Pagan Living Magazine MidSummer 2017 | Page 29

How do you handle the “Good Christians” of the world who always seem to be out to convert you to their religion? I tend to ignore them when in public. The few times missionaries came to my house I didn’t give them my time as they were there for my mom, though I was polite when I did run into them, but normally I just hide in my room and pretend I don’t exist until they leave. “Good Christians” run across campus sometimes and when they won’t leave me alone as I walk by heading to class, I’ll get a little smart with them sometimes haha; but I try to just listen to music as I walk by and ignore them all together. Other than those encounters I don’t see too many of the “good Christians”. The Maiden I really haven’t had any problems with Christians trying to convert me to their religion except when I was younger and it was always my friend’s parents that were trying to convert me. As an adult, though, I haven’t really dealt with any Christians wanting to convert me, I have dealt with Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons. After talking to a Jehovah Witness once and exp- laining everything, I haven’t dealt with any others. With the Mormons, I was dealing with them probably every other month. Even after I explained to them that I’m Wiccan and I’m set in my belief. So after a long day at work and coming home to kids screaming, I had no patience left. Two guys showed up and did their whole beginning spiel, which I let them finish; I kindly told them I do Witchcraft and that’s that. Since then I don’t have any problems at home. With work no one says anything about it, occasionally I’ll get someone that glares but that’s easy to ignore. The Mother There are always going to be haters in this world. I’ve met many on all sides of the fence. What I found that worked for me is to be confident in who I am but remain calm in the process when I politely decline their offers of conversion. Yes, I’ve had issues with emplo- yers, family, and friends but I also reminded them that it was not their place to judge. There was a time in my life where I would ignore the knocks on the door and pretend to not be at home when missionaries or witnesses came around. Those days are long gone. Now when they knock, I open the door with a warm welcome, ask how they are doing on this most lovely of days. It throws them off, you see. They eventually recover and start to go into their speech, I tell them that I am not Christian but that I wish them well. If that doesn’t work and they continue a different tactic, then I poli- tely interrupt them and state the following: Here’s the deal: I don’t go to your house proselyting the tenements of my faith; I don’t try to educate you on the properties of herbs or the importance of the seasonal cycles; and I don’t try to inform you on the infinite powers of the Universe or the love of the Goddess that you are so desperately in need of. I am a firm believer that belief in a higher power is better than no belief at all. If what you believe brings you love, comfort, and joy then I’m truly ha- ppy for you, but it doesn’t do the same for me. Freedom of religion is just that, free to believe and practice in the way that works for you. With that said, I wish you well on your journey and blessings on this day. Farewell. I feel that sometimes, the best approach is to through them for a loop. I confuse many people as they get to know me or of me first, then it dawns on them that I am not Christian. This truly confuses those that have been taught that all are evil if they are not Christian. And Pagan Living Magazine Litha 2017 29