Radical Pagans?

Every religion has its fundamental fanatics that want to revert back to the core tenets of their faith, stripping away the mainstream face they put on to gain acceptance by society. I often wonder about the radical Pagans who are around us and when they will have a large enough following to gain traction. Think about it, you have those who rail against abortion, those who rail against contraceptives, and people who detest those who happen to be Muslim (or any faith not of theirs for that matter). How long until we see those who advocate for having a zero emission, zero pollution footprint? Pagans who denounce those who live the modern urban lifestyle with buses and trains?

Is it something I expect to see anytime near soon? No, but think about these radical nature conservationists that want us to all be vegan, not ride a single gasoline running engine or people who would kill a logger if they ever saw one. Its not that farfetched in my opinion, just a coming eventuality that we moderates will have to deal with sooner or later. The elements are there, it just hasn't hardened into a brute force yet…yet.

So beyond organizations such as PETA, ALF (animal liberation front), or even radical feminists (which have nothing to do with radical ecological groups, but are a present force within some Pagan circles), what should be done to ensure the pagan name isn't dirtied even further? In my opinion, nothing can be done, to me every faith has its lows and highs, at first -in some cases- starting to be very peaceful and loving and then a sect rises to destabilize what they may see as a corrupt way of doing things. Whether it be the religion the radicals want to change or a more upfront militant approach to soceity in general there's little we can do to stop it. I feel that one way is by living as good examples of what it means to be Pagan. Letting us and others around us live in a way where we aren't trying to force our beliefs down others' throats but trying to be more understanding to 'outsiders'. To want ecological change but do it in a way that considers human wants and needs, it can't be one sided.

By doing that as well as show others how peaceful we are in both a general and secular sense will people grow fond of us and know the true face of Paganism. Once the radicals make their destined debut then people who know us will know that they're their own group, separated from the heart of Paganism in a general sense.