The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

many of us have kept our private life to our selfs, some have come out and told others what they practice and what there blefies are. how did you handle doing this, or do you still keep things to your self ? why did you choose do do what you did?

I have come out of the Broom Closet at work. It has opened some lines of religious discussion and also some jokes but nothing bad.

There are some people I haven't told about my religious practices only because they are so into theirs that other practices are viewed as bad. I do this because I have a daughter and do not want to cause her grief.

Most of my family and friends know that I am pagan and have accepted it, in fact, some even ask for tarot readings or advice of some sort.

It feels great to have it out in the open with those close to me. As for the community I live in, they don't need to know and if it came down to me telling them, I would do it in as peaceful as a way that I could.

With my family, we were sitting down talking about ghost hunting and I started telling them. It felt great. My parents already knew, I've been a pagan since my teens. They love me just the same.

It's not easy being Wiccan and working for a very visible, long time business in this area. You just can't announce your beliefs and think no one will mind. My bosses know,and they asked me not to "display" anything that might be controversial, and I have agreed to that. Thus far no one has seemed to mind, though on the one day I wore a very small pentagram necklace, someone did ask me if I were Jewish. lol.

I haven't really had a problem with because I currently do not have a religion. I just haven't decided what's best for me yet, so only time will tell, lol. I do admire the courage and strength behind those who do have to deal with sort of situation, tho!

i'M A WHORE THERE I SAID IT. LOL j/kj/k the honest answer I can give here is that I've always been me no matter what ppl asked I told, when i first started practicing magick, sex, BDSM, and other things like being Bi or lesbian I mean it was always arround me I would be surprised if none of it wasn't an influence in a young mind.

I've told ppl b/c they've asked i didn't just have the burning need to tell anyone and I'm always honest w/ ppl when they ask a question I give them an honest answer b/c I wouldn't want to be lied too so why lie?

My husband and I and my son...we don't have any religion really - I mean, we're not into church type things...and we live in the South - where almost everyone is Baptist.

So one day we're at the post office - and we have this big diesel dually truck - and my husband is a big guy in camos and a white t-shirt - and we see this little old lady all dressed in going to church clothes - but she's stuck at the post office on a Sunday with a flat tire. So my husband changes her tire...and she tries to give him some money...and he goes - "keep the money and give it to someone who needs it" and she askes which church we go too - because she'll give it to our church. And my husband says - 'we don't go to church - we don't believe in helping churches, we believe in helping PEOPLE." and she says....'well I'll pray for your souls."

I wish I could have flattened her tire again.

I take it in terms of how much I would want someone else to talk about their beliefs to me.

Would it irritate me to see what someone believes plastered all over their walls whenever I visit?

It would probably make me a little uncomfortable and then I would be wondering when they would start giving me a speech about it.

So I'll be tasteful, maybe reserve the heavy stuff for a more private room.

I also don't talk a whole lot about what I believe or follow. I don't appreciate it when someone else goes on and on about what they believe. So why should it be ok for me to do it?

If you follow what you believe, and act like it's not big deal, it isn't.

well i have always been honest with my family and friends, the funny thing is that they all never belived me about what i said till some one would snoop in my stuff then tell every one blown out of proption things lol,

my husband practices things that are close to what i practice, i am just more darker in my arts by nature,

i don't talk about what i am in the work place because they are more into the thug life then what i am into, including i am into the bdsm life stlye

I keep certain things very private because I trust no one to the fullest extent. Perhaps only my immediate family. I've been hurt too many times in my life and great pain lies in me that I will never shake.

As I recall I kept it all pretty casual, did'nt make a big deal about it and if anyone else did I considered it to be their problem not mine.

When i told people they were confused cuz i am sweet and nice and they never saw me liking such things.. I am sweet and nice mind you but my love of the vampire culture is just who i am.. granted i am not a blood drinker.

