A short while ago, columnist Robert Kirby of the Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune ran a piece called If Georgia Lawmaker Forces Witches Out of Military, Good Christian Bombs Will Reign Supreme. [This link has expired.] This tongue-in-cheek column, written by an ex-military man who describes himself as an "OxyMormon", picked on all sides of the issue -- Christian, Wiccan, and the Military in general. It was a scathing hoot. He ran a follow-up a few days later with Witches Have a Sense of Humor -- Thank God!. [This link has expired] I was pleased with both the general response from the pagan community and Mr. Kirby's style of handling the negative responses. ("A few witches and pagans hope I will prick my finger on a spinning wheel. One or two even left out the finger and spinning wheel part.") Applause, Mr. Kirby. Both of your pieces were intelligent, well-written, and just outright funny.

As for the people that wrote him complaining, let me give you a little piece of advice from an experienced Wiccan Priest. The bit about sitting on the broomstick to fly was for straddling it, and it's a myth anyway. For crying out loud, people, it's humor!

I am not going to say that we are a religion devoid of humor; it's not true. Most pagans I know have a wonderful sense of humor. (Okay, in a lot of cases it's a twisted sense of humor, but it's well developed.) The problem is that the stuffy pagans make up for their lack of numbers with sheer intensity. It's kind of scary, when you think about it.

Several years ago, a friend of mine and I organized a Samhain ritual with some pagans we met over a local BBS. Something went hilariously wrong in the middle of the circle, and despite my best attempts to keep a straight face, I lost it. Before a minute had passed, everyone in the circle had the Infectious Giggles except for one guy. He was furious. As far as he was concerned we were being sacriligeous.

Okay, let's clear the floor on one point. We are a religion that celebrates life. Laughter is a part of life -- one of the better parts. I do make it a general policy not make fun of the Gods themselves, true-- partly out of reverence and partly because I spent so much time in Florida, the lightning capital of the world. I will, however, occasionally point out that they have a pretty wicked sense of humor themselves. And I think the Gods can understand when a circle cracks up because the HP just tripped and did a face plant in the ritual Sara Lee poundcake.

© 1999 by Cather "Catalyst" Steincamp