5.07.2008
Won't Anyone Think of the Children?
It is sometimes easy to forget that struggles over religion aren't just being fought in the military, our prisons, and the public square, but in our schools as well. After all, aren't our public schools supposed to be safe and secular institutions? The truth is that religious minorities are often ostracized, and can face intimidation and harassment in school settings, especially when local Christians feel threatened.
"Many Mount Vernon Middle School students have been vocal in their support of science teacher John Freshwater in his claims to a First Amendment right to display a Bible on his desk. But are those students willing to grant someone else equal rights to remain neutral or to disagree? Several comments from students and parents indicate that acceptance and religious tolerance is a one-way street for many concerned."
It seems that Christian children aren't very "big tent" in their support of a Christian science teacher, a man who has allegedly done some seriously controversial things in the classroom.
"My daughter Arie told me about a Jewish child who brought his Torah to school when other students brought Bibles in support of Freshwater ... He thought he was supporting freedom of religious expression, and the other kids just ripped him apart. 'What are you doing?' they asked. 'You can't support Mr. Freshwater, you're Jewish' ... I don't think people realize the depth of what's going on between the students. It's a mob mentality right now. It's peer pressure. To not wear a T-shirt and to not bring your Bible when they say bring your Bible and wear a T-shirt, you're asking for trouble ... one of Arie's friends wore a T-shirt to school that read, 'I don't need to wear a special T-shirt to be a Christian.' That individual was reportedly pushed into the lockers and called a 'stupid atheist b****.'"
Perhaps the parents supporting Freshwater don't mind a little "collateral damage" among the student body so long as it is in the name of their "religious freedom". Of course that fierce sense of religious freedom often disappears when non-Christian faiths are involved.
"Several people, [Beth] Murdoch [Arie's daughter] said, have asked what the response would be if a teacher had a Wiccan book or a Koran on the desk. 'Would the students be supporting a teacher under those circumstances?' she asked. 'I don't think so. I understand [Freshwater] wants to protect his rights, I so understand that. But you have to be compassionate to other people, too.'"
When battles like this erupt, those who suffer the most are often the students who don't toe the popular line. Freshwater's supporters have created an "all or nothing" atmosphere, and while the school board has asked him to put his bible away during school hours, and is investigating claims of proselytizing, the matter most likely won't calm down for children during the school year. Creating an unsafe learning environment for religious minorities and Christians who won't participate in activism supporting Freshwater.
If a public school can't provide a safe learning environment for children of all faiths (or of none) then they have failed as a learning institution, and a house-cleaning needs to take place, regardless of the political blow-back the school board may face.
Labels: Christianity, John Freshwater, Religion, Religious Freedom, schools
5.03.2008
We Are The Unreached People Groups
John Morehead blogs about an upcoming conference taking place at Trinity International University in Illinois entitled "Trinity Consultation on Post-Christendom Spiritualities: The New Unreached People Groups". Who are the "new unreached people groups"? We are.
"The conference will be a gathering of practitioners and scholars addressing the decline of Christianity in the West and the concomitant growth of new unreached people groups expressed in religions and spiritualities such as modern Paganism, New Age, and other alternative spiritualities. Plenary sessions and parallel workshops will address the topics of the future of religion in the West, the make up of the alternative religious marketplace and approaches in engaging adherents of alternative spiritualities."
The talk is co-sponsored by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization Issue Group 16 and the Western Institute for Intercultural Studies. Two groups dedicated to "culturally sensitive" evangelism of new religious movements like ours. Participants include the aforementioned John Morehead, new religious movements scholar J Gordon Melton, and Michael T. Cooper, who recently presented a paper about Druidry.
While I suppose it is flattering to receive all this attention from Christians in our increasingly multi-religious society, it does raise some questions. For example, can open and respectful dialog co-exist with attempts by the same people to evangelize and convert us? John Morehead, who is at the forefront of developing new "culturally sensitive" evangelization tactics, is also breaking new ground in opening channels of dialog between Christians and Pagans. Do these dual roles impair real communication? Can we balance dispelling misconceptions without in turn also empowering those who would see our faiths disappear?
I'm all for better dialog and understanding. I think that a basic understanding of modern Pagan theology and practice by the general populace can only help reduce intolerance, discrimination, and the diabolic fantasies that fueled the "Satanic panics" of years gone by. On the other hand, in regards to dialog with Christians, specifically evangelical Christian movements, these efforts at better understanding have in some way helped fuel a rash of anti-Pagan (though somewhat more accurate) books. Christians are talking to us, but many seem to be doing so to help "inoculate" their children and faith community from the "infection" of a post-Christian culture.
I think Christian scholars like John Morehead are doing us a service, but we must remain open-eyed as we engage them. For many Christians, particularly those actively interested in dialogging with us, their active mandate is to ultimately convert us. "Engaging the unreached" is simply a nicer way of saying "evangelizing the unsaved". The context and attitudes may be different, but the goals remain consistent.
Labels: academia, Christianity, evangelism, John Morehead, Paganism, Religion
4.29.2008
Pagans and (Canadian) Prisons
The Edmonton Sun reports on the growing population of Pagans in Canadian prisons. Internal estimates show adherence numbers have tripled in the last five years, and those numbers may be "woefully understated" according to Richard James of the Wiccan Church of Canada.
"According to figures obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information, the number of practising Wiccans and Pagans behind bars has tripled in the last five years. In 2002 there were just 25, compared to 77 in 2007, data from the Correctional Service of Canada show ... Richard James, the Toronto-based founder and high priest of the Wiccan Church of Canada, has been involved in prison outreach programs and believes the official count is "woefully understated." More and more inmates are turning to Wicca because they've been let down by other faiths, he said."
Unlike the prisons of their American neighbors, which are rife with "endemic discrimination" against religious minorities, the Canadian prison system seems quite accommodating.
"According to an internal CSC manual on religious practices, inmate witches are required [I think they mean "allowed"] to have an altar with candles and incense for worship. They should also be permitted a wooden wand, robe, tarot cards, figurines, oils and natural objects such as shells, feathers, stones and crystals, the manual reads ... Rick Burk, CSC's associate to the director general of chaplaincy, restorative justice and victims‚ services, said inmates have a Charter right to practise their faith. In turn, institutions work to foster understanding and tolerance for all faiths inside the wire. 'There are cultural and spiritual differences in all kinds of traditions and we are constantly engaged in dialogue about respect and diversity and managing the community within a context of diversity,' he said. 'Whether there is the word 'witch' involved or not, we try to manage diversity.'"
Perhaps the open dialog-focused Canadian model would be preferred to the currently repressive American model where constant litigation for rights is a normal occurrence?
Speaking of American prisons and constant litigation, an interesting prisoner rights case was recently decided. In a ruling by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Koger v. Bryan, it was found that prisons can't demand proof of requirement, or verification from clergy, regarding a reasonable religious request.
"...the court held that a former prisoner's claim based on the denial of his request for a vegetarian diet substantially burdened the prisoner's religious exercise. In particular the court found inappropriate the prison's requirement that the religious practice be required by the inmate's religion and that this be verified by a member of the clergy."
This is one more legal step towards true religious self-determination for prisoners. A development that may make some people very uncomfortable, but one that will ultimately benefit modern Pagans and other religious minorities serving jail time. To make this case even more relevant, the former prisoner, Gregory Koger, is an adherent of Aleister Crowley's Thelema. A fact that has sparked snarky comments from the law-blogs and one of the presiding judges.
