Many come to the new paganisms as refugees from other traditions, hoping for a new life free from the burden of guilt.
Oh and woe, I've sorry news for you, my friend: pagans feel just as guilty as anyone else. We just feel guilty about other things.
Some things that pagans feel guilty about:
- Using “disposable” diapers.
- Not buying organic.
- Not doing what you said you would.
- Driving vehicles dependent on fossil fuels.
- Driving instead of walking.
- Throwing away the container of slimy mold from the back of the refrigerator instead of composting the mold, and washing and recycling the container.
- Breaking an oath.
- Using the cheap bottle of wine for the libation instead of the good stuff.
- Wishing on “Hypocrite Mitch” McConnell a long, unhappy life full of suffering, instead of a clean, quick death.
- Lying by omission.
- Nuclear waste.
- NIMBYism.
- Not eating healthily.
- Throwing stuff away. (Every pagan knows that you can't ready throw anything away.)
- Buying stuff you don't need.
Ah, my friends, but Pagan Guilt is guilt with a difference. Non-pagan guilt is about breaking rules.
Pagan guilt is about not living up to your own values.
Another advantage: Pagans don't feel guilty about feeling guilty.