A Pagan Perspective

For some time now the Christian Right has been claiming that they are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Because of their belief in God they say that they are denied their basic human and constitutional rights, that America has swung far to the Left—a godless Left—that wishes to see Christianity dissolved.

If anyone watches the news however, a totally different picture is seen. While these Christians say that their rights are being taken away their concept of “their rights” is one somewhat wanting from reality. What these people really desire is control. Control of everyone and everyone’s lives, how they live their lives and how they end them.

While the Religious Right fights against the removal of overtly Christian icons from government (secular) grounds based on the premise that their constitutional rights allow such displays, they have no qualms in denying icons for anyone else. Recently a case surfaced in Roseburg, Oregon whereby a 19^th century statue of the goddess Hebe was denied erection in the city park as it was “an insult to Christians” and a “bad example for youth”. This statue had been located in the same area for years until it was removed due to construction some years ago. Its original purpose was to represent anti-alcohol ideals. “No way” said the Christians. And they had their way. After all who really wants to acknowledge a Goddess?

The unfortunate case of Terri Schiavo is another. While we certainly sympathize with the family, the courts time and again ruled that they could not stop her husbands removal of her feeding tube. Conservative TV commentators stated that the judges “want Terri dead”. No particular reason I guess. But years of court rulings from local to Supreme Court justices were all in agreement that the law is on the husbands side. But Republican politicians have taken Terri’s condition as their cause and a symbol of their fight against Democratic “liberal” ideals. A cause to boost the conservative cause—whatever that is—of “family values”. They were successful in getting our President to step in as well as the Congress—actions that are contrary to States rights and State law by the way. Mr. Bush has always espoused States rights—until his conservative friends get hysterical. Depending on the day he changes his concept of law and fairness.

I cannot judge the family, either the parents or the husband. Their agony can never be understood. For myself I have no problem with keeping her alive. Who or what does it hurt that she continues to exist? If she is in a “vegetative” state then she isn’t suffering anyway and her spiritual self has long departed. It does not harm her to keep the feeding tube in place. However, the government has no business in telling a private family how they can live or die. That decision is the family’s decision based on law. These family tragedies play out every day around our country but it is only those cases where religion is a major factor that they become known or taken up as a cause celebre.

Today another case was reported whereby a savage rapist and killer was sentenced to death by a jury that consulted the Bible to determine the sentence. While I do not doubt that he deserved to die the decision must be made on secular law—not religious texts. The decision was overturned due to their actions and the man is now sentenced to life in prison. There is a growing segment of the Religious Right that wish to rule and judge only by Biblical example. Of course, all of these examples are based on the Old Testament—even though Jesus said that he had come to replace those archaic ways.

Everywhere you turn Christianity is in front of you. From professional and high school athletes dropping to their knees and thanking God for their touchdown to pop stars giving God credit for their singing ability (and massive incomes) to public assistance applicants who say that “God provides” when asked how they have been paying their bills for several months without a dime of income.

Televangelists appear daily on TV sitting in plush golden thrones, dressed in pin stripe suites or flamboyant blond wigs, exhorting the audience to cough up with “just $25, $50 or $100” to meet Gods demands for a new church building. Organized religion is a moneymaker. It is also an excuse. It is an excuse to keep other faiths and cultures down, to deny equal opportunities, to increase the profit margin because it is “Gods will”, or, Gods forgive us, to give them cover to continue to abuse children or kill prostitutes. It has always struck me as strange that those Christian Right individuals so into the “right to life” cause see no problem in bombing clinics, killing doctors or, recently, trying to hire the death of Mr. Schiavo. Are not all lives sacred?

Homeless shelters often place a price tag on helping the downtrodden. Usually it requires the individual to sit through a sermon, take a Bible and participate in a group prayer. Sometimes these are demanded before food or shelter is provided.

Strangely enough, many Christian churches view other denominations and churches as un-Christian. After all the “one way” can only be claimed by one true church! Woe to the person who belongs to one of those “other” churches!

Our children’s school curriculum is coming under attack by the Christian Right who are succeeding in getting text books rewritten to fit the “Christian” view of history and science. There is no room for discussion, there are no open minds.

Our politics and how we go to war are dictated by the Christian Right. Our votes now only count if we decide to vote for the “Christian right to life” candidate. Our Republican politicians who are found committing illegal act are defended by their Republican brothers and sisters who claim that they are only being attacked by the Liberals for causes truly un-godlike. It no longer matters that laws have been broken or people’s lives ruined by these people. After all, they are Christian and beyond man’s puny laws!

Please do not mistake my meaning. I am not “anti-Christian” at all. I truly do not hate Christians! I do, however hate hypocrisy and the use of religion to bully, to manipulate, and to hurt others. All religions are true to the believers. There is not one above the other. The animist has as much credibility as the Baptist, as the Jew, as the Taoist, as the Catholic.

Simply said I am afraid that the United States is becoming an industrialized version of the Taliban. This may sound far fetched but there are those today in the United States who wish to stop the education of females, to no longer allow women to work outside of the home, to revert to stoning adulterers and to removing the hands of those who steal, and who have had a long campaign of burning those books that challenge peoples minds and imagination. And, let us not forget those efforts to keep babies coming, to deny sex education so that our young can remain healthy and whole, to deny any expression of ideals outside of those approved Biblical passages.

I am afraid the only group not being discriminated against today is the Christian Right. All I ask is that you remember these things the next time you vote. It may protect your rights and your life.

About the Author

Gary is a writer with an archaeological/anthropological background. His first book, "Essays in Contemporary Paganism", was published in June 2000. Gary's new book, "Sacred Wells", an illustrated book about holy wells and sacred waters around the world is now available from Publish America, your local bookstore and all on-line retailers. Two new books will be released in the Fall of 2004.

The major influences in my life have been those early anthropologists and ethnologist who studied human kind's early and contemporary cultures, exploring the technology, rich oral traditions, folklore and religious structures that are still so abundant in the world.

The need for universal respect and enjoyment of our differences is paramount. To do otherwise only cheats us all of our common heritages.

Accomplishments: Included in the 2003 edition of Who's Who in America, Gary will also be listed in the important reference work, 2004 Who's Who in the World.

SACRED WELLS is now available from PublishAmerica book publishers at a special price of $16.95--$3 off the regular retail price. Gary's new book, a companion to SACRED WELLS, WATER OF LIFE--WATER OF DEATH: THE FOLKLORE AND MYTHOLOGY OF SACRED WATERS will be published next year by PublishAmerica. The academic publisher, Algora Publishing in New York will be publishing Gary's other new title in 2004-05 on the folklore of sacred stones. Called MENHIRS, DOLMEN AND CIRCLES OF STONE, this book will appear in the Fall listing of Algora Publishing.

Gary is a member of the American Folklore Society, the Joseph Campbell Foundation and the Oregon Writer's Colony.

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