Comments on: Update: Palin's Anti-Pagan Coreligionists http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html A modern Pagan perspective Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Hygeia http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2556 Hygeia Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:55:24 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2556 I would also like to point out that some people do use Neo-Pagan as a religious term. I guess Wikipedia states it best, "Neopaganism, sometimes referred to simply as Paganism,[1] is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by the pre-Christian pagan beliefs of Europe." I don't tend to use it myself, probably because I've been in a Roman Reconstructionist groups and an Asatru one and feel those descriptions are more apt and less used by people, less tarnished by opinion by outsiders who want to call anything that isn't Christianity witchcraft, which it isn't. And even that is witchcraft from their own eyes...so Hindus and Shintos, even Buddhists, are seen as not doing the Christian Gods work (whatever that is, I thought it was just being good to each other, silly me). I have relatives that are missionaries (yes I know, weird) and they think they are helping people by forcing them, in a way, to be Christian, or else they won't build houses or feed them. It isn't like the 1700s where people would travel to another land and just use native for target practice because they were pagan animals, but it isn't too far off. It does scare me. I feel I can't be out there with my religion like I thought I could be in the past. Being Strega as well, we do live with almost a Catholic tie, since some of our kin use Catholic saints much like Voudoun workers do...wait, those type of Christians probably believe that the Haiti earthquake was Haiti's fault and that the Japanese are to blame for practicing Shintoism or Buddhism. So what happens once the big one hits here...oh, wait Southern California is full of pagans too, so I guess they are bringing to themselves as well...even though there are more Christians here than anything else...but to their eyes, they are probably not real Christians, whatever that is. Can't people just be Christian? Like "do onto others like you would like to be done to you" Christians? I don't know why witches or pagans should even be brought into the conversation in the first place. I'd never gone to a Neo-pagan ritual where Christianity was even mentioned. We don't want to do harm to others and harm includes telling someone what they believe in their heart as religion is wrong. We want people to be free and happy, as much as they can. I should note this doesn't mean being unlawful, just mentally free, like Freedom of Speech and other rights we have in the US are. It doesn't mean only the majority gets to have rights. As a minority religion member, I feel very upset any time I read something like this, especially if it involves someone in office. American is melting pot, not something to mold so that all people are only one faith or one lifestyle or of one political party. Ugh, it is hard to think about. I would also like to point out that some people do use Neo-Pagan as a religious term. I guess Wikipedia states it best, "Neopaganism, sometimes referred to simply as Paganism,[1] is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by the pre-Christian pagan beliefs of Europe." I don't tend to use it myself, probably because I've been in a Roman Reconstructionist groups and an Asatru one and feel those descriptions are more apt and less used by people, less tarnished by opinion by outsiders who want to call anything that isn't Christianity witchcraft, which it isn't. And even that is witchcraft from their own eyes…so Hindus and Shintos, even Buddhists, are seen as not doing the Christian Gods work (whatever that is, I thought it was just being good to each other, silly me). I have relatives that are missionaries (yes I know, weird) and they think they are helping people by forcing them, in a way, to be Christian, or else they won't build houses or feed them. It isn't like the 1700s where people would travel to another land and just use native for target practice because they were pagan animals, but it isn't too far off. It does scare me. I feel I can't be out there with my religion like I thought I could be in the past. Being Strega as well, we do live with almost a Catholic tie, since some of our kin use Catholic saints much like Voudoun workers do…wait, those type of Christians probably believe that the Haiti earthquake was Haiti's fault and that the Japanese are to blame for practicing Shintoism or Buddhism. So what happens once the big one hits here…oh, wait Southern California is full of pagans too, so I guess they are bringing to themselves as well…even though there are more Christians here than anything else…but to their eyes, they are probably not real Christians, whatever that is.

Can't people just be Christian? Like "do onto others like you would like to be done to you" Christians? I don't know why witches or pagans should even be brought into the conversation in the first place. I'd never gone to a Neo-pagan ritual where Christianity was even mentioned. We don't want to do harm to others and harm includes telling someone what they believe in their heart as religion is wrong. We want people to be free and happy, as much as they can. I should note this doesn't mean being unlawful, just mentally free, like Freedom of Speech and other rights we have in the US are. It doesn't mean only the majority gets to have rights. As a minority religion member, I feel very upset any time I read something like this, especially if it involves someone in office. American is melting pot, not something to mold so that all people are only one faith or one lifestyle or of one political party. Ugh, it is hard to think about.

]]> By: Hygeia http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2555 Hygeia Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:40:24 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2555 Paganism isn't a religion really. The word pagan was coined by Christians. Wicca is a religion, so is Asatru and Roman Reconstructionism and Druidism. We call ourselves "pagans" to take back the word. But I personally don't call myself pagan anymore, do to all the negative use of the term. Like the person said above, it is more of an umbrella for a culture, so we can find each other online, more than saying paganism is our actual religion. It scares me though. I am a kind, moral person and Christians grouping us into things they perceive as negative doesn't help us. It is sort of funny though when I say I am Roman Reconstructionist, people take it like I just said I am Greek Orthodox. :) Paganism isn't a religion really. The word pagan was coined by Christians. Wicca is a religion, so is Asatru and Roman Reconstructionism and Druidism. We call ourselves "pagans" to take back the word. But I personally don't call myself pagan anymore, do to all the negative use of the term. Like the person said above, it is more of an umbrella for a culture, so we can find each other online, more than saying paganism is our actual religion.

It scares me though. I am a kind, moral person and Christians grouping us into things they perceive as negative doesn't help us. It is sort of funny though when I say I am Roman Reconstructionist, people take it like I just said I am Greek Orthodox. :)

]]> By: Jason Pitzl-Waters http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2554 Jason Pitzl-Waters Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:28:36 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2554 Also, if you think Palin would respect our beliefs, you obviously haven't visited her church. Also, if you think Palin would respect our beliefs, you obviously haven't visited her church.

]]> By: Aron R. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2553 Aron R. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:47:46 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2553 You're new to this, aren't you? You're new to this, aren't you?

]]> By: And Little Fishes http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2552 And Little Fishes Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:01:00 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/09/update-palins-anti-pagan-coreligionists.html#comment-2552 I know this is a late response; sorry about that! Something I haven't seen in media related to the Palin/AoG story is this: Teen Challenge (start at Wikipedia) is a faith-based funding recipient, spun off from the Assembly of God. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, among others, have noted that one aspect of this Jesus Boot Camp Rehab outfit is that it "completes" Jews. That means converts them to Christianity, in the course of helping with their substance abuse issues, with tax-payer dollars. It's another face of the intolerant, Christo-centric Assembly of God that Palin is steeped in. I know this is a late response; sorry about that! Something I haven’t seen in media related to the Palin/AoG story is this: Teen Challenge (start at Wikipedia) is a faith-based funding recipient, spun off from the Assembly of God. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, among others, have noted that one aspect of this Jesus Boot Camp Rehab outfit is that it “completes” Jews. That means converts them to Christianity, in the course of helping with their substance abuse issues, with tax-payer dollars. It’s another face of the intolerant, Christo-centric Assembly of God that Palin is steeped in.

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