Godi & Cheiftain

Hello, fellow Heathens/Pagans and friends! My journey in life started as a devoted Christian. I was raised in a family filled with church leaders and priests. I spent most of my life studying and reading theology and often lost my faith within the Christian community but always somehow found my way back to it. This last time, however, was the nail in the coffin for me. When I noticed the leaders around me preaching hatred and bigotry, I knew I was in the wrong place and needed to find answers. I turned to my bible and came up blank, so I dug deeper and again came up empty. So, I turned to other religions and texts to find a faith and a purpose. Not just one I could be comfortable with but one that aligned with my worldview. Heathenism/Asatru/Paganism was the only faith I found a home in, and I was welcomed with open, loving arms.

I have been asked what killed my faith in Christianity.

Ephesians 1:11-12 is the last verse I read and what killed my faith.

11 In him we were also chosen,[a] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. [NIV].

Everything happens according to His will, which means rape, incest, cancer, murder, genocide, and war are all His doing, and the only way to avoid it is to be His and wholly His, yet these things still happen even to the most devoted followers. So, I started to ask God why and got no answer. I struggled and came up with a new question to ask. Why would anyone devote themselves to a God who predestined his most remarkable creations to such atrocities? I found no valid answer, and as our country has grown more and more divided, I've seen nothing but hatred and divisiveness preached by the humans who should be preaching love and compassion, and said enough, there is too much hatred in this world and if we want change in the world and within ourselves, we must take up that responsibility, strap on our boots, and work. Work to make this change and the world better for future generations. I harbor no ill will to those who still believe in Christianity; honestly, I hope I am wrong and your god is real, but if not, I will happily raise a glass and toast with you in hell, not your religion's version of hell but mine because hell to me is a place of love and fellowship, friendship and family, celebration and joy, a place we all gather and enjoy the lives lived and the lives lost.

SKAL! .