On Community

An ongoing dispute in the Pagan Community is just that: Community. What makes us a community? What (if any) are our goals? What can the individual group, coven or solitaire do to aid the community? What point do we draw the line on groups that claim our banner yet are neither Pagan nor do they serve as an asset to our Community?

For those who are plain just disgusted by the "$19.95 witches" then I hope I can allay your worse fears by saying that Wicca, while still a "counter-fad" to many people is growing beyond that. In a few years time most of the "fadders" will have gone on to the next "counter-fad", but a few (1 out of 10? maybe) will remain to become serious practitioners and valued members of our community. It is a sad fact that Wicca and Neo-Paganism attracts its share of freaks, degenerates and sexual predators. This harms us. The reluctance of people to take a stand against such individuals, while somewhat understandable considering our history as a persecuted group, has reached the point where political correctness and apathy is harming us. To quote Issac Bonewits, "The enemy of our enemy is not our friend". This applies to Satanists as much as those would profit under the banner of Paganism. We all know of merchants to display the Christian fish icon for economic purposes who are no more Christian than Star Hawk.

A warning can be given to those new to the Craft who are impressed by props, robes, and someone knowing a few Goddess names. Some people who claim the title of High Priest or Priestess are little more than sexual predators, and I do not use that term lightly. These people are plain out scum. They have no moral code and prey upon the unknowing in forming little cults based upon their "knowledge", which is usually nothing more than having read a few books (usually the worst ones). These people are not Pagan. Even some established groups are not immune to such things. There was a MAJOR controversy (to phrase it lightly) about one particular HP of a MAJOR longtime group and sexual initiations with under-aged females in Atlanta about 5 - 6 years ago. I do not personally know if the allegations are true, but I do believe that the particular HP was at minimum careless about the appearance of impropriety. Whether or not he pulled a "Clinton", I do not claim to know.

If intelligent knowledgeable people want to incorporate sex into their rituals, and are open about it, and let other people know that it not the norm or that it is a form of Tantra (there are VERY few Tantrists out there) not Wicca, well... the Karma Sutra has been around for a few 1000s of years and it IS powerful magic. I know and have worked rituals in such a form, but not as an orgy, but as two thoughtful knowing witchy adults using sex to raise energi to an incredible height for a specific purpose. But that requires a learned basis for entering into the ritual - not ignorance or game playing. Unfortunately that is rare.

For those who fear that community means a letting go of individual freedom or local autonomy by the creation of a centralized political power structure, that is called bureaucracy. We, who are the Elders of tomorrow must be careful not to lay the groundwork for such a structure to take hold in the future - think about 100 years from now; the early Christians would be appalled by the bureaucracy that now characterizes Christianity 2000 years later, but they didn't have the historical perspective to think about it; we do. It is important for us today to state that a centralized power base is neither our intention nor our goal. Bureaucracy is a danger that we must watch for and one all too common in many groups and covens. However, a total lack of organization on issues of concern, from the rights of pagan parents in divorce cases and other government proceedings (such as Child Welfare Departments), safety from discrimination in the workplace and in home ownership/renting, the rights of Pagans incarcerated to practice the Craft as a bona fide religion, harms us and threatens us as a group, as families, and as individuals. Organization on the smaller local level is imperative and badly needed.

It is my opinion that Community stands for a means of gathering our strengths in a mutually beneficial way. Not by telling others how to worship or how their rituals are wrong, but by encouraging others in open discussion and face-to-face gatherings, by giving to the overall community we can give ourselves a community that we can take strength from. We have to look for the commonalties of our celebration of the Lord and Lady not our differences. This has to come from a grass roots level. It has to start with the single person. It starts with education, both within our community and to the outer world. That also means coming out of the "broomcloset". I recently spoke to a group of Social Work majors at the local University I attend about Wicca and stressed that it is their job to be open to those with different religious ideas from their own. It means getting out and supporting such things as Pagan Pride days and local festivals. It means letting your government know about your concerns politically. It means attending local school board meetings. It means taking a stand. It means fighting the "Hollywood" image of the Craft that is the mindset of 99% of the general population by substituting our very real and very human faces there.

I didn't say it would be easy.

Eugene Chapman aka Tramanor
November 7, 2003

---

Listed below are a series of articles, open letters and essays dealing with this subject. If applicable, the original url is listed directly below the title. The purpose of this page is to generate discussion in our community on this VITAL subject. Please note that some editing took place on the two eList posting I have included. I have added nothing to them unless it is denoted by brackets or was simply a spelling correction. I have removed sections. These posting were not written with this page in mind but were in response to conversation threads which were already active.