Well at work it havent been any problems because it is all kind of religions represented there , Some are christians , some are muslims and i and 1 more are satanist. it is some atheists to. The weird thing is noone arguing and yelling on eashother for it even when it have been a number of discussions. I guess 1 reason is sweden is kinda open. My mom went abit worryed at first when she realised i am a satanist. But she accepted it when i explained it abit more. Ok im not the one who go around the world and scream out my belive but if someone ask me i stand for my belive.

I am an Escapist, with an interest in Taoism. I avoid anything based on Sensationalism. Though as a hedonist I understand the role of sensationalism.

I'm a Christian(I guess. I have a lot of beliefs, so it's not typical Christianity), and I feel as though I have to hide my faith from all of my friends...Christian or not. It's a very sad thing; everyone who has a belief system WILL be judged. No doubt about it.
I've come out about it to a few people. Some people handled it better than others...Some were curious...some never wanted to talk to me again.

Oops, forgot the last part =]

I decide to keep it to myself until I know that the person won't judge me for it, or until I'm questioned about it. I decided that because I never want to seem too "in your face" about it, and sometimes, being open about your faith can be interpreted that way.

well me persanally i came out of the closet
about my persanal life because i got tired of
being fake and i wanted to see who was my true friends and who was not.if your friends still stay your friends even after coming out of the closet then there worth keeping if not then i say fuck them and there not worth keeping this goes the same with family members as well.
see once you come out the closet people around you
true colors will show.

I got tired of hiding. I cam to realise that there is nothing wrong with me, nothing to be ashamed up. So I told the ones closest to me of my practices and my beliefs. They can support me or not, but I am being true to myself, and living my life. Living for me, not the idea of someone elses of what I should be

When people place their beliefs before our friendship, then I usually distance myself from them. I like to know what a friend believes, but I am cautious of their intent if they seek to press their faith on me, even using loaded questions that their faith has to bring up dogma, in every little daily activity, I figure that is my reasoning for becoming an Escapist. I have seen friends (Christians) that trash other denominations, the in fighting is terrible to watch, I can understand why the keep their faith to themselves, even among others of their faith.

I never had a problem discussing my religeous beliefs with my family. There are, of course, members who don't agree just like I dont agree with them. but I was never "in the closet" with my beliefs. As far as work or social activities it wasnt a big deal either.

Timing plays a part in who I share my beliefs with. If I just met a person and they are already sharing their beliefs, I am stand-offish about sharing mine, or my lack of belief.

I use to be very open about my religious beliefs and still am i just am a lil unsure and what i believe anymore....

I will say that im Christian but that doesn't mean that i can't have fun and all i like the dark side of life just as much ^_^ but i don't hide what i believe and just because i believe that there is a God that doesn't mean i don't beleive that there is magic and that you can be reborn after you die... i guess im a little creative with my belief and don't really go by the bible which i have never read lol

I've never told my family about my bi sexual proclivities, nor my adoration for BS/SM, my best friend knows. It doesn't matter, its not what defines me. I've never classified myself as any, or either. I'm just me. Thats it.

I am out and open about it I am a vampyre and proud of it I dont not hide it, alot of pepole fear us i hope to change that alot of people think we are like the movies but we are not. i handle it the same way i handle everything else if life some people will love me some will hate me but i really dont care because those that love me will always love me and thats all i need.

I have a very good friend that I use to work with and she shared her Wicca beliefs one day with a co-worker. She had the next day off, and what she had confided in him...he made known to every one and ridiculed her for it. I did tell them to shut up if they can't say these things to her face.....And the pretty quickly did. I was raised Catholic and receive a little bit of ridicule for it here and there, several of my friends are Wiccan and we've never had any type of problem over religions. My heart goes out to anyone who goes through religious persecution.....we are supposed to be out of those dark ages!

not all know of my dark side..its kept a secret kinda..the ones who know are the ones who can handle it...

I tell some and to some others I know they won't understand and I keep it hidden. I choose to do this because It's what I think is right and no one can tell me differant

People know I practice magic… there more surprised im on a vampire site.
I play it low key at work as the bosses are Christians… im in a bible belt….

