The National UK Census is taken every ten years, and has been since the 19th Century. The census form asks a series of questions about who lives in your home, what type of nationality these people are, and then moves on to discuss some more personal aspects, such as a religious affiliation. Some organisations, such as the Druid Network and such are promoting the concept of the Pagan Dash campaign.
The Pagan Dash campaign is trying to get pagans to register their religion, in the “Religion – Other” section, and to put one of their pre-defined standard categories on the census form in order to demonstrate the depth and breadth of the pagan movement. The most appropriate category for me would be “Pagan – Druid“.
This is a very admirable cause and if you are the kind of pagan who believes in strengthening the pagan community then this would be a good way to add your weight to that campaign and who knows, perhaps something positive may come out of it. Which brings me on to why I will not be adding my category into that census form. There are several reasons for this, and I want to spend a short while explaining them, because I feel it also defines my concept of a Hedge Druid.
Hedge Druid – in our out?
Firstly, I’m not getting peeved because there isn’t a standard category called “Pagan – Hedge Druid”, OK? Even if there was, or even if I wanted to put that, I wouldn’t. It’s not that I’m not in favour of those people who like to be pagan and proud. I admire those people, I’m just not one of them, and I don’t want to be one of them for this issue. It’s not that I don’t support issues, either. I do. I tackle environmental issues in my local area directly, indirectly and in any other way that will achieve a positive result.
So, why won’t I be putting “Hedge Druid” on the census? Because it makes no difference to anything. It’s not as though the Government is in any way going to change the way they form their policies if I do that. I will not be achieving anything by expressing this, or that I will be making a stronger pagan society by doing it. What I would prefer to do is to feel proud to be a hedge druid, and to continue to live the values that such a lifestyle demands of me every day in my locality. If anyone asks me, I ‘m a hedge druid. If the Government ask me then I wonder why they want to know.
There is a sense in which this desire to be recognised as a religion, or as a movement, a grouping, a cult, a social minority, a whatever – this desire for recognition makes us do things that distract us from the real purpose of being pagan, which is to serve and follow the course of Nature. Nothing will distract me from that, unless it pays my bills! I am not asking for nor seeking any form of external recognition for that fact. I just AM a hedge druid. I know it, and that’s all that matters.
Validate yourself, pagan!
Gwas.
My census form arrived today. I hear a rumour that this may be the last census because of the amount of money it costs to run. Does that mean that the Government now has enough information about us from other sources, and frankly religious affiliation is the least of their interest?
Gwas.
If you are following my website, you might know there is a census in Poland this year as well. However the polish statistical office has decided not to make it easier for non-affiliated pagans to provide an answer to the ‘faith’ question… in fact according to the official statement of the Central Statistical Office – if you are not a member of any registered church (of which there are three pagan-related organizations, none of the druidic), you are … well, you can’t really answer the ‘faith’ question.
It’s sad. And as much as I agree with your point of not needing external recognition, I find it extremely discouraging to not even have an opportunity to voice my affiliation to Druidry.
To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t probably use this opportunity, but there are others who would and it’s their right to do it. So yes, I’ll be fighting this fight for them – taking part in the PFI Poland operation to make CSO consider religious minorities fairly. My community service… so to speak 😉
I understand your desire to fight the cause for those who want the right, but why not let those who would exercise that right do the fighting?
I refer the honourable gentleman to his own comment about the symbolism of the fox:
That was cheeky, wasn’t it? Sorry. No offense meant 😉
Non taken 😀
Maybe it is and I would probably agree to that. But they just need me and I’m helping in a way, that utilizes my abilities. So it’s basically a creative work that I feel good at and it also helps others. Simple and enjoyable. For now. My fate is not sealed so don’t hold me to it. There is that Fox in there somewhere.
“Personally” from the perspective of an Edge Wizard (it being my own terminology, I take the option of not belonging to any affiliation…not even the “Other…” option.
Nuff Said, Kal