Posted on 12/05/2004 2:01:06 PM PST by missyme
Danielle Woodwyk says her pagan faith is about love, but worries others may draw darker conclusions from a criminal-sexual conduct case police say involved paganism.
The Kentwood mother says nothing in her religion condones the sexual relationship and pagan marriage that authorities say teacher Elizabeth Miklosovic, 36, had with a 14-year-old former student.
"We support bonds of love, whatever you feel is right for you, but you have laws to abide by," said Woodwyk, 24.
Other members of West Michigan's small pagan community also condemned Miklosovic's alleged use of a pagan ceremony to initiate the abuse.
"Paganism strives for responsibility," said Jennifer Suttorp, director of Sanctuary of the Winds, a local nonprofit pagan organization. "A pedophile is a pedophile in any form of spirituality."
Area pagans worry the case could stir up unfounded allegations their faith was culpable. People on the Sanctuary's mailing list already are saying they will need "some kind of damage control," Suttorp said.
"I really hope the community will take the crime as the crime, and leave the person's spirituality out of it. Just because I went to church with somebody doesn't mean that played a real heavy (role) with the relationship."
The "wedding" ritual described by police sounds similar to a "handfasting" ceremony, in which two people link their hands with a piece of rope or twine, pagans say.
But while a homosexual union is legitimate in pagan doctrine, a wedding with a minor is not, they stress.
"Being pagan, you still have to follow the law of the land," said Woodwyk, a nursing student at Grand Valley State University.
Suttorp said an adult giving literature to a minor, as Miklosovic allegedly did with a book on witchcraft, is "really frowned upon."
Any minor interested in joining her group must have a parent's permission, she said.
"A lot of it is to protect ourselves from situations like this," said Suttorp, 27, of Kentwood.
"We don't want a parent coming back to us saying, 'You brainwashed my child into believing like this.'"
Pagan beliefs center on taking care of the environment and other people, said Woodwyk, who worships at home with her husband, Josh, and 5-year-old son, Seth.
"Our main mission is to better ourselves, better the community, heal the Earth and protect it," she said.
While I believe it is this woman's right to worship however she chooses, it's sad that she's taking her young children to Hell with her.
Setting Your Boundaries: Eventually you will probably meet people in Paganism who seem wacked out, in another dimension, or just plain weird. While our communities certainly have many bright lights, Pagans as a sociological group tend towards the less-well-socialised end of the scale. Often the the questions some may ask are rude or the response you might receive from others, just plain inappropriate. Paganism is an incredibly eclectic community, and we must be accepting of many viewpoints in order to continue the wonderfully rich dialogue we have, but no one has to put up with what makes them uncomfortable. You don't have to believe in nor even like someone else's version of the truth, but as long as it "harms none", they still have the right to it. Be polite, be courteous, be respectful of other's boundaries but feel quite free to set your own and leave if confronted by inappropriate response. Sometimes people continue to push their own agendas, even in the face of being told their attentions are unwanted. If someone is not respecting your boundaries, let them know about it in no uncertain terms and take yourself to a safe distance. Use strong, definitive words like "Please don't touch me.", "This is not a topic I care to discuss with you", or a stridently-voiced "Back Off!". If that person continues to be obnoxious, inform the event presenters and demand that action be taken. Event presenters are there in part to provide safe space and will be glad that you brought unsafe persons or situations to their attention.
Sex: Okay, let's get down to it. Pagans can be an incredibly sexual lot, given that many of our sects focus on fertility rites. There are all kinds of sexual preferences represented and supported very strongly in the pagan community: gay/lesbian, hetro, bisexual, celibate, polyamorous and a few I'm sure we're just too square to know about. ;-) A person's choice of sexual expression is respected utterly in the Pagan community and is not yours or anyone else's to criticise. It is not always rude to inquire about a person's sexuality, but sometimes can be, depending on the person. It is best to wait until you know a person quite well to make such inquiries if you really feel they are necessary. And always remember, "No means NO".
What's next are they going to erect a Golden Calf to worship in Michigan? What the heck is wrong with people?
ISLAM and Pagans in Michigan wow what a group
And where do Pagans get Family Values from Society?
So is nature.
"A person's choice of sexual expression is respected utterly in the Pagan community and is not yours or anyone else's to criticise."
I guess pedophilia could be described as "a persons choice of sexual expression", and would be permissible. Seems to me that paganism is mostly about hedonism and not much else.
I found this article to be rather good, if you read the actual quotations from the person being interviewed.
If you have a personal problem about the ability of each and every human to make a personal choice about God, please send me a private Freeper e-mail.
Question: Why was this article important enough, that you needed to post it on Free Republic?
I guess the only Pagans I have ever known of is from the Bible, I honestley did not think it was being practiced today.
I was glad to read that, too! Now my "pet" goat and I can hang out, freely expressing our love for one another with no fear of reprisal! *Rolleyes*
Man, these people are whacked! And I hate the fact that they've co-opted a "love of nature" as their centerpiece for being. I hunt, fish, hike, garden, plant trees, ski, etc. I love nature too, you freaks! Quit ruining it for us normal peeps!
And always remember, "No means NO".
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That is, except when "No means KNOW" !!! ;-))
I did not post the article. I just responded to it. As for your statement that you are both a Christian and a Wiccan, according to the bible, that is not possible. You are one or the other. Christians do not dabble in the black arts. And my friend, your argument is not with me on that matter, but it is with God. He wrote the rules, not me.
Well... there's a growing number of them. Some are sticking - as much as possible - to the real deal, like the Asatru. And of course, there are the ones that virtually start new rites but taking elements from a number of extinct "religions".
Please contact me privately about this topic. My wife of 18 years, would be most interested in hearing from you.
You Sir, just called me something rather vile, and YOU must explain to my wife, your justification for accusing me of "un-natural sexual acts."
It is easy to post something ignorant on Free Republic.
Could you say the exact same things, when standing before my wife and me?
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob strictly forbids homosexual sex, but I was unaware that nature had anything to say about the subject.
What does Christianity say about oral sex?
-"We support bonds of love, whatever you feel is right for you, but you have laws to abide by," said Woodwyk, 24."-
Well, that's mighty wide of you, Woody, but a 14-year-old doesn't experience "love" with a 34-year-old, and vice versa.
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