BURN THEM!!!!
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.
Like C. S. Lewis said, if that's what you want then you might as well just get a good bottle of port wine.
BURN THEM!!!!
Abortion, sodomy, murder, theft, rape----I didn't know they were in "the closet."
Why is it that everyone who disagrees with something is "threatened" by it?
This guy was obviously "threatened" by Christianity. It made him uncomfortable, restrained his free will, and essentially made a demand or two on his life.
LOL
How perfect.
Yep, that's what I did and I've never been happier.
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.
Monty Python.
LOL
***....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. ....***
And what's the problem with that, huh?
?...Pagans Plan Pride Day To Ease Misgivings....Next year in Bagdad?
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit."
Matthew 12:33
No one likes to hear that we are doing crummy things. I certainly don't. But conviction, and dropping our pride, are the first steps towards healing. Some people will never listen.
In Hell, they will sing the song: "I did it My Way."
Very interesting idea. I wonder how they feel about President Bush and those fighting terrorism in Iraq and around the world.
He was infiltrating the P.A.G.A.N.s. Some hilarious scenes. "Greetings, PAGANs, don't forget your goat leggings."
Sounds hysterical.
But it's Bush's fault.
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