Author Naughty Peach Posted July 10, 2006 Author Share Posted July 10, 2006 My mother's mother was Cherokee. Her father was Irish. There was folk healing and such on both sides. When she had her salvation experience she was told that she could not practice her gifts any longer. However, her family was sharecroppers (I am the youngest of several children and my mother was almost 50 when she gave birth to me), her family's property was the place that people stopped for help while the waited for the doctor to get to them. She was known for her knowledge of herbs, and her ability to "conjure" wounds. She could ease pain, stop bleeding, and "take the burn" out of even 3rd degree burns. I have heard many stories from family and family friends. I also know that when I was about four we were camping and I sustained a burn from the camp fire that blistered and charred the flesh on my right thumb and I did not go the the hospital, but with my mother and my aunts treatment I do not remember pain and I do not have a scar, but it was ugly and scary at the time. I am considering moving. I do not believe that my love of God need be seperated from my gifts....nor do I believe that being a pagan or a witch would necessarily be a bad thing....I am just very hurt and confused to have people who have known me my whole life turn on me. I think I may need to move soon because there is talk that one of the deacon's is considering reporting me to Family and Children as well. That scares me as much as anything. Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I think I may need to move soon because there is talk that one of the deacon's is considering reporting me to Family and Children as well. That scares me as much as anything (Shudder) this sounds like those awful movies of living in backwards hickville complete with lynch mobs. By all means move to where people have realized it's the 21st Century! I wouldn't waste any time doing it if I were you! Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naughty Peach Posted July 10, 2006 Author Share Posted July 10, 2006 That I currently have a medical condition which the church is saying is "punishment for my satanic ways". Instead of praying for me, they are praising God for his judgement and public proof of my "devil worship." Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Unbelievable. Link to post Share on other sites
Becoming Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Good God! This is beyond most Baptist churches. Just to add that I know a pastor who is also a healer. I think she's a Disciples of Christ or UCC pastor. I'm not talking about a flashy faith healer like Ernest Aingley or that ilk. I'm talking folk healer, spiritual healer with gifts like yours. Donchya think Jesus was that, too? She sees auras, knows plants. Anyway, she has learned that she has to be careful about who she reveals her gifts to. This is why Jesus also warned folks he healed not to say anything, too, probably. Seems to me you're in good company. Find Christians who can understand. There are some. And I think you need to move. Why not do a google search on spiritual healers and move some place where your gifts can be appreciated and honed instead of hunted and condemned. Link to post Share on other sites
Blackfrost Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 good grief It's amazing to me that you can live in a place that has internet access and cable tv - and yet these people sound like they just warped out of Salem witch burning trials...... Link to post Share on other sites
basscatcher Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Alpha-whats your statement about catholics? Catholicism has its share of judgemental groups but it also has healers in it. I have went into Catholic Churchs and almost walked out because of the way it was operated by the people and Priest. There are different communities in the Catholic Church that there are in the towns communiity.. I would seek out a different faith (relgious) It's very apparent that you do believe in God, You do beleive in Jesus Christ and you want to be apart of his flock in worship, praise and community with your gifts from HIM intact... All spiritual gifts are from God and they should be used for good as God intended.. All you can do for the community that called you a witch is to pray for them and ask God to forgive them for they know NOT what they do.. Don't lose your faith based on people. The closer you are to God the more condemned you will be.. It is a fact. Even Jesus taught that when you follow him you will be condemned and persecuted. It is not a easy road to walk. If you love him you will follow him. Don't give up on your faith because of persecution. Stay strong in your faith. Use your gifts for God's glory. He is the one who gave them to you. Being a pagan--aren't we all pagans in a way?? NO one is perfect or without fault. Don't look at the whole of christianity as bad, please. There is good and bad everywhere and I think as time goes by we will see more and more it seperate itself and bad will rear its ugly head more and more... There is a community in the Catholic Church that is Charismatic. There are several persons with gifts of healing, knowledge, visions, messages from above. Even their own church condemns them but they do not leave the church because there is groups that accept them.. I am a follower of the Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church. I am also a follower of the Marian Movement in the Catholic Church. Some parts of the church condemen us and believe we are ruining the face of the church.. This is 2006. The world changes, it grows, we become more educated and knowledgeable. Times change and so doi the people. The churchs need to grow also. "With caution of course." I think the OP needs to find a different church to worship in. Dont give up your gifts, don't put them on the back burner of your life. That would be a shame.. