The Wiccan pentacle has been added to a list of approved religious symbols for headstones by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This change was part of a settlement of a lawsuit against the VA by plaintiffs represented by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
It usually takes a few months for a petition by a faith group to win the department’s approval, but the Wiccan symbol took 10 years and a lawsuit to gain acceptance. Discrimination was the main factor of the delay, the group believed, and it is apparent that some Americans do hold a bias toward Wicca. For example, when he was Texas governor, George W. Bush opposed allowing Wiccans to worship at Fort Hood, Texas, telling “Good Morning America” in 1999 that “I don’t think witchcraft is a religion.”
But as the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, stated after winning the settlement Monday, the plaintiffs “wanted precisely the same treatment that dozens of other religions already had received from the department, an acknowledgment that their spiritual beliefs were on par with those of everyone else.”
Posted by Ross Stewart
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44 Comments
Wicca has been a recognized and approved religion in the U.S. Army for several years. Even the IRS recognizes it. This latest discrimination is ridiculous. If I want to put a fire breathing dragon or an anatomically correct buffalo on my headstone, what difference does it make, especially if I served my country in the armed forces?
US Army chaplain’s handbook: Excerpt on Wiccahttp://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm
I agree with you 100 % RD.It is the thought that counts and the respect of the values of the deceased wishes.
Don’t forget those who read the Satanic Bible and worship Satan…
Got to have ol’ Nick represented on headstones everywhere as well.
Soon, the headstones of America will look like a hodgepodge of sticky tatoos from Walmart.
Yeah, Republican. The US Army is just *full* of Satanists. Enough to fill a whole division, no doubt.
::eyeroll::
And with that, I’m off to Topeka for a few days. Ahhhh, the fun and excitement. The white sand beaches, the daquiris, the scantily-clad wai…oh wait. Topeka. Nevermind.
Have a nice week. :)
Yes Tom, the Lobbyist work is never done is it?
wiccan’s are weirdos, but this freedom is exactly what gives Christians the right to be Christians. We fled to this country for these freedoms, and the only way to guarantee them is to include everyone, even satanist.
Republican, Satanists don’t worship Satan. Maybe you should do some research. Let me help you.
“Religious Satanism is a valid religion, generally followed by adults. It is essentially unrelated to teen Satanic dabbling and to various other beliefs and practices that have been described as Satanism.
“The largest of the many traditions within Religious Satanism is the Church of Satan (CoS), which some people believe was founded on Walpurgisnacht, 1966-APR-30, (I Anno Satanas) by Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-1997). It was actually founded later that year.
“The CoS, shares one property of the Church of Scientology: it is so controversial that many versions of “the truth” have sprung up over the years. It is impossible to separate reality from fake history. The following essay is our best shot at describing CoS history.
“The beliefs, practices and rituals of the Church of Satan have few, if any, points of similarity with the Christian or Muslim concept of Satan. The CoS’ Satan is pre-Christian, and derived from the Pagan image of power, virility, sexuality and sensuality. Satan is viewed as a force of nature, not a living quasi-deity. Their Satan has nothing to do with Hell, demons, pitchforks, sadistic torture, demonic possession, and profound evil. There are references in LaVey’ writings to having conducted a few Black Masses for publicity purposes, in which the Roman Catholic Mass was ridiculed. But, it is unknown whether these references were satirical or reflected actual rituals. Assuming that the black masses were fictional, all of their rituals have no connection to those of Christianity or of any other religion.”
http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanis1.htm
Ok, Republican. I guess everyone who plans on dying eventually can email you their burial arrangements so to make sure America’s cemetaries don’t end up looking all “hodgey-podgey”… Sheesh. Why on Earth would you want to begrudge someone their headstone?
Oh yeah. The deceased can’t vote. Unless they’re straight-ticket Republicans from Florida. Those ballots were all legit…
So if republican wants a really uniform look to those 3000+ headstones the iraq war is creating, they could take ALL religious symbols off.
Or let everyone use one symbol of their choice no matter if it is secular or religious.
I wonder how many pink triangles there would really be?
No “heheh” after that comment.
I’m not Wiccan, but this makes me happy that they’re not discriminating. It’s about time.
amen to that
I have two in my family that are Wiccan, As far as religions go, I think it is a rather beautiful, far less destructive than Islam or Christianity.
I have two in my family that are Wiccan, as far as religions go, I think it is a rather beautiful, far less destructive than Islam or Christianity.
“…Soon, the headstones of America will look like a hodgepodge of sticky tatoos from Walmart”
Republican,Should we interpret your comments to mean you are against allowing Wiccan and Satanistic symbols on the headstones of soldiers from those religions?
I heard the KKK wants to regroup, define their ‘agenda’ in a cult-type format and be recognized as a religion, also.
I have to wonder if they will still use the three “K’s” in a row, or if they will Photoshop them and make them into a spiffy-looking new logo?
Would a new abstract-looking logo help out their cult? Maybe if it was designed to look like the Pizza Hut sign?
