Veteran's Affairs deny Wiccan burial

Neo · 07-05-2006, 04:07 PM

I heard a story on the radio today that the Veteran's Affairs Dept refuses to give a military burial to a soldier killed in action because he wanted a wiccan symbol (a five-sided star within a circle) inscribed on his tombstone. The family has come forward saying they practice a religion of nature and it has nothing to do with devil worshipping. The government however refuses to budge. It should be noted that Veteran's Affairs allows some 40 other symbols representing several different religions.

Typhoid · 07-05-2006, 04:12 PM

Government refuses to budge?

Seperation of church and state?

What?

Teuthida · 07-06-2006, 10:49 AM

I hate the negative connotation often Wicca gets. I forget where exactly it was but this one Wiccan police officier started an organization to help protect the rights of Wiccans and Pagans in the police force around the country after receiving unfair treament himself. And even if someone is a devil worshipper why should it matter? The soldier fought just like everyone else. Freedom of religion my ass.

KillerGremlin · 07-09-2006, 06:19 PM

Oh, I'm all for freedom or religion and I think the family of the veteran should be pissed, but the Wiccan stuff is kinda whacky.

Teuthida · 07-09-2006, 07:06 PM

It's a earth based religion. Listened to a number of podcasts on it so by no mean's an expert but seems nice.

Typhoid · 07-09-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

Oh, I'm all for freedom or religion and I think the family of the veteran should be pissed, but the Wiccan stuff is kinda whacky.

But that shouldnt matter, it's his religion.

Why be accepting of all of them, except a select few?

Jonbo298 · 07-09-2006, 07:29 PM

Its a fricken SYMBOL. Its not like there are things preaching about X thing on it.

Its not going to ruin anyone's life if its on the tombstone.

Teuthida · 07-09-2006, 07:41 PM

Most people when they think of a pentangle think Satanist (though again that shouldn't matter since still another religion) which is actually inverted downwards.

Besides:

Quote:

According to Heather Child's Christian Symbols, Ancient and Modern[2], the pentagram is a symbol of the five senses. Also, when the letters S, A, L, V, and S are inscribed in the points, the pentagram is a symbol of health (Latin salūs).

The pentagram appears on the shield of Sir Gawain in the 14th Century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In the poem the five lines of the star are given multiple meanings: they represent the five senses, five fingers, the five wounds of Christ, the five joys that Mary had of Jesus (the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Resurrection, the Ascension and the Assumption), and the five virtues of knighthood which Gawain hopes to embody: frankness, fellowship, purity, courtesy and compassion.

Professor S · 07-10-2006, 08:12 AM

I don't agree with the refusal to allow the symbol, but I understand why the government wouldn't allow it. Wiccan or not, a pentagram within a circle is symbolic of devil worship in many people's eyes, and we are in a war with people who believe we are devil worshippers. A picture of that gets out into the muslim media and we have a **** storm on our hands. That said, his wishes should have been honored in some way like putting the symbol inside the casket. He died for his beliefs and the country that gives him the freedom to follow them, and he should be allowed to be buried with those beliefs.

And Typhoid, separation of church and state is a myth. The US constitution only bars the creation of a formal national religion. This was in reaction to the founding father's rejection of the Church of England, or state mandated religion in general. There is no US law or regulation banning the inclusion of religion in government sponsored events.

Quote:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The mistake is understandable though, as separation powers were first thought of as (or manipulated into) law because of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. He believed in separation, but there was no such law ever written in the constitution or amended to it.

KillerGremlin · 07-10-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

But that shouldnt matter, it's his religion.

Why be accepting of all of them, except a select few?

I said he was right. Hell, if he wants a swastika on his tombstone that's fine by me. But that's whacky too.

"All those old senators going:
"The confederate flag is just the symbol of states' rights."
Yeah, and the swastika is just a good luck charm."

I'm an avid supporter of freedom of speech. I have yet to meet a smart wikkan.

Although, the government would never have it. It's easier to make one family angry instead of making 50 or 60.