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The World Wide Web is filled with information. The surfer must use caution in looking for information as some well-meaning websites are actually filled with misinformation guided by fear. The authors of these sites are under the misconception that they are educating the public. Religious fervor is not logic-driven; it is based on more than just faith. Some of these sites state that their religion is the only proper and true religion and other religions are wrong if not downright evil. The authors of these sites believe that they are God's defenders.
Radioliberty.com has a list of symbols that it claims are occult-based. It warns that American children are wearing seemingly innocuous symbols on clothing and jewelry such as butterflies, arrows and even circles that are actually Wiccan, Pagan, Native American, Buddhist, Hindu or Satanist. Here are a few of the symbols and their meanings according to their website:
- Angels - The website wants you to make sure it's the biblical version and not a Tibetan angel or other foreign angel
- Bats - a symbol of good fortune in the east: a representative of demons and spirits in medieval Europe
- Circle - "...to earth-centered religions throughout history as well as to many contemporary pagans, it represents the feminine spirit or force, the cosmos or a spiritualized Mother Earth, and a sacred space."
- Cow - Symbolized the sky goddess Hathor to Egyptians, enlightenment to Buddhists and the highest and holiest stages of reincarnation to Hindus
- Crescent Moon - a symbol of the aging goddess to contemporary witches and victory over death to many Muslims.
- Dragon - To medieval Europe, it represents danger and evil. To people in eastern Asia, it has power to help them against more hostile spiritual forces. In the Bible, it represents Satan.
The site has issues with Italian horns, lizards, lightening bolts, the peace symbol, scarabs, snakes and spiders. More no-no symbols include the sun's face, toads, triangles, unicorns, wheels (with spokes), astrological symbols and yin yangs. It also explains that if a symbol is surrounded by a circle, it is an occult symbol.
Radioliberty obviously is more than just a website. It is also a radio show and a bookseller. There is a home schooling curriculum on the site, which every frightened and religiously intolerant American family can purchase at a reasonable price. There are a list of videos with charming titles like "Zionist Jews Sacrifice Babies for Satan Oprah Winfrey."
Starhawk, a Wiccan author and activist said, "On some deep cosmic level, we are all one, and within us we each contain the potential for good and for destruction, for compassion and hate, for generosity and greed." Radioliberty doesn't believe we are all one. The author believes that his way is the only way. The author may mean well, but the website is so full of fear and intolerance that it is impossible to consider it to be a valid source of information. And for those people who are now afraid to dress their kids in prints, buy solid colors only.
For more information:
http://www.radioliberty.com/Symbolsandtheirmeaning.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/mistakes.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/relintol.htm
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