Coming out of hte closet was one of the worse and best things i ever did in my life it allowed me to live my life the way i was and accept it and than i also knew about waht consequences were to come from it though :(

hhaha great topic....
I have ben out of the closet for a long time so long I dont remeber when i jumped out, my family doesnt condone my way of living, but if i listened to what everyone told me me i would have to be, i would be a very differnt person. I let NO ne persuade me of my life style choses. And I fiercly, fight for my choice . I have gone to bat at school for my neice several times because they have told her that she is not allowed to wear her Pentgram, necklace. And it is never a pretty site. I hold no reservations with anyones choice of religion. Just be yourself follow what you believe and let no one persuade you differently

well i have come out of the closet of a few thigs, I told my strick catholic parencts that i was wiccan, my father hit the roof but my mum was fine. i was with my frist girlfreind for 2 motnhs, but my mother worked it out, my father died no the wiser. i think it is important that who you are telling will be able to understand

Really my mom's the most understanding person in the world. I could tell her my hair's on fire and she would tell me well if that's what you want to do. Not literly of course but you get what I mean. When I told her I was Wiccan, she smiled at me and asked me to tell her all about it.

I had attempted to tell my mother one time about my beliefs and things that were happening to me and she completely dismissed it. She was like all in dismissal saying that i am a christian and all that. I have my own beliefs. so i just decided not to try again. It made me feel horrible.
And it happened before that when i told her i was bi. and well she didnt like it at first but then she was okay with it for a while but now she is all your not bi...you dont act like it and stuff like that.

to be honest i haven't seen the need to express to anybody who knows me the extent of my beliefs. my god happens to be a very private deity, he does not wish for acclaim or worship, only for love.

others worship him, but they do so in many different forms. i feel completely at home with him, and when people ask me what i believe, i tell them what he would wish me to.


he's helped me since i was a child, when first felt his existance, and i have loved him ever since.

so you see- i will freely expres my beliefs, i just will not go into detail.

suffice to say, they all think i'm a little weird lol!!!

I Have came out the closet to my family about my beliefs and they freaked when I told them I was pagan searching for my correct path but that I was drawn to Wicca... But I plainly told them they could not tell me what to believe in anymore..

Really doesn't apply to me. I think everyone has a secret.....except me. I don't have a secret. I am an open book. The only thing I did that could go with this topic is I told my 2 best friends I was gay in the 7th grade. They didn't even care lol.

i'm a fairly private person so i only tell people i trust my secrets. i don't think i would ever tell someone who is ignorant or someone who is closed-minded because i'd just end up hitting them in the face. i hate stupidity and so why should i even converse with someone who is stupid and closed minded.

I do not tell everyone about my beliefs and practices because I still fair the ridicule that could come from someone with an obtuse way of thinking(small-mindedness). Every person in the world does not need to know every little detail about me. Besides, certain aspects of oneself can make you feel more powerful if you keep them to yourselves. You know what makes you happy, what makes you tick - shouldn't that be enough? *smile*

I look at motive, it is my nature to ask why.. I ask why tell a friend, what purpose does it serve to share ones religion, aside from proslitizing.. I know why I like to have an idea of what a friend believes, I will post it in my Journal, but before I post it here I would like to hear what others come up with. Sorry to raise a question in a thread, but I think it will explain something rather interesting.

Wow honestly don't remember when I came out of the closet with my beliefs. Some of my family understood and some did not. Though it is what I want or feel to be true to my heart so their thoughts really didin't hurt me on it.
I do agree with GypsyoftheGreen's statement though. Be who you are not matter what anyone else thinks. Be true to yourself.

