Should we respect Religion?

[catfish]

I should note though, that spells like that should be made with a pure heart (for example, a genuine desire for that person to have a conscience)... because if it's made off of revenge, a lot can go wrong.

You don't strike me as the vengeful type, but I don't know everything

Therein lies the problem... Because she has that, I do want revenge and vengence has NEVER been my thing. I could care less if she had a conscience if she returned what is mine. I just figured that would be the least harmful way... I 'm fucked up, huh?
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[Violet]

Well, honestly... the least harmful way is to take it back yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JQTLHn1wVY

All magic comes at a price

[Confused Ape]

Wiccans are not as benign as you think then. Binding spells, love spells, and a few others come to mind. While the perpertrator thinks "harm none", I think it is just how they justify to themselves the attempted control of others.
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I lurked on a Wiccan newsgroup many years ago. If anyone asked for a love spell they were told it's unethical to try to control others and any love they received wouldn't be real so it's not the way to go about finding a loving relationship.

[catfish]

Wiccans are not as benign as you think then. Binding spells, love spells, and a few others come to mind. While the perpertrator thinks "harm none", I think it is just how they justify to themselves the attempted control of others.
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I lurked on a Wiccan newsgroup many years ago. If anyone asked for a love spell they were told it's unethical to try to control others and any love they received wouldn't be real so it's not the way to go about finding a loving relationship.

Right, right... But I know a few Wiccans and it's been my opinion that they all succumb to "greedy" motives sooner or later.
Prosperity spells (money) seem to be generally viewed as "benign", but to attract money to oneself, wouldn't that take money from another?
Binding spells to "protect" children from drugs and alcohol would be an attempt to control another, right?

While they may appear to be from a pure heart, I believe they are selfish.
They protect their children because they don't want to lose them... They attract money because they're lazy... You know what I mean?
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[Zone]

Respect the people who follow the religions rather than the seemingly manmade religious institution they adhere to. Some of them do some good charity and community work however. But nothing you could do without the supernatural as far as I can tell, perhaps it gives people the motivation, organisation or something.

[KichigaiNeko]

The question is...

"Do you respect religion?"

The answer is no, I have no respect for any religion.

Those who want to indulge in religion are like tobacco smokers and as such I feel it is none of my business. I REALLY Don't care.

[Confused Ape]

Right, right... But I know a few Wiccans and it's been my opinion that they all succum to "greedy" motives sooner or later.

How many humans on the planet have never succumbed to any greedy motives during the course of their lives? This includes atheists.

Prosperity spells (money) seem to be generally viewed as "benign", but to attract money to oneself, wouldn't that take money from another?

If I bought a winning lottery ticket and shared the jackpot with several others I'd have taken money away from them. After all, the others would have ended up with more money if I hadn't bought my ticket. When I worked for a living I'd apply for an office job and, if I was accepted for the position, somebody else didn't get it.

A Wiccan who did a spell for attracting money could put themselves into a frame of mind where they are more observant. They could then notice a small advert in their local paper for a car boot sale and realise they have things they no longer need but which can be sold for extra money. Not all Wiccans do these kind of spells, though, because many individuals think they are unethical.

Binding spells to "protect" children from drugs and alcohol would be an attempt to control another, right?

Yes it would. The best way to protect children against these things is to educate them so they are aware of the dangers. All the Wiccans/pagans I've known opted for educating kids to avoid dangers.

While they may appear to be from a pure heart, I believe they are selfish.
They protect their children because they don't want to lose them...

Many parents are scared of losing their children - it's got nothing to do with religion so atheists could be over-protective for the same reason.

They attract money because they're lazy... You know what I mean?
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Wiccans are the same as any other cross section of humans. Some will be lazy while others work for a living. Many are professionals. The following is about Wiccans in the USA but it will be the same for anywhere else.

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/witc...g/faq.html

Approximately 71% of Wiccans are female, and 29% are male, though more men are coming to this spirituality each year. Witches tend to be well-educated, well read and independent.They increasingly represent mainstream America there are Wiccan doctors, lawyers, soldiers, psychologists, schoolteachers, schoolchildren, busdrivers, waitresses, artists, actors, singers, and celebrities, to name just a few typical occupations.

How do Wiccans reconcile doing no harm with being in the military? I've read many discussions about how one can Do what you will, so long as it harms none. The truth is that it's impossible to exist without doing any harm at all - every time you wash your hands you're harming bacteria. The rede is meant to be something which makes people think about how their actions will effect others so they try to do the least amount of harm possible.

One Interpretation

There have been a number of published interpretations of how one should determine what constitutes 'harming none'. Silver Ravenwolf, for instance, believes that although acting to restrain a wrong-doer is in a sense harming them, failure to act against them could allow greater harm; this must be carefully weighed up, and preferably a course of action can be found that minimises harm to all parties.[13][14]

It's up to every Wiccan to find what they regard as an ethical way of being in the world. Some Wiccans wouldn't enlist in the military because they regard the military as doing more harm than good. Other Wiccans could think there'd be more harm caused by not having a military force to defend one's country. Other Wiccans could have converted while in the US military but can't leave until their eight year service obligation is up.

[LarissaAnn]

Wiccans are not as benign as you think then. Binding spells, love spells, and a few others come to mind. While the perpertrator thinks "harm none", I think it is just how they justify to themselves the attempted control of others.
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How much have you read on Wicca? NOT Christian points of view either but from actual Wiccan sources?

[catfish]

Wiccans are not as benign as you think then. Binding spells, love spells, and a few others come to mind. While the perpertrator thinks "harm none", I think it is just how they justify to themselves the attempted control of others.
.

How much have you read on Wicca? NOT Christian points of view either but from actual Wiccan sources?

Eh, not much...

"Magic (or magick)" doesn't come from rituals, gems, candles, repetitions or walking in reverse circles.

Some people know this, others don't.
To be honest, I think the use of any sort of "props" or whathave you just shows a lack of faith in one's ability.
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[My imaginary friend is GOD]

In cases where religious belief is maintained due to a lack of questioning religious principles, no, we certainly should not.
Only in cases where religious belief is consistent with a rational view of the world, if such cases exist, should we respect religion. I'm inclined to think that a belief in religion requires magical thinking, which is in opposition to rational thought.
That said, we should probably try to be as understanding and tolerant of religion as we can be, since we still live in a world where religious belief exists, and in fact, is the view of the majority.