or
WHY PAGANS DON'T HAVE TO COME OUT,
JUST YET

by Shakudion

In this essay I will discuss the problems neo-pagans face in our
"Christian-based society" about being public with their faith and in
the creation of a free space wherein one is safe to practice their
faith. In doing so, I will use the principle of comparative religion
and show what modern pagans can learn from the experience of
Ismailism. Ismailism, considered by the dominant Sunni Muslims as an
Islamic heresy, was in a similar position concerning their society.
However, Ismailism found a way to survive and for a while to prosper
(until it's center was destroyed by the Mongols) , a story from which
we post-modern pagans can learn.

The Ismaili's used the doctrine of taqiyya, concealment, as a means of
survival in a hostile religious environment. Passive martyrdom is rare
in Islam; if one is attacked then one should defend oneself and strike
back if possible. However, senseless dying doesn't do anyone any good.
Taqiyya allows one to take on the outward appearance of orthodoxy
while remaining faithful to one's true beliefs. This meant taking on
the chains of the Law (shariah) through performing orthodox religious
acts. To Islamic orthodoxy this was usually enough as it was your
actions and not mere belief which made one a Moslem. And while taking
on the outward appearance of orthodoxy, Ismaili missionaries spread
their doctrines throughout the Islamic world. And when they could
safely come out of concealment they did as when they founded the
Fatimid Imamate in Eygpt during the 10th century.

Modern pagans can also choose to conceal their true faith, if to come
out would cause senseless martyrdom (loss of family, job, life, etc.).
Remember, the gods and goddesses call you to life and not to
self-destruction. So if you cannot come out safely, then don't! And
you should not feel guilty about it either. If you can come out safely
do so, but do not look down upon or feel you are more pagan than those
who cannot come out safely.

Concealment is not personal oppression; it does not mean you are not
free. The pagan closet is the first free space one creates. Within it
neither church nor state has any real power. These powers have no way
of knowing your existence much less of oppressing you (unless you let
them). The very act of concealment shows that you have more power than
they do over your own life. Your secret practice of paganism makes a
mockery of all means of power and control.

This leads us to another point of Ismailism: the expansion of free
space through evangelicalism (paganism is also good news!). The
freedom of an individual is always a fragile freedom easily crushed if
exposed. By linking up with others one can use the strength of
solidarity to defend each other against the powers. Ismaili
missionaries would travel the Islamic world looking for those who were
capable of experiencing gnosis (enlightenment) linking them up into a
world-wide free space. And wherever they became significantly
numerous, they would rise in socio-religious rebellion and come out
openly (abandoning Islamic religious practice).

One of the most inspiring religious event in history was the Feast of
the Great Resurrection. The Ismaili's had established a mini-state
centered around the fortress of Alamut in northern Iran about 1074 AD.
This fortress served as a free space for Ismailism and was a center of
learning and science. Within its bounds Islamic law was not obeyed.
This went on for about three generations till Hasan II came to be
religious leader of the community. Then on the 17th of Ramadon (the
month of fasting) Imam Hasan II called the community together from its
dispersion and at mid-day broke the fast with the drinking of wine
(forbidden in Islam on earth, but allowed in heaven). He proclaimed
the Great Resurrection and ended the concealment. "The Chains of the
Law had been Broken." By doing so he extended the free space to the
whole community thereby universalizing the enlightenment experience.
By the drinking of wine and the breaking of the fast, he declared this
world is already Paradise once one awakens to it in gnosis. The
ressurection of the dead was in fact a religious awakening to unity
with the One through the Imam. To awaken is to cast off the religious
law in trust and act in freedom.

Of course, this freedom did not last and within a few years Hasan II
was murdered and after a few generations Alamut was destroyed by the
Mongol armies of the Khan. But the story is still inspiring in how the
Ismaili's adapted themselves to a hostile environment and pagans can
learn much from its history. What is important immediately is to
create and to expand our personal freedom through the creation of free
spaces (which may be temporary and mobile) where the authority of
church and state no longer have any hold. The basis of this freedom is
the individual who has the freedom and creativity to act (either
openly or in concealment). And remember:

THE CHAINS OF THE LAW HAVE BEEN BROKEN
THIS WORLD IS ALEADY PARADISE
IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?


This essay is based upon the writings of Peter Lamborn Wilson (aka
Hakim Bey) a proponent of Islamic heresy in the West. I recommentd
reading: Sacred Drift: essays on the margins of Islam; Scandal: essays
in Isalmic heresy; and T.A.Z.: the temporary autonomous zone,
ontological anarchy, & poetic terrorism