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The Craft and Religious Freedom

Author: Starpalm
Posted: October 5th. 2008
Times Viewed: 2,659

One of the basic tenants of American society is our right to religious freedom. It is central to America’s core beliefs. As such, it was written into the Bill of Rights as the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I’d wager, if a cross section of Americans were asked if they support the idea of religious freedom, most of them wholeheartedly would.

If in the same question you mention a particular religion or belief system that’s unpopular, misunderstood or is in opposition to an American’s particular system of faith however, it’s likely the answer would be no. Thankfully, the Bill of Rights takes this into account, providing all Americans protection. It reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances (Robinson, “First”) .

Practitioners of “earth-based” religions often are faced with discriminatory, highly emotional, sometimes violent reactions from “God-Fearing” people. Often the accusers dismiss my religion as a “non-religion” based on misconceptions about Paganism in general and Witchcraft specifically. Paganism is as valid a religion as any mainstream one.

Although earth-based religions are recognized as valid under constitutional law, followers of these religions don’t always experience acceptance in their communities. Prejudice and discrimination is a reality many face, including members of my family. I remember an incident that occurred two years ago at my daughter’s middle school.

I raised both of my children in a Goddess Path. Wicca encourages tolerance of other religions and promotes balance in body, mind, and spirit. I advised my children to keep our beliefs to ourselves, knowing how often our faith is attacked. My daughter’s backpack sported an icon from a popular band called “Him.” The icon bares a resemblance to a pentacle, but its center has a heart rather than a five-pointed star. The backpack’s emblem had nothing to do with Witchcraft or Wiccan symbolism.

On this particular day, a popular girl accosted my daughter. She claimed my daughter, Mariah, was promoting devil worship with her “Satanic symbol.” She demanded Mariah remove the symbol from her sight.

Mariah explained it was the symbol for the “Him” band. She went on to point out that pentacles weren’t the symbol of Satan anyway, rather they represent the balance of spirit, emotion, intellect, physical, and mental well-being.

The other girl became furious and started shouting at my daughter. Mariah turned and walked away. The accusing girl pursued my daughter, eventually catching up and punching her in the face. Mariah was a black belt candidate at the time (just a few months from receiving her belt) . She absorbed the punch easily, countering with a front jump kick that put the other girl on the ground.

The principal of Morrill called me. He told me, Mariah’s backpack caused the girl to lose her temper because of its satanic correlations. I quickly brought his attention to the real issue: religions intolerance. I reminded him of the First Amendment. I clarified the symbol wasn’t a pentacle and that my children and I were Wiccan. As Wiccans we see the pentacle as a symbol of spiritual balance.

After reminding him of my daughters’ civil rights, I called the police to file charges against the girl, who was suspended for only one day. The DA didn’t pursue the charges. I wonder if they would have, if we were of a more “sympathetic” religion such as Judaism or Latter Day Saints.

I support the right for every citizen to practice a personal path to god, regardless of what they name god. It doesn’t matter what one calls “Her” -- God, Allah, Buddha, Jesus, Zeus, Great Spirit, Hecate, Freya, Demeter, Kali Ma, Changing Woman, The Force, The Higher Power, or All That Is. The important thing is, Americans should respect my right to follow my religion too.

I don’t think people intend to harm me as an individual. I believe they become caught up in their own self-righteous ideas, somehow divorcing their actions from common sense. They lose touch with their own central religious themes, which prohibit hateful behavior. Stereotyping gives people permission to behave stupidly. It’s never okay to attack another person based solely on what is assumed to be other’s thoughts or beliefs.

It’s true. Witches have a major public image issue. Lets face it; Hollywood portrays us as either airy-fairy or evil hags, capable of unspeakable asks of aggression – all the while flying on a broom. Gas pricing as it is, broom flying would be awesome. But in the real world, Witches don’t have “special magical powers” beyond our ability to meditate, thus focusing our intent. Clarity of thought allows us to effect positive changes in our lives.

Ever wonder where the classic Halloween image of a Witch comes from? The misconception that Witches are green-skinned, crooked-nosed, missing-toothed, broken-fingered, ragged-clawed hags, is an image that comes from the “Burning Times” -- a time when women were horrifically tortured in the name of God, used as scapegoats to explain a bad crop or the neighbor’s dead cow. The green skin is a testament to her badly bruised body, the bulbous nose and missing teeth – a small side effect from being ruthlessly beaten, the broken fingers and ragged nails evidence of thumb screws’ harrowing effect on an elderly woman’s hands (Robinson, “Burning”) .

