My fellow Wiccans and Pagans, Dose it bother you too?

Question

I was watching TV last night and there was a show about “contacting the ghost of Buddy Holly”. They had a “Wiccan High Priestess” and her coven meet them at the cemetery to help them contact the ghost. The “Priestess and her coven” did none of the things I would think should be done in order to prepare or succeed in such an endeavor. In fact the whole show was kind of “Blair Witch” like. Then I thought about it. I don’t think that I would have appreciated it any more if the “Wiccans” would have done things differently.

I really am not sure I want to see any of our rituals or practices on TV.
What do you think about Wicca or Pagan’s on TV?

Answer 1

Don't forget that these are actors and entertainers, not wiccans.

Answer 2

I'm a Pagan pantheist and an eclectic Witch. I think one of the biggest problems we face is that so so so many people don't even acknowledge that there are real Witches. They do seem to acknowledge that Pagans are actually SOMETHING. They also seem to generally acknowledge the legitimacy of pantheism, once it has been explained to them that we are not polytheists, and that we are essentially atheists with a great and deep reverence for the natural world. But go talking about Witches and it is a whole 'nuther ball game. Wiccans do seem to get a certain modicum of acknowledgment as to being actual, whereas those of us who are not Wiccan, who follow a different path and are not necessarily associated with a group, are looked at sometimes as though we are making it all up. I live in the very liberal SF Bay Area, so I can say I am a Witch, a Solitaire, and I'd say that prolly 75% of those I encounter either do acknowledge what I am as being a valid thing to be, or they are also Witches of one sort or other so there is no problem. But I was in Michigan not long ago and told people who asked that I was a Witch. Whoa, did I get the delicately raised eyebrow treatment! Lovely question, as always! Bright Blessings, Lady Morgana

Answer 3

Zina, I don't really mind that a group of Wiccans would allow their rites to be put on TV, What DOES bother me is that TV, makes it seem as though THEIR Rtes are the same as Riotes by ALL Wiccans. this is FAR from the truth. Wiccans have as diverse a set of Rites as is possible, No two Witches will conduct a rite for similar purposes in the same way or even using the same language as any other. Some Trads such as Gardnerians and Alexandrians DO have the SAME rituals that are common to ALL members of the Tradition because they share the SAME Book of Shadows but, other Trads like Green Witches, do NOT share a common Book of Shadows and so will have different ceremonies for the same purpose. And a Dianic circle is VERY different from an Alexandrian circle. Just as a Catholic Mass is very different from a Baptist worship service.

BB,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 4

Depends on the ritual and the purpose for televising it. I wouldn't consider a seance to be a Wiccan or Pagan ritual. It's a seance, and in this case it just happened to be performed by a Wiccan. It's a free country. They should be allowed to go on TV if they want. Objecting to televising it because it _might_ make us look foolish is over-reactionary.

Wicca is generally not a spectator religion. There's stuff within traditional covens that should certainly not be on television because of their oaths of secrecy. Moreover, the purpose is entirely for the benefit of the performers, not the viewers, so putting it on TV is generally just attention-seeking. But it's an individual thing. If this priestess was seeking attention and looked incompetant to boot, my objection is with her. I won't say no one should go on TV because there might be a repeat of this idiot's behavior.

Answer 5

I'm not a Wiccan, but as far as religion goes, I rather like Wicca.

One thing I like about it is that each person is free to have his or her own individual path.

So, while I understand that there could be consequences if Wiccans put out misinformation to a public that already grossly misunderstands the religion, I think it's best to focus on educating the public on how to think for themselves and find out for themselves.

If the public knew how to refrain from assumptions until they've done some research on the subject, no misstep or mistake would have the power to harm the reputation of the religion.

Answer 6

I've only seen one member of my trad (uew) go on TV, and she was really calm and probably looked more like a lawyer (which she is) than a priestess (which she is.)

Since the crazy Wiccans on TV aren't UEWwies, I don't care any more than Catholics care about crazy Baptists.

Only when they say all Wiccans do they bother me.

But, as far as I know, Buddy Holly was a Christian, so no Wiccan should be trying to do anything with his spirit, no matter how fake.

Answer 7

I'm not Wiccan, but I think the general subject of Wiccans, pagans and their beliefs are, to most, mysterious subjects that are very easy to sensationalize (since outsiders know very little about them), and TV is all about sensationalism. If you're saying that TV coverage cheapens your religion or otherwise gives a false impression, you're probably right on the money.

Answer 8

I'm neither Wiccan nor pagan, but I say your religions are just as game for TV exposure as any other religion. TV has no shame and what you see on TV is whatever they think sells.

Answer 9

I think a lot of times...It puts the Pagan/Neo-Pagan/Wiccan in a very bad light and feeds the negative public opinion.

Answer 10

I am not a Wiccian or a Pagan but just so you know there are those out there that say they follow your faith but it does not make them a believer. There are people out there that want their "15 minutes of fame" they will do anything to get it

Answer 11

IF they really were Wicca ( and I sincerely doubt it ) I think they should have been more careful about how they did it. Personally I think the idea was good (people need to get good information on us to make good discussions), but I think that was the wrong way to do it.