Pagan Misconceptions

[Catherine]

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You've already gotten lots of really great answers, so I just want to address a few things.

-What misconceptions have friends, coworkers, or even family asked about Paganism? For example, has anyone asked you if you worship the devil or some other untrue practice? (If no one has asked you about stereotypes, what misconceptions are Pagans most aware of?)

I don't get many questions about it at all. I never talked about religion in the work place because I think it's an inappropriate topic. All of my friends know what I'm about. As far as my family goes, as long as I show up for weddings and funerals, they don't care what I believe in.

Also, it's been pointed out already that pagan is an umbrella term for many different religions and spiritual practices. Even though I'm not a Satanist, neither are most of the pagans that I know, lots of Satanists do identify as pagan. That's not an "untrue practice", just another group under the umbrella. So, there's another misconception for you.

-What do Pagans do to try to counter these misconceptions and to get the truth of Pagan practices and beliefs out into the world or do most Pagans stay uninvolved in spreading the true practices and beliefs?

Most of the time, I don't do much because it rarely comes up in my day to day. When it does, I'll make corrections and answer questions to the best of my ability.

-How do Pagans feel about their portrayal in television, movies, and the media?

I can only speak for myself. There's a difference between pagan religions and witchcraft, so it depends on what's being portrayed. If it's an actual religion, like Wicca for example, I'd like to see it portrayed accurately just like I would any other religion. If it's witchcraft, I prefer it to be more sensationalized. Honestly, a TV show about witches like me would be unbelievably boring!

Good luck with your paper!

[SunflowerP]

For instance, many pagans hate the movie The Craft, saying it portrays witches and pagans as evil but I do not see this to be the case when I watch the movie. I see a movie where there is a "Good Witch," a "Bad Witch" and two who get caught up in it all. It at least addressed actual ideas of Wicca, such as the Threefold Law, and shows the consequences of misusing magic.

Heh... whereas I see a movie that has exactly one person who might be a practicing witch (or who might just be an unusually practical and down-to-earth New Ager), and she's a supporting character, not one of the main ones (the woman who owns the shop). Other than that, it doesn't portray witches at all; what it portrays (fairly accurately to my experience of them) are teenagers who are fascinated/obsessed with anything weird and ooky-spooky.

Sunflower

[Darkhawk]

-What misconceptions have friends, coworkers, or even family asked about Paganism? For example, has anyone asked you if you worship the devil or some other untrue practice? (If no one has asked you about stereotypes, what misconceptions are Pagans most aware of?)

Mostly I run into the assumption that I'm Wiccan, which is wrong in about eight different ways.

However, I run into that even more often and more persistently from other pagans, some of whom are apparently Deeply Offended that not everyone thinks Samhain is a liturgical new year - or even celebrates it at all.

-What effect have misconceptions had on potential new members of Paganism?

I neither know nor care.

-What do Pagans do to try to counter these misconceptions and to get the truth of Pagan practices and beliefs out into the world or do most Pagans stay uninvolved in spreading the true practices and beliefs?

On a serious note, I'm a theologian, not a marketing director. People will believe damnfool things on their own time and their own dime. My concern is primarily with my religious communities - which isn't 'all pagandom' - and making my religious work functional, healthy, and more comprehensive.

Spreading religion isn't very popular among pagans, especially those who come out of evangelistic backgrounds where they felt that they were spiritually threatened and coerced into feigning belief. As a general attitude, I expect that most figure that a given person's relationship with the spiritual is that person's responsibility, and I certainly decline to take that over.

Sometimes people give interviews or talk with researchers or whatever else. Sometimes people suggest that as minorities we have an obligation to educate (to those people I say "I am not your dancing monkey"). But it's all on individual people's free time.

-How do Pagans feel about their portrayal in television, movies, and the media?

Can't speak for pagans, but I mostly feel darkly amused.

[Nyktipolos]

Heh... whereas I see a movie that has exactly one person who might be a practicing witch (or who might just be an unusually practical and down-to-earth New Ager), and she's a supporting character, not one of the main ones (the woman who owns the shop). Other than that, it doesn't portray witches at all; what it portrays (fairly accurately to my experience of them) are teenagers who are fascinated/obsessed with anything weird and ooky-spooky.

