religion – This Is My Day

I feel like paraphrasing Tammy Wynette, sometimes it’s hard to be a Pagan. Doo de do de doo. I visited Chester cathedral last week and while it is very impressive, I have to say I’m glad to be part of a faith that can find the Deity in a forest. Obviously, a lot of money had been spent on building and decorating from when it was first built in the 16th century. Supposedly it was built for the glory of God, but it was more like it was built for the glory of the people who threw a lot of money at it. For the pomp and circumstance of the thing. However, it was refreshing to see that the whole space is being used. One side chapel has been turned into a very good cafe. I had a delicious Welsh rarebit there. Another was used for an art exhibition which, ironically, included a beautiful painting of Rhiannon. It makes me very glad to be Pagan and that I can go out into my garden and there is the Goddess. I don’t have to seek Her in highly-decorated building and I certainly do not need someone to intercede for me. I can speak directly to Her.

Later, I was in the little gift shop and I saw the most lovely, bright yellow flowered cover, journaling Bible. I was sorely tempted, it was that gorgeous. And I thought oh why don’t we have something like that for Pagans? Again, I realised it’s about money. Christians spending money on fancy books that they really don’t need. And I don’t need it either. I have googled the subject and there are lots of online shops who will sell you Bibles in the most beautiful covers, in all versions. And special pens for journaling as well as special paints, tags, oh so much stuff. You could go bankrupt being a Christian and wanting to take part in all the really cool trends. People actually paint pictures in their Bibles, and hand letter calligraphy verses and affirmations. I wondered, isn’t the Word of God enough for them? It’s all about the performance, not the message. Make your Bible pretty enough and that’s all you need to do to get a golden ticket into Heaven.

Nonsense! A second-hand copy of the late Scott Cunningham’s “A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner” is all I need. All that art stuff makes me anxious anyway. I get panic attacks even thinking about colouring books. Hard to be a Pagan? Yes, but it’s worth the extra effort.

…in the REM way, of losing my temper. I tried not to lose it, but a silly, evangelising “Christian” old woman really got under my skin.

In my opinion; and I am aware that other people think differently; relgion is a personal thing. One’s own religion is just that, one’s own. So I have little time for evangelism and I am losing my patience as well. I was in Cardiff with my daughter, on a hot day, and having put in a lot of walking, I wanted to sit on a bench in the shade and rest for a few minutes. As you do.

I saw an old lady handing out leaflets, or trying to hand them out. I thought that she was probably handing out menus as she was working the street in front of a takeaway noodle shop. But then she spotted me and started walking towards me. I remember that I probably smiled, tentatively as I believe in being polite whenever possible. As she handed one of her leaflets to me, I realised that it was a religious tract. I said no thank you, politely, but this woman would just not take no for an answer. She said “don’t you believe in Jesus?” in such a patronising, pitying tone. I was getting annoyed. After all, I was hot and tired and not up for a religious discussion. Not on the street. Otherwise I probably would not have told her that I am a Pagan. Then the shocked, horrified and even more pitying expression on her face really annoyed me. She said something like “oh no, oh that’s awful”.

Luckily for my blood pressure, a old man, who had been sitting behind me, got up and engaged her in conversation about the man who was polluting the air with his out-of-tune and unwanted caterwauling about Jesus, further down the street. Incidentally, he was trying to compete against a man who was singing a song from “Phantom of the Opera” for charity. It’s interesting that this so-called Christian man was trying to impede the efforts of a man who was just trying to raise money for a worthy cause. But anyway, the old man distracted the woman long enough for me to get up and walk away.

Muslims don’t do it; Sikhs don’t do it; Buddhists, Hindus and Pagans don’t do it. So what makes some Christians arrogant enough to think that accosting people on hot days and being patronising and irritating is acceptable? If they’re trying to convert people then they’re going about it the wrong way. And now my opinion of some Christians is reinforced. I am more than glad, thank the Goddess, that I am a Pagan!

the life of a 60-something woman who lives in Wales

Category: religion

Sometimes it’s hard to be a Pagan

Losing my religion