Posted on 08/19/2005 2:42:56 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
NEW PORT RICHEY - Pagans are coming out of the closet. After years of being labeled as devil worshippers who sacrifice animals under a full moon, the modern-day followers of ancient beliefs want to be part of the community.
In Pasco County, they're planning the first Pagan Pride Day in a popular city park.
``People think paganism is evil,'' said Robert Crom, regional coordinator for Pasco Pagans. ``Some people, especially among mainstream religions, feel threatened by us.''
Crom, 25, said he wants to clear up public misconceptions about pagan religions.
The group, formed a couple of years ago by transplants from Pinellas County, was issued a permit Thursday by New Port Richey officials to have the pride day at downtown Sims Park next month.
Organizers expect the event, modeled on a similar gathering in Pinellas, to draw at least 100 devotees for a day of music, pagan worship and public education.
``There's no voice for the pagan community here,'' said Crom, a former Methodist who gravitated toward practicing paganism as a teenager growing up in rural Nebraska.
From an early age, Crom said, he found Christianity lacking in areas, particularly tolerance, reverence for nature and emphasis on the free will of the individual.
``I was searching for a religion that made me feel comfortable,'' he said.
Crom was a member of the Pinellas organization. When he moved north a few years ago, he and others founded Pasco Pagans. The group, which says it has at least 50 members, has a Web site (www.pascopagans .com .com) devoted to educating the public and expressing views.
``There's a lot of pagans in Pasco County,'' Crom said.
Modern-day paganism is a collection of beliefs rather than a single religion. It's polytheistic - there are many gods - and it includes ancient religions whose underlying theme is of faith based on nature and respect for one another.
Followers embrace such movements as Wicca, New Age Mysticism, American Indian practices, tarot readings and even Buddhism, a mainstream religion in Asian societies.
It wasn't too long ago that pagans preferred to keep their beliefs secret, fearful of public assumptions that they are devil worshippers or ``black'' witches.
Mainstream religious leaders long have criticized paganism's liberal views on sex, divorce, drugs, homosexuality, adultery and abortion.
These days, more pagans are ``coming out of the closet,'' modeling their emergence after the gay pride movement.
The celebrated Pagan Pride Day in Indianapolis, first held in 1998, attracts hundreds of revelers every year.
Last year, there were at least 70 pagan pride events in 36 states, including Florida.
``We're everywhere nowadays,'' Crom said. ``And our membership is growing.''
Local religious leaders, unaware of the pride event, said they don't object to the pagan gathering, as long as it doesn't involve Satanic worship.
``If they're all people of good will, then we wouldn't stand against such an event,'' said the Rev. Drew Willard, president of the West Pasco Ministerial Association.
Misconceptions still keep many pagans from outing themselves, Crom said.
``We don't care if everyone accepts us,'' he said, ``but we just want to be accepted as part of the community.''
Even the local group's charitable efforts are scrutinized.
``We'll call somewhere like the local humane shelter, offering to donate our time or money,'' Crom said. ``They'll tell us they don't want anything to do with us.''
Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082.
Good old Arnold.
Now he's fighting the education union in Califorina.
Go Arnold!
How true!
And if it did, what business is it of yours? Live and let live.
And what makes you think pagans partake of these things in any greater numbers than professed Christians? Your bigotry is showing.
I'll try to remember that next time a church advertises its latest tent revival or someone pushes for the teaching of creationism in science class.
Oh. My bad. The PETA guys are probly pagans to begin with...
Agreed. In America, you can practice what you want. It's called FREEDOM of RELIGION.
If someone wants to smear themselves with Crisco, wear bells around their necks, run around naked, and bark at the moon,
WHO CARES?
As long as they do it BEHIND closed doors so that me and mine do not have to witness it.
Also, can pagans be HALF as obnoxious as the door-to-door Jehova Witnesses? Not to mention the IN YOUR FACE born again Christian that I work around who openly badgers people as he shakes his prayer book in people's faces. If I had to choose, I'd take the pagans over bozos like him.
"The Virgin, Connie Swayle."
It's interesting that most pagans I know follow the recently invented "Nature" religions - few have picked the Greek and Roman religions as they were historically, particularly Roman that stress honor, duty, family, and a very orderly society.
OK I give up.
What do you say to a Pagan who sneezes?
"Gods bless you."
You say "God bless you" and hope -- silently -- that your example as a good christian might persuade him or her to reconsider at some point.
> What do you say to a Pagan who sneezes?
"God hates you!"
> It's interesting that most pagans I know follow the recently invented "Nature" religions - few have picked the Greek and Roman religions
Look up "Asatru."
> Jesus said that some people hated Him because He told them their ways were bad.
Huh. How about that. Some pagans say that some Christians hate them because the pagans told the Christians their ways were bad.
Hail Odin!
There is a difference. One group believes in their Creator, the other one acts like they are their own gods.
The Holy Spirit.
Christians have got to realize that they aren't the only game in town.
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