Pagans for Religious Recognition

Information

This group is for those of us that are willing to stand up and have our voices be heard! It is time that our government realize that we deserve to be counted among those that are free from religious persecutions and social stigmas that accompany it.

Location: Rising Fawn, GA
Members: 62
Latest Activity: Nov 23

Greetings to all new members please post a comment below telling us a little about yourself and if there is anything we can do to help, or list any ideas you may have. Any and all will be considered. We are all here for the same reason....

I am on a mission. It is time that our voice is heard. The fire hasn't just been lit inside of me, the inferno is raging. I have to do this. I don't think I have ever felt so passionately about anything. There are so many things to say, I look at all of us and think about some of the discussions that we have had in the past about problems members have had with their children's school system, problems in the work place, problems in the military, even in the post office. I want to see a day in my lifetime when I can talk freely about my religion to any one, and know that it is okay! I want to know that I can ask off from work so that I can observe one of my holidays. I want to see our government finally admit that there are other people in this country who love their Gods, Goddesses, and want to celebrate and talk about that celebration. There is only one way to do this... shout and keep shouting. Whether it is in writing, or in spoken word. I am calling out to all of those who came before, who suffered the fires, who hung from the gallows, and drown in the waters of religious intolerance. Lend me your spirit to keep me strong! I promise you I will NOT stop! They will NOT quiet me. We will have our say! I can only hope that my efforts are rewarded with a dawning of a new day when I will rest easy knowing that my daughter can practice what she wants safely and without fear!

Discussion Forum

Letter writing. 8 Replies

Started by Aebh Thistle. Last reply by rhiannon Sep 15.

Where are our rights?

Started by Blade Winter Pheonix May 18.

2010, The Year of the Bible 3 Replies

Started by RuneGeek. Last reply by Blade Winter Pheonix May 18.

Comment Wall

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Comment by Andrah Wyrdfire on November 23, 2009 at 12:43pm: I have written articles that most of you might be interested in reading; especially if you live in Indianapolis, Indiana.

http://www.examiner.com/x-8992-Indianapolis-Pagan-Issues-Examiner

Comment by Aebh Thistle on November 23, 2009 at 7:58am: I have come to a road block... I have everything organized and legal. The letter writing campaign around here not going so well. I guess that is what I get for living in a town where there are 9 churches in the city limits and only 5 red lights. At least the innocent kids that will have to die for us to get a traffic light in front of the high school will go to "Heaven".... Sorry, I am just feeling very disgruntled.

Comment by Greenhammer on July 29, 2009 at 6:01am: Please read the essay by Ryan Smith in Witchvox this week. It's called 'We must hide no longer'

Comment by Greenhammer on July 11, 2009 at 5:46pm: Strength in respecting each others diversity and a unity without hierarchy. Interlocking independent groups aware of what we are all doing. There truly is a growing trend of harassment wherever the right wing brainwashed extreme can take out the pitchfork to discriminate for a job as someone said or have unconstitutional questioning by police as someone else pointed out.
Economy needs to get some footing and i I really think next summer there is going to be a creative burst of energy as all these small businesses we are starting will begin to grow and culture is going to explode. Twitter in Iran was a glimpse of the power that people can utilize today and it appears that christians are looking for a clash with paganism. Something is going on in those pulpits of intolerance because they are seeing demons everywhere and many people are looking askance at that and are ready to abandon patriarchal religion. Im doing alot research for a personal project and there seems to be alot of solitaries- it seems-that are -for real- getting harassed, the nature of solitary makes us vulnerable. There is a civil rights commision that we may utilize and someone mentioned the Lady Liberty League.
One idea I had was anywhere that might have two drinking fountains you could put up two signs. "Christians only" and "pagans" on another just to exhibit how it is similar to race discrimination.
We need to ally with positive forces such as encouraging any bans on clear cut logging. We're about life and respect and nature and alot of the economy is about paper products. Clear cutting persists, habitats destroyed and paper and wood recycling never gets off the ground. Woodlot management would be about a million homeowners selling wood from their land sustainably instead of ten monster companies filling our needs. I'm saying pagans need to be doing more than looking for religous rights, pagans are going to be one of the engines that abandons the greed oriented system and leads the way in the future.
There is a tremendous focus on greed, and I feel there is alot of momentum for reform and all efforts such as yours Aebh Thistle will be rewarded with advancements. Pagans need to stand with Lady Liberty to achieve full freedom. Till one witch anywhere in this country is unable to constitutionally express their freedom then we have not yet achieved our goal.

Comment by Aebh Thistle on July 10, 2009 at 9:01am: Just to let you know I have been very busy with all of this 501c3 status stuff. To become recognized in the legal aspect of things is a difficult thing and time consuming thing to do. We are so close now. I am actually getting excited.

Comment by Dylan Cook on June 6, 2009 at 11:30am: I'm an eclectic gay pagan and proud too!

Comment by Thorswolf on June 6, 2009 at 11:27am: As a Ex US Air Force Sgt. Im willing to stand up and say i believe in the freedom of religion. Im asatru and im proud.

Comment by Aebh Thistle on May 16, 2009 at 10:14am: Greetings to all new members of this group. just to kinda let you guys know where I have been. I have been really busy getting a pagan group organized and there are more of them locally than I would ever have imagined. We are working on our articles so we can get a 501c3 status as a charitable organization that way we can approach our local govs, and state govs, as a organized unit. I have a lawyer that is really helpful and is being extremely accommadating. Everything is coming together so well. We are trying so everyone keep your head up and speak up. Hugs--Aebh

Comment by Blade Winter Pheonix on May 11, 2009 at 5:39pm: Trust me, you are not alone. I too have seen the pain of others, and I to wish to stop it, to make sure that others no longer have to feel alone. There are more of us than people like to think. Why is it that our country offers religious freedom with one hand, and strikes US down with the other? We will see freedom in our lifetimes, on that I will stake my life.

Comment by Bram MacGreine on May 8, 2009 at 10:48pm: hows it going i read an interesting post in one of my other groups I'm going to post it here as well maybe you guys can give my friend some help. I'm tired of the court systems treating us like were scum or non-existent or other. heres what my friends going through.

"Blessed Be all. My name is Kenny Klein; some of you may know me as a performer, writer, and Wiccan/Pagan teacher here in So Cal and nationally. I was involved in an incident a few days ago that I'd like to share, and reach out for any available aid.

My wife Anna (whom some of you know as both my wife and as the bass player in my band) has been going through a difficult custody battle for over a year now. There have been accusations on both sides of violence and abuse, all of which have been dismissed as unfounded.

Last Friday I went with Anna to family court in Pomona. Here is where the trouble began. In the course of the custody dispute, a custody evaluation had been written up. In it was a mention of Anna's religion, Wicca, specifically in regards to whether our athames posed any danger to the children. The evaluator deemed that they did not.

But the judge, seeing the report, went crazy. He spent a good twenty minutes drilling Anna on Wicca, on the use of the athame, and on what other "adult items" might be in our home. In his summation, he called Anna a "bohemian," told her that her two daughters were frightened of her because she is Wiccan, and said "Don't think you have freedom of religion; you do not have freedom of religion here." (Yes, this is an exact quote). He determined that Anna's children are no longer able to sleep in our house because of our religious tools and "bohemian" lifestyle.

Anna and I are looking for anyone who has some standing to help with this. Preferably someone in the legal field who is Pagan or Pagan friendly, and might be able to advise us. If you are someone or know someone in this position, please contact Anna at pixxestix@yahoo. com, or at 323-646-0380. We will probably contact the Lady Liberty League as well, so no need to suggest doing so."