My thanks to those who took the time to review my essay and those who agreed to contribute to this page. God / Dess Bless.

Make a Difference - Pagan Education Network

Open letter from Patrica Telesco (noted pagan author) as seen on WitchVox

Community - Essay by Storm Bear Williams

Community - eList Posting from Lord Balamrond

Responsibilities - eList Posting from Stephanie

Community - Essay by C.C. Busch

 

Make a Difference

The Pagan Resource Network http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/madiff.html

The Pagan community needs you. We need your vision, your strength, your hope, your joy. We stand on the shoulders of giants. We breathe the gifts of the Gods. Each one of us can give back to our community. Here are some suggestions for ways you can make a difference:

* Make a commitment to the Pagan community. In ritual space, meditate on what it means to be Pagan and who your spiritual teachers have been. How have those who have gone before made your present path possible? Ask your Gods for guidance that you may be transformed through love, service, and respect. Make a commitment to the community, whether it's to your worship group, an organization, or a particular cause.

* Participate in Pagan culture. Subscribe to Pagan magazines. Join Pagan organizations, whether worship- or activism-oriented. Donate to a Pagan community or scholarship fund to support your fellow Pagans in need. Put your gifts and skills to the service of the Pagan community.

* Support Pagan leaders. Pay administrators for services rendered. Recognize work well done. Offer encouragement and support, not just suggestions for how it could be done better. Develop leadership within yourself. Work magic for Pagans in need and encourage other Pagans to do the same.

* Participate in the Pagan economy. Support Pagan business, not just the stores but also the Pagans who offer services or goods for barter or cash on an informal basis.

* No more Witch wars! Commit yourself to responsible conflict resolution. If you have a conflict with someone, try one-on-one discussion. If that is unsuccessful, seek out an impartial mediator. Do not take the problem to the public. Take responsibility for your conflicts and develop your ability to resolve them.

* Commit to attending at least one Pagan festival, conference, or other gathering per year. Explore what it means to be Pagan, not just in the safety and privacy of your ritual space, but in the living, breathing world that is contemporary Paganism.

* Come out, come out, wherever you are! Redeem the ashes of those who have gone before and claim your birthright of freedom. You will find strength you did not know you had. Your relationship with the Gods will grow tremendously. You will gain self-respect and pride in your people.

* Participate in interfaith dialogue and networking opportunities. Pagan views on the environment, sexuality, and childrearing are all needed in the public sphere. Your organization can join with other faiths to sponsor a public forum on any of these issues. Encourage respect and dialogue among all faiths.

* Share your vision of what it means to be Pagan, and where you want the movement to go in the next twenty, fifty, or one hundred years. Set aside ritual time to visualize our healthy future. Clearly visualize the world you want to live in. Breathe life into this vision. Call on your Gods to assist in its manifestation. In so doing, you give birth to your own potential.

Get up, get active! You can make a difference.

 

Helping the Medicine go Down?

Patrica Telesco - Pagan Author and lecturer
Website: www.loresinger.com
First Posted on WitchVox: August 18th, 2003

After reading the many updates at WitchVox this week, I found myself sad, confused, and downright angry. We have a community that will argue over where to put an altar, split up entire covens over a private matter, and support a pay site while complaining about a FREE service that gives 200% every day of every week. When exactly are we going to stop acting like spoiled children and become a REAL, supportive, and honorable community?

You know, I'm tired of the bad guys winning, but I then must ask myself why does that happen? Perhaps it happens because we're too busy trying to righteously dictate another's path, sticking our nose into people's private business, trying to undermine a respected teacher due to personal jealousy, or have 90% of our "community" fussing while the other 10% does the real work. Meanwhile the "bad guys" just go on successfully doing what they do best while our attention is elsewhere. Sound wrong? Imbalanced? Unfair? Destructive to all we hope to achieve? Then in that case you're probably among the 10% doing the work.

This is the truth of what we're facing -- no sugar, no cookies, just black and white reality. In Shamanistic traditions the term medicine represents the vital force of the All, and the natural order of things. Individually each person's medicine equates to how they heal and comprehend. Similarly, in a community our medicine is how we will comprehend our ills, adjust our intention, and create a whole new pattern -- the pattern of wholeness.

So what exactly supports this "medicine"? Well, firstly we must recognize that the community's problems didn't just suddenly appear. They've been perpetuated under the guise of perfect love and trust for decades. Love is earned. Trust is earned, and perfect love and trust is only an IDEAL since humans, by their nature, are NOT perfect. The word pagan need not equate to "pansy" or "victim."

