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Its a Mystery: Dysfunctional Behavior and the Pagan Scene

Essay on how to find functional pagans, and why covens don't always work (hint, its the crazy people), and from that, how to make one that does.

Note: it is driven towards a generic neo-pagan, but the advice and psychology works in any group.

Shamelessly taken from HellenicPagan.

Anyone got comments?

Portions of this confirmed what I read in a recent anthropoligical study on Paganism and magical beliefs. That nearly all of them come to it from dysnfuctional backgrounds and wanting power to get control back into their lives. I'm kinda an exception to that, as I love my parents to death and really don't have any major gripes with life. Of the others I have known who have been magically inclined, the majority of them, though, come from dysfunctional backgrounds.

The anthroplogical study I read cast a more positive light on these people than this article does. It described belief in magic as self-empowerment ot better one's life. But how many people actually use it in that way? Though this article gives no statistics, and so any real concludion cannot be made, it suggests that few do. I liked the list they had in here about the 'less healthy reasons to be pagan.'

I'm not sure if I agree that the problem isn't Paganism. It's definately part of the problem. Because it isn't centralized and generally lacks strong moral and ethical guidelines, things like this tend to happen. There's no common code of honor to encourage general kindness and tolerance. There isn't a strong unifying philosophy of life either; you have to really dig for that. That's why in developing my own system, I covered these two things above all else. Spellwork is fun, but it should, in my mind, be secondary to honorable conduct and a unifying, peaceful way of seeing the world.

I saw this article on the "f_m_p_p_h_trads" (Fascist Meanie Poo-Poo-Head Traditionalists) community on LiveJournal. Good essay. I like how it provided some solutions instead of just ranting about the problems. Since that community has a Traditional Wiccan context, I commented on the "judgemental" accusations that go around. It seems to me that a good Traditional Wiccan HP or HPS should be judgemental. Ultimately, the safety and stability of their group depends on it. Rather than become upset when called judgemental, they should carry that label with pride.

Everything listed in the article reminded me of drama I have heard about or witnessed (ESPECIALLY online). It's one of those things you read, and nod along with, you know: "Uh huh, yeah, that's right." A good article, I walked away with this quote, and it has stuck:

"Healthy systems value discovery & understanding rather than unquestioning obedience." - John Cleese

... Monty Python member notwithstanding...

I'll admit, I was originally attracted to Wicca as a method to gain power over my life; something I was lacking at the time. However, I quickly steered clear of those intentions. We can't really stop the power-hungry fluffies from taking an interest for power, that's impossible, or at least highly improbable. What must be worked on is to show the new ones that Wicca is not a tool to be used to empower themselves (you all know what I mean by that, I'm sure).

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Yes. In my neck of the woods. Within 20 miles of my house.

You did make sense, but I disagree. I think respect for others is where you start, people can loose respect, and gain more respect, but to start off without any respect for another individual? To disrespect someone because you do not know them? That seems like hypocrisy.

Would you like people to assume you are a bad person and have to prove yourself? Or would you rather be treated with respect, until you prove you do not deserve it.

I think the concept is present in Asatru from what I have read. I wouldn't want to go by what I have seen around my community though- wouldn't want to judge the majority by a poor example set by a minority.

That's pretty much how I do things as well. I actually give a little more respect to begin with. People will either earn familiarity or they will earn disrespect. But disrespect isn't so much disrespect as avoidence. I don't need to waste time with folks who I dislike.