Beliefnet’s Balance
So lets say you run the biggest religion and spirituality web site on the Internet, and you decide to run a cover-story on a Wiccan who just won the lottery. What supplementary articles do you pick to run with the Associate Press story?
B-Net’s balancing act.
What Neo-Pagans believe, and a collection of Pagan prayers? Sounds good, but how about we balance that out with an anti-polytheism article by conservative Jewish “intelligent design” proponent David Kinghoffer?
“…idolatry, polytheism, and witchcraft are really just three manifestations of the same error – to which, interestingly, Hebrew gives no name. They share the mistaken assumption that divinity can be broken down into discrete entities (gods) and manipulated for our benefit. By contrast, the God of the Bible, a purely spiritual being, must be the ultimate unity and perfectly free to act as He sees fit, unaffected by our attempted manipulations or any other circumstances.”
Before you think I’m about to lay into Beliefnet again, let me just say that I applaud B-Net’s move to balance things out like this. I look forward to articles on why monotheism runs counter to our natural religious impulses by Jordan Paper, or perhaps an essay on the superiority of polytheism by John Michael Greer to “balance” out the next front-page story about something good happening to a Christian or Jew. I mean, fair is fair right? I’m sure B-Net won’t let us down. But you might want to remind them to stay consistent, just in case they forget.
2 responses so far
Ya okay… so fair is fair, I can see the point in that… why muck up a happy ending though? This is more like stoking a fire of a long time fued than bringing balance. Lets look at all the hundreds of years wiccans and pagans have been oppressed, by the very people who believe to “judge not lest ye be judged” and to “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. Sometimes it’s best to leave a happy ending happy.
Re: Why the Bible Forbids Paganism
Dear Mr. Klinghoffer:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your articles, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend Witchcraft, for example, I simply remind them that Exodus 22:17 clearly states “Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live.” End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them:
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Leviticus 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Leviticus 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Americans. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Americans?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Leviticus 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. Is it?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I occasionally wear glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Leviticus 24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Leviticus 20:14)
11. I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
Yours sincerely,
Makarios
makarios@wiccanweb.ca