Non-Pagan Reactions: What Do You Say?

What do you say when non-pagans find out you are Wiccan or pagan? How do you answer their questions, respond to a negative reaction, without freaking them out or boring them? Feedback is requested on different situations where you've had an encounter (positive or negative), or anticipate having to deal with one. This video is in response to a question by NeoPagan2007.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• wicca
• wiccan
• pagan
• paganism
• witch
• witchcraft
• social
• public
• family
• friends
• religion
• faith
• belief

[embracetheslaughter]

i just want to point this out: if someone cares to know about something they will research it themselves. most people only care to be rude and judge because they have obviously been bestowed a right to do so and are better than another human being.

[WiccanTexan]

@embracetheslaughter - I consider talking to actual practitioners to be a very valuable way to research. We rely far too much on books and the Internet for our crucial information.

[WiccanTexan]

@falconlord5 - I don't agree; otherwise, there would have been no social, intellectual or other progress ever made. I think mankind is highly capable of learning. It's just that in our fast-food culture, if it doesn't happen in a fairly rapid way, people become frustrated.

[WiccanTexan]

Try presenting a constructive argument, and you might be taken seriously, OfTheWillows.

[neonblast]

if the don't know what a Wiccan or Pagan is, i usually just refer to the absolute basics "i'm a good witch" and they usually say ok, but for the silly ones who say "but all magic is evil!" i usually just say "all books of the bible must be evil too!" that usually catches them off-guard :3

[Christopholaes]

@WiccanTexan Well that's certainly true. You would be here for months if you tried to put them through the 500 char limit boxes we have here on youtube. I would be immensely cruel to demand such a thing, lol.

Well reading though again with that in mind, it is still a little vague, yet no where near as much thank you.

hm. Don't know as much about that particular school of pagan thought, I have more of a personal interest in ancient Celtic Druids from southern England. Know of them?

[WiccanTexan]

@Christopholaes - of course; paganism is all about synchronicity. I use "European Pagan" as an umbrella term for the entire European continent, not to denote that there was one common religion. It's easier than listing the hundreds of cultural belief systems that are out there.

[Christopholaes]

@WiccanTexan Hmmm. Interesting, you do know that each Gaelic nation such as Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Britain, Normandy and Gaul all had different and sometimes mutually exclusive belief systems. 'Pagan' is not a word used for one religion, but a label used by monotheists to dismiss thousands of differing belief systems.

So when you say 'European Pagan' I have to say that is about as vague a description you can possibly give. There is also no such thing as one 'European Pagan' tradition?

[WiccanTexan]

@Christopholaes - I've been out of the loop for quite a while; trying to play catch-up. I use this definition of Wicca: "An early 20th century religion, whose original structure is based upon European pagan beliefs/practices and Masonic ritual. It has evolved into both eclectic and non-Gardnerian Traditions which carry on through some specific rituals and tenets, but are open to broader interpretation."

[Christopholaes]

@WiccanTexan Whoa delayed reply! Yes traditional Wicca does have some set tenets and beliefs. Though I would point out the more puritanical view of religion or spirituality is somewhat the trade mark of monotheism. Meaning that though there were some set ideas individuals were still somewhat free to interpret the 'spirits' or forces of natures etc. Unfortunately modern Wicca's interpret this to mean 'believe whatever you like'. Which of course was not the point at all. What is Wicca to you?

[FearedBliss]

@WiccanTexan I have incorporated Buddhist believes into my life that also match Wiccan beliefs, so instead of dancing, I could just sit down and meditate.

[FearedBliss]

@WiccanTexan I tend to stay out of covens our local public rituals simply because I probably won't agree with what other people believe. I am very eclectic.

[WiccanTexan]

@Christopholaes - Not really; it's simply educating our children and others on the facts. They may never run into ANY opposing views, but that's no reason to run around in ignorance of your religious environment. Commericalism has made Wicca seem like a big hodge-podge, but traditional Wicca has set tenets and beliefs.