False Facts on Wicca in school textbooks.?

Question

I am a Wiccan, and i've had a few issues with the pentacle being worn at school but has passed and teachers have accepted that. But we are going through religions and we have reached Wicca and Witchcraft, along with the Witch trials. I am very offended by what the book says and I don't want to read it out loud when/if im asked to read it because ir really offends me.

What should i do? I have no idea how to respond to this and i don't know if i would get in toruble for asking not to read about it.

Answer 1

Suck it up for the grade.

Answer 2

Merry Meet,

Its sort of like this, those in power make the rules. Books for schools are sent through a deliberation process and once ok’d they are put into circulation. Teachers can recommend books for next years school, but have to live with this year’s material. Also many schools don’t have the revenue to put new books into circulation every year. As for the accuracy of Wicca or Witchcraft in school books, check out the other subjects and you will find serious errors in many of them as well. History is written by the victor not the right or wrong. Today many facts and truths are coming out because of the internet and many new authors are stepping forward to put new and more accurate books into circulation each and every year. My suggestion is to learn from those books so that way you will be able to share the truths with your friends and associates. A truth starts with one person and spreads one by one as each new person voices the truth. Don’t start an issue that might get you expelled from school, but stand strong and voice only the truth when you can.

I hope that this aids some.

Blessed Be

Nyjh

Answer 3

You should do what the Christians in your class did when you got to the Crusades in your books.  Same thing.

Answer 4

You have to understand that you're getting a biased opinion -- this is what Christian kooks were saying about witchcraft, not what the Wiccans themselves believe.

You also have to understand that the "witch-hunts" were just a convenient excuse for a massive land and property grab on the part of the Church -- they got to keep all the holdings of everyone they convicted, and you were guilty until proven innocent in those days.  And most of the people convicted were completely innocent -- the inquisitors had some very effective means of "persuading" (read: torturing) the accused into implicating others...

Answer 5

You’re Wiccan and in school – you’re a bit young to be Wicca aren’t you?

It’s difficult to judge a situation without more details, if the book specifically says Wicca then it’s something that comes from misunderstanding about the priesthood and it needn’t be a big concern unless you are wanting to take a stand on the issue – but the simple solution is to talk to your teacher, you cannot get into trouble for refusing to read out loud from the text, particularly if you believe it to be offensive and prejudice – all sorts of first amendment issues there.

Try taking in some real information for the class – but make sure it is accurate, you obviously don’t want to accidentally bring anything in that claims you can be ‘eclectic Wicca’ or Wicca without having been initiated, that would just add to the “false facts” on Wicca.

Answer 6

You are absolutely right. I'm a Christian actually and I had been thinking the same about Witchcraft since I met a new friend who was a Witch. The thing is that there's a lot of misconception in Witchcraft and I believe that Witchcraft can be evil but only if you don't use it the right way. The thing is that your book was written by Christians and we use to see things from our perspective. I don't think you could do anything, it would just make things worse. You just have to accept that people are not always open-minded. You could maybe ask your teacher to talk about Witchcraft in a more polite way if he uses to badmouth it. And your classmates to respect your path. That's basically it...

Plz, do you have Myspace? We need to talk.

Answer 7

Ask your parents to discuss your issues with this textbook information with the teacher and principal.  

Answer 8

Jews hear about the holocaust all the time.   Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and others have been massacred for their beliefs.  These people deal with it, why can't you?    Make sure you aren't wearing a nifty pentacle just for the shock factor.   If you're going wrap yourself in this faith, you should be able to read some disturbing facts about it.

Answer 9

I don't know exactly what you can do or what state you live in, but I would tell you to go to:

http://www.aclu.org/

They represent people of minority faiths, and I know that they have helped Pagan students in the past.  I would recommed checking the site to see if there is an office or location near you, and I would call them and tell them what you said here. They can tell you what you should do and if there is any action that you can take.

