I grew up roman catholic and since turning to paganism I also had issues letting go of the things I was taught for so many years. Sometimes when I do a spell and it doesn't work I feel like maybe I'm wrong and I'm just going to go to hell. But then I just try to focus on why I was drawn to paganism and how I dont even believe in hell. In the end I just try to be a good person with good intentions.
Also I recently went to a bible study with a friend just to see how it was and I really enjoyed the group atmosphere because everyone was really nice and welcoming but then I was reminded about why I don't like catholicism because they started discussing how being a good neighbor is keeping an eye on each other and making sure no one is sexually deviant. -_- Or even just having sex before marriage and blah blah blah
Aside from the overdoing it part, some religious groups can be incredibly kind whether your share the same beliefs or not. I felt that way about the Episcopalian church my sister was confirmed at. They were just... a family who wanted you to feel welcomed no matter what and they never asked for money for any of the services they provided. That was a wonderful experience and I wish more could say they've had that. Even my grandmother for all her crazy Catholicism antics at times, she just wants people to be good people in the end and she spends most of her time at church making sleeping bags to be sent to shelters in other states. That I can admire.
I guess my "thing" is that I can't have faith in something. Pagans sometimes talk about needing faith, but I don't need faith in my gods' existence any more than I need faith in the existence of my brother, or my bed, or my chair. They're perfectly real to me. Why waste time believing in something with no proof when you can learn from experience?
That's an interesting thought I don't think I've ever considered laid out so perfectly. I like it.
For me... well, most of you know how, I suppose "weird" for lack of a better term, my own path is sometimes. For the letting go part... especially the concept of hell or Satan etc., for me it's less of a letting go and more of an "I want to understand this and not from a religious perspective". I've been doing a LOT of research these past few months on Satan in general because I kind of believe every god, demi god, beings, whatever label you want to tack onto it, exists/ed in some fashion. But I don't believe in this ruler of a fiery place of punishment. It doesn't click for me. Mostly because I see such a "humanness" in the being called Satan and referred to as Lucifer. I think if he isn't real but has a "realness" to him it's in the blame humans will not accept unto themselves. If you are wicked or fall to wickedness you fall to the devil or you are doing his work they say. I just see human nature that is frightful or unappealing or shameful that needs a scapegoat of sorts. So we blame a wicked being for our actions, thoughts, and for why we "fall from grace". I almost feel sympathetic for the one who was once considered to be an angel. Heh, sympathy for the devil... I don't know... I'll explain myself better elsewhere.
Letting go was only easiest for me after reading stuff on Mother Teresa. She made me believe that sometimes just living a good life, and not a self righteous one, is better than most anything.
I also agree with Tirya... I question everything now and not out of defiance but because I want to better understand something or have a chance to see every possible side of it no matter how ridiculous it might sound because to me at this point anything is possible and we will never know the ultimate of ultimate truths no matter how much faith we may have until it is presented to us by the one or many who know it.
