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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19663
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
5/10/2008
9:42:32 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 5,010
RSS: 12,639
Comments: 14
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Nature-Based Wicca Misunderstood, Practitioners Say
Author: Stacy Byrne Source: Great Falls Tribune
Title: NATURE-BASED WICCA MISUNDERSTOOD, PRACTITIONERS SAY
Sheri Metcalf's house is pretty ordinary, for the most part.
There's an entertainment center with a television tuned to HGTV and several DVDs on the shelf. Cozy chairs sit around the room along with a bookshelf and computer desk. Family photos adorn the walls.
But there's also a shiny pentacle sitting on the old wooden cabinet in front of the picture window. To the right of the magic symbol is a double-edged knife, called an athame, and to the left a small black cauldron holding a bundle of sage.
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Community Thoughts: There are 14 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Good Article | May 13th. at 3:48:32 pm EDT
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Rev. Velvet Michael (Mesa, Arizona) - Email Me
This was a nice article with a lot of input from different sources. I know that we all have our own interpretations of our belief system, and while we may not agree what another says, we should allow them the right to practice their belief as they see fit. There really is not point in arguing over little details. If they see there spells as a form a prayer, then let them, others don't have to see it that way. We are always going on about how we have the right to practice our religion as we see fit without interference or bashing from other religions, I think we should also apply that rule to ourselves as well. What may not work for you may work well for another.
On a lighter note, I read through all the comments posted in response to the article, and except for the typical, you're all evil and going to hell comment by one poster, all the rest were positive, and that more than anything speaks very loudly on how far we have come.
Brightest Blessings to All
StormRavn
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| Satan And His History | May 13th. at 11:18:08 am EDT
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Lady-hearted Mojo (Irving, Texas) - Email Me
Satan isn't based on Set. Originally, the name of this class of being (some theologians feel there is more than one) was "ha-saitan" meaning, as another poster noted, "accusor or adversary" in Hebrew. The ha-Saitan were, literally, the prosecutors and challengers of YHVH's creations.
While it is true that there are no physical descriptions of the ha-Saitan in the Old Testament, it would have been likely that the Church fathers took a Pagan image, with Pan being the most likely candidate, and applied it to Satan. But when it comes to pointing fingers at who "stole" what from whom, it needs to be pointed out that "we" are Neo-Pagans (not Pagans) and are just as guilty of "stealing" from the old Paganism as Christianity is...so it is best not to finger-point. Just because we are trying to work with certain images in a way that is closer to the original concept doesn't make us less guilty of "stealing" or practicing cultural appropriation for good or bad.
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| INTERESTING THOUGHT.... | May 13th. at 5:45:21 am EDT
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Whitewolf (Schenectady, New York) - Email Me
that I had.... isn't the xtian "satan" actually a bastardization and twisting of character of The Horned God? In other words the fundies ripped off something of ours and turned it evil.... AGAIN??
Opinions, anyone???
Love to all
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| Satanists, Set, And Wiccans | May 12th. at 6:54:34 pm EDT
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foreverknightfan (Dardanelle, Arkansas) - Email Me
I think I should add a few clarifications here about the discussion.
First off, the Christian being Satan is not based on Set. By the time Christianity started, the Ancient Egyptian religion was pretty much dead and most of the founders of Christianity did not have the knowledge to even know the basics of Egyptian belief. While the " cult" of Isis was still around, it had been dispersed enough so that the details about Set were not known by non-"cult" members, which included Christians. If you actually look at the Jewish mytholiogy of Satan, he was the accuser, the prosecutor, if you will. By the time the Christian Church had this " satanists" and black masses stuff, NO ONE knew squat about Set, inlcuding those who actually did black masses.
The whole Set/ Satan thing comes from Michael Aquino whose Church of Set was his own creation, mixed with some Aryan Nazi elements.
Secondly, if you know the history of LaVey's Church of Satan, you know what he said about Wiccans. None of what he said about Wiccans was complimentary. IOW the schism betweem Satanists and Wiccans has been around for decades. And when LaVey called his female " devotees" " witches" ( what they actually were is something not appropriate to mention) , gee, that really warmed the relationship between Satanists and Wiccans.
I understand that there are different types of "satanists". Some even call themselves Luciferians. I don't know if the Process Church is still active. And from what I read the Church of Set was founded as part of a rejection of LaVey's Church of Satan. The schism between Satanists and Wiccans is caused by misinformation and distrust on both sides. I have a bit of a problem calling Satanists Pagans because from what I've been looking at, very few " Satanic" groups are not derivative of Christainity's mythos or of some variant of LaVey's "Satanic Bible".
Yes the Christians have been spreading lies associating Wicca with Satanism. But in case no one noticed, some people who call themselves WIccans are hardly high spiritual minded. Some of these " teen witches" are practically indistinguishable from various froms of Satanism.