"Clearly, without RLUIPA, this case would have been dead in the water when it was filed because declining Koger's request for a nonmeat diet would not have violated the United States Constitution ... A waste of time? Some may disagree, but I lean towards saying 'yes.'"
Of course that "waste of time" has helped create a precedent that favors personal gnosis and followers of non-hierarchal faiths. A lawsuit that may not have happened if prisons in America worked more towards dialog and granting reasonable risk-free requests instead of dragging its heels in court every time a non-Christian wants something outside the norm.
Labels: Canada, law, litigation, Paganism, Prison, Religion, Religion Clause, Thelema
4.28.2008
Looking At Quaker Pagans
Modern Reformation magazine profiles the growing movement of Quaker Pagans, and interviews Cat Chapin-Bishop of the Quaker Pagan Reflections blog.
"In the last decade, this dual faith has sprung up around the country, including Quaker-pagan gatherings, seminars, an extensive presence on the Internet, and even explicitly Quaker-pagan congregations. There may be only several hundred Quaker pagans, but among American Quakers, their presence can be distinctly felt."
The article also speaks to Pagan-turned-Christian Carl McColman, and Stasa Morgan-Appel of the Musings of a Quaker Witch blog. The tone of religion journalist Matthew Streib seems to be intrigued but cautious, noting that the dwindling number of Quakers could receive an infusion of new blood from curious Pagans, but that the tradition (specifically the Friends General Conference) risks losing its focus on Christ (and thus its Christian identity).
"[Cat Chapin-Bishop] says many pagans find Quakerism attractive because it allows them to appear more mainstream. Still, she worries that if their commitment doesn't deepen, that could weaken Quaker beliefs. "I see the pagan world waking up and saying, `Wow, there's Quakers, and maybe we could be Quakers and pagans -- cool!'" she said. 'If it stays on that superficial level, that's not good news, and threatens Quakerism with real dilution. But if there are some leadings and people ... take in the wisdom that people have to teach us, then it's a wonderful thing for both pagans and the Society of Friends.'"
Could the more liberal strains of Quakerism slowly evolve into a post-Christian faith? It isn't an unheard-of event. Unitarian-Universalism, once two distinct liberal Christian traditions, has embraced a post-Christian identity and now happily includes a number of theological points of view (including Paganism) within its ranks. Whether these theological shifts are ultimately healthy is a topic that is still being debated, though even conservative Quakers are hesitant to take an action that would make Pagans feel unwelcome.
"Christ is not the sort of person who would drive people away -- I don't know that it's our job to stop it ... Our job is to seek to know the will of the living Christ and to obey it the best we can. When we humans try to fix one another, we just make things much, much worse."
Whether its fate is to remains essentially Christian, or evolve into something else, the Religious Society of Friends will most likely avoid hostile cries of heresy and fights over blasphemy that would be greeted if this trend manifested in a more mainstream Christian church. Instead, the Quakers will most likely do what they have always done, listen in silence, and wait for the "leading of the spirit".
Labels: Cat Chapin-Bishop, Christianity, Modern Reformation, Paganism, Quaker Pagans, Quakers, Religion
4.24.2008
National Day of Prayer vs. May Day!
"Perhaps it's just as well that you won't be here tomorrow, to be offended by the sight of our May Day celebrations here." - Lord Summerisle, "The Wicker Man"
Next week, thanks to a quirk of the calendar, one of the biggest religious festivals within modern Paganism will coincide with the yearly National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Prayer, in theory a time for all Americans of faith to unite and pray (in their own manner) for the well-being of the country, has long been co-opted by conservative Christian evangelicals who operate a "task force". This group (essentially run by Focus on The Family) runs the bulk of NDP events, and excludes non-Christians from active participation.
"The National Day of Prayer Task Force was a creation of the National Prayer Committee for the expressed purpose of organizing and promoting prayer observances conforming to a Judeo-Christian system of values. People with other theological and philosophical views are, of course, free to organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs. This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation would be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate. It is that broad invitation to the American people that led, in our case, to the creation of the Task Force and the Judeo-Christian principles on which it is based."
Sounds reasonable, right? Can't the non-Christians throw their own party? The problem is that the NDPTF bills itself as the "official" site for the National Day of Prayer, and attacks any governor who won't support their efforts with an official proclamation. In addition, Christian coordinators who attempt to throw an inclusive event under the NDPTF auspices are barred from running future events. So JewsOnFirst is calling for citizens to lobby their governors to shun the NDPTF, and either not issue a proclamation, or issue an inclusive statement that doesn't empower such a narrow view of acceptable public prayer (or crib talking points from Focus on the Family).
"The National Day of Prayer has been hijacked! What began in 1952 as President Truman's declaration of a National Prayer Day for all Americans is now excluding and dividing us on religious lines. The "Task Force" excludes Jews, Muslims, Catholics and even mainline Christians from participation in the events it coordinates around the country. Many of those events are staged in government venues with elected officials, in a deliberate affront to the separation of church and state."
You can find contact information for your governor, here. You can find a sample telephone script and sample letter on the inclusive prayer day site. You can also find a listing of proclamations already issued.
Let's hear it for inclusive prayer!
While I encourage my readers to participate in this call for inclusiveness, I think the fact that the National Day of Prayer falls on May Day/Beltane is far too good an opportunity to pass up! If there is a NDP event being held at your state capitol, why not take a gaggle of Pagans and Heathens in their best May-finery? Or why not hold an event as near as possible to the "official" NDPTF-organized shin-dig? Imagine May-poles and hobby-horses prancing while the evangelicals studiously pray against gay marriage. If the NDPTF is given a government building to hold their meeting, demand one for a really inclusive gathering! Invite anyone who'll show up! Pray to your assorted gods and goddesses!
We're a deeply religious people.
If all else fails, hold a procession past the capitol reminding the lawmakers that a "National Day of Prayer" includes all faiths, not just the ones with the political clout to co-opt it for their own ends. When a prayer event hijacked by conservative Christians falls on May Day, who knows what could happen!
Labels: Beltane, Focus on the Family, JewsOnFirst, May Day, National Day of Prayer, Paganism, politics, prayer, Religion
3.22.2008
In Defense of African Spirituality
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong, writing for Modern Ghana, explores recent comments made by Major Courage Quashigah, Ghana's Minister of Health, that urged Christian clergy to stop stripping Ghanaians of their cultural heritage. Akosah-Sarpong decries the suppression of traditional African religion, and supports Quashigah's call for Christian clergy to emphasize the love of Jesus instead of demonizing traditional spirituality.
"Nowhere in the world is ones traditional spirituality either bastardized or demeaned or kicked around badly as if it has no innate traditional spiritual soul so much than the African's. The African spirituality, which is non-violent and with no problems of fundamentalism compared to other worldly religions, is so demeaned that even in the eyes of a good number of Africans they see it as "heathen," "pagan," "evil," "fetish," or "primitive." And this has impacted negatively on Africa's progress in all sort of developmental ways to the extent that its elites, who are supposed to know better, are dazed."
Part of the problem, according to Akosah-Sarpong, isn't simply Christian (or Muslim) hostility, or post-colonial reverberations (though he certainly acknowledges those elements), but the failure of African religions to modernize and combat associations with malicious occultism. He endorses the advocacy group Afrikania Mission as a way forward for traditional spiritualities in Africa.
