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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 14111
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/16/2005
9:28:44 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 7,908
RSS: 17,726
Comments: 8
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An Incentive To Become A Witch
Author: Joana Quintanilha, Bloomberg News Source: Northwest Herald (IL)
Title: AN INCENTIVE TO BECOME A WITCH
Margarita Rongen, who teaches spells and potions to witches in the Dutch village of Appelscha, has potential witches flying in from around the globe to see her.
Rongen, 56, who offers the Netherlands' only program that certifies witches, is getting applications from as far off as Australia and Dubai, she said.
A court ruling that gave her trainees a tax break has brought in hundreds of potential new recruits, she said.
The court, in the Dutch town of Leeuwaarden, ruled last month that the $2,208 cost of her course is tax deductible.
Submitted by and Thanks to: Christina
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Community Thoughts: There are 8 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Paid By Whom | Oct 17th. at 12:38:26 pm EDT
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Theia (Seattle, North Carolina) - Email Me
The question isn't whether Rogen should be paid for her services, but who should pay for them. It is already common for witches to charge for teaching classes. I agree that someone who trains a witch for purposes of working with them, like a high priestess in a coven, shouldn't charge for that beyond supplies. But many people either don't want to be in covens or don't have the time/energy/disapline to join one. The teacher there is not training a priestess but teaching a course.
So the real question is who should pay? I myself am a bit uncomfortable with the idea of the taxpayers picking up the tab. But I don't know what the Dutch rules are. If clergy training for other religions is covered, then witchcraft should be too.
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| I Dunno What To Make Of This | Oct 16th. at 3:30:24 pm EDT
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Sage Blackthorn (Riverside, California) - Email Me
I've never really agreed with charging money to teach interested people about wicca, short of covering supplies like oils and candles and whatnot. And Certified Witches? This is like giving certifications in Hinduism, Christianity, or Islam..... it just doesn't happen. You either believe in said religion and follow it's tenets or you don't. There is no certification to follow a religion. At least not in the US where we are suppose to have a very wise tradition of seperation of church and state so that everyone may worship as they choose without needing "certification" which implies government approval.
And now Wicca has been lowered to the status of a tax deduction?! When has 'learning' any religion ever been claimed as tax deductable? Practicing a religion if you're clergy, certainly has put one in the catagory of a non-profit organization (which, btw I never agreed with either because it's giving special treatment based on religion, you ever seen the records of how much property churches own than they don't pay property taxes on? No wonder the rest of us have such high taxes! Come on, either everyone pays their fare share or no one does. Personally I'm opting for the later since I don't believe anyone can own the land in the first place and why could the lands caretakers be charged for looking after the land. Fined for messing it up, certainly! But not taxed for taking care of it! But I digress.....)
In my opinion, and in the tradition I was taught when I first began learning about wicca, one does not charge for the knowledge given to the student. To demand payment in return for passing on the ways of ANY faith is taking advantage of your students who are seeking enlightment, not a lightened wallet. When I was studying Faery Tradition with the Coven of Loch Nam Gleann Sidhe we either bought and brought our own candles, incenses, oils, and ritual supplies, or we re-imbursed our teacher who bought them on our behalf. NO PROFIT WAS MADE IN SUCH EXCHANGES! It was also required of us to find our own ritual tools, as we were taught that no one but ourselves could choose them for us. Many of us made our own when we could. And when we couldn't make them, find ones we felt a connection to already made, we engaged a craftsman (or woman) to make them and as was tradition WE NEVER HAGGLED OVER PRICES.
Margarita Rongen may be a very nice woman, I dunno, I've never met her. She may be a sincere Wiccan, I dunno, I've never met her. But because she is charging money to teach the ways of the goddess, which should be a gift to all who seek it, to me she is no better than Jerry Falwell, Jim Baker or any other money-grubbing televangelist bilking people out of their retirement checks to fund their church. You charge for products, wisedom should be offered for free.
Sage
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