Wiccan seance cancelled after pressure from religious groups

[grammafreddy]

Moose Jaw witch irked after seance scuttled
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 | 11:04 AM CST
CBC News


Sarah Dionne describes herself as a practising witch. She says allegations that a planned seance would conjure up evil spirits have no basis in fact and that evil and the devil are not concepts that exist in the Wicca religion.Sarah Dionne describes herself as a practising witch. She says allegations that a planned seance would conjure up evil spirits have no basis in fact and that evil and the devil are not concepts that exist in the Wicca religion. (Courtesy Sarah Dionne)

A self-described witch in Moose Jaw, Sask., says she's outraged that religious groups have pressured a local museum to cancel a Halloween seance.

The Western Development Museum had been planning to hold a fundraiser on Oct. 29 called Ghosts of the Past, at which, for a $30 entry fee, adult participants could learn about ouija boards and "attempt to make contact with the spirits."

The event was cancelled, however, following complaints from religious leaders and residents, some of whom expressed fears the seance would conjure up evil spirits.

But that's ridiculous, says Sarah Dionne, a practising witch and follower of the Wiccan religion.

Wiccans believe the Halloween season — also known as the festival of Samhain — is a favourable time to commune with loved ones in the spirit world, Dionne said.

"To suggest that contacting any sorts of spirits or otherwise unknown forces in the universe is somehow evil … just doesn't make sense," Dionne told CBC News.

She has not called for the seance to be reinstated, however, noting that many Wiccans consider seances and ouija boards to be "parlour games."

Dionne recently wrote to a weekly newspaper to complain about those who would paint "witches and other pagans" in a bad light.

She said she believes the seance debate has stirred up religious intolerance in Moose Jaw, a city of about 32,000, located 75 kilometres west of Regina.

"The whole concept of … evil and the devil, they're not concepts that are in Wicca whatsoever," she said. "There's no worship of the devil or evil things. Any of those stereotypes are absolutely false."

This fries my little tush. I bet if it was an event sponsored by some Christian group it would be allowed without anyone blinking an eye.

[Fancy]

I'm not surprised - there are so many that don't understand wiccans. It's not black magic and they're not evil.

[Nom_de_Plume]

I agree I don't understand what the hoopla is about
a bunch of witches wanna do a thing on hallowe'en that makes perfect sense to me.
I can see some people being irked if they wanted to do something on say easter or some other christiany holiday
but hallowe'en isn't a christian holiday so....
I'm flummoxed, don't understand it at all.

[eMeM]

I agree I don't understand what the hoopla is about
a bunch of witches wanna do a thing on hallowe'en that makes perfect sense to me.
I can see some people being irked if they wanted to do something on say easter or some other christiany holiday
but hallowe'en isn't a christian holiday so....
I'm flummoxed, don't understand it at all.

Oh, wow. I apologize in advance for (perhaps) not making any sense... Easter and damn near every other so called "Christian" holiday has it's roots in paganism.
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?pag ... 1247.6.0.4
Some very deep roots for those that wish to go there. I'm not about to shout out any message with the "holier than thou" card, I would simply like to state what I understand, as I understand it. Worshiping the "creation" instead of the "creator" goes against commandments number 1 and 2. That in itself is a bit of a cunundrum (sp?) as plenty of "Christians" will tell you that the commandments were "nailed to the cross" and therefore we can do what we want. (Think about it, REALLY think about that - you can do whatever you want Monday to Saturday as long as you go to church, confess your sins and all is forgiven on Sunday... you think that's really gonna go over with your wife, your kids, or the ppl u ripped off all week!?!)
I'm thinkin this one is too deep for me to go into in a single post, I guess I'll just have to see where it goes from here. But, suffice it to say, if anyone ACTUALLY believes in the God of the bible, they should a) understand what "paganism" really is, and that is the "worship" of the creation rather than the creator and b) that if they have a good understanding of religion, pegan holidays, etc they will see that ALL major "Christian" holidays are nothing more than pagan holidays (read: wolves) wrapped in sheep's (read: Christian) clothing.

[Nom_de_Plume]

I agree I don't understand what the hoopla is about
a bunch of witches wanna do a thing on hallowe'en that makes perfect sense to me.
I can see some people being irked if they wanted to do something on say easter or some other christiany holiday
but hallowe'en isn't a christian holiday so....
I'm flummoxed, don't understand it at all.

Oh, wow. I apologize in advance for (perhaps) not making any sense... Easter and damn near every other so called "Christian" holiday has it's roots in paganism.
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?pag ... 1247.6.0.4
Some very deep roots for those that wish to go there. I'm not about to shout out any message with the "holier than thou" card, I would simply like to state what I understand, as I understand it. Worshiping the "creation" instead of the "creator" goes against commandments number 1 and 2. That in itself is a bit of a cunundrum (sp?) as plenty of "Christians" will tell you that the commandments were "nailed to the cross" and therefore we can do what we want. (Think about it, REALLY think about that - you can do whatever you want Monday to Saturday as long as you go to church, confess your sins and all is forgiven on Sunday... you think that's really gonna go over with your wife, your kids, or the ppl u ripped off all week!?!)
I'm thinkin this one is too deep for me to go into in a single post, I guess I'll just have to see where it goes from here. But, suffice it to say, if anyone ACTUALLY believes in the God of the bible, they should a) understand what "paganism" really is, and that is the "worship" of the creation rather than the creator and b) that if they have a good understanding of religion, pegan holidays, etc they will see that ALL major "Christian" holidays are nothing more than pagan holidays (read: wolves) wrapped in sheep's (read: Christian) clothing.

