Some Tea Party supported candidates are socially conservative, not just fiscally conservative, and wear their Christian religion on their sleeves. If Tea Party Pagans assist more social conservatives to get elected, and they turn out to be very anti-Pagan, how do you feel about the possibility of inadvertently supporting and electing folks who might work against our own social interests?
This is a straw-man argument.
N.B. hyperbole coming . . . Some liberal Democrats are actually elitist racists who wear their contempt for God (in any form) on their sleeve and look down at the great unwashed masses as not able to think for themselves because they don't know what's best for them and have delusions that there is a higher power that motivates them. So instead, the elites will dictate how the masses live their lives and ensure that mankind is beyond its superstitious need for God(s), tax all the producers to raise up the poor . . . Blah blah blah . . .
You support candidates who understand that the Bill of Rights is to be respected as the supreme law of the land, that the Founders called for limited government, and that each person has an obligation to work for themselves and their families and that they should not be dependent on the government (through welfare programs), nor overly indebted to the government (through taxes) either. Those are, mostly, traditional Republicans (not neo-cons), Libertarians, Constitutional Conservatives, and yes, Tea Party types.
You and Erin Lale are Heathens. Jessica Orsini, who was re-elected as an Alderman in Missouri, is a Hellenion. Why do you think that Pagans in reconstructionist religions have been more successful in breaking into politics and seen as serious candidates than Wiccans and other Contemporary Pagans?
Because the intellectual rigors of reconstruction faiths provide the discipline and education needed to be taken seriously in academic circles, which usually means mainstream higher education, in turn upper income, and more mainstream appearances and social involvement.
What advice do you have for Pagans who are considering running for political office?
Be well educated, involved in your community, and desire to have your faith as one component of your life and not your entire identity.
Do you think the U.S. is ready for Pagans in higher office, say in Congress?
Yes. As with any faith, the right candidates -- ones who know what their community's needs are, who can advocate and build coalitions . . . A person's religion isn't the litmus test for public office; it's a component in understanding who they are and their point of view.
Hopefully in four years New York will be ready for a Heathen Congressman.
Originally appeared on the PAGAN+politics blog and is reprinted with permission.
Cara Schulz is a Sales and Marketing Consultant based in Minnesota and blogs for the Pagan Newswire Collective's PAGAN+politics project. Since 1989, she has also been a Radio and TV Broadcaster in the USAF, produced the news for an ABC affiliate, then moved into Advertising Sales and Sales Management. In 2009, she was elected Tamias (Treasurer) for Hellenion. Hellenion is U.S.-based religious organization (501[c][3]) dedicated to the revival and practice of Hellenic polytheism. Cara lives in Austin with her husband, Tracy, and her son, Justin, but the family will soon be moving to the Twin Cities. When not working or involved with Hellenion, Cara enjoys attending Sci-Fi conventions in costume and putting the "camp" in camping at the Sacred Harvest Festival.
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