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[Gorm_Sionnach]

As a follower of numerous Pagan news blogs, as well as my own google new alerts, there is a story circulating which is both completely absurd, and equally troubling in its braoder implications.

A man, yet another self proclaimed "King of the Witches", who is opening up an Occult centre in Cambridge, has also "summoned a demon to inhabit a local church with the intent of having it possess parishoners, with the end result of harm or even death.

My first reaction to this was, as my topic suggests, holding my head in my hands and "weeping for the species". This man is clearly out of his gourd. The second reaction was that this would inevtiably become some what more well known. I doubt this is going to have any lasting impact on Paganism in general, though it may convince those who are already suspect, of their suspicions, and if nothign else casts (no pun intended) a pall on Paganims in general.

I would hope that people reading about such a buffoon, will recognize him for what he is; an attention seeking nimrod. Most people probably will. Some will unfortunately see this as evidence of the evils of Paganism, of course those same people are usually the ones leading prayer vigils against local Pagan establishments, so kettle meet pot.

As far as the big picture goes, it does bring to mind the problematic nature of what qualifies as "Paganism" and who is associated through self identification. Unfortunately, labels are how people identify groups, beliefs, etc. and people like this are exactely why huge umbrela terms like Pagan, have issues. No matter how you look at it, Pagans already have a hard enough go of it as it is, the last thing we need are media seeking charlatans trying to stir up some controversy.

Every group has its problematic elements, but when they become the stereotype, the potential for actual harm becomes that much more tangible.

Or perhaps I am over reacting?

Thoughts?

[CCC460]

Every group has its problematic elements, but when they become the stereotype, the potential for actual harm becomes that much more tangible.
 

I've seen this happen a lot in many different faiths, especially Catholicism. People sometimes choose an extreme to define an entire group. It is unfortunate. I think it happens a lot in todays world, politics, races/ethnicities, too.

[LeahOne]

All I can tell you is, any time a person was arrested for some crime, my grandparents (the ones who lit outta Russia like the Tzar's secret police were on their tail - aged about 11 or 12) would ask " Is he a Jew?" - and if the person didn't have an 'obviously' nonJewish name, like Lane or Harris or McKay or St Mary or O'Brien (all surnames of ladies from my Shul, BTW!), they'd be visibly agitated.  If the surname was possibly Jewish, like Yager or Xxxstein or XxxxBerg - they'd peer at the photo and try to guess.....and GOD forbid if the miscreant was a Levy or a Cohen!!!

Then, there'd be real agitation and distress : ((  Wringing of hands, and the phrase "It's a shonde far de goyim"  (It's a scandal in front of the Gentiles)....but there was also, from my grandparents, genuine fear.

Because they spent the first 10 or 12 years of their lives in a place where, when a Jew was ACCUSED of a crime - a mob would come in and trash the neighborhood, or worse.

So yes, Gorm:  I can well understand your concerns : ((  It BITES being the tiny 'off-brand' minority, doesn't it? 

Here's hoping the progress we think we've seen in the last century was really there.....

[SteveC]

As a follower of numerous Pagan news blogs, as well as my own google new alerts, there is a story circulating which is both completely absurd, and equally troubling in its braoder implications.

A man, yet another self proclaimed "King of the Witches", who is opening up an Occult centre in Cambridge, has also "summoned a demon to inhabit a local church with the intent of having it possess parishoners, with the end result of harm or even death.

My first reaction to this was, as my topic suggests, holding my head in my hands and "weeping for the species". This man is clearly out of his gourd. The second reaction was that this would inevtiably become some what more well known. I doubt this is going to have any lasting impact on Paganism in general, though it may convince those who are already suspect, of their suspicions, and if nothign else casts (no pun intended) a pall on Paganims in general.

I would hope that people reading about such a buffoon, will recognize him for what he is; an attention seeking nimrod. Most people probably will. Some will unfortunately see this as evidence of the evils of Paganism, of course those same people are usually the ones leading prayer vigils against local Pagan establishments, so kettle meet pot.

As far as the big picture goes, it does bring to mind the problematic nature of what qualifies as "Paganism" and who is associated through self identification. Unfortunately, labels are how people identify groups, beliefs, etc. and people like this are exactely why huge umbrela terms like Pagan, have issues. No matter how you look at it, Pagans already have a hard enough go of it as it is, the last thing we need are media seeking charlatans trying to stir up some controversy.

Every group has its problematic elements, but when they become the stereotype, the potential for actual harm becomes that much more tangible.

Or perhaps I am over reacting?

Thoughts?

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't know any Pagans before I joined BC and the only Pagans I read about in the news were the motorcyle gang, so I had many misconceptions. I know differently now, so you win some and you lose some. I think you're a decent and caring bunch of people. Those who would think negatively of Pagans as a consequence of this bozo, probably didn't have a very positive perspective of Paganism in the first place.

[John T Mainer]

Pure attention seeking behavior by that sad strange little frenchman.  His own power could never have raised so much as a sweat, nor troubled any more than the laughter his Crowlie-wannabe stylings warrant.  While he couldn't summon a demon or an elemental, and I'm not sure he could manage a waitress even on a good day waiving a $50, he did manage to summon the most gullible form in all the nine worlds: a reporter.

While no demon or spirit would be compelled by such a feeble creature to spread fear and division, a reporter can usually be counted on to do so.  This one did.  It doesn't matter if the reporter believed it, which I doubt, because they didn't bat an eyelash about publishing it.

Well done.

The only thing sadder than pathetic little men posturing like Crowlie's lost disciple, are people dumb enough to be frightened or angered by him. 

[kwd111]

Welcome to the club.

[ChicagoHeathen]

Welcome to the club.

Huh?

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