Anonymous asked this question on 5/2/2000:
Do you fear that you will be persecuted (i.e., burned at the stake) by society one day? It seems you would be an easy scapegoat for societies ills.
amethystrose gave this response on 5/2/2000:
This is a very good question and one that weighs heavily on the minds of many.
In many parts of the world pagans as a whole are still not free to practice their own religion. However, in most countries we are as free to practice as anyone else.
For instance, the United States government has recognized wicca/paganism/witchcraft as being actual religions and therefore protected under the Constitution. We are even in the US's military chaplain's handbook. (To find out more information and read documentation on this visit The Military Pagan Network, Inc. at http://www.milpagan.org/)
The same is true for other countries. England (I think) had their Anti-Witchcraft laws repealed sometime in the 70's. I have heard that similar instances also occurred in Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. I have heard of people practicing freely also in Italy. I can't name all of the countries where it is becoming more and more 'accepted' however, it is!
What most people don't realize is that we are a growing religion. It is hard to say just how many people are Wiccan or Pagan because so many of us are solitary. However, there are numerous organizations that protect us legaly in many countries throughout the world.
This includes the WPPA (P.O. Box 1392, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055) or the Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance and belongs to WARD (Witched against Religious Discrimination).
There is also CoG or Covenant of the Goddess. CoG is another non-profit organization that is comprised of many covens throughout the world and is home-based in Berkley, CA.
There are many other organizations throughout the world. The WPPA and CoG are ones that I know of offhand however there are many more.
Still, there is persecution in some smaller forms. However, I have found that more an more non-pagans are starting to understand and accept us. It has been a hard road but we will always keep with us the saying, 'Never again the burning!'
If you need more information or have a question just feel free to ask!
Blessings!
amethystrose gave this follow-up answer on 5/2/2000:
I originally wasn't too sure when the anti-witchcraft laws in England were revoked. It turns out that it wasn't in the 70's but was in 1956.
Blessings!
The average rating for this answer is 4.9.
Anonymous rated this answer a 5.
Interesting. With the rise of Paganism, I guess Armageddon creeps closer and closer.