5.05.2008
Zeus, by Jove!
Novelist and travel writer Tom Stone has released a new book entitled "Zeus: A Journey Through Greece in the Footsteps of a God" that traces the birth, death, rebirth, and eventual decline of the great Greek thunderer.
"Lusty, lightning-tempered, polyamorous Zeus was the most powerful and charismatic of the Greek gods, and the progenitor of some of the most enduring stories of world mythology. In Zeus, author Tom Stone takes readers on a 4,000-year journey through the god's tumultuous life, from his origins as a sky god in the Russian steppes and his scandalous reign on Mt. Olympus to his approaching end in a palace storeroom in Christian Constantinople. Crossing the length and breadth of Greece, Stone and his Iranian wife explore the most significant sites in Greek myth, from mountaintops to subterranean caves, Olympus to Crete, and Mycenae to Macedonia. Along the way, he reveals how Zeus's story grew from the soil of Greece and changed along with the country's history, all with a brilliant mix of erudition and bravura storytelling."
Some Pagans and Heathens, most notably Hrafknell at A Heathen's World, wondered at the content of the book. Was it simply a travelogue with Zeus as the hook? Were there any deeper religious impulses in writing a work about the life of Zeus? In response to these questions Tom Stone has started his own blog, and essentially outs himself as a (qualified) polytheist.
"I followed up my comments in the Foreward by dropping very heavy hints along the way that for me, personally, the presence of the Greek deities in the Greek landscape was quite palpable (can't say the same about LA!). And - more important - that a belief in them was not only preferable, but much more "realistic" than a belief in a single deity (except, perhaps, Mother Earth)."
Stone also unfavorably (to put it mildly) compares monotheism to polytheism.
"I believe that most monotheism is fundamentally 'evil' in the terrible ways that it attempts to impose its structures and strictures on great masses of people, espousing its glorious virtues with one hand and, with the other, attempting to eradicate all opposing beliefs (as the Christians tried to do with the Greek religion. - among others...). In contrast, polytheism and pantheism not only admit each individual's (and community's) personal relationship to the Ineffable, but their writings and oral traditions embrace not only the good but the bad in the way their deities manifest themselves."
Stone's religious mindset and opinions came about from twenty years of "rumination and research" after being being "haunted" by images and stories of Zeus at Crete. Opinions that Stone promises to further expand on at his new blog (which I look forward to reading). So "Zeus" is no mere travelogue, but a somewhat veiled religious pilgrimage, one that could open new doors of insight and discussion into the history and future of Western polytheism.
Labels: books, Greece, Paganism, Polytheism, Tom Stone, Zeus
4.21.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
To start off, happy birthday to Rome, which was founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus on April 21, 753 BC. On that day a pagan festival ensues that some call the "Christmas of Rome", and hundreds dress in traditional Roman military garb.
The 'Natale di Roma' includes parades, fireworks, banquets, and gladiator shows. For more information check out this Italian web site devoted to the holiday.
The Wall Street Journal shows that gods and goddesses can indeed change over time. Representatives and mediums of anticommunist ancestor deities residing in Taiwan are softening their stance towards China as political relations thaw between the two nations.
"...after being anti-China for decades, some of the gods around here are having a change of heart. At least that's what their representatives say. The keeper of the temple of Lee Kuang-chi'en, a colonel in the Nationalist army who died fighting the Chinese in the 1940s, says Mr. Lee now wants to return to his homeland in peace. Su Ai-chih, a 67-year-old retiree and spiritual medium, says a woman who was drowned by Chinese soldiers and turned into a goddess has even asked believers for help in reconnecting with her family on the mainland. 'The goddess possessed me and told me that she wanted to go home,' she adds."
This is a perfect illustration of polytheistic theology in action. Gods can change, practice can change, and those who do not change risk losing worship. There is no singular text or law holding these faiths in a static position.
"Fortunately, Chinese folk religion -- a widely practiced mix of indigenous beliefs and elements of other religions -- is remarkably forgiving. Not only does it often co-exist alongside other beliefs, its worshippers can create, discard or modify gods. That's particularly true of gods who aren't considered to be ling -- effective or powerful. As ties between China and Taiwan improved, Kinmen's anticommunist gods started to lose their ling. 'Chinese folk religion doesn't have a scripture, so everyone has his way of interpreting a god,' says Chi Chang-hui, an anthropologist on Kinmen who has studied anticommunist cults. 'And nowadays, that is less hostile to the mainland.'"
The gods and worshipers remain, but to survive in different eras, they adapt and adjust (or they fade away). A common event throughout the history of polytheism, one that can seem alien to those growing up in a culture dominated by a "religion of the book".
If you think the myth of "The Burning Times" is overblown and harmful, wait till you start to explore the Christian persecution complex. A "discursive entity", according to Professor Elizabeth A. Castelli, "impervious to critique, self-generating and self-sustaining."
"This trend mobilizes the language of religious persecution to shut down political debate and critique by characterizing any position not in alignment with this politicized version of Christianity as an example of antireligious bigotry and persecution. Moreover, it routinely deploys the archetypal figure of the martyr as a source of unquestioned religious and political authority."
The article is wide-ranging and covers a growing spiritual militarism within Christianity that is fueled by a deep-seated (though often illusory) sense of persecution. The Reveler web site offers only an excerpt, for the entire article head over to the Differences journal page, where you can download the entire piece, along with several related works.
Speaking of "The Burning Times", Christian blogger John Morehead interviews Christopher S. Mackay about his brand new translation of the infamous "Malleus Maleficarum" ("The Hammer of Witches"). A tome that is blamed for enabling the execution of thousands of innocent men and women for the crime of "witchcraft".
"I'd say that the Malleus was responsible for the acceptance of a new "paradigm" (in the sense advocated by Thomas Kuhn) about witchcraft. That is, the dissemination and widespread acceptance of the point of view (or world view) that underlay and instigated the so-called "craze" of witch hunting in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries can be attributed (ultimately) to the Malleus."
The new version, which is apparently far more coherent and readable than previous translations, gives us a means of understanding how this establishment of "diabolism" (Satanic witchcraft) still lingers in our world today, and helped inform such tragedies as the "Satanic panics" of the 80s and early 90s. An important text to have, though I think I'll wait for the soft-cover edition, since the two-volume hardcover runs for several hundred dollars.
Over at "Blog o' Gnosis", Anne Hill criticizes efforts by Reclaiming to reach out to racial minorities in order to make the group more "diverse". Hill questions why the organization should be on a diversity recruitment drive when they don't even have their own "house" in order.
"...the obsession with proselytizing, I mean bringing in new blood - no, I mean reaching out to others who could be helped by people like us. As several people at my table mentioned, other religions are not diverse, and they seem to have no problem with it. Wasn't the point of a spiritual community to give aid to its members? Why were we even discussing strategies for bringing different kinds of people in, when we were gathered for a rare opportunity to meet each other face to face? It was at this point that I had to point out the essential backwardness of our discussion topic. Reclaiming is insular. Painfully so, embarrassingly so. We really needed to be asking the opposite question: why don't we get out more? Why aren't more of us involved in interfaith activities? There's plenty of diversity there, but that would involve going to meet others rather than reeling them in to us. Why don't more folks even make the trek to San Jose for Pantheacon each year? Isn't there anything we can learn from other Pagans?"
