In my opinion (and maybe I’m grasping at straws here), the difference between a swastika and a pentagram/pentacle is that the swastika was used by a group that perpetrated a vast, unimaginable evil upon humanity.
The Satanic pentagram, on the other hand, is used by a group who are much demonized (to their delight, I’m sure) but who do not actually perpetrate most of the acts attributed to them. They do not impregnate twelve year olds in incestuous acts so that they can sacrifice the newborn babies to Satan. They do not hide evil messages backwards in rock songs. There is no worldwide Satanic conspiracy to hasten the coming of the Antichrist. At worst, they thumb their noses at Christians, maybe sacrifice some animals, and sell a lot of bad heavy metal records.
Most of the negative reaction to even a Satanic pentagram, then, is based on ignorance and incorrect assumptions. The basic message that God sux and Satan rulz is of course offensive to many people, but it’s nothing on the order of a swastika.
Scylla is referring to Wicca. Paganism has been around since the birth of man, but the particular spin of it that uses pentacles most often these days is Wicca, which has been around since the early-mid 1900s or so.
*gigi asks:*The latter seems a little broad, given Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Is there a quick answer to the specific definition of paganism?
Below is a good link to many definitions of paganism. The one I use is this: a pagan religion refers to an earth-centered religion, in contrast to the revealed (delivered by a prophet- Christianity, etc.) religions. The ones you see today are often called neo-pagan religions, since they’re build from various bits of ancient religions.
My wife’s a witch, I’ve known many witches, and I’ve done a fair amount of research/writing about neopaganism.
While on the one hand, witches want to be recognized/left alone as a legitimate religion, and to have all of their trappings (symbology, rituals, deities) likewise recognized as legitimate, there has long been a recognition (among witches) of the fact that an essential part of Wicca, witches, etc., is the mystery, power, and small amount of fear attached to the common perception of witches. The appropriateness of the word “witch” itself is often debated among neopagans. Is it appropriate to use a term with so many negative connotations? Or do some of those negative connotations give the practitioner an air of desired power and mystery that “wiccan” does not possess? [read Margot Adler’s classic Drawing Down the Moon for more on this]
So some people gravitate toward wicca (and display its symbology, like the pentracle) in part because it makes people uncomfortable. My wife wears a pentacle because it reminds her of who she is and what she believes. No, she doesn’t like it when people on the subway kick her and tell her she’s going to hell (yes, this happened). But I can tell she does enjoy the less dreadful encounters, where people look at her a bit differently, and consider that maybe she’s not just some cute girl, but that there might be something a bit more dangerous to her.
One of Wicca’s main attractions is that it is an empowering religion. A symbol that makes other people a bit afraid of you is part of that empowerment. I think there’s a duality to the pentacle–witches want it to be legitimate and not associated with satanism, but they also want it to retain the sense of mystery and power that stems, in part, from those public perceptions.
Well, most of the good points have been made, but I’d like to add a few others.
I’m not sure when and where the pentagram became associated with Wicca. I know that it was known and used by the Golden Dawn and Gardner was a member of that Order. I’m going to have to go back thru his books from the 40s & 50s to see if it’s used there.
Where and when Anton LeVay started using the pentagram in association with Satanism (at least his brand of Satanism) I don’t know either. Anyone have a clue?
Scylla, Wicca is probably the largest branch of the modern Pagan movement. Other branches are Asatru and Celtic Re-Construtionism. I prefer the term Neo-Paganism to refer to the modern movement, and Pagan to refer to Paganism of the Antique period. Apparently, according to the OED, the term Pagan was used even in pre-Christian Roman Empire times to refer that religion. I’m posting this from work and don’t have access to my library at home. sigh
I do believe - and forgive me for not citing, but I don’t have a lot of research time right now (if anybody wants it I’ll try to dig one up later)- that it was 1969. I remember hearing this in a class about the history of American through the lyrics of rock music (very cool - but difficult to cite). The professor mentioned a line in “Hotel California” - “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969”. Supposedly a reference to the founding of the Church of Satan in that year. The inside cover of the vinyl album supposedly has a picture of a man standing in a window (I cannot verify this - I’ve never seen it). The man in the picture: Anton LaVay.
I know that there have been a lot of theories proposed regarding what the lyrics of “Hotel California” mean. This is only one, but it is a possibility.
I wear a small pentacle around my neck, and a pentacle earring. I also have a pentacle tattoo, near my ankle.
I do not call myself Wiccan, but that’s just because I haven’t had the opportunity to study the way I really want to (that would kinda be like me calling myself an auto mechanic, when all I know how to do to a car is fill the gas tank). I do call myself Pagan, though. I wear the pentacle because it’s meaningful to me.
Scylla, if you want to wear your cross, do it. It obviously means something to you. And if some numskull wants to call you a Nazi, set him/her straight. And if said numbskull, still doesn’t get it, write 'em off as someone just not worth your time.
There are people who embrace fringe religions as a means of “epater les bourgeois” - i.e. let’s shake up those folks with their comfortable, middle-of-the-pack faith. Wearing objects likely to be found offensive by large numbers of people is a part of the game, as is the sense of martyrdom if one is criticized or threatened for the perceived offensive symbolism.
Are there any religions that absolutely forbid outward display of dress or objects meant to set apart their members, piss off nonbelievers or advertise for the faith? Might be worth a look.
Incidentally, I doubt I’d mistake Scylla wearing a Basque cross for Heinrich Himmler, and wouldn’t care about some pagan sporting a penta-whatever. It’s less offensive than seeing a cross-wearing baseball star reaffirming his religion before every at-bat (“God, please no more cut fastballs on the outside corner. In Christ’s name.”)
In the interests of shit disturbing, I’ll just quietly point out that nobody ever seems to be interested in how disturbing it is to meet someone with a little torture device hanging from around their neck.
In the interests of shit disturbing, I’ll just quietly point out that nobody ever seems to be interested in how disturbing it is to meet someone with a little torture device hanging from around their neck.**
Very true! I’ve seen them all over. I’ve even seen some hospitals who have these pictures of a guy who’s died a horrific death hanging on their walls. Gruesome. What is this, some reminder that if you don’t pay your bill, this is what’ll happen to you?
Very true! I’ve seen them all over. I’ve even seen some hospitals who have these pictures of a guy who’s died a horrific death hanging on their walls. Gruesome. What is this, some reminder that if you don’t pay your bill, this is what’ll happen to you?