I am a Hellenic Pagan (the religion of the Ancient Greeks) so I know how hard it can be when people spread lies and misinformation about Paganism and Wicca based upon ignorance and fear. Just don't let the beat you down or make you change your beliefs.

Peace!

Answer 10

I really like J.P.'s answer and agree that you should be ready to back up your argument with information from a credible source.

I can't understand, though, why you would be learning about Wicca at the same time as the witch trials, since the two subjects have nothing to do with each other.

Answer 11

Speaking as a Wiccan for over 20 years, our religion, if, indeed, Wicca is the religion you claim, is not related to the Witch Trials, which was Christians calling Christians witches.

Wicca came to be in the mid-20th century, which few Wiccans don't know and fewer don't believe. Unless the textbook is saying modern Wiccans were in the Witch Trials, it has nothing to do with us.

Answer 12

Step 1: Gather credible sources that counter the information in your text book.  In other words -- be D@mn sure you are RIGHT before you move to the next step, because otherwise your teachers will nail you to the wall and rightly so.  (A word of caution: Silver Ravenwolf is NOT credible, and is in fact utter garbage)

Step 2: When called on to read a passage that contains false information, respectfully decline.  Even as a student, you have the right to choose when and how you speak; but there may be consequences for invoking that right.  Be ready to accept those consequences if this is truly important to you.

Step 3: Explain your reason for declining.  Offer to read it, but on the grounds that you be permitted to cite your sources to correct the misinformation, or that a discussion be had after reading the passage so you can provide your counter-information.

Answer 13

Merry Meet Bubbles,

If it were me, what I would do it read it if the teacher asked me to, then they can't get you in trouble for insubordination. Then if you can back up the reason why you disagree with it in solid facts...the tenets of an established religion qualifies...I would go on to say that I disagree with it, then professionally ask the teacher if you may explain why...then show your side of the coin and let others decide for themselves. However I do agree that it is rare to find a book that does not have any inaccuracies.

I hope this helps.

Always in Light and Love,

Bryan

Answer 14

I am really curious as to what specifically your textbook says about Wicca. You do realize that the Witch Trials have absolutely nothing to do with Wicca right? The people put to death during the witch trials were not Wiccans as Wicca is a modern religion having only come into existence about 60 years ago. They were almost without exception not witches either. Those people were Christians. If you have misconceptions about how the witch trials relate to Wicca or witchcraft I strongly suggest you do some reading on the subject. Here is a little article from a site about Wicca so you should feel confident that it is not out to make Wiccans look bad - http://wicca.timerift.net/burning.shtml

Now, if there are real, factual inaccuracies regarding the actual religion of Wicca in your textbook then you are free to point them out. That isn't a reason to refuse to read about it though. Refusing to read it sounds like you are just trying to get out of doing homework or participating in class. If there are legitimate fallacies then do your own research along with your classwork and bring your own scholarly sources to point out the inaccuracies to class with you if you wish. I would assume that you would be penalized for not completing the required assignments regardless of your reasons.  

Answer 15

What exactly offends you? If it offends you just because the witches were persecuted and the textbook shows you what happened, how do you think African students feel during the slavery part of your history lessons? Or the Chinese when studying the period of history where asian immigration to America was it's highest, or the Jews during WW2?

Answer 16

i know what u mean , im not wiccan but i understand school textbooks just say stupid things about all the religions. i'm christian so one day my teacher ask me to read a book that was saying that god didnt exist, so i just told her that i couldnt read it because it was against my religion and she understand it, may be you should do the same.

Answer 17

What does it say?  

Answer 18

Stop whining

Answer 19

Read J.P.'s answer.  Read it again.  Read it again.  Do it.

I am highly interested in what your textbook says about Wicca, considering its a minor religion that has only been around 60 years.  Without you giving specifics, I'm strongly suspecting that it is YOU who are mistaken, not the textbook.  

You do know that the witch trials have nothing to with Wicca, right?