How can we show people Wicca and Paganism is actually good?

Question

I don't know if most people actually know about this, but I hate how Hollywood and some Christians have given us Wiccans and Pagans bad name. What do you think we could do to educate the world about Wicca and Paganism and that we don't worship the Devil?

Answer 1

You won't

Christianity has had almost 2000 years experience in creating anti-pagan propoganda, and you will never compete with them.

Show people that you are a good person, and don't make a big deal of your paganism unless they bring it up.

Answer 2

I can't blame Hollywood for the image... they are in the business of producing fantasy. It's not Hollywood's fault that people can't tell the difference between fact and fiction. Christians who spread that type of information about Pagans are only doing what they do best... Lie. And they don't care if it's a lie. It's always used to make their religion look better (though in all actuality, it's not much different than ancient pagan cultures).

The only thing I know to do is to make sure when speaking about Paganism that I have the correct information and not give in to stupid arguments over whether or not Pagans worship the Devil. It's a childish argument and doesn't lead anywhere, so it's best to leave it to the "children". The only advice I can give is to study the history and know what you are talking about when the topic hits Paganism.

Answer 3

We need to organize a little more. I'm not saying create more dogma, but at least a better support system and information network. Instead there are thousands of people who contradict each other. The Pagan/Wiccan community needs to stand unified even though within our community there lies different belief systems. We need to show support for others. Almost every other major religion holds major charity events and has information centers to give valid information.

Most new Pagans, have no idea where to go for information, nor does the general public. This is something that needs to change.

Answer 4

Honestly I think you start small. Trying to change opinions on a very large scale will really do nothing but frustrate you. Start within your own inner circle and the people you deal regularly with. Once those that are closest to you understand what you practice and that you are not an evil person they will be more likely to tell someone else when the subject comes up that Wiccans and other Pagans are not what they think they are.

Answer 5

You are free to worship any way you like. To a Christian though, doing anything in any other name than Christ or glorifying God is heresy. The people of Germany thought the Third Reich was good too. Doesn't make it so (about paganism and wicca) in the eyes of a Christain.
I'm not saying you aren't good. I'm just saying that it's not for me like being gay isn't for me but I don't hate them or you.

Answer 6

It is a shame that Wiccans and Pagans have been stereotyped to be devil worshippers, because it is nowhere near. I don't know how you can educate the public, but maybe see about maybe some radio talk shows or getting out in some venues like that? But be prepared for bible thumpers.

Answer 7

It drives me nuts too. I watched Merlin over the weekend, and how terrible! They made the Pagans out to be really weird. It was like a freak show. Creepy! Not to mention the fact that they had their folklore all screwed up. (Queen Maeb was a mortal woman, not a Goddess, Faery or anything special, just a warrior Queen. And Gnomes I believe are Germanic.)
At any rate, I don't think we need to show people anything. I think we should write letters to people who make horrible movies like that, perhaps. (I for one am dreading the remake of Wickerman, we shall see.) And we should set up Pagan charities and stuff, but in order to do that, we will need to unify a bit, and Pagans simply will not do it. Trust me, I've spent years and entirely too much money in the attempt only to be chastised, and then I see questions like this and realize how very important it is for us to unify. It doesn't mean we have to organize for crying out loud. *sigh*

Answer 8

I'm of the belief that we shouldn't. Personally, I think it takes all the feeling away from it.

So what if the world doesn't understand? Imagine a world where everyone is Wiccan? And not like Harry Potter, but like Silver Ravenwolf. "Today, we're going to cook magick. It's not going to work instantaneously because it's like a prayer, but it'll work, I promise. It's a spell to make your carpet be easier to clean"

I think we should let them keep thinking whatever the hell they want, they're missing out, so what? No one's keeping them from doing a little research! It's all over the Internet, you have to be closing your eyes not to see it!

I think we've done too much already. Wiccan and Paganism are supposed to be intimate religions that gain its meaning in the fact that people want to be there as opposed to having being talked into it by a guy in a suit after watching a football game. As opposed to having being converted.

Let people miss out! Let them do their sabbaths like Gatsby's parties, who cares? Ours WILL mean something.

Answer 9

I don't think there's a way to do it. Take, for instance, this place right here. Did you NOT just say that we don't worship the devil and we're not bad? Yes you did. YET, people either ignore what you've just said, read what they want, or read what you wrote and SEE what they want. Even saying it here, and people are STILL answering with "god good. devil bad," and quoting from the bible about how wrong Witchcraft is.

They're not truly listening. They are too narrow-minded and blind to anything else but their own religions. So, no matter what you say, they won't "see" it. Do you know how many times I've written here that we DON'T believe in satan? Millions of times. But no one truly "sees" it. It's a lot like talking to someone who has been brainwashed. No matter what you say, they're still going to answer and think the same way because that's how they've been programmed.

Hollywood makes us look like evil beings who worship satan because that's what brings in the money, and the only thing Hollywood cares about IS money. They don't care about who's toes they step on, or who's backs they have stabbed.

We know we're not evil. We know we don't worship satan, because WE DON'T BELIEVE IN SATAN!!! We know who and what we are and what we stand for, so we don't have to justify ourselves to anyone.....EVER!!!

Blessed Be!
Coven of Witches
http://www.thecovenofwitches.com

Answer 10

I recommend the book...

Wicca by William Schnoebelen

The book should be available on Amazon.com and it is available at Chick.com

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry." 1 Samuel 15:23a

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 18:10-13

To answer your question, you can't. Any true born again Christian will answer you truthfully. Hearing answers that people give you in your favor will allow you only to lie to yourself.

Rabach