The Witches Bible as it was published in 1972 and authored by Gavin Frost is a common source I cite to suggest that minors have no business disobeying parents who are not abusing them when it comes to practicing pagan religions in their parent or guardian's homes.
It's been mentioned in a dozen threads, but only vaguely.
Chapter Four of this book states the following:
Quote:
When a child develops to a stage where the physical attributes of reproduction are present, he can become a full member of the coven.
The parents relinquish the spiritual guidance of the children to the coven, and warn them that temporal authority will also soon be outside the family.
It is hoped by Wicca that the first full sexual experience will take place in the plesant [sic] surroundings of the coven and that the spiritual as well as the physical aspects of the experience will lead the child to a complete life.
The physical attributes of male and female virginity are destroyed at the youngest possible age, either by the mother or by a doctor. In the female case, the hymen is painlessly broken surgically. In the male case, the mother makes absolutely sure that the foreskin can be drawn fully back by cutting the underside attachment membrane.
At the last sabbat or eshbat before the initiation, the female novice is given the sacred phallus and the instruction sheet in Table 5 so that she can learn to insert and remove the phallus quickly and comfortably. She is also taught how she should lie and what she should do during the initiation ceremony.
It goes on to say:
Quote:
You have been entrusted with two phali [sic]; these are in your care until your initiation. ...you have three weeks to prepare your muscles for introitus. Your father or your sponsor will help you if you have any difficulties or pain.
It goes on to say that the child should fast, make their own decisions about safe sex (or lack there of) and that they are to spend three days fasting.
The start of the ceremony includes giving the minor a full glass of mead which they are to drink.
The child is instructed to engage in sexual rites with their sponsor, promise to "use their sex for good", and is followed with ritual flogging.
The word child is clearly used. The 1999 edition has edited some of this.
Gavin and Yvonne Frost state in the updated version that "... we became the founders of Wicca the religion, and we felt that we had a perfect right to say in the book that 'Wicca do this' and 'Wicca do that'."
Now- when I read this, I see adults raping a child who is drunk on mead.
Some see this as "sacred and beautiful". And I have even heard of people suggesting an analogy between this and African tribes marrying off their children at age thirteen- in the name of being "Open Minded".
A few things come to mind with this- while I understand that in the US there are laws restraining the government from restricting religion (including in title), should such an extreme case be protected in so much that individuals looking for Wicca may indeed come across this book as a guide for Wiccan behavior?
And while I understand there are oaths preventing Wiccans from outing one another etc- we still hear of Wiccans defending the Craft- and yet, the reaction of Witches who were scheduled to attend events with Drew who is a major whistle blower about this issue seems to have given a silent seal of approval- in the name of Open Mindedness and Freedom of Religion.
Further- this is prime fodder for Witch Wars- and while they are often spoken of as being immoral or in a mocking fashion- does not such cause warrant drastic actions such as the one that AJ Drew took at The Real Witches Ball?
Lastly- this publication is available for purchase. We hear of Wiccans defending the Craft, but I have not heard of a defense outside of specific individual cases (talking one on one) against these teachings. I haven't heard of Lineaged Wiccans taking efforts to correct this myself, thought it is possible that some of them did participate in Drew's ritual.
Can such actions be justified in the name of being Open Minded?
Should there be legal action taken against the Frosts?
Should exceptions to "Freedom of Religion" apply to those who commit fraud in claiming a title?
Should such exceptions be based upon the actions the fraud was employed in?
 Irahatam · Wed Sep 02, 2009 @ 01:03am · 1 Comments |