The issue of expanding racial diversity (and similar issues) is, according to Hill, a "red herring" that prevents Reclaiming from working through deep divisions that already exist within the community. A state of affairs that has distanced several Reclaiming veterans from the tradition they helped create.
In a quick final note, a Llewellyn Journal article tells you what you really need to do.
"The only thing that we as new magickians really need to do is rely on a made-by-reputation company like Llewellyn Publications, because nothing is as easy as it seems."
Indeed, nothing is as easy as it seems.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: China, Christianity, John Morehead, Llewellyn, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Polytheism, Reclaiming, Rome, Satanic Panic, Taiwan, The Burning Times, Witch
2.03.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
I know I just did a Pagan News of Note a few days ago, but quite a few interesting articles and stories have popped up, and I didn't want to ignore any of them. To start off, we have some coverage of last nights Pagan-led protest of the Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant. It seems the pageant's board is trying to now deny religion had any influence in their decision to reject Stephanie Conover as a judge, and in turn paint the protesting Pagans and bullying thugs.
"But Miss Toronto Tourism board member Ainslie Baillie denied Conover's rejection was tied to Wiccan beliefs. 'This pagan conference was calling up our sponsors and threatening them,' she said. 'I was just told that she wasn't qualified. A lot of it has to do with judging experience, not religion.'"
Religious bias will be a hard thing to deny since Conover has it in writing. It should be interesting to see how this shakes out once the snubbed Wiccan beauty queen files a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission next week.
Meanwhile, Chas Clifton reports that Wiccan chaplain Patrick McCollum will be a participant in an upcoming panel briefing for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
"He will talk about the differential treatment that Wiccans and Pagans receive in government institutions and programs, with the hope that our legislators will enact new policies to further pluralism and end religious discrimination. This briefing will be held in Washington, D.C .on February 8th, 2008 and will become an official part of the Congressional Record. This is obviously an incredible honor and it will be the first time in US history that a Wiccan has been selected to present a briefing to advise the United States Government. He reports he will also be sworn in to the Goddess, which is also an important first."
This is a big deal, a milestone. You'll hear more from me on this issue in the near future, be sure to check back to the USCCR site since they usually post reports on all briefings.
For a little theological exercise, check out the latest issue of Zeek, a Jewish journal of thought and culture, where author Jay Michaelson explores polytheism and nonduality.
"With this understanding, polytheism and polymorphism are more accurate, not less, than traditional monotheism, because they recognize that whatever the ultimate is, it cannot be expressed in a single manifestation. Again, this is not necessarily radical: the psalmist knew this, the ancient polytheistic Israelites knew this, and anyone who is willing to be curious about spirit can know it as well. The pious may label some of these instantiations of the divine as demons, or foreign gods, or worse, but to the nondualist, these are all, from the sublime to the sinister, pathways of knowledge of the one."
It is rare that we get serious theological explorations of polytheism, so I urge my readers to head over there and take in the whole article.
The Times posts a book review of "AD 381: Heretics, Pagans and the Christian State", by Charles Freeman, the author of the controversial book "The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason". AD 381 refers to the year in which the Emperor Theodosius required all his Christian subjects to believe in Nicene orthodoxy as opposed to Arianism (ten years later he go on to stamp out the last vestiges of paganism in the Roman Empire). According to the book, it was around 381 that Christianity became a "servant of an authoritarian state" and began in earnest the persecution and destruction of those who had once persecuted them.
"The Jesus of the gospels, poor, outcast, uncontaminated by worldly power, had been an apt figurehead for a persecuted religion. But he now seemed a less appropriate role model, and the church's response was to upgrade his divinity, equating him with the angry, bellicose God of the old testament, who seemed likelier to prove an effective ally in the empire's military engagements. The persecution not only of heretics but of all non-Christians was a natural result of Theodosius's policy. The pagan gods were reclassified as evil spirits, and their shrines demolished. Synagogues, too, were destroyed, and it was decreed that no more should be built. Jews were debarred from all honours and dignities and from public office. The threat of eternal punishment in hell for heretics and unbelievers entered Christian doctrine, a refinement, Freeman notes, unknown to religious thought in the classical world. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, declared, when plague broke out in the city, that it should be welcomed because Jews and pagans would now be thrown into hell more quickly, while Christians would speed to heaven."
The book is being released on Feb. 7th in the UK (I don't have a release day for the U.S.), I'm sure it will be a big hit with the Christian book-buying public.
In a final note I wanted to plug the new blog, Women and Spirituality, which gathers a number of prominent members of the women's spirituality and Goddess movements including Carol P. Christ, Charlene Spretnak, Donna Read, and Starhawk. The most recent entry is from Starhawk who discusses the festival of Brigid, and how it became a politically oriented ritual within Reclaiming.
"That tradition started back the year Ronald Reagan was elected, in 1980. By Winter Solstice a number of us were talking about our feeling of political despair. We decided to do a ritual about it, on Brigid's feast, as she seemed to preside over things that were relevant to our fears about nuclear weapons and the erosion of care. We had a beautiful ritual, in which we all spoke of our fears and sense of powerlessness over bowls of salt water, transformed the energy, and then one by one lit candles at a cauldron and danced with them. The ritual also transformed us: a few months later we were deeply involved in a nonviolent direct action at a nuclear power plant. By the next year, we were blockaded a nuclear weapons lab. Had we been able to foresee the events of the next few decades, our despair might have overwhelmed us. Instead, we became activists, around nuclear weapons, then nuclear war and militarism, around issues of human rights and women's rights and gay rights and anti-racism and AIDS and the environment and the list goes on and on..."
Certainly a blog worth checking out, and adding to your blogroll.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: books, Canada, Charles Freeman, Pagan Blogs, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Polytheism, Starhawk, Stephanie Conover, theology, Wicca, Women and Spirituality, Zeek
12.08.2007
Greek Gods Come to Television
News has come out that Ben Stiller has optioned a new book for development as a television comedy series. The book in question? "Gods Behaving Badly" by Marie Phillips. The book checks in with the Greek pantheon, now sharing a flat in London, to find them living a very modern (and mundane) existence.
Cover to the American edition of the book.
"Come down in the world since their days on Mount Olympus, the gods are now crammed together in a run-down town house where they continue their eternal squabbles and plotting. Phillips has given each of the gods appropriately modern - and fairly unimaginative - occupations: Aphrodite, goddess of love, works as a phone sex operator; Dionysus, god of wine, runs a nightclub; Artemis, goddess of the hunt, walks dogs for a living."
From what I can glean, it seems very much like Neil Gaiman's "American Gods", with an emphasis placed on the story of Orpheus (instead of Balder, as in Gaimain's novel). According to this news story, Stiller's Red Hour Films are currently searching for a writer to translate the work to the small screen. Is the world ready for a comedy television series starring Zeus, Dionysus, Apollo, and Artemis?
As for the book itself, it is being released to stores on December 10th (though you can order it now from Amazon), and I look forward to giving it a read-through. The reviews have been middling, but I'm a sucker for stories infused with classical myths.
