6.23.2008
You Can't Ban Odinism In Prison
The Indiana federal district court has conclusively ruled that prisons can't ban a faith because of hypothetical problems. In this instance, Odinism and the various white supremacist groups that infiltrate and exploit the faith.
"...an Indiana federal district court has ruled that the Indiana Department of Correction's policy banning all group worship for Odinists violates RLUIPA. In Hummel v. Donahue, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47534 (SD IN, June 19, 2008), the court held that while the interest in maintaining safety and security is compelling, prison officials must do more than speculate that a religious practice will lead to problems. Here officials were concerned that white supremacists would claim to practice Odinism, but presented no concrete evidence to support this. Secondly, there were less restrictive alternatives than totally banning group worship. These included pre-approved scripts for worship services, increased training for correctional officers, pre-approved volunteers from outside to lead services, and research into solutions found by other prison systems."
As the court hinted, one very easy way to stem the tide of racist Odinist groups is to invite more Pagan/Heathen chaplains in. Currently, the prison system is completely skewed towards Christian modes of belief, and as a result non-Christian prisoners are treated to widespread discrimination and hostility. However, some prison systems are slowly coming to the realization that allowing Pagan chaplains in can help reduce recidivism and create a healthier support network for Pagan inmates susceptible to the overtures of racist gangs masquerading as religion.
"Bolstered by President Bush's recent signing of the Second Chance Act, which promises more money for faith-based programs to help rehabilitate prisoners, corrections officials and religious volunteers are testing the largely unproven theory that faith can not only salvage criminals, but — in the long run — make the rest of us safer, too ... In Colorado, a volunteer network of chaplains offers 216 programs and the Department of Corrections recognizes 36 faiths ... those traditions range from Asatru, a polytheistic Norse religion, to Native American rituals to nature-based Wicca ... Credible research on the effectiveness of faith-based programs remains sparse and inconclusive. But corrections experts and volunteers agree that such efforts, coupled with education, counseling and other therapies, could be part of the solution."
Pagan-friendly corrections departments in places like Colorado and Washington are leading the way into the future. A future where Christianity isn't the only religious remedy for the troubled and violent soul. A future that Indiana will now be forced to at least partially embrace in the next sixty days. Let's hope they embrace the change mandated by the courts, and adopt some of the more progressive methods of quelling racist strains of Pagan religion. No doubt the Odinist/Asatru community in Indiana would look forward to more openness and cooperation from prison officials.
Labels: Asatru, Chaplaincy, Heathen, law, litigation, Odinism, Paganism, Prison, racism
6.11.2008
Racism, Odinism, and Custody Battles
The Winnipeg Free Press reports on a woman working to get custody of her two children back after her daughter arrived at school with a swastika drawn on her arm. The woman, an Odinist, claims to be "tolerant of all people" despite the fact that she is married to an admitted white supremacist, and admits to being a "white nationalist" who wears swastika-etched jewelry
"The day her seven-year-old daughter went to school in March with a swastika drawn on her arm, her mother said she tried to wash it off with nail polish remover but the marking stayed put. Her daughter forgot her sweater a mother gave her to cover her arm. When her mother arrived to collect her child from school, police were waiting for her. "The only thing that matters to me is my children. It's not about politics, it's not about anything else... it's about what's best for them ... I've never forced my beliefs on my children." The woman's seven-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were seized by Manitoba Child and Family Services this spring due to concerns their father -- an admitted white supremacist -- was filling their minds with hate and marking one child's body with racist graffiti. The children are now staying with relatives.."
One could reasonably argue that if her children have "pro-Hitler" markings on their bodies then she has done a poor job of "not forcing" the beliefs of the parents onto the children. Further, while the lines between being a merely "folkish" Germanic Heathen, and being a racist white supremacist Odinist may seem blurry and vague to some unfamiliar to the religious culture, it seems rather obvious that a line was crossed from mere Eurocentricity into neo-Nazi gutter-philosophy. Harboring a stay-at-home husband who she classifies as "flamboyantly bigoted", and allowing Nazi-related markings to be made on her children (self-directed or not), speaks of a fundamental failure to insulate her children from toxic racism.
Now split from her husband after reading the Child and Family Service reports, the woman still entertains notions that the pro-Hitler markings were entirely self-directed, and refuses to admit any failings as a parent.
"The mother, who refused to comment on where the swastika marking came from, suggested her daughter may be responsible for other pro-Hitler markings CFS said they found on her body. "It's entirely possible she could have drawn it on herself," she said"
In this case, the references to "Odinism" by the mother and the press seem to be a red herring. This isn't about religious discrimination, this is about her children being raised by a toxic racist with a criminal record who either drew or encouraged the children to draw pro-Hitler markings on their bodies. Removing them from his presence and placing them with relatives seems prudent. What do you think? Where is the line between intellectual freedom and abusive indoctrination drawn? What would you have done if you were CFS official responding to a concerned teacher's report?
* I realize that there are some who want to reclaim the swastika from its racist/fascist connotations, but you can't un-ring a bell. So long as the memory of Hitler, and idiots who seek to glorify him, persist, the immediate connotations of the symbol will be with racism and fascism.
Labels: Asatru, Canada, Children, custody case, Heathen, Odinism, Paganism, racism
5.18.2008
Iceland: The Perfect Pagan Country?
John Carlin of The Guardian looks at why Iceland is the happiest place on Earth.
"Iceland ... tops the latest table of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Index rankings, meaning that as a society and as an economy - in terms of wealth, health and education - they are champions of the world. To which one might respond: Yes, but - what with the dark winters and the far from tropical summers - are Icelanders happy? Actually, in so far as one can reliably measure such things, they are. According to a seemingly serious academic study reported in the Guardian in 2006, Icelanders are the happiest people on earth. (The study was lent some credibility by the finding that the Russians were the most unhappy.)"
The secret to their happiness? According to Carlin, a big part of it is their lack of connection to Christian ideas of morality, and a deep connection to their Viking and pagan ancestors.
"As a grandmother I met on my first visit to Iceland, two years ago, explained it: 'The Vikings went abroad and the women ran the show, and they had children with their slaves, and when the Vikings returned they accepted it, in the spirit of the more the merrier' ... It is a largely pagan country, as the natives like to see it, unburdened by the taboos that generate so much distress elsewhere. That means they are practical people."
Indeed, from reading Carlin's take, Iceland sounds like a paradise for the Pagan spirit. A land that incorporates a deep respect for women, industriousness, a focus on family and community, a robust social safety net, a healthy capitalistic economy, and a sense of social justice that bypasses the backwards-looking morality that often marginalizes outsider groups and derails progress. For instance, while the culture warriors in America are sharpening their knives after California approved gay marriage, homosexual couples in Iceland have enjoyed the same benefits as married heterosexual couples since 1996, which was expanded in 2006 to include protections for adoption and artificial insemination.
As for full-blown religious Paganism, Iceland has that too. It was the first Scandinavian country to give legal recognition to Asatru (1973), and is home to famous Heathens like Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, a musician and producer who has worked with artists like Bjork and Sigur Ros, and serves as Chief Godi of the Icelandic Asatru Association.
So when we muse about what a "post-Christian" future will look like, perhaps we should turn to the Scandinavian countries like Iceland, where such a reality exists and thrives. It could be that the best of what a "pagan" future holds has been here for generations, waiting for the rest of us to notice.
Labels: Asatru, Iceland, Paganism, post-Christian
3.12.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A conference of indigenous leaders from Mexico, the United States, and Canada met in Palenque, Mexico to discuss traditional solutions to environmental problems. The event, 'Indigenous People to Heal Our Mother Earth', gathered 200 leaders from 71 American Indian nations, and was supported by Mexico's environment secretary, Juan Elvira Quesada.
