The tale is about a couple called on by Christians, who are attempting to "save their souls." Are there any among us who haven't had this experience? I certainly have, many times, and I wish I had had this handy little booklet to give away then!
The main message behind the booklet is for Christian proselytizers to leave pagans alone, and in support of its message the booklet quotes the Bible. It talks about Genesis 1:27, where the Bible addresses the creation of people, prior to discussing the Garden of Eden. The brochure points out that Yahweh is not mentioned as the creator of these first people, then asserts how, in Genesis 2:7, Yahweh later creates His man and woman and sets them up housekeeping in the Garden of Eden.
The booklet posits that we as pagans are descended not from the people of Yahweh, but from the "other" people, created before Adam and Eve, and therefore have no original sin and don't need to be "saved." It is an interesting take I had not previously thought of, but it makes perfect sense.
The pamphlet in passing elucidates how Yahweh lied to Adam and Eve about what would happen should they eat the forbidden fruit, and how the serpent was really the good guy. Further, it notes the word "Elohim," used repeatedly in the Bible when speaking about God, is a Hebrew word that is a plural for male and female, and as such means gods, not God.
"The Other People" is a very well-written, well-illustrated and timely piece of information. It looks exactly like the religious tracts of the Christians and others, left on my car all the time. If you left the booklet in phone booths or gave it away on the street, people wouldn't know the difference till they got into reading it - not that we'd recruit or anything.
There is only one small section I take issue with; the booklet takes a slightly anti-Semitic tone when it speaks about the people of Yahweh being recognizable by their obsessive body taboos and shame at being naked. I don't know about those up at the ATC, but I've met some Jewish people who were positively wild and without shame or modesty. So it goes, I guess, when you generalize.
I recommend that all pagans have these booklets available (they come in boxes of 100) to give to relatives, friends, co-workers or whoever does not understand your pagan path. It's especially good for when the Christians come knocking, or when your Catholic aunt calls you a devil worshipper! I think the booklet presents the information in an informative and nonthreatening way. It's easy to follow and understand and is also entertaining, with pictures of a pagan couple that could be any of us. The demeanor of the pagans is respectable throughout, and I am happily handing out this booklet to any and all who question what I am.
I am still wondering who those pagan characters were modeled after, though.
"The Other People" is available from the publisher: Pathfinder Press, P.O. Box 57, Index, WA 98256, telephone (360) 793-1945.
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