![]() One of the strictures in such a culture is that homosexuality “is an abomination” to the Lord. They have generally been raised in or exposed to a Judeo-Christian culture. ![]() It must be remembered that the majority of Pagans come from non-Pagan backgrounds. Certain Pagan groups have opted to discriminate against gays and lesbians on the grounds that their ancestors in Europe would not have tolerated homosexuality in the tribes, clans, and villages.) (In this category, I am also thinking of certain cultural biases that are evidenced in certain magical traditions. I would like to examine each one as a unique and separate point from the other. So, if Paganism is supposed to be so all accepting of variety in life, of the various life styles, why on earth should there be any anti-gay prejudice within the Pagan community? Let’s be honest there is homophobia in the Pagan community. Historically, those who walked in two worlds were often given special roles to fulfill for the communities’ religious life. The Native American communities are noted, for example, for their acceptance of their berdaches, men and women who lived between genders because of their homosexuality. Pagan faiths do not require their members to get married just to show that they are spiritually grown and that they are not “selfish.”Ĭertain (not all, however) Pagan paths have a tradition of accepting homosexuality. Pagan faiths generally do not require that their members procreate in order to be able to act in ministry. ![]() The majority of Pagan faiths do not seem to have any strictures against homosexuality. Generally, I would have to say that it is easier in many ways to be gay and Pagan than to be gay and any other religion that I have been exposed to. The subject of homosexuality is an emotionally loaded topic … including for the leaders of the various Pagan communities! Yes, we do tend to think that Pagans are more accepting than Christians, for example, but the truth is that many people … including the leaders of our Pagan communities … carry their emotional baggage and prejudices with them when they become Pagans. One point that I must make here is this: while Pagan communities may appear to be more open to gay people, this is not a Universal Law that is engraved in stone. This ignited a conversation that lasted for a while because of people responding to that original post about some of the possible reasons why gays, in general, seem to be more comfortable in the Pagan community and whether or not the Pagan community was more accepting of gays than non-Pagan groups may be. Do they ever notice the anti-gay discrimination in the pagan community, however?Ī couple of summers ago, I got into a conversation on a mailing list that I belonged to where someone was commenting on how shocking it was that there seem to be so many gay men, lesbian women, and bisexuals in the Pagan community. People often notice that there seem to be a lot of gays and lesbians in the pagan world. Love and passion are functions of the soulĥ. Sexuality is a personal thing that is subject to individual views and tastesĤ. Sexual matters, while holy and honorable, are best left in private for practiceģ. Skyclad is honored (okay, many Gardnerians also believe in honoring skylclad, but I tend to agree with Sybil Leek who noticed that skyclad is not always conducive to ritual and working in 25 degree weather)Ģ. While it shares a positive outlook on sexuality with other Pagan Traditions, it also incorporates the following:ġ. The Correllian perspective on human sexuality is somewhat unique to the Tradition. For example, Rabbi Glasier of Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs, Colorado cheerfully asserts that sexuality-including gay sexuality-is a gift from God. ![]() Nurturing, love, and caring were relegated as inferior things that a part of the woman’s domain while aggressiveness and strength were somehow masculine.įortunately, not all of the Book Religions share that antiquated and barbaric view. ![]() Because of this, sex had to be regulated and controlled and one successful way of controlling this aspect of the creative process was to subjugate and dominate the outward representation of the creation of life, the female half of the human species. Sex is somehow dirty, shameful, and sinful. The Book Religions are seen as being more sex-negative. Sex is a good part of life and it is a desirable part of life. In the same vein, many Pagans are also more accepting of polyamory. While some groups may disapprove of, for example, homosexuality, Pagans tend to be more accepting of and open to homosexuality. Pagans tend to view sex as a normal part of human sexuality. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |