Converting To Paganism

[britbeauty]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum so excuse if I'm not being so clear with words.
But I was born Roman Catholic and christened/baptized when born and went to Catholic schools and yet when I started secondary school/high school, I still felt belief for Jesus and his message but I felt something was missing?

And since becoming home tutored a few years ago, I have in the past year or so, read up more on Paganism since I've always had an interest in it and found it a beautiful way of living. Worshiping nature and spiritual life in itself.

But yet, my whole family are Roman Catholic, except for my dads side of the family who are Church of England. But I have done family history and seen no Pagans/Wiccans in my family. I do like to "label" myself as Christian Pagan but telling my family that would be a different matter. I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

[baduhmtisss]

I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

 
I would suggest browsing around the forums, as there is already a lot of helpful information reguarding this very topic.

[Viv]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum so excuse if I'm not being so clear with words.
But I was born Roman Catholic and christened/baptized when born and went to Catholic schools and yet when I started secondary school/high school, I still felt belief for Jesus and his message but I felt something was missing?

And since becoming home tutored a few years ago, I have in the past year or so, read up more on Paganism since I've always had an interest in it and found it a beautiful way of living. Worshiping nature and spiritual life in itself.

But yet, my whole family are Roman Catholic, except for my dads side of the family who are Church of England. But I have done family history and seen no Pagans/Wiccans in my family. I do like to "label" myself as Christian Pagan but telling my family that would be a different matter. I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

Welcome to TC

You might find the Teen Pagans SIG helpful. Especially the post entitled " Parents and their reaction to your path".

[Gaudior]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum so excuse if I'm not being so clear with words.
But I was born Roman Catholic and christened/baptized when born and went to Catholic schools and yet when I started secondary school/high school, I still felt belief for Jesus and his message but I felt something was missing?

And since becoming home tutored a few years ago, I have in the past year or so, read up more on Paganism since I've always had an interest in it and found it a beautiful way of living. Worshiping nature and spiritual life in itself.

But yet, my whole family are Roman Catholic, except for my dads side of the family who are Church of England. But I have done family history and seen no Pagans/Wiccans in my family. I do like to "label" myself as Christian Pagan but telling my family that would be a different matter. I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

 
Welcome :3 I hope you fing what you are looking for.

[Faemon]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum so excuse if I'm not being so clear with words.
But I was born Roman Catholic and christened/baptized when born and went to Catholic schools and yet when I started secondary school/high school, I still felt belief for Jesus and his message but I felt something was missing?

And since becoming home tutored a few years ago, I have in the past year or so, read up more on Paganism since I've always had an interest in it and found it a beautiful way of living. Worshiping nature and spiritual life in itself.

But yet, my whole family are Roman Catholic, except for my dads side of the family who are Church of England. But I have done family history and seen no Pagans/Wiccans in my family. I do like to "label" myself as Christian Pagan but telling my family that would be a different matter. I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

Welcome!

I just told my family that I'm agnostic and gauged their reaction. It wasn't a good one, so I'm very broom-closeted and trying to get comfortable with faking Christian exclamations.

I used to be deeply conditioned with an dominant Abrahamic society, too, so it was a struggle with how the same thing that I felt was true (because everything outside of me said it was true) was also what I felt was incorrect.

(I wonder if there's a broom-closeted support group on these forums...)

[Philomena]

Welcome!

I just told my family that I'm agnostic and gauged their reaction. It wasn't a good one, so I'm very broom-closeted and trying to get comfortable with faking Christian exclamations.

I used to be deeply conditioned with an dominant Abrahamic society, too, so it was a struggle with how the same thing that I felt was true (because everything outside of me said it was true) was also what I felt was incorrect.

(I wonder if there's a broom-closeted support group on these forums...)

