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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/15/2007 6:34:40 PM | Ok, first let me say that I debated whether to start a new thread or just add to my original "Religion gone wrong" thread. I decided to start a new one because I have found so many people don't read all the posts, so wouldn't know that a different stupid incident was under discussion.
I like to point out religious hypocrites where I find them, not just in the Christian community. Actually, especially in the Pagan community....but I usually do that in person as I come across it...
If you wish, you can go to http://forums.plentoffish.com/datingPosts5224387.aspx for the original thread, which concerned the actions of professed "Christians." This thread concerns the ridiculous actions of a professed "Wiccan."
AP (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Waukesha, Wis. - A 42-year-old woman who describes herself as a Wiccan faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after neighbors complained because she was disturbing them with chants around a bonfire she had built 10 feet from her home.
Capt. Mike Babe said Brenna K. Barney of Waukesha told police they were infringing on her religious beliefs since she was performing a ritual under the new moon.
But Babe said that, in addition to the criminal charges filed Tuesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court, police might also give Barney a ticket alleging negligent handling of burning materials.
Neighbors called police shortly after midnight Tuesday and, after an officer arrived, he heard the woman yelling in the backyard and found her wearing headphones, a t-shirt and underwear, the captain said.
An officer tried to get her attention by shining a flashlight on her but she continued yelling her chants, Babe said.
He said Barney at one point poured lighter fluid on the fire, in which she was burning rubber car mats and a cooler. Barney refused to cooperate with police and was belligerent, and her breath smelled of alcohol, Babe added.
Four officers were sent to the scene and arrested her, the captain added.
Wicca is a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons.
So, assuming the story is accurate, here we have someone whose professed religion reveres the earth and all upon it, and she is not only totally disregarding the environmental damage of burning the stuff she burnt, she is also severely disrespectful of her fellow humans who live around her. A good example of a hypocrite, talking the talk, but faking the walk.
They come in all flavors.... | |
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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/15/2007 6:42:41 PM | I don't know if I would go so far as to call her a hypocrite... but I agree she was out of line. If someone believed that birds were to be worshiped and did so by throwing bread crumbs across their yard, it would only piss me off because I'd come outside to find bird-droppings all over my house, my car, ect.
I firmly believe in a person's RIGHT to worship and their RIGHT to thier opinions... but only so far as that worship or opinion infringing on others. Burning stuff in your back yard (bonfire style) is clearly a danger to the community. | |
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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/15/2007 6:46:12 PM | Rubber car mats...lighter fluid...a cooler...
Wiccan or not, she sounds like a Grade A jackass. Her right to practice her religion ends of course where her neighbours rights begin...life, liberty and the pursuit of a decent night's sleep.
And 10' from the house???
Accident waiting to happen. | |
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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/15/2007 6:50:18 PM | Burning rubber in the name of Wicca? I think I would go as far as to call her a hypocrite... That is totaly against nature...
It was after midnight when the fuzz was called, so she was violating others rights right there... Not to mention lighter fluid on a cooler and rubber mats... That certainly can cause harm to either herself or her neighbors(not to mention the lack of respect!) and if I'm not mistaken(please correct me if I'm wrong), that goes against the Wicca way. | |
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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/15/2007 7:12:33 PM | I'm not Wiccan, but as a life-long Pagan with varying degrees of knowledge and training (and friends) in a wide range of Pagan beliefs, I have absolutely no compunction in saying that, yes, nearly all Wiccans would say that this is against the Wiccan way. You will find purists who don't use any accelerants for fires and others who do, but you'd be hard pressed to find any who would condone burning rubber car mats or petrochemical-based coolers in any fire, much less a ritual fire. And part of living in harmony, a Wiccan ideal, is respecting your neighbors' rights.
So I feel totally justified in calling her a hypocrite. I just wouldn't call her a Wiccan...unless I put it in quotes, like I did in the OP. | |
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Mr H2O
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Joined: 10/31/2006
Msg: 6 | |
| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/15/2007 9:44:04 PM | In the Michigan area is a slightly different issue brewing.
Fifteen years of planning, six years of building and $15 million
went into the creation of a new Detroit mosque that now ranks
as the largest mosque in the United States.
The two-story building has room for more than 1,000 people
in the main prayer hall and over 2,000 in the banquet hall.
City Council is expected Tuesday to pass a noise ordinance amendment
that would permit mosques to issue the traditional
Islamic call to prayer over LOUDSPEAKERS - 5 TIMES A DAY.
Muslims figured it was no different than Christians ringing church bells .
Maybe I just want to take a nap ...or drive my car without additional traffic lights,
or obtain tax revenue from religious properties for my community, etc. etc. | |
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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/16/2007 4:46:51 PM | | I would have to agree with you OP...and unfortunately hypocrisy happens in all religions to a varying degree. I think its quite possible that at least with hypocrisy in pagan religion it is because paganism has become popularized lately. I seem to see alot of people who when asked what religion they follow say oh I'm a Bhuddist...but then they are nothing of the sort. | |
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| Fair is fair....religion gone wrong, part deux
Posted: 8/17/2007 10:47:10 AM | Anthony, I do believe that Paganism gets more than its fair share of "flavor of the month" samplers. Some do nothing, really know nothing about any form of Paganism , but still call themselves "Wiccan" or "Druid" or ? and remain under the "Pagan umbrella" simply because we are, in general, pretty accepting and non-judgemental of each others' individual beliefs and idiosyncracies. We don't ostracize anyone for being different unless they overstep some pretty big bounds--like violence or sexual abuse.
None of us has any control over what label another chooses to adopt, and I believe in their right to do so, even as I scurry around saying, "This person does not represent my views or the views of the majority of Pagans that I know!"
It does happen in all religions. Paganism, and other "disorganized" religions, having no central organization or hierarchy, relies on individuals and small groups to counter the effects of the hypocrites and nutjobs, whereas those "organized" religions have central authorities to issue rules, press releases, announcements, etc.
Every group has its lunatic fringe that most in that group would like to see go away. | |
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