Pew Report Has Some Conservatives Worried

A pity that not all of the comments from the Concerned Women for America article are visible.

Isn’t ignorance just so much fun? *gags*

As near as I can tell, the groups mentioned represent the bleeding edge of Christian fundamentalism. Their views do not represent the views of all Christians, much as they may wish to believe otherwise.

The article is completely inacurrate. There are rules and boundaries to Wicca. There are consequences for all actions. “What goes around, comes around.” There is the Wiccan Rede which a lot of Christians have never read. If they had, there would not be such statements made. And not all of us are lesbians and feminists. I am a 29 year old woman who is married to a wonderful man. Have been for six years. We are in an exclusive relationship, no swinging. We have many friends who are the same way. And yes, a lot of the reason’s teens are drawn to Wicca is because of hocus pocus bulls** like Harry Potter and the Golden Compass and Lord of the Rings. Great movies, but fantasy all the way. Children that I have met who have been brought up in Wicca or Paganism, are well-rounded and level headed. The only thing I can think of from my own experience is the fact that growing up scared I was going to BURN IN HELL for doing something sinful was not appealing. In Wicca, you take responsibility for your actions and have to reap Karmic reprocussions from it sooner or later. Blessed Be to All.

We own an “earth-centered” store and have done so for almost 25 years.
According to our observations, indeed there is a considerable increase in evangelical children showing interest in this path but not so much because of movies and books.

Science has evolved tremendously in the past 20 years and our children are privileged to this information.
Children are now aware of quantum physics which has a strong metaphysical aspect and directly condradicts the churches teachings.
There is also the world-wide awakening for the need to protect mother earth. Pollution, global warming, deforestation and other atrocities have opened our children’s eyes to the earth and nature. Their spiritual attraction to her was inevitable.

Also, thanks to communication such as the internet, the church has more difficulty in masking the their pagan ancestry such as Yule (Xmas) Ostara (Easter) the Goddess Brigit (St. Brigit), the first man on earth was Adam (or Atum in Egyptian faith), the purposeful omission of cannons by Constantine 111, the truth behind the crusades and countless other pieces of factual history which up until recently have been omitted from their education.
They feel like they’ve been lied to and this creates rebellion which children are susceptible to anyway.
Being more educated, they’re naturally are lining up behind science and logic which is often the core of Wicca and other earth-centered paths.

Finally, but most importantly, the old methods of terrorizing people with a God that if not obeyed will punish them with an eternity of hell fire doesn’t have the same effect it had 200 years ago.

You can blame JK Rowling or Dan Brown all you want but the truth is that, they’re just waking up.
Love your children, listen to them and maybe even do the impossible…. listen to them.

Seems like the blogger “voynik” said it all.
Not to mention this would be a person that has had first-hand experience in this for over 2 decades.

Hmm, whatever. Mr Kupelian and other like him have their beliefs and I have mine. But me thinks someone ought to remind them that Earth worship and Earth-based religions were in existence for thousands of years before the Bible was ever a gleam in a monk’s eye, and that the so-called testaments were written down hundreds of years after they’re said to have been made by people who had no contact (unless it was the dreaded otherworldly kind they’re so against) with those who are said to have authored them to begin with.

Thank you Patti for your always wonderful and informing blogs! I must say that while I usually get very angry at the closed minded righteous, I found myself laughing at the stupidity represented by these comments and articles.

Oh my freaking gosh!!!!!

The link to WorldNet Daily is INSANE!!!! When you click on it, and read the utterly endless article about skyclad lesbian feminists who rebel against Father God and grovel at the feet of the author of Conversations with God, it’ll leave you wondering just how in the world could anyone ever think wrongly of witches?

This man, it seems, is grasping at straws in desperation to bring people back to Christianity. He obviously cannot deny that Wicca is not about cursing people and hanging out with the devil, but must find ways other than the obvious as to why people leave Christianity and search for ways to falsely deter them. How ridiculous and completely judgmental….