I got lucky as my family was accepting (with them also being Roman Catholic) It's important that you get them to do a little research so they can better understand that it is not a evil practice and that it has high values/principles. I don't think just telling them will help... bring some back up info for them to look into and ask them not to criticizes before they learn a little more about it. Hope this helps

[DavidMcCann]

But yet, my whole family are Roman Catholic, except for my dads side of the family who are Church of England. But I have done family history and seen no Pagans/Wiccans in my family. I do like to "label" myself as Christian Pagan but telling my family that would be a different matter. I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

I'd say take your time and pick a good moment. When we find a belief, we naturally want to tell everyone! But it's not really important for your parents to know and know right now. You'll know then the time comes that they need to be told. At least, with English Catholics and Anglicans, you're not going to get the sort of panic reaction you might get from the Hellfire Ranting Baptists, or whatever!

[veggiewolf]

... I do want to tell them since this is my belief and I do not want to seem offensive in any way in this thread but would like some advice on what you would do in my situation if all of your family were against Paganism and you were Christian Pagan.

 
I operate on need to know when it comes to telling my family certain things about my life.  For example, it was important to tell my parents when I became a pescetarian because I often eat meals at their house (especially on holidays) and they needed to know so they could ensure there was food I could eat.  

However, there are other things I haven't told them because they've not intersected with those parts of my life.  If there comes a time when they need to know, I'll tell them.  Otherwise, I don't think it is necessary...unless, of course, a direct question is asked.

[Redfaery]

Hello,
I was born Roman Catholic

 
*high fives fellow former Catholic* I was born Catholic too, to a family of converts in a mostly evangelical protestant area of the country. I know this is a delicate question, but how is your relationship with your parents? The fact that you want to tell them is a good sign, I think. Trust me, if they're upset, they'll get over it. I came out to my mom as a lesbian at 10. Yeah. At 10. For the next 10 years, she was kind of in denial. Then she uttered the magical phrase, "you've NEVER been interested in boys."

Trust me. Your parents love you; they'll get over it. Since you're young, they'll probably throw out the "oh, it's just a phase" crap, but that's not the end of the world. They'll get over that too.

[Sarah]

Trust me. Your parents love you; they'll get over it. Since you're young, they'll probably throw out the "oh, it's just a phase" crap, but that's not the end of the world. They'll get over that too.

 
I really. really hate this piece of advice and the assumptions it comes from. Not everyone's parents do love them and there are some things some peoples parent's don't "get over"  A lot more people have fraught family relationships than we as a society are willing to acknowledge

[stephyjh]

I really. really hate this piece of advice and the assumptions it comes from. Not everyone's parents do love them and there are some things some peoples parent's don't "get over"  A lot more people have fraught family relationships than we as a society are willing to acknowledge

 
You know, that's true, but there are implications in "I want to tell my family and I care what they think" that would imply that wasn't the case for the OP. I'm an abuse survivor too, you know, but that doesn't mean I assume every parent is abusive.

[HeartShadow]

I really. really hate this piece of advice and the assumptions it comes from. Not everyone's parents do love them and there are some things some peoples parent's don't "get over"  A lot more people have fraught family relationships than we as a society are willing to acknowledge

It is messy.  It's what should be true, but not always the actual truth.

[Sarah]

You know, that's true, but there are implications in "I want to tell my family and I care what they think" that would imply that wasn't the case for the OP. I'm an abuse survivor too, you know, but that doesn't mean I assume every parent is abusive.

 
....I don't assume every parent is abusive? I just don't assume that every parent isn't. And this is far from the first time I've seen this kind of advice here and I think people should be aware that "your parents love and accept you whatever" is far from universal

[stephyjh]

....I don't assume every parent is abusive? I just don't assume that every parent isn't. And this is far from the first time I've seen this kind of advice here and I think people should be aware that "your parents love and accept you whatever" is far from universal

 
The OP seems concerned at hurting said parents. That implies that there is a relationship there. If you'd read RF's post in full before jumping on one sentence of it, you'd know that she was asking based on her own experience. Her experience isn't less valid than yours.

[Sarah]

The OP seems concerned at hurting said parents. That implies that there is a relationship there. If you'd read RF's post in full before jumping on one sentence of it, you'd know that she was asking based on her own experience. Her experience isn't less valid than yours.

 
...I never said it was?