"Afrikania is a concept of life and more importantly, a spiritual revolution that aims at creating a new world order based on Amen-ra, positive consciencism and spiritual equilibrium. It is called Afrikania because it is rooted in the Afrikan experience. Its foundation and its goal is the creator. It is the restructuring of the Afrikan traditional concept which is the first recorded religion of mankind and the mother of all religions. This Afrikan environment is the father of science, the cradle of civilization and the place where man first saw light. The Afrikan heritage is a gift for the whole world, after all the races of the world spring from the afrikan race, which began in east Afrika. The experience gained over the years, taught mankind the virtues of love, faith, prudence, justice, courage, temperance, honesty, good citizenship and above all; nation building as a spiritual duty. This is the Afrikan concept. It is neither fetish, pagan, idolatrous animism, ancestor worship, or superstition, but an honest approach to Amen-ra and we are proud to improve upon it for the benefit of Afrika and all mankind."
In the end both Kofi Akosah-Sarpong and Major Courage Quashigah agree that "no country in this world can develop outside its culture," and that indigenous religion is an integral part of that culture. Attempts by the dominant monotheisms (both internally and externally) to demonize and eliminate these traditional spiritual paths may in turn hinder the growth of African nations wanting to emerge from poverty and social problem.
Whether clergy in Ghana listen to Quashigah's pleas for a change in attitude remains to be seen. According to press accounts his exhortations were met with "shrugs of uneasiness", which doesn't seem to be a good omen for future cooperation and tolerance.
Labels: Africa, Ghana, indigenous, Religion
3.19.2008
The Ramifications of a Post-Christian Society
Reverberations from the Pew Forum's groundbreaking U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, the first independent survey to place modern Paganism over the one million mark, are still being felt. Recently The Chronicle Review, a publication of The Chronicle of Higher Education, explored some of the ramifications of these findings.
"...findings in the study shed new light on issues around which there has been no scholarly consensus ... it is becoming increasingly obvious that the term "Judeo-Christian" no longer makes sense, given how many Americans are neither. But the favorite terms to replace it - "Judeo-Christian-Islamic" or "Abrahamic" - seem equally inappropriate. It is not just that Buddhists, who do not trace their roots to Abraham, may outnumber Muslims, who do. It is that the combined percentage of those who identify themselves as either Hindu (0.4 percent) or from "other world religions" (0.3 percent) does so as well. We are not one nation divided into three monotheistic faiths. We are a nation characterized by many faiths, as well as by none."
If America is no longer a "Judeo-Christian" (or "Abrahamic") country, what does that mean? Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, claims that the era of a common Christian morality is coming to a close.
"The fact that we now have so many religions in this country suggests either that no common morality is possible, or that, if it is, religion cannot be its most important source. The ways in which religious diversity either increases or detracts from speaking about the common good ought to be a subject stimulated by Pew's conclusions."
Which means that we could see a day when divisive "culture war" and other "social issues" will cease to be a tug-of-war between liberal secularists on one side, and conservative Christians on the other. Instead, there will be a variety of viewpoints and moralities involved in the discussion, changing the entire dynamic of debate.
Some will wonder if this is simply a statistical "blip" before some new Great Awakening re-asserts Christian moral dominance in America, but Wolfe says that data points to Christian denominations having retention problems across the board, including the "conservative" and "evangelical" denominations.
"Protestant denominations ... were all losers ... Pew has found that the strictest of all churches, at least in the sheer amount of proselytizing time and energy it requires, has the lowest overall retention rate ... whatever the case in the past, there is no strong evidence of strict churches attracting a disproportionate share of members now ... If the religious world of adults in the United States is diverse and in constant flux, the religious affiliations of young Americans, who will be tomorrow's voters and citizens, are even more so. Three times as many Americans under 30 as those over 70 are not religiously affiliated."
These problems haven't escaped the notice of conservative and evangelical churches, but their attempts to fix what they define as an "image problem" may be too little and too late.
"Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like "hypocritical," "insensitive," and "judgmental," young Americans share an impression of Christians that's nothing short of ... unChristian."
Of course, this doesn't mean that we'll be living in some sort of multi-religious utopia any time soon. Those in power rarely let go easily, and we may see battles over issues of religious morality and political influence get a lot worse before they attain a new balance. America may have woken up into a new "post-Christian" society, but the hangover from two hundred years of Christian dominance will most likely give us headaches for many years to come.
Labels: America, Pew Forum, post-Christian, Religion, The Chronicle Review, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey
3.14.2008
A Spate of Pagan Articles, Plus: Bunky's Big Party
Sometimes I go weeks without seeing any direct coverage of Pagans in the mainstream media. Then, as if they can hold back no longer, a sudden torrent of stories spring forth all at once. As a result, you get the Sacramento News and Review covering a Thelemic Gnostic Mass, The Post in Ohio reporting on the growing population of Wiccans in Athens, the Marshall Parthenon (a student paper) looking at a Pagan organization on campus, and a Killeen Daily Herald story concerning local Pagans getting ready to celebrate Ostara.
"When the leaves start turning green, weather warms up and spring finally rolls around, it feels like magic is in the air; this Saturday's Ostara Fest is ready to make things feel a whole lot more magical. A celebration of spring, the event at Club Rodeo in Harker Heights will be hosted by new-age gift shop Sisters of the Earth and Sea and will bring vendors and participants from all over the country. "You've heard of 'Keep Austin Weird,'" said Laurie Roach, co-owner of Sisters of the Earth and Sea. 'Well, we're trying to keep Central Texas eclectic.'"
But wait! There's still more! The University of Washington's student newspaper explores the "highly controversial religious pathway" of Wicca, Gay Wired interviews astrologer, musician, tarot creator, out lesbian, and Goddess-worshiper Flash Silvermoon, while the Amherst Bulletin interviews Ellen Evert Hopman about Druids and her new novel "Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey".
"My original intention was to write a training manual for people who wanted to follow the Druid path," Hopman said. But, as she began to explain the first ritual, "All of a sudden, there's this full- blown ritual," spooling out like a movie in her mind. "The characters just took over," she said. "I had very little control over what happened after that."
Plus, if you act now, you can read an interesting profile of Orisa priestess Chief Fama in the California Press-Enterprise.
You would think that heady rush of journalistic exercise would drain the well for a few months (or at least until the Spring Equinox hits), but it looks like Wiccan multi-millionaire Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett just might grace the local headlines again. The newly expanded Mystickal Voyage shop celebrates its Bunky-funded grand re-opening in a impressively large 6500 square foot space this weekend.
"Our Grand Opening is set for the weekend of March 14th. The festivities will begin Friday at 1:00 with opening speeches and a ribbon cutting ceremony with special guests including Rev. Bunky Bartlett, Ginny Robertson from the On Purpose Women's Network, Steve Rouse [a local radio personality], and more! During the weekend, we will have guest workshops with Amber K, Azrael Arynn K, and Ann Moura."
In addition, the shop will be featuring a (sold out) acoustic performance from Rockstar: Supernova finalist Dilana Robichaux. I can't imagine an event like this not drawing reporters like moths to a flame.
All this media attention is just further proof that modern Paganism is becoming the "designated Other" in American (and British, and Australian) religious life. So we better get used to the increasing amount of press (and scholarly) attention.
