Wicca given religious status at BU (Boston University)

The Daily Free Press at Boston University ^ | February 17, 2005 | Ashley Mateo

[MeanWestTexan]

It is my understanding that Marsch Chapel is an Episcopal (ECUSA -- gag me) Chapel. I crossed the bridge and went there on occassion.

It used to only do various protestant (Methodist, Episcopal, and generic) and Roman Catholic services.

The Hidus, et al, had a seperate chapel.

[dsc]

"The majority of the group follows Wicca, but the group welcomes anyone who..."

...has a hole in his head.

[Land of the Irish]

[Pyro7480]

Thanks for the information. However, it is orthodox (small "o") Jewish and Christian teaching that pagans, whether they realize it or not, are dealing with the demonic. (For example, the line in Psalm 96 (95) which states "all the gods of the Gentiles (meaning all the gods that the non-Jews worshipped at the time it was written) are devils." In the Judeo-Christian view, there is only one God, "the God of Abraham." Since most FReepers are Christians, they probably hold this view.

[DGray]

*shrug* I realize that some Christian and Jewish teaching stress that we're deluded and dealing with Satan. And we're pretty much condemned to die by Islam. But that's our choice to make, and we're not hurting you by making it.

[Pyro7480]

Yeah, they only list Christian services. However, the Hindu page states that "The Hindu Student Council is a group which meets weekly at Marsh Chapel. They hold weekly worship sessions as well as monthly puja." The article at the start of the thread doesn't mention whether the Wiccans are going to meet weekly at the chapel, but they probably have the privilege to do so.

[Wormwood]

What exactly is a pagan? I'm not trying to be flip, but how would I distinguish a pagan from an atheist?

An athiest tends not to believe in a deity.

In my experience:
Female pagans tend to believe they have super-powers, while pagan men tend to believe they can score with pagan women.

/Wormwood. (Former pagan, former Christian, present-day smartass).

[Digger]

All of this for just a measly $38,000 per yr! Such a deal!

[Pyro7480]

Well, looking at it from the general religious freedom viewpoint, you aren't hurting us. But looking at it from the general Judeo-Christian viewpoint, the acceptance of paganism creates a unhealthy spiritual climate.

[RadioAstronomer]

ROTFLMAO!

[austinmark]

I suppose when all else fails,
you can try out the- Moonie's.

[Pyro7480]

Welcome to FR. Did you join because of the whole Hannity fiasco?

[DGray]

Well, I am of the viewpoint that you don't have to accept anything on a personal level. I think Islam is an abhorrant religion myself. If I were in a situation where jihadis were taking over and forcing people to convert on penalty of death, I would refuse to accept Islam and die instead. But as an American I wouldn't consider giving law-abiding American Muslims the heavo-ho, or outlawing their practice. So, I'm not sure what you mean by accepting paganism. Do you mean not accepting its influence in your churches and in your life? Or do you mean attempting to keep us from being able to peacefully practice our religions without harrassment in a public or semi-public place? I fully agree with your right to the former, but I'd be quite upset if you are proposing the latter.

[layman]

I am a Wicca and the reason I joined was because the Grand Wicca told me that there hasn't been an Islamofacist Fatwa about separating us from our heads yet. Of course, that could change at any time, in which case I'm going to switch over to something else.

[politicalwit]

"Don't worry, Freepers, pagans aren't a threat. I can't think of a single pagan sect that actively proselytizes or recruits."

Thanks for the logical information. As you can tell by the responses from several posters, they feel threatened by the unknown. It's easier for them to ridicule than to take the time to learn.

[Wormwood]

As you can tell by the responses from several posters, they feel threatened by the unknown. It's easier for them to ridicule than to take the time to learn.

Oh relax. Pagans are funny. So are Christians and Jews. Materialists (like myself) are just as ridiculous and spiritualists, so I'm not even being hypocritical.

[B-Chan]

As if. Wicca is so 1990. Kabbalah is where all the hot art school chicks are at these days.

"I'm not religious. I'm spiritual" = WILL HAVE SEX ON FIRST DATE

[Pyro7480]

I fully agree with your right to the former, but I'd be quite upset if you are proposing the latter.

It would be stupid to propose the second. Harassment is punishable by law. Jesus taught Christians to "Render to Caeasar what is Caesar's, and to render to God what is God's." This means, in part, to respect lawful authority. Christians are also supposed to respect the inherent dignity of humans, who have basic rights given to them, since they are "created in the image of God." While accepting this dignity, we are commissioned to condemn the sins of the world and of the flesh through our example, and through preaching. We are supposed to draw people to Christ. Harassment will only drive people away.

[Pyro7480]

LOL! Truth can be humorous, can't it?