Romanian Government Recognizes Witchcraft as Legal Profession

[Thedayrecker]

Dear Romania:

Spoiler

I can't even..... Just..... Huh?

 

[Asuka Soryu]

So, even the government believes in magic?

And I thought US politicians were stupid!

I'm pretty sure it's more like, "hey, let's pretend we believe in magic so we can tax those bast--ds"

 

[JemothSkarii]

Why hasn't america thought of this yet?!


Seriously, I'm thinking about going to romania for maybe a year, "become a warlock" then head back to america to get a job JUST so I could put 'former warlock' on my job resume.

This is just...awesome.
I am so going to do that.

Just imagine how they will respond to it.

"So, uh, we noticed you put 'former warlock' on your resume... Just wondering, how will the uh, skill set, you acquired as a warlock aid you as a marketing director?

"Eye of newt and tongue of frog, this curse will make you give me a job!"

"Oh-kaaaaaaay then... We're just going to bring this up with Human Resources..."

Must...make...part of life dream...
It's just...I want to lick it, and you. Let me lick you.
*clears throat*
OT: Anyways, creepiness aside, it's an interesting idea, I actually support Romania's idea in this, even if it is somewhat frivolous.
Come on, who DOESN'T want to be a witch?

 

[lacktheknack]

Wait, they make "hardly any money".

How do they make any at all?

Oh, right, maybe they're on to something.

 

[lacktheknack]

I find this report extremely offensive to me and my fellow witches. Please remove it at once.

Why? Some of the witches mentioned are happy with the news.

And what would removing it do? Don't go all Chinese-Government-Rewriting-Reality on me now.

 

[NLS]

Now, if only they could find a solution to the romanians that come to Norway and do nothing but beg in the streets.

 

[kickyourass]

Woohoo! Look at all that ignorant, self righteous bias depicted not only in the news article by also by many of the commenters! Why surely they must know 100% exactly what witchcraft really is and isn't, despite getting well, absolutely no facts on the subject.

For the record, Wicca and various other pagan religions that often fall under the heading of witchcraft are just as valid and a lot older than all those monotheistic religions that tried to supplant and absorb them in their power grabs for more followers, demonizing those that would not convert as evil or satanists or what have you.

Warlock is not the term for a male witch. The term for a male witch is... witch. Warlock means 'traitor' and was coined by the Catholic church to use against men who didn't follow their views.

Magic is just as real as you believe it is. At least as real as praying for something. In fact, it's exactly the same thing, using a person's willpower to hopefully influence external events. Whether the trappings are an athame or a rosary, whether you do it in a church or a magic circle, you are still trying to use ritual and willpower to bring about a favorable change in your life.

Thank you very much for that, it's so nice to see intelligent people on the internet.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

Does this include being a Warlock? I've always wanted to try and imitate Ammon Jero from Neverwinter Nights 2..

On the more serious side of things: They be crazy.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Witchcraft and sorcery arn't real, true story.

But Wicca and the practice of witchcraft are.

OT: Priest, Misnisters, Rabbis, etc., are recognized as legal professions, I really don't have a problem if Wiccans want the same treatment.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

I find this report extremely offensive to me and my fellow witches. Please remove it at once.

Is it because of the fact that withcraft is a valid religion, but they're treating it as a fairy tale? Note: not sarcasm, that's just what I guessed was offensive about it, but I'm not into Wicca, so I wasn't sure.

If that is the reason, I kind of with you. I'm Christian, and I've had experiences with people treating faith as a joke, though probably not to the same extent as the crap I imagine you've had to put up with.
I know I'd be really irritated if people started saying stuff about Christian ministers not being a "real profession."
Also, I was kind of a little suprised that it isn't already more widely accepted. Paganism's been around way longer than Christianity.

Disclaimer: If I messed up on anything about your faith, I'm sorry. I was just trying to throw some support out there.

 

[Natdaprat]

I find this report extremely offensive to me and my fellow witches. Please remove it at once.

Why? Some of the witches mentioned are happy with the news.

