Original Article: http://dartreview.com/archives/2005/08/26/letters_to_the_editor.php
Friday, August 26, 2005
Editor's Note: J. Stethers White's tongue-in-cheek review of the 1485 witch-hunting manual, the Malleus Maleficarum [see TDR 7/22/05] provoked the fury of dozens of disgruntled witches, Wiccans, warlocks, and other members of the various neo-pagan faiths. A selection of their responses appears below.
A Proud Witch
Sir—
Practice what your preach..[sic] I do believe the bible [sic] tells us..[sic] "judge not least [sic] ye be judged for with what measure you mete it shall again be measured unto you". [sic] And how about Love thy neighbor [sic] ??? [sic] I would think you have an extremely harsh judgement [sic] waiting upon [sic] you.
My Mother [sic] taught me to treat people the way I would like to be treated and to always have RESPECT for myself and others. Maybe YOU should have followed the teachings of her God.
You are talking about and condemning a religion you know nothing about, and apparently have no interest in learning about. Do you really truly believe that God finds it ok to kill and torture people in his name?? [sic] Just so you can say my religion [sic] is the best?? [sic] I have often wondered why Christians, or any other religion [sic], think it is necessary to accuse, convict and punish those they disagree with. Do you not have faith that God is capable of sorting it all out when the time is right? You just want to spread your hatred and prejudices, unfortunately this seems to be the way of the so called [sic] God fearing [sic] Christians.
Hummm.. [sic] come to think of it maybe that's why they are so God fearing [sic], they know they have plenty to fear from God in light of their unchristian [sic] and un God like [sic] behavior.
Sincerely,
A Witch and proud of it
Will He Be Defrocked?
Sir—
Nice article on the Malleus Maleficarum. You know, if we go just a bit further back in time, perhaps we can locate one of those nifty edicts from Rome which supported a real worthwhile spectator sport. It was also aimed at a dangerous sect which threatened the status quo. And, you know, people really enjoyed it. So, maybe you can get on board with tossing some Christians to the lions. Not all Christians, just the vile, hate-mongering retards such as yourself.
Wishing you all the best in your eternity in Hell,
Fatherwolf
There's No Spell To Herd Cats?
Sir—
I must concede that I am absolutely astonished at the charges raised by J. Strethers [sic] White in their [sic] article, "The Witchhammer," in your publication. It is filled with inaccuracies and demonstrates a lack of knowledge on the topic of witchcraft—modern and that from the Middle Ages.
Your contributor states a concern that witches are plotting against the church [sic] and against the government. This is rather an amazing observation in light of the strict teachings that so many witches follow which forbid the doing of harm to anyone or to anything. It also flies in the face or [sic] reality since so many witches are presently concerned with simple survival in these troubles [sic] times and with preserving the environment. I know of no witches who have the ample spare time to be busy plotting against against [sic] any established institutions!
The writer also notes how witches are busy working with various demons. This is a bit of a puzzle. You see, I know of may [sic] witches who do not believe in demons or in a devil as they consider those to be manifestations of Judeo Christian [sic] superstition or mythology and I know of many Christian Witches [sic] who, because of their sincere belief in the New Testament, would find it impossible to work with forces that they consider to be evil and repugnant. Neither school of thought would allow for the deliberate or intentional working with demons.
The Malleus Maleficarum is referred to as a great gift in this article. That is fascinating since this same work is responsible for instructing people in how to eliminate anyone they simply dislike or are envious of. Your neighbor has more than you? That is not a problem; simply declare them a witch! Your wife is too "uppity?" Condemn her for being in league with the devil! You dislike your boss's choice of church? Have him burnt at the stake for practicing demonology. The Malleus Maleficarum is an excellent tool for keeping people in their place and is almost as useful and accurate as Mein Kampf!
By the way, the writer's observation of witches working in concert across the globe [sic]? Perhaps they [sic] need to hear the adage in the Pagan [sic] community which states that it is harder to organize Pagans [sic] than to shepherd cats! I am sorry, but many witches are much too individualistic to be able to work in concert with some evil cabal to plot against any government!
By the way, I pray that the original writer of this article is a male. If it was written by a woman, I would be concerned about their [sic] self-image since the writer sees women as being too filled with lust and too simple minded [sic] so that it is easy to lead them astray from the path of righteousness.
As a male witch, all I can say to the writer is this: get saved, get your facts straight, and get some faith in your beliefs as you are apparently unconvinced of them thus resulting in a need to tear down others' beliefs.
Sincerely,
William Halstead
Sorry To Have Let You Down
Sir—
Well, to say that I am shocked is an understatement. I have been a witch all my life and have never found any need for demons, offering up babies or such rediculous [sic] behavior. I do not hate Christians I have found most of them to be some of the nicest people around. I also am not out to get them. I find your article sick and offensive. The mere fact that you would promote such a hideous thing such as the witchhammer [sic] is appauling [sic]. Considering the fact that the two men who wrote it promoted it as supported by the Pope was a lie to begin with and they were proven to be frauds. It just shows your opinion of women. And that makes you an idiot! But, that's not just my opinion, any Christian woman who reads this thing and how they [sic] considered women stupid and too ignorant to know right from wrong should be offended as well.
