Observing what others think of "Pagan Community"


Why is it that the noisiest ones get to define the community?

I've been talking and corresponding with some people to gather information for an essay I plan to write tonight. I have also been spot checking blogs and forums.

It looks like some of my feelings about "Pagan Community" are shared by others.

I put this up in a reply to comments for this post, but I think it had wider application than I thought.

As a serious scholar, I am at best a half-assed philosopher, but I suspect that the need to classify faith may have started with the rise of monothesim and by implication, the True Faith™. It's something I haven't really taken the time to explore, probably because I am not really sure how to examine the assumptions of people long dead.

Aside from the social aspect, most of the examples of "Pagan Community" I have seen lately have excluded people. It seems like the ones making the strongest calls for a "Pagan Community" are the last ones I want anything to do with.

That is True Faith™ for you. "We're in the right and you're wrong and we're BETTER because of that."

I want to know about people as individuals. I want to know if I can enjoy a meal with them. I want to know if I can play with their kids. I want to know if I can scratch their cats or stroke behind the ears on their dogs. I want to know if I can walk around their yard without stepping on something valuable. I want to know if they use their fireplace. I want to know what kind of feelings their house holds.

I guess I am more interested in good neighbors than I am a "Pagan Community." And I don't think I am the only one like that.

Posted: Tue - February 13, 2007 at 09:02 AM
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