Being a pagan and wearing a pentacle openly has, at times, exposed me to intolerance and prejudice. Many of the stories that are on your 'Evidence of Persecution' link are hateful towards Christianity. While I will not defend the injustices that have been done to pagans over the years; I will point out that many pagan paths believe in religious tolerance. The pagan community should strive to sail above all of the other repressed groups that have been subjugated, and upon becoming the majority impose the same persecutions upon their former persecutors.
I spent 6 years in the US Navy and have met people of varying
faiths and backgrounds. The majority of them were grudgingly tolerant
of my beliefs, the next largest were those few gems ho accepted
me regardless of my beliefs, and in the minority were those who
were openly or secretly hostile towards my beliefs. One of my
chiefs was an extremely zealous Christian who took a rather parental
attitude towards my beliefs. Many of the times we were alone he
would ask questions of my beliefs and compare them to his own.
In the end he summed up that by being a good Christian I could
maintain most of my moral beliefs. He concluded that believing
in Jesus and God would have no ill effects, since my gods are
not jealous like the Christian god, I would protect my soul and
attain Heaven if Christians happen to be correct. While I am grateful
for his true concern about my spiritual well being, something
that is lacking in many people, he failed to realize that by going
against my own beliefs, by compromising on my ideals, I would
be committing one of the most horrible crimes. I will live and
die by my beliefs and always - REMAIN TRUE TO MYSELF!
Pagan Tolerance in Photo shop
"I used to work at Nashua
Photo in Parkersburg, WV, and am Pagan. I found a nice, tasteful
5-pointed star (point up) to wear. It is the star surrounded by
oak leaves, with an acorn in the center. Well, one idiot told
one of my supervisors that since I wear it, I am a "devil
worshipper." She then came and asked me about it, and the
first thing I did was laugh. I then told her how Zoroster invented
the christian "devil" and educated her as to who the
REAL satanists/devilworshippers are (in my opinion, anyway - email
me for that, it's interesting). I even told her that the christians
tried to claim it was one of their symbols.....the 5 wounds of
christ. Ya know, crown of thorns, nails in the hands, nails in
the feet, but it didn't work. I then told her I would be willing
to talk to the person, which I believe was the guy sitting with
her, but she said no, she would tell him he was wrong. Thing is,
the guy was a rude SOB, and I was well known for my politeness;
opening doors for women, saying Ma'am, helping others, and so
on. After a very short while, it got around I am Pagan, but don't
mess with me, because I was better than most every "christian"
in the building; that is, more morally upright, better mannered,
etc. Plus, from everything I have learned, I was VERY knowledgeable
about almost every theological subject, especially christianity.
Needless to say, when the plant got sold, I had MANY friends,
and they knew what I stood for - and they would say I am more
"christ-like" than most all their "christian"
friends." - James jamwheat@eurekanet.com
How does one undo centuries of intolerance and lack of education? I have seen many "non-orthidox" religions that I may not necessarily agree with (I am Wiccan myself), but it's not for me to decide who's right or wrong...how is it Congress'? I will be adding a link to "The Burning Times" to my homepage, in hopes that more people will see- it's not about the face you worship, it's about the freedom to worship the face you want. I WILL NOT be labeled "evil" because I'm not in the "mainstream"...Incidentally, whatever happened to "Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself"? Thank you for letting me vent :-)
Sincerely, J.L.L. Maine, USA