7.05.2008
Satanic Panic Alive and Well in North Carolina
I was going to do an update on the Pagan fence controversy today, but another story I've read, the more I think about it, the more it bothers me (I'll get to the fence thing tomorrow). It involves five people, the local Democratic party, accusations of kidnapping and rape, and Satanism. The more you dig into it, the more it seems like the beginnings of a witch-hunt. At first it seems like a straightforward crime with a hint of Satanism thrown in for spice.
"Prosecutors have charged three people, including two ranking members of the Durham County Democratic Party, as part of an investigation into allegations of rape and kidnapping that prosecutors said involved satanic worship ... Authorities have said little about the case outside of the information included in arrest warrants, which allege that [Joseph Scott] Craig beat a man and a woman, raped the woman and that [Joy] Johnson watched as he did so. Durham County Assistant District Attorney Mark McCullough said earlier this week that charges stemmed from some sort of satanic ritual."
Joseph Scott and Joy Johnson
Now hold on, this is going to get a bit complicated. The three people arrested, Joy Johnson, Joseph Craig, and Diana Palmer are all New Agers. Joy and Joseph run/ran a web site (now down) called "Indigo Dawn", which provided spiritual healing services, past-life regressions and the like. Joseph Craig, on the site, claims to be a practitioner of magick. Meanwhile, Joy and Diana are both chairwomen of the Durham County Democratic Party. Joy and Joseph are the ones accused of rape and kidnapping, Diana is accused of helping to hide evidence after the fact. All have been accused of participating in a "Satanic ritual". Diana Palmer claims no involvement or knowledge of any illegal acts or cult activity.
"The warrant for Palmer's arrest states she put the evidence in her trunk and "drove her vehicle to another location in an effort to conceal those items from detection of the Durham Police Department." "She denies knowing about any crime, being connected with this crime or having anything at all to do with Satanism or any assault of any nature whatsoever," Thomas said, describing his client as a New Age Christian."
Still, this could have been a straightforward case of rape and kidnapping, with Palmer as an innocent dupe, or willing accomplice. However, it looks like the charges of "Satanism", along with the charges of rape and kidnapping might not be as it appears.
"But the attorney for Joseph Scott Craig, 25, has questioned whether authorities misunderstood what was taking place inside his client's home. "It sure seems to look like sadomasochism or some kind of consensual activity that maybe went too far," defense attorney Woody Vann told The News & Observer of Raleigh. "While it may not be normal activity for our everyday population, that doesn't mean it's criminal." ... Authorities allege that Craig beat a man and a woman, raped the woman and that Johnson watched as he did so. Court documents filed this week accuse Johnson of "instigating and encouraging" her husband as he handcuffed the man and forced him "into a dog cage, leaving him there for hours, terrorizing him." The documents said the incidents occurred in December 2007 and in January and May."
Let's deconstruct this for a moment. One couple meets another couple, allegedly through "a shared interest in Satan worship". They then engage in, on three occasions, what sounds very much like cuckold play, a very, very common kink. The basic scenario, in short, is that a man (or woman) is restrained (mentally or physically) and "forced" to watch his (or her) partner sexually gratified by a stranger. While I'm not ruling out mental coercion, or that the final instance may have been done without consent, we may also be dealing with what sex columnist Dan Savage calls "drastic, disgusted, after-the-fact denial" (NSFW language at link).
"I'm familiar with drastic, disgusted, after-the-fact denial ... the moment a closet case gets what he came for ... his tone changes dramatically. Not only does he stop begging to be ******, he will deny he ever wanted to be ****** in the first place. The truly messed up ones would even deny that they had been ****** at all..."
So far the police have been tight-lipped about details of the case. As I have said before, this could very well be what they say it is. A kidnapping and rape. If so, the accused should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, if this is a case of guilt/shame after the fact, or self-protection from being labeled as perverts, two (or three) innocent people could be facing jail time and a lifetime on the sexual offender lists. Worse, by spinning tales of Satanism, and by the police releasing those details, we face a new wave of "Satanic Panic" in the region.
Will people start looking out for more "cultists" in the New Age or Pagan communities? Will there be more arrests? Will vigilante justice ensue if the accused are cleared of wrongdoing? We can't be sure, but one thing we do know is that justice has been marred by the Durham police engaging in sensationalism. We can only hope that justice prevails here (whatever that may be), and that this doesn't spark any further witch-hunts. What do you think? Real crime with a touch of sensationalist Satanism thrown in, or a smear of innocent people who believed they were engaging in a consensual act?
