Religious Discrimination and The Modern "Witch Hunt"

06/04/98

Being a member of a religion considered outside of the mainstream can be difficult. Usually you have few religious leaders or, in some cases, even members affiliated with your faith. It can be hard to find people to talk to about your religion. The most difficult aspect, though, is by far the prejudice and even fear you confront every day from those who do not understand your faith.

Religious discrimination, at least on a federal and state level, is supposedly illegal in the United States. The Constitution grants us the freedom to worship whatever we choose, wherever we choose to do so, although with the introduction of the "School Prayer" Amendment in Congress, even that may change. The sad fact is, however, that people just like you and me are losing friends, jobs, and even their freedom over their religious preference. Even worse, in a way, are the wild rumors spread about many religions, such as Wicca and Satanism, which have no basis in that elusive area, the truth.

Background

The persecution of those outside of the accepted norm is as old as time itself. Once upon a time even Christians were fed to lions for their religion. They apparently learned the tactics well, however. The Christians have always been the chief persecutors of Alternative Religions. Gnostics were systematically tortured and mutilated as early as the 4th century AD. The faith was practically exterminated until the discovery of the Nag Hammadi scrolls in 1945. Those labeled as "witches" were tortured and killed in Europe throughout the middle ages. In the US, the Salem Witch Trials proved that prejudice and paranoia were not confined to the Old World. Twenty people were killed in less than six months, very few of them even remotely pagan or witch.

In recent times, the fervor over Satanism and Witchcraft has flared up once again, most likely due to the increased attention these religions have been given in the media. Many fundamentalist Christian groups have been protesting the "destruction of the American Youth", linking Satanism to such absurd things as Heavy Metal music and role-playing games. Crimes across the country have been blamed on a mythic group of Satanists who supposedly torture, extort, and kill as many as 5 million people per year. Satanic Ritual Abuse, or SRA, has become a buzzword in practically every law enforcement division in the United States, despite evidence that no such thing exists.

Not all discrimination is so dramatic. Some people have had problems in the workplace. Others simply dread the reactions of parents or peers to their religious choice. Public Schools have become a focus in recent times for allowing Christian prayer but denying information on other esoteric subjects. It all adds up to an air of paranoia and misinformation that breeds rumors and dislike for any religion other than the one accepted by the majority.

What You Can Do:

Well, you may be saying, what can I do to re-educate a fearful and mistrusting public about my religion? Plenty.

Many groups exist to do just that: raise awareness of the true nature of alternative religions. The Witches' Voice is a giant in the field, promoting witchcraft and paganism on web pages throughout the internet. The Gnostic Renaissance Information Project is also working to change the perception of Gnosis among the general public. Also, if you belong to a group, offer to give talks or seminars on your religion around the community. You may be rebuffed but, then again, you may not.

The American Civil Liberties Union is also an ally in the fight against religious discrimination. If you feel that you have been legally discriminated against, the ACLU may provide free legal advice and publicity about your plight. They also offer information and a forum to protest laws and proposed bills that could infringe upon the civil rights of others by writing or faxing your congressman directly from their pages.

Finally, the last measure is the most difficult. Attempt to remain reasonable and pleasant in the face prejudice. This advice may sound somewhat unrealistic, but it is as important as anything listed above. If you get angry or defensive, you are playing into the hands of those who want to portray you as a monster. If you remain civil, you may just cause someone to think about what you are saying, instead of their own fear of the unknown.

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