For the most part, alot of people are waking up to the truth, but their insecurities are still getting the best of them. They are just to afraid of admitting to it. They might still burn in HELL, if they do something wrong. Instead of being a good person. They will go confess on a weekly or monthly basis, and then they can screw up for awhile until the next confession. It makes it all better don’t you know. I agree with the statement…What goes around, comes around. Blessed Be )0(

20 years ago I took a class tilted Women and Religion. It was a relief to know the Bible is as much political and social tool as believe instructions manual.
As woman with a disability it was very hard to fit into the evangelical mold. Of course “voynik” is right.

Enough already. Bisexuality, feminists, what are you Wiccans thinking ??? You should be Christian! Then you could be cheating on your mate, stealing from your church or molesting children. Those are more acceptable apparently. I was raised Catholic. As soon as I caught on to the double standards and lies I left and never looked back! I worship the Goddess and God of Earth, Air and Spirit. I am heterosexual, Married with Children, and a grandmother of two. I didn’t pay attention when the bisexuality issue came up. Oh, maybe it is because that is a Christian concern. Could SOMEONE out there PLEASE tell me what sexual preference has to do with my religion. What happened to the freedom of choice I was told Jesus died to give us or was that a lie too? Catholic priests are in the news for sexual abuse, nuns have fetuses buried in the convent yard, Jim and Tammy Baker, Jimmy Swaggart . . . need I say more? Religion is what my soul cries for. MY soul. Who are you to tell me what to believe? I chose to be Pagan. I do not believe in satan. That is a Christian invention. I believe I came from the Earth and should respect and love Her. If I light candles, incense, and pray for Love and world peace where is the harm. In fact it was taught by my teachers (all nuns) that God could be found all around us, in the trees and sky . . . what happened? Oh and just for general information, being skyclad is optional. You know something else, ignorance isn’t bliss, look at the sadness and hatefulness one ignorant thought has sparked. So instead of pointing fingers, snide remarks, and constantly searching for others faults, try fixing your own and be happy. Happiness is contagious you know, and it smells better than the uh fertilizer that is being spread now. . . . Bright Blessings to ALL

Maybe the article is a bit off…but I believe it is a good thing for our country that religious beliefs are changing. This country needs to be more open minded. Closed mindedness is what caused so much violence in the past. Faith is faith, no matter the religion. I would love to see something positive come out of this shift. Our country NEEDS something good to happen. Bright Blessings To All !!

I am very glad to see alot of Wiccans and PAgans out there. If we continue to to be better than our chritian counter parts we will always come out on top, it is nice to see that we can read this insulting and ignorant veiw of pagans, and not be hatefull like christians have always been. I hope all who have responded to this with love and a positive attitude……prosper, thrive, and have a great and peaceful life.

I think its rather judgemental for so called “conservative Christians” to proclaim judgement on people that have different religions. As if there is an ultimate and only path. Muselums and some Jews believe the same thing. The Jews are the “chosen” people. And the Christians think the same thing. “Salvation” is only found by “being born again”. Isn’t being born again i.e. rebirth a univieral concept? I think so. I don’t believe I will burn in hell. What kind of deity would wish that upon their children? I was raised in a conservative Christian (out of respect I capitalize the C)background. As a gay man I had to overcome all of the terrorism and spiritual abuse I experienced when I was young. I am a 45 year old gay man who is Wiccan. There are even some Wiccans who are homophobic; Is this a carry over from their upbringing? Get over it! We’re here to stay; we’re here, we’re queer, get over it! Well, Blessed Be!

Blessed Be!
Gaedon

I really get a kick out of it when some talking head tries to paint all pagans as some particular type of person. Then someone like me walks up and totally blows their preconceptions. I am a 48 year old married father and grandfather. I work as a correctional officer in a maximum security prison in Texas. Yeah, I really fit their description of what a pagan/wiccan is supposed to be. I also know more than a few people who also follow the craft who likewise dont match their silly notions of what we should be.

