Have the Witch Hunts really ended?
The Witch Hunts
Have they REALLY ended?
The Witch Hunts. Its rare that 3 words can bring out so many feelings from so many individuals and groups. And the feelings all seem to come at the same time. Feelings of disgust and revulsion. Feelings of anger and rage at what happened. And feelings of incredible sorrow and grief for those that suffered. All usually followed by a strong desire for Justice. Ask anyone of us as "Spiritual Descendants" of the victims, and we'd all more than likely say all of this happens in a matter of seconds. Less time than it took me to type it. Probably less time than it took you to read it.
So what is the Justice we seek? What do we feel is worth 600 years of torture, burning, stoning, drowning, and whatever else we haven't learned of yet? Is it the idea that an International Court should close and lock the doors of the Vatican forever? Is it the International banning of the Catholic Church? Perhaps. And what should be done about the Protestant Churches? The Puritans also committed a fair share of atrocities. They even found a way to bring the whole issue into Civil Courts. What Justice do we want from them? Is a public confession enough? Or...
Do we "Forgive and Forget"? Is it possible to Forgive? Yes. Perhaps difficult...but possible. Is it possible to Forget? No. Never. Its never possible to Forget. And why should we Forget? Those that suffered are "Martyrs" to our own beliefs. We should never Forget even if it were possible.
There are those among the Catholics that have asked us to Forgive. Should we? There are those among the Protestants that admit the Hunts were wrong, but they have not asked for Forgiveness. And then there's the Fundamentalists. Our modern day Puritans. Not only have they not asked for Forgiveness, they don't think any of the Burning Years were wrong. They would return to those days if they could. And since April 19, 2005, the Fundamentalists have found an unusual ally in Pope Benedict XVI, who "sees a need to return to fundamental Christian values in response to increasing de-Christianisation and secularisation". Odd. Next time you speak to a Fundamentalist, ask them what they really think of the Catholic Church. Then sit back and watch the fireworks.
So where are we at now? Do we Forgive? That would make us look like the "bigger man" certainly. It would make them feel better. And to a certain degree, it would probably make us feel better as well. And all becomes right with the world...not quite.
Those who live in the gay community are still targets of their hate. And women will still have gender inequality with them. Children will still be victims of pedophilia. Should we Forgive? Or is that just a way of "selling out" for our own benefit?
No, I don't think Forgiveness should happen. For if they were serious about wanting it, they would not be just finding a new set of targets. A new group of "Witches" to try to burn.
The Witch Hunts are still going on. They have not stopped. Will we have the courage to fight? Or will we sell out to those that murdered those that came before us?
Have they REALLY ended?
The Witch Hunts. Its rare that 3 words can bring out so many feelings from so many individuals and groups. And the feelings all seem to come at the same time. Feelings of disgust and revulsion. Feelings of anger and rage at what happened. And feelings of incredible sorrow and grief for those that suffered. All usually followed by a strong desire for Justice. Ask anyone of us as "Spiritual Descendants" of the victims, and we'd all more than likely say all of this happens in a matter of seconds. Less time than it took me to type it. Probably less time than it took you to read it.
So what is the Justice we seek? What do we feel is worth 600 years of torture, burning, stoning, drowning, and whatever else we haven't learned of yet? Is it the idea that an International Court should close and lock the doors of the Vatican forever? Is it the International banning of the Catholic Church? Perhaps. And what should be done about the Protestant Churches? The Puritans also committed a fair share of atrocities. They even found a way to bring the whole issue into Civil Courts. What Justice do we want from them? Is a public confession enough? Or...
Do we "Forgive and Forget"? Is it possible to Forgive? Yes. Perhaps difficult...but possible. Is it possible to Forget? No. Never. Its never possible to Forget. And why should we Forget? Those that suffered are "Martyrs" to our own beliefs. We should never Forget even if it were possible.
There are those among the Catholics that have asked us to Forgive. Should we? There are those among the Protestants that admit the Hunts were wrong, but they have not asked for Forgiveness. And then there's the Fundamentalists. Our modern day Puritans. Not only have they not asked for Forgiveness, they don't think any of the Burning Years were wrong. They would return to those days if they could. And since April 19, 2005, the Fundamentalists have found an unusual ally in Pope Benedict XVI, who "sees a need to return to fundamental Christian values in response to increasing de-Christianisation and secularisation". Odd. Next time you speak to a Fundamentalist, ask them what they really think of the Catholic Church. Then sit back and watch the fireworks.
