Ignore the fools and seek a path that you feel is toward what you value as *right* (or good) not what others define it as. Running from evil will never lead to good.

They won't ever shut up because they have their whole lives wrapped up in a scam that they themselves are rightly suspicious of but instead of realizing how stupid they sound, they want to vanquish any viewpoint that might make more sense. Thus the concept of Heresy is born.

People perceive the world from within the framework of their own beliefs. Imbalanced, intolerant beliefs will filter out many worthwhile things, as when particular Christians cast you as evil and misrepresent your religion as devil worship. It means they will never know you, and will reject even the shiniest truths your Wiccan and Goth ways have to offer. And this is sad.

They speak the same language, but the words do not mean the same things -- as you point out with the example of the word "devil" which means one thing to them, another to you.

Imbalanced, intolerate beliefs are widespread, and people simply don't seem to care to understand each other. And this is very sad indeed.

I am willing to bet that many, many Christians believe, as you do, that "evil is more complete than a demon with a pitchfork." But building on this commonality is impossible given the break down in communication.

Re: "Why", because it validates their world view to cast you as evil. It is easy. It polarizes, and that's a way to have power in a community, to gain influence over others, spreading the world view, the intolerance, the imbalance. Like a cancer.

In a perfect world, you would be asked what you believe, and your answer would be respected. No one would say "no, what you really believe is ..." to you.