Labels: Ben Stiller, books, Gods Behaving Badly, Marie Phillips, Paganism, Polytheism, Television
11.30.2007
Theological Fun With Pope Benedict
Pope Benedict XVI has released his newest encyclical on the theme of Christian hope. Entitled "Spe Salvi" (saved by hope), the work muses on Christian salvation, redemption, and the role of prayer in Christian life, but it wouldn't be Benedict (the artist formerly known as Cardinal Ratzinger) without inflating the triumphal claims of Catholicism at the expense of polytheist forms of religion!
"Paul reminds the Ephesians that before their encounter with Christ they were "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). Of course he knew they had had gods, he knew they had had a religion, but their gods had proved questionable, and no hope emerged from their contradictory myths. Notwithstanding their gods, they were "without God" and consequently found themselves in a dark world, facing a dark future ... Here too we see as a distinguishing mark of Christians the fact that they have a future... Myth had lost its credibility; the Roman State religion had become fossilized into simple ceremony which was scrupulously carried out, but by then it was merely "political religion". Philosophical rationalism had confined the gods within the realm of unreality. The Divine was seen in various ways in cosmic forces, but a God to whom one could pray did not exist."
There are quite a few problems with Benedict's argument, a primary one is the confusion of mythological stories with the living and breathing religion being practiced at the time. The assumption that Roman polytheists had no hope for a pleasant afterlife, when in fact they had a systematic afterlife that included judgment, rewards, and punishments, and the characterization of Roman religious ritual as a clockwork obligation that had no belief or passion. The bugbear here for Benedict is the specter of "philosophical rationalism", which along with relativism leads (in his view) to all manner of horrors, including the destruction of Christianity (and which, in his view, drained the life out of Roman polytheism).
Not that we should expect a fair hearing from the Pontiff, after all, this is the same Pope who claims that the Nazis were a "Neo-Pagan" invention, and not a product spawned from centuries of Christian antisemitism. Having said that, there were some other interesting things said in the Pope's latest missive to the world, including some words on prayer that won't make certain evangelical Christians very happy.
"He emphasized that prayer should not be isolating and should not focus on superficial objectives. Nor can people pray against others, he said. "To pray is not to step outside history and withdraw to our own private corner of happiness," he said."
It seems very likely that he is pointing his finger at prosperity gospel folks and certain stripes of "prayer warriors", who "target" people of influence with prayer. It should be interesting if any reporters pick up on this jab at non-Catholic forms of Christianity. As for the Pope and Paganism, you would think that a man as learned as Benedict would hesitate to create religious straw-men to bat down. There are plenty of valid criticism of polytheistic systems, but portraying Roman polytheists as without hope and "lost" to nihilistic darkness is petty and untrue.
Labels: Benedict XVI, Catholicism, Myth, Paganism, Polytheism, Rome
11.13.2007
When Theologians Attack!
A few weeks ago I linked to an L.A. Times editorial by classical scholar Mary Lefkowitz. Lefkowitz argued for a return to polytheism, specifically Greek polytheism, and extolled its superiority over monotheism.
"Ancient Greek religion gives an account of the world that in many respects is more plausible than that offered by the monotheistic traditions. Greek theology openly discourages blind confidence based on unrealistic hopes that everything will work out in the end. Such healthy skepticism about human intelligence and achievements has never been needed more than it is today."
You didn't think the monotheists were going to take that lying down did you? So two
"...a few theologians apparently have forgotten all the struggles of the prophets, the sages and Jesus. They cast wistful eyes at what seems like a paradise lost of religious tolerance and inclusiveness that is supposed to have characterized Greco-Roman polytheism but, in truth, never did ... Polytheism leaves us with a fragmented world of chaos and a failure to see things as a whole. For that reason, we are convinced that only a genuine monotheism can serve as the basis for a truly inclusive mode of thinking and acting in our time."
Being Christians, their argument is peppered with scriptural references, and they argue that "genuine" monotheism (as opposed to the aberrant "henotheist-monotheists" who engage in intolerant behavior) is intrinsically superior to polytheism, and provide a typical laundry list of polytheists acting intolerantly (the death of Socrates, Roman persecution of Christians). There are also some obvious flaws in their reply, including the cherry-picking from history, equating Greek polytheism with Roman polytheism, and comparing ancient forms of polytheism with (again cherry-picked) modern Christian ethical thinking.
One wonders if this will be the final word, or if Lefkowitz (or some other pro-polytheist advocate) will be allowed to continue this dialog in the L.A. Times editorial pages. If they do, I'll be bringing the popcorn for round three!
* Two against one is no doubt the standard protocol when monotheist theologians engage in rhetorical "battle" with a polytheist.
Labels: James A. Sanders, Mary Lefkowitz, monotheism, Paul Capetz, Polytheism
11.04.2007
Freud, meet Tiresias
For those of you who enjoyed earlier installments of Cannongate's "The Myths" series, which retells ancient myths and stories for a modern audience (including Margaret Atwood's brilliant "The Penelopiad", and Jeanette Winterson's moving "Weight"), a new installment, "Where Three Roads Meet", has been released that focuses on the story of Oedipus. But author and former Jungian psychotherapist Salley Vickers approaches the story from a very unique angle.
"Where Three Roads Meet takes the form of a dialogue between the dying Freud, sitting in his Hampstead study, and a mysterious guest who has wandered in from the heath, who doesn't seem to be visible to anyone else, and who is eventually revealed to be Tiresias, the blind seer who witnessed the original tragedy. Or is Freud's mind wandering? Thoughout the dialogue, the sunshine of civilised conversation is undercut by the darkest shadows of the mind. Freud has just narrowly escaped the clutches of the Nazis and the mouth cancer for which he takes morphine is to kill him in a matter of months. Tiresias, the ancient spirit who talks to the birds on the heath, and who seems to appear when his auditor most needs distraction from pain, nevertheless evokes all the horror of an ancient crime, and of those dark, irrational forces known as the gods. It's a thoroughly creepy story."
According to Vickers, part of her inspiration is her long-time frustration with Sigmund Freud's interpretation of Oedipus (which formed the basis of his Oedipus complex), a reading that she believes is incomplete.
"Oedipus is a central myth for psychoanalysts. When I came to train, obviously we talked about it and I thought, Freud's not read it correctly! Oedipus is an adult man when he falls in love with Jocasta, he's not a child. Secondly, Freud didn't take any account of the actions of the parents, Laios and Jocasta. They set out to murder their child. That seems to be a very interesting feature of this myth. So I think it was inevitable that in doing this book I would try and explain it to Freud. I've been dying to do that for years."
The author intends "Where Three Roads Meet" to be a Socratic dialogue in which two very different views of reality are explored. The rationalistic atheism of Freud, and the advocate for unseen forces Tiresias, who was both cursed and gifted by the gods. "Where the Three Roads Meet" sounds like an interesting read for lovers of myth, and for those interested in exploring an exchange between atheism and polytheism.
Labels: atheism, books, Cannongate, Freud, Myth, Polytheism, Salley Vickers, Where Three Roads Meet
11.02.2007
A Few Quick Notes
First off, some of you may have noticed that I was interviewed for an Associated Press article concerning the decision by Marshall University to allow excused absences for Pagan holidays (which I blogged about previously).
