'Wiccans' win place in US military cemeteries (Armed Forces Jedi "Encouraged")

AFP ^ | 04/23/07

[presidio9]

Adherents to the neo-pagan cult Wicca soon will be permitted to place their symbol the pentacle -- a five-pointed star inscribed inside a circle -- on headstones in military cemeteries, US officials said Monday.

After months of legal wrangling, the US Department of Veterans Affairs agreed to allow Wiccans to place the symbol on headstones, as do adherents to the Christian, Muslim and Jewish and other faiths. The policy change will go into effect in the next few months, officials said.

"VA will be adding the pentacle to its list of approved emblems of belief that will be engraved on government-provided markers," said Matt Burns a spokesman for the federal agency.

The Wiccans, which have tens of thousands of adherents across the United States, were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the rights watchdog group.

"It is deeply unfortunate that grieving families of deceased veterans were forced to undertake a bureaucratic struggle to have their loved ones' wishes honored," said Aaron Caplan, an ACLU attorney who represented the Wiccans in the case.

"All veterans, regardless of their religion, deserve to have their faith recognized on an equal basis," he said.

[Arkinsaw]

Shouldn’t the Atheist symbol be nothing? A lack of religion? Very odd to me that there is a religious symbol for Atheism.

[Wormwood]

Shouldn’t the Atheist symbol be nothing? A lack of religion? Very odd to me that there is a religious symbol for Atheism.

Mobilizing atheists is like herding cats, so a single symbol signifying lack of superstitious thinking seems unnecessary at best.

That said, here's an article that showcases some proposals.

[FormerLib]

If someone can convince the Department of Veteran's Affairs that their religion merits inclusion, then that should settle it.

I only wish the IRS were as easy to convince concerning deductions with as little supporting evidence!

[FormerLib]

Mobilizing atheists is like herding cats, so a single symbol signifying lack of superstitious thinking seems unnecessary at best.

Just use "It's all about ME!" inside a circle. That about covers it!

[Caramelgal]

“The issue here is not respecting a religion that you believe is silly. The issue here is respecting the religious wishes of U.S. service-members that gave their lives for America.”

Thanks. Very well stated.

I would add that our Constitution guarantees freedom OF religion not freedom FROM religion. That means that it guarantees each of us the freedom to follow one’s own path in the matter of faith or even to follow the path to not believe. It’s not the government’s job to either endorse one faith over the exclusion of all others or to hinder the free exercise of any religion even if some in the mainstream considers that belief “wacky”.

Our country was founded mainly by Protestants but also by others who sought the freedom to exercise beliefs that were considered heretical by the Anglican Church of England. The colony of Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers (considered way wacky in their day) and my home state of Maryland (the Free State) was founded by Catholics (evil Papists). They and many others sought refuge in the “New World” from the religious persecutions they experienced in the “Old World”. When all these colonies came together to form our Republic our Founders wisely decided to create a secular Government, that while based on Judeo-Christian traditions and morals, the pagan Roman and Greek traditions of Democracy and earlier European codes of law, did not deem to dictate the beliefs of its citizens.

And isn’t that what makes our Country so great?

I don’t want our Military (read Government run) cemeteries to exclude anyone’s beliefs. It would be another matter if the Government forced a Catholic cemetery to include Wiccan symbols or a Jewish cemetery to include Muslim makers.

Over the years I’ve been friends with people with a wide variety of views and beliefs – born again Christians, Mormons, Jews, Muslims even some Wiccans. While none of it is my cup of tea, I’ve found they all are as pretty normal as most other folks. They have jobs, own homes, raise and love their children pay taxes, and if they pay the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Country, they are entitled to having the burial of their choice.

[Oztrich Boy]

Athiest

Isn't that boasting, like "Christianest"?

Wjy not leave it at "Athy"?

[presidio9]

Jedi are cremated, though...

To me a good point you make.

[presidio9]

Perhaps the most disgusting and perfidious sentiment I’ve read on FR in months, Barf alerts included.

Talk about asinine hyperbole. You ought to try visiting more than once every few months.

[amchugh]

So, you are saying pretty much just Hinduism, Jainism, Zorastrianism, and Judaism should be allowed? Oh, wait, you mean new religion like this century new.

[amchugh]

While that is funny, I’m pretty sure a lot of the athiests who die for their country don’t have that attitude. Now if there were a church of narcissism...

[Finalapproach29er]

Yeah, I’m sure many are fine folks.

[uglybiker]

Really? I was under the distinct impression that religious bigotry is de rigeur around these parts.

Is not!! And if you worshipped the right way you'd understand that! < /sarc>

[uglybiker]

Only if I was still alive at the time. ;-)

[E Rocc]

The issue here is respecting the religious wishes of U.S. service-members that gave their lives for America.

Exactly.

Indeed, I suspect some of those objecting to the Wiccan symbol would, if they had their way, object to this one as well:

-Eric

[No.6]

Hrm. If the Eckankar newagers can have their thing, I guess the wikki-wiks get theirs too. There’s some really obscure stuff on that list!

[ShrimpScampi]

As much as I hate the ACLU, I think that Wiccan’s should be allowed their religion. I did some studying on religions and found that the Wiccan religion is derived from one that pre-dates Christianity (maybe I should say the Bible) by thousands of years. I like their Rede (An it harm none, do what thee will) and wish the whole world could live by it. It’s similar to the Bible’s “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.