Pagan Persecution
More archiving. About 2 year old piece
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Pagan Persecution
by Raed “Buddha” Edmee
“Remember the Burning Times” and “We have no rights” seem to be the battle cry of the pagan community. Especially as the members of our community are getting younger and more susceptible to believe everything that they read and hear. What many have to realize is a) there has been no burning or hanging of pagans or witches for some time now. I mean do any of you reading any pagan or witch that has been hanged or burned because of their faith? B) We have the same rights (at least in the U.S.) as any other citizen.
This paranoia is being spread as every “fluffy bunny” hops upon the internet and finds sites upon sites citing “REMEMBER THE BURNING TIMES”. If I had a dime for each and every one of the sites that have this section I’d be very well off. As newcomers looking for information on the web encounter these sites they get the impression that pans are still the centerpiece of a Christian bonfire.
Treatment from “holy rollers” tends to perpetuate this misconception. Remember they are a vocal minority within their community and don’t speak for the community as a whole. Some people don’t know how to explain their views without putting others ways life down. This is just human nature rearing its ugly head. Though the whining about it tends to fuel their arguments and make matters worse. Confuse them and respond with kindness. If things don’t improve just walk away. Novel concepts too many, I am sure to some in our community. In the end it is you that controls these confrontations not the attacker.
Don’t get me wrong, there are valid cases of religious discrimination out there. Those though can be handled in our court system. But there are still cases of discrimination regarding gender, sexuality, race, etc. These will exist as long as there are human beings. Just nature of our beast. We fear that which is different, and in some cases it is hate bred through ignorance and stupidity.
As pagans if we are to advance we need to get over this persecution complex. We need to remember the past without it dictating our future. We need to step forward if we are to be taken seriously.
It is a shame the likes of the inquisition and Salem Witch Trials happened. I feel for those who lost their lives over such ignorance and stupidity. Just remember we weren’t the only group persecuted over the ages. Who was it that mad Christians kitty food? It was us Pagans. At least we haven’t been enslaved for a couple hundred years or killed by the millions in subhuman standards.
Many groups have times where they say “Never again”, they just don’t dwell upon it as much. We as a community need to do the same
So mote it be,
Howler
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