"Our Mother Earth is being polluted at an alarming rate, and our elders say that she is dying," said Raymond Sensmeier, a Tlingit leader from Yakutat, Alaska. "The way the weather is around the world ... a cleansing is needed" ... "I sometimes talk to scientists," said Sensmeier, "and they compartmentalize things, put things in boxes and disconnect them, and doing so promotes disharmony and imbalance." Kuetlachtli Texotik, a Nahuatl healer from Mexico whose name means "Blue Wolf," agreed. "Our grandfathers taught us to have an integrated vision," he said. "The important thing is to look for balance. We should take care of what does not belong to us, for the future, because it is only ours temporarily."
Organizers hope that indigenous American leaders can become guides in "restoring balance and harmony in the world". To "wake up the world" to the environmental problems surrounding them.
Reuters interviews David Domke, co-author of the new book "The God Strategy: How Religion Became A Political Weapon In America," who explains just how entwined (predominately Christian) religion has become in our political process.
"The reality is that in American presidential politics not willing to publicly emphasize your faith will mean you will not be a serious candidate on either side of the partisan aisle ... the fusion of religion and politics is absolutely contrary to what the founders desired for the country. They fled religious sectarian violence, religious persecution and they set out build a new place where God would be part of the equation but there wouldn't be a state, a national religion."
A political atmosphere like this is decidedly hostile to religious minorities taking power, an exclusive "Christ-centered" politics that transcends the usual Republican party suspects to include Democratic presidential candidates as well. Can the wall of separation between Church and State remain strong when both political parties now "emphasize their faith" as a campaign tool?
The Boston Herald reports on Laurie "Official Witch of Salem" Cabot's 75th birthday-bash over the weekend. The extravagant affair included a dancing snake charmer, fire-spinning, and the attendance of Godsmack frontman Sully Erna.
"Godsmack frontman Sully Erna was among the 100 Wiccans who flew in from around the country over the weekend for a surprise 75th birthday party for Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem. "Before I met Laurie, I was in a really low point in my life," Sully told the crowd. "I owe Laurie everything. (She) changed my life around." Apparently, the headbanger and the high priestess of witchcraft have been tight for years ... Cabot's bewitching birthday bash was thrown by fun couple Tom Lang and Alexander Westerhoff at their Manchester-by-the-Sea stone villa."
A happy birthday to Ms. Cabot, may she enjoy happiness and good health.
Kathryn Price NicDhana brings us the latest in the ongoing struggles to halt the M3 motorway expansion through the Tara-Skryne valley, the spiritual heart of Ireland.
"As bulldozers and chainsaws cut into the forest and hill of Rath Lugh - one of a number of ancient tombs and holy wells in peril due to the road work in the Tara-Skryne Valley - protesters have announced that they have dug tunnels under the proposed roadway, and are willing to risk their lives in defense of the land."
While these new actions have succeeded in delaying construction, it remains to be seen if this expensive (and increasingly unpopular) project can ultimately be stopped. Irish Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney recently called the M3 construction a "ruthless desecration", and the site has been declared an "endangered monument" by the World Monuments Fund.
In a final note, two recent legal decisions affecting modern Pagans have come to my attention. First, Tropaion reports that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Greece can not require a statement of religious belief as part of the admission ceremony to the state bar.
"Legal Court rulings are one of the few forums where precedents are truly set. This landmark decision by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Alexandrididis vs Greece (application number 19516/2006) will definitely make it much easier for others in the legal and other professions to follow suit. It will mean that people will not have to state their religious beliefs in what are clearly state matters."
This is an important precedent for the small groups of Hellenic polytheists (and other religious minorities) in the Orthodox Christian dominated State. Further updates to this story are expected to be posted, here.
Meanwhile, another prisoner free-exercise case involving a member of the Asatru faith has made the news. A judge has recommended the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by inmate Darrell Hoadley. Hoadley, who is serving a life sentence for a 2000 torture-killing, brought suit requesting items he says are necessary for his faith.
"The penitentiary has allowed several Asatru items since settling a 2000 lawsuit - including a ritual drinking horn, wooden wand and wooden hammer - but Hoadley wanted more, such as horse meat and a plastic sword. In a motion to dismiss, prison officials said some requests are 'too outrageous to merit serious consideration.' U.S. Magistrate Judge John Simko, who was taken off the case in favor of U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol, said in a report filed Wednesday that the case should be dismissed."
I can't think of any Asatru tradition that requires a sword and the partaking of horse meat in order to honor the gods. Considering Hoadley's security status (he is isolated from the general population), and the concessions already made, it doesn't look like he has much of a case. The judge looks on solid ground for recommending dismissal.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: American Indian, Asatru, Christianity, Greece, Hill of Tara, indigenous, Laurie Cabot, law, litigation, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, politics, Prison, Salem
12.20.2007
Taking a Green Bay break.
While the situation in Green Bay continues to roil, I thought I would clear the pallette and write about something else for a change (don't worry, I'll get back to it soon, in the meantime why not check out the discussion on this issue at Get Religion). For instance, an Asatru inmate has filed a lawsuit against the Utah Department of Corrections for allegedly denying him his right to practice his faith.
"Michael Polk, who is serving time for aggravated assault and robbery, filed the lawsuit against corrections officials in federal court, accusing them of denying him several religious items that he claims are necessary to practice the Asatru religion, which worships ancient Nordic gods like Odin, Thor, Tyr and Heimdal ... In his lawsuit, Polk said he asked the prison chaplain for the items and was denied them. Corrections officials noted that he checked the box marked "None/Atheist" when he entered the prison. After he appealed, corrections officials allowed Polk to have a wooden Thor's Hammer pendant. The other items were denied because of security reasons."
A couple questions arise, first off, did Polk have no choice but to check "none" since there was no box for Asatru? Secondly, while his list of required items seems a bit long (a Thor's Hammer, a prayer cloth, a Mead Horn used for drinking Wassail, a drum made of wood and boar skin, a rune staff and a (cardboard) sword) are other (more mainstream) faiths allowed similarly long lists of religiously-themed items? Information concerning these details would help greatly in finding out if Polk's case is merely frivolous or if the prison is truly limiting his religious freedom.
Sadly, instead of answering these questions, the Deseret Morning News decided to talk about vampires instead.
"In Utah, several inmates have filed lawsuits over religion. In 2002, the Utah Court of Appeals denied one inmate's claims that the prison violated his religious rights by refusing to allow him to drink blood or partake in a sacrament with a 'vampiress.'"
Not to question the sanctity of religious vampirism, but the reporter seems to have classified this as a "oddball" story instead of a religion story. As such, we get no follow-up and some unrelated trivia. There is a rich history of legal cases involving Asatru, and it's a shame they couldn't have been explored here.
Labels: Asatru, Heathen, journalism, Prison, Religious Freedom
12.02.2007
Ullr Comes Through
In yesterdays post I mentioned that skiers in Aspen were going to hold a ceremony dedicated to the Norse god of skiing and hunting in order to bring forth needed snows. It looks like Ullr heard the prayers because it did indeed snow in Aspen on Friday and Saturday.
Ullr the ski-god.
"With a First Annual Pray for Snow Party planned for 5:15 p.m. Saturday at the base of Aspen Mountain, only a few flakes had fallen as of press time Friday evening, but the overnight forecast called for more snow. But if it snows, organizers of the event - sponsored by KSNO-FM and 39 Degrees at the Sky Hotel - said the ceremony will be a way to thank the Norse god Ullr, or any other deity, pagan or otherwise, that unleashed the flakes. Several Denver TV news stations will be on hand, and organizers expect as many as 400 people ... There will be free coffee and tea, and Chaney said all are welcome. 'Pagan or whatever, just come on out.'"
