Folks who are different does not mean they are wrong. Here are some holiday info Pegans and Wiccans celebrate you may not have been aware.
~If you believe God is love, then stop telling people he will send them to hell ~
~if you believe only one religion is the only true religion, then you just limited God's power~ Miranda
Witches have formally 21 celebrations. The Wicca religious calendar contains 13 full moon celebrations and eight Sabbaths or days of power based on the Sun.
Witches celebrate the moon believing the waxing and waning symbolize the cycle of life and death. The waxing moon was seen to represent the Maiden, the full moon as Mother, and the waning moon as Crone. Some Wiccans still associate the moon with the Goddess and the sun with the God.
In astrology the moon represents not only emotions, but the mother and female entities. The Sun is considered the personality or soul and the father or male entities. The Tarot also acknowledges the moon as female and sun as male or feminine vs masculine. I personally believe there is one God with several hundred names, but that God has a creative, nurturing, mothering nature as well as the father in heaven who is the strength in earths natural air, sea and ground movements. Though these often violent activities are necessary they are also catastrophic. God, as are fathers, is feared as the great determiner of punishments and he who we seek for aid with our unsolvable problems and seek permission and acceptance from.
A little bit of comparison
As you can see these things have nothing what so ever to do with Satan or the worshiping of. It is the respect and acknowledgment of the universe, the one who created it and our role in it. Pegansanism is in fact one of the oldest religions known to man. History researched indicates that all other religions were adopted and recreated from it.
Traditional others
Other common religions such as Christianity, Jehovah Witnesses, and more who teach fear of one male God and damnation to hell for our sins as well. Their job as a servant is to convert everyone! I question how Christians can possibly enjoy their days, faith and people in their lives when they spend all their time worried about everyone elses salvation. I mean what are they really saying about God? That is not faith, it's fear. The concept expressed is not one of love, it is unforgiving. The Fear impressed is one of Hell and torture after death. They have no responsibility for things they do now as long as they ask forgivness. They can fail and repeat the same actions so long as it is again repented, they regard this as the human nature born to sin, but only if your one of them. Everyone else is under the Devils spell. Where are the consequences of anything if this be the truth of God's love? Without reaction to an action or deed and consequences, there is no structure, no cause and effect. We would not be in existance if this were true.
They reject that anyone can have healing powers, ability to prophecise or are recognised by God unless of course he might decide to chose you as one of his, which then must be proven to a church or every single Christian you ever meet, who will denounce you if you live in a fashion they disapprove of though you do express a belief in Christ. It will be enough however, if your last thought is 'I believe' but not if while alive your life has not conformed to the standards of them. The reasoning for this is that if you find your death the revelation you no longer have a chance to change your life, you are then excused under these conditions, because God is merciful and forgiving. These beliefs you'll find change depending on the circumstances they find themselves.
Ours
The Wicca's religion is based on one simple rule, 'Do what you will but harm none' We believe not in damnation, hell and for some even the Devil. What we do believe is in personal responsibility. If you commit a sin, mainly consisting of, anything done against or causing harm towards, others, The penalty will be between you and God, but do not doubt there will be a penalty. This supreme law comes regardless of any repentence expressed. When we know we did a no no, we say 'I am screwed' It is not a matter of begging forgivness, but when will I be taught to reconcider that behavior. It is that which harshly reminds us we can not make our own laws in order to convince ourselves what is right or wrong, nor will the law permit anyone to think they deserve exemption. The punishment or effect of any negative act committed will be three times greater than that which he or she did. This is our fear. It is called the universal law or law of karma. Simple, easy to understand and unquestionable fair. Remember all men are equal in the eyes of God. So how can there be chosen ones by God? How can he call one his child while another is rejected?
It is also believe that we are made of the same energy as our creator and that we have the ability to change, overcome, alter, heal, influence same as our father. We believe everyone has the ability, they just do not develope it because they do not believe it. If you hate, destruction follows. If you love, peace follows. So we pray, express appreciation and try to send peaceful energy into the world by healing and learning from our spirit guides to deliver advice, comfort, awareness through their message to help others.These guides have chosen to help us now that they have lived and crossed over. They could be Angels or masonic priests or people that lived many lives and attainted a level of wisdom more advanced than ours. We rely on them as a student to his teacher.
We are here not simply because God wanted a companion or pet, nor are we unable to enter heaven, rather we all come from different levels of heaven which we call home, (For in my house there are many mansions) . We are here with purpose of spiritual education and to fullfill the karma we deserve from lives past. We are born again, literally. This is a simple concept that follows a natural law of cause and effect. It is felt that God created Mother Earth and we are the caretakers. That every plant, star, insect is as valuable as mankind. All has purpose.
It is not that we worship the sun and moon, but that we know, without them, earth would not be available to us. We express thanks for them and all other things on earth. In this manner we are worshipping God who is a part of all these things including ourselfs. He is a seperate energy, but part of these physical creations we serve. If you truly desire reaching the unattainable God, just look around and feel the warmth of sun or soft rabbit fur, the smell of a newborn.
More to come.....