Next we need to see that things like hard-heartedness, bitterness, lack of closure, doubt, petty jealousy, and other similar human issues also affect our wellness. Face fear and transform it to become courage. Face jealousy and turn it into respect. Face ire and turn it to wisdom.

In short, the medicine to fix our community ills isn't very sweet to many pallets. It means putting down our egos, stepping off the pedestals, swallowing false pride, and getting very, very serious. Do we or do we NOT want Neo-pagan belief systems taken seriously (for that matter, do WE take our beliefs seriously)? Do we or do we NOT want freedom of religion? Do we or do we NOT want to support those individuals and groups who truly serve with respect, honor and gratitude as a guide?

Folks, these aren't trite questions -- they're important, and they've been swept under the rug for way too long. What's even worse is that those who should seriously read and ponder these ideas won't even bother. Yep, I'm willing to bet my pen that those of you nodding right now are also among the 10%. The rest have no understanding of why some faiths survive and thrive -- it's because they've created a viable, supportive community focused on cooperation, not one-upmanship. The phrase "the good of ALL" has to mean something to us, or we will fail. We will become no more than a passing paragraph in the pages of history.

So, consider this a challenge. Right now, right here ask yourself[:]

• Why you walk the Neo-pagan path. Is it to frustrate family and teachers?

• Is it to try to gain power and influence people? Is it to manipulate or gossip?

• Is it to have a weekend hobby?

If you're in any of these groups, please do all Neo-Pagans a favor and go away. It is people like these that undermine every good and noble thing our community accomplishes (and sadly also those that the media always seems to find).

It is time to begin drawing lines in the sand of our reality. What we do NOW, TODAY, and I really mean this MINUTE could make or break our future. It is time to make hard choices. It's time to work. It's time to remember.

 

The Shifting Sands of the World Pagan Community
Written for this page by Storm Bear Williams

It is obvious to say that being Pagan is not easy. If you find yourself as a Pagan leader, the path is even more rocky.

Paganism has had its rough centuries. We all know about the sport of witch-killings that burned bright across Europe not that long ago. To this day, Pagans still find themselves the targets of bigotry, hatred, abuse and sometimes being chased by people with murder in their hearts. Yes, in this so-called enlightened era, Pagans and people accused of Paganism have been murdered. But that is the exception, not the rule.

I think it can be said that the middle of the last century marked the resurgence of Paganism. Even though it is the world's oldest religion, it is almost like having to restart our faith all over; rebuild from the ruins of Church sponsored murder and oppression.

Some say that the Pagan community number in the millions, more than Jews and Muslims combined. They point at the rapid consumption of Pagan related books and materials; the Gross Domestic Pagan Product as it were. By looking in a bookstore, the shelf space dedicated to Pagan topics easily out distances all other religions except Christianity.

Others say that there are only a few hundred thousand Pagans in America. If that is true, who is buying all those Spiral Dance books? My guess is that we are in far greater numbers than we even expect.

Another reason I feel our community is much more sizable than we imagine is what we see happening in the community itself. We are beginning to see the maturing of older Pagan-centric groups, some are disbanding and others consolidating with yet new, never before seen endeavors popping up.

When the web was young, there was ONE and only one Pagan news site; Witches' Voice; now there are a half a dozen. Pagans have their own political activist group; the Pagan Unity Campaign now in their third year. And my circle is now planning on building the first (well, in our lifetime) Pagan parochial school; Pendragon College. Go Drakes!

Our community has its ups and downs. Witch Wars still do flair up, but I think the frequency and intensity are not what they were in the 80s. Also, twenty years ago, when a Witch War happened in a community, all area Pagans were involved. Now it seems that most areas have multiple working groups and some do not know about the other. So when a War erupts, all the Pagans living in the area are not disrupted.

We are growing. And in a reflection of our shared Pagan heritage, we are growing in a very organic and healthy way. We are gradually finding our path. Some of us take large steps that are initially painful, but one by one, we all take those steps. But all of this happens in a naturally occurring way, evolving without the constrictions of a centralized theocratic bureaucracy.

