A question for pagans/wiccans: How many people...?

Question

do you feel have no clue about your beliefs?

I asked a question earlier about the pentagram (which I know doesn't apply to all pagans). I got some great answers, but I also got some that make me realize that people do not have any idea what you believe. I know that you already know this. :o)

My question is out of say 20 people, how many do you think know in general terms what you believe? How many know in more than general terms? Do you wish more people would at least take the time to read wikipedia about it before they form an opinion?

It just seems to me there is a real lack of knowledge among a good number of people, and it makes me sad that you are being judged by your label alone. How do you deal with this?

I ask with respect as it seems you are sometimes judged more harshly than atheists!

formerly known as draecoiram,
If you have a better source of information, please post it, Or anyone else who has one, please do!

taliswoman,
I hope I didn't offend by lumping all pagans together. I certainly didn't intend to. I will try to educate myself more on this so as to not make that mistake again. Thanks for the info.

Answer 1

Out of 20 people, maybe 1 would have a clue as to what the general beliefs are. It's good to see some take the time to try to understand our beliefs if for no other reason than to be able to speak WITH us better... instead of AT us. =) But, it is hard to not lump us all together. Paganism is a very broad term that includes different beliefs. What one Pagan may hold dear, another may not see any worth in it. So with that, it is hard to pin down specific beliefs. We, as Pagans, tend to be very general when discussing them as well.... which is part of the problem when discussing our beliefs with someone who has no idea what Paganism is.

Yes. I do wish more people would try to have general knowledge of what we believe.... especially before judging us and our beliefs. When they do judge based on label alone, it's annoying, but rarely ever makes me angry because the other person begins to look foolish the more they try to combat something they know nothing about. I certainly wouldn't go after another religion and say it's wrong without knowing anything about it. That would be stupid. I can only deal with judgement if the one judging can sit still long enough and actually listen to me. If they can't do that... then there is nothing to deal with. That person is closed off and will not listen anyway. So I leave them to battle with the imaginary image they have made up about my beliefs. In the end, it is they who has lost out.... not me.

=)

Answer 2

The problem is that there are so many pagan beliefs and, especially Wicca, are practiced differently by every person who follows that religion. Also, because paganism is not organized, there is really no way to identify a "true" pagan from the fakes. Anyone can declare that they are a witch, but depending on your definition, they may not be. To be even more confusing, they might be a witch based on their definition of the word. Plus, many people don't want to be educated on paganism and are perfectly fine alienating people by calling them satanists. I also wish to say that your question is very respectful and that there's really nothing wrong with lumping all pagans together when dealing with general information like you are. This is something we all can relate to.

Answer 3

Wicca is a quite new faith. It became created interior the 1950's. It became based, in part, on historic Pagan ideals. Paganism is a vast umbrella term for many faiths. incredibly any faith different than Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are seen Pagan. Hinduism, which may be seen Pagan, is reportedly the oldest faith. Paganism as i think of you mean it (at the same time with Druidism and different such religions) is definitely older than Christianity. Many Christian trip trips, rituals, or perhaps Saints are "borrowed" from the Pagan religions. Christmas working example. same with Easter. Even the trinity. they're all "borrowed" from Pagan ideals. Saint Brigid became at one time a Goddess. She became lifted area and parcel from Pagan ideals and transplanted into Christian Sainthood. The Celts surpassed their non secular ideals down by ability of notice of mouth, they did no longer have a written history early on. yet that would not negate the actuality that it predates Christianity by ability of actually it sluggish. as a rely of actuality, the Romans forcefully converted the Pagan plenty in the process Europe ("borrowing" their rituals, trip trips and Goddess/Gods to make the conversion much less difficult to take). So of course, the Pagans have been there first.

Answer 4

Very few and far between. I would say less than 5 per 20 have no clue. Maybe MAYBE 1 or 2 will know more than genereal terms. Not wikipedia so much as religioustolerance and no I really don't wish that because that is there own right whether or not to know about other religions.

Answer 5

I don't read anything on Wikipedia because I found it to be a poor resource for information. An encyclopedia where anyone can altar the information is not a reliable one. Therefore I do not use it.

