How would Christians feel if Wiccan groups starting getting US federal "faith-based" grants?

Question

After all, the government cannot discriminate.

Answer 1

depends on the Christians I guess - personally, I am a Christian but I do not believe my way is meant for everyone and I dont believe that others are going to Hell for not believing the way I do... guess that is a bit outside of the norm for most people proclaiming to be Christians now a days, but as far as I am concerned, as long as they use the funds appropriately, I have no issue.

Answer 2

As a Christian, I would be really upset about it. Just as I'm upset about it when Christians get faith based grants.

I think that the grants are inherently discriminatory, whether given to all religions, or just a few. After all, even if all religions received an equal piece of the pie, it would represent both the state sanction of religion, and discrimination against non-religious people who would receive nothing from the grants. Basically, it would say to people "our government doesn't pick one, but it endorses religion as a whole" because it gives money to religious groups. To me, this is just as bad as choosing a single religion and proclaiming it the state belief.

The government has no business in my religion, and my religion has no business in government. This being the case, I'm a FIRM believer in the barrier between government and religion.

Unfortunately, I'm probably in a tiny minority. Most of the people who call themselves Christian will probably answer your question with answers that include some version of the "America was founded on Christian principles" argument. These people would be better served with a thorough lesson on the actual beliefs of our founders than on a consideration of tolerance and true religious freedom.

Answer 3

The way the government wants to have "faith based" grants function, you are right. Wiccans shouldn't be discriminated against. I am a Christian, but I disagree with the government policy. We should have separation of Church and state as it states in the laws founded by our forebears. Churches have always cared for their own, especially those in financial need through benevolent loans or grants. To have the government a part of any Church function, or vice versa, is a dangerous prescedent.

Answer 4

I believe they have tried and found the coffers locked under the current administration.
There shouldn't be discrimination, but that doesn't mean there isn't . . . in fact, I think very few non-traditionalist religious organizations have been funded despite applying.
A student in a class I took wrote a paper on this subject a couple of years ago but I only saw the abstract, which stated that there was definite and vocal bias by those who headed up the Office of Faith-based Initiatives.
Of course, there is the question of whether Church/State should co-mingle $$, but these are taxpayer funds, we're all not Christian, and its being spent on religious persuasion, so until we abolish this office, let's be fair.

Answer 5

Wiccan and Pagan groups are getting some of these grants. And to Last Ent Wife, "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. "
From the Constitution baby!

Answer 6

Instead of giving my answer, I'll quote from the Constitutional Party of Georgia has to say on the subject:

"Let me give you something to think about...Would you like your taxes to support services of the Ravenwood Church and Seminary of Wicca that applied for a $85,000 grant in 2003 for "street outreach" and funding for two houses and an apartment complex for 62 people?

The Department of Community Affairs turned them down because money was short in 2003. Ravenwood is Atlanta's first public Wiccan church and claims to be "a faith-based organization dedicated to the education, science, promotion and practice of the old religion." In case you haven't heard, witchcraft is the "old religion" they claim as their faith.

They would use faith-based money to expand witchcraft, while mainstream religious ministries accepting "state" money must purge all religious symbols, Bible teaching, preaching and hymn singing from their social service programs and conversations. Christianity, in particular, would shrink and cults would expand. That's a high price to pay for a little bit of money. Ask your legislators to vote NO on S.R. 49 although it's the governor's bill. "

So it's clear: Christian faith-based grants go to helping people, Wiccan ones would steal the money and use it to expand their godlessness.....

Was anyone actually expecting the faith-based initiative to be fair?

Let's give the last word to Stephen Goldsmith,, the Domestic Policy Advisor to the President who will likely be overseeing the FBO project, who said on the record said that he did not "think that Wiccans would meet the standard of being humane providers of domestic violence shelters."

Answer 7

That's an OUTRAGE! I abhor the mere THOUGHT!

No, I'm kidding. I'm a Christian, and I couldn't care less if they did start getting "faith-based" grants.

Answer 8

I would be cool with it, it is just that Wicca is such a diverse religious community that they may have trouble getting a grant, but if they could, why not?

Answer 9

I'm fairly sure they would protest loudly, using circular reasoning about it violating separation of church and state, ignoring Christianity's own constitutional violations due to its status as the only "right" religion.

Answer 10

An even better question is what if christians had to start living by Wiccan laws like non-christians are FORCED to live by christian laws.