I didn't want to use the word "religion" because I do not believe what I have is Religion rather a way of life. FTR my church is considered Pentecostal.
So I thought we could all ask specific questions of specific "religions or beliefs" that we would like to know more about or have lingering questions of.

I have a few questions to start.
What exactly are the differences between Wiccan/Athiest/Hethen/Pagan?

Why do Jehova's Wittnesses refuse Blood transfusions?

Those are a few things I've wondered about for a while.
Feel free to post questions about things you have wondered about as well.

OK,,,please know I am asking this one in love,,and because I have baffled over this since my step brother went away on his LDS mission...(he is the only LDS in the family, I am the only Evangelical Christian)

What is the point of believing in and honoring a God, following His teaching and leading,,if you (men) can go on to become your own god? If you can be God,,what does that really mean? I just don't get it, because in my faith system, God is a benevolent all seeing and all knowing (the Alpha and Omega) God who loves me dearly, and wants me to love him back and to be in relationship with me eternally,,,but doesn't want to create other "gods" because he is God (the only God according to my faith)...doesn't becoming a God yourself reduce the significance of loving and following, and being loved by, a God?

It doesnt reduce the significance of how much you love God.
The best way I can describe it is its like being parents. I am a parent, my husband is a parent. We want for our children to become parents one day too, to accomplish what we have (and even more). When our children become parents they wont love us any less or lose the significance in the love they have for us. If anything, it will grow even more.

In the new testament when it talks about being heirs we believe that to have literal meaning. Romans 8:17, but I reccomend reading that entire chapter so you can see in in context.

The same goes for being made in the image of God, we believe that to be literal as well.

I personally dont see what the point of all of the work and faith is if we are just going to sit around and praise God for eternity. He knows he's cool. I mean there WILL be that, but that won't be the only thing we are doing.

I didn't want to use the word "religion" because I do not believe what I have is Religion rather a way of life. FTR my church is considered Pentecostal.
So I thought we could all ask specific questions of specific "religions or beliefs" that we would like to know more about or have lingering questions of.

I have a few questions to start.
What exactly are the differences between Wiccan/Athiest/Hethen/Pagan?

.

I'm sure my answer will differ from others.......but here is how I see it.

Athiest: They don't belive in any higher power.

Wiccan: This is (Wicca) actually a recognized religion. (when I get my ordination, I'm going to be "interfaith" but won't have the legal advantage that say someone who is a Lutheran, Methodist, Wiccan etc...clergy. Not sure what those advantages are other than like anti-discrimination and other types of rights....somene else may know more) Wiccan's do (from what I understand) belive in and worship a God and Goddess.

Pagan: To me this is a blanket term to cover all earth based spiritual people. It can also be used negatively...like when I use to attend a fundamental Christian Church years ago, folks would refer to themselves (before becoming "believer") as "when I was a Pagan" and they did not mean earth based spirituality. It just meant "non-Christian".

Heathen: Isn't that a Pagan/Earth based spiritual tradition that is rooted in more Norse type of roots? (asking Anise and or Becca and or anyone else who knows this better than I do)

I'd suggest a jaunt over to Belief net and look up the above terms.....because I'm just sharing how I view and see these.

Michelle

Heathen: Isn't that a Pagan/Earth based spiritual tradition that is rooted in more Norse type of roots? (asking Anise and or Becca and or anyone else who knows this better than I do)

Yeah, the Asatruar refer to themselves as Heathen instead of Pagan. But of course most people mean a non-religious person when they say heathen. THey definitely don't mean Asatru :p