Option One
1. The practice of Witchcraft in Modern Times
There is a widely misunderstood form of religion being practiced in the United States today. This form of religion is Paganism. Paganism refers to any religion that is not an Abrahamic religion (Christianity, Jewish, etc.). Pagans can either choose to practice no religion, or the religion of their choice. In Canada, people have the right to religious freedom without persecution; therefore Paganism is a government accepted practice. Paganism is not only practiced throughout North America, but it is also practiced worldwide in places such as Europe and Asia. Many people do not realize that common religions such as Buddhism and Hindu are forms of Paganism. Another face not commonly known is that many Pagan practices are closely linked with Christian celebrations. Halloween is a Pagan holiday that many Christians take part in. Halloween is the day when some Pagans celebrate their Lord of the Dead. This day is filled with worship and prayer for many Pagan people. Easter is another holiday closely linked with Pagan practices. The painting of Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny come from Pagan beliefs that have been incorporated into a Christian holiday. Paganism is not widely accepted by the general population because of its association with witchcraft. The majority of Pagans do not practice witchcraft and would rather be called “priest” or “priestess” instead of “witch” or “warlock”. Pagans believe that their association with witchcraft is flawed because of the negativity toward the subject, and its assumption of being associated with the devil and Satanism. Pagans do not worship the devil, but worship nature, equinoxes, solstices, and harvests. Pagans believe in the balance of the earth between elements such as: humans, the environment, and animals. In other words, witches never really did exist and do not exist in our world today, they only exist if people with to put those labels on individuals or certain groups. Paganism, and all its religions, are greatly misinterpreted and often judged upon by members of today’s society.
Sources Used:
http://altreligion.about.com/cs/alchemy/a/mpreviss.htm
http://www.geocites.com/nf_pagan_society/faq.html
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=297.114.16.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism
http://www.answers.com/topic/neopaganism
http://www.wcg.org/lit/church/holidays/pagans.htm
http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/mwcraft.html
2. McCarthyism
In a span stretching approximately ten years, Senator Joseph McCarthy led a series of communist trials that left thousands of people blacklisted. These people were left without jobs, without employment, or even in jail. This movement of severe anti-communist raids based on suspicion, was called McCarthyism. At the time that McCarthyism first began, the United States was just coming out of World War II. The nation was in post-war depression: jobs were scarce, people were poor and they felt that their needs were not being heard. These lower income families pressured to form labor unions to make sure that they were being paid fair wages and had equal opportunity. As the labor unions were growing, Senator McCarthy had a growing suspicion that Russia, which was already a Communist country, was using spies to infiltrate the structure of the United States government through the newly formed labor unions. McCarthy was deeply worried that there was a threat of the United States becoming a communist country. By forming committees, such as the House of Un-American Activities Committee, McCarthy was able to attempt to stop the “communist” behavior of his fellow Americans, and influence others to follow his way of thinking. McCarthyism affected many groups such as: suspected homosexuals, seamen, those working in universities, schools , and the entertainment industry. Those in the entertainment industry were hit the hardest by McCarthyism, and were the most beneficial for M
Sources Used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Miller
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.uk/US/USAhollywood10.htm.
3. Other Religious Groups
During the time of Puritans
