Some Pa. shops close doors to Pagan festival

Wow, it's the Muslims and the Jews all over again, eh?

Religion is a ridiculous affliction.

Ignorance is certainly at the root of much wasted energy. Check out Wicca or Neo-Paganism on BeliefNet to get a factual overview, and make an informed decision.

Wow. What's the big deal?

They put up with Christmas.

I hope the locals who aren't so closed minded will boycott the closed shops going forward. These businesses should not make one cent from a pagan or their friends and families on ANY future date.

Live and let live, we are supposed to believe in freedom of religion. It sure wasn't wiccans that are suicide bombers or killing thousands of people like those responsible for 9/11.

I cant believe this is 2009 in America. The fact that they want to close their doors and lose money in this economy is just stupid too. Money is money, who cares who it is from.
Oh and PS-They don't worship Satan.
Do some research before you talk bad about another's religion and beliefs.

What in the hell does the Christian's Satan have to do with Paganism?

Let the fight it out like the old days.

In this day and age it still amazes me how ignorant some people can be.

Bruce wrote:

What in the hell does the Christian's Satan have to do with Paganism?

Good question Bruce. The answer is, after Constantine converted the Roman Empire to Catholicism, they were having trouble getting people to give up the Old Ways. So they made it illegal to practice any form of witchcraft. Then anytime there was any kind of natural disaster, the good christians went about the business of spreading gods love by finding a witch to burn or hang or bind up and throw in a river. I love their logic where if you bind a person and throw them in a river, if they float then they're a witch... "hey I guess we were wrong about old Penelope... you see that.. the bitch sunk like a rock." Anyway... the association of Paganism with devil worship came from the christians believing their were only 2 sources to do one's bidding... god and the devil. Since god would never have anything to do with witchcraft then ole Luke must be behind it. Don't laugh. The bible is full of crap much worse than that.

Clark,
I love your statement on how the Bible is "full of crap much worse than that." Where are you getting the facts to come up with that statement? Just personal convictions based on what you think is true for you but not others or have you actually read the Bible and came up with that statement? Just curious.

This is mid PA- rural PA is very closed minded. Only Philadelphia and surrounding area is not.

Joy wrote:

Clark,
I love your statement on how the Bible is "full of crap much worse than that." Where are you getting the facts to come up with that statement? Just personal convictions based on what you think is true for you but not others or have you actually read the Bible and came up with that statement? Just curious.

Clark is being harsh in his use of language, but his points are valid. The bible has long been interpreted to reinforce the values and agendas of the organizations behind it. Rather than vice versa. Furthermore, huge religious movements have sprung up based on faulty translations. Some time compare the english translation to the original hebrew or greek, especially on the subject of witchcraft, and your will be in for some surprises.

The christians slaughterd many many pagans through out history. Christians who never understood the Prince of Peace and his message. Who would Jesus slaughter?

I envoy those who can have faith/religion ,and I'm technically not welcome by the catholic church because I'm gay.

Joy wrote:

Clark,
I love your statement on how the Bible is "full of crap much worse than that." Where are you getting the facts to come up with that statement? Just personal convictions based on what you think is true for you but not others or have you actually read the Bible and came up with that statement? Just curious.

Joy, I can understand your taking offense to that statement, but yes, I have read the bible. I went to a lutheran grade school and spent 8 years getting indoctrinated. The holes of logic in the bible are too numerous to mention, but to name a few... What kind of insane god would create a universe, then only create 2 humans to procreate a race of inbreds. THEN... he tells them not to eat from a certain tree, they do, and the punishment that this "just and loving god" lays on them is to sentence an eternity of damnation in hellfire, not only for them but for every single one of their off spring for the rest of time. THEN... he decides, oh what the hell, I'll send my "son" who suddenly pops up out of nowhere, to live with them and preach goodness to them, and as a result, they will execute him and make him die a gruesome death, and for that, I can then forgive them and let all the believers into heaven. What kind of a sick evil god would do that? Answer... the same dude who murdered all of Job's family so he could win a bet with the devil... the same dude who turned one of the few good people in a town full of evil doers and corn haulers into a big salt block because of the horrible crime of turning around and looking back at her burning home. The same dude who decided to cleanse the earth and kill all the innocent people and animals except for 2 of each species (of which they just reproduced again and did all the same crap that made the g-man pissed in the first place.) None of this makes sense. I could go on and on. A God who could create a universe would not need to take revenge on the people he created and would not have humanly traits like jealousy and vindictiveness... and he certainly wouldn't give two shts if I believed in him or not. That's like me caring if the ants in my yard believe if I can drive a car. Sorry for the rant. I'm at Panaras and just had 2 cups of coffee and I rarely drink the stuff.

Good for the store owners!

Joy wrote:

Clark,
I love your statement on how the Bible is "full of crap much worse than that." Where are you getting the facts to come up with that statement? Just personal convictions based on what you think is true for you but not others or have you actually read the Bible and came up with that statement? Just curious.

joy the facts are in several books . just look it up on the intranet . there are many other books than the bible . and thousands of different views on the subject pagan is the original reliegion. all others came after . it's common knowledge. no one is saying to leave your beliefs just open your mind that others may not feel the same you do.

Joy wrote:

Clark,
I love your statement on how the Bible is "full of crap much worse than that." Where are you getting the facts to come up with that statement? Just personal convictions based on what you think is true for you but not others or have you actually read the Bible and came up with that statement? Just curious.

Using the bible to prove your point, is at the very least....interesting.

Why would they close their doors to people because of their religious preference is beyond me. If you close the doors to them, then that says to me that people of other religions might be next. It's dumb enough to lose the money, but to purposely do it to one group of a faith different from yours says discrimination to me.