(In opening, I would like to start off by saying that I do not advocate that Christians are bad people. Many are good people, and allow others to live how they wish to. However, it's those who are politically motivated, or blind to the word of their own bible (brainwashed, et al.), that wish to crush pagan faiths, and wish to do us harm. They don't follow the word of their own book, "Judge Not and Ye not be Judged." All we ask of anyone, is to treat us as a PERSON, and allow us our beliefs just as you are allowed to observe yours.)

During the course of the last few years, I've posted different items from the news from around the nation of the United States of America. These news items had to do with misconceptions pertaining to the Old Religion, and how the "Religious Right" has attempted to eradicate those religions or ideas that do not conform to their ideas of right and wrong.

One of these attempts has come from the very government of the USA. Senator Bob Barr attempted to remove the right for persons who serve this country to exercise their constitutional right for freedom of religion, by attempting to attach to HR.2561 a phrase which said the following:

"Amendment No. 1.- None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this
Act may be used to provide assistance to the practice of witchcraft or Wicca, as defined
by the encyclopedia of American Religions, on any Military installation or vessel".

It's because of government officials like Bob Barr, and the extreme Religious Right, that such a negative opinion exists towards Wicca, Paganism, or the Old Religion; whichever term you wish to use. Those who serve in elected seats are not the only ones that are attempting to eradicate our religion. The Church has that duty as its main goal.

Out of Alamogordo, New Mexico, a renewed form of hate emerged. On December 30, 2001, Jack Brock, who is the Christian Community Church founder and pastor, along with his followers of hate, participated in a book burning which included works from William Shakespeare, and "Harry Potter" books. Brock stated that these books were "a masterpiece of satanic deception." The community of Alamogordo stood across the street from the burning, protesting the burning in a line of people that stretched a quarter of a mile long.

It's not surprising that a Judeo-Christian Church would advocate the burning of books. History records that not only have book burnings been used to suppress those ideas the Church has a disdain for, but they've burned people as well, accusing them for violating the "Lords Law" and being a Witch. They've always bashed faiths that do not follow their own since the historic beginnings of their religion. Mostly because the Churches want the revenue that's generated by their members; Some faiths require participants to give up to ten percent of their income to the Church. The Churches aren't the only ones that conduct themselves in ill-manner by conducting book burnings, or the historical witch killings. There are many followers who have been brain-washed, and conduct themselves in alignment with the Church. They're the ones that go out and protest at stores that cater to the Pagan Community (such as The Church of Glad Tidings out of Yuba City, California, and their protest of the Ancient Ways store in the Yuba City mall), as well as those from Alamogordo, New Mexico that joined their pastor in the participation of Book Burning.

Social, and Government control is one way the Church conducts its business. In many arguments against Pagan religions, the main argument is that we as a people wish to force our morals on those of the Judeo-Christian community. However, it's entirely the other way around. The Church sets laws which their members must follow. When those 'Church Laws' turn into a lobby effort towards becoming law of the land such as Abortion Bans, Pornography Bans, Anti-Gay, Anti-Same Sex Marriage (laws against same-sex marriage were recently passed in California, USA), and bans on religions and religious holidays which are not of the Judeo-Christian faith, it's then their morals which are being forced upon us.

So what about misconceptions? In the past, the Christian Church killed and tortured those who would not convert to "the one and only true faith." Today, we are subjected to the same hate, but by different means. Our faith is wrongfully painted as one of being evil. Our symbols and holy days are made to look as if only those who worship "Satan" would use or observe them. The Pentagram alone draws sneers and gasps from those who are not enlightened, thinking that the one who wears such has sworn an allegiance of evil, rather than good. Such absurd and ridiculous ideas must be stopped.

Religion is supposed to teach us about love and life. Wicca, The Craft, the Druids, none of these, nor the many other "pagan" faiths are evil at all. The fact of the matter is, these religions are actually peace loving, earth based religions, which are centered around the love of nature, and all living creatures that exist on this planet. We do not believe in an absolute form of good, or evil.

Aside from some members of the Government as well as the Church, the Media has also done some injustice towards the Old Religion. With the past press of an ABC affiliate station in Alabama falsely portraying Wicca as "leading teens to Satanism" (coverage in a bookstore on a Silver RavenWolf book), to movie-makers drawing on the fear created by the falsehoods distributed by the Church. Fox News, in the San Francisco, California Bay Area also does many injustices towards the Old Religion, by hyping the old ways as satanic, and evil. Witches cannot turn people into toads, teleport to a far-away place, nor can we time-travel. We also don't acknowledge the existence of 'Satan' nor kill babies. It's a shame that most people can't realize the difference between fantasy and reality.

I do feel that one thing should be cleared up. On the topic of persecution: When it comes to the Burning Times (the period in history where people were killed on charges of being a witch), the numbers cited for those killed during the burning times have been greatly exaggerated. While the numbers being cited are upward towards the 9 million mark (numbers cited by Gardner, and Starhawk), the actual numbers of men and women killed on claims of witchcraft are actually closer to 40 - 50 thousand over a period of three centuries (see Briggs, Robin: Witches and their Neighbors, 1996, Page 8). This still does not make the killings any more proper nor less significant. I just feel that the numbers being thrown around need to be more accurately cited. Also, the killings in Salem, while done in the name of God under claims of witchcraft; these were done merely out of jealousy, hate and greed. Most claims of witchcraft were false and unfounded.

Rev. Dr. Scott Baldwin HP/DD
January 2002

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