Labels: Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett, journalism, Paganism, Religion, Wicca
2.13.2008
Religion and Custody Battles
The New York Times reports on the recent increase of custody cases that are centering around religion. While at one time custody arrangements were often fairly simple, with the mother of the child usually gaining custodial duties, nowadays more and more parents are battling it out in court and issues over religion are being used as a wedge to prove unfitness. A trend that is making many judges uneasy.
"Judges do not want to take on custody disputes rooted in religion, said lawyers like Gaetano Ferro, who until recently served as president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Ferro said, "How will a judge say in any rational fashion that Islam is better than Buddhism, Catholicism better than Judaism, or Methodism better than Pentecostalism?" As a result, more and more states have tried to keep custody disputes out of court by mandating mediation. But the effect has been piecemeal, and religious disputes have proven to be among the most difficult to resolve, lawyers said."
A consequence of this trend is that custodial parents who belong to a religion that may seem strange or "cultish" to an outsider are getting their rights challenged more often, and in some cases losing custody to the parent who belongs to a more "normal" faith.
"We were easy targets because we were made to look like cultists," Mrs. Snider, 36, said. "I think whether anyone admits it or not, almost all of the ruling had to do with religion. Nothing I had done was called into question except that."
This trend has had reverberations within the larger modern Pagan movement. Several recent custody hearings have had the parents adherence to a Pagan faith factor into the case. One of the most notable being the infamous SubGenius custody battle, in which a mother lost custody of her son, and didn't get it back until the biological father was imprisoned for drunken driving, she had racked up over 100,000 dollars in court costs, and was forced by a judge to remove all materials relating to the Church of the SubGenius from her home. Even after all that, she still only has "temporary" custody.
"Magdalen still does not have permanent custody of her son. Judge Punch took the case back and, for whatever reason, he has only given her a temporary custody order. This means that when Jeff gets out of jail, he could (in theory) take up the legal reins and continue harassing her once again."
So how do we solve these problems over faith, divorce, and custody? Some states are hoping that increased mediation will help solve some of these problems.
"Some states like California and Connecticut have taken innovative steps to get parents to resolve custody issues outside court. In Connecticut, for example, those seeking a court order have to meet with a family-relations specialist in an effort to negotiate. If that fails, they attend a daylong session to settle their differences before a panel that includes a lawyer and a mental health professional."
Meanwhile, some lawyers are pressing to give the children in such cases greater autonomy at ever younger ages.
"If Julie Ann Bergmann (the mother) and her supporters win this case it could create a legal precedent in which a minor as young as 13 could choose their own religious life despite the wishes of the parents. The ramifications for modern Paganism are immediately clear. A child who converts to a modern Pagan faith could refuse to attend Christian Church or be forced into a school that inhibited his or her religious choices. It would also help protect Pagan parents from custody challenges brought by Christian relatives (so long as the child expressed a preference for modern Paganism)."
Neither solution has made much headway in the legal system, and it seems likely that these sorts of cases will happen more often as religious minorities, and non-mainstream variations of the dominant monotheisms, continue to grow. Eventually, one of two roads will have to be taken. Completely leave out matters of faith from custody battles, or directly involve faith communities and experts on religion in the custody process. Neither path will please everyone, but our current system seems far too whimsical and uninformed to make wise decisions involving children and religions outside the mainstream.
Labels: custody case, law, litigation, New York Times, Paganism, Religion, Reverend Magdalen, Subgenius
2.07.2008
Who Would The Goddess Vote For?
As Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue to compete for their party's nomination, endorsements from all corners and walks of life have been emerging in hopes of swaying like-minded voters to back their preferred candidate. Recently, two figures who loom large within the Women's Spirituality/Goddess movement have made endorsements that draw stark lines in the sand.
Carol P. Christ and Robin Morgan
The first comes from poet, author, and activist Robin Morgan. Morgan, one of the founding members of W.I.T.C.H., and an extremely Pagan-friendly writer of works like "The Burning Time", and "The Network of the Imaginary Mother", has released an updated version of her classic feminist essay "Goodbye to All That". The new version, "Goodbye to All That (#2)", decries the double-standards applied to Hillary Clinton, and ends with a passionate rallying cry on her behalf.
"So goodbye to Hillary's second-guessing herself. The real question is deeper than her re-finding her voice. Can we women find ours? Can we do this for ourselves? "Our President, Ourselves!" Time is short and the contest tightening. We need to rise in furious energy - as we did when Anita Hill was so vilely treated in the U.S. Senate, as we did when Rosie Jiminez was butchered by an illegal abortion, as we did and do for women globally who are condemned for trying to break through. We need to win, this time. Goodbye to supporting HRC tepidly, with ambivalent caveats and apologetic smiles. Time to volunteer, make phone calls, send emails, donate money, argue, rally, march, shout, vote."
The second endorsement comes from Carol P. Christ, who first made waves back in 1978 with her essay "Why Women Need the Goddess", and has since become a noted author on women's spirituality and feminist theology. Christ, on the Women and Spirituality blog, explains why she voted for Barack Obama, and why she didn't vote for Hillary Clinton.
"I did not vote for Hillary Clinton because she voted for the second Iraq War (and did not repudiate the first one). When Hillary tells us that she was mislead by President Bush and that if she had known then what she knows now she might have voted differently, I ask: Why didn't she know then? I had listened to the news and I knew that the IAEA had not found evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and was asking for more time to carry out its inspections. I knew that war is almost never a solution and that its victims are overwhelmingly women, children and old people. I knew that rape is an ordinary tool of war. I knew that military training is based upon the idea of rooting out the empathy that ordinary people feel for one another. I had marched against other wars, and I marched against the impending Iraq war in Mytiline, Greece-- along with millions of others around the world. Barack spoke out against the Iraq war when he was waging an uphill battle for the Senate and after he had been advised to keep his mouth shut. Apparently we knew something that Hillary Clinton didn't. The fact that she didn't know suggests to me that she will be quite capable of leading the nation into other ill-advised and unnecessary wars if she is elected."
This split over Clinton and Obama isn't just happening with feminists important to the Goddess movement's development, prominent feminists from all walks of life are split over who to back this primary season. Which brings us to the question: who would The Goddess vote for? Perhaps, considering that the divine feminine has many faces, there is room for both opinions?
Labels: Carol Christ, politics, Presidential election, Religion, Robin Morgan, The Goddess
1.17.2008
Does Eclectic Spirituality Make You Crazy?
Australian papers are reporting on the work of PhD candidate Dr. Rosemary Aird, who has done a study on the effects of "non-traditional" religious views on young adults.
"A UQ study has found that young adults with a belief in a spiritual or higher power other than God were at more risk of poorer mental health and deviant social behaviour than those who rejected these beliefs. Young men who held non-traditional religious views were at twice the risk of being more anxious and depressed than those with traditional beliefs. The study was based on surveys of 3705 21-year-olds in Brisbane under the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy."
While Dr. Aird admits that the only common thread in all those surveyed is a sense of "individualism", and that the correlation between mental health and those who hold "non-traditional" religious views deserves "further study", that hasn't stopped the Brisbane Times from making some sweeping conclusions.
"DIY religions cause more harm than good: Meditation, crystal therapy, self-help books - think they're making you happier? Think again. A Brisbane academic has found a strong link between new-age spirituality and poor mental health in young people."
As for Dr. Aird, while she portrays those without a traditional religious home as "cast adrift" and in danger of experiencing "real confusion", she is forced to admit that gathering conclusive data on this topic would be almost impossible.
