Teo Bishop is a nice guy, from what I can tell. I have nothing against him, personally. So, I'm really not trying to pick on him when I say this. But, he 'came out' to the Pagan community last year as a semi-famous musician/songwriter who was once a mouseketeer. Suddenly, Bishop was everywhere, speaking on behalf of Pagans. He was given a column in The Huffington Post as a voice for Paganism. Anything he wrote became something to discuss. His 'revelation' of fame became his ticket to popularity within our community.
He's not a terrible writer. He's proficient in grammar, sentence structure, and is capable of conveying his thoughts effectively. He is, however, redundant. It's the same train of thought, different track most of the time. He wants to shed the Pagan label. Who's going to be his Pagan Jesus? He thinks hard polytheism is incomplete. He's leaving the ADF. He's continually "seeking", yet coming to the same destination every time- lost and directionless.
And, if he was just another blogger trying to figure out his path, most of us would totally understand that. But, he parlayed his secular celebrity into the Pagan community and our people ate it for breakfast(and lunch; and dinner). Anything he says is now shared, commented on, discussed, and revered as if every word was a golden drop of mental ambrosia from the gods.
But, he really isn't saying anything new or wise or worthy of a news source that prides itself on its journalistic integrity. The Wild Hunt just became Pagan People Magazine. And, because Teo Bishop is mentioned, well, we just have to jump right on it and share it, right?
Selena Fox is news. She has done more for the Pagan community in one day's work than Bishop has done in his entire public or private Pagan life. She works tirelessly for our community. I could spend several blog posts on her contributions alone. She is the epitome of what all of us should strive to be if we're going to be publicly Pagan. I could name a dozen others off the top of my head who have contributed to our overall welfare and the education of the non-Pagan world. Bishop wouldn't even make my top 100.
While the argument can be made that this news article just shows we're like the rest of the world with our focus on "star-culture", I don't find other religions doing this kind of thing. I don't see Christian news organizations holding up some quasi-famous Christian fawning over a more-famous person as something to behold or even care about. I don't see Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, or any other faith doing this. Nope, just us Pagans worshiping celebrity as a god-form.
I don't believe that our obsequious behavior is something upon which we'd want to stand as a way of showing "we're just like you". I believe, as a marginalized group, we can't afford that. I've watched others who've been in those shoes. They take the more effective tack of behaving in a way that doesn't allow for scrutiny and ridicule.
They rise above in order to be seen as equal, and continue to do so effectively. It may not be fair, but it isn't fair for marginalized groups to have to fight in the first place. So, let's at least find a way to do this that doesn't feed into the stereotype that we're just a bunch of rebels with mommy-complexes who couldn't outgrow our teenage angst.
There are a lot of amazing Pagan writers out there with so much wisdom (which can only come from experience) to share. So many who could speak on our behalf, and do us justice. Teo Bishop is young and adrift and searching for a spiritual tether. There is nothing wrong with that, whatsoever.
But, let him find his way without becoming the face of our community. Certainly, let's not report on his every move and reaction as Pagan news. He needs to find himself, spiritually, have some experiences, and actually dosomething for the Pagan community before we uplift him to this status- he hasn't earned deferential treatment.
Shame on The Wild Hunt for dishing it up, and shame on us for wolfing it down and clamoring for more. We are better than this, I just know we are. If not, then I weep for our future.