From: cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese)
Subject: Re: alt.wicca, anyone?
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 30 Jul 92 00:31:12 GMT

In article <D5TooB2w164w@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca> idfraser@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Ian Fraser) writes:
>ba@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (B.A. Davis-Howe) writes:
>> 
>> Who would moderate it?  How can we be certain that the moderator will not 
>> filter with certain (perhaps even unconscious) biases which others would
>> disagree with.  Could we end up with the "correct" Wicca being the only one 
>> expressed?  
>> 
>> All in all, I think I would rather cope with the fundie Christians than the
>> fundie Witches.  And they do exist!
> 
>Actually, I think I'd find Fundiwitches easier to take. If nothing else, 
>they would provide insight into another aspect of the Craft, and another 
>approach to the Mother. (Besides, I have a real problem believing that 
>even the Fundiest of Witches would be even close toas offensive as your 
>basic, middle-of-the-road, Xian Fundy)

I'm not sure about this.  I've gotten the message from some that I don't
belong in any kind of witchcraft since I am poisoned with the
technological outlook of the Babylon of Science and the Male VIewpoint
in Science; I get the impression that the people who tell me that are
just lazy math-phobes who want Enlightenment without straining their
meager faculties.  Besides, some of them espouse the old division of
Male and Female qualities (Spirit=Male, Will=Female, the hunt=MAle,
nurturing=Female) that are just that same old manacles of modern
society, just flounced up and painted a different color.  There are
people here who espouse that viewpoint whose ideas I respect; I just
don't personally agree with it.  Basically, I've run into quite a few
people who are absolutely enslaved to the idea.  Some are also
homophobic, as ailsa mentioned in an earlier post.  Since these types
are also Witches, they are not going to listen if you say that their
beliefs are the same old chains they were in before, just painted up
differently.  Their supposed "spiritual enlightenment" makes them a
little pompous and not likely to listen when you tell them that they may
have missed a thing or two.

"What do you mean I'm not spiritually free?  I'm a High Priestess
Muckety-Muck of the Whatever Coven.  I have broken with tradition.  I am
a free and modern soul."  The fundie Witches are as likely to be
intractable and inflexible as fundie christians.  

Fundies of any stripe are irritating -- sand in a wet bathing suit.
Pontificating and thinking you have a Teflon ass are qualities that
respect no spiritual or religious boundaries.  The fundie Witches just
don't have the political power that the fundie christians have.  (If
anyone takes exception to my capitalization scheme, I am doing it on
purpose.  This is my explanation, and I'm letting you know it up front.
It's interesting, after a lifetime of seeing god and christian
capitalized and goddess and pagan not, to reverse this and see what the
effect is.) 

>As to moderator, why not ask for volunteers, then put it to a vote. I'd 
>vote for Janice. I may not always agree with her, but I'm sure she would 
>be as fair possable. Also, she doesn't suffer fools gladly, and that's a 
>bonus in a moderator, IMHO.

Thank you for the trust, but I don't think I'd want the job.  I don't
trust myself quite frankly not to abuse the position.  I'm also glad to
see that someone thinks that not suffering fools gladly is a bonus!  I
do have a terrible Hannibal-Lechter tendency, though, to want to crush
them like bugs by picking hard on sore spots.  (Besides, I doubt I have
the time.)  But, thanks anyway, for the vote of confidence. 

Perhaps more to the point, I'm not Wiccan, though I am a Witch.

>Bright Blessings to you and yours.
>
>Hawk.
> 

Blessings to you,
Janis

Janis Cortese           ||  Pienso con sueno parecido no volvera mas,  
U. C. Irvine            ||  Y me pintaba las manos y la cara azul.  
cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu ||  Y de promiso el viento rapido me llevo,  
========================||  Y me echa volar en el cielo infinito!