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Alpha-whats your statement about catholics? I dont know...I just assumed that Catholics did not like witches... I am a follower of the Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church. I am also a follower of the Marian Movement in the Catholic Church... Are both those sanctioned by the Pope? If not then they are illegitimate Link to post Share on other sites
basscatcher Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I dont know...I just assumed that Catholics did not like witches... Are both those sanctioned by the Pope? If not then they are illegitimate If a Priest has the ability to do Exorcisms then what do you think?? The Pope believes in gifts of the spirit. Witch's in the context of Wiccins isn't accepted. It is believed to be evil and not of God. This doesn't mean that they don't do good things or don't have good in their hearts but the ultimate purpose is to take away the belief of there being only ONE God not multiple Gods. We should only worship ONE God. I don't want to get into all this. Its too much and I'm not up for a battle of beliefs. The church is cautious of those proclaiming to have gifts. There is years and months of watching and researching those who proclaim to have gifts from God. There are many whom the church has authenticated to believe to be real and accepted.. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naughty Peach Posted July 11, 2006 Author Share Posted July 11, 2006 I am still sorting through many feelings on this. I have always believed that God had many names (from old testiment through the new), but was one God. This does not conflict with the pagan beliefs I have been researching. I was also taught that Catholics were going to hell because they do not pray directly go God but rather through Mary or the Saints, or must use the priest as their intercessory when that is what Christ's purpose was. There was no need for anyone to intercede for us. Please do not be offended as I am not saying this is what I believe only that this is what I taught. For me, I simply see Mary and the saints as an extention of God's "all" or "one" God-ness. This is a very confusing and conflicting time for me over all, and I really do appreciate all of you bearing with me, and helping me work through this even though it is obvious that you all have differing beliefs yourselves. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
burning 4 revenge Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 roman catholicism is basically ancient roman paganism with new names for old gods Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naughty Peach Posted July 11, 2006 Author Share Posted July 11, 2006 roman catholicism is basically ancient roman paganism with new names for old gods That has been my impression the more I read. Link to post Share on other sites
Becoming Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Yes the RCath church did baptize many pagan customs, but Jesus was altogether something else. Even the way he was portrayed in art and testimonies is somewhat akin to pagan myths. But believers see him as altogether unique despite the strange things the church does at times. Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Peach, think of it this way: Imagine trying to explain nuclear physics to an ant. Now imagine that you're God and we're the ants. He's so much more complex than any human can understand that it's pretty much guaranteed that we've got it wrong. If you read the New Testament you see that Jesus says over and over that our task in life is to love, be humble, and forgive. And interestingly, if you do a metasurvey of the world's main religions, you'll find that every one has as major tenets to honour some sort of Divine and to treat your fellow humans better. All the goofy 'laws' and junk about who goes to Hell and not were pretty much made up by humans who have misinterpreted what they were told. When you connect with the Divine, you understand that Godhead or whatever you want to call it is about love. And that what humans like the ones you grew up with isn't love at all. But they're only ants. Link to post Share on other sites
Becoming Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Oooh. Very nice, OC! Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naughty Peach Posted July 12, 2006 Author Share Posted July 12, 2006 It sounds a lot like Bill and Tedism... Be Excellent to each other. See, what you have explained Outcast is what I have always believed and when I tried to make it that simple I got slapped down. Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 It sounds a lot like Bill and Tedism... Be Excellent to each other. Love it! See, what you have explained Outcast is what I have always believed and when I tried to make it that simple I got slapped down. Well, maybe you're a spider or a wasp rather than an ant. In these matters, one often has to disregard what others say. If you've had your own experience of the Divine, you already know what it's about. You can't let others' words crowd out that knowledge. Love isn't a lie. Link to post Share on other sites