I remember when opening a Pagan-centric store could bring down the wraith of a whole state (this still happens from time to time) but now you can usually find two Pagan stores in an area, plus the Pagan sections of Barnes and Noble. I remember the controversy of the Church of the Iron Oak in Florida, now lots of Pagans have rituals in their homes routinely. I remember when we opened the Pagan Unity Campaign amidst a scandal of using politics to secure our already-granted civil rights for Pagans. Now Pagans send hundreds of thousands of cards to Congress several times a year. And let's not forget the firestorm of calling Paganism positive, life-affirming and Earth-centric. Now even the news media thinks of Paganism as a positive, respectful spiritual path.

All of these were painful pin pricks, but needed in the greater growth of this global community called Paganism.

And our road continues as the river flows.

Drink Deep,
Storm Bear

 

Community

Originally posted on Yahoo eGroup by Lord Balarmond - Wicca_New_Orleans_
Note: Some editing on my part has been done.

First, I think people that abuse the Craft and their Priesthood should be strung up and locked in the stocks for public display. I think that anyone who abuses their Priesthood or the Craft in general for any reason.... obviously lacks the ethical fiber that most of us have. I feel that we should all talk about it and bring out the wrong doers and what exactly they do wrong. ... but not in a gossipy letter to letter or phone call to phone call kind of way..... Get EVERYONE together at regular general gatherings of the local tribes and let it all hang out. This could both backfire.... AND.... be one of the most productive things that has ever happened in this community.

I think the Craft is within our souls, our hearts and within our humanity.... and ONLY there.... We seek out others and groups... because that is part of our nature as human beings.... we desire companionship....

BUT....

Companionship and abuse are two VERY different things in this light.

Hold on folks.... this is where the ride starts....

We have some in our community who are reticent and wish to sit back and avoid the line of fire... and let others set the examples of being public "arse-holes" .... well.... that's cool..... But, I feel that unless we DO discuss these people that are abusive and that wantonly and willingly do harm to others..... without conscious or a second thought to the Rede or law of three.... then the abuse tends to continue.

Yes, I took oaths and vows while obtaining levels within my Priesthood... but, I think the general community is AWARE now of what many of those oaths and vows are. Becoming part of the Priesthood within the Craft usually finds us not wanting to have any part of.... or looking down on these types of things. We are asked to not play part in the drama... and are often told that by not addressing these types of things.... that they will tend to just "go away"..... Go away? Let's get serious.... For me, this is an antiquated notion that was created by our Elders who were comfortable and did not have to deal with the likes of ill-willed people we have in this community.

I think it is wise to consider changing the standard course of operation.... meaning, not to rely any longer on simply obtaining opinions from well known or respected elders of the community and trusting their confidences.... not to remain autonomous - per se... rather, when these people stir.... make it public. Make it give them the attention they desire and crave.... but not with the results that they were seeking. When they cause harm. SAY it... when they step out of line... pull em to the mat.... each and everytime.... and show them that they will be known by the examples that they live by and set. On the other hand, if they contribute, make positive changes, etc... honor that.

We have all talked about the problems that [some] "one particular group" has caused.... but look at it. Do we act on it? Beyond personal conversations here and there, not to much from my sites. ...and why? why is it? because our laws dictate that we should not harm???.... These people KNOW that *we* honor a rede and they USE that against us.

Because one decides to embrace the word Witch.... does not make them a Witch.

For those of you who do not know me.... I'm on a rant.... sorry.... but I am no better than anyone else.... I feel that if a person goes to the bookstore and picks up a book on the Craft and wants to call themselves a Witch that this is wonderful. I love it when people find that this path is well suited for what their life has always shown them.... because that person read the book and feels that they are a Witch now make them a Witch, yes..... if that is what they believe. Are they less a Witch then me because they have only been on this path for 5 minutes? Nope..... Because I have dedicated my life to the Craft does not make me anymore special or better than any Witch on any level.

BUT.... these people are not Witches.... at least not in my view. To be a Witch means that you have embraced the God and Goddess and traditions of our ancestors and that you live by the Rede. That you honor the Earth and life.... and follow the Wheel... and that you embrace the mysteries of life... all life.... and that you do not harm or cast against others... or force your will on anyone....

Do ya know what I think a REAL Witch is....?????

a REAL Witch lives by exemplary standards and ethics....

a REAL Witch does not walk on eggshells but walks with the firm support of our Earth Mother... never living in fear... but never abusing THAT privilege....

a REAL Witch talks the talk AND walks the walk....

