The Friendly Atheist has already pointed out religious people are geeks. This must mean Pagans are uber-geeks, because we can seamlessly slide from theology into Monty Python and back again. Which is why when my friend Anita posted a simple question about Harry Potter we delved deeply into religion, gender issues and all things Harry Potter. Like we do. Here’s her question, paraphrased: in the Order of the Phoenix Dolores Umbridge is carried off into the woods by centaurs after... Read more
I love all the different names our holidays have, and how they are celebrated in different traditions. The Wild Hunt has a nice feature up this morning with a fantastic picture of the Long Man of Wilmington. Supposedly the name Mabon is a recent thing, attributed to Aidan Kelly in the 70’s, and it’s reference to an obscure character in Arthurian legend has always struck me as odd. What I’ve really been digging is more traditionally English names for our... Read more
I tried writing a post today three different times. Wasn’t happening. So maybe we all just need some music. The autumnal equinox, or Mabon, or the Witch’s Thanksgiving is upon us. I think music about food, family and reflection sounds pretty good. I hope you have family you can be with this weekend, biological or adopted, and I hope you’re harvesting things for which you’re truly grateful. May we be surrounded by love and abundance as we move into the... Read more
There’s a lot in Pagan news I want to weigh in on, and there’s a lot I want to say regarding Mabon, but today I need to get something off my chest. I loathe Facebook. Like all of you, I woke up this morning to find Facebook had transformed itself into multiple annoying not-very-useful feeds. Anyone familiar with the show Pimp My Ride will totally get why Tom Anderson, creator of MySpace, posted this graphic on Facebook today: I joined... Read more
I’m busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest today, so here’s something for everyone prepping for Mabon this weekend. Your regular crankyness will resume on the morrow. Read more
Patheos’ blogger Mark D. Roberts is looking at Ephesus through the lens of the New Testament. I’m finding this fascinating, because Ephesus is an ancient city that Christians and Pagans look at very differently. Today it’s in ruins, a historical curiosity in present-day Turkey. When we think of Ephesus today, unlike Rome or Alexandria which have evolved and remained multi-faceted over the years, we think of religion. Christians think of Ephesus in terms of the Ephesian church, whom Paul addressed... Read more
I am a romantic cynic. I love love, romance and all the ideals of marriage. I’m also quick to see the cracks, the selfish motives, the struggles and the heartbreak of marriage. I’m a hardened cynic. So it’s a bit funny that I have a 50/50 chance of being surrounded by a wedding every Saturday. It’s strange to find yourself so firmly set in the realm of a God. It certainly gives your cynicism a jolt. I’m going to be... Read more
Watching people debate about the first four centuries of the common era is like watching a football game. The fans are rabidly rooting for their team all out of proportion. Trash is talked. Facts are distorted. Kurt Willem’s Pangea blog here on Patheos recently featured a video that delves into this sort of trash talking. Greg Boyd seems to be a bit confused in this video. He’s accepting without question Eusebius self-admitted exaggerations and falsehoods regarding early Christianity and persecution,... Read more
One of the pitfalls of blogging is you tend to hear from your critics far more often than your fans. So it really made my day when I received a note from a 70-year-old retired pastor who told me my writing was helping him to build a bridge of understanding between his faith and Paganism. On those days when I wake up and wonder if it’s really worth it to crank out another post, notes like his lift me up... Read more
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” — Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride Modest is defined by Merriam-Webster as 1.) placing a moderate estimate on one’s abilities or worth; 2.) arising from or characteristic of a modest nature; 3.) observing the proprieties of dress and behavior; 4.) limited in size, amount, or scope. Modesty, especially when applied to dress, is a fun subject. The most modest garment in size and scope,... Read more
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