According to Weather Underground, it is snowing (lightly) in Aspen as we speak. So perhaps Ullr has adopted Aspen just as Aspen skiers have adopted him? Should we expect a temple sometime soon?
12.01.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
Raymond Ibrahim, editor of "The Al Qaeda Reader", discusses the new movie "Beowulf" in The National Review, and complains about Hollywood's pro-pagan and anti-Christian stance.
"By now, the oft-recurring negative portrayals of Christianity in major Hollywood movies have become hackneyed and predictable. The recent rendition of Beowulf only reinforced this trend. The same subtle depictions and motifs present in movies from decades past were once again present, a favorite being the attempt to try to depict pagans as "open-minded" and "free-spirited" peoples, or, quite anachronistically, as medieval counterparts to the modern, secular, liberal. The idea being that pagan peoples - unencumbered by the suffocating forces of Christianity - were/are happy, passionate folk, able to live life to the fullest."
To prove his point he cherry-picks a handful of pro-Pagan (and pro-Muslim) films spanning several years (including "Excalibur" and "The 13th Warrior"). But his argument falls apart when you stack up the recent number of Christian-positive films ("Evan Almighty", "Amazing Grace", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "The Passion of the Christ", and "Millions") against his "pro-pagan" selections. If Hollywood has an idealogical stance, it is whatever stance that will make them the most money.
Aspen, the famous skiing resort, is suffering from a lack of snow, so this year (like last year) they are calling on some extra help to get the flakes started.
"In Aspen some locals are praying to the Norse ski god Ullr in hopes of bringing some of the white stuff. Last year Whistler-Blackcomb did it and they had the most snow they've had in many years. And this year they are off to a great start. Danny Brown, one of those who has lit fires in Aspen, told the Aspen Daily News it is a way to pool energy and draw snow. One of the largest Ullr fires in recent memory was created last week by Brown and three other locals. It was an all-day and most-of-the-night ritual that brought together a small group of ski bums for some good times and laughter, and plenty of collective wishing for the element that truly binds them -- snow."
Will they get better results than Georgia's Governor?
Do they know it's Christmas time at all? That is the question posed to the Pagan-friendly Unitarian Universalists in South Carolina.
"Unitarian Universalists often are asked at this time of year whether we celebrate Christmas - which we do. The next question is always, "Why?" ... Christmas offers Unitarian Universalists an opportunity to celebrate with customs and meanings derived from many faith traditions. No one knows the actual date of the birth of Jesus, but the time just after the winter solstice was originally chosen to coincide with pagan celebrations of the return of the sun and, with it, the promise of renewal of the days of warmth and light that follow. Earth-centered traditions such as Wicca and American Indian spirituality also honor the solstice, as does the Hindu festival of light and in some respects, the minor Jewish festival of Hanukkah."
So the answer is "yes", but not in the way you are thinking.
Santa: Christian or Pagan? The Chicago Tribune asks the experts!
"Many anthropologist types see Santa as a modern descendant of Thor, the avuncular, bearded pagan god of thunder who soared through the air in a goat-drawn chariot from his home in the north and swooped down chimneys toward his favorite element: fire. So Santa must be pagan, right? Not so fast. Many others believe Santa was inspired by the 4th Century bishop Nicholas of Myra, the youngest bishop in the history of Christianity. The son of a wealthy merchant, his generosity and soft spot for children earned him sainthood. His memory came alive every year when he delivered presents on the eve of his feast day on Dec. 6. So Santa is a Catholic or Orthodox Christian?"
The ultimate answer? That in America he, like many Americans, came from Protestants but is now thoroughly secular in nature.
A New York school principal who was accused of using school funds and resources to hire a Santera, has agreed to step down from her position.
"A New York school principal has admitted using city funds to pay for a Santeria ritual at the school. Maritza Tamayo, in a settlement with the board of education, agreed to accept a demotion to teacher for the rest of the school year, The New York Post reported. She would then resign next summer."
Perhaps the ritual to remove "negative energy" worked in ways she didn't expect.
In a final note, today is World AIDS Day, and two Pagan bloggers have already posted commentary in honor of the day. The Pagan Prattle reports on the pernicious "cures" being spread by con-men. While many of these come from the developing nations, Homeopaths in London are spreading dangerous misinformation too.
"...the Society of Homeopaths are holding a conference in London next week featuring the work of Peter Chappell, who also claims he can make an immediate impact on the Aids epidemic using music encoded with his Aids remedies. "Right now," he says, "Aids in Africa could be significantly ameliorated by a simple tune played on the radio." Damningly, contemptibly, not one single person from the homeopathy community has spoken out to criticise this lunacy."
Meanwhile, Hrafnkell at A Heathen's Day looks at President Bush's over-reliance on Christian religion to "solve" the global AIDS crisis.
"I think this is outrageous. It's fine for Bush to have his religion and to practice it, and to believe in whatever God he wants. But to tell us followers of one particular deity are the key to victory in anything is to take an official, not a private, stand on religion, and that is a violation of the separation of church and state. He wants to throw money at these "faith-based" groups - Christians all."
The World AIDS Day site has some suggestions on how to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS on this day. Worried about past sexual and drug-related activities and haven't been tested? Why not find the nearest testing resources.
That is all I have for now, have a great day.
Labels: AIDS, Asatru, Aspen, Christianity, movies, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Santa Claus, Santeria, Unitarian-Universalism
11.10.2007
Covering Asatru
The Fox affiliate in Chicago has done a short segment on the Asatru faith. The result ends up saying a lot about how journalists often decide what the story is going to be before they do the reporting.
"Ancient Viking Religion Finds New Worshipers - Including White Supremacists. Thousands of followers claim Asatru is a real religion. They swear it's changed their lives for the better. But it's also a faith that's been linked to violence and hate crimes. Mark Saxenmeyer shows us just who's worshipping 'the race religion."
That blurb and the accompanying video segment show the inherent bias held by the reporter and his editors. Asatru is defined as "race religion" even though that isn't a universally held view within Asatru, and white supremacy takes up fully half of the report even though such movements are only found at the extreme fringes of the faith (and, as the report concedes, are denounced by all the major Asatru organizations).
You can't have a "fair and balanced" view of a faith when you cut from an interview with a local Asatruar to newsreel footage of marching Nazis. In fact the report states that Nazis practiced a "variation" of Asatru, even though such a claim is completely anachronistic and hugely contentious. Perhaps the reporter wanted to do a sensationalist piece about new racist movements and was disappointed to discover that they were appropriating and distorting a larger faith grouping.
This may seem like a small thing, but it is news stories like this that can directly lead to growing FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) concerning Asatru and Germanic Heathenry. It can lead to innocent symbols being banned as "offensive", and can cause problems for Heathens if a hysterical co-worker or family member suddenly thinks they may be a white supremacist. There is a way to responsibly report on racist movements that appropriate modern Pagan symbols, but conflating these small and isolated groups with our mainstream is irresponsible.
ADDENDUM: For a more positive story involving Asatru, The Northern Path reports on a Asatru man who helped save the life of a woman who had crashed her car.
"Siple, who was walking his Airedale terrier Dusty when he found Scott lying next to her car on the beach, said he was praying to Njord, the god of the sea, while awaiting rescuers. "I was just praying to him, 'hold the tide back a little bit longer so we can get Diane out of here,'" Siple said Friday."
