Hi all! I'm still around. I just haven't been on messengers much lately because I haven't been feeling too social. I have been trying to pimp the church whenever I can in various forums (is it just me or does the MSN communities -suck-??)
Anyway, maybe I should be posting this elsewhere, but something happened recently that really got me upset and a little spooked.
I'm part of a small pagan group (not a coven, just a social group) here in Grants Pass. The 'leader' of this group posted a little ditty in the paper saying when and where we were going to meet next. Just a little innocent thing to try to bring in people who might be interested.
No, correct me if I'm wrong (I know she's signed up to this forum, I don't know if she frequents it)... but... after this little ditty appeared in the paper, the place we were going to meet at (a Mexican restraunt) got tons of angry calls from people saying the restraunt was "Supporting witchcraft", and I guess they shut down for the day.
This was rather upsetting. I always knew this was a Bible belt area, but I didn't know it was that bad. I thought it was getting better. It's scary to think that somebody could find out my beliefs, judging by the communities response to this!
My question is, and has always been, "How can people be so closed minded?"
I think it comes down to education, of course. We grow up with witches in the media and in the Bible, the image of some ugly worted witch that uses her powers for evil (of course they're always female, this might also have something to do with sexism), and, well, you all know what that's all about there.
So what in the world can we do to educate these people without fear of being lynched?? I get around a lot in the community, and -everyone- is god-minded. It's downright spooky. I don't want to feel like I should be hiding in the broom closet, but I don't want to ruin my chance of getting work in the area, etc etc. It's a small enough community...
I'm just bothered, and I don't know what to do about this.
What about everybody else here? What kind of communities do you live in? Of course every city, in America at least, you're going to have churches up the wazoo, but how do your communities compare to mine?
*shudder* Spooky spooky spooky.
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Uh, the close-mindedness of some people today just disgusts me. And the sad part is, it was probably just a small group of the same people calling over and over again. I would personally call the restaurant and ask them why they decided to close that day. If they're stu....ah...I mean, unsuspecting () they may let slip if it was because of the phone calls and the possiblility that there would be *GASP!* Pagans in their restaurant. #1- It shows them to be kinda stupid...yes I said it this time...that they could let a bunch of ignorant, uneducated bible thumpers cause them to close their restaurant and lose valuable income. #2- It's religious discrimination against your group.
Maybe, and this is just a suggestion, your group could come up with some kind of codename that could be abbreviated so that if the group head were to put this in the paper again, it would be understandable to you, but not the average citizen. While I know this is not conducive to finding new interested people, it would keep fundies from stirring up trouble when you guys want to have a meeting somewhere.
Just my
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All opinions stated in my posts are just that...my opinions...and should not be held in any way as the opinions of the CEPF Board of Directors or of anyone other than myself. - Rev. Heidi Andrews VP CEPF
Wow, what can I say to help? I am so sorry that you and your group had to suffer through the ignorance that was basically thrown at you.
I do however agree with Heidi. Call the resturant, ask them why they did this. You do have the right to practice whatever religion that you wish and no one should be able to dictate to you otherwise. Let the resturant owner know about the path. Give handouts (ie CEPF's stuff is nice lol) and then let them get a feel for you and your group. Ignorant intolerance, no matter where you live is simply sad. I live in an area, very conservative (nuff said there) and yet, I have seen many functions be bashed in the public eye. Unfortunately, people and thier childish fear of the unknown actually keeps them in a closed "safe" box; hence it falls to us all, as Pagans, to properly inform all that we are not the hunch backed, wart faced, evil doers that are depicted by media influences. Ok I am rambling, so to sum it up, get ahold of the restuarant owner and inform them. This will at least open a few doors to you possibly in the future. As far as those that called, well all I can say is saturate the area with POSITIVE information, do not stoop to their level on this, so that people can feel more comfy with you and your group. I lived in Oregon, there are a few Pagan groups there, call/contact them and see what they have done to do a positive thing and have come out of the proverbial broom closet. Good luck Xeen. Let us know how it goes ok?
This is something that I can't believe is going on today, it makes mae angry and upset but dosn't suprise me at all. The ignorance that takes place is just out of control, but only with a little tolerance and education can this be changed. I wish that I could offr more than just morale support but for right now that's all I can give you. I'm really trully sorry that this has happened to you and your friends.
Hello, I am a new member and just surfing the boards and came across this topic, I too hate closemindness of society..heck in my town a girl wrote a story about her beliefs and it was all over the news like she was evil or something..but than after that I didnt hear anything so don't know what ever happened after that.. pretty much thats why I am in the broom closet mostly ..
) they may let slip if it was because of the phone calls and the possiblility that there would be *GASP!* Pagans in their restaurant. #1- It shows them to be kinda stupid...yes I said it this time...that they could let a bunch of ignorant, uneducated bible thumpers cause them to close their restaurant and lose valuable income. #2- It's religious discrimination against your group. 
This is something that I can't believe is going on today, it makes mae angry and upset but dosn't suprise me at all. The ignorance that takes place is just out of control, but only with a little tolerance and education can this be changed. I wish that I could offr more than just morale support but for right now that's all I can give you. I'm really trully sorry that this has happened to you and your friends.
