The varieties of religious experience

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:02 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

Having distinctive religious traditions matters because each tradition expresses a distinctive identity, philosophy, tradition, set of values, mythology, and community identity. These traditions are ways of being in the world. They are collective projects which explore the question of "How shall we live a good life?" (and what do we mean by 'a good life') in very different ways. They each have their own rich collection of source texts and rituals which try to answer that basic question, along with many of the other great existential questions, such as "Why are we here?" Read more

The Pagan umbrella is leaking

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:03 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

The "Pagan umbrella" is leaking, but I think we need to look at ways to ensure that we don't misrepresent each other's traditions, and that we don't assume that everyone else shares our values and perspectives. And maybe we need to change the metaphor from an umbrella to a big tent, or a party, or perhaps a (slightly dysfunctional) family, or something. And if someone could come up with a name that wasn't applied to us from outside, maybe that would help too. Read more

Metaphors can kill

Last updated on: April 22, 2013 at 9:27 am By Yvonne Aburrow

Metaphors are a very powerful thing. They can dictate how we we see the world, and therefore how we behave. They can constrain our expectations of what will happen, and how it will happen. The metaphorical connotations of an idea shape and limit what can be said about it. Read more

Tradition

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:04 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

Tradition is something that grows and evolves. It is not set in stone, but is more like a discourse; if you start with a particular set of premises, ideas and values, you will get further ideas and practices that are consistent with the initial set of ideas. Religious traditions evolve according to social, cultural, and political circumstances. Read more

Today in Boston

Last updated on: February 19, 2015 at 4:07 pm By Christine Kraemer

Like everyone else in Boston, I am wholly distracted by the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombing suspect going on in my city. Prayers and reflections on violence, death, and living from a place of connectedness. Read more

Fundamentalism

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:04 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

What is fundamentalism? Is it all bad? Can the term 'fundamentalist' be applied to Pagans? Read more

Interview with Christine Hoff Kraemer on Albion Calling

Last updated on: April 16, 2013 at 12:03 pm By Christine Kraemer

I was honored this week by an interview by Dr. Ethan Doyle White for his blog Albion Calling--part of a series of interviews with scholars of Pagan studies and esotericism. Read more

What is the foundation of Pagan ethics?

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:05 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

Pagans don't have a holy book with commandments from a deity. We tend to derive our ethics from reasoning about the world around us. We cultivate virtues rather than following commandments. But we also have a specifically and recognisably Pagan response to the world. Read more

Values, beliefs, practices

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:07 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

What makes you a Pagan? Is it what you believe, what you do, or something else? Read more

Aspects of initiation

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 12:09 pm By Yvonne Aburrow

In my view, there are six separate aspects to initiation. There is the inner process of transformation; the initiation by the gods and goddesses (making contact with the numinous); experiencing the Mysteries (that which cannot be spoken, or Arrheton); being given the secrets of the group (that which must not be spoken, or Aporrheton); joining the group mind; and the joining of the lineage or tradition of which the group is part. Read more