feeling left out

[stillwater]

Merry meet,
I was just wondering if anyone else out there sometimes feels left out in things such as this national terrorist thing. What I mean is, one day I was watching the news and various priests and pastors of different Christian sects were debating their opinions of the "Holy" consequences of this act. I thought and still think the context of this act committed by men towards men being twisted into a holy issue is absurd, but still I felt a little left out.

Wicca is a recognized religion in this country, but noone asks our priests or priestesses their opinions. It makes me sad and mad all rolled into one. I'm just thankful that there are people here to talk with, thankful that we have this site to share our feelings and concerns.
Blessed be

[Danustouch]

Nope...I don't feel left out at all. Because I think it is a matter of perception. I just organized a vigil for my town, and was asked which religion/church i represented. And I deliberately said...No church, no denomination. I did NOT mention myself being pagan, nor did I mention the Goddess in my Prayers of the evening (using words like devine/creator instead). And the reason WHY ..is because I feel that at a time such as this, labels can prove a distraction. Christianity is the MAJOR religion in my town. There ARE no synagogues, no mosques, no bhuddist temples. So. My most important task, was making sure each christian denomination, had a representative there. Had I come out, and said I was Pagan, it may have made some pastors/priests reconsider their support of the vigil. It may have distracted some of the audience members, from the reason they were there that night. It would have devided, while my goal..was to unite. All in life, is perception. We can choose to be discontent, with the fact that we are not often "represented" to the mainstream society. Or..we can choose to do something to change that. Now that the vigil is done, if any one of those pastors, or people from the town, for that matter, were to ask me what my personal spiritual preference was, I would try to find the most gentle, open minded way, of explaining them. And hopefully, they would understand, based on what they witnessed of me, first. There is something MUCH more important than the religious labels we place on ourselves. Something FAR greater, than ourselves. That is Love. So..to me, nope. I'm not seeing ANY problem with the lack of media representation of our Priests and Priestesses. I suspect, that if enough of us were angry about it, someone would have CALLED the press, by now, or written editorials to local papers, sighned "high priest of so & so". But ...I think most of us are trying to see the larger picture in all of this :)

[stillwater]

Thanks for your opinion, and I guess if I were really angry I would say something to the media. Just feeling left out, I guess. Thanks for making me see that is my own perception. Try to realize that I live in the extreme South where the Baptist Bible belt still reigns. Without communication such as here, I have to really keep my opinions at bay for lack of understanding around here. I would risk the safety of my family for speaking out and possibly even suffer crosses burning in my yard and such bizarre hatred as that. I think what really has me upset is the act of terrorism itself first; then, it is the media and general public turning this into a good pitted against evil thing in the Christian context. Then, these people display their fear and hatred toward anyone who looks like they might be a terrorist. The whole thing is just so ridiculous. Furthermore, the deep south with its fire and brimstone mentality adds to my aggravation. I see your post saying you are from New England. I'm not sure, but I would guess people in your area don't have the exact sense of fire and brimstone mentality that is around here. There is nothing like a southern baptist. I am very patient and tolerant with them, realizing that their perception is their reality, but at times like this my patience begins to run thin.

[Myst]

Probably because most people don't realize Paganism exists or that Wicca is a religion. Mention the term "witch" to a cowan and no doubt they'll recount stories of halloween tales, glenda type witch stories, or possibly comments about Satanists. It's not so much as a purposeful slam as the fact that the uninitiated are largely ignorant of the fact that there is a religion outside of Christian, Muslim, or Jewish beliefs. The only thing a lot of people know about outside of that is "that new agey stuff", much less the fact that there are various broad Pagan religions... All we can do is strive to make our beliefs more well known.

And D has a great point, labels limit, and our intentions and goals reach far beyond labels.

[Twilight Garden]

I agree with the replies here. We have to stand above the ignorant and unenlightened. Causing an uproar about religious representation could prossibly be misinterprated from the others and could take away from the thoughts and fellings in group prayer. There is a time and place for everything. Maybe now is not the time. After all this upset is over with, it might be a great time. You still have us to communicate with. :)


This is off the subject, but you mentioned freedom of religion. This is true. But In America, the country was founded (among other things) so that the Fore-Fathers could practice their Christianity, instead of what England was making them practice. I personally don't think they ever intended Paganism to be considered a religion. (We're a bunch of crazy heathens. hee hee) We are just strong and intelligent enough to convince them it is a religion. And they are starting to recognize how much of a melting pot America is. I appologize for my lack of Canadian historical knowledge. I feel like the ignorant one.

This is just MY impression. I doubt it could be supported by facts.

[Wyrdsister]

Well put, Danustouch. :thumbsup:

Wyrdsister