My family did not understand, but know I am a Witch because when I was younger and lived at home I had an altar in my room. Most of my friends are Witches and have been for years. I wore a pentacle at work and clients as well as staff asked about it and I confirmed I was a Witch. I never have had anyone question my belief or attempt to convert me.

most people did not understand and some even tried to harm me for my beliefs, but i strongly encourage people to stand out and thats what i did. i didnt care that i was different, didnt care what other people thought because i knew there were more like me who would embrace me instead of discourage

My religion really isn't that "dark" or "weird" I'm ecclectic with mostly existentialistic views. I really just come across as a laid back person that will listen to your POV and accept that you are what you are, but not want to become it myself. I've come across many close-minded people throughout the years, and I've learned when to keep my mouth shut. My own grandfather won't conduct my wedding ceremony because I'm not a christian and neither is my fiance. So things have been hard, but I've always pretty much just been able to be myself. I don't preach, and I don't like being preached too, but I love theology and debates on Christianity and my opinions on the religion. I like learning about other religions. I like studying them. I guess you could say it's a passion, but overall, it's really never been a problem for me to express myself. It's just something I'm good at.

I am still in the broom closet. I live in the Southern Bible Belt and it would not be a good idea for me to profess that I follow the Wiccan path! I would surely be "persecuted". I wear my pentacle conspicuously and have stars everywhere in my front yard. I have people ask me what the stars mean and I ask them, "What do you think it means?" I don't know if Wicca will ever be accepted in the mainstream, and I don't care. This is my path and if it were not for websites that I belong to, such as this, I would feel a huge disconnect from the pagan community.

BB All, ~*V

I keep my beliefs to myself unless I'm asked. Other people don't really need to know otherwise.

I agree with you there. Telling people your thought and beliefs can lead to such heated fights/arguments. people are so very close minded.

hell no i came out soon after i started living my life the way i do it was hard but i wont hide me

i have come out to my family and close friends but i try and keep it all quiet ouut of those circles

i don't really think it's a case of 'hiding' when somebody chooses to keep themselves private, not in many cases anyway.

a lot of people simply don't have the courage to be what they are in the public eye, others would indeed be persecuted for it. the question is, is it worth it?

the only opinion that matters on my beliefs is that of my own

i am proud to be what i am, it is OBVIOUS to all who see me what i am, but i still keep some secrets. i just don't see what i could gain from making myself so open to people i don't really give a shit about !!

well its jest some thing you avenchly have to do so you migt as well do it and git it done

they are either going to except it or not, you don't know till you tell them

I am lucky to have a few good friends who believe in the same things I do, so it was easy to come out to them.... but my parents wouldn't understand my being a vampire, or that I practice witchcraft, so it's no use to even tell them.

My fiancee and I both believe in the same sorts of things, so being who I am is very easy for me.

I keep things to myself, because It is waqy to confusing and difficult to involve others in it. I live a confusing life...and my practices just prove it...SO for me its best if people stay out of it...

When I had decided Wicca was the path for me...I came out. I was surprised at the people who also either knew people who were practicing Wiccans. I remember a neighbor came in and the way my living room is decorated, I have a kichen witch, moon and stars, etc. I have statues of the Gods and Goddesses in my living room. She siad ooo you still live the hippie style. I just smiled. A week later she returne and said you are a Wiccan. She works at the hospital and had became friends with a couple of Wiccans. I thought I would share this short story. But I have never ran into anyone who spoke ill of my beliefs. Even tho I don't have a sign that says on my forehead that says I am wiccan.

My beliefs are mine, I hide nothing from others, I work and have a house and no one has done this but me, so I donot except critisism on points, they accept or I move on.

I tend to live my life like an open book you could say. If someone were to ask me something I'm not going to keep it a big secret because that in many cases that causes bad air as far as rumors and sorts. In all I'm not ashamed of who I am and if you dont like it dont be around me. It fills my space with people I actually like.

i live in a very conservative area, but that doesn't mean i haven't been open about who i am and what i believe.

however, i don't feel the need to share myself with the general population. usually, those i come in contact with regularly, are quite aware of my spiritual beliefs.

some have asked questions and i have answered honestly, or i have volunteered a little information in conversations that revolved around religious/spiritual topics.

Dark whisper posted,

I agree with you there. Telling people your thought and beliefs can lead to such heated fights/arguments. people are so very close minded.

I find that people that press their beliefs upon others use this phrase closed minded, to place themselves above another person, like they have acsended to a higher understanding of something, it is a pathetic phrase, comparable to Christians telling you your heart is hardened.