According to Religious Tolerance’s website, most of the images come from the period of 1450 through 1650 and are European in origin. The victims of witch-hunts were usually women; although it’s estimated, up to 25% of those tortured, and killed, were men. Few of the victims were actually Witches. Originally, it was reported millions of women died then. It is now believed the numbers to be in the tens of thousands, however. Some victims were midwifes or herbalists. Still, the vast majority were just unfortunates, blamed for whatever real or imagined misfortunes occurred in their village.

Throughout history, people have used scapegoats to fool themselves into complacency. The image problem of Witches has been with us for centuries. Just because something has been believed for a long time, doesn’t make it true. The world isn’t flat, either.

Paganism is not a single religion, but rather an umbrella encompassing many nature and earth based religions including Witchcraft, Druidism, Shamanism, Native American, and Huna. Similarly, Christianity is a broad term for various religions including Baptists, Evangelicals, Catholics, Lutherans, and so on. Witches are under the Pagan umbrella and within Witchcraft there are dozens of traditions.

Witchcraft has two main divisions, some traditions are under the Old Religion, and others are termed Wiccan and follow world mythologies such as Norse, Egyptian, or Celtic. Most of the Old Religion can be traced back to the time before monotheistic religions became the norm. Witches relate to god through god aspects (myths) found throughout the world.

Pagan, a word rooted in Middle English is derived from the Latin word ‘paganus’. Paganus means country dweller or refers to a rural area (Zenmundo) . Folks in the middle ages were just as snobbish as they are now. Pagans worked the fields and worshipped gods that differed from the city dwellers. To be called a ‘pagan’ was an insult of sorts then.

Nowadays there is a resurgence of Paganism. Today’s Pagan is a follower of the earth’s cycles, paying attention to the rhythm or seasons of earth. Festivals are held in accordance with seasons and combined with activities mimicking a particular time. For example, the beginning of a Pagan year is Samhain, or more commonly known as Halloween. During this time, Pagans honor ancestors, reflect on the lessons learned, and give thanks. It is a time of reflection, of storytelling and of remembrance.

The seasons remind Pagans that life is cyclical, and there is a time for all things. Some Pagans are polytheistic, honoring many gods. Others are pantheistic believing that the Universe is God and even a few are monotheistic similar to Christians – believing in a single God or Goddess. Some dictionaries, such as Webster’s 1913 edition, refer to Pagans as non-believers or as having no religion or believing in “False Gods” (“Hydroponic”) . These prejudicial ideas are based on Christian, Muslim, and Jewish teachings that narrowly define religion as monotheistic beliefs -- based on dogma.

Pagans generally love exploring many religions, often studying them as a means to find personal enlightenment. Because all religions have their own vocabulary, each offers new perspectives in universal truths. If one looks closely enough, one can find commonality rather than focusing on the differences. In doing so tolerance develops -- if not respect.

The beauty of Witchcraft is found in its reverence for world culture and mythologies. Witches strive to understand our relationship with Divinity through self-study or within small groups. Sometimes these groups are called circles or covens. We hold all religions sacred in that they are paths to Goddess (understanding) . We believe everything is a part of god: earth, people, trees, and all living things. Much like cells are part of our bodies, we view ourselves as part of divinity. We understand that everything, and everyone is divinely connected. We believe everyone has a right to live in harmony with nature and, further, that nature is Goddess.

In Witchcraft, there isn’t an ultimate evil or good, an absolute black or white, nor one true god or one supreme evil being, such as Satan. Dualistic concepts, such as good versus evil, are Christian ideas as is -- God is separate from nature and earth, reigning supreme. I believe it is this “power over” idea that allows some Christians to justify hateful dominance over those not of the same faith. If the world is viewed as separate from God and, one believes they are chosen of God, then why not dominate those not of ones faith? People have been doing that for centuries with war too often as the result.

World history demonstrates there have been countless wars waged in the name of God. Perhaps the most widely known are the Crusades occurring from eleventh to fifteenth centuries, sanctioned by the Catholic Pope. According to New Advent an online Catholic educational resource, essentially the reason for Christian aggression was to defend against the “Mohammedan Tyranny.”

The term ‘crusade’ became synonymous with wars waged against other people, usually “Pagan, Heretics, and Mohammedans” and justified -- based upon religious differences. Crusaders were given additional protections against civil laws and prosecution (Bréhier) . Unfortunately, attitudes of superiority and special right -- to harm others not of their own religion, continue today.

