Wiccans say Indiana religious freedom law opens the door to polygamy, nude rituals at the Capitol

he Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence last week has found support from a most unusual source — practicing Wiccans.

The Daily Beast‘s David Freedlander spoke to Dusty Dionne, a High Priest and High Summoner of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, who confessed that while he believes “these bills are horrible,” they do provide a unique opportunity for practitioners of his faith.

“If they are going to up this can of worms,” he said, “we are going to shove it right in their face.” For example, he explained, many Wiccans believe “that love is the law,” so while polygamous marriages are not a tenet of Wiccan theology, “whatever we want to do with marriage we can do. Carte blanche. If I want to marry a horse, I can marry a horse.”

Wiccans would also legally be able to refuse drug tests in states with religious freedom laws, because “natural” substances like marijuana and hallucinogens are “herbs” used to enhance experience at officially sanctioned religious ceremonies. Moreover, Dionne explained, giving the blood or urine samples required for such tests would run contrary to their belief that the “body is a temple,” and “if you come for a piece of my temple, I can say no.”

They would also be free to dance naked on state Capitol steps so long as the moon was full, as a Wiccan holy text — “The Charge of the Goddess” — sanctions the practice.

But Heather Greene, an editor at Wild Hunt — a website that offers news and political analysis from “A Modern Pagan Perspective” — told Freedlander that while she supports legislation that allows those in marginal religions to practice freely, she shares with the mainstream doubts about the efficacy of the Indiana bill.

“The concern,” she said, “is that recent RFRA language is so broad that it will ultimately lead to both religious and LGBTQ discrimination.”

Dionne, however, remains undeterred. “We are the fifth-largest religion in America,” he said, “and we are the fasted growing. If they pass these laws, we are going to beat a fucking drum.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/04/wiccans-say-indiana-religious-freedom-law-opens-the-door-to-polygamy-nude-rituals-at-the-capitol/



Bloody love it

republicans dumb as a brick outhouse

That's awesome! I think an important thing to know for our non-American members is that these laws (this one and the Indiana law) are pushed across the U.S. (and in some other countries, like the UK and Australia) by a group called ALEC, which is also behind the "stand your ground" laws, far-right immigration bills, discriminatory voter ID laws, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council

But, of course, what the courts will do is begin to circle the wagons around the issue of what is a religion.  They did this when the laws changed protecting Reporter's Privilege: what is a reporter or what is a news organization.  You will hear the term 'legitimate' bandied about a lot, as in this is legitimate and that is not.  Specifically, they will circle the wagons around their precious concept of religion, and discard all others.

Where it does get interesting is when the Mormons want to promote sex with underage girls, or the well-funded cults run head-long into tax laws.  Those entities have the resources and the established reputation to withstand the onslaught of government intrusion. They will certainly embrace this law.

Original Quill wrote:But, of course, what the courts will do is begin to circle the wagons around the issue of what is a religion.  They did this when the laws changed protecting Reporter's Privilege: what is a reporter or what is a news organization.  You will hear the term 'legitimate' bandied about a lot, as in this is legitimate and that is not.  Specifically, they will circle the wagons around their precious concept of religion, and discard all others.

Where it does get interesting is when the Mormons want to promote sex with underage girls, or the well-funded cults run head-long into tax laws.  Those entities have the resources and the established reputation to withstand the onslaught of government intrusion.  They will certainly embrace this law.

Well its going to be a real uphill struggle to prove wican isn`t a religion or paganism for that mater
they are among the oldest religions they are and pre-date Christianity by a long way

korban dallas wrote:

Original Quill wrote:But, of course, what the courts will do is begin to circle the wagons around the issue of what is a religion.  They did this when the laws changed protecting Reporter's Privilege: what is a reporter or what is a news organization.  You will hear the term 'legitimate' bandied about a lot, as in this is legitimate and that is not.  Specifically, they will circle the wagons around their precious concept of religion, and discard all others.

Where it does get interesting is when the Mormons want to promote sex with underage girls, or the well-funded cults run head-long into tax laws.  Those entities have the resources and the established reputation to withstand the onslaught of government intrusion.  They will certainly embrace this law.

Well its going to be a real uphill struggle to prove wican isn`t a religion or paganism for that mater
they are among  the oldest religions they are and pre-date Christianity by a long way

Well, that is the argument, isn't it? Look, I'm not knocking it...your instincts are right on mark. If they want to use religion as a vehicle for discrimination, turn the tables on them. Employ religion in service of the opposite sentiment.

For example, I am currently trying to formulate a voter-suppression law that excludes rich, white Republicans. Wouldn't that be fun?

Original Quill wrote:

korban dallas wrote:
Well its going to be a real uphill struggle to prove wican isn`t a religion or paganism for that mater
they are among  the oldest religions they are and pre-date Christianity by a long way

Well, that is the argument, isn't it?  Look, I'm not knocking it...your instincts are right on mark.  If they want to use religion as a vehicle for discrimination, turn the tables on them.  Employ religion in service of the opposite sentiment.

For example, I am currently trying to formulate a voter-suppression law that excludes rich, white Republicans.  Wouldn't that be fun?

Indeed it is
the republicans have shot them selfs in the foot with this
Yaaa for the law of UN-intended consequences


Ps
i would submit that religion has always been a vehicle for discrimination,

KD wrote:Ps
i would submit that religion has always been a vehicle for discrimination,

Indeed it has. Finally, we can put it to good use. Lol.