Expect to hear more from Siple, he has been approached by The Today Show and Dateline.
11.07.2007
Offensive Runes?
Word has been spreading like wildfire through Heathen/Asatru Internet communities that the MySpace social networking site is now considering the display of runic symbols to be offensive and against the company's terms of service.
"So this image is offensive, according to myspace. So its ok to have pornographic images and default pics of guys holding guns and masks? Please feel free to use this image in protest of these ridiculous regulations and REPOST so all can see this!!! Keep messaging myspace also; to show them we are still fighting the religion option..."
Old English Futhorc runes.
From what I have been able to figure out, the outcry started when a MySpace petition profile (now switched to a closed/private profile) to expand the religious labels for Pagan MySpacers beyond "Wiccan" or "Other" had its profile image removed by administrators due to its "offensive" nature. Since then there have been claims that other Heathen/Asatru profiles also had their runic symbols taken down.
"Recent whispers through out the Myspace Asatruar community, as of today, have several pictures removed from peoples profile where upon Runic symbols are present. Apparently it is now against the TOS here to use Runes to decorate the pages. I do rather suspect that this is due to those that use our symbols for hate agendas. With that said perhaps Myspace TOS staff need to educated themselves instead of pilfering intolerance based on ignorance!"
It is unclear at this point if this was a move solely on the part of MySpace administrators, or a response to individual user complaints (any MySpace user can report "offensive" content with the click of a button). The petition site has put its offending image back up (though, as I mentioned before, the page is now listed as "private"), and it remains to be seen if this was an isolated incident or if MySpace is now conflating the use of runes by some racist groups with the more benign uses by the larger Asatru/Heathen community. We will have to wait and see what develops in the near future.
10.05.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
Two different Thelema-related publications hit the Internet this week, the first is the August 2007 issue of Agape (pdf), the official newsletter of the U. S. Grand Lodge of Ordo Templi Orientis. The second is the brand new Journal of Thelemic Studies, a publication dedicated to fostering "the most modern, current thought in the Thelemic community". You can download the current issue, here. Of particular interest is an exploration of Thelema & Buddhism by "IAO 131".
"Essentially, we can see the profound influence Buddhism had on Crowley, especially in the years immediately preceding the reception of Liber AL vel Legis. For this reason the importance of understanding the similarities between Buddhism and Thelema, which is based around Liber AL vel Legis, becomes particularly apparent. An understanding of Buddhism will complement our understanding of Thelema and, likewise, an understanding of Thelema will complement our understanding of Buddhism."
The entire journal issue is certainly worth a read for insights into current thought within the Thelema community.
Another recent online publication of note is the Fall Equinox 2007 issue of the Global Goddess Oracle. This Goddess-centric e-zine features poetry, botanical lore, a moon schedule, and a brief rumination on "The Wicker Man" by Dianic Priestess H. Byron Ballard.
"I love that old cult film "The Wicker Man". The beautiful children dancing the ring, the lovely chocolate hares ("not silly old rabbits"), the singing, the sheer screaming sensuality. There was also great appeal in a place, even though fictional, where Pagans and Pagan practices were in the majority, where school children learned the lore that modern Pagans teach their children at the quiet places at their own hearths. There are remnants of English folk religion in the traditional May Day characters--the May Queen, the Guiser, and the Old 'Oss--that are appealing to my amateur historian side. And now there's a new version, transported to America's Puget Sound and tweaking the story to feature a matriarchal colony of beekeepers, whose culture is based on the workings of a hive."
I love that old cult film too, but I would advice her to steer clear of the remake. For more Goddess-oriented essays and articles, you can check out the Lammas 2007 issue of MatriFocus Web Magazine.
The worlds of Paganism and fine art converge in the UK as Lithuanian artist Arturas Raila maps the "geo-energy flows" discovered by a group of Lithuanian Pagan dowsers in Allenheads. This is the final stop in his "The Power of the Earth" project which has traveled to Frankfurt, Berlin, Vilnius, and now Allenheads. The opening of each stop in the exhibition is inducted by a Pagan priest or priestess.
"A Pagan ceremony was performed high on the fell top overlooking Allendale at the weekend - all in the name of art. Lithuanian Jonas Trinkunas had been invited to Tynedale by his fellow countryman, artist Arturas Raila, whose work is currently on show at Allenheads Contemporary Arts. The ceremony he performed, helped by his wife and daughters, marked the opening of Raila's exhibition."
Now that is an art opening I wouldn't want to miss. The exhibition will run through October 21st at Allenheads Contemporary Arts. In other fine-art news, the Philapelphia exhibition "Monsters from Under the Bed", featuring Pagan-friendly artist Kimberlee Traub, has been expanded and extended till November 3rd.
Showing that every system has limits, an Odinist inmate's appeal to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court to allow him a fire-pit in prison was turned down. Tony Lee Smith claimed that his Constitutional rights has been violated when the prison gave him a candle instead of allowing him a pine-wood fire pit.
"Smith, 38, said in the suit that state prison officials said he couldn't have certain items connected with the pagan religion of Odinism, namely a pinewood fire in a small pit to observe certain rites, and use of a certain area of the prison for worship. According to the suit, prison officials instead gave him a candle. He was denied access to a worship area St. Clair Correctional Facility out of security concerns about potential violence against other inmates and because officials said the religion was a popular front for hate groups, according to the court opinion."
Smith denies any involvement in hate groups, but despite this the courts ruled that the prison did not stifle his religious freedom by denying him the fire. Another recent case involving an Asatru inmate ruled that he could have access to runes. So it looks like somewhere in between runes and a fire-pit the balance is struck.
Finally, now that it is October the "silly season" of outrage over Halloween celebrations begins. Chas Clifton blogs about about a school administrator who has banned Halloween festivities and replaced it with a bland "harvest" rite.
"Cindy Kaie, self-righteous principal of Kohl Elementary School in Broomfield, Colorado, has decreed "no Halloween party" ... The article was not exactly clear about the cause of the ban. Does "not leaving anyone out" mean "not offending rabid Christians"? Or what?"
Sadly this isn't the only "silly" story about the forthcoming holiday, in the UK two retail giants have agreed to "tone down" their Halloween merchandise after they came under criticism from a Church of England Bishop.
"Bolton David Gillett claimed success Thursday in his efforts to bring a more positive spirit to Halloween. Gillett launched a campaign last year to persuade retailers to display products that sent a more positive message to children over concerns Halloween placed too much emphasis on the occult. English retailers Sainsbury's and Asda told Gillett that they will be offering lighter fair this season.
Gillett is now turning his attention to the practice of trick-or-treating in an attempt to eradicate all fun from Halloween. Expect more "War on Halloween" from Christian crusaders on the right, and excessively sensitive folks on the left, in the weeks to come.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: art, Asatru, Halloween, litigation, Paganism, Prison, Romuva, The Goddess, Thelema, UK, War on Halloween
9.28.2007
A Few Quick Notes
A somewhat slow news day today, but there are a few smaller items that may be of interest.
The always-excellent legal blog "Religion Clause" has pointed out two recent legal cases of interest to modern Pagans. The first is a prisoner case involving an Asatru inmate:
"In Keen v. Noble, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69629 (ED CA, Sept. 20, 2007), a California federal district court refused to dismiss a federal prisoner's complaint that his free exercise rights were violated when prison authorities refused to provide him with runestones for his Asatru religious practices. However the court agreed with a Magistrate's recommendation to dismiss on qualified immunity grounds plaintiff's complaint that he was denied a hof. The court also held that RFRA does not authorize the award of monetary damages."
