Sick of all the "Fluffy Bunnies" in the Pagan Community? Then really do something about it or stop complaining.
I was going to be a reply to the "Tolarance of Neo-Wiccans, New-Agers, and all inclusive deities..." thread, but I figured that because of the length of replies my reply would just get lost. And this is something that has be on my mind for years, and I think it needs to be said.
It is so easy to sit back and complain about the "fluffy bunnies" taking no responsibility as a community for it what so ever. But I'd like to say, who's fault is it? It's our fault. We as the Pagan community really only have ourselves to blame. We as a community are completely incompetent in providing quality teachers and resources to our members.
If you want to be a Jew you go to a Synagogue and receive classes on what Judaism is and what it means to be a Jew. If you want to be a Christian, then Christians will provide you with not only a Bible most likely, but provide many opportunities for you to learn more about the faith through Bible Studies, or whatever. If you want to be Buddhist you can go to a Buddhist temple or center. Many of them will even teach you how to meditate. You want to become a Pagan. You get to read books, just books, that's all most of us get. That, and the internet. Some of it is good, some is bad, and newbies usually don't know which is which. There is usually NO Guidance what so ever. Many of us aren't lucky enough to have a good teacher near by, and unfortunate many of us, especially we, Americans can't tell the difference between a quality source and a bad one. Yes, this is a great shame, and a terrible issue in our country, but it's a real fact we must be willing to acknowledge and deal with never the less. Complaining about how lazy and stupid our fellow countrymen are, isn't going to solve the problem. And this isn't always pure laziness, in many cases it's purely ignorance. And lets be honest while there are few quality teachers in our community, too many of them are either flakes who don't pull through, Pagan/New age bookstore that only teach basic Wicca 101 for a fee, people with serious personal issues who shouldn't be teaching in the first place or have serious ego tripping problems and just want a group of devoted unquestioning followers.
And we justify this. We say well, when the student is ready a teacher will come, and then we complain about the "fluffy bunnies." BULLSHIT! Why in the hell do we as a community continually allow this to happen? In this environment it's no surprise that some people come up believing some crazy or inaccurate stuff and say it's Paganism. And it's no surprise that in more organized religions it's less common for people (who have gone through all the proper channels) to come up with inaccurate stuff and say that it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc, because they as a communities have done the work. We haven't! Lets stop bs-ing ourselves, in comparison we really have done shit.
If you have problems will all the "fluffies" in the community don't just complain about it, do something about it. If you consider yourself any sort of expert then teach. If you don't have the aptitude, time or personality to be able to handle students on a face to face basis then write a book and self publish it, or create a website. There are many places online offer free hosting, and many have templates so an intensive knowledge of computer programing languages is not needed. Or start a YouTube channel and create video lessons. There are many ways to teach, and though the internet and books is how many of us developed our knowledge about paganism in the anyways.
If you're not sure if you're at a point you can teach, than create a study group of equals. Give yourselves more credit. You at least know which stuff is bad, and this in itself is a valuable resource. Do something, nip the ignorance at the bud. Do it when people are most likely to pick up bad info and become attached to it, when people are newbies in Paganism. Heaven knows the Pagan community needs more good teachers.
This IS the work that is done in other religious/spiritual communities, and this problem will not be solved or at least seriously reduced unless we take up the responsibility to teach. If you're not willing to accept our failures as a community and a least try to fix it, then of what benefit is your complaining? Seriously? IMO if you're not willing to do the work, then you have no right to complain.
I know this is an unpopular opinion, and now I ready myself for the stone throwing.
Replies to This Discussion
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SponsorPermalink Reply by Kara on -
I agree with a lot of what you say here Faun. i also find one of the problems is not giving people the leeway in the early days to be wrong, if every time someone opens their cyber or actual mouth all they get is knocked for the inaccuracies instead of encouraged for their first steps it's no wonder people develop a bad attitude towards being corrected or taught later on and this perpetuates the misinformation and so called 'fluffyness'.
