Newspapers / Rocky Mount High School … / Feb. 1, 2002, edition 1 / Page 4
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W^Ije (3rppf)on €avlp Spring:2002 4 l^ftrfjrr^/t arj/ /Yarry ofte^r By Slicrry 'I’aylor “Ten tiioasoiid ycai’s we’ve slruck die lire Creation’s music freely sung, Widi niagick joined we’ve piaised die stars Since first die world begun. Our spirit lives in dincless dance 'llie Tarot ;uid die Rune, And nigiiLs united in the power Of Drawing Down die Moon.” -David O. Norris Fii-st a story: in Ch:irlottesville, Virginia, Bufoixl Middle school had planned to take every student to see die new Harry Potter movie. Tliey sent out die pcmiission slips and got everydiing ready when at die last moment two of die parents came and claimed that they could not do this because Hairy Potter promoted Witchcraft and Satanism. The material I’m about to present is die basics on Witchcraft, die history and how movies misrepresent this religion. By die end of diis article, I will, no doubt end up defending Hany Potter, and perhaps angering a few people who do not share my beliefs. For diat I do not apologize, for diat is my opinion. iVitcheraft, A Histem First of all, Wicca, Paganism, or witch craft is not, nor has it ever been an oc cult, as die occult is known today. Tlie occult is identified now with Satanism, which has nothing to do with Paganism. The term “witch” is derived from the word Wicca, which is a Pagan religion. “Witches usually follow their own path, and don’t meander along widi a crowd just because somebody says so. Witches practice individualism. freedom of diouglit, and Iwve a close coiuiection widi die world around diem, including plants, animals, and other jjcople. We commune widi streams, sky, fire, trees, and rocks, much like die inIigenous aiicestoi-s of America,” s;iys Silver Riivcnwoli', auQior of Tccti Witch. Paganism is an :ige-oId religion, and is a backdrop to many monodicis- tic religions. Christianity indirecdy stemmed olf of Paganism. During the Dark Ages, die Church souglitoutapkui to promote Christianity aiid to get rid of paganism. 'Oiey used vaiious mediods including torture, fear iuid misniforma- tion. 'file Church created die Inquisi tion, wliich was compiTsed of influential men who persecuted innocent people all over Europe. Historians believe diat during diis time, die Witch Finders murdered over two million people. By die time die men of die Inquisition were Uirou^i, die female populationliad fallen to an alarming low. Men are capable of great evil, and they, at times, changed die Bible to free diem of responsibility and to litdieir purposes. “...Religious leaders cliangcd die Bible, particularly in one passage, where it still says ‘Tliou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’ In die original language of die Bible die wording was Tliou slialt not suffer a poisoner to live,”’ says Ravenwolf. Tliere are many misconceptions of Paganism, including die belief diat Pagans worship the Devil. This is not so, the Devil is a Christian belief, and Pagans feel that to name something evil is to give it power. “...Humans create the evil in the world and are too cliicken to take responsibility for what our minds, hearts, and hands have wrought in negative circumstances. Human beings find great joy in laying the on some mythical being mdier than owning up to »vhat we luive, in error, created ourselves,” says l^venwolf. Tliere is nodiing negative about Paganism, despite what many may diink. lliose who dunk diis aix; not edu cated in die practice of Wicca, Pagjuis do not eat babies or kill animals, lliey do not drink blood of .my aniniitl and do not lx:licvc in die Devil. "Iliey do nol dress all in black or lo curses or hurt people in ;uiy way. 'fliey do not work black magic (Ever mind tlie rule ol diree, wliat you give out conies back to dice), llieydonot, no matter how much fun it sounds, fly on broomsticks. 'Hiey don’t call diemselves w-arlocks (“trudi twister”) nor can diey cliange dieir hair color in die bhnk of an eye. Pagans also do not jxjrvert the of odier religions, and they do not appreciate when dieir symbols are pei'verted. Tlie most common is die inverted pentagram. Tliere is nodiing evil about die pentagram, it simply stands for die four elements: Eartli, Air, Fiie and Water, widi die circle me;mingever lasting love. Christians do not like when dieir cross is inverted nor do Jews like when die Star of David is perverted as well, so it should stand to reason why an inverted pentagram angers die Pagans. Pagans also believe diat diere is not one true padi to God, diey accept odier reli gions without prejudice or malice. Un fortunately, some people use Paganism as a means of backlash. In one instance, a Fundamentalist Cliristian is suing his ex-wife for custody of their child. He is using her religion (Wiccan) as grounds for her being unfit as a mother. Being a Pagan or Wiccan should have no effect on a person’s character, anymore than being a Cliristian or Jewish might have. Which also
Rocky Mount High School Student Newspaper
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Feb. 1, 2002, edition 1
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