Paganism and Online Education

Perhaps the greatest boon and greatest curse of contemporary Neo-Paganism is the Internet. (By Neo-Paganism I mean any religion created within the last two centuries that either holds reverence for the Earth to be central to its theology or that is polytheistic. Some examples of Neo-Pagan religions are Wicca, Druidry, Goddess-centered Spirituality, Reconstructionism and Pantheism.) Any new seeker can find information on virtually any Pagan topic with a simple Internet search. Pagan e-mail lists abound, and many Pagan bloggers are eager to expound upon their various faiths. There are even on-line courses for some Pagan religions.

This wealth of on-line information means that anyone with access to a public library computer can correspond with Pagans on the other side of the world, can access Pagan prayers for any situation in a matter of seconds, can find out about local rituals, and can even read translations of medieval Irish texts. The Internet facilitates the growth of Pagan organizations and the opportunity for Pagans to meet in person. Those who would otherwise be isolated have the opportunity to take Wicca 101 courses on-line.

The Internet is also a boon to Pagan authors and musicians. Not only can they sell their works on their own websites, but other sites that recommend them can link directly to an on-line merchant that sells those books or CDs. Further, advertisers on Pagan sites can market appropriate products to the readership.
While there are many benefits that the Internet has brought to Paganism, the way we approach the medium can create other problems. No one vets the Internet. Anyone can say anything.

Don't get me wrong. The free exchange of ideas ultimately helps us all. However, I've noticed some disturbing trends in how this information is used.
Occasionally readers forget to question what they read and assume that if it's written it must be true. Unfortunately, that's not the case on all Pagan sites. If the Internet is the primary source of information for someone who doesn't think critically about what is written, that person could end up with a rather odd view of Paganism.