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White goths & pagans need to sit and listen when Black people talk about their discomfort in our spaces.
Harassing a Black man because you think you're a crusader against Satanic Panic isn't appropriate or good.
I'm a pagan in Texas and that's a difficult and dangerous thing to be at times. I understand it's frustrating that a Baphomet statue is scary when a crucifix isn't. BUT. BUT.
There absolutely exist white supremacists who use our pagan imagery in their white supremacy acts, and it's inappropriate for us to just demand that Black people ignore that.
The pagan community has a huge problem with white supremacists and just insisting that we all be assumed safe until proven otherwise is hugely inappropriate.
And it's not just "satanic" imagery, btw. White supremacists love to appropriate Norse mythology, frex. I worship Freyja but am always wary when I see Thor symbolism, because it's been misused so much.
But/And/Anyway, I fail to see how people are going to feel *more* safe around Baphomet statues when the people defending old Baphy are harassing folks online.
Frustrated with pagans treating this like a religious freedom issue and saying that AirBnB shouldn't give refunds for Surprise Baphomet statues any more than they should for crosses, menorahs, etc.
I noted at LEAST 3 graphic depictions of sex/nudity that I would've been uncomfortable with in that apartment, and pairing that with a Baphomet statue would've made me uncomfortable staying that, AND I'M A PAGAN.
Ritual space is important, and how we work our rituals leaves residue. Asking someone to live and work and sleep in that residue without disclosing to them, giving them a chance to consent? That's wrong. Unethical. Bullshit.
You have a right to practice your religion AND you have a responsibility not to trick people into staying in your ritual space without their consent and knowledge.
And I'm cocky enough to say that Baphomet would understand and agree with me on this, and it's a damn shame that anyone worshiping him doesn't see that. But that's another thread entirely.
(That's assuming that the owner *does* worship him and these aren't a bunch of things they collect for shock value.)
They collect Baphomet statues for the *aesthetic*? Then, yeahno, this is not a Religious Freedom issue.
(Thank you @ElfGrove for that clarification.) https://twitter.com/ElfGrove/status/1304125425178861569
(Thank you @ElfGrove for that clarification.) https://twitter.com/ElfGrove/status/1304125425178861569
I am just flabbergasted, actually.
The....the...the choice to collect religious/ritual materials for the gothy aesthetic and then being upset because Black people know the history of those items better than you do.
The....the...the choice to collect religious/ritual materials for the gothy aesthetic and then being upset because Black people know the history of those items better than you do.
I don't want this to turn into a big Baphomet 101 thread, because (a) the owners apparently only collect his image for shock value and (b) I don't work with him often, BUT the entire point of Baphomet in the pagan practices I'M familiar with and use is CONSENT and CHOICE.
The Devil card in tarot, for example, has people in chains but the chains are loose and could be easily removed. That's an important aspect of the card and its meaning; that the people are there by choice, with their consent.
The idea that Baphomet would be hunky-dory with tricking people into a ritual space where he has been invoked, OR that he would demand people not be uncomfortable with his image being unexpectedly present... I couldn't disagree more.
TL;DR:
- Listen to Black people and don't minimize/dismiss their discomfort.
- Learn that a LOT of things white people feel comfortable around have been co-opted as white supremacist symbols.
- Don't decorate with religious statues you don't understand.
- Listen to Black people and don't minimize/dismiss their discomfort.
- Learn that a LOT of things white people feel comfortable around have been co-opted as white supremacist symbols.
- Don't decorate with religious statues you don't understand.
- Represent your home and space honestly and allow people to nope out. Respect consent.
- Bestiality statues should be put away when strangers are coming over, christ on a corn dog stick!!
- Bestiality statues should be put away when strangers are coming over, christ on a corn dog stick!!
- There's white supremacist elements in almost every activity that white people participate in. Because there are a lot of white supremacists. (Hell, we had to kick one out of our D&D group.) Being a certain religion doesn't magically enlighten someone out of racism.
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...I'm glad this thread has been helpful for some folks, but please do go retweet/support/pay Black people in this convo. I don't need to be a viral voice in this situation.
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...I'm glad this thread has been helpful for some folks, but please do go retweet/support/pay Black people in this convo. I don't need to be a viral voice in this situation.
Fred has a book coming out, frex! https://twitter.com/FredTJoseph/status/1290338869725011968
I did not know this and it makes me happy that AirBNB refunded the renter in this case (as well they should have). https://twitter.com/LoveKaraMiro/status/1304149204265324551
Rental spaces should be advertised accurately. Even if they're also personal homes (as opposed to investment properties)! There's a lot of things that people don't want to be around--or find outright unsafe--and rental owners have a responsibility to disclose.