What a fun read! At least the *good christian man* did some homework before spewing his filth across cyberspace. It’s just too bad that his judgmental superiority got in the way of writing a good article. I especially liked the way he pointed out statements that he thinks I should think insane. Typical christian methods – don’t dare think for yourself, let those of us who are smarter and holier and closer to God tell you what to think.
As far as the alleged sexual preferences of many followers of the Goddess and God, all I can say is “Who the smeg cares?”
Blessings All!

well, I don’t fit their preconceived “mold” either 48 yr old Female here, On my 2nd marriage to a *gasp* male of all things! Mother of 2 grown boys that are healthy and normal and the grandmother of a great little 2 yr old……lived in Calif. all my life…..raised in a Strict Christian church, daddy was a Deacon AND the Choir Director……..but it never appealed to my “inner self”, that piece of humans that “needs to have a belief”……that’s when I set out on my own search and found the Pagan Path, which by the way has many other traditions besides “wicca”………
so nope……..they have a bad view of “who” and “what” pagans are…….and it’s only right that we should enlighten them by setting good examples, ……sorta like teaching little children LOL

Hey, I just wanted to add my two cents…
I read that out of curiosity, and while some of them made me laugh, rather loudly, most of them scared me badly. I’ve been a Pagan for a long time now, from the time I was in kindergarten I read every thing I could get my hands on, and so did my best friend. Now, I’m not that social, so I don’t really know what the “majority”’s deal is, but…I honestly thought people in general were…Um…Less ignorant? More educated? Than this. I mean…
This quote, for example. “”Who can you trust? Not man!…You need to search the BIBLE for yourself.”
…Are they aware of who the Bible was written, edited, and “interpreted” by?

Here’s my favorite part of the Kupelian link: OK, so let’s sum up: Millions of people are embracing an immoral, unbiblical and disastrously delusional view of God and life, which will – if they don’t wake up – determine their very destiny for eternity, based on the murky spirit channeling of a former local talk-show host who admits, “Maybe it wasn’t [God].”

This guy claims to be a journalist, but comes on like a preacher. And he’s scared of losing the faithful to something he just doesn’t understand, which is of course the problem with most Christians nowdays.

Well Kupelian, if you’re convinced you’re right, then don’t worry about us!

Okay, everyone who has left a comment has pretty much said what I was thinking. I’m a Pagan who was forced into Christianity when I was a kid and it disagreed with me then as much as it does now. It does my heart good to see so many people agree with my point of view. Bless you all.
Wolf

I grew up in a home where my father was of the Assembly of God background and my mother – Baptist. We did not go to church much. My parents had a child, a boy, before I was born and he died from Pneumonia at the age of 2. He died because God was supposed to save him. My family believed that faith could do anything and decided to wait for a miracle. I don’t think they ever really got over that. But they kept some of their beliefs and added medical care (thankfully) to their beliefs. There are still those today that do not take their children to the doctor because of their Christian beliefs.

Even though my family did not attend church regularly I grew up with Christian beliefs. I am not sure I really grasped them until my early 20s. It was around Easter time and I was watching the holiday programs. Christian shows – old black and whites. The whole day I watched and something really moved me after I saw the movie “The Robe.” There was something about that show that made me want to be a Christian. I saw love and strength in that show. I saw Christians being hated and killed. It was wonderful and sad and horrible. But the love was powerful.

After that I began a search for a church. I ended up in the Church of Christ where I was told no one else is going to Heaven except those of the Church of Christ. I went through the meetings and the tapes where they told me the way of salvation. I was saved and baptized in that church. Musical instruments are a no no in that faith. Dancing was long gone because it was a sin. But I thought it was okay because I was getting closer to the God that I felt love from – right? But then I divorced my husband – a husband who beat me and cheated on me. And I was told divorce is a sin and I can never get married again or I would be damned to hell.

Hell was the one thing I had a hard time with because when I read the Bible I never could get that there was a real physical hell where you burn for eternity. It is always a reference to a place in the Old Testament. A fire that was kept burning and they threw the bad people in it. If I take one or two scriptures I can find that meaning but when I read an entire section it lost its sting.