Throughout my life, I have heard many insulting and prejudicial comments about my religion. Once at a Milpitas Wine Festival with my children, then aged four and six, I was surrounded by a group of Christian youth (gang) members. Empowered by their numbers, they thought it their right (perhaps more accurately their duty) to accuse me of Satan worship. They informed me that I’d burn in hell.

I explained, I didn’t believe in hell, but would happily defend their right to. Their behavior became more erratic, focusing on my pentacle. They loudly accused me of wearing the Devil’s symbol.

Realizing logic and calm responses weren’t defusing the dangerous situation; I scanned the area for my husband. He was still waiting for sodas at a vendor’s tent and didn’t realize our situation. My children were scared, clinging to me as I made my way toward a policeman standing fifty yards away. The Christian youth gang finally left us alone. Ignorance is not an excuse for threatening behavior.

There is the old argument that Witchcraft is just a bunch of make believe. Witches are playacting at being something magical. Again, these kinds of accusations are emotional responses to misinformation about Witchcraft. We don’t pretend anything, but we do practice deep meditation techniques similar to Yoga. Spellcrafting isn’t special magical powers of an immortal; rather, it is an interactive prayer by a normal person just like everyone else. By interactive, I mean using additional sensory aids such as music, incense, and iconic representations to symbolically communicate with Goddess along with our prayers.

Contrary to popular belief, Witches don’t cast spells on others. Spells are cast on ourselves, or for the environment to attract balance. Witches believe in a three-fold law, which tell us for every action there is a reaction three times the strength, directed back to the originator. Therefore, if we send out negative intent, we will suffer negatively three times as strong. It is similar to the Christian Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do upon to you”; only Witches get zapped three times harder.

Most religions recognize the benefits of prayer or meditation. Recently, the acceptance of prayer or meditation in places other than religious centers are becoming more prevalent. According to Sarah Glazer’s article “Prayer and Healing” many medical Doctors are supporting prayer as a positive influence on patient recovery and healing. It’s not some sort of spooky or made up magic, rather it is the crystallization of thought that focuses our brains to speed recovery. As far back as the early 70s people have used meditation and biofeedback to help calm the mind while undergoing stressful situations in a medical environment. So although it is not widely accepted, there does seem to be a trend towards open-mindedness at least in some medical environments.

A number of people have asked me over the years, if I was a good Witch or a bad Witch. I usually respond in kind, are you a good Christian or a Crusader? Of course I, like most Americans, try to the do the morally correct thing all the time. It is part of a Witch’s everyday practice to reflect, then take action to effect balance in our lives. Some people may place blame on God or Satan for the things that happen.

In Witchcraft, the buck stops here. I am responsible for my actions and my environment, good or bad. I often say it’s not the things that happen to you that matter, it is how you choose to deal with them. The other night Dr. Phil said during “Living on a Prayer” episode, “Pray to God, but row towards the shore.” Not bad advice, I’d say!

I’ve been told, Witchcraft isn’t a religion, and it’s a cult. Princeton’s WordNet, an online dictionary defines a cult as “Followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices.” Yes, that fits -- but it does for nearly all religions. How about their next definition, “followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.” That definition doesn’t fit. Witches don’t follow individual leaders, charismatic or otherwise. Can the same be said of say, Evangelical followers of Pat Robinson?

The idea of blindly following a ‘revealed’ truth is at its core the polar opposite of Witches’ practice of looking within -- to find deeper meaning in the Universe. Calling Witchcraft cult-like is akin to the pot calling the kettle black.

Interestingly, Christianity was considered a “peripheral cult” when it first immerged (“Cities of God”) . Christians suffered for their minority beliefs and were considered atheists by Rome. Jeffery Sheler’s article Days of the Martyrs describes early persecution of Christians by Roman Government:

By the beginning of the second century, Christians numbered fewer than 10, 000, according to some estimates. The Apostles--the small circle of disciples who had known Jesus personally--were gone. Several had been martyred. The end of the apostolic era would find the church turning to the local and regional leaders (bishops, deacons, and elders) who wielded increasing authority on matters of doctrine and practice. At the same time, Christians faced heightened persecution at the hands of government authorities, who were suspicious of this outlawed movement of "atheists" (Christians rejected Rome's pagan pantheon and worshiped an invisible God) who were reputed to engage in strange cultic rituals, including cannibalism--a misconstrued idea of the Eucharist. It marked a resumption of the violent oppression that began in A.D. 64 when the Emperor Nero blamed Christians for a fire that devastated Rome and ordered many put to death in a gruesome public spectacle. "Before killing the Christians, " wrote Tacitus, the first-century Roman historian, "Nero used them to amuse the people. Some were dressed in furs, to be killed by dogs. Others were crucified. Still others were set on fire early in the night, so that they might illumine it." (Days of the Martyrs)

