I've just seen the comments attached to the thread I posted 'Some Pagan Humour' and figured I would clear the air before anything gets out of hand.

I apologise for any bad feelings brought about by the posting of that thread it is not and never has been my intention to upset anyone with any of the things I post.
This forum caters for a very mixed bag of races and religions and I was actually asked via email to try and find some 'Pagan Humour' to put onto the board - which I have done. Now as with any thread if a person doesn't like it then no one is forcing them to read its contents. I've been with WAP a long time now and have posted on just about every topic you can think of - can't please everybody all of the time. BUT that's not what I'm trying to do, what I am doing is posting items that maybe of use to some of you to pass onto your pen pals. It always seem to be a religious matter that causes waves but remember this GOD has a brilliant sense of humour (thats where we all got ours from)

Why do you apologize for posting pagan jokes, MysticMo? You didn't apologize for posting christian stuff either, when I was offended by them. And which GOD are you refering to? There are so many gods. Oh no, I forgot, you are refering to the one and only god of the christians. The only one I am refering to is the Great Goddess. And don't offend me by saying we all got our humor from the Christian GOD. I got my sense of humor from the Great Goddess and nobody else.

Oh dear I didn't mean for anything to start up by all of this - I am a Pagan myself remember but I keep in mind the fact that MOST people put their beliefs under the heading of 'GOD' which is why I put it in capital letters. Organised religion causes so much hassle that I generally keep my personal beliefs to myself - I DO believe in a power greater than us all and for me it doesn't have to carry a title it just 'IS'.
My aim is to live and let live and to agree to disagree (smile) life can be a pleasure or a trial and I know which one I'm gonna choose. Blessed Be!

WHO ARE MODERN PAGANS?

Modern Pagans are people who have made a positive choice to follow a path of individual spiritual growth that is in harmony with the Earth upon which we live. Many people have become aware of a spiritual void in their lives, and have discovered, in Paganism, a religion of joy and love, which allows self-expression, but also encourages social and environmental responsibility.

Modern Pagans are men and women of all ages, drawn from all walks of life, and from various racial or cultural backgrounds. Members of the Pagan Alliance include scientists, solicitors, students, health care professionals, teachers, farmers, information technology specialists, industrial relation specialists, graphic designers, engineers, members of the Defence Force, Project Managers, members of the Public Service, Librarians, psychologists, artists, and research assistants, to name but a few.

The one thing they all have in common is a desire to follow a spiritual path which is in harmony with the Earth, and which encourages self-discovery, and individual responsibility.

FACTS ON WICCA AND PAGANISM:

Wicca is arguably the best known of pagan religions. It is based on the pre-Christian beliefs of tribes in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, although its origins go back to Palaeolithic peoples who worshipped a hunter god and a fertility goddess. Wiccans feel that nature is divine and as such are strong environmentalists. They celebrate cycles of the sun and moon and often worship outdoors. Some do so in the nude. Wiccans believe all plants and animals in the world are equal and will often say a prayer of thanks before doing something as simple as pulling out a garden carrot. Like Christians, Wiccans believe you should not harm anyone, including yourself. If you do harm or good, such actions will come back to you three times, they believe. Most believe in some form of reincarnation, however there is no concept of heaven and hell or sin. Pagans believe magic and potions can help heal others and themselves. There is no pagan leader. For Wiccans, anyone can become a priest or priestess (also called witches). Male priests are also called witches, not warlocks. To pagans the star-shaped Pentagram symbolises all the elements of nature - earth, air, fire, water and spirit.

