Easter and Church

[celtictexan]

So I admit it. To make the family happy and because it is a day of traditional family reconnection's, I went to church and heard the story for the 55th time and thought about how much of the story is ripped form the Norse belief's. I guess it didn't hurt me and lightning bolts from the God of the Jews didn't strike me dead. So all is well.

[Teufelhunden]

True, but family or not would not let them drag me to ANY christian chruch or cremony to apease anyone.....

[wodenschild]

I must admit I have recently attended a funeral to pay my respect to a good man who happened to be christian and will be also going to church for a wedding this year. I do however,draw the line nowerdays at going to church at festivals such as Ostara. When I "have" to go into one of those buildings I remind myself its just a building,and has nothing to do with me. Also, it has to be said that about 2 years ago I didnt believe in any religion, and I went to church to please those who asked me to go,and just thought it was boring.But it must be harder for anyone who has been an Odinist for a substanstial amount of time and may have been discriminated against for our beliefs to enter a church and play happy familys. And as time goes on I understand that more.

[pinlighter]

Ha, family is family . . . .

[Teufelhunden]

Family is family... may be true, BUT how many of these self absorbed christ followers would apease you and attend a blot? almost none would as they would feel it compromises their faith, but on the other hand I would not want my mother at a blot as she is neither Odinist or open minded enough to compromise what she believes.

[celtictexan]

Family is family... may be true, BUT how many of these self absorbed christ followers would apease you and attend a blot? almost none would as they would feel it compromises their faith, but on the other hand I would not want my mother at a blot as she is neither Odinist or open minded enough to compromise what she believes.

That's just it I would never ask unless they showed interest. We are all respected by each other though. And as long as I'm respected I will be tolerant and return that respect.

I kind of look at it as a science experiment.

[Zwarte Hagal]

Going to church nowadays is ... a tradition! How many people do believe in the one and only god? Not many!

I just go to church for funerals and when a baby get's his / her baptism, within the family or of my friends!

[Liffrea]

I wouldn’t attend Church for a regular service, I am not Christian, but I would, and have, attended it for weddings and funerals. I think there is a point where you have to be adult enough and realistic enough to meet people half way. I would not go to a funeral because I believe in God/Jesus but because I am paying my respects to the deceased who was Christian. Not attending a family member or friends wedding because it happens to be in a Church would seem a rather pointless insult to me. If I was asked to attend some Christian rites, like at a Catholic funeral, I would politely decline.

[Pendarex]

Do not be afraid of the webs left by dead spiders!:D
Christianity is a made up religion to honour an entity that dosen't exist. Obviously this isn't the thread to debate the existence of Judah Ben Jesus a Jewish Rabbi who probably did exist then had made up stories written about him, but none of us should fear enterring a Christian Church as it is a Stone building and often of great beauty.
I would turn this on it's head by saying would anyone want a Christian to attend one of our Solstice celebrations, or would they come? As Teufelhunden mentions correctly in his posting.
One thing of great importance to followers of the Old ways in Ingland in particular is the Middle Ages directive by Christian Zealots, Popes and Archbishops not to destroy our sacred Temples (As opposed to shrines which were more nature based - groves etc) but to convert their use to the slave religion of the White Christ. This means that truly old Saxon churches in Ingland have a very good chance of originally being a wholly Heathen Temple and I often visit the older Saxon churches with this in mind.
I have to chuckle as I think of going to some Christian Friends Weddings & Funerals and being that crazy guy who wouldn't kneel and changed the words of 'their' songs to Praise Be To Thor or something like that!!!:)

[Jay]

Weddings and funerals happen. A few years ago I was in my brother's wedding at a Catholic church and I had no reservations about it. I politely did what I had to do without partaking in the ceremonies of the church.

Life is about respect and if we are to earn that, tolerance with religion is almost a necessity. If you want people to respect your choices we have to respect theirs and that often means attending special events such as weddings, funerals and christenings. That does not mean popping in on an average Sunday for no real reason.

[Tarnhari]

So I admit it. To make the family happy and because it is a day of traditional family reconnection's, I went to church and heard the story for the 55th time and thought about how much of the story is ripped form the Norse belief's. I guess it didn't hurt me and lightning bolts from the God of the Jews didn't strike me dead. So all is well.


As it was neither a wedding nor a funeral then why compromise?
An easter festival in a church is a christian ceremony not a public event like a funeral or wedding and as such by attending one of their ceremonies one is in fact endorsing the church`s apparent spiritual hegemony.