The Christians and the Pagans

Random note: The Christians and the Pagans is one of my favorite holiday songs, by Dar Williams. Go listen to it on YouTube.

Anyway, I’ve noticed over the past zillion years that there tends to be an awful lot of Christian-bashing in the Pagan community. Not all the time, but enough that it’s noticeable, and enough that I get emails like the one here: Do Pagans Hate Christians?

A reader says, "I've been studying Paganism recently, and although I'm very drawn to it, there's one thing that really concerns me. I've met several Pagans who are pretty vocal in their hatred of all things Christian. I was raised Christian, I have Christian family members, and I don't have anything against that particular religion, I just know that it's not the right one for me. Once I get involved in the Pagan community, will I be expected to badmouth Christianity too? This seems counterproductive, if we Pagans want to be met with tolerance ourselves."

Counterproductive as fuck, yo.

Here’s the thing, guys. I’ve been Pagan since I was around eighteen-ish, which means that’s been nearly three decades of tree-hugging, dirt-worshiping, naked-moonlight-dancing polytheism… and I’ve never felt obligated to hate anyone based upon their religion, whether it be Christianity or Other. Have I disagreed with people’s religious viewpoints? ABSOLUTELY. But my friends who are Christian are good people, and if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be my friends. They do good things and they are willing to overlook our differences in theology, so why shouldn’t I be able to do the same in return?

You guys, honest, if you want to demand respectful interfaith relationships, it goes both ways. Don’t get shitty with your Christian friends and family members who think your path is the wrong one, when you’ve just called their supreme being an asshole.