More "tolerance" from Wren's Nest News (longish again)

Previous entry about Wren's Nest for new (or forgetful) readers.

And here we have another news story about Christians (specifically, about a "See You At the Pole" event in which students nailed the names of non-Christians they were praying for onto a cross) posted on Wren's Nest which is met with the typical snide, insulting, mocking, intolerant comments from pagans. A sampling:

Nailed Their Names?
Sep 26th. at 8:27:35 pm EDT
Mariah Windrider (Grand Terrace, California) - Email Me
Would this be considered a hate crime? just a thought.

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It Doesn't Sound To Me...
Sep 26th. at 7:21:50 pm EDT
Moondragon (Mesa, Arizona) - Email Me
...like it's the Christians who have to be afraid.

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Deranged
Sep 26th. at 3:55:54 pm EDT
ForestWolf (Cheshire, England) - Email Me
Well, what a crock! Apparently these Christians (despite being the largest faith-group and considered acceptable by most of society) are "discriminated against" and are afraid to show their faith! Even as a Witch, I've not experienced much discrimination! The main problem I had was I once got hassle from someone who thought I was a Satanist, but when I said I was Pagan, they apologised and said words to the effect of "Well, a few candles and crystals are harmless enough!"

But the bit that really got me was the nailing names on crosses. That seems to have caused a bit of outrage with Pagans and other Christians alike!

Those ones that nailed those names to that cross ought to be ashamed of themselves and afraid to show their faith, if this is how they express it! Jesus would be turning in his...on his cross! Grrr!

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Conform Or Die...
Sep 26th. at 12:46:52 pm EDT
Wild Witch (Hazel Park, Michigan) - Email Me

"I come to help out and show them that they shouldn't be afraid of their faith," he said. "It also encourages me."

Oh, but the other non-christian students, obviously need to be afraid of showing their faiths, especially after being symbolically nailed to a cross!
You know you're in trouble when even the more "mainstream" Christians look down upon "non-believers" and "symbolically" try to convert them...

"If they are calling on their God against us, though they bear no arms, they still fight us by pursuing us with hostile prayers"~
Heathen King Aethelfrith, in regards to christian monks

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P#@sed Off!!
Sep 26th. at 11:48:29 am EDT
Red Cedar Owl (Deville, Louisiana) - Email Me

In the last couple of years since I found WitchVox I don't think I have read any thing that got so under my skin as this article. Even my wife, a Christian, was upset. This is my response to the article. I hope I did not put words in anyone else's mouth, but this HAD to be responded to--

Open Letter to the Citizens of Edmond, OK

All of our children who attend public school have the right to pray. That is their right, but I doubt that many of you in your community realize that this act of writing names and nailing them to a cross is "a binding spell". I, as a Pagan, am deeply concerned by this. I do not know if this practice is a normal part of the "See You at the Pole" or not. I would hope and pray that it is not.
I, like many Pagans understand that Christians of all denominations use the Cross to represent their faith. However, to many of us, your Cross is an instrument of torture and execution. Historically, this is true. This is about symbols, faith and the use and abuse of both. I pray frequently for the safe return of All of our military personnel who are overseas, Pagan and non-Pagan. I do not however write their names on pieces of paper, nor "bind" their souls to any Fate beyond what the Lord and Lady have in store for them.
I, as a citizen of America, as a Pagan of Faith, ask that this practice be stopped. I have read many articles written by Christian authors who denounce my Faith as "witchcraft". Well, this writing of names and nailing them to an instrument of torture and execution IS witchcraft and black witchcraft at that. I do not think that the young Christians taking part in this ritual meant any harm. Time will tell if harm has been done. I, and I hope that other Pagans who have read this article will take time out to pray to the Mother that no harm was done.

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Faith Renewed????
Sep 25th. at 11:25:36 pm EDT
Rhiannon (Shamokin, Pennsylvania) - Email Me

First - why was this kind of thing allowed on public school property?

Second - how do they know who is and isn't xian and why is it their business?

Third - I hope someone of higher intelligence burns the ***damned thing down. Normally I am not violent or prone to vandalism, but in this case I think it would correct.

Fourth - how irresponsible for ANY church or faith group to do something like this, possibly putting students in harms way. After all not everyone believes in peaceful assembly.

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What Are They Going To Do Next?
Sep 25th. at 8:03:29 pm EDT
seelie dancer (manchester, New Hampshire) - Email Me

This is creepy as hell. The way Children of The Corn and The Lottery were creepy.
What right did they assume they had to "out" anyone not xtian? How would they feel if a bunch of teenage pagans put the xtians' names on paper and bound them to a giant pentacle? Would they feel "flattered by the attention?"
To attempt to ensnare the souls of non-xtians by a compelling or binding spell inadequately disguised as religious ritual is unconscionable. It usurps those people's "God"-given right to freedom of choice. And a spell repelled is a spell returned - to he who casts it. Hope they're good at ducking magical backlash.

And so on and so forth. Certainly, nailing people's names to a cross is a bit untraditional, but it's not hurting anyone, despite the pagans' ridiculous fantasies of some kind of alternate, ill-intentioned meaning. Besides, I'm familiar with the rituals and practices they themselves do and I find that they have no room to complain about what Christians do. At least what the Christian students did was done publicly without any attempt to hide it.