Why Are Pagans Still Terrorized?

“A Pagan?” My mother asked me.

“Whatever you do, don’t tell your Gran” she said.

“Why?” I asked, with a disgruntled look on my face.

“If you want to worship the devil then I’m past trying to raise you right but I won’t have your Gran thinking I did a bad job. I’m not happy, but there isn‘t a great deal I can do to stop you.” She explained.

I was astounded. I couldn’t believe my own mother could be so narrow minded. Surely she hadn’t bought into the age old fiction concocted by Early Christians? My own mother, a part of the witch hunt, until I educated her.

The simple fact is that until Paganism is a recognized religion across the world it will not be explained to people. Children will not be taught the truth in religious education at school; they will grow up following the beliefs of their parents. Not understanding that paganism is not devil worship.

Many people still do not understand that pagans don’t even believe in the devil, the image of Satan was and is a Christian concept. The whole rumor of devil worship became popular when Christians used it to force pagans into converting to their faith. How can pagans worship something which they do not believe exists?

I find it extremely disturbing that witches, wiccans, shamans and different types of pagans from all paths continue to be extradited and victimized for their beliefs. This isn’t the 17th century, this is 2009. What went so very wrong that we should continue to punish a human being for their beliefs?

One of the pagan beliefs is to spread tolerance through education and understanding. To show that actually, we aren’t as different as it may seem. There are spiritual guidelines we all follow, the popular Wiccan motto is “an in it, do harm to none” or similar words depending on the coven, clan or grove.

Although they both have extremely different interests, the attacks still orchestrated by vigilante Christians (and members of other religions) can be closely likened with the mindless violence that is football hooliganism. An educated man would take the time to learn another man’s principles before he condemns him. The constant display of irresponsible judgment based on a book written a very long time ago is quite saddening. Similarly, I would not put my beliefs before another human being. If my beliefs were edging towards the suggestion that I should target another person because that’s what I was told to do, I would abandon my faith all together. Simply because my race is more important than any higher being, my race is here to support me, care for me and nurture me, the way any divine being intended it to be. No divine entity would grant you permission to destroy his/her creations. I would refuse to worship any God or Goddess that asked such a cruel task of me.

Is a moral of the Christian faith not “Do unto others as you would have them do to you”?

In addition to Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”

In fact, relative mentions of similar meaning can be found throughout both the old and new testaments. Similar notions are relevant in every faith, which is why I struggle to comprehend the attacks that came to fruition as a result of the Islamic faith.

Religion aside, as a human race we are one nation, one family, one unit. Why should we favor faith over humanity? Our humanity is what built the foundations of faith. We are all brothers and sisters, regardless of how much of a cliché it may be.