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 'We can't unleash you on 8 000 men'
    December 05 2008 at 08:53AM Get IOL on your
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By Natasha Joseph

A Pagan who claims she was unfairly dismissed after a South African Air Force (SAAF) official told her he didn't want to "unleash" her on troops at the Air Force Base in Ysterplaat, will face her former employers in the Bellville Equality Court on Thursday.

Donna Vos, also known as Arch Priestess Donna Darkwolf Vos, is one of the most prominent and well-known pagans in South Africa.

She holds a biblical diploma and a masters of theology, both of which helped to earn her a job as a reserve chaplain with the SAAF in 2003.

But she claims her qualifications were disregarded by a high-ranking official once he found out about her religious beliefs.
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"I had always wanted to be a padre. I applied (for the SAAF job), got it and worked for two weeks. My focus was to be on HIV and Aids, the problem of Satanism among the youth, and drugs and sex among the youth," Vos said.

She was due to undergo training in military routines in Pretoria, but was first called to a meeting with the official, a colonel. "I was told the meeting with this guy was a formality."

He was initially impressed by her qualifications, Vos said. But the conversation soured when she told him she was a pagan.

"He was quite taken aback...I gave him a copy of my book (a guide to paganism in a South African context) and he said, 'We can't unleash you on 8 000 men'."

The colonel stopped their interview, Vos said, and promised to contact her within two weeks. But instead of phoning her, she said he sent her an e-mail in which he described paganism as "a cult".

Although he later apologised for his statement, Vos said, she had already instituted legal action against him and the SAAF.

In 2006, she "gave up" on ever working for the SAAF, but decided to take the matter up with the Equality Court.

Vos said there was currently no provision made for "minority" religions within the SAAF.

She said she knew of three pagans serving in the Air Force, all of whom were "too scared to speak out" about their religious beliefs for fear of persecution.

"In South Africa there could be anywhere between 10 000 and 50 000 pagans...it's hard to say. I'm not sure how many pagans there are in the Air Force. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is religiously discriminating," Vos said.

She said she hoped the Equality Court would compel the SAAF and the SANDF to "lose their unconstitutional religious policies".

An official at the Bellville Equality Court confirmed that the matter between Vos and the SAAF was set down to be heard today. "The incident concerning Ms Donna Vos occurred in 2003. She took the matter to the Equality Court only in 2006; thereafter the Department of Defence filed its answering affidavit in 2006.

"Ms Vos then left the matter dormant until 2008," the court official said.

The Department of Defence said in response to questions from the Cape Times: "The current position is a hearing on whether the Equity Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter.

"The issues relating to the potential outcome of the case and the defence are, respectively, speculative and sub judice."

natasha.joseph@inl.co.za



    • This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Times on December 05, 2008
Showing page 1 of 2 comment pages, 20 total comments
50 Weeks ago Zanemvula wrote :
I fail to understand the problem. I love Christianity because it is the biggest, wealthiest living pagan religion we still have today. I’m a Christian because I love paganism. Christian rituals such as drinking the blood of Christ in holy communion and partaking of the flesh of Christ are wonderful, meaningful and honourable pagan rituals from very long ago. The effect of the Holy Ghost as a dove is pagan. Baptising people with water is pagan. Associating rebirth with the cleansing water is pagan. The incense which the more pagan Roman Catholic church uses is pagan. It is wonderful stuff to work with, I do it almost every day, and I have never thought of myself as anti-pagan because I am a Christian. Who ever thought of doing this terrible thing - not calling Christianity paganism? I suddenly feel shocked and disappointed. If Christianity is not paganism, my life’s rituals and beliefs will tumble and destroy me psychologically. Because I believe in all of these symbols and rituals and do them daily under the guidance of Christ, our High Priest. I certainly hope the man from the SAAF sees the errors of his thinking and comes back to Christ. It is the only true pagan religion alive – and I am proud of it.
50 Weeks ago Agnostic wrote :
All right, if one must be pedantic... Theology is the study of gods, not necessarily the study of a monotheistic one, never mind the fact that Christianity is only one of three major monotheistic religions. So how can it be "proper" to select the Christian god as the only one worthy of study? And how typically paternal to claim that Christianity "allows" freedoms, implying that it is the only source of freedom. Buddhism is far more tolerant than Christianity. But then, monotheistic religions are paternal, aren't they?
50 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
I agree with the second last guy/gal, how can you want to be a chaplain if you dont believe in God.... and yes theology is the study of Christianity!
50 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
It's your god... they're your rules... *You* go to hell!
50 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
Pagen - A person who does not acknowledge your God. Why would she want to apply for the position of Chaplain in the first place?
50 Weeks ago Lifelong christian wrote :
What most interesting here is my fellow Christians that are the first to jump on the " every-other-religion-other than-mine-is-a-cult" question to my Christian brothers and sisters... if u truly no your bible and the history of our religion you would know about persecution... The Israelites... Jesus... the founders of the church...yet you are now the first to condemn this woman and her beliefs... come Sunday you will be upfront in church .... for the world to see... Your religion should make you a better person and therefore save your soul... it should not be used as a pedestal to condemn other people
50 Weeks ago pedalingparson wrote :
Agonostic does not know what theology is--it is not the study of religions it is the study of God--theos= God and logos=study of. Proper theology is the study of the Christian God. As far as being small minded and intolerant, those who make those claims about Christianity are usually the most intolerant of the lot. If it weren't for Christianity you all would not enjoy the freedoms you do. Try practicing paganism in an Islamic nation and see what happens!
50 Weeks ago youpeoplearedengerousbigots wrote :
Have you lot ever heard of "Google" or Books?? obviously NOT!.. IF you did READ or GOOGLE things that you know nothing about you would most certainly know the difference between the worlds religions/followings/cults!.. )0(
50 Weeks ago Matt wrote :
Christians are small minded. We were all made by aliens anyway. Krugerkiwi should live in a small town and marry a sibling. Ain't that the truth?
50 Weeks ago Agnostic wrote :
Do any of you commentators even understand what theology is? It's a study of RELIGION, not CHRISTIANITY! While I'm agnostic, I am at least aware that Paganism predates Christianity and is as valid a religion as the latter.

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