead of proselytization and slamming each other.

You see, hppygr8ful. This is a conversation between you and I. If there is any Christian I owe an apology, it will be you.

I established this topic because I want to learn a pagan's perspective. Some Christian cannot take my criticism in my own thread. I wonder why this fundie came to my thread at all when the topic is very clear. I'm done with people like that. This heathen will not bother to respond to that Yahweh's kid. I will be burned for eternity anyway according to that person.

I apologize that you have to see this.

[vetpharmtech]

I have followed your posts with interest because you say that Christianity is a religion is that seeks to dominate and control others. I am sorry you see it that way. It appears that you personal experience with a small segment of a religion that has billions of followers has effected you deeply and I apologize to you for the those experiences. Still I suggest that the comments you make about Christianity show exactly the same type of bias you have experienced. I have a niece who is a Pagan as well as a practicing Wicca and I grow many of the sacred herbs she uses in my garden - because I am extremely interested traditional healing practices.

Hppy

By the way, besides you, do the rest of your family accept your niece for who she is? I guess she also cares about environment, doesn't she? I don't know a pagan who doesn't.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

By the way, besides you, do the rest of your family accept your niece for who she is? I guess she also cares about environment, doesn't she? I don't know a pagan who doesn't.

The folks in my family are not very judgmental. We are sort of "Whatever floats your boat" people as long as no one but consenting adults gets hurt in the process. Most of us subscribe to some brand of Christianity but we go by Jesus's teachings that show the way and let us use our free will to order our personal lives. I have a pretty big family with 13 nieces and nephews and they are all good people so yes we pretty much accept them as is. Still we also have enough tact and consideration to know when certain subjects might make others uncomfortable. My niece has smudged my home with sage a couple of times so I guess I might burn in H-E-double hockey sticks for that.

As to you question about environmentalism I again don't see how this is just a pagan concept. The Bible I read commands us to care for the earth as it is our home and gift from the creator.

I find some of your comments about Christianity offensive and lacking in education on the topic of spirituality and religion. How would you feel if I accused you as a pagan of sacrificing virgins to a volcano in order to stop Global Warming.

Put that way I think you can see how some of your comments about Christianity show your lack of understanding.

When I disagree with something I do research because I can't always rely on my own experience or understanding. I read everything I can get on the topic and often come to a new understanding. I have read many pf the so called sacred texts from the Bible, Koran, Book of Mormon, the wiccan Book of shadows, the Kabala etc.........

Still trying to convince someone who refuses to open their eyes is tiresome.

Hppy

[vetpharmtech]

The folks in my family are not very judgmental. We are sort of "Whatever floats your boat" people as long as no one but consenting adults gets hurt in the process. Most of us subscribe to some brand of Christianity but we go by Jesus's teachings that show the way and let us use our free will to order our personal lives. I have a pretty big family with 13 nieces and nephews and they are all good people so yes we pretty much accept them as is. Still we also have enough tact and consideration to know when certain subjects might make others uncomfortable. My niece has smudged my home with sage a couple of times so I guess I might burn in H-E-double hockey sticks for that.

That is great. At least my image about Americans is primarily the same as it was 15 years ago.

I find some of your comments about Christianity offensive and lacking in education on the topic of spirituality and religion. How would you feel if I accused you as a pagan of sacrificing virgins to a volcano in order to stop Global Warming.

I don't know enough about paganism to answer your question. I grew up with Eastern religions. My answer would be "No. I would feel all right with your criticism." I hold myself the same standard as I do Christians. If there is any religion that has my pass, it would be Jainism and Bahaism. As far as I know, no follower of these two faiths ever dehumanize anyone or commit atrocity against any group in the name of their religions. Christians do, Muslims do, Hindus do, even Buddhists do.

This morning, I happened to come across this news about a white supremacist Christians who murdered Jews citing John 8:44.

Whether this man misunderstood the Bible or his hatred was motivated by that book, it is a fact that religious scriptures are not untouchable. They have been used to justify altruistic deeds and barbaric actions depending on who use them.

Because I am not an atheist, I will not say something like "these religious people are victims of religious indoctrination." I have faith, too. And I will take responsibility for my belief and my action. I need to admit that the religion I grew up with is not flawless, and I hold Christians to the same standard. There are biblical passages that condone barbaric actions and ugly thoughts against humanity. How they are applied or ignore depends on the person.

Don't believe me, Hppy. Read your Bible and see if I make up any statements. I bet if you can read just the book of Joshua, you will see why I have my resentment against Christians

Put that way I think you can see how some of your comments about Christianity show your lack of understanding.

I read the Bible from cover to cover. I see the words as they are. How Christians interpret their scriptures is none of my business. They believe whatever they want. If they let me be, I will let them be. The moment they try to "save" me (whatever that means), I lose my cool very quickly.

For example, in Matthew 10:34-39, Jesus said

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Christians always tell me that a Christ follower would be a family-oriented person.

I quote this passage exactly the way it represents. And then they told me that that is not what it means.

Who do they think they are to lecture me "the correct way" to interpret their book?

If this is simply a different opinion, I am all right with Christians see that passage differently than I do. We can leave it as that.

Nevertheless, they don't accept the fact that I have a different view about that passage. What comes up next? I'll pray for you to see the light. My understanding of their "loving" prayer: you are too stupid to see the right way that I see.

I bet with you lots of Christian nurses who are trolling this thread will do exactly what I just said. When these people deny my intellectual autonomy to see things differently, I have no reason to be polite with them.

I have been on a good term with Christians for a long time because they accept me for who I am (just like you) and they don't try to "save" me. In recent years, through my experience plus reading the Bible and continuing to see non Christians become targets for Christians to enforce exclusive Christian prayer in school, demand the 10 commandment monument with exclusion of other religious sacraments, restrict benefits to same-sex couples, loudly protest other religious invocations in governmental meetings, tell people in their weak state to worship Jesus or be burned for eternity,...my tolerance threshold for Christians is near zero. I cannot maintain my nice guy image any longer with all these craps.