I can't ever tell my parents that I'm Wiccan.

[Shadow_Kitten]

I asked my parents today (who are Catholic) if they would support me if I ever decided to change religions (they think I'm Catholic) and they told me very forcefully that there would have to be a pretty damn good reason for doing that & even then . . .

So I guess I'm never telling my parents.

[Sobek]

you gotta do what you gotta do basically. we all have struggles of the sort and acceptance can be a big issue in a persons life. but there comes a time in your life where you wont rely on your parents to live and at this time you will be able to evaluate if you feel your parents will be able to accept it/you and more importantly, if you care what they think of how you live your life, im kinda lucky my mum knows im pagan and thinks it's a good thing but in the same instance, there are parts of my being i know she wont like but you know thats just that, when your able to live without help from your parents you can then live by your own terms and no one elses.

it sucks that your parent dont accept it, but this is what you believe, like you they are just going with what they believe...they can't be blamed for that!

[Sercee]

Piper, I don't know how old you are (yes that has a large bearing on this type of conversation!) so I can't give firm advice, but I think you should keep your religion quiet for now and just randomly ask your parents leading questions about their faith that you can turn into discussions. After a while you'll understand eachother a bit better, they'll know that you think for yourself and have thought your beliefs through, and when the time comes that you are comfortable telling them it'll be that much easier.

[Shadow_Kitten]

I just turned 16 in February. To be honest, I don't really mind that they're against it, I'm just really tired of having to hide who I am. I'm sick of only being able to go on Wiccan/Pagan Websites when my parents arn't home. I'm sick of having to go through my computer's history deleting all traces of these websites. I'm sick of - -Oh, I have to go. Mum's home.

I'm just sick of having to hide who I really am. It's tiring.

[WolfWitch]

I understand. I'm in the armed services. At the moment I am in a command that's okay with my faith but my last one wasn't. When it got out what I was, repercussions came. Especially considering my cheif was a "promise keeper." I'm feeling out my upcoming command to see how they are but I won't know for a while.

It DOES get better. You must only show patience. Remember. This current situation is only for a few more years. Compare this to having the rest of your life to be yourself. Consider it a trial of faith. Something to endure and learn from, then rflect upon once it is over.

Good luck young one.

WW.

[Istaqa]

I doubt i would ever tell my parents not because i am afraid of what they would think but because it would hurt them. Both from strict methodist backgrounds met at church and raised their kids to be the same.
It wouldnt be the OMG pagan burn him crap but by their view they would have failed and i would be running the risk of damnation and both would cause them pain that i think there is no need for.

[merrydawn]

I can definately understand where you are coming from. When I was a teenager, I decided that I was going to attend a Baptist University. My dad (who is Church of Christ) totally blew a gasket! He used to spend hours showing me Bible scriptures that he believed showed that Baptist were wrong and I was wrong just for wanting to go to a college of that religion and he would not support me if I went. Well, I went all four years of college to the Baptist university and my dad only paid for 1 class. All of that over which Christian religion was right and which was wrong.

(I didn't start researching Wicca till I was about 26. I'm 32 now, I definately do not plan on talking with my dad about it after what happened back then. At this point, I feel I'm an adult and I don't need to share everything with my parents.)

I know it's hard and is a real pain to hide your beliefs just because you don't want to cause a problem with your parents. Especially as a teenager, you want to be able to talk to your parents about this kind of stuff. I agree about asking leading questions. This can help open the lines of communication some.

[shedtroll]

OK, I'm the same age as piper (16), and I have two fairly open minded parents. I first remember hearing about wicca when my mum brought home a book on the subject. I started researching a month or so ago. But even so I'm still worried about telling my parents.

I'm worried they may flame me or get the wrong end of the stick, but I do feel that I have to tell them sometime...

Oh, and Merrydawn, that's quite surprising hearing that story...

[Malvok]

When it got out what I was, repercussions came.

represcussions just because of your religion? Depending on where you live isn't that somewhat illegal?

[Sobek]

just because discrimination is illegal doesnt hinder it from happening at all.

[Malvok]

doesn't mean something can't be done about it.

[Sercee]

I don't mean any offense, Malvok, but that's unfortunately very naive thinking and it shows that you haven't had to deal with this sort of discrimination before.

Wicca is a recognized religion (by the governments) in North America but it's not recognized or trusted by a lot of people. Regardless of what the law says, a large number of people fear it and believe it's evil or just plain wrong. Typically (though not always) these people belong to the monotheistic religions who have seperated divinity from the earth, demonized women and created an evil entity (Satan) to punish people who take pleasure in life's processes. Some of these people are downright scary in their convictions. And unless one actually attacks or hurts us there isn't much we can do about it.

[Sobek]

yah, depending on your surroundings it can be a pretty risky thing living outside of acceptable social standards. generally people love conformity and if you dont do it your all manner of "un-godly-ness"

[Sercee]

Definately. I'm very lucky in that I get to pretty much do whatever I'd like. I don't flaunt that I'm Wiccan, but the only time I ever hide it (and by hide I mean put the pentacle under my shirt) is around one set of grandparents. There's an amazingly large and diverse Pagan community in Edmonton, where I live, so it's fairly rare to get persecuted for it. But if I was living in the town where I grew up, or in the Bible Belt, for example, then I would have to hide in the broom closet if I wanted to have any credibility or social acceptance.

[kai]

sorry to ask a stupid question, but i am kinda confused because i used to think that it aint nessecary (sorry for spelling ) to be a pagan or a wiccan to practice witchcraft, or anything related!!