So, I changed to the Baptist faith. Now that was a bit better. But I had to be baptized again because the first one didn’t take I guess. So I did and I began to work with the kids as the Acteens Director of the church. I listened to the women gossip about the pastor and the other church members. The pastor’s wife was ill and they kept saying that she was on drugs. It was not true. They did not like the way the pastor dressed and the fact that he didn’t visit members enough so they voted him out. I really liked him and he preached love and it was the same love I felt that Easter day. But the “real Christians” took care of him.

I won’t go into the other two Chrsitian faiths I belonged to and the horrible way Christians treat each other and especially those that don’t agree with them because I don’t want to bore anyone anymore than I already have.

So I sat in church one day and looked to the left and right, and then in front of me and then behind me. In the few hundred people that were there I am sure there was a parent molesting their child, someone cheating on their wife or husband, someone who beats there wife or child, people who verbally abuse others. People who engage in mental abuse. But it is all okay because they go to church and profess to be Christians. There are gay people living straight lives in church out of fear of being hated. They are quite about it and hide and the speak really loud about others sins. I found that to be quite funny and enertaining in church. And hugely confusing. I never felt my feet on solid ground in the church. It was always saying one thing and doing another.

I have seen some nasty things done in the Christian world and that is why I choose to be Pagan and a Witch. I have that love that I found so long ago. I found it in the Goddess and God. I have acceptance among my brothers and sisters. I have a law that is very similar to the law Christ gave which is, “The greatest comandment is LOVE” and that is in the Harm None part of our law. Becoming a Witch has taught me about love. More so than being in the Christian world ever did. I don’t see a fat person, a white person, a black person, an ugly person, oriental, gay, straight, etc. I see people for who they are. I have learned more about not being judgemental as a Pagan than I ever did as a Christian.

Christians! You are running your own people away. Some of you I care for deeply, like the Pastor of that Baptist church who was treated so badly. But the rest of you I feel pity for. You have no idea how much hate and judgement you carry in your heart and you validate it by what you think Christ said. Read the Bible! There is a lot of good information in there for Pagans and Christians. Know the history of how your Bible was put together. Read and learn about other religions and what they stand for before you point a finger. And know that there are mentally disturbed people in all religions, even Wicca. I don’t judge all Christians by the scary ones that would sooner burn us at the stake than look at us. So don’t judge all witches by the mentally disturbed of our group that don’t follow the religion’s law.