I find that there are loads of people who have no clue about my beliefs as they choose only to believe what ONE book says about it instead of doing proper research. I agree that there is a lack of knowlege among a good number of people. How do I deal with it? I simply try to explain my side of things. If they choose to ignore what I am trying to tell them, well that is their problem. They are choosing to remain ignorant.

A good question.

Answer 6

I just saw a 'Colbert Report' show with an autor who wrote a book on how little Americans know about other religions. One state governor was pushing to have the ten commandments displayed in some court and he couldn't even list more than 3 or 4 of them! Another foreign policy rep. was asked if the gov't before our invasion was Sunni or Shiite and he didn't know!
A comparitive religion class should be offered at all ages. One that teaches about all religions-obviously not a class that insists one religion is right and everything else is wrong.

Answer 7

Out of 20 people, I would be delightedly surprised if even one knew pagan beliefs in general terms, and shocked if any knew any accurate detail.

I do wish people would read something, wikipedia being a decent source. They make so many assumptions I just take for granted being misunderstood if any but my closest friends knew I was pagan.

I don't really mind being judged, I am judged also as an atheist (which I am also; AND a Taoist). I just chalk it up to general ignorance, which may be self-imposed or it may be circumstantial. It doesn't bother me on here, but you can bet I would clarify things (diplomatically) to anyone who made a rude comment in my actual presence.

Answer 8

i think maybe 1 or 2 of 20 would have a clue. i don't like wikipedia's entry much, myself. there's some good points, but also some that are a bit off.

yeah, i agree, pagans/wiccans can get it from both sides, from the abrahamic religions & from atheists.

edit: i agree with toad_stool-- i often get people saying that i'm an 'oxymoron' because i'm an atheist pagan, they say, basically, that i don't beleive what i do believe, and how in the heck would they know? most people don't understand that pagans are not necessarily polytheists.

Answer 9

awwwwwe you know that there is something wrong here they don't even "know what they believe" so stop pitying the fools. It is sad that they attempt to call it "a" religion when i have yet to meet two that worship the same deity... Also it is sorta bad when all you have to do to advance spiritually is read a book some other crackpot wrote... I totaly get the reliance on rituals its just if you are going to generalize a "religion" then there should be a steady pace to the event. Such as, where did you get your info at "Mr. grand master". And how do you know that is true. I have seen alot of the books and it is little more than placing your faith in someone elses beliefs. I'm not sorry to say that all that is controlling the actions of others to empower themselves... If you want to do something with your lives then go create your own rituals, find your deity name it or don't, get with your friends and cohorts, and begin a practice. I am tired of these whiney questions it is like copy and paste every time. If you want to be persecuted then come around my neighborhood and see if you can walk the streets. It will be fun i promise. but anyway stop hiding behind a capitalistic religion where you can buy your way to inner peace. Yes i have read many of the "books" they were just word vomit on a page. I wanted my money back so i wrote the fools that made them and offered to mail it back to them as soon as i get a written reply. I guess that karma doesn't affect them...hack hmmm BS.....So when you have a real problem like, lets say, umm, idon't know, THE INQUISITION POPS UP AGAIN!!!!! find something else to complain about other than "you don't understand me, Im going to cry, wahhh" it is pathetic and open for some hatered. It is easy to hate the weak... So you gonna read a book thats cool. You liked it thats awesome. Oh it told you things you never knew about yourself. HAH that was a little convienient. but thats ok i like easily manipulated people. So your going to burn some herbs from halfway around the world that smell like a goats behind. That is ok too im a smoker and can't smell it anyway. Your going to go to my grounds and start complaining that people don't understand you thats great but that is what your religion is based upon so GET OVER IT. If you want people to understand then start preaching. If not then sit down, shut up, and drink some koolaid...

Answer 10

i have been pagan for many years, but i don't share this with just anybody. i don't hide it, i just don't announce it.

it seems that most people equate pagan with satanist. they don't know the truth, nor do they want to. out of twenty people maybe two will know something other than the t.v. version.

i have had people that i thought knew me ask if i cursed people. didn't know me very well after all.

for the most part i hang out with writers or other pagans. writers are amazingly open minded.
i have found that atheists, buddhists, anti-theists (just found out about that one), nihilists, and almost anyone else not in a "main stream" religion are pretty tolerant of others.
hope this helps.

nature - can't live without it.
eclectic pagan

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don't worry, i don't think that you offended anyone.