Paganism: the burden of prejudice down the centuries

Monday, October 30th, 2006

October 31 is almost here and while kids are running round dressed as ghouls and witches, I thought it an appropriate time of year to write about the persecution of pagans and witches down through the centuries.

I’ve long suffered prejudice and misconceptions because of my sexuality, so much so that for at least a decade now I’ve been remarkably immunised against the standard expressions of anti-gay bigotry. Shirt-lifter! Yeah, so what? Poof! And your point is…? Since developing a disability in 2003 I’ve found another aspect of my life under attack: you’ve not got a disability because you look okay to me. Sorry, should I cut off a leg to get your sympathy, which I didn’t want in the first place? But perhaps the most grievous prejudice I’ve ever encountered, because it cuts to the soul, is when my spiritual beliefs are denigrated.

Where orthodox mainstream religions are concerned, you can kind of understand – albeit condemn – why they are so hateful towards pagans. Their beliefs dictate that they equate paganism with devil worship, licentiousness and even – in the worst instances – child abuse. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, says the Bible. The Koran, I have been told, provides a similar instruction to its adherents. What this has meant is that down the centuries pagans and witches have been tortured and burnt at the stake, persecuted in their hundreds of thousands. Even their pets have not escaped, black cats and other animals being killed as ‘accomplices’ or ‘familiars’.

Of course, more women than men were killed during the Inquisition. Many found themselves accused of paganism for no other reason than their being old or unmarried, or practising natural healing techniques that people today pay a fortune for in elite clinics! While being elderly or single doesn’t mean you’re accused of paganism today, superstition around black cats has survived along with a few other quirky, irrational fears. Yet nothing about paganism involves superstition. Superstition is belief without proof, personal or otherwise; pagans have their proof, as much as Christians or Muslims or Buddhists do. It’s called faith. Faith is pretty much the same thing whatever beliefs we hold onto. Faith is something that makes sense of life for us, carrying with it the promise of something wonderful when we die. But for me, faith is not about waiting for the afterlife; it’s about doing good in the here and now, for other people, the world and myself.

For those who don’t know, I have a black cat by the way. She’s beautiful. She’s just a cat but I love her. She crosses my path every day. The truth, as often is the case, can be simple, not at all sensational and frankly dull. I can’t help that. Pagans and witches are nowhere near as exciting as some think, and certainly not at all scary.

Satanists, such as they are, exist because of Christianity primarily; they have nothing whatsoever to do with the practice and history of paganism and paganism. Yet they are constantly, still, associated wrongly and offensively with pagans. They are not pagans. Yet still we see Halloween as a time when kids dress up in green skin and pointy hats, reinforcing the image of the pagan or witch as somehow ugly and wicked, to be associated with horror and death and to be feared. It’s a far cry from the truth, which is that pagans are peace-loving folk who have a great love for nature and immense respect for the beliefs of others they meet.

If only people would find out more before passing judgement – on anything – there would be so much less conflict and heartbreak in the world. Of course, you might say that without some stereotyping, there’d be a lot less opportunities for fun but, personally, I think if we could throw prejudice and stereotypes out the window, we’d find new, more respecting, ways of having a laugh or two. At any time of the year. And we’d find peace in our own hearts, too.

Enjoy Halloween – or Samhain as we pagans more often refer to it – but spare a thought for the poor women with green skin, pointy hats and black cats who can’t go out for a week before and a week after. They have rights and feelings, too!

Blessed be.

categories: broomstick stuff