Is this offensive II

brian · 07-02-2003, 10:24 PM

This one has a lot of pagans on websites I visit very annoyed.

What do you think?

King Kev - Living god of the Witches!

Personally I think it's just some daft bloke having a laugh and being taken far too seriously by some people. I mean, really - pink bathrobe? ;D

Iacchus · 07-04-2003, 05:19 PM

Do I find it particularly offensive? No. If I were a woman? Perhaps. And yet what he says at the end of the page -- "MY FERTILITY SPELLS ARE GOING GREAT AT THE CERNE ABBAS GIANT IN DORSET. WHY NOT POP ALONG THERE FOR SOME NICE NOOKIE - ITS THE 'IN PLACE'." -- pretty much says it all! ;D

Also, if he were to take up Country & Western music, he might be able to pass himself off as Glen Campbell? Ya never know!

WHKeith · 07-07-2003, 09:54 PM

Okay, I'll bite!

Speaking as a Wiccan and as a teacher of Wicca, I don't find the site as offensive as I find it ignorant. It's actually pretty funny and very obviously there as a con to make money.

The "King of the Witches" crack is aimed at Alex Saunders, a disciple of Gardner who went on to form his own version of the Craft. He referred to himself as "the King of the Witches," a statement astonishing in light of Wicca's overtly feminist leanings. I mean . . . who elected HIM?

I think the only real problem I have with the site is the fact that much of his language suggests that his version is THE version of witchcraft. If you wanna be a witch, c'mon down! Buy my tapes! This is the real McCoy! Accept no imitations! But wait! There's more! . . .

It might catch a few young-uns interested in the Craft, which is a shame. Most will be put off by his blatant commercialism and self-serving nonsense, however, or by the sheer cheesiness of it all. The Craft is a field where there are many charlatans, con-artists, and predators in it either for money or for free-and-easy sex, and is definitely one where caveat emptor rules!

brian · 07-07-2003, 10:50 PM

It's certainly raised a lot of complaints, in terms of Neo-Pagans I know of online who feel they are being mis-represented by him.

Personally, I don't see anything remotely serious at work - not even as a con - but just a big garish laugh. I see a general parody and spoof at work. Which I suppose is why people feel offended - that his colourful grin has been taken on board by some avenues of media.

Still, I guess every path has its extremes - for example, in US Christianity, you have the very divergent poles of Falwell and Spong. I'm sure at least one of those names is offensive to some degree for a variety of US Christians.