"By specifically including pagans, Marshall is taking an important step toward recognizing the validity of their beliefs, said Jason Pitzl-Waters, an authority on paganism who edits the Wild Hunt Web site, a blog about religion, politics and culture. 'That's part of the struggle for modern pagans,' said Pitzl-Waters, a pagan. 'Even though modern paganism has been in the public since the 1950s, a lot of people still see it as a rebellious teenage activity, not necessarily something you do as a religious observance' ... 'What binds [modern Pagans] together isn't our theology, necessarily,' Pitzl-Waters said. 'What binds us together is a sense of communal practice and togetherness.'"
I'd like to thank AP reporter Tom Breen for making me seem (somewhat) coherent, and for including me as a source alongside such luminaries as Ronald Hutton and Helen Berger.
In other media-related news, it seems that the ever-popular culture site Arts & Letters Daily has linked to professor Mary Lefkowitz's pro-polytheism L.A. Times editorial "Bring back the Greek gods" (which I briefly mentioned last week).
"Prominent secular and atheist commentators have argued lately that religion "poisons" human life and causes endless violence and suffering. But the poison isn't religion; it's monotheism. The polytheistic Greeks didn't advocate killing those who worshiped different gods, and they did not pretend that their religion provided the right answers. Their religion made the ancient Greeks aware of their ignorance and weakness, letting them recognize multiple points of view."
With this nod from The Chronicle of Higher Education (the organization that runs/hosts the A&L Daily site), can we hope that more polytheism-boosting articles and editorials from prominent academics will soon appear?
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a very happy Day of the Dead (which is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd). Quite a few stories are popping up on the newswires concerning the holiday. The L.A. Times reports on how the syncretic holiday in Mexico is now incorporating Halloween into the mix, Minnesota Public Radio talks about the how the holiday is celebrated, and the OC Register highlights Day of the Dead celebrations in San Juan.
"The library kicked the festivities off with Mariachi performances at noon, with the entertainment continuing throughout the day. Performances by Aztec Dancers helped illustrate the events roots, Garza said. "It added a nice spiritual touch because it's from the ancient Aztec's that the day started," she said."
Be sure to also check out Chas Clifton's post (with photos) on Day of the Dead altars set up at Colorado State University (where he teaches).
Labels: AP, Arts and Letters Daily, Chas Clifton, Day of the Dead, Marshall University, Paganism, Polytheism
10.26.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The Pagan law enforcement and emergency personnel organization Officers of Avalon is sending out a call for donations to their Avalon Cares Relief Project in order to assist those affected by the recent California wildfires that have destroyed over 1,400 homes, and evacuated nearly a million people.
"As our members are Pagan professionals in the emergency services, we've had a lot of people on the ground in the affected areas from the start. I'm starting to get reports on what has been affected and where help might be needed. I encourage you to do the same. If you know any one who has needs as a result of this disaster, please write to us and let us know ... Once again, we're showing the world what Pagans can do. Yet we must stick with it. We need you all to continue to donate what you can. If you can't donate money, donate your time to volunteer efforts. Do your own fund raising events to help us in this disaster relief effort. Open your doors to the displaced. Give blood. If you're a Pagan in the emergency services or related fields, join us at Officers of Avalon and help us help Pagans."
Officers of Avalon has has 501 (c) status (so your donation is tax-deductible), and 100% of the money collected by the Avalon Cares project is going to the relief effort in California. Donation links can be found, here.
For those of you who have been following the story concerning the Federal Bureau of Prisons' controversial plan to limit religious books for prison libraries to an approved list (currently on hold due to massive protests), some recent information has come to light thanks to a Freedom of Information request put in by one of my readers. According to the FOI document sent to me, there are no records of outside consultants, or fees paid to outside consultants.
"In reference to your request for the names of consultants, fees paid to those consultants, and the invoices related to those fees, there is no information responsive to this request."
This seems to back up claims by the American Academy of Religion that no members of its organization were involved in making the lists. It also looks very likely that the BOP was "misstating" when it said they relied on experts to make the lists. Which raises the vision of BOP bureaucrats making the lists by doing Google searches. These facts should make for interesting background when the lists return in 2008.
Mary Lefkowitz, professor emerita at Wellesley College, has an editorial up in the L.A. Times endorsing a return to polytheism, specifically, a return to the Greek pantheon.
"The world, as the Greek philosopher Thales wrote, is full of gods, and all deserve respect and honor. Such a generous understanding of the nature of divinity allowed the ancient Greeks and Romans to accept and respect other people's gods and to admire (rather than despise) other nations for their own notions of piety ... Ancient Greek religion gives an account of the world that in many respects is more plausible than that offered by the monotheistic traditions. Greek theology openly discourages blind confidence based on unrealistic hopes that everything will work out in the end. Such healthy skepticism about human intelligence and achievements has never been needed more than it is today."
I dare say this is a call for a return to traditional values that most Christian conservatives aren't really expecting!
For those who loved "Pan's Labyrinth" by Guillermo Del Toro, but thought it was too "cheery", the acclaimed director is planning to tackle H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness", an essential tale in the ever-popular Cthulhu Mythos.
"...it will NOT be next on his list. It is still possible that a studio has finally agreed to a deal ... it looks very good that GDT will soon be in monster heaven soon, thanks to Don Murphy's Angry Films, and Susan Montford, who will be on board as producers, and an as yet unnamed studio. At one point the film was being looked at by Dreamworks/Paramount and Warner Bros., but looks like Universal may be the frontrunner now."
The film adaptation was co-written by Guillermo del Toro, and a review of it is posted, here.
Finally, in Witch School news, the small town of Rossville, Illinois (the new home-base of Witch School) held a town meeting for those worried by the recent influx of Pagans. But rather than controversy, Robert Kurka, professor of theology and church in culture at Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln called for tolerance and co-existence.
"About 150 people from Rossville, Hoopeston and other parts of the county attended the event that was open to the public. Kurka talked for more than an hour about the history of Wicca religion and the ideas behind it and compared the beliefs to Christian beliefs, showing how the two differ. Kurka encouraged the mostly Christian audience to treat the Wiccans in a Christian way, by welcoming them to the community as they would anyone else."
This seems to have somewhat surprised the Witch School members in attendance, who no doubt feared an anti-Pagan fire-breather had been sent to rally the faithful.
"It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought it would be more 'We have to get rid of these people' attitude. I was pleased to know it was more friendly,"
So it look like Rossville is coming to terms with its new Pagan neighbors, though it remains to be seen if Rossville will ever become the "Salem of the Midwest" as some hope.
That is all I have for now, have a good day!
Labels: California, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Guillermo del Toro, Officers of Avalon, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Polytheism, Witch School
9.05.2007
The Eradication of Polytheist Culture in Nigeria
The Associated Press reports on the saddening destruction of pre-Christian art, culture, and beliefs in Nigeria as a fanatical form of Pentecostal Christianity continues to spread through the poverty-stricken country.
"Born to a family of traditional priests, Ibe Nwigwe converted to Christianity as a boy. Under the sway of born-again fervor as a man, he gathered the paraphernalia of ancestral worship - a centuries-old stool, a metal staff with a wooden handle and the carved figure of a god - and burned them as his pastor watched ... Generations ago, European colonists and Christian missionaries looted Africa's ancient treasures. Now, Pentecostal Christian evangelists - most of them Africans - are helping wipe out remaining traces of how Africans once worked, played and prayed."