So it looks like Runes as a religious tool are allowed within prison (with qualifications for safety), opening a door for similar religious items for modern Pagans and Heathens. The second case, while not involving Paganism, does seem to settle a growing issue being pushed by some Christians.
"Rivera-Alicea v. Gonzalez-Galoffin, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69905 (D PR, Sept. 20, 2007), involves claims by a secretary in Puerto Rico's Department of Justice that she was retaliated against for complaining that "pagan" office Halloween decorations offended her Pentecostal Christian religious beliefs. In rejecting plaintiff's Establishment Clause claim, the Puerto Rico federal district court held: Halloween decorations, like valentines, Easter bunnies, and egg hunts are all secular displays and activities that neither convey religious messages nor constitute religious symbols. Halloween lost its religious and superstitious overtones long ago. It has become instead a commercial holiday enjoyed by communities in its many forms of entertainment."
Secular Halloween decorations, despite the protestations of some conservative Christians, aren't an endorsement of Pagan religion. Rulings like this may also protect Halloween decorations from the complaints of Pagans who find traditional Halloween decorations offensive.
Finally, for my academic-oriented readers, there is an open call for papers for a conference on the subject of religion in comic books and graphic novels. The conference, sponsored by the Luce Program in scripture and literary arts at Boston University, specifically points out that they are looking for works that explore Pagan forms of religiosity within comic books.
"We are particularly interested in the following works and topics, though others will be considered: ... Pagan Missionaries: the works of Moore, Gaiman, and Morrison as mouthpieces for New Religious Movements.
So if you are an academic, and have been looking for a place to present that paper on Alan Moore's "Promethea", now is your chance.
Labels: academia, Asatru, Comics, Halloween, litigation, Paganism, Prison, Religion Clause, Runes
9.22.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A hospital chaplain in Maryland was fired for preventing the Gideons from handing out copies of the New Testament in every hospital room. Jews on First reports that Peninsula Regional Medical Center, a publicly funded non-religious hospital, eventually demanded the resignation of the Rev. Kay Myers when she continued to bring up the health and privacy concerns presented by handing out non-sterile Bibles to every room.
"As director of pastoral care for a community hospital in Maryland, the Rev. Kay Myers halted the placement of sectarian Christian books in patients' rooms. Myers said her decision was one of the carefully measured steps she had taken during her seven-year tenure to move her department to a professional level of pastoral care. The hospital's response was not so measured. The CEO immediately countermanded Myers. Within months she was forced to resign."
Sounds like grounds for litigation to me, in the meantime residents of Maryland might want to avoid a hospital whose administration doesn't respect your health, privacy, or religion.
Monika Ann Dilmaghanian, an adherent of Asatru, has been sentenced for 15 years to life for stabbing her partner. The argument that lead to the stabbing was reportedly over the proper cleansing of a ritual blade.
"Monika Ann Dilmaghanian, 34, had pleaded guilty as charged last month to first-degree felony murder for the April 6 death of 24-year-old Nathan D. Harris at a campground near Causey Reservoir. Defense attorney Bernie Allen - who believes Dilmaghanian is guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter - said she refused to go to trial and seek a lesser conviction because she did not want her children to have to testify against her ... family members agreed that Dilmaghanian acted out of anger and under the influence of alcohol, rather than intentionally."
A friend and co-religionist of Nathan Harris claims that hundreds showed to his funeral, and that he is sure Dilmaghanian meant to murder her husband and will speak against her at any parole hearing.
UU World profiles alternative scouting organizations, including the Pagan-friendly (and founded) Spiral Scouts.
"The Unitarian Universalist Association parted ways with the BSA over those two issues after the BSA withdrew approval in May 1999 for a religious emblem the UUA awarded to Scouts who had earned it through a program of study in their congregations. Since that time some UUs have wanted a more inclusive youth program. SpiralScouts and Navigators are two such groups. Neither group is officially affiliated with the UUA, although UUs may lead them and participate in them. Some groups meet in UU buildings or are sponsored by individual UU congregations. Other UUs continue to participate in Boy Scout programs ... SpiralScouts is directed primarily at children and youth whose families identify as Wiccan or Pagan and with Earth-centered spirituality, but it is open to anyone, says Janet Callahan, SpiralScouts International program director."
It should be interesting to see if Spiral Scouts will continue to make inroads into communities that for one reason or another are dissatisfied with the Boy Scouts.
In an interesting article for those who prefer to practice skyclad or are committed to naturism, Slate.com explores the question of if children are harmed by seeing their parents naked.
"If the kid is younger than 3 years old, it's probably harmless. At least, this is what many adolescent psychiatrists believe; there have been few rigorous studies of the subject. Very young children won't notice anything odd about a parent who prances around the house in the buff. Likewise, babies who breastfeed at 12 months are physically intimate with their mothers and don't think twice about it. Chances are good that a 2- or 3-year-old won't form any lasting memories of seeing his parents in their birthday suits."
The article claims that the issue becomes more complex between 4 and 8 when a child starts to learn the societal norms of dress and privacy. Of course there are still few academic studies on the subject, and naturist groups claim that there isn't any problem with growing up in a clothing-optional house. Many parents seem quite sanguine about the issue as well.
Comic company BOOM! Studios reassures its Pagan readers that their new comic "Salem: Queen of Thorns" won't vilify Pagans and Witches.
"We agree that a comic book that asserts Pagans are evil and destructive might well be considered insensitive, offensive and even slanderous. However, SALEM: QUEEN OF THORNS is not that book. We appreciate your criticisms, but feel they are based on a mistaken understanding of the true content of our story. In SALEM, the religious authorities are an evil force that persecutes innocents in the witch trials. They aren't celebrated in any way and are, in fact, major villains ... More importantly, one of our chief characters, Hannah Foster, is a healer accused of witchcraft. She is in no way the "demonized" villain of the piece. Rather, she is one of the key heroes on a noble journey to combat evil and save the world."
Proof that you shouldn't judge a book by blurb alone.
The Toronto Sun enlists local Witch Tamarra James to help the local soccer team score a goal.
"This ought to do the trick, soccer fans. "Zeus, Lord of Olympus," Tamarra James cries out. "Receive this offering of precious incense and turn your eyes to this place." A cloud crosses the midday sun over BMO Field. A gull keens. A security guard shifts nervously. Ms. James, 56, is high priestess of the Wiccan Church of Canada. She is this country's top witch. We are here, with her deputy witch, Nicole Cooper, 31, to put a spell on Toronto FC. A good spell. A spell to bring a harvest of goals. Or at least one. Starting today, with Columbus in town."
Makes you want to watch the game to see if her prayers were effective.
Finally, Boing Boing links to a post by Aranamuerta on how to make your own Witch Kitchen Jars.
"Making witch kitchen jars and ingredients is easy and inexpensive. Any jar or bottle of any size will do. I collect jars from my own kitchen, from friend's houses, from garage sales, and from one of the thrift shops in town that always carries a vast and bizarre selection for very cheap."
Only 39 days till Samhain! That is all I have for now, have a good day.
Labels: Asatru, Canada, Chaplaincy, Comics, law, naturism, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Salem: Queen of Thorns, skyclad, Spiral Scouts, Unitarian-Universalism, Wicca, Witchcraft
9.21.2007
Update: The Secret List of Approved Books
Today's New York Times has published the leaked lists of approved books for prison chapel libraries. The lists, a part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' controversial "Standardized Chapel Library Project", limits approved books in hopes of eliminating works that "discriminate, disparage, advocate violence or radicalize."
