SITE MENU
SPIRIT MENU
Sign Guestbook
View Guestbook
As usual, this site is best viewed with Netscape 6+ or Internet Explorer 5+
|
|
What's Wrong with Paganism?
|
Like any religion, Wicca and Paganism in general has its own collection of myths and faults. Sadly, many are exaccerbated by the people that practice the religion; it seems that fervour provides a virtual immunity to error. Far from a critique, I'd like to point out both the myths and the flaws that I've noticed since becoming involved with paganism and the pagans who practice it.
Myth Number 1: Could it be..... SATAN?!
Contrary to popular belief, pagans do NOT worship Satan. Don't believe it for a minute; it's total nonsense. Anyone who claims that witches worship Satan speaks from wanton ignorance. To say so is the same as saying that an ancient Norseman worships Raiden, the Japanese thunder god, or that a Jewish Rabbi worships Zeus, the Greek sky god.
The Christian mythology is as distinct and separate from that of Paganism as the Celtic is from the Mayan. Having said that, there is a modern theory that medieval Christians attempted to subvert pagans by combining the horns of the Celtic deity, Cernunnos with the cloven hooves of the Greek god, Pan to create an image of Satan.
So, back in the day, a fanatic padre waves in the air a picture drawn by an over-imaginative monk and screams about Satan worship. Does it matter that the pagans were worshipping Cernunnos and quite possibly have no clue who Satan is? Does it matter that the over-imaginative monk received guidance from the Church on how to draw Satan? Nope, all that matters is the personal charisma of the missionary screaming bloody sacrilege and how many people he can convince to help him in his holy war.
A simple tactic from a simple-minded time so...why does it still work today? Who knows? Personally, I think that it's easier to follow than to think for yourself.
When the priest cries Satan worship, don't follow blindly; that's what lemmings do.
Myth Number 2: Skyclad Ritual = Birthday Suit Fashion Show
Another topic that invariably comes up is that of 'going skyclad'. Skyclad is a term that means to be clothed with the sky, or to wear no clothing. Unlike many of the Great Religions, paganism upholds a more responsible, more accepting view of sexuality. Pagans learn not to be ashamed of their bodies; how you could feel shame for that which the Lord and Lady have granted you to clothe your spirit?
This being so, many pagans worship in the nude; it is a more natural way of being. Only humans cover their bodies and only humans feel shame in nudity. Of course, with a looser interpretation of sexual conduct comes a greater insistence upon sexual responsibility.
Many pagans worship skyclad. I don't consider myself a pagan and when I go to festivals and such, I usually go skyclad. Heh, that may frighten my friends. In all honesty, you get used to it and in an atmosphere of respect without shame, it's quite comfortable. However, it is totally based upon comfort and is not required. Anyone who pressures you into worshipping skyclad is either a fanatic or a sleaze and should be treated accordingly.
Flaw Number 1: Fanaticism in the ranks
As with all religions, however, its own tenets are its weaknesses. Paganism is very vulnerable to prejudicial mindsets. For example, Dianic wicca, named after the Roman goddess, Diana, explores the aspects of the Goddess and does not acknowledge the God. It can be a unique and often helpful path. I have a good friend who's Dianic; she tells me it's good for women who have been abused by, and have lost their trust in, men. It's also good for a woman to find her confidence in a world that pushes everyone down. However, Dianism has also been known to attract radical feminists who use it to fuel hate crimes against men.
Asatru is a culture-specific derivation of paganism that focuses on the deities of Asgard, the Germanic pantheon. While I know little of it, I find that the culture-specific religions are useful in helping the practitioner get in tune with his or her roots and ancestors. Unfortunately, it has become the chosen religion of many neoNazi groups.
Finally, as to be expected, some male pagans have combined the worship of certain gods with the belief systems of more aggressive men's movement groups to form misogynistic groups.
Is the religion at fault when fanatics use it to bolster their personal whacked-out agendas? No, if that is what you believe then I propose that you can only see the surface of the religion and should try looking deeper. This advice is offered to everyone, pagan and non. Every religion, including Christianity, is valid when explored to its core.
Flaw Number 2: Can you say... "sleazeball"? I knew you could
The sexuality of paganism is another crack in the armour. My personal experience has shown that many people aren't prepared for responsibility. They need the restrictions and controls of Christian sexual dogma. Any person who's placed under severe, irrational discipline tends to go wild when that discipline is removed. Mind you, they get depraved if the discipline isn't removed.
People raised in a Christian environment tend to become lecherous when brought into a pagan one. There's a huge difference between not acting on an impulse because you'll be damned to Hell and not acting on it because it's inappropriate. Once removed from the threat of Hell, many new-found pagans can't understand how to deem what's inappropriate. Fortunately, many are socially inept and easily brushed off; pests at worst. Others are quite capable of producing harmful scandals within a community.
Some view paganism as an opportunity to live their most depraved fantasies. Unfortunately for them, the chances of a cheesy X-rated movie accurately depicting paganism are about equal to the chances of finding an old man in the desert named Ben who'll give you a light saber if you go with him to another planet. Welcome to the real world, folks.
If you find yourself entering into the pagan community, be warned that it's easy to slide down the sleazy path. Promiscuity, Homo/Bi/Heterosexuality and Sadomasochism are accepted by many pagans as valid aspects of sexual expression. These forms of expression aren't necessarily right or wrong but that doesn't mean that you have to try them all out. It also doesn't mean that other pagans embrace them openly; many have tried them and found them not to their liking. For every freedom comes the necessity of being responsible to yourself and others. Explore the freedoms gradually, sensibly and with respect. Don't be a pest.
Flaw Number 3: That Inquisition thing
Sigh, this one is both tough to explain, and yet, in its own way, humourous. There are those people, typically rebelious teenagers, who become pagans by running away from Christianity. They read about the Burning Times when the Inquisition burned damn near anyone who wasn't a perfect drone of the Church. These, often overly-dramatic (can you say Drama Queen?) pagans suddenly proclaim that they hate Christianity, Christians, and the government that accepts the rampant crimes of such a brutal religion. Sigh, yeap, there's one in every crowd.
Heh, where do I start? Firstly, any North American (or even European) who says they hate Christianity is an idiot, pure and simple. The North American mindset is founded on good Puritan values. Christian values are ingrained in the simple brains of every pagan who claims to hate it and they're damned hard to get rid of.... the values, that is. Marriage, taboos against incest and cannibalism, Christmas, no sex on TV, monogamy, the right to love who you (and not your parents) choose... all these are Christian values. Can you deny that which you take for granted and embrace that which you find meaningless or revolting? North American pagans are Christian pagans, period.
As for the Inquisition, well, they killed many people. They killed men, women, children, heterosexuals, homosexuals, zoophiliacs, young, old, pagans and fellow priests. To whine about how the Inquisition killed pagans is like sitting at the site of a train wreck that occurred 500 years ago, ranting against the railroad industry because 30 passengers (whom you read about in a book) were killed in it. I think "Give it a rest" just about covers it.
|
|
FAVOURITE LINKS
|
