The greatest lesson I have learned as a writer is to pay the most attention to those who disagree with you - often times they’ll teach you something new. Strangely, I embrace those who teach me as my friends and after I wrote how ridiculous it was for Vanderbilt to put Pagan/Wiccan holidays on the university calendar, I was immediately deluged with many emails.

So first I need to apologize. I have never slighted anyone for their religious views and in Wednesday's column I did so badly. Because of my ignorance of the subject, I was under the impression Pagans and Wiccans were more of a cult and I am genuinely sorry that I offended some very kind and nice worshippers.

I also need to apologize for my own misconceptions. When I was a child I was often told to “quit acting like a pagan” and it was always when I was doing something I shouldn’t. (I was called a “heathen” too.) I admitted in my earlier piece I know nothing about Pagans and Wiccans, as well as witches, so I appreciate the kind emails that revealed why some Americans embrace this type of religion.

I have always guarded my personal emails, but, without further ado, allow me to share some excerpts so that others might see how hurtful words and misguided information can lead a writer to “outrun his coverage.”

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Sue from Louisiana writes, “I am a mother of three, and a grandmother twice over. I am also - in my private life - a Wiccan priestess. I worship the Goddess, the Divine Feminine. Call her "Mother Nature" or "Mother Earth", if you like.

“Now I know you believed your column to be humorous, and while - as a general rule - we pagans are the first to laugh at ourselves (just look up "The Great Chocolate Ritual" on-line sometime), your article on wiccans/pagans was dangerous in the misinformation it perpetuated. Sorry, we don’t all practice our religion in the nude (known as "skyclad").

“That can be life-threatening, especially here in the South, where mosquitos carrying West Nile virus are omnipresent. Hard to focus on the divinity within you when the bug bites … keep you scratching.”

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“shrimpzombie” writes, “You're really a closed-minded (expletive). All modern religions are based upon ancient Pagan traditions and every Christian holiday is an attempt to cover the original and ancient truth. You are not only misinformed, but a pathetic human being.”

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D.A., a “card-carrying Pagan,” writes, “ … Just for your edification Samhain is the last of the harvest festivals, the harvest of meat. It literally means the end, or death, of summer. It's the time when we say our last goodbyes to those who have gone to the Summer Land in the past year. So yes, it's the Feast of the Dead. Think of it as a big Memorial Service, maybe then you can understand who would attend.”

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Alexander writes, “So Vanderbilt honoring Pagan holidays means that 'the crazies are running the asylum,' but worshipping a dead Jew on a stick is perfectly sane?”

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Kristi writes, “It's not for you to decide if a religious ritual is over the top or not, as long as it is legal. To a pagan, the act of communion is rather gross, you know - eating the flesh and drinking the blood of your god?

“That's why we have religious freedom here - so you can worship in a way that makes sense to you, and others can worship in a way that makes sense to them.

“You really should attend a pagan ritual sometime. You probably wouldn't get it but you wouldn't see anything as shocking as you seem to think you would, either.”

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Cheri writes, “I'm not Wiccan. I'm not sweet or nice. I probably know more about even your own religion than you do. I suggest you find some Pagans at Vandy and actually talk to them. Apologize to them for that nasty mess you just wrote. But you can kiss my Pagan (expletive).”

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Jake, Priest of the Holy Father and Holy Mother, writes, “How dare you! Wiccans and Pagans have plenty of honor. Our word is sacred and our speech binding. We do not lightly give our word or swear to anything. What we say we mean with all sincerity. We are an honorable people who only seek to worship as we choose.

“I've met many Wiccans and Pagans with more honor than most Christians I know. You know nothing and make assumptions on things you know nothing about. Next time do your research or keep your mouth shut … Just as you cannot learn Judaism from a Muslim or Buddhism from a Hindu you cannot learn Wicca from a Christian. Again, if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut.”

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Beth, a Pagan High Priestess from Chicago, writes, “You're an uneducated, bigoted, biased moron with no concept of religious freedom or equality. That is all. Have a ‘nice’ day.”

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Cyndie writes, “Just because you do not fully understand someone or something, (does) that make it bad or unworthy of someone else enjoying it? Again, if you do not fully understand a certain topic, feel free to 'look it up online'. The world is yours to learn...if given a chance. I am thrilled that finally someone has the (expletive) to declare that pagans can celebrate 'their holiday' without being demoted, accused, or challenged without some kind of persecution.”

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Todd writes, “Your derisive opinions seem to be rooted in ignorance (or maybe a desire to "troll" your readers). Wicca is a recognized faith in the U.S. armed services and the Pentacle is now an allowable symbol for military grave markers. Most adherents don't jump naked across bonfires, just like most Christians and Jews don't sacrifice bulls and goats for burnt offerings as dictated in the Bible/Torah.

“Your surname, Exum, is probably derived from English ancestry. Are you aware that your ancestors were likely tortured and murdered to force their acceptance of the Middle Eastern tribal deity, YHWH? Paganism, at least, was practiced natively before being stomped out by the followers of this foreign god.”

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“Dream Celt” writes, “It is extremely sad, that we cannot open the mind, and reduce ignorance, when our world, when our nation, is under the kind of turmoil it is in presently. Maybe a Pagan should run the country, and could help the Earth, and all of her creatures. May God, Goddess, and Creator open you to love and light.”

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Roy of Chattanooga writes, “Again I am sorry and please accept my apology.”

royexum@aol.com