These Christian evangelists, many converted by a Pentecostal surge in the 1980s, have no tolerance for anything from their "pagan" pasts and believe destroying tribal artifacts helps breaks the "curse" of poverty. This rampant destruction has gotten so bad that tribal villages are building special houses to keep ancient pre-Christian artifacts away from Christian vandals, and the Nigerian government has launched an education campaign to stem the tide of cultural eradication.
"The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, which is responsible for protecting the country's cultural antiquities, has responded with a sensitization campaign. "We are ... telling the Christians that they can't detach themselves from their past, that there is a beginning to their history," said Omotosho Eluyemi, a senior commission official. The commission urges those who do not want to keep sacred objects to take them to local chiefs. It also seeks stricter enforcement of the law prohibiting export of artifacts."
But many fear that is some areas of Nigeria it is too late to stem this tide, according to one Nigerian teacher: "there is hardly anyone around these days to speak up for tradition". In a land where sectarian violence, a growing population of HIV-infected adults, and human rights violations are day to day problems, I somehow doubt that much can be done to halt the spread of this travesty.
Labels: Africa, Christianity, Nigeria, Polytheism
9.04.2007
Beliefnet's Balance
So lets say you run the biggest religion and spirituality web site on the Internet, and you decide to run a cover-story on a Wiccan who just won the lottery. What supplementary articles do you pick to run with the Associate Press story?
B-Net's balancing act.
What Neo-Pagans believe, and a collection of Pagan prayers? Sounds good, but how about we balance that out with an anti-polytheism article by conservative Jewish "intelligent design" proponent David Kinghoffer?
"...idolatry, polytheism, and witchcraft are really just three manifestations of the same error - to which, interestingly, Hebrew gives no name. They share the mistaken assumption that divinity can be broken down into discrete entities (gods) and manipulated for our benefit. By contrast, the God of the Bible, a purely spiritual being, must be the ultimate unity and perfectly free to act as He sees fit, unaffected by our attempted manipulations or any other circumstances."
Before you think I'm about to lay into Beliefnet again, let me just say that I applaud B-Net's move to balance things out like this. I look forward to articles on why monotheism runs counter to our natural religious impulses by Jordan Paper, or perhaps an essay on the superiority of polytheism by John Michael Greer to "balance" out the next front-page story about something good happening to a Christian or Jew. I mean, fair is fair right? I'm sure B-Net won't let us down. But you might want to remind them to stay consistent, just in case they forget.
Labels: balance, Beliefnet, David Kinghoffer, Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett, monotheism, Paganism, Polytheism, Wicca
8.22.2007
The Noxious Gases of Paganism
Generally speaking I don't seek out anti-Pagan rhetoric from conservative Christians. I know it's out there, and it is easy enough to find if you know where to look, but reporting it does nothing to change their minds or further our causes (which is why I rarely comment on the "news" that emerges from places like WorldNetDaily). But occasionally you come across something that is so explicitly aimed at your community you can't help but comment. Such is the case with the recently released anthology "Only One Way?: Reaffirming the Exclusive Truth Claims of Christianity", in which a group of evangelicals compose an apologetic defending Christianity against "postmodern relativism".
"Each chapter proclaims, defends, and explains the Christian truths that are most directly challenged by postmodern relativism. Our God is the God; Jesus is not merely a savior, but the only Savior; and the truth revealed in the Bible is divine truth. As readers grasp these essential ideas and their implications they will be able to witness powerfully by articulating these claims with clarity, conviction, and love."
Even still, I hardly keep track of the Christian publishing industry, and I wouldn't have noticed this title if it weren't for the fact that they cite one of my favorite books concerning polytheism "The Deities Are Many: A Polytheistic Theology" by York University professor Jordan Paper. Paper's book is referenced in the section "One God" by Peter R. Jones, who is one of the truly rabid anti-Pagan crusaders and who spares no time abandoning reasoned discourse to heap insults on perceptions of the divine outside his rigid boundaries.
"These [pro-polytheistic] trends signify a genuine threat to the world that is presently emerging. These ideas are like noxious gases escaping from the first small crack in the earth's crust before a major volcano breaks open a massive fault line, and the burning lava consumes all around it. In the appearance of this marginal alternate spirituality we are witnessing the first signs of a major religious revolution that threatens to sweep all before it."
In addition to comparing the growth of Paganism to a deadly volcano that is spewing poisonous gas, Jones also heaps scorn on Bill Clinton, the UN, ancient Pagan cultures, and the practice of preserving pre-Christian ceremony and culture in our modern era. People like Jones represent the "shadow" side of the Christian call to Witness. A "calling" that won't rest in combatting anything outside a "Biblical" world lest the (often invoked) days of a Christian minority under a Roman pagan yoke emerge once more.
"We and our children in the planetary empire of the twenty-first century must be ready, like our faithful Christian forebears, to face a new form of that ancient imperial decadence, similarly clothed in enabling power of occultic pagan spirituality."
One would think Christians like Jones would have bigger worries, but Pagans, Heathens, Witches, and other "heretics" have always been a popular scape-goat for the world's ills in certain Christian communities. Though some Christians, including author and apologist Anthony Horvath feel that better Paganism than the true horrors of secular atheism.
"As I recall, C.S. Lewis was once asked if he feared that Britain was turning to Paganism and responded "If only she were." I might say the same about America. You see, 'pagans' actually believe in something beyond the materialistic world, but it is philosophical naturalism winning today, not paganism. If paganism were the threat du jour, that would actually be an improvement."
While it would be nice to see a day when Christians of Jones' stripe can acknowledge our right to exist and thrive, but I fear the polytheist world view threatens their core belief systems so deeply that we can be nothing other than tools of Satan bent on subjugating the Christian world. When the exclusivity of truth is the cornerstone of your theology, any other claimed truth becomes fair game for demonization and aggressive "mission" efforts to remove the threat. But I suppose it is a step in the right direction that they are reading excellent books on polytheism.
Labels: Anthony Horvath, apologetics, Christianity, conversions, Jordan Paper, Paganism, Peter R. Jones, Polytheism
8.03.2007
Update on Hindu Prayer Controversy
Rather than going away, the incident involving the first Hindu to give the opening prayer before the Senate seems to be picking up stream. US Hindu groups have demanded that Presidential candidates respond to the incident (none have at this point), and that demand is now being echoed by the Baptist Join Committee for Religious Liberty and by professor of religion Melissa Rogers.
"Let me also say that the presidential candidates should address this issue for reasons that go beyond the notion of common decency. They should address this situation because it gets at a fundamental constitutional and ethical matter -- whether we believe that the government must treat all religions equally."
The Washinton Post's "On Faith" blog has posed a question on the issue to its panel of religious leaders, academics, and experts. From these panelists I'm particularly fond of Chester Gillis' answer.
"Granted that the vast majority of Americans believe in God, we have only officially been "One Nation under God" since June 14, 1954, when President Eisenhower signed the law adding these words to the Pledge of Allegiance (which itself was written in 1892), so the notion of a nation of believers is relatively recent in our history. If we are going to give religion a place in public life, then it should not just be one religion. We are a nation of many religions. Just as the military employs chaplains from a variety of religions, so, too, representatives of these religions should have equal opportunities to offer public prayer. Those Americans who say "give me that old time religion" simply need to recall that Hinduism - truly an old time religion - predates Judaism and Christianity."
Rajan Zed also gives his take on this subject as a guest On Faith panelist.
