“Is this an April fools prank!?

If so, it really isn't funny.

If not, well i remain extremely disappointed to read such flagrant religious intolerance and propaganda. I was pagan and a witch as a child, a teenager and now in my 30's a mother and a manager in the NHS still devoted to the Old Gods. How dare people patronise and mock our faith and our right to worship?

I find it insulting that Christians claim any right or authority over what were originally sites devoted to the love of the Old Gods. There is more evidence regarding the dark, murderous, oppressive and cruel history of Christianity than of any other faith. If we really want to talk about sinister, people in glass houses, really shouldn't throw stones!”

“There is absolutely nothing *sinister* in the pictures that were presented with this article. As has been stated by other comments, almost all natural sacred sites began as Pagan sacred places long before they were misappropriated by Christian invaders. Though we may not be happy with it, most Pagans do try to live at peace with those of other faiths. Why can't Christians do the same? Maybe someone's Deity suggested the *well dressing,* etc. It really shouldn't anger anyone else. If there were *sinister* things left there, signs of a truly *malevolent* being, that has very little to do with spirituality period, and more to do with wrong thinking, boorish individuals looking for selfish gain, and energy shortcuts. Those people happen in all stripes of religion, not just one.
Pardon me, but the pictures accompanying the article showed lovely ephemeral decoration, that would return to the nature from whence it came. People have been doing that forever.”

“It is a little rich for members of the christian community to be criticising the occult.
Any religion or belief based on unprovable scriptures or methods should be given equal treatment.”

“Weren`t most Christian festivals and sites originally Pagan ones which have been taken over by the Church. For example the Mid-Winter Feast became Christmas, or ancient Yew tree sites were where churches were built?”

“In any case - can you blame a gang of teenagers for going near a place which can miraculously cure skin conditions? ;-)”

“God created Nature. The pentagram occurs throughout nature like the Fibonnaci series and the Golden Ratio. It even occurs in astronomy, where it is the path traced by joining up the points of major occlusion of the Sun by the planet Venus.

If a Christian shies away from the Pentagram, they are rejecting Nature - which God made. Pagans however are happy to adopt it - precisely because it is a natural symbol.”

“Hmmm... Sticks and twigs, arranged in what appears to be a runic "r" and the word "fear". Pentagrams and "other witchcraft emblems" found near the well. (funny how the pentagram is a "witchcraft emblem" - yet is still to be found on Christian churches) Flowers at the entrance to the underground spring -- oh my, now that really IS sinister! Someone had better call in the exorcist, we don't want THOSE universal signs of Peace there......

The well has long been associated with Paganism, and was a Pagan sacred site long before Christianity took it over. But because it was named for a Christian saint, it is somehow ONLY a Christian site....

The un-named churchman (because he really doesn't want to be "on record" as having said this) claims that the "teenagers" (he doesn't actually know who they are, he just assumes that they're "teenagers") "do not understand what they could be unleashing". Well, I suppose he could be right, since we all know that the Christian God, even though it allows innocent children to be hacked to pieces in its Name, is such a loving and Compassionate God -- and all the Pagan gods and goddesses are just a bunch of bloodthirsty devils. Yes, it would be best to have those "teenagers" worship the Christian God who allows innocent children to be hacked to pieces in its Name.

Apart from the deliberate use of sticks and twigs to spell out words and such, I see nothing at all dangerous or sinister about this. It is certainly far less dangerous than any Christian priest telling his congregation that they will burn in Hell if they don't root out, using deadly violence if necessary, the "evil" people who just happen to be different than their neighbors.

--nasionnaich”

“oh yeah i forgot the fluffy bunnykins !”

“Has anyone noticed the date of this article - April Fools Day? I thought not. I have never read such tripe!”

“i cant believe what people find to moan about !
if its not this then its the beautifull wild boar,or the sheep & lambs,the stunning deer (including the white deer) why cant people just be thankfull for what we have !”