It is hard.... VERY hard sometimes to let the Craft breath through us... to be one with our Gods.... but as Witches we strive to do this.... we are Witches, but, we are also human and so, we are never perfect.... if you are perfect then you are dead and should pinch yourself.... you might just be a Deity now... lol ....Perfection is something we strive for... to make our lives magickal and LIVE the Craft that we embrace. Thinking back, I remember a conversation that I had early on with one of my teachers.... She told me that I should never have to fight to embrace the Arts.... instead, it should be something that comes as natural to me as taking a crap (she had a sense of humor).... as breathing.... as blinking..... as loving.... as dressing in my favorite clothing.... as seeing.... as hearing.... as wanting.... as needing..... as loving.... and as living.... because that IS what the Craft is.... it is NOT some flight of fancy.... the Craft some interesting side line freak show that we come and play with.... it is something sacred within our souls that we connect with on a deeply spiritual level.... and that we know, instinctively, is right for us.

Trust me when I say, that my life and everything that I am is dedicated to my Deities, my Craft and the Arts Wicca. Everything. And when we embrace this path... we have responsibilities. Responsibilities to ourselves, our Gods, and our Craft.

The people that are causing problems within our community have not one ounce of knowledge or base for anything that is REAL. Period. Because one reads a book and learns a bit about the Craft does NOT make them a Priest or leader within the Craft. Nor does it give them the ability to direct the paths of spirituality for countless others. These people are taking people OFF this path by their repugnant actions and behavior.

In this case... they developed a fascination with a small amount of knowledge of what they learned and then, unfortunately, turned it into a sociopathic behavior.

Let's look at that for a sec.... sociopathic..... I want all of you to understand exactly what *I* mean when I use this term. For me, sociopathic means that one is amoral and does not care about others. One does not care for ones self. One lives fear based. One does not care who they step on or what they have to do to get ahead or what they desire.... they simply do it.... without second thought... and one holds no principles or standards.

I learned in school that the book definition of this term includes that it is a "personality disorder".... and to that I say - Bull-ca-ca....

While the individuals in our community that cause this harm tend to have a psychopathic personality.... with no guilt as to whom their violence or acts of harm to others might effect, I do not for one moment believe that they are not in complete control of their decision making abilities. THEY ARE NOT MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.... they have an excellent command of the English language.... as evidenced in the MULTITUDE of colorful emails that I have personably received from them.

So now we must look at free choice and free agency and their ability to maintain control of themselves and what they do....

These people do what they do.... with full knowledge.... and just don't care....

I believe that somewhere they heard, read about, watched a movie.... or for whatever reason came in contact with the Craft. They liked the thrill of the first appearance.... and instantly thought that this could be a catalyst that could give their otherwise drab and meaningless lives some color....

Bottom line here folks, as shown, I believe these things should be open and public. We must aggressively seek to protect the integrity of the future of our Craft, it IS our responsibility. I (like others) wish that this would all just go away.... that they would find out the the Craft IS hard work, dedication, and something more than a game.... but folks, it ain't gonna happen. These fools have been at this game far to long now for us to think that they are just going to take off.... give up.... or quit.

I feel we must focus on methods to deal with them effectively.... and educate and protect what is behind us.... our children.... and the future generations of our Craft.... I don't feel that we can rely on the young ones of the Craft being able to make the decisions for themselves.... that is not what I'm taking about.... when you get a guy or girl that has just freshly fallen off the turnip truck and is new to the big city.... and has no clue as to what Wicca is.... and these people step in front of them.... I mean.... that is just a frightening thought.

I pray I have not offended anyone here. These are my true and honest feelings.

Balamrond....

 

Responsibilities Concerning Pagan Community

Originally posted on Yahoo eGroup by Stephanie - Wicca_New_Orleans

I've been pondering about what our responsibilities are concerning Pagan Community. I think building Pagan Community is a serious must do, however there are some in the greater Community who I think harm the greater Pagan community by their lack of ethics, cultism, etc.

When a well-known Christian leader such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggert, pedophile Priests, etc., makes a serious faux pas, many non-Christians (including myself) think "Ah-Hah, phony arse", etc. Of course at the same time, the true Christians are appalled and worry about how it reflects on the greater Christian community and with just cause. Where do we draw the line between respecting the autonomous nature of Pagan groups, supporting their right to be autonomous and speaking up if we perceive wrong-going. Now that's the tricky part... perception.

I've been back in the Craft since 1992, and a real eye-opener it has been for me. In my first 8 years back, I did whatever I could to support the greater Pagan Community. I'm a much more conservative now than what I was then. I've come to realize that any organized Pagan groups can/will usually have the same problems as Christian Churchianity has. Egos get in the way. And sometimes cultism presides. I'm not directing this conversation toward any particular group at all, it's just something that I've been thinking about.