So where are we at now? Do we Forgive? That would make us look like the "bigger man" certainly. It would make them feel better. And to a certain degree, it would probably make us feel better as well. And all becomes right with the world...not quite.
Those who live in the gay community are still targets of their hate. And women will still have gender inequality with them. Children will still be victims of pedophilia. Should we Forgive? Or is that just a way of "selling out" for our own benefit?
No, I don't think Forgiveness should happen. For if they were serious about wanting it, they would not be just finding a new set of targets. A new group of "Witches" to try to burn.
The Witch Hunts are still going on. They have not stopped. Will we have the courage to fight? Or will we sell out to those that murdered those that came before us?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dragonhawk /|\ on -
i honestly dont think so....i think theyre still going on but they are very discrete and subtle.....not in the sense of mass executions, though they have happened recently, but in the fact of the hatred and inequality towards pagans, along with acceptance and understanding.
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany aka Glittertits on -
Agreed!
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Permalink Reply by Gravedigger on -
I think you may be partially right. The christians that were burned were burned as Heretics, not Witches. Joan of Arc is a good example of it.
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Permalink Reply by Dragonhawk /|\ on
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yes, very true...but no one can be sure. But what about the mass murders and executions in europe that lasted over 500 years??? the christian church marched all over europe, preaching about there beliefs and saying how everyone else is wrong and that the only way to salvation is thru jesus christ...pretty much forcing the pagan population to convert, and if they didnt theyd simply, as the popes of those times said, "eliminate them". They'd storm through pagan villages murdering the men, women and children, and burn down all there homes, then build a church over the ruined villages to "bless" the site. Thats another example of what the christian church did in those days.....but we're the wrong ones right?lol....
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Permalink Reply by Gravedigger on
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yep. with the minor exception of the Parfaits who chose suicide to execution or bending their knee.
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Permalink Reply by Celticlass...FAERIE QUEEN on -
THE BURNING TIMES were responsible for hundreds of WITCHES in Scotland,England,Wales,Brittany and the rest of the Celtic nations.Ireland was relatively left alone. were they"REAL WITCHES?" The ones ftom my Clan were.
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Permalink Reply by Rose on -
Thats another example of what the christian church did in those days.....but we're the wrong ones right?
Yes, and we threw them to the lions first. It's easy to "demonize" an entire group, isn't it? Easy to forget our own shortcomings.
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Permalink Reply by Dragonhawk /|\ on
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no i know...and ur right, we shouldnt live life with a chip on our shoulders towards the christian church and what they did, but the matter is that the hatred for pagans is still around, the church still preaches against us, calling us devil worshippers and crazed barbarians who dance naked around bonfires drenched in animal blood....and a whole bunch of other typical stereotypes....the christian community still tries to break up pagan gatherings with there mega-phones and poster signs saying that we're an abomination to god and that we're gunna burn in hell, holding up there bibles screaming at the top of there lungs towards us.....this is all still going on, the christian church still tried to intercede all pagan events and activities, and the christian community still has this concept of pagans because of what the church is teaching them and what theyre putting in there heads, teaching them to hate us and not accept us.....the list goes on.
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Permalink Reply by Dragonhawk /|\ on
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but who gives them the right to shove there religious beliefs and concepts down our throats and claim them as the absolute truth, and our point of views to be nothing more than lies? who are they to say anything? who are they to even stand up and have the nerve to make such claims? We believe what we believe, they believe what they believe, but do we (pagans) march into there churches screaming about how theyre wrong and we're right? and how theyre abominations to god? no.....thats what they do.....
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Permalink Reply by darkrose0486 on -
If your life is together and you're doing well then when your religion comes up in private conversation, you might have shattered a myth right then and there in that person's mind, regardless of whether they voice this personal revelation or not.
I agree with this statement. I have had people that have known me since before I accepted my Pagan faith tell me that they can tell that my faith has changed me for the better.
To me that is the best way for me to show people that Paganism isn't as bad or strange as they may think.
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