Why are pagans so persecuted when their faith?

Question

teaches them to 'harm non ', yet other mainstream religions fight and war in the name of their god ???

Answer 1

Because people are naturally scared of what they dont understand. And when ignorance of pacifistic and animist religions is combined with the dogmatic brainwashing social control of the more established religions, then it can create harmful situations when people do not how to accept others for their personal beliefs.

But yes, you highlight the glaring contradiction in most religious fanatics behaviours, when they start to hurt and kill others in the name of "peace..." and a God which would not have wanted to have had his/her/its name used for such violence, hatred and confusion.

This points towards the "mob" mentaility and that some religions are more like "football clubs" with the alpha-males attacking the weaker social groups.This then, is darwinistic survival, and has nothing to do with the peace and the "holy-god" they spout and froth from their mouths.

Answer 2

Why are gays persecuted? Who one person sleeps with does not affect someone else, so what is the harm? Why are people of one race persecuted by people of another race? ( And, yes, Blacks can be just as guilty of this as Whites can.)
Why do men assume they are smarter than women? Why do pretty people make more money for the same job? (Look it up, it is true.)
Basically the answer is "Humans suck". A lot of people feel insecure and it makes them feel better to put someone else down. I wish we all would follow the "golden rule" and be good to each other. But unfortunately I don't think that will ever happen. And please remember, not all non-pagans believe in religious war.

Answer 3

Pagans are persecuted for their faith because most people have been taught to fear their faith.

If there are only a couple of things people remember about their Christian (or sort of Christian) upbringing they are that there is 'something' wrong with sex, though they're not sure what, and that Witches and occult stuff is "baaaad". So a lot of people are just very uncomfortable with the idea of it.

And I am sorry, but the history of Pagan religions in the world isn't exactly peaceful either. Pre-Christian Rome wasn't exactly a "peace and love colony".

Answer 4

I must point out that "If you harm none, do what you will" is actually the Wiccan Rede. It does NOT apply to all Pagans (Paganism, or more accurately NeoPaganism, is an umbrella term that covers a lot of religious territory).

As for your question itself... there's a lot of misunderstanding about what NeoPagans do. Although most NeoPagans have a "live and let live" attitude toward other religions, that attitude is not extended to them in turn. Although most NeoPagan faiths are oriented toward life-affirming and life-celebrating practices, their reluctance to prosyletize their religion is taken as proof that they are engaged in dark and destructive pursuits, when as a rule nothing could be further from the truth.

Persecution is relative. Here in North America, NeoPagans do not face a great deal of physical persecution. However, they do sometimes face the possibility of losing their jobs, their homes, and/or their children if their religious orientation is discovered by the community at large.

Answer 5

The word pagan makes most people think devil worship - and that that is bad.
No-body seems to understand that the term pagan simply refers to non-christian religions.

Sorry - don't get me started!!!!
Mind you - it's as bad as tarring all of any religion or ilk with one brush. Some pagans worship beings not perceived as beneficial in the same way that some people believe Judaism, Hinduism or Caribbean are good, bad, laid back, etc...

Just doesn't happen!

Answer 6

My religion does not state Harm None. We do not follow the Rede. We are pagan, not Wiccan. We are not peaceful, we are RESPECTFUL. There is a difference.
We are persecuted out of ignorance, nothing more. Those days will and are coming to a close.

Answer 7

Best I ever heard about paganism was in Denmark when the Pagans complained that Christians were allowed to ring Church Bells to call to church. Muslims were allowed to use loudspeakers to call to mosque. But the Pagans were not allowed to do anything.
So they took the Danish govt to court and won their case. The next sunday morning they got onto the roof of the highest building in the area and through loudspeakers shouted, "There is not god, there is no god."

This is totally true, and just about the funniest thing I had ever heard at that time.

Answer 8

Well, technically Christianity and other religions teach peace and acceptance as well. Some followers just don't listen. But to answer your question about pagans, I suppose that I would say it's because some people just don't understand what their faith is about. Ignorance breeds intolerance.

Answer 9

not all religions fight and war in the name of their god (sigh). the wars are about power anyway,not really god. if you look into you you'll see it's just an excuse.

i'm a christian and i've never persecuted anyone, pagan or otherwise. where do you get this information from?????

Answer 10

Pagans are not much persecuted round these parts, although they often have a persecution complex.