"All of us are looking for the truth. Dialogue brings us mutual enrichment. We may learn from each other as we are headed in the same direction. We should at least cooperate in the common causes of peace, human development, love, and respect for others."
Finally, the Indian press (which has been reporting this story with great interest) notes that the Rev. Rajan Zed was given a heroes welcome upon return to his home in Nevada.
"Rajan Zed, whose historic first Hindu prayer in the American Senate early this month faced protests from the visitors' gallery, was honoured in Nevada. Various religious and community leaders came together on Wednesday and honoured Zed for his "selfless service" in bringing different communities together ... Zed, who is the director of interfaith relations at a Hindu temple in Reno, Nevada, was garlanded by Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., president of Nevada Clergy Association. He was presented with a plaque by Rabbi Myra on behalf of the interfaith community of northern Nevada, which said, 'The interfaith clergy and leaders of northern Nevada proudly recognise and honour this unprecedented achievement.'"
Will any of the candidates speak up on this issue? Which future leader (if any) will present themselves as concerned about the rights of minority religions in America? Millions of "other" voters await a sign.
Labels: Hinduism, On Faith, politics, Polytheism, prayer, Presidential election, Religion, Senate
7.28.2007
Which Candidate Will Step Up?
Remember the controversy last week over a small group of Christian protesters interrupting the first Hindu to give the opening prayer in the US Senate? Well it seems that American Hindu groups aren't satisfied with Harry Reid's defense of the religion, and are asking all the presidential hopefuls to denounce the Christians involved in calling chaplain Rajan Zed an "abomination".
"U.S. Hindu organizations are urging presidential candidates to denounce the protesters who disrupted the Senate as the first-ever Hindu opening prayer was being delivered this month ... Although the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington issued a statement July 17 saying its members were "deeply saddened" by the interruption, no senators present spoke out against it publicly, according to the Hindu American Foundation and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Both organizations said they are disappointed with the legislators, and they sent letters this week to presidential candidates and senators, asking them to condemn the incident."
So if you were wondering which candidate (from either party) is going to be the most receptive to the rights of minority faiths, here is the moment of truth. With the three Democratic front-runners embracing their Christian allegiance as hard as they can, will any of them dare to defend conceptions of the divine that go beyond the Abrahamic norms? Will Republican candidates stay utterly silent for fear of further offending the already dissatisfied conservative Christian voting bloc that are especially influential during the primaries? I'll be watching the news to see where those of who check "other"
* There are over eight million "others" in American now, including a million modern Pagans, approximately two million Hindus, close to four million Buddhists, hundreds of thousands of Native American practitioners, 60,000 Taoists, and close to a million Santerians.
Labels: Hinduism, politics, Polytheism, Presidential election, Religion, Senate
7.13.2007
The Limits of Christian Tolerance
Yesterday in the Senate chambers, three Christian protesters shouted down a Hindu chaplain before being forcibly removed by the Capitol police. This was the first time the daily prayer that opens Senate proceedings was said by a Hindu (the House of Representatives had a Hindu chaplain open their session in 2000).
"...two women and one man were arrested and charged with causing a disruption in the public gallery of the Senate. The three started shouting when guest Chaplain Rajan Zed, a Hindu from Nevada, began his prayer. They shouted 'No Lord but Jesus Christ' and 'There's only one true God,' and used the term 'abomination.'"
The protesters, who are members of Operation Save America (apparently there were no fetal Americans in peril at that particular moment), have the full backing of their organizations director the Rev. Flip Benham who chastised the Senators for not imitating Christ by acting like rude jerks.
"Not one Senator had the backbone to stand as our Founding Fathers stood. They stood on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! There were three in the audience with the courage to stand and proclaim, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' They were immediately removed from the chambers, arrested, and are in jail now. God bless those who stand for Jesus as we know that He stands for them."
One can only wonder which Founding Fathers he means, the Deists? The Freemasons? Thomas Jefferson certainly stood by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but only after he edited out all the supernatural elements and "errors". But that doesn't stop certain conservative Christian "historians" from putting forth anti-polytheist interpretations of religious freedom in America.
"The Hindu prayer was also questioned by a Christian historian who maintained that since Hindus worship multiple gods, the prayer will be completely outside the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto 'One Nation Under God.' ... 'In Hindu (sic), you have not one God, but many, many, many, many, many gods,' the Christian historian David Barton maintained. 'And certainly that was never in the minds of those who did the Constitution, did the Declaration [of Independence] when they talked about Creator - that's not one that fits here because we don't know which creator we're talking about within the Hindu religion.'"
Sadly, instead of stepping up and blasting these religious bigots, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (who had invited Chaplain Rajan Zed) gave some flat platitudes about Hinduism and peace.
"I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly father regarding peace,"
Which I think proves a point that politicians today are more concerned with not alienating Christian voters (even Christians voters who would never vote Democratic), than they are with standing up for the principles our country was founded on. You can be sure that any of our Presidential candidates running for office now will be more than willing to throw non-Christian faiths under the bus the minute they risk losing a bit of popularity in the polls. Sadly it looks like we aren't ready to fully welcome non-monotheist expressions of faith into our political system.
Labels: Hinduism, Operation Save America, politics, Polytheism, prayer, Senate
6.02.2007
Comic Book Gods
Kelly Candaele at the Huffington Post examines the political (and religious) messages of the latest Spider-Man film. Is Peter Parker a comic book Nietzsche?
"There is a curious religious dynamic at work in Spiderman 3 that reinforces the absence of viable social networks. Spiderman's struggle with the dark seductions of power is an isolated and individual one. His triumph over internal evil takes place alone in a Cathedral tower, the church bells literally stripping him of the black sin of hubris. If power corrupts, then masculine power (women gather round when Peter Parker wears the black Spiderman suit) corrupts absolutely. This is comic book Nietzsche, Christianity feminizing -- through sympathy, guilt and forgiveness -- Spiderman's temporary embrace of the will to power."
But while Candaele is troubled by some of the thematic elements of the film (which he feels are anti-democratic), he does see some glimmers of hope within the brightly-colored pantheon of super-heroes.
"There is an optimistic gloss that can be applied to the proliferation and popularity of movie superheroes. The phenomena may indicate a subconscious desire to return to a more polytheistic religious culture. Like the ancient Greek and Roman Gods, today's cinematic superheroes have human foibles and they constantly intervene in the affairs of our world. If human beings are somehow genetically hardwired to look to the sky for salvation, then at least we have an array of exotic choices. And as historian of religion Jonathan Kirsch points out in his recent book about the war between monotheism and polytheism, "The core value of paganism was religious tolerance..." You prefer Superman, I prefer Batman. Someone else warms up to Wolverine. If a rain of new Gods is falling from the sky, at least they aren't demanding singular and supine obedience."
Do comic books feed a unspoken desire for a polytheistic world? Do Thor comics in some manner help lead people to Asatru, or Doctor Strange comics inspire real-life ritual magicians? I'm sure anything is possible. Certainly many comic book creators have tapped into the mythic and magical potentials of the format. Perhaps comic books will become the preferred scripture medium for tomorrow's polytheists.