"The federal Bureau of Prisons is under pressure from members of Congress and religious groups to reverse its decision to purge the shelves of prison chapel libraries of all religious books and materials that are not on the bureau's lists of approved resources. Outrage over the bureau's decision has come from both conservatives and liberals, who say it is inappropriate to limit inmates to a religious reading list determined by the government."
You can get a PDF of the list for Pagan books, here. Also of interest might be the Yoruba and Native American lists. From a quick read-through it seems like a list that will make Llewellyn happy, a large chunk of the selections are published by them (including several selections by Silver RavenWolf, D.J. Conway, and Ted Andrews among others). Asatru and Heathenry seems to be well-represented with six books by Steve McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly, along with works by Galina Krasskova, Mark Puryear, and Swain Wodening.
Some of the selections weren't surprising, like Margot Adler's "Drawing Down the Moon" and Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance", but others, like Edgar Cayce's "Gems and Stones", seemed a bit out of place. There is only one book by Aleister Crowley allowed, "The Book of Thoth", and a few titles that seem aimed at Celtic Reconstructionists ("The Apple Branch", "The Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology"). But even with 131 book choices, there are several glaring omissions, including an almost complete lack of academic-oriented Pagan books, not a single book on Thelema, and no books by important founding figures like Gerald Gardner or Doreen Valiente.
But no matter how good (or bad) the list as a whole may be (and we still have no idea who composed the list), it still represents a dangerous encroachment on religious liberties, and has been gaining criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
"The Republican Study Committee, a caucus of some of the most conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives, sent a letter on Wednesday to the bureau's director, Harley G. Lappin, saying, 'We must ensure that in America the federal government is not the undue arbiter of what may or may not be read by our citizens' ... Sojourners, a liberal evangelical group based in Washington, sent an alert to its members, who within 48 hours sent the bureau more than 15,000 e-mail messages urging it to scrap the policy. The issue is also a hot topic on conservative Christian talk radio shows."
But despite the flood of criticisms, the BOP is standing firm and refusing to reconsider its policies. So it looks like changes to this newly restrictive measure will either have to come in the form of legislation from congress, or the class-action lawsuit currently in motion. In the meantime, it looks like the prison system's "secret chiefs" get to decide which books Pagan prisoners can read.
Labels: Asatru, books, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Llewellyn, New York Times, Paganism, Prison, Religion, Wicca
9.10.2007
The Secret List of Approved Books
The New York Times weighs in on the growing controversy concerning a new policy set by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which tightly restricts approved religious titles to prison libraries.
"Behind the walls of federal prisons nationwide, chaplains have been quietly carrying out a systematic purge of religious books and materials that were once available to prisoners in chapel libraries. The chaplains were directed by the Bureau of Prisons to clear the shelves of any books, tapes, CDs and videos that are not on a list of approved resources. In some prisons, the chaplains have recently dismantled libraries that had thousands of texts collected over decades, bought by the prisons, or donated by churches and religious groups."
This secret list (the BOP won't release it to the public) claims that 20 religious categories ("from Bahaism to Yoruba") have a list of "up to" (but in some cases, most likely less than) 150 approved titles. These titles have been selected by "chaplains and scholars" (but no list of these individuals has been released, either), in order to avoid works that "discriminate, disparage, advocate violence or radicalize." Considering the huge gray areas in terms like "radicalize" or "disparage" it is unsurprising that the move has already sparked a class-action lawsuit and serious criticism.
"Government does have a legitimate interest to screen out things that tend to incite violence in prisons," Mr. [Douglas] Laycock [professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School] said. "But once they say, 'We're going to pick 150 good books for your religion, and that's all you get,' the criteria has become more than just inciting violence. They're picking out what is accessible religious teaching for prisoners, and the government can't do that without a compelling justification. Here the justification is, the government is too busy to look at all the books, so they're going to make their own preferred list to save a little time, a little money."
In addition, according to religious scholars who have seen the list, the title selection is "inhibiting", and favors "a bias toward evangelical popularism and Calvinism". So naturally, one has to wonder what the book selections are for modern Pagan and Heathen religions. Which books were approved for Wicca? For Asatru? Which "experts" picked the books for these categories, and how many titles total are allowed in prison libraries? Have innocent non-extremist books been removed because they didn't make the list?
"The bureau has not provided additional money to prisons to buy the books on the lists, so in some prisons, after the shelves were cleared of books not on the lists, few remained."
No matter what your opinion concerning the rights of prisoners, this move seems completely misguided and almost designed to cause controversy and confusion amongst the religious organizations that provide chaplaincy services to inmates. I'll be watching this story as it develops, and if I can I'll try to find out the "approved" Pagan books. If you are a Pagan/Heathen working in the prison system, and have any information on removed books, please drop me a note by leaving a comment on this post, or sending me an e-mail.
Labels: Asatru, books, Federal Bureau of Prisons, New York Times, Paganism, Prison, Religion, Wicca
9.06.2007
Where Asatru is Going
Astrid at The Northern Path brings to my attention a series of podcasts interviewing representatives of national Heathen organizations. The program "Ravencast" has just posted an interview with Heimgest of the Odinic Rite.
"In our continuation of organizational interviews we were very pleased to speak with Heimgest of the Odinic Rite. During the interview Heimgest touches on many subjects such as prison ministry work, environmental activism, and programs for children."
Previous interviews included Patricia Lafayllve of The Troth, and Stephen McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly. Next month they plan to interview a representative from the Asatru Alliance.
This sounds like an excellent way to see where Asatru as a whole is going, and how different Heathen organizations envision the future. Kudos to "Ravencast" for this excellent service to Asatru and the wider Pagan/Heathen community.
7.04.2007
The Pagans Are Rallying!
This Independence Day, a Pagan rally is being held in Washington D.C. celebrating the recent victory to have the Pentacle symbol approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and to push forward an agenda of true Pagan equality in the eyes of the U.S. government.
"Join us to celebrate a major victory for Pagan Religious Rights, now that we have secured the Veterans' Pentacle! Help us voice a further agenda for Pagan Religious Rights: We want a Pagan chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces. And we need to keep the focus on the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept Thor's Hammer, religious emblem of the Asatruar, and the Druids' Awen symbol ... While we have won the quest for the Veterans' Pentacle, the Pentacle is a single victory in the longer campaign for universal religious freedom. We need to hold a clear intent: we want to further the free expression of all religions, Pagan and otherwise. And we need to send that message now, while America still remembers that a department of the federal government systematically denied Wiccan soldiers their full rights."
Speaking at the rally with be representatives from Circle Sanctuary, The Troth, The Military Pagan Network, The ADF, Sacred Well Congregation, Asatru Folk Assembly, and the Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. This well-orchestrated gathering begins at noon and culminates with a ritual lead by author and Steerswoman of the Troth Diana Paxson that will invoke the Founding Fathers to guard our religious freedoms.
"The people who created this country were pioneers and rebels, risking their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor, to establish a nation in which everyone was free to find his or her own path. The least we can do, especially when it is so much to our own advantage, is to carry on the work that they began."
News of the rally is already starting to spread, and The Washington Posts' On Faith blog has devoted their July 4th panelist questions to the issues brought up by this Pagan rally. Most interestingly, is the question of if they would vote for a Pagan politician, the answers may surprise you.
"I am less interested in whether a candidate agrees with me on theology than whether he or she agrees with me on public policy. Our founding fathers had a great respect for the Roman republic. I like them would be very tempted to vote for a pagan like Cicero if he were running for office today." - Thomas J. Reese, Jesuit Priest and editor of the Catholic weekly magazine "America".
