Prejudice Among Pagans: Presented By ManOfTheOak
While most of us like to think we are open minded within the pagan paths, we seldom stop to think what words we are saying and how they may affect the ones listening when we say them.
How many times do we get caught up in joking or talking with someone and come off with a comment that may be taken harshly by someone who is listening? Do we really know? How many times have we been hurt by words that someone else has said? Are we each guilty of this? What does this look like to others who may be looking to us for guidance and for an understanding of being pagan and what it entails to be one?
It is all to sad in a area of spirituality that is supposed to be so open minded that we hear people being put down for being a different race, gay, bi-sexual and even cross gendered. When we have seen so much prejudice from other religions and spiritual groups we turn around and do the same thing in which they have done to us. Do we look at people on-line as just nick names and not care what the person behind the name is really feeling?
The sad truth is here in front of us and we are the only ones who can change the way we are viewed by others. As fellow human beings there is not one person who should be judged on how they love or which race they are. We are all children of the Goddess.
While no-one is saying you have to change your feelings, you can make a difference by trying to picture yourself in the other persons shoes and thinking how you would feel if the tables was turned and you are the one being viewed as being so different.
The next time you are about to come off with a prejudice remark even if joking, stop, look around and see who is listening. Is this how you want to be viewed? Remember everyone is listening even though they aren't saying that they are. Even if you don't care who you hurt, you may need that person in the future. Will that person be there then if you need them to save your life, to give you shelter, or even to send out healing energy and prayers for you. Hopefully yes but more than likely not if you are so closed minded to them now.
The bottom line is that if we want to be treated equally we must first learn to treat everyone else equally. Until we do then we will not be accepted either and in the end we are the ones who suffer, the remark I or you just made may have cost us the best friend a person could ever have or even costs us our life or a family members life in the future.
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