Blessed Be to ALL

there just afraid they will loose control and power, we read our history we’ve seen it before and its nothing new and we don’t need that crap. we have our own beliefs and thats our own god or goddess, what god/s put in our heart is what we should cherish, and by the way im not gay!!!!!!! i just love people and celebrating life and doing good things and not being an asshole or controlling like everyone else. by the way i like some indian traditions, its not about what kind of religion and what traditions its about the goodness to enhance my life, its up to us all to take a stand and fight in a positive
“nonviolent” way!!! not to control anoter person and make them believe things i do like what u do to u children. for alot of people and pagans or wiccans i have herd that children can do the fun stuff but not to let them choose to be totally dedicated until they can decide what it means to themselves, till there mature basically in there minds not to follow blindly. they say covens are like cults but look at all those people that leave churches and go and do bad things and start cults of bullshit and abuse. this is why we say that its best to do this individually and from the heart because ur not following someone else’s rules or guidelines. if it comes from your heart then its not as contradictory as should i listen to someone else or my heart like getting married to someone when u don’t believe in marriage just because they do. or any other habit people do to please other people to get them to accept yourself. by the way people don’t have to follow old traditions any longer than they want to just because someone else wants them to, thats the problem wheres the originality thats what wiccan ism more than paganism is about its kinda like eclecticism its about freedom of expressing your religion actually just freedom of expression is better. its a new era it is the time of The Aquarian age and its true people will rebel but its the Aquarian attribute look it up u can’t change the universe’s plans, its also a matter of physics and attributal psychology that the whole world is connected in some way and is where we get our beliefs where do they come from the surroundings that affect us so its all beautiful we just need to understand them not many do but its soo ooooo easy its unbelievable all u need is people to work together, obviously we know that only alignments happen when they are in due time like planets. not thats thats easy either its just an example. why not open ur minds and learn new things and oh thats right people don’t use knowledge wisely when there minds have been distorted by others thats y we know to use our own hearts to tell us what path to take! things are bad enough y make it worse. why not love the gift of love. with out it we are lost. united we stand divided we fall, its also physics. and the other change we need is a new president in the us not the same old washingtonized 2 faced liers who are really only looking out for the big rich people and corporations and each other and lying undercover republicans. what we need is an open minded positive people lover who is looking out for us and needs our protection, and love and support as much as we need his. hes black and u know who im talking about, i have a my.obama.space come and check it our if u care to support him. we all know we are tired of being stepped on and kicked around and pushed to the side and abused where did that American dream go, that our teachers and parents taught us go to! i have herd that the other countries think hes much better for our country he is as tired of the abuse and the fatigue from having to work so dam hard but get less and less and less in return, no9t to sound weird but i read Martin Luther kings letter from Birmingham and i totally sympathized w him and now i kinda believe we as poor people in America are facing the same crisis in that we have waited and waited and waited and waited and we will not wait any longer this is the time to act and we will make a stand and fight for what we believe in not only our religion but our rights and our goodness and truthfulness and right “nonviolent” action and words and pride and love and thoughts and motives and moves and teach our children how to be happy again and how to be happy our selves again, our whole quality of life has gone down, our past is a big kick in the ass and head to remember the assholes who took our rights as Americans and we shall not let it happen any more and what i say is that the president who is in charge will suggest a few candidates who they think may help us all as American people as a whole not in part because that is segregation in what ever form we let it take if we let it, which we should not anymore. thats the whole problem is negativity and segregation or separation of power that we need to keep this country a whole. religion, beliefs color, rights whatever we own as human beings should be respected and not disrespected the word the most because what we say has an effect that lasts so long we have no idea what it does destroys or creates, we must work together not apart or we will be forgotten. is that what u want. i want to remember great times, thats the biggest thing we have is our memories. we cannot hold onto the past we cannot know the future but we remember the past and we have hopes and intentions for the future but all we can do is do our best in the now. thats also why we should be together in things we do because the more people on an issue we do know the power in that that the more we can create together. if we promote a positive future we will be remembered and we will create goodness together, though i do respect the old and the ancestors and thats why people still do things that are good from that day and some we do not and some we need to change because it is too tattered and abused or falling apart. theres nothing we can do but procreate our creativeness in our hearts. theres nothing wrong with
being an artist, being creative makes u that so. creative and an artist in your own eye and maybe others too, its all granted and u shouldn’t be ashamed of goodness if it is the outcome. though i can c that any kind of goodness is good, togetherness even if it is a bad deed, people sometimes accept things that are bad because it has some good attributes some just don’t see or have the power to change something if it has too much goodness in numbers of individuals supporting it, even if one sees it sometimes it can’t be stopped sometimes it can, its always important to try. its always to be positive, as long as u try and it makes u happy. ok im done spilling my creativity lol. wow that subject was so inspiring to me.

