by Mark Havenner

Created on: May 27, 2007

I very much like the word "mystery". Too often, terrible connotations of once noble words have corrupted and abused their purpose. I often find myself biting my tongue concerning certain beliefs in public because I do not want to be associated with the New Age movement, hack philosophy, or worst yet, lofty idealism. I respect and acknowledge astrology, follow many Eastern philosophies, perform various rituals and meditations, but I am not the same as an ignorant reckless person who latches onto every alternative theory that can be found in order to make themselves "different" or elitist. I am also not a gullible idealist, wanting to believe in ethereal powers to benefit my own self-destructive life.

The New Age movement has done wonders for introducing ancient traditions to the New World, but it has spiraled out of control. Now every philosophy or tradition that is not Christian is lumped into a single all-encompassing category and that is very detrimental to legitimate philosophies and traditions. Just because one practices Yoga does not mean one also believes in Ouija Boards and a Pagan and a Witch are not the same thing, further recognizing Genesh does not make one Hindu and being Hindu does not mean one believes in Western Astrology. One can practice acupuncture and not be Buddhist, one can practice Yoga and not be Hindu, furthermore one can practice alchemy and not be a witch. Finally, and most importantly, being a witch is not evil.

Throughout time, the Catholic Church has deliberately and systematically destroyed non-Christian beliefs in the western world. Firstly, by lumping any non-Christian religions or traditions into a single category called "pagan", it dematerialized the various traditions and their purposes and origins. Being a wizard in Germany was a very different thing than being a Druid in England. Likewise, the Nordic gods were very different than the Roman ones. Just because a group of people did not worship Christ, than that made them one thing: non-Christians and there would be no subcategory.

Perhaps this subject is better suited for another discourse. The point I am reaching is that, despite completely different practices, cultures, histories, and beliefs, the word magic has come to apply to any ritual or practice by anyone not Christian. This is far too broad of a generalization to take the word seriously. Further, the systematic devaluing of pagan beliefs in the modern world has also applied the false connotation of evil with the word

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