Original Sin in Paganism - offensive article

[David19]

This article was posted on another board I'm on, and I wanted to get your opinions on it.

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=words&id=11900

Basically, the author of the article says that mental illness is caused by family "karma".

Here's some quotes from the article:


What if mental illness is the result of one member of a family being the repository for the family’s karmic debt? By that, I mean that any family that has a level of dysfunction in it creates karmic debt as a collective. It may be something that was passed down from generation to generation unknowingly. There is no blame or guilt in this theory, only a possible idea for healing a family’s debt as a whole. And thus, breaking the cycle of mental illness within one of the family members’ life.


A family that has a history of mental illness may be a family who hasn’t paid their karmic debt for generations. So each subsequent generation has one person who is the repository for all the ills of the family, and thus they become too sick to function independently.


So what do you do once you have identified this person? Gather your family together for the sake of nurturing your emotional connections. This can be anything: dinners, cookouts, re-unions, phone calls, photos, websites, etc. The goal is to make a real change in how you live your life such that your family staying together and keeping those emotional connections strong becomes a higher priority than it has been before now.

To me, it's just another word for original sin, except using the Pagan buzzword "karma" (and another thing, from what I know, in Buddhism and Hinduism, karma only affects individuals, not whole groups).

I think it's very offensive to those with mental illnesses, and also quite dangerous, as some other Pagans I know said. Because someone who reads the article may just think they don't need qualified medical practicioners (i.e. psychologists) who are experts, instead they can be "cured" just by visiting their family and saying "blessed be" all the time.

And, I do know that some people are messed up because of their families, like say victims of sexual, physical and/or mental and emotional abuse, the best option for them is often to cut off contact with their families, yet the author is basically saying "forget all that, go and hug your family".

To me, she is being very irresponsible, and quite offensive, really. It seems that "karma" is now the word for "original sin".

Anyway, what are your thoughts?.

[aluokaloo]

sounds like an ill-conceived, load of crap, with foundation, without basis. it sounds like personal opinion, and it seems everyone these days think they are the greatest head-shrinks ever.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

To me it sounds more of the inclusion of Abrahamic concepts into a modified non-Abrahamic religion ie origial sin and denying blame for the individual at the expense of a family unit..

I will admit I find it funy the inclusion "Karma" has taken into the "Pagan" umbrella for a concept that really didn't mesh into the cultural content until the free love days of the 60's.

Unfortunately it appears as another of the take what I want and include it as I will script. But then again that's why I have so little support for whats put up at witchvox.

[DarkDancer]

I don't believe that either Karma or Reincarnation work the way that that person seems to think.

[Shanti]

Heck I don't believe in Karma so I guess that blows that article for me! :)

[Sequoia]

sounds like an ill-conceived, load of crap, with foundation, without basis. it sounds like personal opinion, and it seems everyone these days think they are the greatest head-shrinks ever.

QFT.

WTF is up with WitchVox lately? I swear, they're getting nuttier than a handful of almonds over there.

[imapepper]

I remember hearing about this too in the past, not on WitchVox though. I would remember the source if I didn't think it was so lame! At the time when I read it I remember thinking the same thing, that it was really irresponsible.

You know, I'll be honest. I believe in the mind/soul/body connection, and I think to an extent that ailments and afflictions have their roots in the supernatural, but I also believe in that balance, so I never blame anything on one thing (it's all in your head, or it's a curse, or it's just a flesh wound). Know what I mean? I think that it's so dangerous and ineffective to boot, to blame it all on karma or a curse or anything else of that ilk. It leaves the person free to never take responsibility or control of their life, it's the perfect excuse to not seek treatment or get the proper help. So, I really hate when articles like this come out. Blah.

[Lunacie]

I think some of the mental illness (I prefer the tern neuroligical disorders) are the result of changes in our diets. But there is a growing field of research that shows a definate genetic link; i.e. if the parents have a neuroligical disorder like ADD or Bipolar the chances of their children having a similar disorder are greater than normal. Is that a result of "unpaid karmic debt"? How does one "pay their karmic debt" anyway?

I like the idea of a family pulling together and supporting each other and trying to improve their communication and their familial connectiveness, but somehow I doubt that will "cure" a biological issue.

[sari0009]

Most people who have studied Paganism long enough realize that Pagans tend to believe in original sanctity (http://www.neopagan.net/NeopagansBelieve.html) rather than original sin.

I don't feel that the author of the witchvox essay in question presently has the background, scope, comprehension, or clarity needed to traverse the topic of karma (there are several school of thought regarding karma) and she's severely handicapped with logic errors.

Yes, abuse and mental illness can erode families but her assumptions after that point in the article are extremely faulty.

The cycle of abuse can generational but can be broken through education and other measures (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sari0009&nextdate=11%2f1%2f2005+23%3a59%3a59.999).

In the case of mental illness, that cycle can also often be broken through education, treatment, and lifestyle changes.


Egregore (even in abusive families) does not negate or prevent free will, autonomy, the benefits of education, and the range of choices different family/group individuals may make. Many former victims and mentally ill individuals actually go into fields such as psychology and psychiatry. They learn and help themselves while serving others.
Yes, it's hard work to heal. It's easier to use a preexisting "as is" egregore or sense of reality that your family teaches you than to purposely and painstakingly create anew (a years-long process). It's difficult to face abuse, become more informed and articulate about it, and teach yourself learned empowermen (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sari0009&nextdate=11%2f16%2f2006+23%3a59%3a59.999)t and live it...but not impossible.

Blaming genetic/family illnesses on karma is just another (mental gymnastics) way of blaming the victim/sufferer. They do that crap to victims of incest too. Terrible!

Karma (as in "what goes around comes around") due to group or familial associations should be considered a separate topic in which childhood dependence and vulnerability is respected and considered instead of given the dirty end of the rationalization stick.