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Permalink Reply by Grand Mufti of Satanism (Troll) on -
Fluffies are right, not wrong. They are in every way superior to the adepts. Arrogance corrupts and spoils. Beginner's Mind is where it is.
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Permalink Reply by Stormbringer on -
What's a Pagan? What is Paganism? Who can teach Paganism?
If you're not sure if you're at a point you can teach, than create a study group of equals. Give yourselves more credit. You at least know which stuff is bad, and this in itself is a valuable resource. Do something, nip the ignorance at the bud. Do it when people are most likely to pick up bad info and become attached to it, when people are newbies in Paganism. Heaven knows the Pagan community needs more good teachers.
Isn't this what people are doing here by complaining about and exposing fluffy bunnies and their erroneous claims?
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SponsorPermalink Reply by Kara on -
People are definitely teaching here thorn, I've learned quite a bit from some great folks and from the archive, the trouble for me is more than once I've seen someone who barely has their foot in the door and they are getting put down, or too critically questioned for the stage they are at, only a few weeks ago a young guy pretty much disappeared after asking for some pointers on his 'Wiccan path' and the usual chorus chirped up and more or less scared him off. I'm all for educating and correcting but there is a time and a way to do it and when some one openly admits to being new and still gets treated this way it's no wonder that they then get prickly the next time someone tries to educate them.
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SponsorPermalink Reply by Kara on -
I noticed :/ But it's the same people who do that, that get all nazzy when they later come across someone with a severe aversion to being corrected, even in a friendly way but they don't think there might be a connection between that and an earlier experience similar to the ones they dish out now, hmmm?
This is were responsibility for a 'community' educating itself comes in, it's like politics you don't vote, don't moan....well here it should be.. you don't teach, don't be bitch!
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Permalink Reply by Sea Star on -
I have been studying what path I will take for the past couple months and still have not made that final decision, nor found the strength to ask around for help, but to learn on my own and share what I have learned. Speaking as a newbie, I joined in hopes to be excepted for who I am, but found instantly a couple people wanted to debate my abilities as if its nothing. I try to never practice getting pissed off, but it was never easy growing up in the Baptist community being different, and I'm finding its the same in the Pagan/Wiccan community. And reading above makes me even more fearful of asking around. So you are absolutely right, it is all how you speak when educating or correcting someone. And don't use an opinion as a correction. Opinions are never right or wrong, they are merely a figment of what someone believes.
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Permalink Reply by Celticlass...FAERIE QUEEN on -
Hi Sea Star......Pagan Space is a loud and Very Large Community now,with over 43,000 folk and we have ALL kinds here. The vast majority you will find are helpful,caring and willing to discuss,talk,exchange ideas and listen without making you feel uncomfortable. You are more than welcome to join my group here on Pagan space,FEISTY WITCHES,we are always open to new folks ,have many diverse people frfom many paths too in the group. Have a lovely day.
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Permalink Reply by Zombie_Mom on -
I'm sorry you feel reluctant to ask questions here. Don't be afraid, there are a lot of wonderful people here who will be delighted to help you if you need assistance or answer your questions. :o)
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Permalink Reply by Einherjar on -
I joined in hopes to be excepted for who I am
Unless you are trying to be excluded for who you are, I think you mean "accepted".
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Permalink Reply by Maris Hellfaerie (Maire) on -
^This is why I don't use a spell checker.
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Permalink Reply by Sonic Titan on -
I never saw the point in dividing a minority.... we have our share of egotistical maniacs, conspiracy theorists, bigots, pretenders, and fundamentalists ..... not everyone on the path is virtuous... there are those who have faith in their beliefs.. but no actual belief in their faith.... we have morbid people in the dark arts.... christo-pagans, and eastern traditions,.. not to mention native american....
It's virtually impossible to harmonize all of these elements together.... unless we discard everything.... or agree that the only real truth there is... is death and the journey beyond.........
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