The political and social landscape in the United States of America has become increasingly less friendly and accepting to those who hold differing religious views. In some places the religious preference is becoming codified into law and even incorporated into the educational system. We see this happening and recognize the potential harm to the children and families in our community. We oppose these laws and the institutionalization of religious bias. The Asatru Community Inc. is proud to partner with the Troth, Awaken the North, and The Church of All Worlds in the following statement.
Statement of our shared commitment to inclusivity and tolerance for all religions
We come together today to declare our continued commitment to creating a world that welcomes all and that allows us to be our whole selves.
We come together as Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and Heathens today to share this message with the world.
Our shared history teaches us the bedrock value of religious liberty.
Without religious liberty and tolerance, we would not have the ability to do what we do. As organizations, we could not serve the people we serve and as individuals we could not worship as we worship. It is this bedrock of religious liberty that is the right of every human being. It is the freedom to be who we are without fear.
All children deserve an education that includes them, regardless of faith.
The promise of the United States Public Education system is one of the most noble promises we have made as a society. In Public Education, we participate in a shared project to help raise each others’ children. We make this promise to one another irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender identity or religion. We not only promise to give children an education, but in doing so, we also promise a place where all our children belong.
No child should grow up feeling like their family’s religion makes them an outsider: unable to participate fully in society without hiding who they really are.
All students should feel safe and welcome in our public schools. This is the place we have made together: a place where all our children belong. Together, we are committed to promote an environment of curiosity, tolerance and inclusivity to provide an equal education to all students, regardless of faith.
As Pagans, we must do all we can to see that our public schools become reflections of the society in which we want to live.
All of us, whether we have children or not, are responsible for fulfilling this promise. Through whatever means we have, we as Pagans must do all we can to promote the values of equity, tolerance and inclusion. These values give us the possibility of living our lives to the fullest: without fear and safe in the knowledge that they belong just as much as anyone else.
