Why are there elitist Pagans? Is this not a kind of hypocrisy like we accuse Christians of?

Question

Neopagans religions such as Wicca are about love and respect of Mother Earth, honor and respect all things of the Earth , the Goddess as well as God. You would think we'd be loving, kindly folk and many of us are. Why then the hypocrotical elitists? Do they not defeat the whole idea of paganism? Please pagan folk do not call yourself a pagan when you are so into your ego. Are you not doing the same kind of thing the hypocritical Christians are doing?

Rex Alfie: Yes, many come into the Pagan community, calling themselves Pagan when they clearly are not. There is no problem with people of other religions coming in to check things out. It is just when they become instant Pagans and instant experts..often instant hypocrotics as well. I frankly am tired of the so called, "christian pagans," "republican pagans," and other such hypocritical nonsense. These morans often create mass chaos within our communities even to the extent of breaking up our groups...and perhaps that is their main purpose. Remember, divide and conquer. That is why we need to identify these fools, to keep them from destroy our communities.

Celtic Student: you are sort of an example of the type of elitism I was addressing in this. However, I say sort of because you are so inaccurate, that you don't quite make it to elite! Back to your celtic books!

Answer 1

Yes, it is hypocrasy. Unfortunately, hypocrasy is part of being human. We must strive against it. I scold people in my group for it, and encourage them to scold me if they catch me doing it, because I'm just as guilty as anyone else.

Answer 2

I think that for the most part, pagans are true to the belief of "There is no one true Path" and they are accepting of the paths of others.

However, there are paths that are laid out - Traditions that have existed and that do have a set structure - and to take those Traditions and change them to something else is, I think, wrong. If you believe in harming none and revering nature, but you don't believe in a Higher Power, I'm sorry - you may be Pagan but you're not Wiccan. One of the core beliefs of Wicca is the recognition of the God and Goddess. If you resonate with and honor the Greek pantheon, then don't call yourself Asatru. Things like that.

Also, unfortunately, any time you deal with human beings, you are dealing with ego, and in some there is a need to be "right" or be "better" than others. Which is really, really annoying, but is unfortunately a reality of existence to which Pagans are not immune.


Edited to add - for those who are advocating breaking the Rede, "Harm None" does not equate to "Be a Victim". However, in the interest of Return, I'd think you'd want to consider long and hard the potential ramifications of your actions and be prepared for the Return of them.

Answer 3

First let me say that not all pagans (that is to say people you worship more than one God or Goddess.) Are all love and light. Not even all the Wiccan paths follow the so called Wiccan Rede.

I am a pagan and have been for half my life, My wife has been one all of her life. Neither of us look to the Rede. My patron Goddess is a Warrior Goddess you loves to see a warrior in battle lust. There is violence in nature, it is not all love and light. Native American Indians are pagan, did they not fight each other and the European invaders.

There are many pagan paths it is hypocritical of you to think that you can speak for all the paths and say your not pagan if....
Do not get me wrong I do love the Earth and hold all life as sacred. But that does not mean that I will not eat meat. I simply give thanks to the spirit of the animal that the the meat came from. But then I give thanks to the plants that also give their lives that I may eat.

Being Pagan does not and never has meant being passive. However there are pagan paths that do practice passivity. Be careful not to lump all pagans into the path that you follow.

Answer 4

The bottom line is that power corrupts, so any organized religion with a leadership hierarchy eventually develops power struggles among competing egos that overshadow its spiritual belief system. It happens in every single organized religious group on the planet. I thought it was just a christian phenomena until I heard about the power and control shenanigans going on in a local zen buddhist center! It's just a sad fact about the frailties of human beings.

If you want to completely avoid organizational conflict and politics, you have to become a hermit, which is definitely a sad way to go through life. If you want to be a part of any kind of social, spiritual, or other communities made up of very flawed human beings, learn to rise above the conflict and just take the best from the experience.

Answer 5

I don't accuse Christians of hypocrisy. Or any other religious followers. Although I have never practiced Christianity, the majority of the people that I've known who do have been genuinely nice people. Not all, but the majority. I have enough to do studying my own religion, honoring my deities, and trying to live a life that would please them.

Egotistical and fanatical people will be found in every religion, including polytheistic ones. Many times these people don't last very long in my community. Time usually exposes people's true natures. We do have oathbound trads in my community. They are well-respected and they respect other people's choices. Our community's elders have been around for decades and are trusted for their experience and wisdom.

Debates and arguements still occur frequently. I just figure it is human nature. It happens and people work out their differences. While I wish that arguements didn't happen so frequently, I am impressed with the way that people work things out.

But I am confused about something in your comments: ""republican pagans," and other such hypocritical nonsense."
Do you mean that in your local area people aren't allowed to choose their political affiliation? Does one have to profess having liberal political views in order to worship more than one deity? I don't understand. Our community is large--we have about 7 local Yahoo groups---and one of them has over 350 members. Our local pagan community has many different paths, income levels, political affiliations, races, hobbies, lifestyles, etc. If someone worships more than one deity, then we consider them pagan, regardless of these other issues. We don't judge their spiritual path because of their political beliefs. In a community as large as ours, that would be impossible to do. Of course we all do not agree with each other politically, but we never thought we had to.

Answer 6

I know that some christian will take advantage of the situation and scream thats why you need Jesus because all have fallen short or some BS. anyways I believe they are bottom feeders that have nothing better to do

with christians saying they have the only way to heaven they are bound to get into trouble by others that know its a lie.

as for the Pagans they are being pushed into a corner and the only option is to fight back and fight dirty. I know about the wiccan rede but soemtimes you have to break some rules

Answer 7

I think some Pagans feel as though they are being pushed to fundamentalism because of the christians.best advice is to attack christians and stop playing the nice guy I know about the wiccan rede but now is NOT NOT NOT the time to use it. a Taoist says when threatened defend yourself. I go by Taoism.

Answer 8

i do no longer think each God to exist. i think in maximum Gods I the two have experienced or stated in some way or that credible human beings i understand have. For the Abrahamic God, I certainly have very own journey and that i've got reached the tip that he's a theory-form and not an particularly deity. greater like a vile impostor who feeds on his followers. the particularly Yahweh became a lesser deity of the classic polytheistic Hebrew pantheon. as a procedures because of fact the devil is going: I certainly have concluded that he's an archetype and not an particularly being. It represents the liberty from all regulations the Abrahamic "God" applies on his followers. only because of fact i'm a polytheist Pagan does not recommend i will settle for and have self belief each God to exist or be genuine. as nicely, i will under no circumstances communicate of those deities i do no longer understand of like Norse, Hindu and so on. ultimately, I certainly have the dazzling to question despite I wish. i can question and particularly even reject yet another's opinion/perception/despite. only because of fact a lot of human beings won't like listening to that doesn't recommend I would desire to mute myself. they'd desire to strengthen thicker skins.

Answer 9

Unfortunately we are all humans & many choose to be something they are not because they want to fit in. Perhaps they haven't really found their true place. Rather than criticism, perhaps understanding & directions need to be given or we can become what we criticise.

Answer 10

didnt even make it to the third answer before some idiot opened their suckhole. doent you find it tiresome? my wife is wiccan and i agree with alot of it, so i do not have a problem defending her or wicca. HA--HA!