Do Wiccans and other Pagans take a lot of bullying for their beliefs?

Question

I was reading through some Web sites about Wicca---not because I was interested in converting, but because I was just curious about what all the various beliefs were---and several of the sites said that many practicioners choose to keep low profiles for fear of persecution. They refered to this as "staying in the broom closet."

So, do Wiccans and other Pagans really take a lot of flack for their religions? Have YOU ever bullied someone for being a Wiccan or Pagan? If so, how did it make you feel? Did it make you feel better about yourself?

Answer 1

There have been 2 cases in which my daughter's friends found out our family was Pagan and they wouldn't play with her anymore. One tried to tell the other kids in the neighborhood not to play with her because Pagans were bad, but thankfully the other kids didn't judge her on her religion and played with her anyway because she was a sweet kid.

I've been lucky enough to live in some very liberal big cities, so I haven't gotten really what I'd call "persecution" in that people were not successful in firing me or taking my kids away, though I have gotten some rude, and on occasion, threatening, remarks and behavior.

I don't hide my religion, and it tends to come up sooner or later with people. But I'm not a young in-your-face leather-clad, multi-pierced, dinner plate sized pentacle wearing Wiccan, myself, I'm a middle-aged homeschooling soccer mom, so I don't think any negative reactions I've gotten have been because of my demeanor.

I've known some people, mostly those who come from less understanding families or from small towns in the Bible belt, who have been attacked because of their beliefs. I've also read over the years a few articles on people whose businesses have been picketed, jobs have been lost, pets have been killed or children almost taken away in court because of their Pagan/Wiccan affiliation, so while I don't think it is as bad as it used to be, it's still not unheard of.

Answer 2

I'm a Christian, so I can't speak from a Wiccans/Pagans standpoint, but I can say that I feel any group that's not the majority and has viewpoints that most don't practice will probably always be the "outsider" and may get flack for this because a select few can't see their point of view. Unfortunately, there are always some in the majority that are lacking open minds and are not considerate of others beliefs. I do not condone this behavior, as I respect everyones beliefs. I think we can learn something from everyone.

Answer 3

Wiccans and Pagans take a lot for believing what we do. It's because so many people are misinformed on what the religion does. They feel it is "devil worship" or some sacrificing satanic cult, when in fact most pagans and wiccans do not even believe in the devil.

I have been personally attacked because people found out I was not Christian, but in fact, a Wiccan.
I have lost friends, and even some family members will no longer speak to me.
Sometimes, some religious extremists decide that we are going to hell and are evil.
I can't change their beliefs and won't attack them, as everyone had a different path to the divine. But I do find it interesting that some religions that claim to be all loving, forgiving and tolerant, are in fact the worst culprits of the bullying.

Answer 4

In some Countries it is ok to be a Pagan and we suffer of no persecution and much less bullying. However, where I live we were not bullied but arrested and imprisoned between 2001 and 2003. About 76 pagans (including Wiccans) were arrested and over 200 were tortured.

Rigth now, the situation is far easier for us. We do suffer of discrimination, and some bullying.

Incredibly, Muslims here don't discriminate against us, neither they bully us. However, it is sad to admit that most discrimination and bully comes from Pentecostal Fundamentalists and some "Stop Suffering Christians".

Answer 5

No matter what religion you follow and practice, you're going to get some kind of "flack" from someone. It usually comes from ignorance and misconceptions, so knowing that, it's best to blow it off.

Wiccans do not -

1) Worship the devil
2) Sacrifice babies, small children or animals

This is some of the kind of shyte I've been told I'm supposed to be doing as a Wiccan. Amazing how ignorant people can be. Yet I get it. At one time it was believed that Jews had tails like your family dog. Equally ignorant yet people believed it.

Answer 6

Sometimes. I've been bullied and assaulted before. But I'm also an out of the closet pagan. I don't feel persecuted, but I'm always cautious just because I have had some negative experiences in the past.

Answer 7

I would like to see people that are courious just to wear a pentacle for just one day out in the public and just witness it for themselves. Unfort. there are some closed minded people out there and scared to ask questions but I think alot has to do with the negative pablicity of TV, we grew up around fairy tales about mean witches, ugly, green, like the other person said turn people into frogs or bring evil into play but it's so the opposite.

I believe the church branded us Witch because we keep our beliefs back in history and for anyone that didn't follow their god or religion they where quickly called "Devil Worshiper, Witch, Evil, the devil, Satanist (which actually do not worship Satan LOL we don't even believe in Satan) "

Witches are healers and protectors, gosh if you think about it and I'm sure most Wiccans/Pagans will agree, we believed the same as Jesus did and they also crusified him for his beliefs now didn't they?

Answer 8

I have been bullied about my religion. I am a practicing Wiccan and it started while i was in High school. I was asked to remove my pentacle from my van because other students were offended. When I was at work, i had customers that tried to convert me and one even slashed my tires and carved hell into my car. Most of the time, it is either just annoying or really funny, but sometimes, it pisses me off. I respect others who want to practice their religion, so I wish that others would let me practice mine in peace.

Answer 9

There have been cases of Wiccans and Pagans losing their jobs and even their children because ignorant people discovered their religious affiliation and went postal as a result. So yes, many of us DO choose to stay "in the broom closet", especially if we have a lot to lose.

Answer 10

When I was an active Wiccan, I worked with several Fundamentalist co-workers with whom I did not feel comfortable discussing my then-religion. I made this decision from observing how they behaved in the office and how they talked about others behind their backs. I had to work with those people; I did not want to have to put up with ignorant superstition.

My husband had no problem with me practicing Wicca, and I never personally experienced persecution.