Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Being a Pagan in a world of the Religious "Right"

i'm not a political person. i vote, but i don't get all mired in parties and sides. to me, it's all a big popularity contest, and the one that gets elected simply had enough money thrown at him to buy the best campaign and the nicest suit. i don't have tv either. hubbs and i got rid of cable in our budget cuts, and we had a digital antennae for all of 18 hours before it went back to the store. the only reason it lasted that long is because the cowboys were playing. so put those two things together and you can tell i'm not the most up to date super informed newsie out there. most of my "news" comes from friends facebook updates and the odd news web page a'la cnbc, cnn, foxnews, etc.

but i've been noticing a theme.

the ultra conservative christian "right" seems to hate (and i don't use his term lightly) anything and everyone that is even slightly different than they are. i know it's human nature to fear the unknown, but most people at least try to not want you dead. you know, little things like that.

but there were people threatening to burn the Koran. this is a HOLY BOOK!!! i dont care if it's not YOUR holy book, it's still A HOLY BOOK PEOPLE!!

several different Christian groups on about a million different web sites are proclaiming that the First Amendment applies to Christians only. excuse me? "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." where exactly does that say 'oh that's just for us christians, the rest of you heathens, go screw'?

there was a website for a church in the south that reportedly had kids turn in their parents for witchcraft, and though it DID turn out to be a joke site... it really didn't seem like something that far fetched, you know?

and it's not only in this country. in latin america, south america, and africa people, even children, are being killed after they've been accused of witchcraft. and i have yet to hear one christian entity speak out against it. even the president spoke out against the Koran burning. but i didn't hear ONE christian body of people say a word about this .... murder.

it almost seems like the religious "right" is trying to spread out and wholesale destroy everything that is even the tiniest bit different. i guess i kind of always knew it was like that, but i never realized, or didn't pay close enough attention as to how serious and how ballsy they were being (seriously, have you seen Glen Beck? somebody's been drinking the kool-aid!

and how long before it gets much, much worse?

bullying pagan (and perceived pagan) students is already rampant. when will it become assault? murder? when will someone call CPS on me because of my faith? will they take my children away because i believe in both a god and a goddess? when is it going to happen that the same church that wanted to burn the Koran will condone to take me from my home and stone me to death?

and if i seem very paranoid and gloom and doom... that i may be. but i'd rather be paranoid and wrong, than blindsided and taken to a re-education camp.

**admittedly, i've watched "v for vendetta" about 20 times, but seriously, watch it too and connect the dots!!**

6 comments:

  1. Girl, you KNOW I feel you. I think about the same things sometimes and I'm content in the broom closet.

    But you know, right after I saw That O'Donnell Woman's latest ad, I also wanted to come out with a video. I would say, "I'm a witch. You've heard a lot of things lately, but none of them are true. I'm YOU. I want to raise my family in peace, watch a little college football, and avoid having people connect with bloodstained altars."

    Hi. I'm a little pissed right now.

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  2. we recently moved out of the south because we didnt want to be surrounded by the religious right anymore. i love all kinds of people and know full well that not everyone is going to agree with me or believe as i do, but a lot of times you cant even have an open dialogue with these people. its frustrating and its scary.

    that church that wanted to burn the koran was not far from my house in gainesville. im so glad im not there anymore.

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  3. I understand where you're coming from, but you also have to understand that not all Christians and other religious groups believe that way. It's just that attention is given to the extremist groups, the abnormal of the norm. Plenty of "religious" people have not a single issue with those that are different from them. :) I sure don't.
    -Lori

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  4. I'm not an extremist and I rarely listen to the news (it's all slanted one why or the other) and I live in the South. I'm Christian, but I've attended various religious faiths. I was raised Baptist, but baptised Catholic and now attend Episcopalian service. I love reading about various faiths and cultures. I'm not one to judge and won't push my faith on someone else. I'm sorry for the treatment you have received or that others have received because of being a pagan.

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  5. Oh! The top comment about that Odonnell woman- "I'm not a witch, I'm you"- Um, no, cuz if you were me, you'd be a witch, proudly.

    I've noticed the same thing. I notice how the pledge has God in it- and we all know what God they are talking about. All the new legalities towards marriage that are being pushed are all about Christian "morals", and quite frankly, are stupid.

    I made a decision because this was pissing me off as well. I have very little to worry about, so I came out of the broom closet. I'm a substitute teacher and I wear my pentagram to work. I also tell kids when they talk about witches as a myth- that there are real witches and I think they are nice. I'm not doing a lot for the pagan community but I feel that every little bit helps and by representing myself as a witch society might come around and be more accepting.

    some little girl the other day said "Blessed be" to me and I almost passed out :)!

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  6. I've noticed the hate spreading across all mediums and genres... even memes on Pinterest are pretty disturbing sometimes. I'm pagan and don't shout it from the rooftops, but I too get disturbed by this close minded mentality. :P

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