Labels: Comics, Kelly Candaele, Nietzsche, Polytheism, Spider-Man
6.01.2007
War and Paganism
The "On Faith" blog asks its panelists about keeping faith in times of war. Amongst the various monotheist perspectives comes the views of Wendy Doniger, a professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School. Doniger, an expert in Hinduism and mythology, ventures into polytheist views of war.
"Some religions avoid the moral ambiguity about war that Christianity wrestles with by having a god who is frankly warlike, who drinks hot blood and is precisely the sort of person you would think could have thought up a place like the detention camps in Guantanamo. Hindus, for all their philosophical idealism (or perhaps, more precisely because that idealism frees them to think the very worst of apparent reality), are much more realistic about the relationship between god and war. They worship gods like the goddess Kali, who has a necklace of human skulls and a girdle made of childrens' hands, or the god Shiva who, like Nero in Rome, dances/fiddles while the universe burns--indeed, whose dance is precisely what makes the universe burn.
The Bhagavad Gita, one of the major texts of Hinduism today, is a conversation in which the incarnate god Krishna persuades the hero Arjuna to fight in a war against his friends and cousins, a war from which Arjuna had recoiled."
But lest one begins to think that polytheism wholly condones making war, Doniger points out that for every god/dess of war, there are divinities dedicated to peace, healing, and tranquility.
"But some of the Hindu gods (and even these same gods, in another mode of worship) also promise a deeper, more philosophical peace, not the sort of peace that comes when you've won the war by massacring hundreds of thousands of people whose land you wanted to take over, but the peace that comes when you've figured out that there is no reason ever to have war at all. This seems to me a highly reasonable sort of faith."
This view of Hinduism easily translates into European polytheist structures. While the Greeks had the war god Ares, he was not trusted and was rarely worshiped except in times of conflict. The Roman Mars and several Celtic warrior-gods all had healing aspects. Most polytheist cultures have gods and goddesses of healing, peace, and beauty to balance out the more battle-prone divinities (and most held out for a time when all wars would be at an end). In short, war was seen as a tragic part of life, one that would eventually be overcome, and polytheist conceptions of the divine bear that out.
Labels: Hinduism, On Faith, Paganism, Peace, Polytheism, War, Wendy Doniger
5.25.2007
Pirates and Goddesses
NOTE: This post will be discussing possible spoilers for the third "Pirates of the Caribbean" film "At World's End", so read at your own risk.
So the third installment of the hugely successful "Pirates of the Caribbean" films "At World's End" opened last night, and it seems that Disney has decided that the Pirates live in a world where pre-Christian goddesses roam the earth. The third film reveals that the Voodoo-practicing witch known as Tia Dalma is secretly a sea goddess.
Naomie Harris as the witch/goddess Tia Dalma
It seem that the "nine pirate lords" imprisoned a sea goddess by the name of Calypso for some reason or another, and she is freed from her human form at the climax of the film.
"Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), a voodoo priestess who, it turns out, happens to be the sea goddess Calypso in human form, hence her power to revive the dead. She was once the lover of Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), captain of the Flying Dutchman, who, pursuant to some unspecified betrayal, has been cursed to wear a rubber octopus face that obscures what a good actor Bill Nighy actually is."
In Greek mythology Calypso was either a naiad (water/sea nymph), a daughter of the titan Atlas most famous for delaying Odysseus for seven years and bearing him a son, or she was one of three thousand Oceanids born by the sea titans Oceanus and Tethys. In either case she certainly is tied to the sea and is divine (and Odysseus was certainly something of a pirate).
Detail of Calypso from "Odysseus und Kalypso" by Arnold Bocklin
This is an interesting twist since the historical pirates we most associate with the popular image of piracy lived in a thoroughly Christian age. Considering the vogue for all things pirate-y (including a reality television show) it should be interesting to see if sea deities start creeping into the lore and popular notions of swashbuckling pirates. Certainly products tying in with the Tia Dalma/Calypso character are already appearing, all we need now is a book claiming that pirates were secret pagans (no doubt already being written by somebody) and a new nautical-themed strain of modern Paganism could pop up before you know it.
So while film critics are equally split on whether the third "Pirates" film is any good, what isn't in doubt is the heavy influence this film will have on the popular culture. Like it or not, Captain Jack Sparrow and the rest of the pirates acknowledge the existence of pagan gods, and aren't shy in asking for their help (making them technical polytheists). All thats left is to see how many shrines to Calypso emerge from it.
Labels: Calypso, goddess, Paganism, Pirates of the Caribbean, Polytheism, Tia Dalma
5.19.2007
The Return of Shinto
The Washington Times reports that after years of shrinking popularity post-WWII, the Shinto religion in Japan is making a comeback, in part thanks to the Internet.
"With an assist from the Internet, the ancient religion of Japan, Shinto, is experiencing a comeback among the Japanese. "We see more people coming here," said a priest at the Meiji Shrine in the middle of Tokyo. "We see more weddings, more people bringing their babies for blessings, more requests for prayers to be rid of a curse or to prosper in business, more people taking part in festivals such as shichi-go-san," in which children of ages 7, 5 or 3 are feted."
Shinto is the native religion of Japan, and deals mainly with the worship of Kami spirits. In addition to the spirits of nature, ancestors and important personages (like the Imperial family) are also honored. Some worry that this upturn in Shinto observances is tied to a renewed interest in Japanese militarism, but it looks like the majority are trying to keep their Shinto practice apolitical.
"Another, perhaps less noble, reason for the Meiji Shrine's appeal is its freedom from political contention like that surrounding the Yasukuni Shrine, where the spirits of Japan's war dead, including several convicted war criminals, are enshrined. Japanese leftists, as well as legions of Koreans and Chinese, have criticized Japanese politicians for visiting Yasukuni, saying it glorifies past Japanese conquests in Asia ... In contrast, Japanese officials regularly take foreign leaders to the Meiji Shrine without raising eyebrows; President Bush visited the shrine when he was in Tokyo in 2002."
This revival hasn't happened overnight, and there have been several cultural forces urging a renewed interest in Japan's ancestral faith. This includes the efforts by acclaimed Japanese artist and animator Hayao Miyazaki who has incorporated Shinto perspectives and myths into several of his widely popular films.
"Being true to the Shinto insight that all phenomena often become polluted and are in need of cleansing and purification in order to manifest their vitality, Miyazaki has this strange array of creatures come to the bathhouse to be restored to their original freshness. This is made especially vivid when a "stink spirit" [in the film "Spirited Away"] actually the kami (or nushi) of a badly polluted and smelly river, is cleansed of all sorts of trash including an old bicycle. Once refreshed, the river's mask-like visage says to Sen "It feels good" (English version: "Well done;" cf. below). Sen sees the true nature of this river kami through the purifying waters -- at that moment her kokoro is clean and bright and she witnesses the forceful dragon-like river kami sail away white and pure."
Also benefiting a Shinto revival is the fact that like all polytheistic faiths, Shinto has no problem incorporating outside religious traditions. As a result many followers of Shinto also practice Buddhism.
"Moreover, Shinto and Buddhism coexisted after Buddhism was imported from China. Japanese, unlike Westerners who belong to only one denomination, see no conflict in following the tenets of both faiths."
With increased public support and practice of Shinto, it should be interesting to see how this affects Japanese culture (and Japan's cultural exports). It seems that polytheism is once more on the rise in the land of the rising sun.