Labels: Democratic Party, Magick, New Age, North Carolina, Satanic Panic, Satanism
4.19.2008
600,000 "Satanists" in Rome?
While America is distracted by the Pope's visit, the Christian Broadcasting Network (home of Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club") spotlights the growing popularity of exorcisms in Italy (a topic I've touched on before).
"In this predominantly Catholic nation the devil is gaining a foothold. "There is a greater openness towards the devil," Rev. Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican's chief exorcist, said. In fact, Rome has been called the most 'satanized' city in Italy. "Satanism and the occult are in fashion," said Father Pedro Barrajon, a professor of theology."
None of this rhetoric is new or unusual (indeed, the good Rev. Amorth seems willing to talk to any news outlet that will give him the time of day), but what did draw my eye was an un-sourced statistic thrown out by the CBN reporter.
"There are an estimated 800 satanic cults operating in the country, with more than 600,000 followers. And their numbers are growing."
Over half a million Satanists? Really? That seems like an awfully big number. To get some perspective, I checked in with theistic Satanist Diane Vera's web site, where a whole section has been devoted to Satanic panic in Italy. According to Vera, these high numbers may be including Satanists, occultists of all stripes, Pagans, psychics, and other "heretical" individuals (teenage metal heads, for example).
"Among Christians, including Catholics, an increased emphasis on demons and exorcism leads inevitably to an increased fear of all non-Christian spiritual practices ... All the "We're not Satanists" disclaimers in the world will not stop conservative Christians from associating non-Christian spiritualities - especially the more "magical" spiritualities - with demons and/or with Satanism. Even in the eyes of those relatively few conservative Christians who are well-informed about the beliefs of Pagans, occultists, etc."
This view is backed up by the blog Bartholomew's Notes on Religion, who dug into census data and found that there were only 240 or so "organized" Satanists (as of 2003).
"Therefore, despite the many more relevant numbers often supplied by mass media - those who propose such numbers should, of course, be capable of supporting their statements with evidence as far as we can see from the numbers right now - the groups of organized satanists only represent an insignificant percentage of the Italian population even if, of course, the experience lived can be extremely hard for the people involved. The organized satanism is therefore a phenomenon that is often overrated, as a matter of fact, it concerns only a few thousands of people all over the world."
Taking all this into account, it becomes clear that exorcisms aren't simply a tool against "demonic possession". No heroic Father Merrin casting out the demon in little Regan. Instead, we have a struggle against all forms of non-Catholic thought. If you embrace a theology outside the bounds of the dominant monotheisms, or simply want to divorce your Catholic husband, you are demon-haunted and ripe for spiritual torture-tactics.
"Typical cases, he said, include people who turn away from the church and embrace New Age therapies, alternative religions or the occult. Internet addicts and yoga devotees are also at risk, he said."
The rhetorical slight-of-hand that turns all non-Catholic thinking into demon-possession hasn't escaped the notice of Pagan groups around the world, who condemn this new commitment to "curing" people who may simply be happier as Pagans.
So while Benedict XVI makes nice at an inter-religious gathering in America, those under his purview continue to ignore his wish to "discuss our differences with calmness and clarity", and instead label anyone in Rome rejecting Christianity as "Satanists". But then, perhaps Benedict's call for "sincere dialogue and cooperation" was only extended to the religions big enough to be invited to the party. Pagans, Heathens, and assorted polytheists, on the outs since the time of Theodosius, need not apply.
Labels: Catholicism, exorcisms, Italy, occult, Paganism, Rome, Satanic Panic, Satanism
9.26.2007
More Pagan (and Satanic) Fashion
The fashion/celebrity blog Jezebel takes a look at the latest issue of French "Vogue", and a fashion photo shoot "realized" by editor in chief Carine Roitfeld that focuses on the occult.
"...inside, we found the "Sacrement Inspiree" fashion shoot photographed by Terry Richardson and "realized" by editor in chief Carine Roitfeld. The theme? Voodoo/wicca/satanism!"
Fashion design by Alexander McQueen, photo by Terry Richardson.
Among the designers highlighted in the shoot is Alexander McQueen, who recently unveiled a witch-themed fashion line.
"McQueen, the greatest theatric in fashion, didn't just focus on witches, but ruminated visually on the occult, paganism and Egyptian devils. The only surprise is that the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano has not since penned an editorial condemning the show."