flavius Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 I lived in a very rural area for several years, among very earthy people. Like you. When you live close to the earth, it talks to you. It looks magical to city people and modernites. Maybe it is in a way, I don't know. I live close to people, and their souls talk to me. Many times it is as though I smell their thoughts and taste their emotions. That too can look magical. It is not a special power I have; there are things there to be observed that others folks simply don't notice. Doesn't make me a witch, and it doesn't make want to become a witch. I don't need anything more that the indwelling of the spirit of the almighty God. But all that fills the Earth is his, and if it talks to me, it talks to me. I do find it odd that modern-age Christians are so anti-spiritual. Jesus taught Nicodemus by saying "the wind [pneuma, spirit] blows wherever it will. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell whence it comes or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the spirit [pneuma, wind]." You are right, Peach. Judgementalism is human nature at its purest. It also happens to be one of the primary things Jesus demanded we rise above thru faith. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naughty Peach Posted July 12, 2006 Author Share Posted July 12, 2006 That seems to be the crux of it. Most Christians I know and grew up with are not "spiritual" it is as if spiritualism itself is a new age concept. My Daddy used to "meditate" upon God's word, but to use the word meditate or meditation is almost blastphemus in the church. Sometimes I can feel a person's pain so tangable it is a taste on my tongue. Maybe it is another gift. Maybe I am sesitive, maybe I am observant. To them it is more evidence of my sevice to "the dark one". I guess part of what I am thinking...is that I have seen more love of God in those that are supposedly "godless" than I have in those that are "chosen". So much in my mind.... Link to post Share on other sites
burning 4 revenge Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 there's nothing like the taste of pain Link to post Share on other sites
Nicholas Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 I was also taught that Catholics were going to hell because they do not pray directly go God but rather through Mary or the Saints, or must use the priest as their intercessory when that is what Christ's purpose was. Catholics are welcome to pray directly to God or Christ, and do not require an intercessory. This occurs several times throughout the Catholic mass, which you are welcome to attend. For me, I simply see Mary and the saints as an extention of God's "all" or "one" God-ness. This is somewhat similar to what Catholics believe. We believe Mary is the mother of God, and is worthy of being adored by us, including asking the Mother of God to pray for us. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 Peach, I had no idea that gifts such as yours could still be cause of ostracism and suspicion in this day and age – my personal thought is that because you are able to sense the human spirit and see its need in whomever you meet makes you an even greater instrument of God, because this is what we're ALL called to do when Jesus asks us to love one another. Maybe this is your sign from above to leave this closeminded community so that you can share your gift with others who are more receptive to them? There are places where you will be welcomed, because you are in tune with the Spirit. as for Catholics going to hell ... well, we've got a 50-50 chance just like everyone else, lol. A lot of what we do might seem strange to an outsider, but it's all steeped in Tradition and once you understand where it comes from, it begins making sense. The easiest way to explain Mary and the saints are that they are foremost our prayer partners already enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven. We love and revere Mary because she is the mother of our Savior, and we feel that to petition her for prayer is to have the ear of Jesus, because he loved his mother dearly. The saints are those folks who are tried and true warriors of God, and we don't hesitate to talk to them or ask them for help, much like we don't hesitate to ask our own family members for prayers. A lot of the time, it's not that we ask, but knowing that we have someone to ask for help ... which is a comforting thought. pada, that's pretty dang cool that you belong to the Charismatic movement – I'm more familiar with Cursillo, as my parents are Cursillistas, but I've met a couple of people who are Charismatic, and do they ever have a strong, beautiful faith that they're overjoyed to share with others. outie, I'm smuggling you into my signature! Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 Wow, Quank! I'm honoured. Link to post Share on other sites
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