How can people assume that those they are sharing with , have not been on the same path before? What does that say to your open verses closed mind theory?

How one expects others to respond to sharing your beliefs is important as well. I find that some people share to see how likely you are to listen to them talk about nothing but their faith, and they expect you to be entuised as they are at every moment during their sermons.. some even hope to press you on a point of disagreement within the faith, arguing interpitation.. etc. this is not limited to religion it is in the triangle
of converse bogging topics Politics, Sports, and Religion. A notcth above small talk topics actually, the only purpose to share ones religion? well then I have an idea for that. There is a reason to know. Do you have any idea what that is?

It is actually surprising when you come out, the amount of people you knew before that come out as well that you had no idea they were into the craft. :)

I personally have told most of my family. It was tough because they were all hard core christians (or so i thought) and I was afraid that they would be so disappointed in me that they would disown me like they had recently done to my cousin, who came to them and letthem know he was a practicng Satanist. However, I drew courage from him and told them of my practice in the art of Celtic wicca and they accepted it as who I am. I hae not yet told my grandmother...

I am open with everyone for the most part in everything I do if I know them. If they have an issue with it the it sounds like a personal problem on their part.... I haven't come across anyone that has bothered me about who I am or what I do. If friends can't accept you for you then they wasn't really friends. if family doesn't accept you then they don't deserve to have you as family. Family and friends are supposed to be there to support you and if they can't do that then they should leave you alone to the other people that really care about you.

I am still hoping to hear any post on the application of sharing ones faith/path/what one accepts in place of beliefs/ etc. with those closest to you?

Me, personally, I have come out of the closet at work, school, and online. I haven't however, came out to my family. My immediate family, are very strict christians who would have me commited, and shun me away from my two smaller sisters, whom i couldn't live without. My grandparents on both sides, plus all my aunts and uncles would shun me and keep away from me. I could take it at work and school, but with the family, I just don't know what i would do.

personally, i don't really have anything to "come out of the closet" with. my life is pretty straight forward and boring. i generally do not like to talk about myself, but if someone is genuinely interested, i will tell them what ever they ask about. (so long as it is about me and not someone else)

however!!

my brother is gay. he had to undergo the arduous task of "coming out" to me and everyone he knows. he had come to terms with his sexuality in high school, and had suicidal thoughts. this was 1991 when in my town the current derogatory terms of choice were "fag" and "queer." he told our parents everything, and they sent him away to a mental institution for a while. whether or not this was to address his suicidal tendencies or an attempt to "correct" his homosexuality has never been revealed, and no one in my family ever talks about this.
my brother did not offfically come out to me until years later, but i found out on my own before hand. he had left a typed letter to an old friend on the typewriter i needed to use for school (yes, an actual typewriter. dawn of time in the 1990s before we had a computer). it was there, and i read it, not knowing what it contained. i could not believe what i had just read. at first, i was stunned. then i was just mad because he was coming out to his friend in a letter before coming out to me. then everything made sense. the mental hospital, everything, and i knew he was probably scared to death. i didnt know what to do with this new information, so i pretended like i hadnt read the letter (hey, i was in junior high! what do you want?) and made every effort to put forth signals that i was not a homphobe and that i love my brother very much. when he did come out to me, i was busting at the seams and said "FINALLY!!!"
in that time between reading the letter and the actually coming out i realized that my brother was my brother no matter what and that this is who he was right along. we always got along very well and had similar tastes and his being gay wasn't going to change any of that because he was gay back then too only i didnt know it. if anyone needs to "come out" to someone for anything (sexuality or religion or whatever), this is a fact that should help them "deal" with whatever youre coming out about. you're still the same person they've always known.

also, the friend to whom my brother wrote the letter turned out to be gay as well! you never can tell that who youre coming out to maybe "in the closet" over the same issue as you.

Well hell I have been out for a long time, except with family and well that all came about in the last 24 hours
not a pretty site .
but i swtill have several friends in high ranking jobs that are still ion the closet for fear of losing their jobs

You know, some people can tell who is hiding something, or not saying something, but some can't, and i like those who can't, because they probably wouldn't take it well anyway.

