I was Banned for speaking out, was I wrong?

[just]

Greetings, let me start out asking for your forgiveness of spelling errors and typo's that will happen. And for my lack of good english.

For the few that knows me knows I sew and that is my craft. tee hee
Anyway I also sell on eBay. With that said I will get on with my question.

I joined a quilting group on eBay back in June of this year. Just two weeks before Christmas one of the members made a very rude remark about a new ebay group that started and in their heading there was "Wiccan".
This member posted they didn't understand how eBay could allow such a group and how Wiccan's worships Satin and why would anyone ever want to be a witch. Also said her daughter told her it was 2007.

I posted that Wiches were around even before Bibical times and spoked about in the Bible. Also that not all Wiccans were evil and worship Satin. I also posted that it is a known fact that the Wiccan greed was to harm nothing and no one. I then did a cut copy paste of a few [2] links for internet reading about Wiccan's.

Well you might have thought I took an ice pick and poked a whole clean through the devils den and the flames rushed up and burnt my fingers right on off. No but I was booted off the board and a public post went up all about it. [note she was also banned for speaking up that they were wrong to do the public post]

Now, I have never hid who I am or what I am, I just don't always make it public. I do not worship Satin, and I do whole hearted worship God. Yet I do believe the Wiccan's way, and I do have my own special gifts that God has given me to use for the good.

I feel so bad that there is still folks in this world that are so small minded and so hurtful towards the ways of others. This poster carried on and on how God and Jesus was the only way and all others were going to Hell.

I do not agree, for there are many different type of ways people worship and not one human can know which is the right or wrong way. Pit for all I know I could have been so rotten in my past life and that is why I feel sometimes I'm in hell now, maybe this is HELL [no I really don't feel that way 99% of the time]

My debate on this ....... would you have spoken up? Would you have had the nerve to defend those that didn't even know that was going on? Should I have step back and not say anything?

I really hated being banned for there were many members to share sewing ideas with and I felt some might have been friends. After that ....... I feel totaly outcasted and the only one it hurt was me and showed me that I do belong under a rock.

[*Gypsy*]

Merry Meet Just,
This is a great post,thank you!
Some people are still so small minded in these matters and I must say it's more accepted in groups that have many people already in the Craft.
As you know I am a Christen and I believe just the way you do,so I understand the what your saying about them attacking you.
I'm sorry.
so ....what I think is..start your own group on there for anyone who they consider an outsider .....you are not the 1st one nor the last they will ban for this kind of thing.... sweet friend.
then you can not be banned and you can have the freedom of speech you and others seek.
If you need help doing this just let me know..I'm always here to lend a hand.
BB gypsy
Just....Dont get mad..Get Even...lol
Start you own and you will get members.

[boo]

would you have spoken up? Would you have had the nerve to defend those that didn't even know that was going on? Should I have step back and not say anything?

YES I WOULD HAVE DONE IT JUST LIKE YOU DID. I to don't always make it public. but yes i would have done it to. But yyou know what i think about this group is about sewing, and thay took it from there to the talke of god. way is it when you get in a group about samthing thay can not keep it to what to group is about. I to was in a group that was the same way but i said what i whated to say posted it lift the group. so i dont know what thay said about the post. I stell dont understand way it is the ones who say thay are all beliving in god are the ones who are not forgiving at all. thay are always the ones to run you out. and thay are never nice to the ones thay say thay love . way are thay not as loving as thay say god is

[dragonsteve]

Dearest just.

That is truely awfull, I for one am proud that you said some thing and yes i would do the same and often do. People like this need to be educated because they portray the worst side of there own religions. Religious Discimination is right up there with racialism and i should also think against the law. I would go check there rules and ask where it say you can be band for your beliefs.

Your very much among friends here and we welcome come you with open arms.

[ladyjay]

there is nothing wrong with speaking out. many people have miscomceptions of Wicca. I would have spoken out and i do but I do it with class and in an educational manner.

[starlene]

I am new here,,, so sorry if I am just butting in here but I agree with you. I would have spoken my truth also. I believe in one creator, but I am not Christian, I do believe in Gods and Goddesses as well. I just think people come to the same "city" through many roads, if that makes sense?

You know what,,, maybe it was just time for you to move out on your own and do something different. I try to look at life and challenges that we face like that. Learn the lesson, move on and grow from it.

