So yesterday I burned a bible. It was fun. I like watching fire, and I had good company in Eagle Scout. What's more, I had several people who understood my point of view offer up their own bibles for me to burn, so I had support in that respect. But I was adamant in the fact that the bible I burned must be my own copy. This way, the burning would be an entirely symbolic protest, done in my backyard, in my own grill, destroying my own property. I want to make it very clear that I've done nothing illegal. I would also like to take this moment to be thankful that I am an American, because I have the freedom to make such statements because of the rights granted to me by the First Amendment.
It's interesting as to how much grief and anger can be a result of such an exercise of one's rights. Christians have recently been complaining at how they've experienced prejudice and discrimination in our government because there's a growing number of people who want to see a separation of Church and State in our country. Well, let me make an argument. How am I, a Pagan Witch, supposed to feel when I see Christians crying about removing God from our public schools when I don't have proper representation in places like Army Chaplains or when I hear how Witchcraft is evil in all its forms? Furthermore, I am constantly reminded of the fact that thousands of people died during what is known as "The Burning Times" because they were blamed for practicing Witchcraft in the name of Christianity, many of them were innocent. I have just as much right to complain about seeing God on my money, in my pledge, and in my government as Christians do to complain about God being removed.
I am going to make one thing perfectly clear: Wicca and Paganism are peaceful religions. There is a rule that most of us follow: An it harm none, do what thou will. Because of the recent events in politics and world events, I've had to rethink the way I've interpreted this rule. If I "harm none" then I'm basically sitting back and not doing a damn thing to help humanity because I would hurt the people that oppose basic human rights. What's more, I allow myself to be shunted to the side and walked on because protecting myself would hurt those who attack me. Thus, the Bible Burn.
Why do I oppose the Bible so much? Well, it has something to do with people following one book's opinion on how to live their lives, rather than experiencing life for themselves and establishing their own opinions. One of the reasons I couldn't remain a Southern Baptist was because I couldn't stand the discrimination. I was told that catholics, gays, and witches would go to Hell just because their beliefs contradicted those of the Lord. I was frightened by movies such as Left Behind, and scared by "friends" who told me that reading Harry Potter would condemn me. I had to make my own options, and follow my own path, which is why I like Paganism so much. It is, at the heart, a "do-it-yourself" religion. I make my own rules (so long as they obey the "harm none" clause), write my own spells, and worship my own gods. I write my own creation story, and I discover where I fit in the cosmic order of things on my own. I don't need to be told how to think.
Why did I burn the Bible? Because it's just a book. I bought up a ho-hum copy in a book store and torched it on my barbeque. And if someone walked up to me saying that they now have the right to destroy my own book of faith, I would tell them that they are wrong. Yes, I agree that if Terry Jones can burn a Koran, I can burn a Bible. I would also state that there are plenty of books on Wicca, Paganism, Witchcraft, and New Age spirituality in any good bookstore available for purchase, so have at it. But you cannot destroy my own book of faith, my personal Book of Shadows. Why?
Only one copy exists, and that is all that will ever exist. It is handwritten, and sitting on my alter at home. In fact, it's still in progress of being written. As I grow and develop in my own spirituality, things will change in my philosophy and my Book of Shadows will reflect that. I don't think that there will ever be a day in which I declare it "finished". The only way someone could burn my personal book of faith, they will have to break into my home and steal it from me, and I believe the police arrest people for that. No one person can touch my personal faith because it is something that I develop on my own and I protect it fiercely. I'm not sitting around anymore and letting people tell me how I should think, and allowing "God" to rule my life and my government.
I do have one request: As I mentioned above, people can buy books on Wicca for their own burning pleasure, but I ask that they read the books before they burn them. You might just learn something.
-BB
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