From: smayo@wang.com (Scott Mayo)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: alt.pagan survey
Summary: please answer this survey
Keywords: survey
Date: 9 Apr 92 20:23:38 GMT
Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA

I am conducting an informal survey of the folk in alt.pagan. Before I
fire off the questions, let me explain why I am doing this.

I browse here on occasion, mostly because I have a friend who takes
paganism seriously. I don't think she takes everything in alt.pagan
seriously, however. Reading some of the postings here, some of which
are frankly astonishing, I got to wondering about the degree to which
people give serious creedance to what they find here. It is axiomatic
that in any usenet newsgroup, there is a signal-to-noise ratio of
some sort - a typical average ratio of the number of useful postings to
the number of useless/nonsensical postings. Anyone's view of the ratio
in a group is highly subjective, of course; but I have no idea how
neo-pagans view this group, and neo-paganism in general, and I am curious.

Before the standard accusations get raised, I'll admit to some things.
Yes, I am a Christian (boo! hiss!). No, I am not on a convert-all-of-alt.pagan
crusade. No, I don't put stock in most of what I read here, myself.
Yes, I understand that lots of folk do, and many find meaning in neo-paganism
and related faiths. No, I don't expect any strong consensus to come from
such a survey. Yes, some of my best friends are neopagans. No, you can't
convert me. No, I won't try to convert respondents (unless they are clearly
asking for that kind of discussion... :-). Yes, my entire goal is to
establish a rough "core of belief" within alt.pagan. Yes, I will publish
the result back here if there are any conclusions to be drawn at all. No,
I won't give your names to any far-right Christian organization (and you'd
better not do such to me.) No, I'm not trying to insult you.

Some of the questions are aimed at determining the general level of tolerance
held by readers of this group for other religions (including mine).

There are *78 questions* (well, 81) here, mostly yes/no or multiple choice.
Do NOT post your answers back to this newsgroup! Mail them directly to me. I
won't release names of respondents - once I collect the answers I will
delete your mail. You have until 5/10/92 to answer. Please answer the
survey, even if you are only a casual peruser of the group. What I
get won't be statistically valid if I don't get a LOT of responses.

If a question does not apply to you, LEAVE IT BLANK. There are no trick
questions here, though some are thought-provoking.

You can mail back the completed form (cut all this stuff - only *you*
can reduce bandwidth), or, better, just mail back question numbers and
brief answers.

----------------------Here are the questions-----------------------------

1. A "signal-to-noise" ratio is a slang term for the number of postings
that come into a group, that *you* find generally useful, as compared to
irrelevant/silly/misleading posts.

        A. As a percentage (0-100), what do you consider the ratio to be in this
	group? 100= every article is worthwhile; 0=nothing here is.

	B. What is the percentage if you discount skeptical or hostile postings
	from folk with other religions, or no religion at all?

	C. What do you suppose others in the group feel the average is?

	D. Do you think that any and every posting *on neo-pagan topics* has
	actual value to you? (discount any amusement value)

2. Someone posts a message to alt.pagan, claiming they can control the
	weather by magical means. They have not posted here before, or at
	least the name is unfamiliar. Are you *initially* inclined to accept or
	reject the news?

3.	Would you send them mail, asking for details?

4. 	Someone posts a message, claiming all religions (or almost all) are
	aimed at the same divine figure. Others dissent the view. Which side
	would you take, privately?

5.	Would you post your opinion on the topic of question 4?

6. 	Do you believe that UFOs are explained by extraterrestial visitors?
	(not all, just some)

7. 	Do you believe in magic?

8.	If yes to 7: Do you practice magic (consciously)?

9.	If yes to 8: do you use ritual, or is it an innate ability that you
	can call upon at whim?

10.	Agree/Disagree: gods are best worshipped in a highly ritualistic
	setting. (Consider what is best for the *worshipper*, not the
	divine being. You can still answer this if you have no belief in
	a divine being).

11.	Agree/Disagree: you believe in one or more divine beings.

12.	Are women holier and/or more capable of magic than men?

13.	Agree/Disagree: The method of worship is relatively unimportant,
	as compared to who is worshipped. (Ignore pathological cases, such
	as murdering as an act of worship.)

14.	Agree/Disagree: all people are innately good.

15.	Do you believe that only some people can practice ever magic?

16.	Do you believe the universe is sentient (self-aware)?

17.	If yes to 16, does it care about the occupants, specifically
	humans?

18-22: answer as for the general case, discounting bizarre exceptions.

