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The effects discrimination has had on religion in the Mid-South
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Discrimination knows only imaginary boundaries!
All forms of discrimination, whether anyone wants to believe so or not, run rampant in the Mid-south. Any time there is a law passed to prevent this ugliness in any of its forms, there was first a reason for that law to be created. The recent anti-discrimination ordinance is just one such example. So, a question of those with an interest begs to be asked and answered: What effect has this had on our religious diversity?
Discrimination has long been a reason for people to change religious practices. From the known split of Christianity from Judaism to the Reformation to the founding of COGIC and Dianic Wicca, people have long sought the freedom to believe as they choose about whom they choose. Most religions that fall under the blanket term of "New Age" would not have become so fashionable so quickly if not for the Feminist movement, for example. If no one who practices witchcraft was tired of being called a "devil-worshiper", "voodoo practicer" (no offense meant to those who do study either of these), "freak", "weirdo", etc., most especially in this grand southern reach of the country where you cannot throw a rock without breaking out some flavor of Christian church's window, then churches like the Southern Delta Church of Wicca and Summerland Grove would probably have never had the impetus they needed to fight for a charter.
Most of the New Age religions share one major message that is actively practices rather than just preached: acceptance of all. Granted, there are always people in any group who will ruin this image by simply being judgmental people but on the whole, that is one of the biggest appeals to joining a religion that didn't start out with excluding any particular group.
Discrimination is a child of ignorance and hate. Religious diversity is created by those who choose to take a stand against hate and educate ignorance. If nothing else, we can thank those who continue to breed these horrid standards for pushing more people to strive against them. If not for them, our diversity could not exist. There can be no appreciation of light with no darkness for it to eliminate.
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