I originally came out of the dusty broom closet full of spell books and candles on the internet. Actually, it was on Myspace. I'd always known that my beliefs weren't quite "Christian" as I was lead to practice, and so, after researching various beliefs and what not, I simply used the process of elimination and figured out what I could be chategorized under. At first, I was rather afraid to tell people, thus the coming out via Myspace. I was afraid that all of my "Christian" friends would think of me badly, which wasn't completely false. I didn't actually come out vocally until my best childhood friend started to "bash" on my and one of my other friends simply for the fact that we were not Christian. It really hurt. Just because I didn't practice the same beliefs as him anymore, it was as though, suddenly I wasn't good enough for him, though, after explaining that it hurt my feelings, telling him that, the friend I grew up with wouldn't dare say anything, or judge anyone in that fashion, did he realize his wrong doing. He apologized, but still, we are on tentative ground now. We hardly talk. I've learned that, I chose this belief system, Wiccan, and that, since it is my choice, NO ONE has the right to look down on me because of it, so now I simply let people say what they want to say. I choose to hang out with the people who befriended me for who I am as a person, not what I practice.

when I came out of the"Broom closet", many people started treating me like I was the devil but I am still glad I came out, I didn't want untolerant people around me anyway.

I've been very open to my friends and family about my Universalist beliefs, although it was an awkward moment at the dinner table when I told grandparents (Baptists) that I was no longer a Christian.

As far as the dark/gothic lifestyle goes, most people know about it, but I never give details unless someone is truly curious.

I'm glad more and more of our kind are coming out about is, because soon enough, there will be enough people out and enough known about it that it may be acceptable in most venues of society.

wel, you see, i am in a military anti-terrorist unit on the Navy, and one day show up and say "hey guys, did i mention i am bisexual?"it not he smartest thing to do....
one they will kick me out, two if not, i would not be exacly welcome.

even thou it a new law that would let us be open about our sexuality some were this year, and then we would see how it go.

and dont even think about tellling them i am wiccan!!! they are mostly cristians on the high commands.... i would surely not be trust it, but that why i am on the law enforment field, to change things, and thisis one i will work to it. specially since i am getting sent to cuwait soon.

I never went in a closet so I never had to come out of one.
My mother was open about it. I am open when people ask I feel I have done nothing wrong. Why should I hide who and what I am since I am not supernatural but just a person trying to survive in today's society. I feel comfortable being open and feel that if someone wants to know they will ask.

If people ask me I'll tell them. Otherwise I don't see why they need to know.

When I came out of the closet with my religious beliefs, My father, a practicing cathlic, basiclly disowned me.
My mother on the other hand, wasn't quite as assholy as my father (never mind the pun)

IT all depends on who you tell. and what you are telling.

I am who I am. No apologies and no need to hide from others who I am. Although I must say that I am mostly a private person who doesn't believe in broadcasting all of my belief to anyone and everyone.

I agree, with those of you saying why do they need to know, because really its no ones business but your own.

If people wanna know who and what I am I tell them if they are interested in listening. I dont feel the need to hide any of my good or bad points. If people judge me for it then thats their problem.

There is no coming out for me. I have had my beliefs for a long time, and they tend not to be controversial.

I am who I am.

If they're not contraversal, what would be to fear about coming out about them?

Well i believe that its th person and if you can trust in those around you then jump right on out !

Some people come out just to piss others off, and get a rise out of others that have dominant faith issues. If a person comes out about their beliefs and the people they come out to are not "shocked" or indifferent, there is a chance they will go more far out and claim something fringe.

Once again I notice that religion, politics, sports,preference, and philosopy are all
pressure points with people that like to push buttons. What gets me is that people are could careless about there friends and families beliefs.. so much so that if one witness the dying moment of the other they would miss a moments passing. Then they will fret over the "Destination" of their person that passed. Pathetic.. very pathetic, some of the undertones I am reading here..