18.	Can a person be a neo-pagan and a believer in a monotheistic
	religion which claims a male gender for its god?

19.	Can a person be a neo-pagan and disbelieve in magic?

20.	Can a person be a neo-pagan and disbelieve in the divine?

21.	Can a person be a neo-pagan and disbelieve in the goodness of man?

22.	Are satanists, properly speaking, neo-pagans? Why/why not?

23.	Some folk view the Newage movement and neo-paganism as more or less
	the same thing; others claim a vast difference between the two.
	Do you incline to either view? Which? Briefly, why?

24.	Do you think Christians hate neo-pagans? 

25.	Do you think Christians hate neo-paganISM?

26.	Do you dislike the Christian religion? 

27.	A neo-pagan you know develops a drinking problem (no, I am NOT
	hinting at whatever you think I am hinting at. This is hypothetical.)
	He or she goes to a group that helps him overcome his problem, but ini
	the process adopts the Christian religion. Do you (choose all that
	apply):
	a) Not care (or be pleased), if he is happy.
	b) Mourn the loss of a good neo-pagan, but maintain contact.
	c) Generally avoid her.
	d) Try to convince him to abandon the religion.
	e) Tolerate her until she tries to convert you; then avoid her.

28.	Do you believe, seriously, in reincarnation? (A yes answer implies
	that you believe that many people, possibly including yourself,
	have lived past lives or will live future lives after death).

29.	Do you find yourself in sympathy with, or adhering to, Eastern
	religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism...)?

30.	Do you find yourself in sympathy with, or adhering to, Western
	religions (Judiasm, Christianity, Islam...)?

31.	Do you find yourself in sympathy with, or practicing, tribal
	religions (Amerind, African)?

32.	Do you find yourself in sympathy with, or practicing, ancient
	religions (Babylonian, very early European)?

33.	Do you find yourself in sympathy with, or practicing, religions	
	founded or based on extraterrestial beings?

34.	Have you ever posted anything to alt.pagan?

35.	If yes to 34: Do you consider yourself a frequent contributer to
	alt.pagan (one or more articles a month)?

36.	How long have you been reading alt.pagan?
	1) less than 3 months
	2) less than 6 months
	3) less than 1 year
	4) less than 2 years
	5) 2 years or more
	6) since its inception

37. 	optional: How much money do you estimate that you spend, a year, on
	neo-pagan literature, devices, or traval to neo-pagan events?

38.	Agree/Disagree: The teachings of Christianity are wrong in substantial
	ways.

39.	Agree/Disagree: The teachings of Confucius are wrong in substantial
	ways.

40.	Agree/Disagree: The teachings of Jesus are wrong in substantial
	ways.

41.	Agree/Disagree: ESP and psychic phenonema are very likely real
	(discount obvious quackery and faked evidence)

42.	Astrology has real value in helping you make decisions about 
	actions. Do you agree?

43.	Do you think peace can be achieved by the year 2000?

44.	Do you think peace will be achieved by the year 2000?

45.	Do you believe that thought alone can change external realities?

46.	Do you believe that most or all goddesses worshipped throughout
	history are the same being at heart?

47.	Agree/Disagree: all major world religions, at core, are really
	trying to say the same thing (with varying degrees of success).

48.	How long have you held your current religious or non-religous 
	views? ('since childhood' is sufficient if approriate; I don't
	want to know how old you are.)

49.	Have you adopted a religion different than the one you were raised
	with? (becoming an agnostic after being raised catholic, or
	becoming a quaker after being raised as a strict humanist/scientist,
	both count as yes.)

50.	Do you believe that mankind now has a deeper knowledge of spiritual
	matters than previous generations did? (ie, is mankind slowly
	gaining wisdom in these matters?)

51.	Someday, you will (or could) be as a god. Agree/Disagree.

52.	Two neo-pagans get into a polite, but firm disagreement over which
	goddess is to be worshipped. One insists that a particular historical
	goddess is most correct (ie, Inanna). The other feels that all such
	goddesses are really the same at heart and it doesn't matter which
	you choose. If you felt inclined to enter the conversation, which
	side would you choose? 1=specific goddess 2=all goddesses

53.	A christian and a neopagan get into a polite, but firm disagreement
	over which god is to be worshipped. One (the neo-) insists that all
	gods are are really the same at heart and it doesn't matter which
	you choose, including ones considered quite evil historically. The
	Christian argues for her One God. If you *had* to support one side or
        the other, which would you tend to prefer?
	1=christian's god 2=all gods

54.	Variations in rituals (magical or worship) are unimportant, even if
	they are somewhat significant in nature.  Agree/Disagree.