And as far as the spells being prayers connection is concerned, may I remind those who know a bit about Christianity that in certain segments of Christian belief such as name it and claim it and seed faith where the Christian "prays" his/her will or wishes be done. In a number of ways when a Christain prays it is to GET a specific result. Not unlike a spell. And many spells invoke a deity or are arranged according to some mythological association. While prayers are not EXACTLY the same as spells and spellwork is not the same as religious ritual, they do share some common elements.
I mean a Catholic praying to Saint Anthony to find their car keys is similar in principle to making a mental spell to get an open parking space close to the store.
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| Good Article, But... | May 12th. at 3:35:38 pm EDT
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Fuil Fitheach Sian (Missoula, Montana) - Email Me
I do tire of the constant "spells are like prayers" saying. In my opinion, they're nothing alike.
Perhaps this is from my understanding of "prayer" that I recieved from an overall Pentecostal background, that while "prayer" could be asking God for something, it is in its pure form a way of communion with that God.
Even if we are talking about "prayer" as a form of divine request, I don't think spellcraft is anything like it.
"Prayer" is a humble request of divine action/intervention.
Spellcraft is the proactive manipulation and direction of energy towards a goal or end (and in my opinion is often used quite recklessly or carelessly by too many in the community) .
I don't know, I just hear the spell/prayer comparison used by too many, including people that I respect and admire and I tire of it.
I might type up a neat little essay about all this and send it in for WVox's consideration sometime soon.
Otherwise, perfect article, good to see some fellow Pagans in more or less my neck of the woods get some positive press.
BB
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| Spells Vs Prayer | May 12th. at 2:50:01 pm EDT
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Lady-hearted Mojo (Irving, Texas) - Email Me
I thought this was a nice article, but this comment:
"Spells are basically like prayers," said Katie, who works in customer service. "It's the same as folding your hands and talking to God. I'm doing the same thing, just with more instruments."
is one I see over and over again, and it is not true. By Christianity's own definition of the word "prayer" a prayer is an act of faith in which the petitioner is asking God to intervene on the petitioner's behalf or on the behalf of another; therefore, there is no such thing as a prayer that doesn't include the Divine.
Spellwork, on the otherhand, is taking matters into one's hands and causing changes that will, hopefully, bring about the desire of the magician. Deity isn't necessary. When it includes a petition to a Deity it's no longer spellwork, it's a prayer regardless of how many gadgets are being included.
This goes to show that there are a lot of Pagans practicing "prayer" and a lot of Christians practicing "magic", although, I think you'd be hard pressed to get either to admit it.
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| I THINK... | May 11th. at 6:52:09 pm EDT
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Whitewolf (Schenectady, New York) - Email Me
this was a very nice article, and it least stated the truth about the Pagan Path.... you can lead a totally normal life and be Pagan. If you have a deep love of Mother Earth and were never very comfortable with what xtianity offers, you are Pagan. I think when you start down the Pagan Path, you have to follow your heart and do what's comfortable for YOU. Kudos for a good and truthful article
Love to all
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| A Good Article.... | May 11th. at 6:31:59 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
The megapreachers and televangelists are spouting untruths about all Pagans in the same light, painting them all with the same brush because we choose not to be christian and in their congregations. To them we are all satanic, many, because they chose to walk away from something that abandoned them in the past during their darkest times. Others, because they searched for something other than the mainstream, seeking something unique, something special.
While it is good that we are finding a bit more leeway, I agree with Coraxo. I doubt that many in the xtian quarter would defend any of us no matter what tradition we follow. And no one should be a sop, no matter what we feel about them. We need more articles like this rather interesting one to continue to point out the truth.
As for the Crocodile Hunter, he may have displayed his catches rather flamboyantly, but he did foster awareness of them and their place in the world and he did not harm them. He pointed out the truth and tried to dispel the mythology concerning the behavior of the animals under his charge.
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| ... | May 11th. at 6:24:26 pm EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
Like everything else about christianist mythology, "satan" is plagiarised from the concept of the Egyptian deity Set. Therefore, "satanists" are christianists.
Good article for the standard form article.
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| Nice Article And The Comments Are Great! | May 11th. at 4:34:30 pm EDT
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Silverwing (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Email Me
I enjoyed the balance in the article. I appreciated the absence of any attempt to drum up big drama. Well done.
I also enjoyed reading the comments to the article. It was all definitely worth the read.
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| Nice And Clear | May 11th. at 12:35:39 pm EDT
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Panthea Ge (T-Town, Michigan) - Email Me
It was a good article. It's what television producers call a "zoo story," which is essentially treating non-mainstream people like the Crocodile Hunter treated animals in the wild.
"Cheek out thees won: eets got spots wheer we hev heeah..."
On the surface it might be strange to see ourselves displayed like that, but It's good to see an unbiased description.
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