The Pagan Section
Deborah
deborah@summerlands.com
Sun Mar 12 01:11:45 2000
I understand that the Catholic Church's use of the word pagan denotes essentially 'any non Christian religion' (at least that's what I've seen it do in the past).  But it is extremely unfortunate that it chose to use the word Pagan in connection with the Nazis.*p*We work so hard to separate our life positive, earth based religions from the dark, occult, satanic, hate mongering image that the religious reich constantly tries to paint us as; that the Pope's choice and manner of use of the word Pagan is only going to add fuel to the fires of those who seek to be not only anti-Semitic and even anti-Catholic, but anti-Pagan as well.*p*Yes... I did cringe when I read this.  I'm sure others will too.  And it detracts from the overall message of reconcillation and acceptance that is the great purpose of the exercise.  It's almost like a prejudice that is so deeply rooted that it doesn't even dawn on the prejudiced person that he is in fact prejudiced.  To use an analogy, it's very much like the speech from the Star Trek Movie: The Undiscovered Country, where they are talking about The Constitution and personal freedom of the individual  and the Klingon woman says, "Listen to yourselves.  'Inalienable HUMAN Rights'  Why even the sound of it is racist"  That's the initial impression that I have of this section as well.  We're on the receiving end of an'Inalienable Non-Pagan' apology.*p*Oh well... two steps forward, one step back.  At least its progress in the right direction eh? <G>  Hopefully, before The Pope crosses the veil, he (or perhaps his predessor) and the Catholic Church will open their hearts, minds and arms to us as well and we will no longer be out in 'Alienated Paganland'.*p*Here's hoping for more steps forward than backward,*br*Deborah*p**br*Beirdd wrote,*br*: In the document, the section "Christian and Jews" *br*: makes the following reference to paganism:*br*:*br*:  The Shoah was certainly the result of *br*: : the pagan ideology that was Nazism, a pagan ideology *br*: : animated by a merciless anti- Semitism that not only *br*: : despised the faith of the Jewish people, but also denied *br*: : their very human dignity. *br*:*br*SNIP*p*: Still, I can understand that the passage is bound to make *br*: some of today's pagan cringe.*br*:*br*: --Beirdd*br*
Re: "Memory and Reconciliation" Exerpts[ref to "pagan"]
Beirdd
121
Wed Mar  8 18:25:36 2000