Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: amadeus@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Susan Harwood Kaczmarczik) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: New Age Message-ID: Date: 5 Jun 91 04:24:11 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Texas at Austin Lines: 49 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article iwilliam@au.oracle.com (Ian Williams) writes: >What does everyone think about the amount of New Age stuff that gets left >around the news net these days.. >It saddens my heart to see people so searching, and yet so lost.. > >Anyone got any comments about it.. Yes, I do. Why do you think that someone who isn't following *your* path is lost? Each creature has his or her own purpose on this planet, and any one person's lifestyle and beliefs may not work for any one other person. >Has anyone made any witnessing efforts to the multitude of *.*.new-age >news /alternative religions groups.. It has happened before. And, speaking as someone who reads those groups, I can safely tell you that the efforts would not be appreciated. Not because the poor unwashed unbelievers/heretics/ fallen types would be so "lost" (although if you came on with that attitude, there are those who would flame you within an inch of your life), but because of a fundamental tenet of many of these faiths. We do not proselytize. I understand that witnessing is a vital part of many sects of Christianity, "fishers of men" and all that, but Paganism and Witchcraft don't work that way. (Okay, there may be Joe Blow self-styled "Pagan" down the street who does, but that's not how most of us operate. We believe that if someone belongs in a certain faith, he or she will find it of their own accord.) Many Pagans and Witches unfortunately have a knee-jerk bad reaction to Christianity in any shape or form due to bad experiences in the past. However, very many of us do not, having made our peace with whatever disappointment or disillusionment or just plain dissatisfaction we found that made us seek something else. In this particular instance, I should let the Divine -- whether it be Christ, Mary, Brighid, Athena or Kermit the Frog -- take care of this one. >Ian Williams | Internet: | Usual stuff about my posts >Adelaide, Australia | iwilliam@au.oracle.com | not being related to the ><>< | | policies of my employer.. -- -----Susan Harwood Kaczmarczik-------------------------------*<:-)------------- "The whims that we're weeping for our parents would be beaten for."--Kate Bush ----------amadeus@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu---------The University of Texas @Austin---