I am sorry for the loss, I have suffered losses because of my beliefs as well, so I understand how that feels. If nothing else, just know that there are others that support you in your passion and ideas on religion and dont get angry about it. I believe we are all part of the same source, so just try to think about that a little,,, they are just on the opposite end of the spectrum then you are and be thankful that you are actually able to be more open and understanding then they are

Namaste, Starlene

[osran]

Merry Meet Just. First off, I just want to say that I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that you just posted. I'm sorry that millions around the world have too as well. And I support you 100% in stepping up and speaking for us. I would have taken the same steps as well. However, There is times where I would stop to look at the situation as it rises. Many of the people that we speak back to now is well pretty much immature people, that desires not to listen with their hearts. If it was one or three people that was saying it. I would probally went at it. However, If it was a large group, I would leave it alone, for the sole reasons that there is soooo many accusations and what nots that can be made and make matters worst.

That's when you realize that speaking to them will not faze them. But I admire you for speaking, I would have done the same thing myself most likely. Knowing that I'm a opinionated person.

Blessed be.
Osran

[starr]

Merry Meet,

It is sad that you had to encounter such ignorance in others, but I think you were right to speak your truth. People who practise wicca (myself being one of them) do not believe in satan, nor do they worship him. Wicca actually evolved from the study of alchemy, which dates as far back as aristotle and socrates ( both practised and studied alchemy). I too am a Christian, yet I have always known the bible only gives us a small bit of true christianity. Several biblical prophets, including Jesus, practised alchemy, today known as wicca. This same person who chastised you for your beliefs and is rigid in there acceptance of what christianity is and isn't would probably reject the miricles or magick of jesus in his time. Although through out history the parts of the bible that recorded the use of magick/craft by jesus has been destroyed, one only has to research other records of history during that time period to know that indeed he was a practisioner of wicca/craft/alchemy whatever your preferred choice of words maybe. These people are not so much followers of Jesus as they are followers of organized religion and there ignorance is showing in how you were treated. Be blessed, follow your own path and stay strong. You were right to speak the truth as you know it.

[Stormsong]

No... You did a good and right thing by Your self and for the pagan community. This groups could have been wonderful it sounds Yet..one can not reason with unreasonable people. It is regrettable you had to go through this..this form of intolerant herd mentality is truly awful. Jesus would not have acted so.

thank you for taking a stand for what is right

[dragonsteve]

Speaking out and standing up for what we believe to be right is great. But this can often affend others. in the same way that they may affend us. some times its best to wait for the right moment to speak out, A time when this person may be more willing to listen and try to understand. its not always best to jump strait in and attack

[aislinstorm]

I agree with you...I would have loved to see the face of the person on the other side as they read your post.

I had a friend that I grew up with. She has since moved away, and the only contact we had was through myspace. When I posted a bulletin about something Wiccan she was quick to reply to it with "What are you into?" She is a very devout Penticostal, and found my beliefs evil...I was then deleted from her friends list. This was a longtime friend, but she was just as uninformed as the person you had to speak with.

I am sorry that I have lost her friendship...but I am not sorry at the same time, for she was closed minded about other beliefs than hers.

I am so sorry that you had to deal with such "ignorance". Perhaps you could start a room of your own for Wiccan seamstresses. You could discuss sewing and religion. That would be a place I would love to visit.

[silvermoonmare8]

What an awful thing...and great posts from everyone. I got attacked by a woman once who said I was going to Hell too. I tried to explain that not only don't I believe in Satan or Hell, but that she is insulting God by criticizing my way of reverence toward the Divine. That left her speechless...lol. I definitely would have defended our religion in the very same way you did...and yes, publicly too. If we hide in the shadows, then it shows that we have something to hide. I wear my pentacle, as does my hubby, proudly. And I will bet that our Christian kindreds here would agree that it is a religious right to do so, just as they wear crucifixes, just as Jews wear the Star of David and just as the Buddists wear Budda jewelry. When are people going to realize that the burning times are over?!
BB~SMM

[poppy]

I think that you have done a wonderful thing by speaking up against others prejudices. I believe (and Im sorry if I offend anyone who may be shy) that people who dont speak up to defend others when something bad is happening or being said about them are almost as bad as the ones who start the attack in the first place. I wish that there were more people like you in this world. and yes I would have spoken up too, I think that you made the right decision. blessed be. xxx

[grinninggoblin]

just, I just want to say that I fully agree with you. I myself have been oppressed by people similar to what you described, and I can understand the fear of speaking out against ignorant people or religious zealots or feminists when the larger bulk of the community is against you. Thanks for your inspiring post and I think we can all learn from it