A Pagan Among the Mainstream Churches in Boise
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 03:41:38 PM EST
The participation by an "out" Pagan in the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force proves that some religions will accept and welcome help from all quarters, in recognition that we are all human.  The glaring absence of certain high-profile churches and leaders in the area, however, speaks to an elitist mindset that seeks only to further political agendas.
My husband and I are Pagans. Not Wiccans, simply "Pagans." Over the years, my husband has been one of the few Pagans (and there are few enough of them in Boise as it is) who has not been afraid to step up publicly to assist in the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force efforts to alleviate hunger in this state. http://www.idahohunger.org/index.cfm

As part of the Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger (http://www.iirah.org/), he has met and made friends with
religious leaders from the area who respect him not only for his efforts to work on the problem of hunger, but for joining the group openly as a Pagan. He counts as one of his best friends a Pastor who runs a food service program in a town with a large migrant population, and every Thanksgiving we participate in serving a meal to the needy. He welcomes our help without proselytizing and respects us for who we are and our common interest in helping our fellow man.

Boise is known for having two well-known Christian activists, Bryan Fischer and Brandy Swindell, who are always on local TV, or writing editiorials in the newspapers on their various "causes."  You will not see their church, The Vineyard (http://www.vineyardboise.org/) on the list of affiliates of the interfaith roundtable.  Why? My guess would be that they are spending their money of promoting themselves and their causes such as restoring a Ten Commandments monument to a public park http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/679797.html
or sending Ms. Swindell to China pre-Olympics to make a display of herself (and get arrested) for protesting religious "persecution" http://www.idahostatesman.com/1357/story/466155.html.

Also conspicous in its absence is another large evangelical church in the area, the Treasure Valley Baptist Church http://tvbc.org/.  One has to wonder why these churches with large congregations, continually in search of new members and new tithers, would not sign on to a humanitarian cause such as hunger relief in Idaho. If a single Pagan can find time and the willingness to work with people of religions vastly different from his own can do it, why can't they? I think it speaks volumes about the true agenda of such mega-churches.




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by Sally on Thu Aug 06, 2009 at 09:12:50 AM EST


yes it would now become little strange about churches with large congregations.

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by contrac on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 08:48:33 AM EST


Agreed! Boise is known for having two well-known Christian activists, Bryan Fischer and Brandy Swindell, who are always on local TV, or writing editiorials in the newspapers on their various "causes." voucher | coupons are more important than ever to people trying to save money on their shopping online.Such as Asda discount vouchers | Tesco Discount Codes | Argos Discount Vouchers | Comet Discount Vouchers all the UK retailers seem to be gearing up to offer us big discounts, offers and incentives to get on and shop. Best Buy Coupons|Newegg Coupons and Musicians Friend Coupons and Kohls Coupons and Sears Coupons  A minute or two online can save you big money.

by Sharon Collins on Tue Oct 06, 2009 at 10:42:25 PM EST


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