Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Not the Wiccans!
Since my own little piece popped up on the Huffington Post, I was trolling around there a bit. It's one of the few places where I find myself to the right of everyone else, which is odd, but you have to love pieces like this one about Christine O'Donnell facing backlash from the "Wiccan Community."
Though, come to think of it, the Wiccan community could be a little scary to have as enemies...
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I have a very, very good friend who identifies as a neo-Pagan. From what little I have read and learned about her religion, I understand that there is no Satan or Satanic worship involved. So I'm a little concerned that Ms. O'Donnell was making the whole thing up for TV. Furthermore, I find it very offensive that she's back-tracked now, claiming she hung out with some less-than-savory characters in highschool. My Pagan friend is a wonderful person, and I'm proud to say I have hung out with her since college, and will continue to do so.
Two other things bother me about the whole ordeal, however, assuming that Ms. O'Donnell was telling the truth about "dabbling into Witchcraft". 1) What does it matter? What does her religious background or experiences have to do with her ability as a Senator? and 2) Assuming her faith DOES matter, somehow, why should she have to defend her Christianity? Does dabbling in other religions in the past make you less of a Christian today? I thought Christianity was about redemption, second chances, the Prodigal Son. Are the only "real" Christians really the ones who have never questioned their beliefs?
Two other things bother me about the whole ordeal, however, assuming that Ms. O'Donnell was telling the truth about "dabbling into Witchcraft". 1) What does it matter? What does her religious background or experiences have to do with her ability as a Senator? and 2) Assuming her faith DOES matter, somehow, why should she have to defend her Christianity? Does dabbling in other religions in the past make you less of a Christian today? I thought Christianity was about redemption, second chances, the Prodigal Son. Are the only "real" Christians really the ones who have never questioned their beliefs?
# posted by 
: 4:01 PM
: 4:01 PM
It's actually a fairly common story around Christian youth groups: person X will claim to have been "involved" with witchraft/satanism/something appropriately evil to show that they were tempted by and rejected "the enemy" for Jesus. Most of the time (as in this case) it is certifiable BS.
If O'Donnell had really hung out with neopagans/Wiccans or anyone calling themselves a "witch," she would have spent her time playing Dungeons and Dragons and watching Mystery Science Theatre 3000, not having dates with people on "satanic alters."
About the most interesting thing she could have seen would have been a Wiccan celebration, where some covens insist on naked dancing, which makes it about as risque as a night out at a dance club.
And yes, Anonymous, you would be hard-pressed to find a Wiccan/neopagan that would even agree that the Christian Satan (as in the ultimate evil devil figure, as opposed to the angel fulfilling the role of accuser we see in the Book of Job) exists, since most Wiccans/neopagans adopt one of the Hellenistic or northern European pantheons as a convenient heuristic for explaining their cosmological hierarchy.
Which is not to say that there aren't idjits out there that took ritual European occult systems and gave them a veneer of "satanic" imagery and whatnot, but these people are worthy only of your scorn and derision and not held in much regard within the neopagan community. I suppose it is possible that O'Donnell used to run around with a bunch of Crowley-ites, but I think that about as likely as I do people with "satanic alters" getting dates. With anyone.
If O'Donnell had really hung out with neopagans/Wiccans or anyone calling themselves a "witch," she would have spent her time playing Dungeons and Dragons and watching Mystery Science Theatre 3000, not having dates with people on "satanic alters."
About the most interesting thing she could have seen would have been a Wiccan celebration, where some covens insist on naked dancing, which makes it about as risque as a night out at a dance club.
And yes, Anonymous, you would be hard-pressed to find a Wiccan/neopagan that would even agree that the Christian Satan (as in the ultimate evil devil figure, as opposed to the angel fulfilling the role of accuser we see in the Book of Job) exists, since most Wiccans/neopagans adopt one of the Hellenistic or northern European pantheons as a convenient heuristic for explaining their cosmological hierarchy.
Which is not to say that there aren't idjits out there that took ritual European occult systems and gave them a veneer of "satanic" imagery and whatnot, but these people are worthy only of your scorn and derision and not held in much regard within the neopagan community. I suppose it is possible that O'Donnell used to run around with a bunch of Crowley-ites, but I think that about as likely as I do people with "satanic alters" getting dates. With anyone.
4:01--
All kidding aside, I very much agree with you on that.
If we held against people what they did in high school... yikes.
In addition, I am pretty sure that she was very confused in conflating Satanism with other things.
All kidding aside, I very much agree with you on that.
If we held against people what they did in high school... yikes.
In addition, I am pretty sure that she was very confused in conflating Satanism with other things.
Anon 4:01 said:
Assuming her faith DOES matter, somehow, why should she have to defend her Christianity? Does dabbling in other religions in the past make you less of a Christian today?
~*~*~
I agree with you however if you open your newspaper it apparently does matter. At least once a week someone is questioning the faith and religious convictions of President Obama. Last week he was a Muslim, next week he will be accused of dabbling in some age old Kenyan religious ritual. We forget the critism of his affiliation with the 'angry' Reverand Wright of Chicago.
Despite what we think, faith plays a role in politics everyday. And it is more prenounced in our polarized culture.
Assuming her faith DOES matter, somehow, why should she have to defend her Christianity? Does dabbling in other religions in the past make you less of a Christian today?
~*~*~
I agree with you however if you open your newspaper it apparently does matter. At least once a week someone is questioning the faith and religious convictions of President Obama. Last week he was a Muslim, next week he will be accused of dabbling in some age old Kenyan religious ritual. We forget the critism of his affiliation with the 'angry' Reverand Wright of Chicago.
Despite what we think, faith plays a role in politics everyday. And it is more prenounced in our polarized culture.
So let's say that O'Donnell was a practicing Wiccan. Does her belief in a central dual godhead that is both male and female, along with the power of the human mind to influence reality through will alone, somehow invalidate one for public office?
In my opinion, dabbling in Wiccan rituals is the least of her offenses. Seriously. She is pretty opinionated about a few things...
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# posted by : 11:00 PM
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