Petition against making "Wicca" a "second class" relgion

[MidnightLetter]

Something that was brought to my attention just a bit ago - there is a petition going around, likely as a result of the Patrick McCollum case . Anyone interested can read about it here, but basically it's about protecting "Wicca" and other minority religions from being given less legal status than the "major" religions in the US.

To be sure I'm not entirely sure, if there is any sort of legal precedent, would be nice if there were more details, or at least some links to resources relating to the issue. Just wondering what everyone thought about it?  

[Esiris]

The little bit about it I know of- it's not that pagan chaplains are barred, just that demand for them doesn't make it so they get the paid positions.

I'm uncomfortable both ways- on one side, it's supply and demand: if there were enough pagans they'd hire someone who was pagan. On the other side- since there aren't enough pagans, they rely on volunteers, but that's only because those religions they do have in the system are popular and I don't think that popularity should put someone else at a disadvantage. sweatdrop  

[kyndryana3]

This lawsuit was filed by a Wiccan Chaplain who volunteers in prisons and wants to get paid for it...the court decided he was pursuing this case for his own means (to get paid and not to benefit the people in prison).

I don't know what a good cut off would be. If it were my choice I would probably say that NO religious personnel should get paid to preach to the inmates, but if they wish to volunteer to go in they could. The problem lies in numbers: how much is enough to justify paying someone to come in and perform a service. And if one group is only a couple short, how do you stop them from 'converting' a few fellow prisoners so they meet the quota.  

[rmcdra]

I'm with Esiris on this one. It's conflict between supply and demand and popularity.  

[Kelsey MacAilbert]

rmcdra

It's conflict between supply and demand and popularity.

That's why we didn't have a pagan service when I was at Great Lakes, and that has more religious services than any other naval base in the US. There just weren't enough people who'd attend, and nobody was volunteering to carry out the services (most of the smaller religious services at Great Lakes were carried out by civilian, often former military, volunteers, not by military chaplains). There was no ban on the services, and I heard that they used to be carried out on base.  

[Ren Tohimaru]

Religion should never be a way of making money, except to break even with expenditures required to practice.  

[AspenGrey]

The Emo Bard

rmcdra

It's conflict between supply and demand and popularity.

That's why we didn't have a pagan service when I was at Great Lakes, and that has more religious services than any other naval base in the US. There just weren't enough people who'd attend, and nobody was volunteering to carry out the services (most of the smaller religious services at Great Lakes were carried out by civilian, often former military, volunteers, not by military chaplains). There was no ban on the services, and I heard that they used to be carried out on base.

Couldn't help but notice the RTC reference. =)
I found that the Unitarian Universalist services at RTC met my needs pretty well, but I do agree that it would be nice if the military recognized Wicca and other neo-pagan religions more. I know I'm hesitant to identify myself as such in my command because it's clear it wouldn't go over well.

I can only speak for my experiences, but a vast majority of people treat anything besides the religions of the book (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) as second-class religions.  

[X-Yami-no-Ko-X]

AspenGrey

I can only speak for my experiences, but a vast majority of people treat anything besides the religions of the book (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) as second-class religions.

Its because people are afraid to come out bcause of the people of said major religions that tend to attack people of different faiths.  

[Esiris]

Vagabond8

Religion should never be a way of making money, except to break even with expenditures required to practice.

What about the people who devote their whole life to religious service? What do they eat? How do they pay their rent or bills?  

[Votaro]

Native american religions are in fact nature based, I am native myself however I say go for it, build from that fact. The question here is, would bringing up the integrity of the other "religions" stated help any?  

[User 27225319]

The fact that something like this is even being discussed in America, "Home of the free", scares me slightly. Like, what if there was some petition or something and our rights were taken away. Like prop 8 was for gay people. My whole family would have no rights eek  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Staring Berry

The fact that something like this is even being discussed in America, "Home of the free", scares me slightly. Like, what if there was some petition or something and our rights were taken away. Like prop 8 was for gay people. My whole family would have no rights eek

Bro, NDAA.

The whole "home of the free" thing has been a subject of jest in the rest of the world for a while wink  

[User 27225319]

Sanguina Cruenta

Staring Berry

The fact that something like this is even being discussed in America, "Home of the free", scares me slightly. Like, what if there was some petition or something and our rights were taken away. Like prop 8 was for gay people. My whole family would have no rights eek

Bro, NDAA.

The whole "home of the free" thing has been a subject of jest in the rest of the world for a while wink

Hence the air quotes, i was being sarcastic