hey number 21 i think your answer is the best mostly it just has the most info and details and it is the funniest that they are the ones who drive there people away and blame others and not them selves and not tell each other to be true to them selves thats the worst pert, in wicca and paganism or others alike they tell them to believe in what your heart tells u to, and we are all human beings we all come in layers not for others but for ourselves and our goodness and god, for me i believe in goodness in whatever form is better than abusing the word god for power. i am not perfect and have my own problems like others and situations i can’t control and some times myself, but i don’t blame others i do sometimes but thats the people i live with we have problems maybe its not right for me, thats fine we all just need to find where we belong not kick each other down. like i always like to say its bad enough out there for whatever reason in the book do u want to be one of those people who purposely makes it worse, even if u don’t think so someone will feel it, if it was an accident then good try better later u know. i hate it when that happens to me i feel like i let others influence me to do it, it gets confusing. at least i don’t try to be hateful and hurt others thats y i go to paganism and wiccanism because its not the refuge of Christianity like Christianity used to be along time ago its time for a change, i vote for Wiccanism and Paganism and Oboma lol!!! we need change in so many things out w some old crap that doesn’t work and in with the new that is a fresh of breath air aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh lol . keep what works and get rid of what doesn’t and get rid of the stuff thats broken and don’t try to fix something or some one that doesn’t need fixed lol if they are already “fixed” on something else “let it be, let it be”. Beatles lol
peace!

oh yea and blessed be! true that not all Christians are like that but we are saying to the ones that are get it straight those are the people mostly that are tired of the abuse that comes and bleeds from it and destroys the communities for real and there is proof, the people that leave and become pagans lol and so on. its just a normal thing called cause and effect if it burns u u don’t do it again, if it works u keep it lol. blessed be and peace love and happiness, where did those concepts go to, oh yea wiccans and pagans mostly and hippies lol. check out my.obama.space. com, use Google.

Leana, that was beautifully written.

My family is predominantly Christian, but they’re good ones, luckily. I’ve not come out to them yet because I just don’t really think it’s any of their business. I’ve always been treated with respect, even when I went through my “punk” phase in high school. I’ve been lucky, in that I haven’t been really discriminated against for my beliefs. But I can understand how much it hurts to hear such awful things. This report honestly made me cry. Not the fact that that we specifically are being targeted, but that there are such hateful, intolerant people who believe they are spreading messages of love. I sincerely pray to the gods that these people might someday come to understand how much damage they do. Things like this don’t just hurt those directly affected; they promote the idea that it isn’t okay to be who you are. Few things hurt me more.

Mmmm, Christian baby kabobs! Deleeecious!

What should really have the fundies worried is not the tiny percentage of Christians turning to paganism, but the nearly half of all Christians changing denominations — probably just to get away from the fundies!

Wanna really blow a Christian’s mind? Point out to them that, if they REALLY read their bible, it’s obvious that the god of the bible is nothing more than a tribal god, the “tribe” being the Hebrews. So their god is nothing more than another version of, say, Zeus….concerned with his own people, and not everyone…….

Interesting that Jennifer Crouse in her article stated “most teens turn to Wicca because there are no rules or boundaries”.
I ask you Ms. Crouse, were in the world did you get that little tiny bite of information from?
Most people who make such remarks (such as verbally or even physically) act out against Wicca or any other religion (for that matter) which they have no real education on and it leads them to fear the unknown.
Just as some American’s who have very little education on the Muslim religion act in the very same behavior patterns.

To make my point to you Ms. Course, Wicca just like any other religion does indeed have rules and boundaries. I’m really unclear and want to know your source for that remake.

Understanding that as you are a Senior Follower with the group “Concerned Women for America”, I just want to know were you got that information.
I want to personally would like to invite you to a personal conversation about Wicca. If are Concerned the I would like to educate you on a religion which you do not understand.

I do know that asking you to such a conversation well most likely not help enlighten you. I’m not seeking to chance your religion, just give you some educated information on the religion of Wicca.
First: “Not all Wiccan’s are Witches”, but I’am.

I have studied many religions (Buddhism, all Christian based faiths which does include Catholicism, Roman, Greek, Italian theology and some you have may have never heard of) including reading of the Kuran. Why the Kuran you might ask?

I wanted to know what the fuss was about. Secondly, you can not form a real educated opinion until you have read material from the “SOURCE”, go out talk to people of that background, religion, race, ect. You have to walk in their shoes before you can really understand, but with an open mind. Doing anything with a one way mind set, leads you no where.

In fact, the most successful people in the world all have one thing in common and that was the ability to be flexible thinkers.

You can find me on SKYPE Lady_Gigi or lady_gigi_frost@yahoo.com