The Wild Hunt - Latest Comments

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Marc Mielke — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:06:14 -0000

Having read some of the lives of the saints, I would take this as a strong argument for divorce. Most died pretty grisly deaths.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Karen A. Scofield — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:52:32 -0000

Bigotry is not a family value.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Gene Monroe — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:43:15 -0000

As the former Wiccan husband of a Catholic woman (she passed away, we were not divorced) I think I can speak to this. I understand the prevailing POV here; that Kent's wife is uncomfortable with his new-found faith - but I also wonder if Kent is not making her uncomfortable with enthusiasm for his new-found faith and his desire to have her share his faith. Kent, to me, sounds like a man who has had a revelation (atheist to believer, of whatever kind) and may be just a bit overwhelmed by concepts that are new to him. I think Prudence missed the ball here - Kent's wife needs to tell him that what works for him doesn't necessarily work for her, but that she's very glad he's found a path that *does work for him. And Kent needs to respect his wife's beliefs as strongly as she respected his non-belief. We do not proselytize, after all - we let the students find the teacher.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Editor B — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:05:19 -0000

Wicca is actually fairly compatible with a naturalistic worldview (a.k.a. atheism, but note that Yoffe used the a-word, not her correspondent) so this may not really represent a shift to a "theistic belief system" for Kent. He might relate to the God and Goddess as metaphors or archetypes. Just thought I'd point that out.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Guest — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:44:57 -0000

She tried to get him to become a Christian by taking him to church, only it didn't work out as she'd hoped. I'm not surprised -- nothing drives people away from Christianity faster than hanging out with Christians. It sure worked that way for me.

Even if their relationship is still a good one (and I don't believe being a seeker is a sign of boredom -- in a marriage or otherwise), she is going to ruin it quickly if she believes she has a right to tell him what to think and what to believe.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Marc Mielke — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:28:27 -0000

Yeah, I thought Purple Satan was kind of funny too. Insulting, but almost too funny to offend.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

kenneth — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:27:02 -0000

Has anyone seen this "Prudence" in real life? When something this ludicrous comes along, it feels like it was calculated from the start just to kick the hornets nest of comments and page hits. I think maybe we're all being "punked" by Sacha Baron Cohen again. I the photos I've seen of Yoffe, she is lanky and long-limbed like Cohen, and the facial structure is pretty close too. For all the nationalities and characters Cohen pulls off, drag would be a cinch.....

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Andrew B. Watt — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:25:50 -0000

The vast majority of Christian women married to Pagan men became saints (in the Roman martyrology, no less!) upon their deaths. I would say that Yoffe is way off base.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Greenflame — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:21:43 -0000

Thank the Gods for that.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Eagle Eye — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:13:47 -0000

Indeed. A new interest, a new friend outside the marriage....it's an old story that has little to do with Wicca or paganism.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Amy_blackthorn — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:24:31 -0000

Please feel free to email her your thoughts prudence@slate.com

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Apuleius Platonicus — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:17:42 -0000

Yoffe is having her ass handed to her in the comments section, and it is all being done in a very civil, well-reasoned, but appropriately-outraged way. Everyone should go there and join in the fun!!!

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Toni G. Engle — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:15:27 -0000

What a fucking dumbass!! Because he's discovered a spiritual path that works for him, 'Kent' has suddenly wrecked the marriage and broken with the 'faith' of their relationship. WTF?? Does this woman seriously think that Wicca is so evil that it will undermine their love? I rarely use this word in public but I feel the need: Emily Yoffe is a dumb ****!!

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Info Cvpp — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:02:41 -0000

Wow she is so far off base and so sadly careless about this woman's marriage. And talk about TOTAL ignorance! and utter arrogance. This is pathetic.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Apuleius Platonicus — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:14 -0000

Jason: "... it seems that Wicca is still beyond the pale, at least for Yoffe and the devout Christian wife."

Indeed, one wonders in particular how Emily Yoffe, who is herself Jewish (she is prominently featured in this profile of Jewish advice columnists), would respond if someone gave similar advice to a person whose spouse had embraced Judaism? Obviously that would be a career ending mistake even for a faux-journalist like Yoffe.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Crystal Hope Kendrick — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:54:20 -0000

"And is Purple Satan like Green Tara? If so will he accept an offering of dark rum and medium rare beef?" This needs to be a meme. It's brilliant!

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Zachary Kolb — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:13:26 -0000

No doubt, is there a complimentary icon of Baphomet or can we bring our own for blessing? And is Purple Satan like Green Tara? If so will he accept an offering of dark rum and medium rare beef?

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:48:13 -0000

I've written to her asking for comment, it remains to be seen if she'll actually engage with us.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

happydog1960 — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:42:12 -0000

I'd really like to hear what Emily Yoffe has to say in response to some of our questions and statements. I think it would be good to confront this head on, if she's up for it. If not, we know where we stand with her.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Thelettuceman — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:39:35 -0000

A 24 hour, drive through, goat blood dispenser?

OH MAN. WHERE CAN I GET IN ON THIS? Does it come with Purple!Satan, too?

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Shakti_Mandrake — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:33:01 -0000

I also hate that events like this create a further hurdle to coexistence and doming allegiances with the christian community. The partner was atheist which wasn't a problem.but now that the partner chooses to believe in deity its deemed wring because its not the Christian god? C'mon seriously. Its not like the his and said he was wanting a new.wife or something drastic its just a shift in values which has no impact in his ability to be a partner.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Baruch Dreamstalker — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:24:40 -0000

Few people are brought up atheist. The wife should have known that "Kent" was a spiritual seeker, and those folks are liable to return to seeking.

Here's what the wife should be pondering: Did "Kent" return to seeking because he's bored with the marriage? Or because he became secure enough in the marriage to be willing to risk spiritual experimentation? Has he gotten closer to the co-worker who introduced him to Wicca and, if so, what does that portend? (Particularly if the co-worker is female...) Worry about your marriage, dear, and let the theology sort itself out.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Fionnbeith — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:23:03 -0000

In the near "death throes" of my former marriage, my ex became a x-tian fundie (which she never displayed an inclination for in all the seven years I had known her). She knew I had always been some flavor of Pagan. It only really bothered her when we seperated and she was getting similar advice from her fundie cowgirl friends. My ex literally threw a bible at me in the bedroom while she was on the phone with one of these friends. She demanded I read specific scriptures. I mildly attempted to placate their wish and read... two pages in I had to point out a flagrant contradiction. Neither of them liked or even accepted the blatant contradiction and continued to rant. They spewed more chapters and verses to "save" me. I was done. We both knew the marriage was over before, however, this episode truly sank the boat completely. The ex has never shown that side since.

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Edward Menten — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:20:38 -0000

Bangs head on keyboard

Re: Bad Advice and Goat’s Blood

Guest — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:06:25 -0000

This Slate columnist is nearly always flippant like this and is immune to those reaching to get more sensitivity.
And generally her advice stinks, too. Some of the commenters say things more interesting and helpful. I think that's the real target when people send in their stories.