Zealot, unmasked
Bonjour mes amies.
As the month of November draws to a close, we have seen many changes in the past year. No' only in our own areas but the world over, change is afoot. Weather, political upheaval, and religious values are but a few of those changes that impact our lives. But more, 'tis the growing unrest within ourselves which we must deal with before attempting to deal with the overt unrest brought about by the above changes.
Mayhap our inner turmoil is part and parcel of the general unrest, but there is also that which many of us deny or fail to give name and voice to, which contributes to the overall feelings we sometimes are prone to either ignore or grumble and complain about. How many times have you heard someone say "the world is going to hell in a handbasket", or "life is the pits", or "who gives a damn?" If one buys into such statements then one is likely no' looking for a solution to one's problems, but looking for a way to opt out of taking responsibility for and facing their personal problems.
Who among us wants to delve deeply into his/her own self and take a good look at perceived failures, lack of responsibility, or the like? No' many, I grant you. But to merely skim the surface of life and place blame and responsibility for one's problems on the handiest situation or person, is no' to live at all. Nay, 'tis only a means of existence; just getting by. And mere existence is a sad state of affairs. Were each and every one of us to opt only for getting by, our world would disintegrate around us. Our great Nation would become like those run by dictators, no rights; choices; freedoms.
And while each of us enjoys personal rights, choices, and freedoms there are those who are continuously chipping away at them, while some stand by and allow it to happen. Religious zealots preach gloom and doom and attempt to destroy other religions unlike theirs; political power mongers demand that we adhere to their beliefs and choose to side with their faction; and others, yet, decry one's rights of freedom and choice as unjust, if unlike their own. 'Tis a fine line we walk between freedom and the alternative.
What to do about it? Stand up, speak up, and be counted, otherwise... There is no need to shout in peoples' faces, chain one's self to block some public passage, nor crawl on one's belly, like a serpent, in public to make a point. 'Tis done every day by those who seek to destroy individual's freedoms and choices. Power is in numbers; the ability to shut down the zealots, the nay-sayers, and the takers of others rights.
Case in point: We recently received an e-mail from a highly placed religious zealot who made some bold statements against Witches. He claimed that his God would destroy all Pagans; even those who hold sway with some Christian faiths. (Aye, and there are Witches with dual religious beliefs). But that aside, Pagans have the same rights and freedoms as anyone else. The majority of Pagans are quite amiable sorts; respectful of others' religious beliefs. Sure, there are those few, as in every faith, who disrespect other faiths. But no' all Pagans can be lumped into one lot, anymore than those of other religious persuasions.
He went on to say that Dream Teller is publishing garbage that will warp the morals and values of the innocent, and the 'weak-minded'. Never mind that he considers himself a moral individual, as he set about spewing vitrolic threats. He even went so far as to refer to the Witches of Salem and stated that, like them, modern-day Witches should be hanged or, better yet, burned at the stake, to give them a taste of hells fire. And how heathen is one who makes such a statement?
So, as we continue to try and deal with the aftermath of the hurricane (he claims it was sent down upon us because we are Pagans and that those of other faiths who were affected were collateral damage), we wrestle with the inner turmoil of a personal nature. For myself, I am standing up to be counted; standing firm against the likes of that zealot. And I truly believe his threats will earn him a taste of the fires of Hades, for no Christian would even whisper such vile threats. I do no' have to shout, chain myself, or writhe in the street to get my point across. Rather, I have had my say and I will watch that zealot pounding his pulpit as he goes about fleecing his flock of moral thought, for financial gain. And who is the true heathen? Recognize zealots for what they are, power-mongers; thieves; immoral dogs in the manger.
Blessed May You Be, Kaitlin.
As the month of November draws to a close, we have seen many changes in the past year. No' only in our own areas but the world over, change is afoot. Weather, political upheaval, and religious values are but a few of those changes that impact our lives. But more, 'tis the growing unrest within ourselves which we must deal with before attempting to deal with the overt unrest brought about by the above changes.
Mayhap our inner turmoil is part and parcel of the general unrest, but there is also that which many of us deny or fail to give name and voice to, which contributes to the overall feelings we sometimes are prone to either ignore or grumble and complain about. How many times have you heard someone say "the world is going to hell in a handbasket", or "life is the pits", or "who gives a damn?" If one buys into such statements then one is likely no' looking for a solution to one's problems, but looking for a way to opt out of taking responsibility for and facing their personal problems.
Who among us wants to delve deeply into his/her own self and take a good look at perceived failures, lack of responsibility, or the like? No' many, I grant you. But to merely skim the surface of life and place blame and responsibility for one's problems on the handiest situation or person, is no' to live at all. Nay, 'tis only a means of existence; just getting by. And mere existence is a sad state of affairs. Were each and every one of us to opt only for getting by, our world would disintegrate around us. Our great Nation would become like those run by dictators, no rights; choices; freedoms.
And while each of us enjoys personal rights, choices, and freedoms there are those who are continuously chipping away at them, while some stand by and allow it to happen. Religious zealots preach gloom and doom and attempt to destroy other religions unlike theirs; political power mongers demand that we adhere to their beliefs and choose to side with their faction; and others, yet, decry one's rights of freedom and choice as unjust, if unlike their own. 'Tis a fine line we walk between freedom and the alternative.
What to do about it? Stand up, speak up, and be counted, otherwise... There is no need to shout in peoples' faces, chain one's self to block some public passage, nor crawl on one's belly, like a serpent, in public to make a point. 'Tis done every day by those who seek to destroy individual's freedoms and choices. Power is in numbers; the ability to shut down the zealots, the nay-sayers, and the takers of others rights.
Case in point: We recently received an e-mail from a highly placed religious zealot who made some bold statements against Witches. He claimed that his God would destroy all Pagans; even those who hold sway with some Christian faiths. (Aye, and there are Witches with dual religious beliefs). But that aside, Pagans have the same rights and freedoms as anyone else. The majority of Pagans are quite amiable sorts; respectful of others' religious beliefs. Sure, there are those few, as in every faith, who disrespect other faiths. But no' all Pagans can be lumped into one lot, anymore than those of other religious persuasions.
He went on to say that Dream Teller is publishing garbage that will warp the morals and values of the innocent, and the 'weak-minded'. Never mind that he considers himself a moral individual, as he set about spewing vitrolic threats. He even went so far as to refer to the Witches of Salem and stated that, like them, modern-day Witches should be hanged or, better yet, burned at the stake, to give them a taste of hells fire. And how heathen is one who makes such a statement?
So, as we continue to try and deal with the aftermath of the hurricane (he claims it was sent down upon us because we are Pagans and that those of other faiths who were affected were collateral damage), we wrestle with the inner turmoil of a personal nature. For myself, I am standing up to be counted; standing firm against the likes of that zealot. And I truly believe his threats will earn him a taste of the fires of Hades, for no Christian would even whisper such vile threats. I do no' have to shout, chain myself, or writhe in the street to get my point across. Rather, I have had my say and I will watch that zealot pounding his pulpit as he goes about fleecing his flock of moral thought, for financial gain. And who is the true heathen? Recognize zealots for what they are, power-mongers; thieves; immoral dogs in the manger.
Blessed May You Be, Kaitlin.
posted by Dreamteller at
7:40 AM
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