I am shocked that such a thing has come from you.
Sincerely,
Lady Edenbolake
Woo To Us
Sir—
I cannot believe you allowed this kind of rubbish in your newspaper!!!!! [sic] Don't you think you should get all the facts straight before you publish an article like this???? [sic] Do you have any idea how some people reading this will believe what you have written??? [sic] And it is all lies!! [sic] Woo [sic] to you. This is an injustice. This is 2005 not the dark ages. Will you go to such extremes to get readers??? [sic] This is a sure sign of predjudise [sic] and discrimation[sic] . [sic] against a religion which you clearly don't understand!!!! [sic] May the Lord and Lady forgive you!!!! [sic] An interested person.
Sincerely,
Lady Marie M. Nugent
Where's Stethers?
Sir—
Ok I'm still reeling from the poor taste in which whomever decided to print this joke of an article, review or not [sic] lest [sic] i [sic] would hope its [sic] a review and not someones [sic] honest opinion. Either way would be a good one for the ACLU to query, and like someone in my group said....[sic] look at the authors [sic] whereabouts of [sic] during the many missing people episodes. Someone needs to do some homework and learn the difference between a true witch and a Satanist [sic] which should never be in the same sentence to begin with as Pagans [sic] don't have a satan [sic] in our pantheon that is actually a counter-christian [sic] religion ie [sic] satan [sic] vs [sic] god [sic] etc. Our various forms of deity do not equate to a satan [sic] .. [sic] devil etc [sic] etc. Get it right. Watching The Craft on your little dvd [sic] does not equate either. Lets [sic] get our facts in perspective before we go to print or maybe take a class in good taste.
Sincerely,
Eric Cooper
Magick Tricks
Sir—
I could not even read all of the article about witchcraft. First off, your paper got their religions wrong. I am a Wiccan and I do Magick [sic] and I do NOT believe the Devil ever existed. I do not worship him because he is not real. I respect other peoples [sic] beliefs. But this article is about as correct as Hitler. It really frosts my cookies when someone will give an opinion on something they know nothing about. I have had people come up to me and tell me what a wonderful Christian I am. I am a good person and I love the Earth and all the elements. I do not go around telling everyone that you worship the devil, why would you do that to us? If you look far enough into your family tree, you will find that you are related to Pagans [sic], for this is the first religion. I have read the entire Bible and found a lot of Pagan [sic] beliefs in it. And for the last point, everyone I know has used Magick [sic] in their lives and Witchcraft [sic]. Ever made a wish on a star? STAR MAGICK [sic]! Ever made a wish and blew out the candles on your birthday cake? FIRE MAGICK [sic]! Ever dropped a penny in water and made a wish? WATER MAGICK [sic]! I could go on, but I won't. Judge ye not!
Sincerely,
Jodi Trotter
Alert The Police
Sir—
Your article 'The Witchhammer' is absolutely disgusting and I am turning it over to the California state police as I believe it violates this states [sic] anti-hate laws. You are promoting violence and hatred against people of the various NeoPagan [sic] faiths. What year is this 2005 [sic], or the 17th century and we are starting the Salem witch hunts? What are you going to do next, start quoting anti-Semitic comments from Adolph [sic] Hitler?
Also, why don't you try teaching some real history at Dartmouth? The historical fact is the VAST MAJORITY OF EUROPEANS DID NOT WANT TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY! It was a foreign import that did not fit well with European customs and Europeans had their own highly developed, sophisticated religions. Europeans converted to Christianity ONLY BECAUSE THE ROMAN EMPEROR ISSUED AN EDICT SAYING ANY ONE PRACTICING THE OLD EUROPEAN RELIGIONS INSTEAD OF THE ROMAN'S VERSION OF CHRISTIANITY WOULD HAVE THEIR HEADS CUT OFF!!!!!! [sic]
Your article is an insult to all ancestors of Indo-Europeans and shows a vast, incredible ignorance of the actual history of Western civilization and the true nature of pre-Christian European cultures.
Your article also shows a real need to severely limit the power of the real perpetrators of violence and greed in U.S. society—the privileged children of the wealthy who perpetuate their power by attending Ivy league [sic] colleges together! Only 5% of you control 60% of US wealth, by far the greatest concentration of wealth of any industrialized nation! You maintain this power just like Adolph [sic] Hitler did—making [sic] minorities and/or women scapegoats to divert attention away from the fact your greed is the real problem in US society!
Donate your excess wealth to charity and stop spreading religious, ethnic and class hatred!
Sincerely,
Richard Shimek