Ya no makes perfect sense it was more the point of christians protesting witches on a very witchy type holiday that I was confused about.
I'm familiar with how christianity came about and how to make it easier for the masses to swallow Contantine just laid new "christian" feast days over already existing roman pagan holidays.
My family is not christian but I've read enough about it to notice that very few people who say they are, actually know what they're talking about. This whole seance ban is a perfect example

[MrStrangeInc]

I'm not surprised - there are so many that don't understand wiccans. It's not black magic and they're not evil.

Your so right Wicca is base on the three fold rules and that is not part of the rules.If anything she will just conjure up some bad charma.Although I am bound to Christ in my beliefs I have many friends that practice Wicca and love them none the less.Not one of them would ever venture done that road.Evil is evil and that does not change through any of the spritual and religous sects in our world.

[kgcayenne]

How Ironic. I wonder how many of these professed Christian groups send their kids out trick-or-treating.

[Glacier]

^ Good point.

[Lycoming]

Christmas itself is actually just a stolen holiday from the Roman Empire.

The Romans celebrated Saturnalia at the end of the year to give thanks for the harvest (analogous to thanksgiving). When Christianity was legalized so that the violent cult that was Christianity would fight for the Roman Empire, Saturnalia became a Christian holiday instead.

Let the Wiccans do whatever they want, they aren't hurting anyone. Witchhunts have already harmed enough innocents.

[juliebeth]

I agree I don't understand what the hoopla is about
a bunch of witches wanna do a thing on hallowe'en that makes perfect sense to me.
I can see some people being irked if they wanted to do something on say easter or some other christiany holiday
but hallowe'en isn't a christian holiday so....
I'm flummoxed, don't understand it at all.

Oh, wow. I apologize in advance for (perhaps) not making any sense... Easter and damn near every other so called "Christian" holiday has it's roots in paganism.
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?pag ... 1247.6.0.4
Some very deep roots for those that wish to go there. I'm not about to shout out any message with the "holier than thou" card, I would simply like to state what I understand, as I understand it. Worshiping the "creation" instead of the "creator" goes against commandments number 1 and 2. That in itself is a bit of a cunundrum (sp?) as plenty of "Christians" will tell you that the commandments were "nailed to the cross" and therefore we can do what we want. (Think about it, REALLY think about that - you can do whatever you want Monday to Saturday as long as you go to church, confess your sins and all is forgiven on Sunday... you think that's really gonna go over with your wife, your kids, or the ppl u ripped off all week!?!)
I'm thinkin this one is too deep for me to go into in a single post, I guess I'll just have to see where it goes from here. But, suffice it to say, if anyone ACTUALLY believes in the God of the bible, they should a) understand what "paganism" really is, and that is the "worship" of the creation rather than the creator and b) that if they have a good understanding of religion, pegan holidays, etc they will see that ALL major "Christian" holidays are nothing more than pagan holidays (read: wolves) wrapped in sheep's (read: Christian) clothing.

Yes, but to add a little more historical accuracy: when Constantine converted to Christianity in the fourth century, and when the Holy Roman Empire was born, Christian holidays were deliberately celebrated during times when pagan ones already occurred in order to make Christian festivals more popular, and conversion easier for the masses. Christmas was Saturnalia (gift-giving and revelry stem from that holiday, although many cultures celebrate/d the winter solstice in a similar manner). Easter was Spring Equinox (bunnies, eggs, etc. have roots in that). Hallowe'en definitely pagan, and still is. Lots of fundamentalist churches don't even celebrate it.

Just to stay on topic, I also completely agree that the whole "shutting down the Wiccans" thing is silly.

Also, Wiccanism is completely valid religion. "Witches" have been persecuted wrongly for centuries to cover up basically misogynist fear in patriarchal societal structures.

Edited to add: nom_de_plum, I just saw that you already posted about the Constantine thing, so sorry for the repeat :127:

[strwbrrydvl]

I'm not surprised - there are so many that don't understand wiccans. It's not black magic and they're not evil.

Exactly. Embracing nature and the elements is primarily what it is about!

[new in town]

How Ironic. I wonder how many of these professed Christian groups send their kids out trick-or-treating.

Let them continue to promote the observing of Samhain.

If only they knew...little Susie and little Johnny would be kept tucked up indoors safe and sound.

[Queen K]

How Ironic. I wonder how many of these professed Christian groups send their kids out trick-or-treating.

Let them continue to promote the observing of Samhain.

If only they knew...little Susie and little Johnny would be kept tucked up indoors safe and sound.

Some church groups are actually doing this very thing.

As for Christian holidays, yup, get the Pagan truth out there and watch them tremble.