Religion
Related: About this forumPagan Outrage Machine Fires Up in Response to Time Halloween Piece
http://religiondispatches.org/pagan-outrage-machine-fires-up-in-response-to-time-halloween-article/BY JOSEPH LAYCOCK NOVEMBER 7, 2014
Pagans have demanded an apology for a Time magazine article that, according to a petition, compared witches to terrorists. The inflammatory part of author Jennifer Latsons piece, which analyzes our current cultural fascination with witchcraft as demonstrated by shows like Salem and American Horror Story, as well as Disneys Maleficent, seems to be the commentary from historian Emerson Baker, the author of A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience.
A petition, which has received nearly 5000 signatures, claims that the article endangers the Pagan community because it may encourage readers to punish witches as they see fit. On Twitter, Pagans have directed a torrent of criticism at Latson.
As a scholar of new religious movements, I am very sensitive to the way the media represents religious minorities, but in this case I dont think Latson did anything wrong. When there are so many actual cases of Pagan groups facing opposition in the United States, as well as literal witch-hunts occurring around the world, I cant help but feel that this backlash over a Halloween article amounts to tilting at windmills. The real motivation behind the online furor against Latson may be the opportunity to perform a religious identity centered around a history of persecutionall while sitting at ones computer.
Baker suggested that Americas renewed interest in Salem might be a product of the war on terror which has been used to justify the erosion of civil liberties and a culture of spying on civilians. This, in turn, has caused Americans to identify with those killed in Salem. In other words, Baker claims we all feel like the victims of a witch-hunt. The point of contention arises when Baker explains how the Puritan belief that diabolical witches live among us serves a similar social function to the threat of terrorism. He is quoted:
more at link
TM99
(8,352 posts)I read the article in question. It was actually quite good. His discussion was an analogy, and a very good one at that.
Are people just not educated enough anymore to recognize metaphors, analogies, irony, etc.? Or has the internet created an echo chamber where anyone and everyone is a victim persecuted by someone, and therefore, always in constant state of outrage waiting to be riled up by the next big Facebook or Twitter social campaign?
cbayer
(146,218 posts)So often it seems that people are just looking for something to get outraged about, just as you describe.
I agree about the article in question, though. It's worth the read.
TlalocW
(15,392 posts)Use their scary magical powers to get back at the author? Oh, that's right, they don't exist.
TlalocW
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Self-identified witches do exist. They are really interesting people, too.
TlalocW
(15,392 posts)And more power to them as the ones I know tend to me pretty environmental, do-no-harm types.
However, none of them have magical powers.
TlalocW
cbayer
(146,218 posts)and apologize.
I've hexed you. Your crops will wither, and your cattle die.
TlalocW
cbayer
(146,218 posts)And since I have neither crops nor cattle, you should be particularly afraid.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)Just yankin yer chain.
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)That anything you do to someone,good or bad, comes back to you 3X more intensely.
The author's own karma will deal with her.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)I think she makes a valid case without animosity or malice.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts).... is a myth. Like witches.
Pagans.... the ones this time with a chip on their shoulder who are refusing to even read the article comprehensively. Just knee jerk reactions and unjustified butt hurt.
Next they'll accuse someone of being a misogynist!
Religion is ridiculous.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)niceness coming back. You could insert the word tolerance, graciousness, civility or anything else in there. You could also insert meanness, intolerance, rudeness and incivility.
Have you met anyone who defines themselves as a witch? They are actually real and not at all mythical. There are actually quite a few who participate in this site and are well respected.
This isn't just about pagans. It's about all kinds of people who don't read articles comprehensively and respond in a knee jerk fashion, or make assumptions about others based on preconceived notions and lack of understanding.
And that can happen whether the person is a theist, a page or an atheist.
Prejudice is ridiculous.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)...involves the actions of your past lives. (Hinduism)
And more informally, something to do with fate and it being effected by one's actions.... but there is a sorta "cosmic justice" implied.
Then there's the definition you talk about which is very informal indeed. But I think most people who use the term seriously go with one of the 1st two definitions.
Its vitality usually stems from remembering the "hits"... where someone gets what they deserve, good or bad, by what are more than not random occurrences.... and forgetting the "misses"...which number far greater than the hits.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)If not, I am going to go on a new crusade about the word delusional.
So you can reject the religiously based definition and still accept the more commonly used one
. or not.
I'm pretty sure that one's action do lead to outcomes and sometimes I think one might experience it as justice.
I have parking karma. I think it is because I am super nice behind the wheel. My patience and kindness towards others often assists me in finding unbelievably good parking spaces in very surprising places.
If you want to reject it completely, that's certainly ok. But others find it useful and it may even lead to better behavior.
And there's nothing wrong with that.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)I repeat:
"Its vitality usually stems from remembering the "hits"... where someone gets what they deserve, good or bad, by what are more than not random occurrences.... and forgetting the "misses"...which number far greater than the hits."
cbayer
(146,218 posts)My superior pattern recognition skills have led me to conclude that it's a fact.
Now, if I start to tell you about my history of playing craps, you will definitely have a case.
And I do think that you can "pay it forward". I do think that good, nice, thoughtful people are much more likely to receive that kind of treatment in return.
And not very nice people are likely to receive that kind of treatment in turn as well.
YMMV.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)And not very nice people are likely to receive that kind of treatment in turn as well.
So what do you make of yourself and all your friends not getting kind treatment in return?
Surely you don't mean you and all your friends?
And you've always been so pleasant and sincere.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)other than that you make an excellent point.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Word mean what cbayer decides they mean.
bvf
(6,604 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 11, 2014, 06:46 PM - Edit history (1)
ig no rance n. Bliss.okasha
(11,573 posts)I wonder who has the key and how one obtains training to operate it.
I do see what the protesters are upset about, though. The reaction could have been avoided by the insertion of three words:
"Witches, like terrorists, 'are perceived to' threaten....."
Given that my uncles and older male cousins used to carry their rifles and shotguns to Ceremony lest the white folk down the road take violent exception, I understand the negative reaction. And sympathize with it.
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)I thought you were of a Native American religion. I know that "pagan" was used to describe Native Americans by those that churches that tried to kill them off, but I always felt that paganism was a different animal (ha--see what I did there?) from the Native American religions.
Sorry for my misunderstanding. Hopefully I didn't make any ignorant comments about your religion previously when I thought you were of the animism religions rather than a pagan.
okasha
(11,573 posts)are pagan religions. We have a lot in common with neo-pagan and wiccan groups that are essentially shamanic.
You seem to have missed the final paragraph of the post you're responding to.
Added: Read Zitkala-Sa's (Gertrude Bonnin's) classic essay, "Why I Am a Pagan."
mr blur
(7,753 posts)I'm sure they'd lend you a key.
okasha
(11,573 posts)and some of your colleagues have been enraged the whole time.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Got a spare key?
cbayer
(146,218 posts)You know them - the people who are waiting for something to be upset about.
Agree that he could have worded it better, but I think his intent was clear and the response was a bit OTT.
unrepentant progress
(611 posts)It's like some original series Star Trek monster. The only way it's able to survive as a publication is to absorb the hate and anger of its readers. The best way to deal with an issue of Time is a hypospray of Dr. McCoy's happy juice.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I'm not sure they purposefully did that in this case, but I agree that they do it frequently.