Growing Up
Matthew Hay Brown has an excellent article in the Baltimore Sun about the growth of modern Paganism and how that growth is changing the way we do things.
“To a phenomenon that has flourished in part as an alternative to institutional religion, such growth is bringing increasing organization. SpiralScouts is one of several examples of mainstreaming within paganism. Segments of the community are training clergy, forming churches, giving school presentations and leading public charity. The push toward the mainstream, which is not welcomed by all pagans, can be seen at least in part as a protective instinct. Federal courts have recognized Wicca as a religion protected by the Constitution. The military, universities and prisons are catering to the needs of pagans. Individual practitioners are joining interfaith councils and academic conferences.”
The article touches on groups like The Spiral Scouts, and projects like The Cherry Hill Seminary as signs of a developing structure trying to serve the needs of a group of faiths experiencing explosive growth while staying true to the founding principles of the modern Pagan movement.
“The real trick, because paganism sees itself in a lot of ways as an alternative to mainstream culture, is how do we meet the developing needs and mature without selling out our values?” – Kirk White, president of Cherry Hill Seminary
As our family of faiths continue to grow, it will be essential to come to terms with the fact that instead of being an alternative culture we will become a part of the fabric of mainstream culture. The important decision is how we approach that shift, and being able (and willing) to navigate that shift on our own terms.
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