Divorced Life

[pt_tangles]

In reading a thread in NFP today (This One if you're interested), I was struck by the number of people who chimed in with some varient of 'My religion/being Pagan doesn't influence my charity work/political views/views on community/etc'. I seem to remember reading a thread about this not too long ago (damned if I can remember where, tho).

It makes me wonder how common a view that is. Is it something inherant in Pagans to have their spirituality divorced from the rest of their lives? Do your beliefs not influence or impact your life outside the altar room?

For myself, I hold the spiritual beliefs I do because they are a part of who I am as a secular person. My religion isn't really something that I can think of as 'seperate' from my day to day life. There are some disconnects ... there are some situations where I don't feel comfortable being 'the real me', but I strive to integrate those times, and they are a lot less than they were.

I am me. Religious me ... Secular me ... it is all me. Thoughts?

--Phae

I will prolly X-post this to a couple of places.

Comments

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I may say things like that sometimes, but not because I feel the two are separated. More like I feel the causality is reversed. I am the type of Pagan I am because that is what resonates with my beliefs about charity work, politics, whatever. Yes, my Gods give me orders sometimes, but I wouldn't be listening to Them if Their types of orders weren't consistent with my beliefs about what is a right and good way to live in the first place.

[pt_tangles]

I came to the faith that I have because of the beliefs I already held as well, but what I learn as I grow on my path directly effects my beliefs on society and all that jazz ... either re-enforcing them, developing them, or changing them (or all three). I guess it leads me to question what Pagan faiths are about?

To my mind, they are about growth and development of the soul (as are just about all religions). Perhaps I am missing something (which is entirely possible ... this could be an issue that I have just taken for granted before).

--Phae