MysticMo, I know you want to do good. You are not the reason for all that hate. I feel very sorry, if you may think that. The hate began when christian missionaries killed heathens who were not willing to take over the christian believes 1500 or 2000 years ago. I know Ancient Romans also killed christians and lot of missionaries were killed by pagans, and this is also so wrong and I feel sorry for that, but I never heard a christian say, I am sorry that christians murdered pagans. The hate came again when in the middle ages stakes burned with poor women and men who were thought to be witches. Did it stop? No, it didn't. I know of a case where not long ago (some years maybe) a pagan in the south of the USA was kidnapped and beaten to death by a bunch of christians, because he was pagan. Did anybody care? Did any christian cry out because of that? I don't think so. I know a case in the USA where a pagan girl who wore a pentacle was not allowed to enter the school building, while her christian school mates who wore a cross necklace were allowed to enter High School. I know a case where a woman was called a witch in a small US town and a boy said she bewitched and molested me during a ritual and she had to go to prison, although this all was not true. Do the christian priests have to go to prison who molest children? I don't think so, the church pays lot of money to the victims, so that they keep their mouth shut about what happend. Religious freedom in the USA, NO, not at all. Religious freedom at WAP, NO, not at all. As long as christians are allowed to be offended by pagan postings, but pagans are not granted the same, there is no religious freedom. And as long as their is no religious freedom for pagans, I will be there to fight for my and my pagan brothers and sisters rights. And the same as the christians make their dead missionaries to be saints by the pope, we remember our burned ones by "adopting a witch".

Here are some websites for information how to adopt a witch. By the way, also christians can adopt a witch.

http://www.witchesway.net/links/adoptawitch/bannerpage.html

http://www.geocities.com/witchofsolstice/Adopt.html

http://www.firstfoot.com/News/adopt%20a%20witch.htm

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/thevictim1/

It has been said that more people have been killed "In the name of God!", than for any other reason. What that all comes down to is someone trying to force someone else to believe the same way they do.
I can't claim to be a strong "Christian", but I do try to follow the tenants set forth by the Christian religion. The best one, I believe, is to "Love one another as you love yourself."
Throughout history, there are many examples of people behaving in an inhumane manner toward their fellow man, and I am sorry for all of the people who have suffered because of that. Sorry about the "Spanish Inquisition", sorry about the Spanish conquest of Indians, in America. Sorry about the attempt to exterminate Jews, by the Nazis. Sorry for race discrimination, wherever it occurs, throughout the world. Sorry to see Muslims beheading and murdering innocent people in Iraq.
This is the year 2005, and I have to wonder if mankind has learned anything. If we get all hung up on past "wrongs", are angry, and seek revenge, will we ever advance beyond being savages?
I haven't done anything to harm anyone, for what they believe, and I will live in peace, with my fellow man, so long as they are willing to let me live in peace and believe what I choose to believe.
Why can't everybody do that?

My goodness you are carrying around a lot of pent up emotions aren’t you? In every religion there is good and bad as there is in every race. I also believe in fighting for what I believe to be right. Yes in times gone by ‘witches’ or people of unusual religions were burnt at the stake but I think you should try and focus more on present day issues instead of reverting back to what has been. I attend a spiritualist group on a regular bases and in our group we have people from many different religions – our circle is open to all no matter what title they live under. Mention the word spiritualist and people start to think about that all we do is sit around and chat to ghosts which is NOT the case, our group covers many things such as alternative healing, meditation and yes clairvoyance and angel work. You talk about religious freedom, we all have free will but its people who start up arguments that try to take away that free will and infringe THEIR beliefs onto others. You mention fighting for your pagan brothers and sisters rights and about adopting a ‘witch’ and I’m sorry if what I’m about to say next offends you but I would like to get my views across just as you got yours across.
I know a large number of ‘pagans’ and none of them would want anyone else to ‘fight’ for their rights for them, they are more than able to do that for themselves. Remember “Wicca does not discriminate against color or ethnic origin and does view everything as equal in the eyes of the Goddess and the God.”
In other words as a pagan you will know all about loving all and harming none, you cannot follow that as you should if your desire is to ‘fight’ anybody for anything. As for ‘adopting a witch’ well all the ‘witches’ I know see little point in that issue as they are very much private people to begin with and very rarely broadcast their business. Each to their own – in this case the WAP site is not the place to bash out religious beliefs.

I agree with what Mo says here. Her posts are not always posted to please a certain individual, she posts them so we can share with our pals. She posts all types of stuff... she is an equal opportunity poster... that is what makes her Mo and we look forward to her posts.

There is no need to really get into a religious debate here. If you like the posts or thread then read it and if you don't all you have to do is bypass it.

Thanks Mo for all of your posts... You make my pals happy