I think the reason for that would be that some people's beliefs have them hope that others will end up where they are. Some of their beliefs make them feel the need to worry about the damnation or salvation of anothers soul [if such truly exists] or where they go in the afterlife.


If it were not for such people this world would truly fall into a full blown anarchy [in a way].

My opinions,

To most who cliam to be 'coming out' it means getting attention, whether you're true (whichever path you follow) or not.

Most often, those who are true to their craft (regardless of their path) are silent.

An hier of mystery never hurt the craft.

I started exploring paganism to get back at my mom back when I was young. She raised me to be very Christian and I resented it greatly. So with her, I have always been open, at first to piss her off, and now because I won't hide anything from my mom.

I accidentally stumbled into Wicca and now that it is what I practice, very few people know. I live with 2 other witches, and obviously they know, no one else really though. There's no need to tell anyone at work, they don't care, and since almost all my family is Christian, I wouldn't want to upset them.

So really only my friends know. If they deal with it great, and if they don't then they aren't good friends. I prefer to keep it to myself.

I share my beliefs with those I am close to and to those people alone. I stand up for them if they are being challenged but I only share more of myself with those people whom I've formed a bond with.

I tend to not discuss anything that I practice or believe in with strangers unless specifically asked about something.
It's the difference between people knowing you by your actions and you carrying a sign strapped to your chest with a list of things you do or do not participate in.

Some people know some of my beliefs, but noone knows exactly the path I follow. It is my journey, my experience, and my life. I have spent many years studying religion and do not feel it entirely necessary to explain my beliefs to others.

Everyone has their own beliefs, even within a religious sect. We just have to learn to respect those differences.

That's also a good point...tolerance.


If someone is known for discounting all beliefs or practices that they don't participate in..then telling that person anything about your beliefs is a wasted venture.

The worst ones are the ones who push their beliefs on you. I have the respect to know that my beliefs are not those of the populous, and am not going to force them to follow my ways. People who do not have that same respect in return make me very acrasial indeed.

I keep things to myself cause in a small town like I live in it is not a good thing to be different.I know I am different and I really don't care what others think but I still keep to myself,guess its just the way I am.

Well said Nista,

I actually will not share with people that claim share ideas with me, the reason being that most people once they find that you are a believer like them, or have a philoshopy in common with them, will talk about nothing else. I have witnessed friends mention their Wiccan beliefs, only to be responded to with challenges to their devotion to the path, when people pump others for specific details, I can only wonder if they are not substituting studying the actual faith they proclaim. Like the person that gets a book on Zen, looking to catch a Buddist Monk of guard with some Obsurre docterine.. very annoying people those ones.

But this is not limited to Religion I should point out, the small talk comes like this in Sports, Finances, and Politics as well. Because you claim to be republican .. does that mean you want to sit and talk about your position for an entire Bus trip? Just because the guy next to you indrodused himself a "Hi, I'm Bill, I am a republican." ?

For me, a" private life ", is just that" , PRIVATE!

"Coming out", (be it whatever you are, think you are or believe in ), just sets you up for potential ridicule. What ever happened to keeping things to your self? I mean who really cares anyway, unless your going to be intimatly involved with someone? Even THAT can be tricky. Is "bearing all" to the world some sort of power trip for some?

Just a thought.

I believe in being secure in who and what you are..and being proud of your choices and views. I just don't believe in being loud about them.

I've always felt that I get farther by choosing my battles.


If asked I will give an honest answer..that applies to all things. If someone doesn't ask...then I assume that they don't want to know bad enough:P

I've told just about everyone I know except my family because honestly they just couldnt handle knowing the truth...I dont hide who I am from anyone I meet either because its never good to start off by lying to someone you just met

I've generally been open with my thoughts and beliefs. It's cause a few of my friendships to shatter over the years, but people sometimes grow apart. It's life...

I have never hidden any part of myself from people.....

When I revealed any part of myself, i dealt with the consequences....

Most people accept me for myself.....

a few have refused to accept parts of myself... and are in denial over it......

Some people can't accept anything except what they believe is reality.... and I pity them for having closed their eyes to the world around them.