Dec
Heathen First!
Today I was reminded just how much we differ from Christians. A person commented on a forum about Uncle Thor’s Magazine Online, specifically the article Heathenism, Santa and Jingle Bells. She did not like that we referred to the “supposed founder” of Christianity, and so suggested we refer to the “supposed birth.” The woman said she was a Protestant Christian. On that forum, I explained in reply that many Heathens do not believe Jesus existed. The “supposed founder” is the anonymous person who created the Jesus story. I also stated that Uncle Thor’s is written for Heathens and is not edited to accommodate Christian beliefs.
This small incident reveals once again that there is a point where we must stand apart from non-Heathens. Christian belief is very different from ours. A Heathen periodical would be remiss if it were to try to accommodate Christian readers by editing itself to satisfy them. A Heathen periodical’s purpose is to accommodate Heathens and Heathen beliefs. While others are welcome to read, they are not the focus of the publication.
Our beliefs are not the same as others. We have many differences with other beliefs. Most of us have the maturity to tolerate others. By the same token, we ought not feel that we must couch our beliefs in language that makes them more palatable for non-Heathens. Our beliefs are what they are. How others take them is beyond our control.
Tolerance does not mean accommodation. We are Heathen. We recognize the right of others to worship as they wish. We do not alter the presentation of our beliefs to placate others. Coexistence can exist despite the differences. The point is that we remain true to our beliefs no matter what the others may do.