"When it comes to choosing candidates, my approach is on the basis of issues, not identities. If a pagan candidate takes stances that I agree with, I would have no hesitation voting for him or her. The same goes for a candidate from any other religion or for an atheist candidate." - Pamela K. Taylor, co-founder of Muslims for Progressive Values
Also adding to the discussion is rally participant Diana Paxson, who is a "guest voice" to the On Faith blog.
"America has always been noted for creativity, in religion as in all else. Each new faith, whether immigrant or homegrown, enriches our culture. Today, when Buddhist temples and Islamic mosques may be found in many parts of the U.S., one might wonder why the VA denied a Wiccan veteran the right to have a pentacle on his headstone for ten years, and the Army has still not hired a Pagan chaplain. Paganism does not seek to replace other religions, but Pagan perspectives can revitalize the ways in which we relate to our history, our ancestors, and especially, in this time of climate crisis, to the environment. Rather than resisting, America should welcome the Pagan contribution to our cultural diversity."
I would love to hear reports from the rally, numbers? Pictures? Personal accounts? Send them to my e-mail address or post about it here in the comments. I would love to do a follow-up of what is sure to be a successful event. Have a happy and safe 4th of July, and let everyone's freedom ring!
Labels: Asatru, AU, Circle Sanctuary, Diana Paxson, Druidry, On Faith, The Troth, Veteran Pentacle Quest, Wicca
6.06.2007
Imprisoned Asatru and Thor's Hammer
David L. Hudson Jr. at the First Amendment Center reports on a recent legal case in which an imprisoned adherent to Asatru (Nordic Paganism) won the right to wear a Thor's Hammer pendant. Even more remarkable is the fact that the prisoner, Forest Fisher, represented himself in court.
"Inmate Forest Fisher sued the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) and various prison officials after they denied his request for Thor's Hammer, while allowing inmates of other religions to wear various medallions. Fisher, who proceeded pro se - without an attorney - contended that these actions violated his First Amendment to freely exercise his religious faith, the federal law known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and his equal-protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment."
The Virginia Department of Corrections' case wasn't helped by the fact that prison officials denied Fisher his legal due process in his applications to wear a Thor's Hammer.
"However, in his May 25 ruling in Fisher v. Virginia, U.S. Magistrate Michael F. Urbanski took issue with the prison officials' failure to follow their own procedure in submitting Fisher's request to the Faith Review Committee ... Urbanski stressed that the defendants' arguments "flatly ignore the fact that Fisher submitted the appropriate paperwork to the appropriate institutional employee for FRC consideration, but that the employee failed to forward his request as required under the VDOC FRC procedures." Because of this, Urbanski ruled that there were enough disputed factual issues to merit a trial on Fisher's constitutional claims. He also denied the defendants' request for qualified immunity, a doctrine that enables government officials to avoid liability for constitutional or statutory violations if they do not violate clearly established rights."
It is cases like this (and the Veteran Pentacle Quest) that remind you that an unwilling bureaucracy can be just as efficient at denying constitutionally protected rights to its citizens as a tyrannical government. It is especially easy for such things to happen in the American prison system where punishment is emphasized (and often encouraged) over rehabilitation, and the public empathy runs low. If this one Asatruar hadn't stepped up, the quiet banning of a legitimate religious symbol could have continued for years. If religious freedom doesn't apply to all of us equally, then we don't have religious freedom.
Labels: Asatru, First Amendment Center, Forest Fisher, Paganism, Prison, Thor's Hammer
5.23.2007
Veteran Pentacle: The Next Step
Now that the VA has settled its suit, and the Pentacle symbol for veteran's grave stones and markers has been approved, Pagan leaders and activists are focusing on the next steps.
"We have seen how long it took to get the Pentacle. Surely we can manifest continued focus on Pagan religious rights issues, so that we don't wait another ten years for our next victory. We need to voice a further agenda for Pagan religious rights now, while America still remembers that a department of the federal government stonewalled the Pentacle for political reasons. And we need to voice our demand for religious freedom publicly, and invite the media to attend as well ... Now that we have won the Pentacle, there are many other issues to put forward. Advocating a military chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces is one of the most pressing issues. Adding the symbols of more Pagan denominations to those religious emblems approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs is another vital issue."
A mass-rally and ritual is being planned for July 4th in Lafayette Square Park, in front of the White House and catty-corner to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Speaking about the need for a Pagan military chaplain will be Rev. J. Michael Akins, executive director of the Military Pagan Network and Marci Drewry from the Sacred Well Congregation. The Sacred Well Congregations (based in Texas) was recently dealt a setback in the quest for a Pagan military chaplain when a perfect candidate was sabotaged through military "catch-22s".
"On July 6, [Don Larsen] applied to become the first Wiccan chaplain in the U.S. armed forces, setting off an extraordinary chain of events. By year's end, his superiors not only denied his request but also withdrew him from Iraq and removed him from the chaplain corps, despite an unblemished service record...Larsen, 44, blames only himself. He said he was naive to think he could switch from Pentecostalism to Wicca in the same way that chaplains routinely change from one Christian denomination to another."
In addition to rallying for a Pagan chaplain, representatives from A Druid Fellowship (ADF), The Troth, and the Asatru Folk Assembly will be present to ramp up efforts to have two more modern Pagan symbols approved for military headstones and markers. The Thor's Hammer, and the Awen.
"Steve McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly will speak about Thor's Hammer: 'Modern-day Asatru has a very high percentage of veterans. We've worn the hammer amulet into combat. It's only right that the same symbol be on our headstones.' Rev. Skip Ellison, Archdruid of Ar nDraoicht Fein, will speak about the Druids' Awen symbol. Skip points out 'It is important to remember that freedom of religion means freedom for all religions to worship as they choose.' Diana L. Paxson [from The Troth], acclaimed author and Pagan Elder, will lead us in circle as we invoke the Founders of Our Nation. This will be the first public Pagan ritual in Lafayette Square Park, in the President's front yard."
Also, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Selena Fox from Circle Sanctuary will be there to talk about the Veteran Pentacle victory.
"Selena proposes continued unity of action among diverse Pagan groups for religious liberty: "United We Stand. United We Win!" Selena and her Pagan rights group the Lady Liberty League will continue the struggle on behalf of all Pagans nationally."
It is heartening to see such unity of purpose among these groups. The victory over the government on the Pentacle issue seems to have galvanized the larger modern Pagan community into action, especially now that winning doesn't seem so far-fetched. One wonders how much larger this coalition will get, will we see more reconstructionist groups join in, or larger eclectic Pagan associations like the Fellowship of Isis? In any event, it looks like these Pagan groups are smartly building on the momentum and press already generated by the Veteran Pentacle Quest, and may give rise to greater cooperation among our diverse faiths in future religious rights cases.
Labels: Asatru, Druidry, Paganism, Veteran Pentacle Quest, Wicca
4.10.2007
Asatru Gains Swedish Recognition
Astrid from The Northern Path blog has posted the news that the Swedish Heathen group Sveriges Asatrosamfund has achieved recognition from the government as a registered religious organization.
"Sveriges Asatrosamfund has finally become a registered religious body. Of course, we have been a religious body all along. According to Swedish law, a religious body is a fellowship for religious activity, which includes organizing services. Ever since the foundation of SAs, we have been this type of religious fellowship, organizing ceremonies and blots (which qualifies under the legal definition of “services”). In other words, SAs has always been a proper religious body according to the law, but has not been registered as such in a legal sense. Now we are. This emphasizes and makes it clear that we are a serious spiritual alternative, not merely a non-profit organization."