Labels: Japan, Kami, Polytheism, Shinto
5.14.2007
Hutton and The Druids
The Independent does a profile of author and academic Ronald Hutton on the release of his latest book "Druids: A History". The article points out that this book isn't so much about "real" Druids (ie the historical priestly caste of the pre-Christian Celts), as it is about the modern invention of Druids (and Druidry) from Iolo Morganwg in the 18th century to the present day.
"Hutton gives us chapters on "The Patriotic Druids", "The Wise Druids", "The Green Druids", "The Demonic Druids", "The Fraternal Druids", "The Rebel Druids" and, perhaps most important to his popular readers, "The Future Druids". Like the Knights Templar, at least in the British Isles, the Druids have been a handy peg on which to hang a backpack of imaginative, insightful, and sometimes half-baked ideas, dealing with national identity, religious revelation, ancient societies, nature and ourselves. When I mentioned that it seemed like a history of what people have thought about the Druids, Hutton eagerly agreed. 'My colleagues would kill me for saying this, but historians are increasingly conscious of the fact that we can't write history. What we can write about is the way in which people see history and think history happens.' And turning my remark back at me he continued, 'So, is this a book about Druids with no Druids in it, or are the real Druids these amazing characters like William Price, William Stukeley, Iolo Morganwg and the rest?'"
The interviewer also touches on the fact that Hutton has courted controversy with his books on modern Paganism. From some modern Pagans who have disagreed with his findings, and from academic colleagues who feel he is a bit too chummy with the Pagans.
"Predictably, Hutton finds himself defending his position on two fronts. Neo-pagans, clinging to the notion that their beliefs are part of an ancient nature religion, and radical feminists upholding the idea of a primeval matriarchal society (which Hutton finds "rather delightful"), scorn Hutton's refreshingly cheerful acceptance that there seems little evidence for either of these. And his less unbuttoned colleagues shake their heads at his optimism about Druidry and other "alternative spiritualities" as valid contemporary religions. He has a very pragmatic, creative attitude, recognising that factual error can still produce beneficial results. We may not be able to "get it right", about the Druids and other people of the past, but 'we can look upon the past and how it works for us, and call upon it in order to make the future'."
But despite the criticisms Hutton has received from some Pagans, his obvious love and respect for modern Paganism is apparent.
"Paganism today, he says, is "a way of trying to get the best out of modernity, while discarding the bits that most of us hate". And while he wouldn't call himself "a spokesperson for paganism" ... he acknowledges his debt to it. "I could never have managed to write the books that I have without the welcome and the support I've received from pagans and Druids." Given that the West has been reinventing its identity since the Renaissance, that we should continue to do so today shouldn't come as a surprise. "It's part of our reclaiming ourselves as modern," Hutton says. 'Of getting a sense of who we are and what we're doing here, where we've come from , and why we are who we are. It's simply thrilling.'"
If "Druids" is anywhere near the quality of works like "Triumph of the Moon" or "Stations of the Sun", then it will become essential reading for anyone interested in modern Druidry/ism (whether curious outsider or veteran practitioner). Works like this help add another piece to the puzzle of modern Paganism's sometimes complex and confusing history.
Labels: Druid, Druidism, Druidry, Druids, Paganism, Polytheism, Ronald Hutton
5.11.2007
The Naked Art Controversy
Is it blasphemous to paint nude deities? That is the center of a widening controversy concerning painter Maqbool Fida Husain, currently India's most (in)famous artist. Husain, long one of India's most celebrated painters (including receiving honors from the government), began to find himself deeply controversial after a book of his work published in the mid-nineties pictured Hindu gods and goddesses in the nude. This ongoing issue reached a head recently when a painting he submitted for a benefit auction picturing a nude Bharat Mata (the personification of India as a mother goddess) raised the ire of Hindu nationalists.
A detail from "Mother India" by M F Hussain
Recently, litigation brought against Hussain by a hardline Hindutva group resulted in the seizure of his home and property after he refused to return to India to face trial.
"Leading painter Maqbool Fida Husain is losing his home and other properties after failing to appear before a court trying him for hurting religious sentiments by painting "Mother India" as a naked woman. Husain's paintings have often depicted revered Hindu gods and goddesses in the nude, sparking criticism from nationalist parties and activists. A decade ago, radicals even attacked his Mumbai home."
Husain, who lives in self-imposed exile due to death-threats and harassing litigation (there are over 900 cases registered against him), was able to get the Indian Supreme Court to overturn the lower court's seizure and it looks like the case against him will be moved to Delhi where there is less moral fervor against the artist.
"The Bench also issued notice to Shrivastava on Hussain's petition seeking transfer of his case from Uttarakhand to Delhi, where four other criminal cases lodged against him in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat had already been transferred by the apex court. He has sought transfer of his case to Patiala House Courts here in view of "hostile environment" prevailing in Uttarakhand...In July 2000, the apex court had ordered the transfer of similar cases filed against him in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar to the court of an additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in New Delhi and later the Delhi High Court quashed the complaints."
In the wake of these developments the Indian artistic community has risen up in support of Husain's artistic freedom, and has condemned the ongoing campaign of harassing litigation against the painter.
"Reacting to the turn of events, the artist community has strongly condemned the campaigns against Hussain. "It's not just Hussain's but the entire artist community's lives which are at stake. Anybody and everybody can file a case against us now. Anyone can infringe upon our lives," said an upset Krishan Khanna, Hussain's contemporary ... Equally upset and enraged at the "vicious campaigns" against Hussain, other members of the community like filmmaker Syed Mirza, social activist Nafisa Ali, theatre personality M. K. Raina and a host of other artistes, art critics and art gallery owners came together yesterday afternoon and expressed their support for the maestro."
Even more to the point, Suhas Roya, prominent Indian artist, points out that nudity and eroticism has long been a part of Hindu art.
"Nudes are everywhere in our country - they are part of our history and culture. Khajuraho and Konarak are full of examples of eroticism. But we should be aware that emotions do run high in our country and fanatics do exist. I have done series of nudes myself, but there's been little publicity. Maybe because Husain said his depictions were of gods and goddesses. Everything Husain does gets a lot of media attention. And sometimes people feel nudes are used as gimmicks to get attention."
Reading about this case reminds me of our country's culture-wars over controversial religiously-themed art. From the "Piss Christ" to the chocolate Jesus. But instead of a gallery show getting canceled or funding pulled, the artists are hounded and made to fear for their lives, freedom, and property. It shows what far-right religious ideologues are willing to do when given enough cultural and political power.
Personally, I think blasphemy is a matter between divinity and the individual, not an arbitrary line to be used against those who have different thoughts and opinions. Not to mention that a large percentage of goddess art through many different ages and cultures was never afraid to show life-giving attributes. I'm not the only one to see this controversy as somewhat out of character for Hinduism, the Hindu blog wonders if an unhealthy influence from Abrahamic faiths are to blame.
"The naked body is not something to be ashamed of, in fact it is the temple of the Divine in Hindu theology. It is the Abrahamic religions that preach distaste and hate towards the physical body and therefore require their monastic orders to cover their bodies from head to toe. It will do a lot of good if the Hindu groups realize their folly in following traditions alien to their own."
Whatever the underlying reason for this storm, one hopes that the courts will drop these charges against MF Husain, and that he will be able to safely return to his home country once more.