Do I worship Satan? (uncontrolled smirk follows)

I was at the fabric store yesterday getting something for a charity project when the clerk at the cutting table noticed the pentacle hanging around my neck. She asked, "are you Jewish"?

This happens a lot - that is, with people who can't count.

The Jewish "Star of David" is two intertwined triangles - six points total if you are keeping score. The Pagan Pentacle is just like the little stars you learned to draw in grade school without picking up your pencil - five points.

In spite of the numerical difference, I've been asked more than once if I was Jewish. Rather than responding with the obvious smart-assed remark about my questioner being "counting-challenged", I normally say, "No, that's six points. This one as five, and it means I'm a pagan".

Now, depending upon to whom I am speaking, I get one of two responses: benign indifference, or the question, "Oh, you look like a nice guy. So you worship Satan"? The latter is what happened at the fabric store yesterday. My mom would equate this response to the old, "you don't sweat much for a fat girl" comment that she hates.

Of course, if someone asks this question, odds are they are a fundamentalist Christian (and yes, I'm going to pound on them a little here - it's a hobby). This "Pagan=Satan" thing is part of what they are taught about those of us in the pagan world. It's how the whole idea of "witch" became an image of evil in the first place. In a male-dominated religion like Christianity, the idea of female power is anathema. In order to reduce the influence of the traditional "wise woman" or healer in ages past and redirect that influence to the male priest, they taught that such women were in league with the devil and only brewed their potions for evil purposes. It was so effective a smear campaign that we have an entire holiday that reinforces this idea every year (the Christian Halloween).

Rather than getting into a long drawn-out philosophical discussion with a store clerk, generally I answer with a light-hearted but pithy, "Oh goodness no - Satan is a Christian idea. We don't have one of those". That one statement usually ends the discussion if they are a fundie - or engages us in a further, more interesting discourse if they are not.

It's true, of course. Satan IS a Christian concept. In most versions of Wicca, that whole idea doesn't even make sense. Why would there be a Being whose sole purpose is to actively convince you to do things that are flat-out bad? What would such a Being have to gain by it? They can't make me go to Hell when I die, because that's another Christian idea that Wicca doesn't have. Someone who doesn't exist can't possibly make me do something that would land me someplace that doesn't exist. They don't win my soul because my spirit is my own and a part of the divine and eternal God/Goddess. Only if there is a Hell can there be a Satan, and since I don't have a place in my faith for either, "poof" goes the whole silly thing.

It's hard thing to tell a Christian that they invented Hell and Satan. It messes with their heads, poor dears. The intelligent ones spark off a really cool conversation - some of the most engaging and interesting one's I've ever had. I have several acquaintances that are Christians, and talking about the concept of "Hell" is one of our favorite things to do. The fundies stare blankly at you because you've suddenly made them actually think about their faith.

For the record, the five points of the Pagan Pentacle represent the four natural elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water and the fifth "element" Spirit. To a Pagan, a pentacle serves the same purpose as a cross around the neck of a Christian or that Star of David around the neck of a Jew. They are a personal reminder of the basic tenants of your faith, and a little way of telling the world something about yourself.

So - wear your pentacle with pride. Just be prepared with an answer when someone can't count.

Blessed Be.