"While the study suggests a need for further research into the extent that religious change is linked to population mental health, she admits such a task would be enormous. "Research used to look only at traditional religion and used things like church attendance as a measurement. "These people don't go to church - they're meditating, they're reading books, they might be part of a group or just attend courses. "There's no way of measuring all of those different types of things.'"
In other words, there is no hard evidence that young adults who engage in "DIY" religions, or religions that hold "a belief in a spiritual or higher power other than God", are in any greater risk for mental illness or "deviant" social behavior than those who hold to a "traditional" form of faith. This study made no attempt to differentiate between different forms of "non-traditional" forms of belief, and frankly, proves little except the personal biases of Dr. Aird.
"People who are into the new-age spirituality tend to shop around and will often borrow from all sorts of old beliefs, like Wicca, witchcraft or Native American religions. It's a whole mish-mash and changes all the time, where they'll do something for a while before doing something else ... Religion and belief has kind of become mixed up with popular culture. Look at television and the kinds of shows that we've got, like Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Medium. They promote witchcraft, special powers and spirituality and the general population and young people especially are exposed to these things and could see them as very attractive."
Kids these days! With their "Buffy" and their mish-mash psuedo-Wiccan style! They are all crazy I tell ya, I have scientific proof!
Labels: academia, Dr. Rosemary Aird, Paganism, Religion, Wicca
1.16.2008
(More) Religion and Politics
According to a Reuters blog posting, a group of Catholic, evangelical and mainline Protestant leaders have released a statement urging presidential candidates to stop using religion to further partisan goals. Co-sponsored by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Faith in Public Life, the statement decries the "troubling" ways that faith has intruded into political competition.
"In this year's presidential campaign, we are troubled to see candidates pressed to pronounce the nature of their religious beliefs, asked if they believe every word of the Bible ... and faced with prejudicial analyses of their denominational doctrines"
The statement lays out three guiding principles that candidates should follow:
1. That religious differences should not be used to marginalize or disparage candidates.
2. That candidates should acknowledge "that no faith can lay exclusive claim to the moral values that enrich our public life."
3. "While it is appropriate for candidates to connect their faith to their policy positions, their positions on policy must respect all citizens regardless of religious belief."
While these principles were written by a coalition of Christian believers, they are written in such a way that just about any religious believer (including this Pagan) could endorse them. The question is if anyone will pay attention to these social justice organizations. Their call for a cease-fire in the Christmas Wars went largely unheeded, and certain politicians seem ever-more eager to use religion in order to further their political careers.
"I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that's what we need to do is amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than trying to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family." - Mike Huckabee, January 14, 2008
Looks like someone has already thrown principles one and two right out the window. This, along with other recent developments, seem to point to a presidential season that refuses to stop using religion as a weapon. If this trend continues, what will happen when a true religious outsider (other than a Mormon) makes a serious run for political office? Having seen brief glimmers of that future, I can tell you that it won't be pretty. Let's hope the principles set forth by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, and Faith in Public Life, take root in future elections, because it seems unlikely they will this year.
Labels: America, Christianity, politics, Religion
1.15.2008
Religious History, Religious Freedom, Religious Outsiders
One thing that those in the religious (in America's case Christian) majority don't often understand is that the term "religious freedom" can mean very different things to those not enjoying the fruits of political (or statistical) power. When Presidential candidates like Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee sing the praises of religious tolerance, while simultaneously drawing boundaries on that tolerance (for Secularists and Mormons respectively) it sends a clear message. Religious freedom and tolerance are for me, and not necessarily for thee (and if for thee, then grudgingly).
Indeed, for some Christian activists "religious freedom" means freedom to pass laws privileging their faith, freedom to exclude non-Christian displays of faith, and ultimately, the freedom to harass us. In many cases, when faced with the real, messy, kind of religious freedom, Christian activists back off as quickly as possible. So it is through this lens that I greet two new developments in the name of religious freedom. The first comes from President Bush, who has declared January 16th, the anniversary of Virginia's passage in 1796 of the Statute for Religious Freedom, as Religious Freedom Day.
"In an era during which an unprecedented number of nations have embraced individual freedom, we have also witnessed the stubborn endurance of religious repression. Religious freedom belongs not to any one nation, but to the world, and my Administration continues to support freedom of worship at home and abroad. On Religious Freedom Day and throughout the year, we recognize the importance of religious freedom and the vital role it plays in spreading liberty and ensuring human dignity."
Bush has done this every year during his Presidency, and a site has popped up to help parents and children celebrate this day. Their takeaway message? Public schools shouldn't hinder your (Christian) faith!
"In too many instances, public school teachers tell students they cannot include their faith in their homework assignments or classroom discussions ... schools need not be "religion-free zones." It is often the case that parents who complain to school officials about what they think are violations of the "separation of church and state" do not understand the appropriate and lawful place religious expression can have at school. Religious Freedom Day is not 'celebrate-our-diversity day.'"
In fact, some journalists have criticized these "freedom days" as "Christian freedom days".
"The roots of the annual proclamation may have been different when begun 13 years ago (celebrating Jefferson's stand that there should be no state-supported religion and no discrimination based on faith), but today there's a chance that those who spread the proclamation around - possibly even Bush himself when he invokes "the Almighty" - have a particular brand of Christianity in mind when they talk about religious freedom."
The second instance is House Resolution 888 (still under consideration) which purports to designate a week every year to honor the nation's "rich spiritual, and religious history." But again, while it sounds good at first, reading the resolution makes it clear that this is meant to honor a very restrictive (and revisionist) reading of American history.
"House Resolution 888, sponsored by Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Virginia), is currently before a House committee and has 31 co-sponsors. It purports to be free from singling out a specific religion, yet contains dozens of proclamations with clear fundamentalist Christian overtones. Five pages of footnotes cite specific Bible passages, the Gospels, churches, and include Biblical references taken from historical monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial ... Forbes, who in 2005 founded the Congressional Prayer Caucus in an effort to ensure Christianity's place in politics, told the Virginian Pilot he introduced his resolution to combat a "well-orchestrated movement" by "radicals" to keep Christianity and religion in general separate from government."
In fact, the resolution contains several misreadings and omissions in order to give the impression that America was not simply Christian in character, but a "Christian Nation". It leaves out the real religious legacy of America, the one that stems from the Constitution not enforcing an official religion. The one made up by Deists, Freemasons, and Enlightenment values. The nation where President John Adams and the Congress unanimously approved the following statement.
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion"
Real American religious history is a history of Native Americans fighting forced assimilation, a history of Quakers being jailed as traitors for resisting war, Transcendentalists opening up to Buddhist and Hindu thought, "Joss houses" of the immigrant Chinese, and eventually, the feminist thealogians and "new pagans" (both home-grown and imported) who helped revive the worship of gods and goddesses long thought to be extinct. The real legacy of religious freedom in America isn't simply the ongoing twists and turns of the Christian majority, but a legacy of outsiders and free-thinkers who fight for (and sometimes achieve) the full inclusion promised by the First Amendment.
Until these resolutions, proclamations, and laws truly embrace the whole religious diversity of America, instead of simply trying to find clever ways to privilege the majority, these measures won't be about religious freedom or "honoring" our history. They should be seen for what they are, attempts to slowly batter down the separation of Church and State. This kind of "freedom" and "honor" I will gladly do without.