And what would removing it do? Don't go all Chinese-Government-Rewriting-Reality on me now.

It's not the news story, or others in Romania response to it, its the way the guy writing about it is offensive. Wicca is a religion, and insensitivity and uneducated slander or making fun of it is highly offensive. Imagine if this was a report on Islam or Christianity, I bet not everyone would find it so funny.

 

[shava]

If you click through to the original Associated Press story, it's actually news reporting, none of the spew in this article. Yes folks, the dog poo is only in the mind of what apparently passes as humour writing at The Escapist, where apparently it's ok to smack the religious beliefs of some proportion of their readers - in what I thought was a game zine.

In the US, and much of the "modern" world, superstition and religion are equally tax exempt. In this sense you could say that Romania is regressive (simply desparate is probably closer to the mark).

Seriously, what editor let this hateful spew through the filters?

 

[Flauros]

Witches as in people who practice witchcraft, or just women who know how to read and swim? (jk)

 

[lacktheknack]

I find this report extremely offensive to me and my fellow witches. Please remove it at once.

Why? Some of the witches mentioned are happy with the news.

And what would removing it do? Don't go all Chinese-Government-Rewriting-Reality on me now.

It's not the news story, or others in Romania response to it, its the way the guy writing about it is offensive. Wicca is a religion, and insensitivity and uneducated slander or making fun of it is highly offensive. Imagine if this was a report on Islam or Christianity, I bet not everyone would find it so funny.

Nice blinders. These reporters and the community LOVE to take unfair digs at Christianity when given a chance (check the "Timothy Plan" fiasco or ANY thread in Religion and Politics for evidence). You simply have to learn to roll with it, I have.

Besides, do you really think it's fair that witchcraft is now considered an "occupation"? There'd be even MORE laughter if any country declared Islam or Christianity an "occupation".

 

[wammnebu]

Belief in superstition and magic is apparently common in Romanian culture.

Belief in superstition is pretty common in the whole of the civilised world. Let's not fool ourselves.

they're referring to the gypsy population, i think


well one things for sure, labor unions just got scarier

 

[samsonguy920]

Woohoo! Look at all that ignorant, self righteous bias depicted not only in the news article by also by many of the commenters! Why surely they must know 100% exactly what witchcraft really is and isn't, despite getting well, absolutely no facts on the subject.

For the record, Wicca and various other pagan religions that often fall under the heading of witchcraft are just as valid and a lot older than all those monotheistic religions that tried to supplant and absorb them in their power grabs for more followers, demonizing those that would not convert as evil or satanists or what have you.

Warlock is not the term for a male witch. The term for a male witch is... witch. Warlock means 'traitor' and was coined by the Catholic church to use against men who didn't follow their views.

Magic is just as real as you believe it is. At least as real as praying for something. In fact, it's exactly the same thing, using a person's willpower to hopefully influence external events. Whether the trappings are an athame or a rosary, whether you do it in a church or a magic circle, you are still trying to use ritual and willpower to bring about a favorable change in your life.

I was wondering when this would come in. Well said.

 

[unacomn]

Being a citizen of this mystical land, I actually agree with this ridiculous action. There are a lot of "witches" in Romania that basically scam gullible, stupid, people out of their money on a day to day basis. They charge thousands of untaxed euros for nothing. They're like televangelists, but lower tech. Some of them have palaces, no joke, palaces, mansions with towers, and they pay no taxes. Also don't call what these "witches" are doing Wicca, it's a scam, plain and simple. I doubt there are any practitioners of Wicca in my country.

Meanwhile, I earned minimum wage until taxes increased and now I earn less.

Wat can I say, I live in a ridiculous country of extreme poverty and extreme wealth, ruled by morons and undercover foreign agents. The best thing to happen here in recent history was the Top Gear crew shooting an episode on what they called "The greatest road... in the world". It's also the only road without potholes in the country.

 

[Infernai]

SOOO moving there as a Monster Hunter: Because hey, if they accept witches then Monster hunter won't be far behind.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Well there is certainly lulz to be had here.