More Leaving the Scene


Another Pagan gives her reaction

This came from a list I belong to in reaction my posting a link to It's a Mystery: Dysfunctional Behavior & The Pagan Scene. Quoted with permission.

"Thanks for posting that essay, as I'd not read it. I think it plainly speaks for why most of us quietly go about our lives as solitaires, peeking in occasionally into group situations. My response to it is going to be more judgemental about the pagan community, as it stands today.

I think many people drawn to paganism frankly fit under the banner of poser and screwed up and they link up with fellow screwballs who 'don't judge' them. I know this from personal experience with friends who fly the pagan banner loud and proud, whilst not holding a job for more than three months at a time, having no basic understanding of the historical context of what they are involved in, etc, the list could go on and on, but you all get the point.

I believe that if whatever ails screwy people internally could have been healed by their previous monotheistic faith, many would not turn to paganism. I think what many of these people find is not 'goddess' per se, but rather communion with fellow societal oddballs and therefore go through the motions of faith. The 'Big Three' of monotheism have rules and judgements and consequences, all of which are a turn-off to people who don't want to actaully deal with what is wrong with them, and its such an easy cop out to claim faithfulness while hiding behind paganism which has erroneously been saddled with the image as an anything goes, or 'an it harm none, do what thou wilt.' Yeah, 17th century English language, what a way to make free will, anything goes behavior sound important. Our pagan ancestors had judgements and consequences to negative actions contrary to the fantasy implied by some that would suggest otherwise. Also, screwed up people already don't make sound judgements about their behavior harming others; what sound and sage words to live by then, isn't it?

Don't even get me started on the education and levels of leadership..."

I think that is an honest response, and I think she is right. There are people who use paganism as a crutch to avoid facing responsibility and avoid their own need for healing.

From poking around on the web and talking to people, this is a much bigger issue than I thought.

Posted: Wed - August 10, 2005 at 04:25 PM
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