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By classifying it as a pseudo-religion, Yukio_Michael is perfectly sound. As a classical historian, I have glanced at Wicca, and read Drawing Down the Moon, the closest thing Wicca and Neo-Paganism have to a guiding text.I don't believe in Christianity, but if I called it a "pseudo-religion" I'm pretty sure I'd be verbally crucified. Just saying....
Avocado,
Do not let these statements bother you. If Wicca is your religion, then be proud of it, and say so to anyone who asks. I am not a Wiccan, but I respect your right to be a Wiccan, if you so choose.
I am definitely not an expert, but it seems that the Shinto religion and Wicca have things in common. Just curious...
Seems like a reasonable statement to me, not tryin to make out that the religions are the same or anything but just a curiosity about any similarities that do exist. After all, similarities between one very ancient religion and one very new one, says something kind of interesting about human nature and 'morality' and stuff... imo, anyway.
Every old religion was brand new at one time...
I don't think that there is anything which Kinsao said that lacked common sense. Your statement on the other hand...Wicca is not a religion. It's a disturbance of peace. Use some common sense.
Seems like a reasonable statement to me, not tryin to make out that the religions are the same or anything but just a curiosity about any similarities that do exist. After all, similarities between one very ancient religion and one very new one, says something kind of interesting about human nature and 'morality' and stuff... imo, anyway.
Every old religion was brand new at one time...
I really don't know the definition of "cult" properly, but wiccans don't go around pressurising other people to "join". As far as I can tell it's a rather peaceful kind of religion/superstition/whatever you call it, that doesn't try to interfere with other people's lifestyles. Sure, I bet there's a few annoying wiccans the same as there's annoying people in any faith, but all the wiccans I've known (admittedly only a handful!) have been quite, umm, normal.
but seeing a group of people chanting in a circle still scares me.
Well then you just might want to stay out of a Catholic Church too when they have their weekly prayer "circle".
I think the inference was vague, yet clear to me.Is that how you really feel about the catholic church? Are you replying with honesty?
I think the inference was vague, yet clear to me.
Do people who express their beliefs as a group unnerve you?
Is that how you really feel about the catholic church?
Are you replying with honesty?
The inference was intentionally vague, and I'm sorry if that was misunderstood. It isn't just the Catholic Church that joins together in a group to pray. Many other religions have "group" gatherings as well.
No and Yes to the questions above.
Yukio placed the question to you much better than I did. I was interested to know what makes you feel uncomfortable about group prayer or why people who pray in groups makes you feel uncomfortable.
There's no reason for me or the public to feel uncomfortable about being in a catholic church. Other than this answer, I can't seriously answer your other questions.
Maybe it's your way of expressing humor by comparing a catholic church with Wicca. It is like saying Vatican city is Haiti. Roman catholicism is Haiti's state religion, but it does not make it another Vatican city. You can't compare prayer with witchcraft, and expect me to answer your questions seriously.
That's a funny thing to say.I don't know if or how many wiccans there are in Japan, but I don't think the two religions could be more different.
You're lumping Wiccans in with all other Neo-Pagans. <_<By classifying it as a pseudo-religion, Yukio_Michael is perfectly sound. As a classical historian, I have glanced at Wicca, and read Drawing Down the Moon, the closest thing Wicca and Neo-Paganism have to a guiding text.
there is a huge difference between the two but all pagan religions are basically the same. If i had to pick a closest to shinto though it would be hinduism. Wiccan has completely different roots.There's much ignorance in this thread...
That's a funny thing to say.
I'm no Wiccan but Shinto is very similar to Wiccan just because they are both Pagan religions.
You're lumping Wiccans in with all other Neo-Pagans. <_<
The revivial of pre-Christian Pagan religions is NOT psuedo-religion. Have you even met someone involved in Ásatrú ever? Norse religion is pretty ancient..just as ancient as Japanese Shinto.
The only think Shinto couldn't be more different from is Abrahamic religion.
Anyway I do not think that many neo-pagans exist in Japan as their Pagan religion is still intact. To find someone who wants to reconstruct European Pagan religions would be a bit rare as they have their own. Japanese people do have the tendancy towards "syncretism" though. So there might be some people who are a mixture like Shinto/Druid, Shinto/Ásatrú or something like that.
As a Neo-Pagan myself I see alot of enrichment for Shinto to add to my mix of Pagan beliefs.
That's an interesting thing to say...If i had to pick a closest to shinto though it would be hinduism. Wiccan has completely different roots.