Anti-Wicca? Although I know it's a bigger issue I just wanted to briefly touch on the topic of anti-Wiccan sentiment in Paganism, which can take a humorous turn. If the conversation turns to things that make us look bad it's a sure bet that Wicca will be mentioned in some way. Some Wiccans have started to identify as Pagans just because mentioning you're Wiccan can suddenly make the room go cold in some Pagan gatherings. Partly this is because Wicca's popularity ensures it gets the lion's … [Read more...]
Solstice Series: Intra-Pagan Dialogue and Cooperation
December 10, 2010 By
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in December we will be asking people questions about Paganism and Pagan religions and culture. Want to weigh in? Find the next question at the bottom of this post! There is a rather firm ideological and almost tribal divide between many of our traditions. Wiccans and Heathens, for example. Does this division serve a positive purpose? Or is the division harmful? This so far has been an uncomfortable question and some people did not want to respond. … [Read more...]
A Pagan Testimony
November 10, 2010 By
If you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, I'd like you to take a deep breath. Draw in the sense of the sacred. T. Thorn Coyle begins dialogue in this way and I have found it useful. Breath deep. Think about your God. Think about that holy love embracing you. Think of the joy and strength you find in G-d, Jesus or Allah. Bask in that presence. Give thanks for your joy. Give thanks for your blessings. Breathe deep. Pay close attention to that connection to all that which is Divine. Now understand … [Read more...]
The Love of Community
October 29, 2010 By
Samhain is close, October is hectic, my extended family experienced tragedy and I just got over being sick. At this moment I feel caught in a maelstrom: swept up, ground down and a little helpless. I've spoken before about the concentric rings of community I belong to. Right now with all the stress at this moment and all the various perspectives, personalities and dreams crashing about in the pan-Pagan communities it's tempting to lose hope. It's tempting to say "I do not wish to deal with … [Read more...]
The Silly Season: Witches, Politics or Both?
October 27, 2010 By
I confess I hate Politics. I enjoy discussing politics with polite reasonable people, but I loathe Politics. As an American Pagan you can't escape "Big P Politics" even if you want to. Not only do other religions insist on getting tangled up in the political process, every so often a candidate decides to attack us. Maybe it really doesn't help that we hold our elections in early Nov, just after the lead up to Halloween. The Christine O'Donnell thing truly was silly. Stuff 'n' nonsense. Zan over … [Read more...]
God Is Not One. No really… God Is NOT One!
October 24, 2010 By
I find it amusing that following the selection of Stephen Prothero's God Is Not One some Christian writers have scurried to assure people that he doesn't really mean that. Of course God is One! Prothero has said the question of whether God is one is a theological question that he can't answer, but his book's message is that not all religions are one. We are not all on the same journey headed towards the same goals. P. Sufenas Virius Lupus points out in his review of the book that this idea of … [Read more...]
The Secret of Kells
October 21, 2010 By
The Secret of Kells is an absolutely charming film about the Book of Kells, Pangur Ban and the strange mythic interactions between Pagan and Christian Ireland. The story centers on Brendan, the nephew of the abbot of the monastery of Kells, who helps Aiden, the illuminator from Iona, work on the Book of Kells. In the process he is helped by the famous Pangur Ban and a mysterious forest girl named Ashley. It's a children's movie and the themes are fairly simple and also very Pagan. Religion … [Read more...]
God In America: Vignettes Of Christian Evolution
October 12, 2010 By
PBS has a new series called "God In America" that features Stephen Prothero, author of our current Patheos Book Club selection "God Is Not One." I didn't really know what to expect and what I found was interesting and uninspiring. I'm a religion geek and I find all things religious rather fascinating, yet I'm also a Pagan who finds the expressions of Christianity somewhat tedious. Watching each well-told story of the evolution of Christianity in the United States is interesting. If I were … [Read more...]
13 Things I Like About Judaism
October 5, 2010 By
Ah yes, it's time again for another 13 things post and I've really been looking forward to this one. Once, many moons ago I was married and wanted wee babies of my own. It was important to me to raise the child in a religious tradition. I had no interest in Christianity and my husband wasn't thrilled about the idea of Pagan kids. So I began to research Judaism. In the end the marriage dissolved, no babies, no conversions to another faith. Although I am Pagan to the core, a part of me has always … [Read more...]
Guest Post: Musings of a Militant Pagan
October 4, 2010 By
On a recent trip to Washington D.C. to attend a Pagan event, I had an experience at the airport that has taken me time to process. This experience reminded me that as a nation we still have a long way to go in establishing a culture of tolerance for the diversity of beliefs that make up the rich fabric of American religious life. On the surface, this event rightfully made me resentful that my beliefs could be so easily ridiculed by someone I do not know. While proceeding through security, a … [Read more...]
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