143 - Addressing Narrow-Minded People

This was a topic request on how to handle a situation where someone asks your beliefs and then gets into a narrow-minded, opinionated "debate" with you and is really only looking for trouble.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• narrow-minded
• opinionated
• beliefs
• religion
• spirituality
• pagan
• paganism
• wicca
• wiccan
• witch
• witchcraft
• charliesaysgo
• how to deal

[iLovePlayinInTheRain]

Okay I'm done now :) I love watching your videos but this is my favorite! I don't think anyone could have said it better! I love that you believe in respecting others regardless of what they believe. BB

[charliesaysgo]

@iLovePlayinInTheRain Haha, w00t w00t. :P

[TheJunglechick]

Theres this saying.. If you ask 10 wiccans/ pagans the same question you will get 10 diff replys I think that goes for anyone out there everyone is diff in there own way no 2 people think exactly alike to me there really is no wrong way you know whats right and whats wrong in your heart

[WaterLilyDreams]

"No one is ever right or wrong; they just simply are." Loved this video :)

[MajorArcanaTV]

Most excellent video, Charlie!

[SolitaryWitchTracks]

Great video. :)

[CelticWillowMoon]

I just merely did not want to beat a dead horse any more. The other time, I was told that I worshiped Baal, and I tried to explain to him what my beliefs were and he just kept repeating that I worshiped Baal and was going to Hell, so I dropped the conversation with that person as well. That's all I think we can do once the person seems that they are not listening. If it's a family member, you are right, just agree to disagree. If it's a friend, same. A stranger, just drop the subject and move on

[CelticWillowMoon]

I try not to disrespect peoples beliefs. But when someone tells me what I believe is wrong, it's hard not to correct them, especially when they accuse me of worshiping Satan, when I don't have anything to do with Satan at all in my beliefs. :( So I just try to avoid discussing religion or spirituality all together. I had a few experiences with this recently, once when I tried just dropping the subject, (it was a forum btw) the guy harassed me for rage quitting, (cont'd above)

[sarahdeal11]

Part 2, lol -- also, with regards to people telling us our beliefs are wrong, I've found there's a big difference between people who don't agree with our beliefs (or don't believe in it) versus people who tell us we're "wrong." my bf laughs at my dream interpretations/astrology hobby, but doesn't tell me it's wrong or I'm bad for believing in it. other people have done that, which is so much more frustrating!!

[sarahdeal11]

I love this, and have so many things I want to say in response, there's not enough room! LOL. I love that you and your friend have an unsaid agreement not to talk about spirituality. I had an instance once where one of my close female friends was attacking my interest in astrology (she didn't know I was practicing wicca at the time) by saying "astrology is of wicca, and wicca is of the devil." it set me off. needless to say, i don't talk about that stuff with her anymore!

[jennlabelle]

THANK YOU! :) As I may have shared before, I am struggling SO much with my best friend of 5 years who has just "found" Christianity. She has also suddenly forgotten that I am a Pagan, even though I have been practising for 6 years and have never hidden it from her. She's become a lot more ignorant, negative, and selfish through this religious transformation. Your advice, as always, inspires me and helps me SOOO much! Thank you lovely!

[ShaolinViolin]

I think there's a difference between being obstinate/dogmatic and being opinionated. to me being opinionated just means apologetically taking a stance against conforming on controversial issues.