Labels: America, Bush, Christianity, House Resolution 888, Religion, Religious Freedom
1.05.2008
(More) Fighting For (Christian) Religious Expression
Back in May of 2007 I reported on legislation passed by the Texas House that forced schools to adopt policies to "protect" students who "voluntarily" express their religious views. Despite the fact that the Texas House's own research organization warned that it will most likely privilege the Christian majority, that didn't seem to concern Gov. Rick Perry at all.
"Freedom of religion should not be mistaken for freedom from religion and I want to thank the more than 100 members of the Texas House who voted to give religious expression in our schools the same protection as secular expression"
Now nearly identical legislation is being introduced in Oklahoma in order to fight "religious discrimination" (against Christians).
"Reps. Mike Reynolds and Sally Kern, Republicans from Oklahoma City, have introduced nearly identical bills for the upcoming session called the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act. The legislation would require that an expression by a student of a religious viewpoint be treated in the same way as an expression of any secular viewpoint. Both measures would prohibit school districts from discriminating against students based on religious viewpoints and would require every district in the state to adopt a written policy to prohibit such discrimination."
The problem with legislation of this sort, besides the fact that it is unconstitutional, are the unintended consequences of trying to privilege one single faith group in a pluralistic society.
"Opponents say that the bill further erodes the separation of church and state. They note that as an unintended consequence, school districts could find themselves obligated to give Wiccans or those with anti-Christian views a chance to lead prayers before football games. 'What are you going to do the first year that a Wiccan calls upon the great mother goddess to watch over the students that day?' said [Texas] Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth. 'You are not prepared to have schools inclusive enough to meet the law.'"
While Wiccans and other minority faiths taking advantage of the law could be embarrassing for the conservative lawmakers, they know such laws ultimately benefit the majority opinion (and aren't easily overturned like policies on a local level). Also, the dictate to treat religious speech in the same manner as secular speech in pubic schools is nonsensical (unless you happen to be teaching a course on religion). A religious opinion or belief isn't categorically the same as a secular statement. There is no workable definition of "treating them the same" in the proposed legislation. If passed into law, all it will do is encourage a hostile environment towards religious minorities, dis-empower teachers from keeping order in their classrooms, and give Christian students a sense of immunity from consequences.
This legislation, like similar legislation being considered in South Carolina, is an attempt by Christian conservatives to muddy the legal waters and create "constitutional confusion" in order to delay and discourage litigation against the laws (once enacted), and ultimately roll back secular advancements. One can only hope that Oklahoma's lawmakers have a better grasp of the constitution than Texas's lawmakers. In the meantime, I encourage Pagan groups in in Oklahoma to send a message to their representatives ensuring them that Pagans, Witches, and Heathens oppose this legislation, but will gladly use their new "rights" as often and as loudly as possible if it is enacted.
Labels: Christianity, law, Oklahoma, Paganism, Religion, Religious Freedom, Texas
12.30.2007
Top Ten Pagan Stories of 2007 (Part One)
As we reach the close of 2007, it is time to stop for a moment and take stock of the previous year. When you look at (and for) news stories regarding modern Paganism (and related topics) every day of the year, you can sometimes lose focus on the larger picture. So it can be a helpful thing to look at the broad strokes, the bigger themes, the events and developments that will have lasting impact on the modern Pagan movement. What follows are my picks for the top ten stories from this past year involving or affecting modern Pagans.
10. Important passages within the Pagan and occult communities: 2007 saw the passing of some highly influential and respected members of our extended community, the most notable being the visionary philosopher, author, and mystic, Robert Anton Wilson.
Robert Anton Wilson
Wilson is perhaps best-known for his work on "The Illuminatus! Trilogy" with co-author Robert Shea. The books incorporated elements of Discordianism, conspiracy theory, magick, and various 60s counterculture references to create a "fairytale for paranoids". Since then Wilson published several books exploring philosophy, science, and religion. Most notably his "Cosmic Trigger" series. But RAW was hardly the only notable passing in 2007, we also saw key Goddess spirituality movement figure Shekhinah Mountainwater (author of "Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic") cross the veil after a long struggle with cancer, and Tim Sebastion, chief of the Secular Order of Druids, who died after a long illness.
Other notable passages include artist Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge (partner to Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, and member of Psychic TV), influential Salem Witch and event organizer Shawn Poirier, and Starwood organizer, musician, and SubGenius, Chas Smith.
09. Witch School in the News: This past year saw quite a lot of coverage for the (in)famous Internet-based Witch School. The year began with news that the SCI FI Channel was planning a reality television series set in the school's campus (then located in Hoopeston, IL), but this development seemed to fall apart when Ed Hubbard announced he was selling the school through E-Bay.
"Imagine, if you could buy Harry Potter's Hogwarts? Well, the world's first and largest public school of Wiccan and Witches has become available for sale. Starting Tuesday, April 10th, WitchSchool.com will be auctioned off to the highest bidder during an eBay Auction. If you ever wanted to have your very own cyber school of magick and witchcraft, this is the auction for you. So you can own and run your very own Academy for Magick and Witchcraft. If you would love to become the next Dumbledore, this is your chance to do so."
After a flurry of controversy, mixed-signals, and announcements concerning them leaving their physical campus in Hoopeston (due to the alleged unfriendliness of the town) Witch School was sold to a coalition of buyers from the Correllian Nativist Tradition with Don Lewis at the head. I thought that would be the last we head from the school in 2007, but Witch School ended up gaining national press attention after the tiny troubled town of Rossville, IL went on the offensive following the school's relocation there. While tensions have since eased up, it was certainly a PR coup for the Internet business. It remains to be seen if Witch School will manage to gain the publics attention in 2008, or if they will return to relative obscurity sans tales of persecution. But they certainly made a mark on Pagan-related news in 2007.
08. "Bunky" the Multi-Millionaire: The media became positively entranced when Wiccan Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett won over 30 million dollars in the Maryland State Lottery "Mega Millions" drawing. This encouraged witty bon mots like "Dude, talk about blessed be" and "Christians who pray for lucky lottery tickets but never win might consider switching over to Wicca." Of course the press soon wanted to know how he was going to spend his newly-won loot, and Bunky announced that he plans to build a Pagan-run seminary. While there have certainly been rich or well-off Pagans before (though they are most-often "in the broom closet"), Bartlett is the first to gain a high-profile, and will certainly continue to gain press attention if (or when) he starts spending that money to benefit his religion.
07. Pagans in Prison (and the books they can read): Incarcerated Pagans and Heathens made the news in increasingly large numbers this past year. I personally blogged eight such stories, and I know for a fact that more occurred that I never got a chance to report on. Virtually all the claims regarded the issue of religious free exercise and what materials a Pagan prisoner should/would be allowed. But while those legal struggles mainly happened on the journalistic sidelines, Pagans, prisons, and their religious rights hit center stage when the Federal Bureau of Prisons enacted a controversial new policy that purged every religious book in Federal Prison libraries that wasn't on a then-secret list (in order to inhibit "extremism").
"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."
Massive controversy ensued amongst religious groups both liberal and conservative, which only intensified when the amazingly flawed lists leaked to the public. The BOP soon reversed their actions and restored the pulled books, but the policy has only been postponed, and come early 2008 we could be faced yet again with the majority of books for (Federal) Pagan prisoners being pulled, and an approved list made by unnamed "experts" put in its place. So expect the rights of Pagan prisoners to continue to make the news in 2008.
