Incessant bickering, In fighting, and Identity in the Internet culture of Paganism

Well, it's rant time again...Most of those who know me know that I strive to keep this blog informative as well as insightful. I try to bring as little drama as possible into this environment, simply because Vanatru is a fairly new and oft misunderstood part of both heathen and pagan beliefs which have coalesced in the last few decades into a real meaningful and serious new tradition. However, most also know, especially those who participate in groups or forums I frequent, that I am a HIGHLY opinionated woman. So every once in awhile I have to spew a little venom about the constant flux of douchebaggery which I normally strive to avoid at all cost.

Apparently, my attitude is at times misconstrued as "holier than thou" as a woman of opinion and self respect. For example, an old male friend that I had not spoken too in some time approached me in the early hours of the morning a few weeks ago and regaled me with his long pent sexual desires. This was a person that I have known forever and someone who I dearly respected for many years. I assumed the RESPECT part was mutual, but was sorely mistaken.I will spare the details of the conversation, needless to say I declined the offer and informed the man that I was in a committed relationship with another man and had no interest in infidelity (whatsoever). At this point the "old friend" proceeded to call me "bi-polar" and informed me my attitude was "holier than thou." So, as usual, as a woman, I am relegated to the old whore versus virgin boxing system which exists in the minds of crude men.

The point is that the presence of love, loyalty, and fierce mental independence of women is still viewed as something of a negative personality trait by the vast majority of men (and women) in modern, and especially American culture. So this post is basically my way of saying fuck you to mindless, warbling, illogical, uneducated, ignorant, and delusional individuals who in my opinion have no business contributing to the human gene pool. Many of which call the Internet their playground, and especially those who make a mockery of paganism and heathenry while claiming to be its spokespeople. If the prescence of independent thought and compassionate feeling make me "holier than thou," well perhaps you are correct there.

I find it rather interesting how most of the bloggers on large incorporated "religion" or "belief" sites attempt to portray themselves as the spokesmen and women of the pagan and or heathen movements, yet the content of their sites are relegated specifically to stating their personal opinions about sensationalized news stories and our conflicts within the pagan community. Let's take the whole Z Budapest debacle from a few months ago as an example. In reading the majority of mainstream pagan sites at the time, I noticed something troubling. Much bantering and bickering about the negative and positive emotional impacts of the conflict, and little to no focus on practical paganism, traditions, or beliefs. To be honest it angered me, and some may have read my last rant post I wrote at the time.

I let it go, yet now it seems, here we go again. For about a month now I have noticed that these spokespeople have moved creepingly forward, not to relevant information, but now to the whole UK based controversy about African witchcraft and the unfortunate child who was murdered by family members. Yet instead of treating this horrifying event as lesson in the need for tolerance, and moving forward in remembrance and focus on the pagan lifestyle, NO. Instead it has yet again evolved into a war of opinion, debate, and hysteria about them evil christianz, and racism within the pagan community, and yada yada fucking yada.

Do I think the murder of an innocent child for their so called beliefs or powers should be swept under the rug? NO. But I do believe that meeting ignorance with ignorance is never gonna lead to a change in stereotypes against pagan and heathen faiths. Frankly, I am disturbed by these "famous" pagans who seem to think that being pagan means that they are at war with the world, or public opinion, or christianity itself. It smacks of fundamentalist, conservative ignorance.

How about dedicating say, hmmm, a post a week to what REAL PAGANISM  and/or REAL HEATHENRY looks like, feels like, in your own lives. How bout dedicating one post to information, and education, rather than your personal opinion crusade to destroy all that is not neopagan? The conflict we face as followers of pagan and heathen faiths in a postmodern world goes far beyond the ability of a personal (however convincing) argument. If we expect ignorance to change, really change, there is only one path which can conquer it. And that is knowledge.

Faith is a highly personal and meaningful part of our identity, no matter what that particular faith may be. Yet argument and debate rely on the idea of right and wrong. Each time one wins,another loses, and there is always inequality. Can we use an argument to create tolerance and equality? I don't believe so. Knowledge, compassion, and tolerance are the only way.

Which is why modern day pagan and mixed faith sites bug the shit out of me. I am tired of punching into my google and seeing links to three famous pagans who have posted fifty times a day about this that or another story in which someone was treated unfairly and they have an opinion about it. If you are not giving me real, honest information about living as a pagan, how your tradition works, and educating others who are interested, you need to step down off the pedestal. If this is how you operate, then you honestly know nothing about being a REAL PAGAN,OR A REAL HEATHEN. You are a fraud and a phony who has a self induced case of grandiose illusions. I can read the news, and I have my own damn opinions. If you can't EDUCATE me, then GTFO.

In Frith,
Cena

previous rant on panthea con, hatred, and inequality exclusionary tactics and equality