Question about Wording...

Hello all! Just wanted to ask a question to all so that I might not offend anyone.

Since I'm called to the Wiccan faith, I'm wanting to start wearing my pentagram. It sounds like the question one tends to get, when they wear one, is "Are you a Satanist?" Would the least offensive reply be simply 'No,' or should I try to explain the differences between the various religions/ belief systems? I don't want to reply with something that would offend anyone of any religion, including Satanism, and I'd hate to inadvertantly say something offensive in my reply.

Thanks for any advice you might give!

FeathersinHair said:

Hello all! Just wanted to ask a question to all so that I might not offend anyone.

Since I'm called to the Wiccan faith, I'm wanting to start wearing my pentagram. It sounds like the question one tends to get, when they wear one, is "Are you a Satanist?" Would the least offensive reply be simply 'No,' or should I try to explain the differences between the various religions/ belief systems? I don't want to reply with something that would offend anyone of any religion, including Satanism, and I'd hate to inadvertantly say something offensive in my reply.

Thanks for any advice you might give!

Click to expand...

I've had to deal with this more times than one could imagine. Just say that you're not, and tell them somehow that a satanist would not wear what you are wearing...trying to explain to people like that is fruitless and pointless.

While I was wearing my pentacle I received many such questions. I simply stated that I wore it because I was Pagan, and that it's a common misconception for Satanists to wear pentacles such as the one I wore. If they asked what Paganism is, I'd explain it and also explain what the pentacle represented to me. If you prompt them to ask questions rather than bring out a full explanation before they ask, they might not take the information you're giving them comfortably. That's how I dealt with it, anyway ( :

FeathersinHair said:

Hello all! Just wanted to ask a question to all so that I might not offend anyone.

Since I'm called to the Wiccan faith, I'm wanting to start wearing my pentagram. It sounds like the question one tends to get, when they wear one, is "Are you a Satanist?" Would the least offensive reply be simply 'No,' or should I try to explain the differences between the various religions/ belief systems? I don't want to reply with something that would offend anyone of any religion, including Satanism, and I'd hate to inadvertantly say something offensive in my reply.

Thanks for any advice you might give!

Click to expand...

Thanks for being considerate enough to ask. Since there are so many different kinds of Satanism, generalizing about the differences between Wicca and Satanism is difficult. Too many Wiccans and other Pagan Witches do misrepresent Satanism when trying to explain the differences. Please see my article A Critique of Wiccan and Other Neo-Pagan Disclaimers About Satanism.

Beyond a simple "No," I would suggest that you simply say that Satan is not part of your pantheon as either al literal deity or a symbol. You can then go on to explain what your beliefs are, without further reference to Satanism.

Regarding the pentagram in particular, you can mention that Satanists typically wear their pentagram point-down whereas Wiccans and other Pagan Witches typically wear their pentagram point-up. (Admittedly this is an oversimplification, especially from the Wiccan end, since Gardnerians use a point-down pentagram in their second degree initiation.) I would suggest that you also add that the pentagram is an ancient symbol that has been used in many different cultures to mean many different things. Even Christians have used it in the past. For that matter, there are 50 pentagrams (albeit solid ones, not line drawings) on the American flag.

Thanks very much for your insight! I look forward to reading the article! (Lovely point about the American flag, too!)