55.	Ritual is a snare; all worship and/or magic should be highly
	spontaneous. Agree/Disagree.

56.	No religion is worthwhile or helpful unless followed with complete
	devotion, ideally as a life-long effort. Agree/Disagree.

57.	It is right, good and helpful to select various pieces of various
	religions and combine them as a person sees fit. Thus, a
	buddhist-unitarian-judiac fusion might be a meaningful and worthwhile
	path for someone. Agree/Disagree (not necessarially with that
	specific example)

58.	Have you made an in-depth study of two or more religions?
	(college-level studies, intensive independent reading, or
	several years of practice in a religion all count)

59.	Have you "dabbled" in three or more religions in your life?
	(Dabbled indicates some attempt at learning and practice, but
	not in a serious (to your own mind) manner.)

60.	Agree/Disagree: The neo-pagan movement is fun and enteraining,
	but not a serious thing.

61.	I find I am generally in agreement with postings on alt.pagan,
	when they pertain to pagan issues. Agree/Disagree.

62.	The Newage movement is dangerous to its practitioners, and you
	wish it would end. Agree/Disagree.

63.	Magic cannot really be used for evil practices; such attempts
	generally backfire. Agree/Disagree.

64.	Magic is neither inherently evil nor inherently good, and can be
	used in either way. Agree/Disagree.

65.	A life not spent in improving the world and/or drawing closer to the
	divine is wasted. Agree/Disagree.

66.	Witchcraft has been viewed as evil by many groups throughtout history.
	This is MOSTLY because (choose one):
	1. It has been used in evil ways by some unscrupulous people
		in the past, giving it a bad reputation.
	2. It relies on spirits and powers which are neither good nor bad,
		but some experiments into it have gone badly, giving it
		a bad reputation.
	3. Magic really is fundamentally evil.
	4. People always view as evil anything they do not do themselves.

67.	Only certain kinds of magic are real; other kinds are fake. If you
	agree, you are espousing the view that, for example, cabalistic
	magic is real, but other kinds are not. Agree/Disagree.

68.	You believe that crystals can enhance a person's power, ability
	to live happily, or creativity. Agree/Disagree.

69.	You wish every piece of quartz on the planet could be ground to
	dust and scattered, because of all the nonsense spoken these
	days about quartz crystals. Agree/Disagree.

70.	You believe in Astral, Ethereal, or other planes of existance.
	Agree/Disagree.

71.	I engage in fantasy roleplaying. Agree/Disagree. (This is different
	from, my system of belief was derived from fantasy roleplay).

72.	There are no evil persons, only evil acts. Agree/Disagree.

73.	A wiccan you know becomes extremely angry with you (assume he
	has a reason to be angry). He storms off, with many a dark
	warning about what is going to happen you in the very near future.
	And sure enough, things start going wrong in your life, starting
	that very night. Do you
	1. Assume he did something magical to you?
	2. Assume it was coincidence?
	3. Asssume you have frightened yourself into unconsciously bringing
		problems down on yourself?
	4. Assume that powers are attacking you, but not at his behest?

74.	If you answered (1) to question 73, which action are you most likely
	to take? (Assume he remains angry and cannot be mollified).
	1. Plead with him to remove the curse.
	2. "Report him" to other wiccans, since he is misusing his power.
	3. Cast back!
	4. Wait it out.
	5. Pray to your chosen divine manifestation for protection.
	6. Pray to your chosen divine manifestation for vengance and protection.
	7. Retaliate non-magically against him (police, threats of violence,
		destruction of property, etc.)

75.	Peace can only be found in personal perfection (or a serious attempt
	in that direction). Agree/Disagree.

76.	A relationship with the divine is more important to you than anything
	(or you try to live as if it were).

77.	Agree/Disagree: I am a neo-pagan.

78.	Cats know much more than we suspect.

Mail your answers to smayo@wang.com. Make sure the mail you send has a
subject of "alt.pagan survey" or it may be ignored. If you have private
flames you want to send me, use a different title, please.
--
These are only my opinions.  You should hear my convictions.
smayo@wang.com