4
Shannon A. Jenkins
Paper 1, Final Paper
July 21, 1997
Living Within Walls
An article to the editors at “The News Times”[1]
While scanning through my email, generated mostly by a pagan mailing list, I came across a message from someone who told the story of “Pamela”. Pamela is a young pagan mother who’s parental rights were being challenged solely because of her religious beliefs. After reading the message, I asked myself the questions that had been circulating in my mind for some time.
As Pagans, most of us choose to retain our own unspoken rules and illusory walls. However, is it worth hiding from society just to practice our religion? If we find that it is, are we really secure, or do we maintain only a false sense of security and safety from the outside world?
In the Pagan community, we do not easily allow others into our lives and tend to be leery of outsiders because of our fear of persecution and ridicule. Most of us believe in maintaining these walls in the form of silence and concealment. In fact, if one was interested in Paganism we would most likely avoid discussion and direct him to the library or local metaphysical bookstore.
This makes it difficult at times for us to live our everyday lives like most others. Most religious persons, including Pagans, incorporate religion into their everyday lives. Christians wear the crucifix to symbolize their religious faith and are not ridiculed or persecuted. However, if I were to wear my pentacle[2] to work, which symbolizes my Wiccan[3] beliefs, I would fear of losing my job due to the myths about Pagans.
Why is it that Christians are not ridiculed for bumper stickers on their cars which say “born again Christian” or “Jesus loves you”, but we are told that we will “go to hell” unless we “repent” after they read our “Born Again Pagan” and “Witches Heal” bumper stickers? Obviously, our freedom of religion is infringed on, but doesn’t this also disturb our freedom of speech?
The word Pagan has always had very negative implications even in today’s society mainly due to misconceptions and misunderstanding of pagan religions[4]. Most of us believe in good and evil as one energy combined and don’t even believe in the devil. We believe in karma[5] and the Law of Three[6], and do our best to abide by our laws and “harm no other”, but long for the freedom to practice and discuss our religion openly without judgment. Unfortunately, our brave attempts to educate others and battle the distorted rumors, are usually met by cold, judgmental stares.
Due to our fears of ridicule and persecution, our imaginary “walls” only give us a false sense of security. Pamela, the young Wiccan mother from the mid-eastern U.S. needed funds for legal fees after she was visited by Child Welfare office, not long after the police had been called to her home by a neighbor who indicated that there were “suspicious goings on” and “evil” happening in Pamela’s home. After surveying her home and taking note of the altar[7] set up in the living room, the caseworker removed her children from home. During Pamela’s trial, the judge reasoned that “devil worship” was detrimental to her child’s well-being and terminated her parental rights.
As Pagans, we usually choose to live silently. However unjust, this is the standard of living we have become accustomed to and in which we choose to live. Is the choice we make by keeping to ourselves really worth the return for the ability to practice religion out of society’s view within the confines of our homes? Pamela’s case is rare, but justifies our and is demonstrative of how wer are still subject to society’s prejudicial opinions and persecution. If we continue to hide and ignore society, aren’t we letting the persecution continue?
There are laws enacted to protect us all from religious persecution. However for these laws to work, they must be enforced. For these laws to be enforced, we must quit living in silence and confront those who persecute us. It is time to come out of hiding and form together as a community to educate, inform and reason that although we may have diverse religious beliefs, those who persecute us are infringing on our constitutional and personal rights. Christians indicate that the Bible says that only God should judge. We must demonstrate to them that by persecuting and ridiculing others, they are judging despite their own beliefs.
Although America is considered the land of religious freedom, we still find that not every religion is equally free to practice their beliefs. Until everyone accepts the idea that freedom of religion is meant for all, we will find those religions such as the Pagans hiding behind walls and giving up what the U.S. Constitution indicates is rightfully ours, freedom of religion.
Word count 794
[1] “The News Times” is a weekly publication focused on metaphysics and around the various Pagan religions.
[2] Usually worn as a piece of jewelry symbolizing Wiccan faith (a branch of paganism such as Baptists are a branch of Christianity). A pentacle is a circle around a five pointed star with the top point facing up. The five points stand for earth, air fire, water, and spirit.
[3] Wicca is a branch of paganism such as Baptist is a branch of Christianity. Wicca is a tradition of religion focused around the earth’s elements, prayer, and ritual. Wiccans do not worship the “devil."
[4] Two of the common misconceptions about Pagans are that we all sacrifice animals and worship the devil. Both these statements are completely untrue. While there may be groups that incorporate this type of ritual practice into their beliefs, it is rare and those groups are usually considered social outcasts in the Pagan community.
[5] Loosely, the term karma means, “What ever you do whether it be bad or good will come back to either haunt or reward you."
[6] The Law of Three; what ever you do, whether it be bad or good will come back on you three times worse, or three times as good.
[7] An altar is a small table used in Paganism as well as other religions as a focal point of worship. A Pagan altar usually is a small table that may hold ritual tools, candles, incense, and statues.