I think that the very autonomy of W/P/W/H groups lend richness to the tapestry of Pagan ways. I'm just concerned about where we, as individuals draw the line as to supporting the Greater Pagan Community. It is particularly distressing to see "pagan" groups use the faith to get sex. Good Gawd, I'm from the tail end of the Hippy generation. We didn't do the "make love, not war" thing for idiots to have to use faith to get laid. Free sex has been around for almost 40 years now... those who are looking to get laid need to remember that instead of declaring themselves a Grand Witchy Poo-bah in order to get laid.

 

On Community

By C. C. Busch
Mississippi State Chair for Pagan Unity Committee

Note: This essay is written as an individual of our community and does not necessary represent the purposes or views of the organization.

Perhaps, when we wonder about the state of the Pagan Community, we might ask ourselves the following questions. What is the place of the Pagan in this country? Why is it that Pagan Americans should be actively involved in working and “fighting” for religious equality? What is it that we as Pagans, share with people of other faiths in this country, including the Christian Americans? Why is it that many Pagans feel that it is just enough to show up for a festival or Pagan Pride event, or to belong to an “on-line” Pagan Group, and not to look at and work on the whole picture? These are only some of the questions that I have pondered on more than one occasion.

In the short time that I have been actively involved with the Pagan Unity Campaign I have noticed that many of the other Pagans that subscribe to the various on-line groups associated with this Campaign just do not seem to “get it.” They are completely uninvolved beyond participating in only some of the campaigns organized by the PUC. If you visit the PUC yahoo group for Mississippi, you can see the complete lack of interest and involvement by the vast majority of the subscribers. You will see that they honestly feel that by subscribing to this “on-line” group that they are doing all that needs to be done, they won’t even become members of PUC National, they just “lurk” in the group with a certain sense of anonymity.

I think that we as Americans have forgotten the root of the reasons why our founding fathers created the system of government that they did. I have heard, and been told, over and over that this is “a Christian nation, that was founded by Christians” and that this is “one nation under God,” or that “in God we trust” is our national motto. Have we forgotten our American History? I mean this is like High School stuff here, right? Or have all Americans just become too complacent about what has really been going on here. I wonder, am I the only one that sees it or remembers their High School History classes? Honestly, why should we believe for one minute that Religious diversity should be an enduring strength in America when it has been the reason why many nations have “torn themselves apart” in civil wars over? We only need to look at these nations to see exactly what the problem is… Catholic fighting Protestant, Islam at war with Judaism… a lack of understanding what we as Pagans claim to subscribe to, what our rede clearly states, “Live, and let to live.”

I believe it was Thomas Jefferson that coined the phrase, “separation of church and state” because many people of his time felt that God was missing from government. Yet since this declaration many “revisionists” have wished to interpret the Constitution to fit their own religious beliefs. If we look at the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli, which was initiated by George Washington, signed into law by John Adams, and ratified in Congress by many of the Framers of the Constitution, we can see that it clearly states that the United States of America is in no way a Christian nation. Check it out for yourself, Article 11 of the treaty states, “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion…” What should this mean to us as a Pagan Community? To me it means that we have a right to have a Pagan Community, and that we as non-Christians have a rich American heritage that is worth protecting and fighting to maintain. I mean, with the faith based initiatives being enacted by certain members of our government, the acts that permit employment discrimination based on religion in programs such Head Start, and with the recent bill to restore religious “freedom” presented on August 1, 2003, we as Pagans should now more that ever be lining up to “stand up” and be counted.

In 1782, Thomas Jefferson, in his work notes in Virginia, wrote, “it does me no injury for my neighbor to say that there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” It would almost appear that Jefferson understood the diversity that was to come to this nation in the future. Our national motto was once “e pluribus Unum,” meaning, from many, one. We as pagans should keep that in mind as well for we are from many different paths coming together to form a single community, our Pagan community. Through this line of thought it would also appear, to me, that Pagans have the same rights and responsibilities to their community as any other minority in this country and should not have to be fearful of the repercussions of being openly Pagan. I feel that beyond acting as individuals attending Pagan Pride events, Pagan festivals, or “coming out of the broom closet,” that if we do work together towards one common goal, i.e. religious equality, we can hope for a better future for those that come after us. Perhaps the Pagan Community of the America of the future might revel in its infinite diversity and finally understand from diversity comes the strength that makes us who we are both as individuals and a community

---

Suggest This Page

If you entered this page by an outside URL, please click the link below to go to my main Index page.