Religion, Abuse, and Power
It has become common wisdom that people who claim religious authority will oftentimes abuse the power and trust given to them. While we like to point fingers at the Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and breakaway Mormon cultists who fall prey to the lure of easy sex and easy money, Pagans, despite our claims to being (generally) free of the repressive power structures that can trigger abuse, can fall into the same dysfunctional and hurtful behaviors. A stark reminder of this fact was provided by the prosecution of Lee “Harrington” Thompson for forcing his ex-lover into sex acts with strangers.
“Thompson claimed that his grandmother, who lived in Blyth, Northumberland, was a pagan high priestess, and that she had passed on her powers to him. He used his knowledge of the religion to keep a hold over his victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, Mr Cordey said. The couple would have sex inside a circle of salt, the court heard. These acts were consensual, the prosecution said. But he also forced her to have sex with others, sometimes after taking drugs. Sentencing, Judge Tony Briggs told him: ‘What rather shouts out from the papers is you have an extraordinary ability and appetite for dominating and manipulating others.’”
Sadder still is the fact that these crimes would have gone completely unpunished had Thompson not emerged into the public eye as the leader of a “Kaotian” sect (an off-shoot of the Sci-Fi “Gorean” philosophy which promotes a man/master-woman/slave mentality). No doubt preening over his “happy slaves” triggered his former victim into coming forward. How did he force his then lover into what amounted to prostitution? It is simple really.
“Lee Thompson convinced the woman that it was his part of his pagan religion.”
We all like to paint portraits of ourselves that are heroic. Especially within Pagan religions where personal freedom and personal power are highly valued. But we all have a weakness. Maybe it’s pride, maybe it’s ego, maybe it’s a need for community and acceptance. Whatever it is, a skilled manipulator can often hide behind the guise of “High Priestess” or “Lord/Lady So-and-so”, abusing the trust we place in our fellow practitioners. I wish I could say that Lee Thompson was some unique aberration, but I don’t believe that is so.
“I met a guy who has a coven and he really wants me to be part of it because he says I’m special. But I have a weird feeling about the group, because they spend a lot of time talking about how everyone else is out to get them. Three of them have moved in with the High Priest, but none of them has a job to pay the bills with. Am I imagining it, or is there something not quite right?”
There they are, the magic words. “Because he says I’m special”. Who doesn’t want to believe they are special? That they have a special purpose in this world? Words like that can be a siren song, something that blinds us to rational examinations, and leads us into danger. Whether it is sexual abuse disguised as “initiation” or “magic”, or having your life taken over by the head-games and manipulations of the leader(s), the results are usually ruined lives, broken relationships with friends and family, and the erosion of the trust needed to rebuild after breaking away.
Religious abuse isn’t a “Christian” or “monotheist” problem. It isn’t reserved for flashy hypocrites or creepy cultists, it is our problem too. We are just as vulnerable as any other person, no matter how strong our faith is, or powerful we believe our magic to be. Thompson the hereditary Pagan slave-master is just a reminder that abuse happens in our communities too, whether we care to admit it or not.
One response so far
The religion does not matter. It is not the belief system itself that can be blamed, but only the designated representatives and followers.
I often preach that too many are coming to Paganism for the wrong reasons, such as a means to justify their otherwise socially unacceptable behavior. But our subculture seems to be handling them very well.
The problem is religious authority. Power corrupts and religious authority can potentially become an absolute.
The crazy part is this power is not taken by them, it’s given by us. I was raised Pagan, but I still say “oh my god” or laugh at a bad jokes and say “we’re so going to hell” because I was raised in a Christian society.
It’s part of our culture, you are taught from birth to sit in the pews, shut up and listen. you are taught that they are in charge of you, do what they say, without question.
Even as Pagans you’re looking for someone to take charge for you. The religion does not matter. It is not the belief system itself that can be blamed, but only the designated representatives and followers.
Every 99th Degree Grand Poobah High Priest of the Sacred Twinkie is just as human as you. Just as hungry, just as cold, just as vain, just as horny.