Christians were unjustly stereotyped as a cult. The act of labeling religions as cults is often used as the justification for hate crimes. There is no moral justification to harm or kill another -- simply based on differing religious beliefs.

Another example of religious intolerance is the belief – religion must have dogma to be considered legitimate. Since there isn’t dogma in Paganism, it can’t be a ‘true’ religion.

Princeton defines dogma as “... a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof. A doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative.” By its very nature, dogma isn’t accepted by Witches. Pagans question everything and seek to understand by active participation, rather than accepting doctrines as proof. How one religious sect defines their own religion -- is not necessarily how others define theirs. It shouldn’t follow that my definition must concur with yours, and if it doesn’t than your religion is invalid.

Dr Brendon Myers, a Druid with a PhD in Philosophy from the National University of Ireland, Galway explains, Pagans enjoy a rich history of world myth and culture often under the construct of Pagan Virtues. Myers believes virtues are of Pagan origin, but are now mostly viewed within the construct of monotheistic ideals of “humility and chastity.” He explains the core difference between Pagan beliefs and that of monotheistic as -- Pagans view virtues as questions to analyze their actions whereas, monotheists understand virtues as rules to live by without question. Both camps of thought live morally conscious lives within their own religious parameters. Pagans question everything, and hold themselves responsible. It can be argued that virtues are a way of measuring one’s identity against oneself thereby making the use of dogma superficial (Wildhunt) .

Witches don't seek to convert others to our path. The idea of forcing someone else to our will is both repugnant and condescending. Similar to many belief systems, our focus is to understand our place in the world. Witches seek to find balance and establish our relationship with Goddess. The fact we name god: Goddess, Lady, Lord, The Universe or Kwan Yen, isn’t relevant to our right to religious freedom. Illogical, nonsense arguments, and hateful aggression aside; Pagans have the right to pursue their own religion, as much as anyone.

I pray for an accepting and tolerant America where Pagans can live without the fear of discrimination and prejudice. I am thankful our country is based on a central constitution with rights guaranteed all of it’s citizens -- even Goddess-loving, moon-dancing, tree-hugging Pagans.

Footnotes:
Works Cited
Bréhier, Louis. "Crusades." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 20 Jul. 2008
"Cities of God.” First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life 182 (April 2008) : 54 (1) . Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. CCL San Jose City College. 20 July 2008. .
“cult.” WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 17 Jul. 2008. .
"dogma." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 17 Jul. 2008. .
“Episode 22 – Pagan Virtue with Dr. Brendon Myers.” Ravencast – The Asatru Project. iTunes. June 6 2008. June 16 2008
Glazer, Sarah. "Prayer and Healing." CQ Researcher 15.2 (2005) : 25-52. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. San Jose City College, San Jose, CA. 16 July 2008 .
“Living on a Prayer.” Dr Phil. NBC. KRON 4. San Francisco. 16 July 2008.
“pagan.” Hydroponic Search. Dictionary 22 July 2008
Pitzl-Waters, Jason. “Interview with Brendan Cathbad Myers” The Wild Hunt, A Modern Pagan Perspective, 20 May 2008. 19 July 2008. < http://www.wildhunt.org/2008/05/i...th-brendan-cathbad-myers.html>
Robinson, Bruce A, "The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Religious Aspects.” Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 22 March 2007. 16 July 2008.
-----------------------, “The Burning Times: The Extermination of Witches and other Heretics.” Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 04 December 1999. 17 July 2008
Sheler, Jeffery. "Days of the Martyrs." U.S. News and World Report 130.15 (April 16, 2001) : 40. Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. CCL San Jose City College. 20 July 2008.
.
Sia@FullCircle. “Those Pretty Sexy Witches.” WitchVox 21 October 2007. 19 July 2008.
Zenmundo. “A Practical Definition of Pagan.” H2G2. 04 June 2001. 21 July 2008.

Copyright: July 23, 2008 Tammy Abreu-Butron

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Starpalm

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