Yeah, the messed up stuff was why I avoided certain pagan groups in my area when I was a younger person exploring my new (or at least, finally named) spirituality and went it on my own.

Regarding raising people in religion to propagate the religion—I do often (semi-)joke at my more progressive/enlightened friends that if only the problematic (in religion, culture, etc.) folks are the ones having children then we’re always going to be outnumbered. (Before anyone yells at me, I am totally pro- whatever your choice regarding children. But it’s a legit observation.)