Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pagans Plan Pride Day To Ease Misgivings
Tampa Tribune ^ | August 19, 2005 | CHRISTIAN M. WADE cwade@tampatrib.com

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: cults; idolatry; pagan; pagans; religion
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last
To: DTogo

Good old Arnold.

Now he's fighting the education union in Califorina.

Go Arnold!


21 posted on 08/19/2005 3:24:21 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: philman_36

How true!


22 posted on 08/19/2005 3:24:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

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.

Yeah, cause those old hebrews in the bible never sacrificed animals...
23 posted on 08/19/2005 3:50:11 AM PDT by TOWER
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
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.

And if it did, what business is it of yours? Live and let live.

24 posted on 08/19/2005 3:55:07 AM PDT by Junior (Just because the voices in your head tell you to do things doesn't mean you have to listen to them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

And what makes you think pagans partake of these things in any greater numbers than professed Christians? Your bigotry is showing.


25 posted on 08/19/2005 3:56:20 AM PDT by Junior (Just because the voices in your head tell you to do things doesn't mean you have to listen to them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
They just want to be "in your face" like all these "I feel good" LIBERAL groups that insist you happily accept them (no doubt they'll be demanding time in public school humanities studies). I think what they really are after is advertising to attract members.

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.

26 posted on 08/19/2005 3:58:35 AM PDT by Junior (Just because the voices in your head tell you to do things doesn't mean you have to listen to them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Maybe they can get a contract to finish off all the little beasties PETA doesn't want in their shelters. Kind of a win-win deal...

Oh. My bad. The PETA guys are probly pagans to begin with...

27 posted on 08/19/2005 3:59:47 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (God save us from the fury of the do-gooders!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Junior

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.


28 posted on 08/19/2005 4:11:17 AM PDT by deadeyedawg (Crush our enemies, listen to their lamentations, and drive them before us!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

"The Virgin, Connie Swayle."


29 posted on 08/19/2005 4:14:01 AM PDT by 50sDad (Star Trek Tri-D Chess: http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

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.


30 posted on 08/19/2005 4:52:03 AM PDT by Moonmad27
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

OK I give up.
What do you say to a Pagan who sneezes?


31 posted on 08/19/2005 5:47:06 AM PDT by Syberyenta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Syberyenta

"Gods bless you."


32 posted on 08/19/2005 6:07:06 AM PDT by Junior (Just because the voices in your head tell you to do things doesn't mean you have to listen to them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Syberyenta

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.


33 posted on 08/19/2005 6:59:18 AM PDT by leoncaruthers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Syberyenta

> What do you say to a Pagan who sneezes?

"God hates you!"


34 posted on 08/19/2005 8:11:11 AM PDT by orionblamblam ("You're the poster boy for what ID would turn out if it were taught in our schools." VadeRetro)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Moonmad27

> 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."


35 posted on 08/19/2005 8:11:49 AM PDT by orionblamblam ("You're the poster boy for what ID would turn out if it were taught in our schools." VadeRetro)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

> 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.


36 posted on 08/19/2005 8:14:57 AM PDT by orionblamblam ("You're the poster boy for what ID would turn out if it were taught in our schools." VadeRetro)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: orionblamblam

Hail Odin!


37 posted on 08/19/2005 8:17:23 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Never underestimate the will of the downtrodden to lie flatter.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: orionblamblam
Some pagans say that some Christians hate them because the pagans told the Christians their ways were bad.

There is a difference. One group believes in their Creator, the other one acts like they are their own gods.

38 posted on 08/19/2005 9:23:49 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Junior
And what makes you think pagans partake of these things in any greater numbers than professed Christians?

The Holy Spirit.

39 posted on 08/19/2005 9:24:59 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Remember folks, that all of us have Pagan ancestors. I personally don't see what the big deal is myself.

Christians have got to realize that they aren't the only game in town.

40 posted on 08/19/2005 9:26:39 AM PDT by Clemenza (Pirro is Hillary with an (R))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson