Christian Harrassment

[Ashoka]

That was my reaction as well!

I can't imagine a bunch of pagan pulling this off in America under the guise of "free speech."

A bunch of people protesting the overturning of Roe vs. Wade did just that; they interrupted a mass and were arrested. They weren't pagan (that I know of) but they were certainly doing the same thing. Turnabout is fair play. And, well, as for the police...they're biased as well.

 

[Augustus]

I don't want to register and subscribe to a newspaper

Web page archivers are quite good for when you've used up your quota of free page views, and for when a page is no longer there.

archive.ph

 

[Rival]

A bunch of people protesting the overturning of Roe vs. Wade did just that; they interrupted a mass and were arrested.

Well yes, you can't just expect to be able to walk into a religious service and disrupt it by protesting against the people/ideas there. That's disrupting the peace. It would be legal to protest outside the church.

 

[Ashoka]

Well yes, you can't just expect to be able to walk into a religious service and disrupt it by protesting against the people/ideas there. That's disrupting the peace. It would be legal to protest outside the church.

But that is what the Christian fascists did at these pagan festivals. They came in unwelcomed and stated to infiltrate the pagan gathering until many had to leave. It's a double standard. If they can disrupt, why can we?

 

[Rival]

But that is what the Christian fascists did at these pagan festivals. They came in unwelcomed and stated to infiltrate the pagan gathering until many had to leave. It's a double standard. If they can disrupt, why can we?

Both should be arrested.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Web page archivers are quite good for when you've used up your quota of free page views, and for when a page is no longer there.

archive.ph

Christian groups step up harassment of pagan festivals

 

[Guitar's Cry]

But that is what the Christian fascists did at these pagan festivals. They came in unwelcomed and stated to infiltrate the pagan gathering until many had to leave. It's a double standard. If they can disrupt, why can we?

What's crazy is that Christians are always perfectly welcome at public pagan events. I'd be willing to bet that peaceful protesters who are respectful would be (mostly) treated respectfully.

 

[The Hammer]

That was my reaction as well!

I can't imagine a bunch of pagan pulling this off in America under the guise of "free speech."

I would.

Just because of events like this happening.

Fight fire with fire.

 

[SomeRandom]

I see this observed increase in Christian harrassment of NeoPagans as another indication of the rise and overtness of Christian nationalism:

"Over the past seven years, barely a half dozen of these disrupters would show up, RavenHawk said. But the groups that have appeared this year 'aren’t just protesting,' she added. 'They are collectively at war with us. They made that clear.'"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/08/26/christians-pagans-harassment/

I am curious if this has been occurring in other countries. In America, this calls into question some of the ideals of religious freedom and freedom of speech being preached by the folks also suggesting that Christians are being oppressed.

Particularly disheartening in the article is how police respond. Would the same occur for NeoPagans at Christian festivals?

Thoughts?

Thankfully Christian Nationalism seems to remain rather unpopular in my country.
Last election I think their “party” got like 1 maybe 2 seats in Parliament.
So basically 1% or maybe less of the vote lol
Not saying it doesn’t exist. But it’s not very prominent, all the same.

That said, I have indeed observed an alarming increase of Christian Nationalism in the US over the last few years. Or at least a rise in their rhetoric being espoused anyway.

Which is concerning since it can embolden others.

 

[mangalavara]

I would.

Just because of events like this happening.

Fight fire with fire.

In my experience, when you talk to a person in their own language, they respect you.

Perhaps the Christian Taliban would respect Pagans in America if Pagans were to do the exact same thing to them? After all, some Nazarene said, ‘Do to others what you would want them to do to you.’

 

[Vee]

I see this observed increase in Christian harrassment of NeoPagans as another indication of the rise and overtness of Christian nationalism:

"Over the past seven years, barely a half dozen of these disrupters would show up, RavenHawk said. But the groups that have appeared this year 'aren’t just protesting,' she added. 'They are collectively at war with us. They made that clear.'"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/08/26/christians-pagans-harassment/

I am curious if this has been occurring in other countries. In America, this calls into question some of the ideals of religious freedom and freedom of speech being preached by the folks also suggesting that Christians are being oppressed.

Particularly disheartening in the article is how police respond. Would the same occur for NeoPagans at Christian festivals?

Thoughts?

As far as I know, that's not happening in France. Religious freedom here allows all groups to do their activities as long as they stay within the boundaries of the law and I haven't heard of anyone else bothering them during their event, pagan or of any other nature.

 

[Balthazzar]

There has been an anti theist movement in play for a while now. Anti Christian, anti Islam, anti hindu, anti religion .... basically.

It's not uncommon among atheist to attack religion, and the justification is based on history and war, etc. Ironic if you ask me, if not a you become what you hate most reality. The attacked includes pagan, Wiccan, and most others who hold religious views. The cages each group belong to are rattled, each being pitted against the others as if we're being viewed as gladiators in a Roman colloseum.

It's a common war strategy as far as I can tell. Infiltrate, instigate, tear apart the cohesion from the inside to the point we're not just fighting those against us, but also our own ilk. The strict black and whites sometimes over power logic, reason, and the shades of grey in-between this side and every other. It's a breakdown of Civil society thrust on us by ??? I doubt by common atheists, but I'm sure some join in. I'd suggest this is all instigated by more militant minded end of world radicals than place the blame on specific religious groups, given all of us are being targeted.

Who are they? I don't know. What can be done to counter the counter culture who? You tell me. I try to live in peace and be of benefit to my neighbors, but then doing so seems dangerous in some circles. Dog eat dog, survival of the fittest, every man for himself? Heh, umm ... sure ........ umm .... only enemy realities seem so much more pleasant than co ops and team work.

 

[firedragon]

Christianity, actually organized religion in general, is dying as people move away

Is there any global research on that?

 

[Balthazzar]

Is there any global research on that?

It may be developing into a more or less grounded institution, but I don't see "religion" going anywhere.

 

[firedragon]

It may be developing into a more or less grounded institution, but I don't see "religion" going anywhere.

Is there any study on this globally?

 

[sun rise]

Is there any global research on that?

But since 2007, things have changed with surprising speed. From about 2007 to 2019, the overwhelming majority of the countries we studied—43 out of 49—became less religious. The decline in belief was not confined to high-income countries and appeared across most of the world.

Religion’s Sudden Decline, Revisited | Center for Political Studies

 

[Balthazzar]

Is there any study on this globally?

I have no idea, but given the nature of, religion doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and on my other point ... history dictates as much. The many branches of religion, some which written about stating will be pruned and burned for not being fruitful. I might suggest it's a natural effect and or consequence of being diseased and/or detrimental to the tree itself.

 

[firedragon]

I have no idea, but given the nature of, religion doesn't seem to be going anywhere

Research shows otherwise Balthazar.

 

[Balthazzar]

Research shows otherwise Balthazar.

What does research show? A decline in some sects and a strengthening in others I will presume.

 

[firedragon]

What does research show? A decline in some sects and a strengthening in others I will presume.

I can't comment on your presumptions.

What I can say is that your comments are conjecture. Maybe you have your reasons to think as you do, but they are not based on research. You are expressing your feelings about the trajectory but they do not represent the trajectory. Hope you understand.

Nevertheless, you spoke of decline in some sects and strengthening of others. Do you have any research on that?