What Is “Pagan Enough”?
I am home ill today. Not cool…..really cannot afford to take the time off, way too much to get done in the next two weeks. I am hoping if I lay around enough today that I will be ok to go in tonight and get some things done. Anywho I figured I would take this time to discuss an important topic amongst the pagan community.
Over at Inciting a Riot, a fab new blog I found courtesy of Twitter, is a big discussion on showing respect to our fellow bretheren. Even down to starting a new trend called Project Pagan Enough (got a new button to show off my support!). Pagans are all kinds of people. We aren’t always what people picture a pagan to be. For instance, I can’t grow plants. So no garden for me. Lots of people picture pagans as earthy gardening people who live off their own land. I would love to, just no talent in that area. Lots of people picture pagans as being “anti-technology”. They picture us without cellphones, no use for the internet, etc etc. I do know some pagans that fit this bill BUT that doesn’t mean we all do. I can’t live without my smartphone, laptop, twitter, and facebook. Seriously…..I can’t. So since I can’t grow anything and I can’t make it through the day without tweeting once, does it make me less pagan? Do I need to turn in my pagan card (no, we really don’t have one!)? What if a pagan is real into high fashion and buys all the latest items from Gucci, Prada, and Hilfiger? Does it make that person less pagan? NO! That is the point of Project Pagan Enough.
It’s hard coming into a pagan path. Many of us come from a background where pagan meant bad. Even me! If it’s not another religious path putting pagans in a bad light it’s Hollywood. Do we have bad representation? Sure, but so does any other religious or spiritual path. Is there alot of mis-information being printed? Sure, but just like any other group as well. Newbies to any pagan path need help. They reach out to find other like minded people to feel less alone on their journey. To be judged by the people you are reaching out to hurts and hurts badly. Sure it’s ok to help them find the correct information, but resorting to name calling (eg: fluffy bunny) makes you look pretty childish and less credible to help someone find their way. And so what if they don’t feel the same as you…..pagans have no dogma! I would actually understand it more if we had dogma. But we don’t and that leaves room for people to find what is right for them.
The absolute worse thing I hate to hear is a pagan accuse another of “twisting a path to fit their needs”. Bottom line, ALL religions and spiritual traditions have been twisted. It’s nothing new, it’s been done for thousands of years (and no it’s not something the Christians invented) and it will continue to happen for the next thousand. You don’t have to like it, you don’t have to beleive in it, you just have to accept that things evolve. Without evolution of religions and spiritual paths….those paths would die out.
I have caught myself at times wondering if someone was “really a pagan”. I feel horrible about that. Really, what does it have to do with me? At the end of the day….how does their paganistic path affect me? It only affects me if I allow it. Is it something worth me allowing to interfere with my spiritual life? No, probably not. If anything I could maybe learn something about myself from them (and in that case I had). Ever since then I refuse to judge people on whether or not they are “pagan enough”. I may not like a person but it will be based off of personality and not spirituality. People will get my respect as long as they show respect back. Their religion will never be used against them even in the event they aren’t respectful. It’s a low blow and I have higher standards than that.
word. preach it, sister. and feel better, already!
verybadcat´s last blog ..Cheeky, Redux
well put
That was terrific! Welcome to being Pagan Enough even if you’re sick!
word. preach it, sister. and feel better, already!
verybadcat´s last blog ..Cheeky, Redux