Do you think things may take a turn for the worst with bigotry against pagans?

Question

This is the first time I've seen an article about this sort of thing. Recently there was an issue with displaying a pentacle on a tombstone for a Wiccan vet.

Now someone thought it was funny to put a witch effigy in a noose and hang it from a tree - in Salem.

Not the fantasy warty nose witch, an effigy wearing old Salem time clothes and a woman.

http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58142

There is something strange in the air in America. These sorts of things seem isolated but when put together they are starting to show a trend.

Take the Jena 6 thing for example. What's going on these days?

Answer 1

"GLORIA IN >>>>>"
Deja Vu/Jamais Vu Our Last Sporty "Game" ?
O Emperor I

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(Akin The 'Inquisit.' & Associates).
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"HalLoWEeN".

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HourraH !" X 3

Answer 2

NOBODY makes the connection between the Inquisition, Salem trials, and modern witches except for a few extreme wingnuts--and a bunch of paranoid pagans who are ever so worried about being persecuted.

The decoration in question was, I believe, supposed to be a political statement--did you notice that was a Hillary Clinton mask?

Here. Read some responses from some pagans who aren't all freaked out:

http://www.wildhunt.org/2007/10/hate-crime.html

You want to talk about being persecuted as a witch, go to Africa. Read these:

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_petraitis/witch_killers.shtml
http://www.culturekitchen.com/leo_igwe/story/witchcraft_in_africa

Or if you want to talk about being a persecuted minority in America, look at this:

http://www.gender.org/remember/

There is no trend other than what we fool ourselves into thinking. Rather than worrying about "Oh, us poor pagans", worry about the bigger picture. We have insane people in power, the environment's a mess, we may be going to war with Iran, domestic violence is still a huge problem--and you're worried about a Halloween decoration?

And for the record, the Wiccan vet's family and allies WON the fight to have the pentacle on his memorial stone. Now druids and Asatru are using that precedent to get their own symbols. I'd say that's a *good* sign. I've been pagan for over a decade, and in that time the media coverage of paganism has improved expontentially--a lot more reasonable media coverage, and a lot less sensationalism.

I'd say, overall, that we have a lot less to worry about than you fear.

Answer 3

I used to "fear" it, but at the time I didn't have the network I do now. I would bet 95% of the people in my life and allowed in my home are pagan. Between a quarter of them to half are Heathen. I have an amazing support network and social network among the pagan culture here and I feel very blessed. I know that not every pagan has that.
With that support network come a feeling of strength. I don't worry about the "outside" world much. It would be pretty ugly if someone tried to hurt me or mine. Both legally and physically. Is there discrimination? Sure. But I own my own house, I'm a stay at home mom (no employer) and my daughter has "pagan" friends. Lots of them actually, so she would never "be alone". I don't feel it nearly as much as other pagans might. I have close knit community that makes it "safer" for me. Strength in numbers I suppose.
The Jenna 6 thing is typical South. I hate to say it, but this isn't new news, guys. It's just new media coverage.

Answer 4

These things come in waves. With a change of presidents(hopefully to Democratic) there may be a change. What I find interesting is that until about 50 or 60 years ago the only non-Christian religion Christians really had to focus their hate on was Judaism. Other than that they attacked each other. Have you noticed that their isn't much sectarian animosity among Christians anymore? At the very least, it's not overt.

Answer 5

Let's face it: our religion has a bad press record and we're living in bigoted times with a fascist in charge. I think any perfectly reasonable Pagan would have good reason to quietly tuck the pentacle into their shirt. Doesn't mean I'll stop offering public Sabbats or take down the huge pentacle in my living room window though. My Guides have been giving me warnings about protection, and to answer your question: yes I do think a major storm is brewing. Me personally, I just get a little quieter and dig my heels in. Fight the good fight. Keep doing the healings and the ghost work and the energetic outreach, and not spend 2 seconds giving energy or power to the bigots by giving them fear. Laugh it off. Why aren't we burning effigies of Bush?

Answer 6

that is ****** up that someone would have a witch hanging in his front yard.

And while I think that the Jena 6 trial is over blown, I think that those white kids who hung the noose need to kicked out of that school, I wish more people would focus more on those kids being dealt with as when kids are at school they DON'T have freedom of expression, if they wear obscene clothes are they not made to change?


oh, I do fear that there may be increased bigotry down the road.

Answer 7

It's Halloween. There are a lot of nooses hanging because it is Halloween decorations, or so they say. I have read about it on the internet.

View this youtube video posted by NLPC ( National Legal and Policy Center ) about the Jena 6 case , Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson's agenda and who lines their pockets with cash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd0WebiLSUE&mode=related&search=

Answer 8

Yes it happens today! Yes it could get worse but I doubt it could become wide spread. As I've stated in prior questions the the neo christian church largely operates in the power of self righteous gossip and politics based on ignorance. I stand behind my opinion in the past as I do now. Certain organizations like the KKK have lynched black folks in the name of God and there is no question in my mind that if some sects had a clear shot to burn or hang a witch they would... When I am around a neo-christian I am totally aware what they can and will do. The constitution allows us the right of our spiritual freedom and belief yet they will twist our rights and dictate to us what we should and shouldn't do based of mass ram rod political corruption...

Answer 9

Currently (I dont have hard data for this, just guessing) Paganism is the smallest religion in america with enough followers to attract attention. So there will be much bigotry, until paganism gets to say, Hindu size (Which by dictionary definition, is a pagan, but I wont go into that).

Answer 10

Dogmatic religions like Christianity are dying a slow, painful death in the light of continuing scientific advancement and the sophistication of human thinking that comes with it. And, just like a wounded animal, it's getting increasingly noisy and is lashing out at anything and everything in an effort to defend itself.
Yes, you're going to see more bigotry against the natural, healthy expressions of spirituality like Paganism, Wicca and Buddhism as well as the old favorite targets of atheism and agnosticism. If history is any indicator, ignorance rarely transitions peacefully to enlightenment.