Unfortunately, due to Swedish law, the group can't perform legally binding weddings or other related services until they reach a membership of 3000. Despite this technicality, Chairman Henrik Hallgren appears confident that this hurdle will be overcome soon. This new development means that Asatru is now an officially recognized faith in all of the traditional Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland)
For further updates please check out the Northern Path blog (and add it to your blogroll). In addition to the story concerning official recognition, the blog has a translated news article concerning the Swedish group's Spring Blot in Uppsala.
* Some may want to include Finland in that grouping, but Finnish Heathenism is a somewhat different animal than Asatru. You can find an interesting article on the subject, here.
Labels: Asatru, Sweden, The Northern Path
2.20.2007
Asatru in Prison (Again)
Much as Wiccans used to only get media coverage on Halloween (in Salem), so it seems that Asatru (aka Odinism or Heathenry) only gets coverage in the context of prison. This time it concerns a complaint filed by inmate Darrell Hoadley (serving life for a torture-murder). Hoadley is requesting several ritual items and religious privileges that he says are given to more mainstream faiths but denied the small incarcerated Asatru group in South Dakota.
"An inmate serving life in prison for a torture murder that sent two co-defendants to death row wants a federal judge to approve a toy sword and other items and privileges for the practice of an ancient European religion...Hoadley said he's suing prison staff because they have denied some of his requests while members of other religions have gotten similar privileges...Hoadley's lawsuit asks for 23 ritual items, 10 reference materials and other requests, including visits from people who also practice the religion."
While many of the requested items are already available, the prison says that some items can't be approved due to pending litigation in the courts regarding the Asatru faith (no further information is given). The article also talks to Mike Murray from The Asatru Alliance to give some background.
"Asatru has more than 10,000 members in the United States but is not organized, so an exact number is hard to come by, said Mike Murray, who said he has practiced the religion for more than 40 years and runs the site asatru.org. "There's no supreme religious leader. It's more or less on a personal level, even though there are groups that gather and call themselves kindreds. And I know there are hundreds of them," he said in a telephone interview from his home near Phoenix."
Many Asatru aren't very forgiving to those who dishonor themselves or their faith in the manner he did. Some of the comments left on the article make that pretty plain.
"This nithing is not a follower of the Nine Noble Virtues. He is about as Asatru as a Klansman is Christian. If he pretends to follow the Norse/Germanic ways then he is headed for Nifelheim, where Hel punishes the murderers. Nothing he does will lighten his wyrd. He is a nithing criminal and his deeds are a stain on the holy name of Asatru. Let him rot in his cell and die as dishonorably as he has lived. Do not look to convicts and torturers if you wish to see a good example of what Asatru is really about. Look to Freya Aswynn, Diana Paxson, Galina Krasskova and other non-racist, law-abiding and respected leaders. Not all of us espouse violence and cruelty. Our religion, with it's lawspeakers at Thing, contains the very foundation of the modern American legal system."
Asatru has a complex dynamic with its incarcerated co-religionists, I think some comments made by Heathen blogger Dave Haxton on this blog last year encapsulate this.
"...the first principle of Heathenry is that an individual is responsible for their own actions, and that one should accept the consequences of those actions...Now, all that being said, I also believe that this is an example of a failure on the part of mainstream Asatrurar to take prison ministry seriously: we need more folks to volunteer to go into the system and *teach* the inmates about heathenry, and not just depend on sending pamphlets and books. And the prison system needs to allow this ...
I personally went into the Indiana State Prison at Greencastle once a month over a period of two years aiding in kindred formation and getting the guys started out on the right foot. It's frustrating as Hel: of all the folks I worked with there was only one or two who really "got it" and weren't just looking for an excuse to get out of chores. But one of those men actually turned down a parole offer because he felt he'd not paid enough back to society for his misdeeds. That's what being a heathen means. Potentially we have a lot to offer inmates: we're not a "religion of instant redemption", and we can't sprinkle anyone with magic fairy dust and eliminate their crimes in the eyes of the Holy Powers. But we can show them how they can do so for themselves: that's the power and virtue of the heathen path."
As Asatru continues to grow, it will be up to the various Asatru organizations and leaders to take point on explaining the nature of the faith to those looking to sensationalize "Asatru in Prison" stories. I think people like Dave Haxton (and the Heathen blogging community) show a way to do this that doesn't dismiss the crimes of the people involved, and explains their faith in a clear manner.
12.30.2006
Religious News 2006 (Part 2)
Yesterday I wrote about what the mainstream press thought were the top religion stories of 2006, and today I present the first part of my top ten news stories that involve or affect modern Paganism. A ongoing theme this year seems to be legal issues and discrimination, but there were some interesting quirks and stories that fall outside the issue of litigation. 2006 has been an eventful year, and it was difficult narrowing it down to just ten stories, but I think I have picked the ones that had the greatest impact now and for the future. What follows are my picks for the bottom six stories of 2006, the top four will follow tomorrow.
10. The Rachel Bevilacqua custody case. What happens when your religion is used against you? Rachel "Rev. Magdalen" Bevilacqua was barred from all contact with her son after photos of her at an adults-only Subgenius event were submitted by her son's father as proof that she was an unfit parent. The original judge called Bevilacqua "perverted" and "mentally ill" before stepping down under a growing scrutiny of his actions. The case is still in litigation (for nearly a year now) as the biological father's lawyers keep trying to delay a final decision on custody. This case is emblematic of the ongoing issues Pagans and other minority religions face in divorce and custody cases. Part of this problem is the fact that many adherents of minority faiths don't have the money to hire decent lawyers, while often facing the combined wealth of the Christian families on the opposing side.
9. Supreme Court allows entheogenic tea. In a unanimous decision the Supreme Court ruled (full opinion, here) that members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal may legally import and use the entheogenic tea hoasca. The tea which contains traces of DMT is banned by the Controlled Substances Act. This is seen as a blow to the Bush administration who has been actively fighting this case for years. The court ruled that the government has failed to supply a "compelling interest" to limit the religious practices of the group, Justice Roberts said that the government was taking a "zero tolerance approach." This is widely seen as a triumph of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and could also open the doors to other religious groups who feel that the ritualized use of entheogenic substances are an important part of their practice.
8. Religious Right tactics backfire in favor of Pagans. We are used to different factions of the Religious Right fighting to put Christianity "back" into schools and other government-funded areas, but this year we witnessed this tactic backfire (at least) twice and the true ramifications of their actions become more clear. First the Brunswick County Board of Education in North Carolina tried to approve a new policy that would allow the disbursement of religious tracts in their schools. But after Llewellyn publications offered to disburse free Pagan books through local groups, the board got cold feet, tabled the vote, and spawned one of my favorite news photos of the year. Then later this year Falwell's Liberty Counsel threatened an elementary school in Charlottesville with legal action if it didn't allow two children to distribute Bible-school flyers, the school board fearing legal action started allowing religious material which opened the way for a local Pagan group to advertise their Yule event (much to the chagrin of local Christians). Do you think that since their fingers have been singed they will have learned their lesson?
7. Growing freedoms for Pagans outside America. This year saw all sorts of positive news for Pagans outside of America. Greek Pagans were allowed the right to perform public rituals and legally exist in the Orthodox-dominated country, Romania has officially recognized Witchcraft, and Iceland has increased the number of Asatru priests who can perform legal ceremonies. Meanwhile, a recent examination of census data makes modern Paganism the fastest growing religious category in Australia. It looks like the re-birth of Paganism is growing strong roots just about everywhere it exists.
6. American teens are experimenting with Wicca/Witchcraft in ever-growing numbers. The evangelical polling organization