SOME would call it the Devil's work. Two ancient religions have locked horns in a bizarre "freedom of speech" row that is echoing around the corridors of one of Scotland's oldest academic institutions.
The University of Edinburgh has granted permission to the Pagan Society to hold its annual conference - involving talks on witchcraft, pagan weddings and tribal dancing - on campus next month. Druids, heathens, shamans and witches are expected to attend what is a major event in the pagan calendar.
But the move has enraged the Christian Union, which accuses the university of double standards after banning one of its events on the "dangers" of homosexuality.
Matthew Tindale, an Edinburgh-based Christian Union staff worker, claimed some faiths and beliefs appeared to be more equal than others on campus.
"This seems to be a clear case of discrimination," he said. "It's okay for other religions, such as the pagans, to have their say at the university, but there appears to be a reluctance to allow Christians to do the same. All we are asking for is the tolerance that is afforded to other faiths and organisations."
The Union has won strong backing from the Catholic Church in Scotland, whose spokesman, Simon Dames, felt that allowing the pagan festival to go ahead while barring the Union meeting was an example of "Christianphobia".
"This appears to be a clear case of double standards," he said. "The principles of a pluralistic democracy revolve around an acceptance of competing ideas and universities should be enshrining this principle. Anti-racism groups would never be asked to put up posters saying there are alternative views."
The row has its roots in last year's decision by university officials to ban the Christian Union from using campus premises to run a course which claimed that gay sex was morally wrong.
The course was deemed to be in breach of university anti-discrimination guidelines although a compromise measure was later offered to allow the course to take place if posters offering differing views were prominently displayed. Much to the displeasure of some campus Christians and the Catholic Church, no such conditions will be attached to the pagan gathering.
But the pagans point out that, unlike the Christian Union, their followers fully support the university's equality policies and condemn homophobic attitudes as "deplorable".
John Macintyre, presiding officer of the Pagan Federation Scotland, stressed that his faith was based on tolerance and backed the university for opposing "hurtful" discriminatory behaviour. "Pagans, as a rule, don't believe that sexist or homophobic views are acceptable and discrimination on that basis is deplorable," he said.
The conference will feature a range of talks, including Magic and Witchcraft in the 21st Century, Pagan Parenting, Pagan Marriage and Pagan Symbolism and Practice. Taking place at the Edinburgh University Students' Association premises, it will also feature a talk on Ancient Greek magic, a tribal dance workshop and a performance by the Glasgow Labyrinth Theatre Company as well as poetry from "Notorious Mad Mick" and rituals by the Akasha Group.
Macintyre said: "It will be an opportunity for people to listen to talks on various aspects of modern paganism and socialise with like-minded people in a relaxed, tolerant atmosphere.
"Most people now recognise that the old stereotypes about witches and witchcraft are way off the mark and there is nothing remotely sinister about it."
The pagans are not the only organisation to take issue with the Union over its course, which deals with the Bible's attitude to sex and relationships. It has also been condemned by the Edinburgh University Student Association and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Scotland.
Tim Goodwin, EUSA president and himself a Christian, said: "We are strictly opposed to the course. It is essentially homophobic and we have a policy that condemns the course itself."
A University of Edinburgh spokesman said: "The University's offer of accommodation - with certain conditions - stands.
We strongly defend the right to free speech and freedom of conscience."
MARC HORNE (mhorne@scotlandonsunday.com)
Attached files
All hell breaks out
All hell breaks out
An ye harm none, do what ye will....
All hell breaks out
I've been engaged in a few debates with people that held freedom of speech as a defense for discrimination. They have the right to say it but not to expect approval.
It will be interesting to see how they respond to the Christian petition.
Technically, I think they should have the right to hold a seminar that is anti-homosexual but the university or venue has the right to openly state their own position on the issue. People that disapprove have the right of peaceful protest. But I do think that the people holding the seminar should be responsible for any extra security personnel that are required to maintain the peace.
Noam Chomsky wrote an intro for a book that denies the holocaust. He agreed to write it not because he had any ounce of respect for the person who wrote the book but because he holds the right to free speech so highly. We don't have to agree with them but we do have the right to speak our minds in response.
It will be interesting to see how they respond to the Christian petition.
Technically, I think they should have the right to hold a seminar that is anti-homosexual but the university or venue has the right to openly state their own position on the issue. People that disapprove have the right of peaceful protest. But I do think that the people holding the seminar should be responsible for any extra security personnel that are required to maintain the peace.
Noam Chomsky wrote an intro for a book that denies the holocaust. He agreed to write it not because he had any ounce of respect for the person who wrote the book but because he holds the right to free speech so highly. We don't have to agree with them but we do have the right to speak our minds in response.