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WICCAN NEWS IN THE MEDIA
YEAR 2003
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Wiccan news for 2003:
News about Wiccans and other
Neopagans in the media appears to be drying up.
We suspect that some of the reasons are:
 | Many new conservative Christian web sites and books have accurately
reflected Wicca instead of reprinting misinformation based on religious
propaganda from the Burning Times |
| The public has generally become much more aware of Wicca, and have
accepted it as a valid religion. |
| Enough school students have taken -- or threatened -- legal action to
preserve their right to wear Neopagan symbols that public school districts
are no longer banning religious jewelry. |
News items:
| 2002-MAY-13: Canada: Stats Canada releases religious data from the
2001 census: Stats Canada announced that
Wiccans and other
Neopagans showed the greatest percentage growth of all religions in the
country. They numbered 21,080 members in 2001, an
increase of 281% between 1991 and 2001. Native Spirituality
showed a 175% growth to 29,820 members. On the negative side, the
percentage of Canadians identifying with Christianity dropped from 90% in
1981 to 72% in 2001 -- about one percentage point per year. This drop is
almost exactly the same as for the U.S. |
| 2003-JUL-6: Scotland: Pagan community seeking official status:
Pagans are asking for official status as a recognized religion after
raising funds for a recount of the 2001 Scottish census. In the original
report, Paganism was lumped together with "other religions." John
Macintyre, spokesman for the Pagan Federation in Scotland, told the
Sunday Herald that Paganism is the fastest-growing religion in Scotland
and should be recognized by the government. He said: "We have to take up
our proper place alongside other faiths -- we are now very close to
raising the £2000 [US $3,344.60] needed to implore the General Registry to
do the recount and we are sure that by the end of the year we will know
how many Scots are Pagans. I would estimate that we now number between
4000 and 5000, which would put us on a comparable level with Hindus or
Sikhs in Scotland. They hope that recognition will "prevent the
widespread bigotry and abuse suffered by our members." He continued: "The
religion has grown because there is more ecological awareness and the fact
that information about all faiths is now more readily available. There is
also a lessened fear of religious persecution and, in some cases, bigotry.
'There can be religious persecution towards Pagans just as there is
towards other religions and I would say, on the grounds of religion,
Pagans come in for the most abuse out of any of the faiths." |
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Reference:
- Jenifer Johnston, "Pagans poised for recognition," Sunday
Herald, Glasgow, Scotland, 2003-JUL-6
Copyright © 2003 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance.
Originally published: 2003-MAY-19
Latest update: 2003-JUL-5
Author: B.A. Robinson
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