06. Paganism (Ancient and Modern) Continues to Influence Pop-Culture: Pagan and occult themes continued to make headway into popular culture in 2008. The television series "Rome" (which had one of the most accurate portrayals of Roman polytheism to date) aired its second (and final) season, the masterful adult fairytale "Pan's Labyrinth" took home three Academy Awards, while films like "300", and "Beowulf" looked to a pre-Christian era to find its heroes (while a certain Pirate franchise invoked a goddess to help wrap up their story). 2007 also saw the release of documentaries concerning notorious occultist Aleister Crowley, and cultural appropriation within New Age communities, and a new-found emphasis on occult and supernatural themes in television.
"The prevalence of supernatural plots 'is reflective of increasing anxiety - personal, economic and national' that pervades the American mood, said Mr. Rash, who was in New York last week to attend the networks' presentations ... Most of the coming new shows 'are playing to viewers' desire to be in fantasyland,' said Shari Anne Brill, senior vice president and director of programming at Carat USA in New York, part of the Carat division of the Aegis Group, adding, 'The real world has become such a horrendous place that people are looking for magic to avoid the tragic.'"
Pagans continued to make appearances on reality television, and exploitive daytime talk-shows, while a film full of Scottish myths and folktales (shot entirely in Gaelic) gained rave critical reviews. In addition, production news surfaced about a feature film concerning Aleister Crowley, a re-envisioning of the classic cult-film "The Wicker Man", and a possible television show starring Greek gods. Meanwhile, Walden Media learned that if you cut the pagan elements out of a classic story, the movie will flop.
This has been a great year for Pagan-themed music, from Wyrd-folk compilations to Bjork and Tori Amos. Loads of great Pagan and occult books came out this year as well. Oh, and the last Harry Potter book came out, but didn't you hear it was all a Christian allegory? But in any case, popular culture continues to become increasingly Pagan-friendly, and I don't see the trend slowing down any time soon.
--
Tomorrow I will post the top five Pagan stories for 2007. In the meantime, I invite you to check out the top religion stories from some different perspectives. Time magazine's top ten religion stories, the 2007 Top Religion Stories as selected by Religion Newswriters, the Barna group's four "mega-themes" from their 2007 research, Christianity Today's top stories of 2007, and Terry Mattingly gives us his vote for 2007's top religious story.
Labels: Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett, Paganism, Passings, pop-culture, Prison, Religion, Top 10 religion stories of the year, Witch School
12.14.2007
Hiring Pagans for Prisons
Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum is in court today to challenge the State of California's limited number of recognized religions.
"Patrick, High Priest of Our Lady of the Wells, has filed on behalf of all Pagans incarcerated in the State of California, in this prison rights case that challenges the State of California's policy of having only five state-recognized religions (Protestant Christian, Roman Catholic Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Native American). Although this case involves Pagan rights, its implications are far-reaching because it addresses separation of church and state issues not only in prison settings but throughout the State of California."
This limited number of accepted religions has far-reaching consequences for prisoners in the State of California (including the denial of basic religious freedoms), and McCollum has been challenging the policy for years.
"Another case against the California Department of Corrections this month was filed by Patrick McCollum himself. The case, which was filed with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, challenges the state of California's discriminatory hiring policy which only allows the state to hire clergy members from five state designated faiths, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, and Native American. Patrick has challenged this policy stating that it is a violation of the United States Constitution for any government agency to discriminate in employment on the basis of religion, and that it is a violation of the separation of church and state for the state of California to favor or sponsor any religion over another. This case is the result of the state of California's refusal to accept applications for employment from Wiccans, for open and publicly advertised clergy positions." - 2003 report from the Lady Liberty League
It appears that today's motion will decide if the case will continue to be heard. If McCollumn ultimately wins, it would mean that the State of California could no longer decide which religions receive preferential treatment within the prison system (or within any State-run institution), and it would clear the way for Pagan clergy to be hired for chaplaincy purposes. I'll provide further updates once I know the outcome of the ruling.
Labels: California, Chaplaincy, law, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Prison, Religion
12.10.2007
A Few Quick Notes
A slow news day in the Pagan world, but there were a few interesting tidbits I would like to share with you. First off, UU-Blogger Philocrites says everything I could possibly want to say concerning Mitt Romney's "Faith in America" speech.
"By trying to define "faith" as conservative traditionalism and "pluralism" as a name for monotheistic traditionalism, Romney misrepresented the true diversity of American religion, explicitly dismissed Americans who don't identify with a religious tradition, and painted the traditions he did mention in a way that celebrates their most traditionalist wings and ignores almost all of their visions for the commonweal. What a disappointment."
Also of interest is Slacktivist's analysis of the speech, in which he questions the logic of throwing (non-Mormon) religious outsiders under the bus in order to curry favor with the Christian Right.
"The speech includes some decent stretches, but it was not, primarily, a courageous plea for religious tolerance and mutual respect. It was, instead, primarily an obsequious bit of sucking up by an outsider hoping to curry favor with the in crowd by parroting their condemnation of other outsiders ... Romney's gambit here comes straight from the school yard. As a Mormon, he is an outsider, getting picked on by the bullies of the religious right. Instead of standing up to the bullies, he sucks up to them, trying to prove his loyalty and win their approval by acting like them and picking on the other outcasts and outsiders. 'You guys want to pretend that 'secular' and 'profane' are synonyms? I can do that. Look, I'll even beat up this atheist kid for you. See? I'm just like you guys!'"
Turning from politics to holiday celebrations (a topic that is only slightly less contentious), the expected "winter festivals other than Christmas" stories are starting to pop up. The American Chronicle runs a commentary piece by Saqqara Aleister concerning pre-Christian winter holidays and how they have influenced our present-day festivities.
"So as the Winter Solstice once again is upon planet Earth, look to where your celebration may have come from. Look to others in this time of "Christmas" and see, we are all celebrating the same season. Everyone may not celebrate in the same way but we are all celebrating birth, death and rebirth in our own unique way. A way that our ancient forefathers saw coming thousands of years ago as they huddled in caves watching over their food stores waiting for the snow to melt and the warmth of spring to return. May your observance be merry and happy."
Meanwhile, The Daily Titan (a college paper for the California State University in Fullerton) interviews a Wiccan about Yule celebrations.
"Tracing its roots back to Scandinavian aboriginals, Yule celebrates the winter solstice. "[It] centers around December 20 to the 23 in the northern hemisphere," said Paul Levesque, comparative religion professor. This year, it will take place on Dec. 20 and pagans will celebrate the return of the warm sun ahead of the long winter days. "[It's about] showing the unity of creation, light in the darkness," Levesque said. Yule also reinforces the notion of rebirth during the wintertime and it commemorates the New Year in western and northern traditions of Wicca."
No doubt an expose on the mysterious "Western" and "Northern" traditions of Wicca will be forthcoming. In addition to these stories, you can find plenty of "pagan roots of Christmas" articles written with different degrees of talent by a variety of columnists hard-up for fresh ideas. They should all take a cue from Tony Sachs at the Huffington Post, who writes an amusing story of how his grade-school tried to solve the religious diversity problem by settling on a common denominator: paganism.
"I can sort of understand, however, why none of us thought twice about what was called "Candlelighting Day" but was really "Freaky Quasi-Druidic Festival." We were just kids, for cryin' out loud. Give us a half day of school with an assembly instead of classes and we'd do anything. Celebrate the holidays with a mass wedding presided over by Sun Myung Moon? No problem, as long as it gets me out of algebra. Bite the heads off some Christmas doves with Ozzy Osbourne? Like, sure, whatever. Is it noon yet?"
