[Haunted]

First, Feral Cat, be aware that Hinduism isn't one singular religion. It's a HUGE conglomeration of a myriad of folk religions. You're right about how Indians don't consider themselves as Pagans. They also don't consider themselves as Idol worshippers either (Idol worshipper...another good Western pejorative)

If we want to look at the title "pagan" wholistically, it only applies to "Western" religions because its a word that historically means, "from the heath." It got its insulting title from the same place that "heathen" did.

You're wrong, Feral Cat, to say that Wicca and Hinduism have nothing to do with each other. Wicca, while it's roots are older than God (quite literally) it had to reform as a religion. The founder of the Wiccan tradition was Gerald Gardner. He and many Pagan scholars birthed Wicca, the religion, by melding them with other ancient traditions. One of the most heavily borrowed from traditions was Hinduism, the other was Buddhism (another Indian tradition) A good example of this is the Wiccan notion of "Karma."

(By the way, this does in no way invalidate Wicca as a religion. All religions have borrowed, profusely, from other religions.)

I see your point about Buffy and Charmed. We Pagans and the ilk are bombarded with Silver Ravenwolf's teen witch series. A lot of the "usual suspects" from the Llewellyn crew are jumping on that band wagon. It's weird for me because I converted to Wicca in high school ten years ago (I'm no longer Wiccan, but I respect it). I don't know if I would have gone for that "teen witch" shit or not. Part of me just thinks it's degrading.