This one is for all you out there that feel the need to "Save" Our souls, regardless of whether we want them saved or not. I have had people ask me, "How can I witness to a witch?" I have been interrupted during meals, rituals and visits by overzealous people hell-bent (no pun intended) on rescuing me from myself. I have even, on occasion, invited such people into my house and had discussions about the pros and cons of any religion. Some have never returned to my house. Before you even TRY to witness to a witch, read this, and think about it.

“Have you invited the Lord into your heart?”

Okay, let’s be honest. These are NOT the words a pagan wants to hear, especially when the speaker has just interrupted a ritual. To all you Christians out there reading this, how would you feel is We came barreling into your church service proclaiming that the Goddess was with us and that we were here to “Save You!” You’d think we’d fallen off our rockers! You would most likely call the police and have us thrown out of the sanctuary. Next, how would you feel if we interrupted your dinner, stopped you on the street or phoned you in the middle of your favorite television program?

What I’m trying to make clear is that Pagans do not appreciate being witnessed to. We understand that you truly believe what you are preaching, but understand that we don’t, and having you keep us at the door while our candles are burning to stubs in the next room is not going to help your cause. All we ask is that you leave us in peace and we shall do the same for you.

Never have you seen a witch going door to door thrusting pentacles in your face and asking you to renounce Christianity and invite the Goddess in. Come on! We have better things to do, and don’t really care what it is you worship. Please have the same courtesy for us? Please!

To the pagans who have met with the unfortunate occurrence of being witnessed to against your will, resist the urge to shout “Satan is yours, not mine…Get out!” This won’t help anything either. I know it is tempting, I’ve been tempted myself, I've even tried it myself. But, they aren’t going to listen anyway. You could get into a three hour long debate about who’s God is better, but that won’t get you anywhere (and mean while your candles are getting shorter). Most likely your first inclination when those first “salvation” words are uttered is to slam the door in the persons face. Once again I must counsel patience. (I know, I know, your rope has almost run out, but try?)

I have found that most who have tried to witness to me have approached me as one possessed. It has been tempting to play along and try to send them running and screaming, sometimes too tempting, but I figured out that it wouldn’t improve the image of Witches much. I have, on occasion, invited Christians into my home to discuss religion, or stopped in school or on the street to debate. A tiresome experience in most cases. Remember that Christians are taught to “save” others, and even though you don’t think there is anything you need to be saved from (except perhaps them), they do.

In many cases, these attempts to convert only make a pagan stronger in their faith. Most will avoid attacking back, simply because attacking another faith shows that you are not secure in your own faith. Getting into a debate about whose God is more powerful is rather childish, and a waste of time.

To the Christians who read this, please do not feel insulted. I, for one, enjoy discussing religion, as long as it is done civilly with one who does not bash, but compares. I can sit for hours comparing my religion to another’s. Often we come away friends, neither converted, but both happy because we were able to share something that is important to us. A pagan will not approach you on the street, but will answer questions if asked, politely, about their religion. Should you come in, waving the bible and demanding they renounce Satan and turn to the all-forgiving God you will most likely get a History lesson. Pagans study their religion. They search for what they believe, often after they become unhappy with the Christian faith. They study many before they settle on the one religion that is right for them, and often they include Christianity in the study. If you approach them the wrong way you may get a lecture about the wars and killing that occurred in the past, all in the name of “The One God”, "The Forgiving Father", and "The Merciful Lord". We may not believe in attacking other’s faith, but we do become defensive and somewhat testy when challenged by ignorance. In other words, if you aren’t prepared for the argument you may get, you should not approach a pagan with the intent to convert.

In today’s society the rumors about paganism run rampant. Lies and propaganda against us are seen everywhere. For example the movie-“The Craft”. A worse portrayal of who and what We are would be hard to find. But, the antics of the characters in this movie are what people expect from us. Movies like this only feed the already instilled falsehoods. To the Christians I offer this advice. The best way to prepare for meeting a pagan is to forget they are a pagan. Forget everything you have ever heard about paganism and instead see the person as just that, a person. Let them explain their religion to you, and do not accuse.

I would love to be able to say that the history of the Craft is clean, that never did people of my faith perform the atrocities of other religions in the past, but I can not. All religions have a bloody past. The Aztecs, the Egyptians, the Greeks, Romans, Celtics and Christians all have their scars to bare, but they are old scars. In today’s world the horrors of the past are best left there. We do not sacrifice, just as the Christians no longer crucify. We have all grown up in today’s society, with today’s rules and laws. I do not say forget the past, for if we forget it, we can not learn from it. I do say to study the past, not as an example of today, but as an example of how people change. Accept us, as we accept you.

Brightest Blessings,

Silver DawnHawk