Yuppers - makes me wonder. I think they should tone the design down if they want it to look respectable on the headstones.
I know who to ask what the KKK plans to do. His name is David Duke. You know, the Republican?
I know who David Duke is, but I don’t think he’s been in the public eye for a while.
I could be wrong, but I haven’t heard much about him since they booted him out of office.
Republican - I have a solution to your concern about headstones “will look like a hodgepodge of sticky tatoos from Walmart”. Simply exempt anyone from service in the military if their religions do not meet with your approval.
And still no comment on removing ALL religious symbols? That would make things equal and give republican that uniform look he desires.
I don’t think all religious symbols should be forbidden from military grave markers.
Having no symbols would make it too easy for people like Republican to ignore the fact there are people of many different faiths that are patriotic Americans serving in our Armed Forces.
heheheeh brian, good point. And a few belated pink triangles wouldnt hurt anything either.
As a what if, suppose the klan does become recognized as a religion. Should they be allowed to have the KKK on their headstones in a military cemetery?
Interesting so many people respond to every post I make.
BTW Roxann, I had a room mate that practiced Satanism. I don’t think I need any lessons on what they do and don’t do.
So many bitter Libs and so little time.
bitter? YOU are the one who seemed bitter in your attack on religious symbols.
I thought the KKK were already Christians?
Tom - you are correct. The burning cross is supposed to illuminate the darkness with Christ’s power or something like that. Every Klavern has a chaplain.
Sol,If a group meets the requirements to be a Federally recognized religion, their symbols should be able to be inscribed on military headstones.
How would that be different than a member of Westboro Baptist Church having a cross on their headstone?
(BTW: It is quite difficult to become an officially recognized religion)
Repub, in case you missed my earlier post:Should we interpret your comments to mean you are against allowing Wiccan and Satanistic symbols on the headstones of soldiers from those religions?
brian - I would go it a step further. Allow the service-person to designate the emblem beforhand and use it regardless of what Republican or anyone else says. After all, if the service-person make the ultimate sacrifice that is the least we should do.
Some cultures worship phallic symbols, should we have a cemetery full of those sticking up out of the ground Brian?
Yes. The soldier paid the price.
Republican,Care to answer the question…Are against allowing Wiccan and Satanistic symbols on the headstones of soldiers from those religions?
Republican, if your roommate practiced Satanism the way you seem to be saying he did, then maybe HE didn’t know about it either…or he was playing games with you…or he was using it as many teenagers do–shock value. :)
My opinion, of course.
Those who practice that kind of “Satanism” are basically Christians or at least believe in the Christian faith and mock it. There are several forms of Satanism, but LeVey’s is the most known and followed and has nothing to do with what we know as the Devil.
As for the Satanic Bible, which you mentioned, that is LeVey Satanism and what I posted about earlier.
Granted, I only know a few basics, so perhaps your former roommate was one of the other types of Satanists. I would imagine some of those groups feel somewhat the same way about each other as the Baptists do about the Mormons or the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Ben,Actually, the KKK’s burning cross is an old Celtic symbol used as a call to war. As such, it predates the christian use of crosses.
“Some cultures worship phallic symbols”
Name them. Name just one or two.
I think most men worship theirs!
Bob,I believe that several branches of Hinduism honor the lingam or phallus, but what it represents to them is totally different than what it means to you.
” ‘Some cultures worship phallic symbols’Name them. Name just one or two.”
Let me try:Any nations that has an obelisk-like national symbols, e.g., the USA, France, Indonesia (check out the emblem of the capital city, it’s based on Hindu’s lingam-yoni idea), ancient Romans (Bacchanalia festivals), anyone with fertility deities (that’s pretty much everyone, I guess).
Publican,”Soon, the headstones of America will look like a hodgepodge of sticky tatoos from Walmart.”I can’t think of a better symbol of what America is really about than a hodge-podge of religious symbols on headstones in our military and other cemeteries!
Roo,Remember that African artist who got in so much trouble a few years ago for putting elephant dung decorations on a painting of the christian Virgin Mary? She was being portrayed as a highly appropriate fertility symbol!
Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem, PA where my son was just buried has a huge cemetery phallus. I understand it is to ward off the evil eye. I would be interested in learning more.
Betty,
My deepest and profound sympathy for the loss of your son. :-<
Thank you. It is still hard to comprehend and accept.
Betty,I missed this thread earlier. Please accept my sympathies as well.
I have read about this particular incident before, five years ago… This article doesn’t mention it, but one of the reasons why this took so long wasn’t just because of discrimination, but also because it wasn’t originally brought to many Wiccan’s attention. Once Wiccans learned about it, then they could argue to have the same rights as everyone else… After all Christians have their cross on their tombstone, Wiccans have their pentacle… What’s the big deal? Its not like that symbol is going to get up an do anything, it’s just a symbol. The only meaning it has is the one you attach to it. For Wiccans that symbol is a symbol of five aspects of humanity in connection with the circle of life…