If you knew your child's teacher practiced witchcraft, would it matter to you?

I agree with you. Thank you for your response. + Smiles, DL

Couldn't have said it better myself. School isn't a place to teach religion, so long as thaty remember that there's no problem.

Well sort of, remember I put that word twist in their for a reason. I believe in a Solitary path where your religion is shaped by a belief that is founded in truth. There is much I could say about what I believe and how religion should be taught. There is a process that you can go through to come to my understanding or you can listen to the teachers, ALL of them with the voice of truth and reason that can lead you to the knowledge to know peace and blessings beyond human reality and reasoning. Okay that is written as a complete contradiction, but the truth of GOD is a single truth, and understanding is simple, if GOD is at the center of your heart and mind, and if GOD is there then that is where you are when in the end there is nothing more but peace and glory, a fantastic life story... A job well done... Peace and Blessings, Sincerely, Gary

"Wow! You got some great responses, I understand your question and agree a whole bunch with the comments made above, but we can't hide our religion or put what we are in a closet and expect that it will remain there." I kind of disagree. I grew up in a small town in the US Midwest that was very religious, but we never once discussed religion in school. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, and that was it. Religion didn't come up as a topic in school and teachers never alluded to it in any way. I think that is as it should be.

Gary, Interesting idea for sure. From what I have seen of kids my children have had as playmates, I think many kids are parroting what they witness at home and really have no clue what any of it means, but are taught - expected (by example maybe) to be "holier than thou" (for lack of a better term), disrespectful, intolerant, and judgmental of others without even having something valid (regarding the religious choices going by a different name than theirs) to go on. Is this sort of along the lines of what you were thinking?

LOL yes - I think it would certainly cause some commotion and yet the only real difference between saying "I'll include you in my next ritual" or "I'll pray for you" is just a different set of beliefs. As I don't share either beliefs I would object to both statements.

Stiletto, I strongly agree with your statements. I have had a school counselor tell my daughter she would "pray for her". I know it was probably meant in good faith but my questions were...what on earth did she see as a reason that my daughter needed "praying for" that no one ever shared with me, and in my mind, it was no different than someone saying they would include my child's needs in their next ritual spellwork...but to say something like the latter to a child in school would cause (I think) an awful commotion and potential outrage.

Thank you Raven, I agree with your views. Plus, DL :)

Evan, after thinking about this for a couple weeks I have to agree that school (IMO) should focus on academics. Spirituality, if any, should be left out of public schools. Plus, Thank you, DL :)

Your post reminded me of a slumber party/bonfire I attended at the home of one of my classmates (along with other friends) around the age of 12. The child's mother (I didnt know this or what it was called at the time) followed the pagan ways. She taught us about colors, aura, life cycles, and many other things in such a way that was non-threatening to anything we already had in our minds, and at age-appropriate levels. I remember being sooo fascinated that I could never put it out of my mind completely for all the years that followed. I was fortunate to have a Mother who did not place restrictions on me regarding what was "not ok" to learn about with respect to spirituality, and never implied that it was better to not use my own brain in order to simply follow the ideas she laid out for me. She happened to be Atheist but never made me feel as though it was wrong to be something other than that. It's so good to hear that you did not experience any sort of disrespect for your beliefs, and that you are willing to share them when others ask.

My mom was a white witch, but never talked about her faith to any of us kids. She always kept it quiet, and forced us kids to go to church even though she didn't believe in the church herself. About 3 years ago she started talking about it to me, because she knew I had become pagan with all the books I was ordering off Amazon. She has even taken one of my books and won't give it back, because she loves it so much. I was also a registered Boy Scout and Cub Scout with my other 2 boys.

I think you are my first agnostic respondent. Thank you for your insight. :) A plus.

Yes, I agree with you, thank you. Plus.

Thank you for your response, I agree that if a teacher is doing a good job in educating, then it should not matter. I'm not sure if you meant that only pagan ways should not be part of school or if any sort of religion should be left out of the classroom? A plus, thank you.

yes, odd...maybe WitchVox has something. They seem to be right on the ball (no pun intended, lol). If I find anything I will post to your thread...

I definitely agree with you...yes, my child did experience having Christian or whatever bible-based religion put to her from a public school counselor and I did not appreciate it in the least. My daughter came home and said, "Mom, she was really freaking me out". Of course we will NEVER see a Christian teacher/staff member fired, nor even reprimanded for "imparting their faith" upon our children...how two-faced is that?! Thank you, a plus. PS, have you heard any updates regarding the outcome of the rally on July 4th? I have searched the net but found nothing in the news yet.

Nope haven't heard anything about the rally ....did a look last night on sites, but nothing--strange in a way--would have liked to find out how it went too

Thank you, I would also wonder how my child knew the religious preferences of his or her teacher. Plus.

medical doctors did have training. they were however very expensive, and not easily availiable. most villages would have someone who knew remedies and midwifery. she (or he, but if it was he then he wouldn't be involved in birthing) would not in most cases be a Witch, although some people may have considered it bordering on Magic. the Witch hunts in Europe did not in fact target Pagans. and it wasn't on anything like the scale people imagined. victims, like the rest of their community, would have been predominantly Christian, as that was by far the most common religion at the time. the Witchcraft spoken of in the trials was not Pagan in nature. and wasn't in itself a crime. people were not punished for practicing Witchcraft UNLESS it was used to cause harm. the punishment for causing harm by Witchcraft was Hanging. and the men and women hung for Witchcraft were not Pagan.

Very insightful input, thank you barehugs. Plus, DL :)

Yes I agree about separating church and state, though it seems people are trying to further integrate it (as in presidential campaigns to gain popular votes etc). Not sure how I missed your post up here before, sorry for the delay in responding. A plus. Smiles, DL

Very good points regarding maintaining separation between church and state and school curriculum. I have seen some Christians worry that demoralization will result if the concept of a Christian God is not somehow included, or if certain signs are taken off of public buildings, etc. It is a valid concern, however, I know personally that morality exists whether a person follows a certain religious path or not, and can be taught to children without the influence of any religion backing it up...usually done through fear tactics.

why should the personal religious beleifs of anyone in authority even affect your children. I doubt my friend who is a Witch and teacher, that her pupils even know. why deeply upset? what harm would it do them. Pagans are not evangelical, and as I said, they are unlikely to even know through their behaviour. you'd only find out through gossip. they certainly wouldn't try and push their beleifs on the children. and what exactly do you mean by "such things"

Sorry I haven't been back here in a while...I have been building a new website and wah community...anyway, I'm sorry to hear that you are unfamiliar with the truth regarding witchcraft, paganism, etc, to the point that it seems to "worry or frighten" you. I have to say that on more than a few occasions my children were very upset to have had such things as Christian beliefs pushed upon them by authorities in the public school system. I'm glad you are able to homeschool your children, that must be a very rewarding experience.

I've read through many homeschool texts and was very disappointed. They were all Christian based, and they got their facts wrong. Anyone going from homeschool into college will be dropping out unless they learn about seven years' worth of school in a short amount of time. No matter which homeschool place you look through, be assured that 98% are Christian based. I have not even found a normal homeschool company yet.

I'm happy to see that many hold the same views that I do. Thank you for your response. Plus. Smiles, DL

Thank you for responding. That is what I am wondering...how many are not ok with it, why, and what they would do if anything? I'm not sure that it is right to say that it "would bother Christians" or that "Christians believe anything not of God is of Satan" as a blanket statement. I know many Christians, even on MyLot who are not judgmental about others' choices and some even understand that Witches and Pagans are not evil and want the same things that they do. Thank you again for your response. Plus.