Sunflower

Pretty much what Sunflower said. We don't see a lot of background or what their lives were like after the final showdown.

There was a deleted scene I wish that had stayed in, where Sarah had visited Bonnie in the hospital after her experimental surgery and was using magic (well smudging + words) to try and help heal her. These little things I think would've helped make it a better movie, as well as showing their own experiments with magic outside the group.

(This witch, however, really loves watching this movie. It's cheesy and terrible but I love it. Sigh.)

[Robert Cannon]

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I'm a student at the College of Charleston doing a paper on Paganism. My paper will specifically focus on misconceptions/stereotypes of Paganism and then the actual beliefs and practices that counter those misconceptions. The paper's aim is to show that these misconceptions, such as devil worship, are NOT what Pagans believe in or practice. I was wondering if you all could answer a few questions:

-What misconceptions have friends, coworkers, or even family asked about Paganism? For example, has anyone asked you if you worship the devil or some other untrue practice? (If no one has asked you about stereotypes, what misconceptions are Pagans most aware of?)

-What effect have misconceptions had on potential new members of Paganism?

-What do Pagans do to try to counter these misconceptions and to get the truth of Pagan practices and beliefs out into the world or do most Pagans stay uninvolved in spreading the true practices and beliefs?

-How do Pagans feel about their portrayal in television, movies, and the media?


I've been having a hard time with time management this semester as I've added a second part time job to my schedule. The paper is due this Wednesday. I've been speaking with local Pagans and covens but would like a larger sample. I understand that some here might not want their names or other info in my paper and can confirm that I am willing to keep any identities anonymous.

Thanks!

-We really worship the devil. What these people do not know is that most pagans place great value on truth, so that alone exludes the notion that we follow the "father of lies".

-Pagans are uncivilized barbarians. If you practice Asatru, Odinism, or Wotanism, you are especially probably familiar with this accusation.

-Pagans are hardcore liberals and neo-hippies. To a certain extent, this is true, but it is not always the case. Many Teutonic heathens, for instance, embrace far-right views, such as David Lane, Varg Vikernes, and Ron McVan. And let us not forget that the amount of folkish heathens is growing in Europe. I believe the Golden Dawn of Greece is made up of several Hellenic pagans.

[Draconia]

[This post now has Host approval -- RSS & LF]

I'm a student at the College of Charleston doing a paper on Paganism. My paper will specifically focus on misconceptions/stereotypes of Paganism and then the actual beliefs and practices that counter those misconceptions. The paper's aim is to show that these misconceptions, such as devil worship, are NOT what Pagans believe in or practice. I was wondering if you all could answer a few questions:



-What misconceptions have friends, coworkers, or even family asked about Paganism? For example, has anyone asked you if you worship the devil or some other untrue practice? (If no one has asked you about stereotypes, what misconceptions are Pagans most aware of?)

Many people seem to think we all work with crystals, tarot cards, incense and smudge sticks.
That we all wear velvet and pentagram necklaces.

I dont work with crystals, I got tarot cards I've never touched (I only use runes) and I only burn incense and smudge sticks because they smell nice and get me in "the mood" before meditating.

I work in a trendy fashion shop, so I most definitely DONT wear velvet. And the only necklaces I wear that really mean something to me is Thor's Hammer (aka: Mjolnir)
I wear an Ankh necklace a lot, but I just really like what it symbolizes, it doesn't reflect my views, nor am I affiliated with Egyptian Gods whatsoever.

Anyway, sadly I dont really socialize with the local pagans in my area, because they all create this stereotype, and I really dont want people to think I'm one of them, because I'm everything but.


**Also, the reason why people think paganism is devil worship comes from Christian brainwash. It is seen extremely sacrilegious to worship Heathen Gods by choice especially in a Christian country. Since Christians only believe in God and Satan, if you chose not to worship God, that automatically means your Heathen Gods are just Satan in disguise.