Witch Hunts, Old and New
Wednesday November 7, 2007
In the West, things are decidedly tame when it comes to Satanic Panic. Churchy folks hold meetings and offer to pray when the witches come to town, and witches get generic blame for a variety of so-called "occult crimes." Actual witch trials are largely confined to the odd lawsuit. The historical accused are looked upon with sympathy and regret and often exonerated, as in the case of Switzerland's Anna Göldi.
In other parts of the world, it's as if the last two hundred years never passed. In the third world, disease is often attributed to witchcraft. In theocratic countries, it's an institutional problem. While American occultists may have to deal with unfriendly neighbors, owning the wrong books in Saudi Arabia can literally be a death sentence. So it seem that while reason is gaining ground in the West, it's definitely not winning the war.
Comments
Witches in the USA still have been punished for their beliefs by losing job,losing custody of their kids, being harassed by HRS, and other authorities that refuse to honor the fact that Wicca or witchcraft is a legal religious path in this county. The fights are just usually not so public, unless the ACLU gets involved. I know this from personal experience, and that of more than 3 other friends who have been witches for over 30 yrs. and one that was raised in a family tradition. So tolerance for divergent beliefs is still lacking in this country, but at least we arent controlled by Moslems who would kill us for it.
I opened a “New Age” shop in a very conservative, small town. I had brought in some Wicca items and also Eastern, guess what sold first? Well before the Angels, Faries, and healing items. You guessed it, Wicca and Eastern.
Bless us all for our differences.