Jan 10, 2009
Last week, I spoke of the Principles Of Wiccan Belief. There
are 13 principles in that 1974 statement, and each one could
command its own episode on a podcast like this - or even more.
But Number Eleven stands out in my sight, because it deals with a
principle so basic. Yet it is a principle which is so often
forgotten:
"As American Witches, we are not
threatened by debates on the history of The Craft, the origins of
various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different
traditions. We are concerned with out present and our
future."
As far as I know, every spiritual path known to humankind faces its detractors and debaters. But does it accomplish anything?
I recall in college, it seemed that every wanna-be "intellectual" felt the need to debate whether Yeshua Bar-Joseph actually was an historical individual. Some anti-Jewish and anti-Israel groups are trying to claim that King David never existed. But I find it really upsetting to see Wiccans and Pagans engaging in such debates, especially when they make such debates with other Wiccans and Pagans.
I've said before why I consider challenging another person's spiritual path to be spiritually dangerous. I would also point out to any debaters that if it's not your path, what's it to you anyway?
I try to make as few exceptions to this as possible, and those exceptions have to do with basic morality. Beyond that, I'll even give The Flying Spaghetti Monster the benefit of the doubt for now. If it's not my path and it doesn't bother my path, what business is it of mine?
For some folks, certain things are so basic that they don't even require mention. For some others, it might just be a secret in plain sight.
Blessed Be!