Ah, the innocence of childhood.
Finally, for the book lovers out there (and you know who you are), Bookslut has a profile of the literary smorgasbord that is the Exhibit Hall of the American Academy of Religion's yearly meeting.
"Any academic conference's pedestrian aorta leads right into the Exhibit Hall, a place clogged with publishers' book booths. Last month, I immersed myself in the clamorous annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) -- Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) in San Diego, and thus was able to graze in the mother of all Exhibit Halls. As one of 9,000-plus attendees, I joined other book lovers in walking up one aisle and down the next, refusing to miss a back corner or hidden grotto and thus a possible gem."
I don't know about you, but I'm totally planning on being at the next AAR meeting in Chicago. Pagan scholars, academic papers, and more books than you can shake a stick at. What more could you want?
Labels: American Academy of Religion, books, Festival, Mitt Romney, Pagan Studies, Paganism, politics, Religion, Unitarian-Universalism, Winter Solstice, Yule
12.07.2007
Religious Outsiders and the Presidential Race
God-talk in the Presidential race, especially for the Republicans, is heating up. Everyone is trying to prove just how Christian and Jesus-loving they are to the nation. Recently, Mitt Romney's "don't be scared of my Mormonism" speech, and the sudden rise of Southern Baptist (and former governor) Mike Huckabee (the new evangelical fave sucking votes from Romney) have intensified talk about God and the executive branch even further. They, along with John "we are founded on Christian principles" McCain, seem to be reinforcing the notion that only a man of (Christian) faith can properly lead America.
"Romney delivered an address that simultaneously pleaded for religious tolerance and urged intolerance of what he termed the "religion of secularism." The former Massachusetts governor at once declined to discuss the specific dogmas of his own faith while seeking to convince the bigots in his political party that, like them, he accepts Jesus Christ as the Son of God and his Savior ... Whatever bland assurances they may offer to the contrary, both Romney and Huckabee have implicitly endorsed religious tests for a presidential candidacy. Both suggest that only leaders who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are qualified to lead. Huckabee says that we should choose a president who speaks "the language of Zion," meaning a fundamentalist Christian like himself. Romney says that among the questions that may appropriately be asked of aspiring presidential candidates is what they believe about Jesus Christ..."
The values of secularism, the values that protect religious minorities, atheists, and agnostics from being isolated and discriminated against are called "anti-religion" by Romney, while the other candidates (with the exception of Giuliani) all try to prove their anti-abortion bona-fides by gaining endorsements from groups like the National Right to Life Committee. It comes down to the fact that there is an "unofficial" religious test for President, be sufficiently Christian, or don't bother running.
The scary thing is, this is just the beginning. Once the Presidential primaries actually start, expect things to get vicious on the religion issue. With both Democrats and Republicans struggling to prove they are sufficiently monotheistic and Bible-believing to head an (in theory) secular office. Obama wants to build "a Kingdom right here on Earth", Clinton is a member of a scary underground Christian organization called The Fellowship which seeks to bring Jesus back to Capitol Hill, and all the Democratic front-runners have a hard time granting equality to homosexuals (while Republicans have no trouble denying an equal role for gays at all).
"Democrats are tiptoeing around gay issues, probably because they believe the gay vote is theirs regardless. Republicans are poised to make gay marriage a major, divisive issue again in 2008, since they know it will mobilize so many single-issue voters to go out to the polls and vote Republican ... And no one wants to talk about the fact that marriage, at least in the legal, government sense, is a "civil union" with all the rights that go along with that, and has nothing whatsoever to do with God, the Bible, or religion..."
So where does all this religious fervor leave modern Pagans, agnostics, atheists, and adherents to minority faiths? Out in the cold. Second-class citizens in the race to build a "Kingdom" based around a single religious outlook. In a race where everyone is trying to prove their fidelity to Jesus (instead of sticking to issues of running this country), anyone who doesn't accept Jesus as their role-model or savior is removed from the conversation.
Labels: America, Paganism, Presidential election, Religion
12.06.2007
The Danger of 'Wannabes'
The Colorado Springs Gazette features an editorial from columnist Barry Noreen on the problems faced by Native Americans trying to preserve their religious culture in the face of appropriation and exploitation by the New Age community.
"Christians aren't the only ones for whom spirituality is a matter of life and death. So Jacob Anaya has taken up the role as a defender of the faith. Anaya, owner of All My Relations Creations in Manitou Springs, acknowledges he is a bit like the little Dutch boy, standing up against the latest assault on American Indian spirituality: New Agers. Anaya, originally of the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and later a teacher of Lakota traditions, gives presentations to sound warnings about modern charlatans who will sell sweat lodge, vision quest or pipe ceremonies for a price ... Typically, Anaya said, a New Age spiritualist will know some of the sweat lodge details and perhaps a snippet of Lakota language. They're all about trying to create a ceremony, not about treating it as a way of life ... These wannabes sometimes hand out certificates - "they start handing out (Indian) names like cigars," Anaya said, derisively suggesting someone can become "Squeaking Squirrel Butt" overnight."
Noreen continues this theme in his blog for the newspaper, where he recommends the NAFPS (New Age Frauds and Plastic Shamans) group, and claims that spiritual exploitation is "another way to attack Indians".
"There is 5-year-old effort, New Age Frauds and Plastic Shamans, which established a Web site, to expose what it sees as fraudulent exploitation of Indian spirituality. These "outings" have resulted in charges that NAFPS is a racist hate group. Without entering into the charges and counter-charges, it's fair to say that if one wants to Google "sweat lodge ceremonies," a wide spectrum of allegedly holy opportunities are out there - some including astrology and others things never associated with American Indians. One can spend a good bit of money in some cases, although exactly what is purchased at the end of the day is another debatable topic. Some of these activities can help you feel good, but they have little or nothing to do with American Indian spirituality."
While "borrowing" Native spirituality has become quite gauche within many modern Pagan circles (in fact, some members of NAFPS are modern Pagans), there are still many Pagans who claim to incorporate Native spirituality into their practice, and faux-Indian rituals and retreats are still entirely common within New Age circles (especially so in Europe, where Native "inspired" events are common enough that a documentary film was made on the subject).
"Europe has also seen a growing interest in so called Native American spirituality. Ceremonies and rituals together with sacred objects are being sold on websites and in papers. Cults and organisations offer people to become 'an Indian shaman' or a medicine man during a weekend course. Seldom or never do Native voices get heard and because of the lack of information, con-men make a considerable amount of money while they violate the spirituality of mostly Plains Indians."
While I think that modern Pagans and polytheists should strive towards solidarity (when feasible) with those who practice pre-Christian faiths and rituals, our support should never be confused with the notion that we have a "right" to "borrow" (and take out of cultural context) their spiritual practices for our own benefit. Empathy for the Indian struggle does not confer the right to appropriate Native traditions and practices. Praying like an Indian doesn't help the Indian preserve their culture and integrity, it only serves our vanity and dilutes authentic practice.
Labels: American Indian, indigenous, Native American, Paganism, Religion
12.04.2007
News Corp. Buys Beliefnet.com
According to Fishbowl NY, religious mega-site Beliefnet has been purchased by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation (which owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and