As for the shoot itself, Roitfeld seems to be a fan of left-hand fashions and has inserted serveral "Satanic" symbols to spice up the mix, prompting Jezebel to exclaim that "Devil worship is the new black!"
Satanic fashion?
Will occult and Pagan themes continue to influence high fashion? Will any of the more sensible designs be co-opted by the masses? Will Satanism find new life in Haute couture? Does this predict a future in which Pagan festivals set the tone for fashionistas everywhere? These questions, and many more, remain to be answered.
Labels: Alexander McQueen, fashion, France, Jezebel, Paganism, Satanism, Vogue, Witchcraft
8.13.2007
Wear What You Like At Your Trial
In what must be very good news for the Laurie Cabots of this world, a judge has ruled that an accused Satanist can dress in full ritual garb while defending himself in court.
"Lazaro Galindo is an accused murderer, an amateur attorney and a Satanist. On Monday, he's expected to don special Satanic garb in a Miami-Dade courtroom as he picks a jury for his murder trial. He'll defend himself and has insisted that the First Amendment gives him the right to wear an all-black outfit, a cap he says is related to his religion and special Satanic jewelry. Circuit Judge Peter Adrien granted Galindo's request to wear the special outfit. Galindo apparently is not concerned that the Satanic garb might put off jurors."
While I don't like Galindo's chances much (representing yourself and wearing Satanic gear might be the ultimate double-whammy of prejudicing a jury against your claims), the judge noted that Galindo cited cases in which Muslim adherents were allowed traditional dress in court, and that there was no legal reason to deny the request.
"Walker said he did not object to the request, because Galindo cited recent decisions that have allowed Islam into U.S. courtrooms for Muslim faithful, and he didn't want to set up a circumstance that could result in grounds for an appeal if Galindo is convicted. "His argument was that if Muslims have a constitutional right for their religious beliefs to be recognized by the government, then he does," Walker told WND. Walker told WND it was the first time he's ever heard that a defendant will be allowed to wear satanic garb, and carry the satanic bible, during a murder trial."
Now that this legal right has been established by Muslims, and broadened by a Satanist, it should only be a matter of time before a modern Pagan decides to wear ritual dress to a trial. But I suppose it goes without saying that equal treatment by a judge won't necessarily translate into equal treatment by a jury. Something to consider before you wear your Druid's robes, or Witches' cloak to trial.
ADDENDUM: It looks like we won't get to see any hot ritualistic Satanic law action:
"Lazaro Galindo -- accused murderer, amateur attorney and until Monday a proclaimed Satanist -- told a Miami-Dade Circuit judge Monday that he recently found God and was abandoning his plan to don special Satanic garb in court ... Just before he began picking a jury Monday morning in his murder trial, Galindo told the court: 'I've converted myself over to God. I converted myself to God not too long ago.'"
What a sudden change of heart! I'm sure his murder trial had nothing to do with it.
1.30.2007
Tyra's Witchcraft Adventure!
You would think that with all the Wiccans on reality programs nowadays that it would be passe' for a morning talk-show host to feature them (as was somewhat common in the eighties). But yesterday Tyra Banks, apparently low on women who can't choose which guy to marry and frumpy housewives who need a fashion makeover, decided to trot out some Pagans for the studio audience.
"Tyra's role as talk show host is to educate and enlighten people about topics that are either relevant to our lives, or just too noteworthy to ignore. But at the beginning of this episode, Tyra admitted she had some reluctance about covering this particular subject. The topic was witchcraft, and the occult, controversial practices are more common than you might think. Tyra revealed more than 400,000 people in the U.S. claimed to practice witchcraft, and she introduced us to proponents of various intriguing, yet forbidden, traditions who wanted to shatter misconceptions about their craft."
Phew! Thats a relief. She is here to shatter misconceptions! To educate and enlighten us on these misunderstood faiths. Maybe she got Margot Adler to come on the show? Perhaps some elders in the Pagan community like Ray Buckland, Starhawk, or Isaac Bonewits?
"She welcomed Fiona Horne, an Australian singer/songwriter who practiced Wicca. Fiona had written eight books about the subject and was a star both inside and outside of the pagan world..."
Fionna "Mad Mad House" Horne? That was the expert? Ok, calm down, it can't be that bad. Joining Fiona on stage was model Wrenna Monet, and "Brandy" (if that is her real name) an African-American Witch who has faced suspension at her job for bringing tarot cards to work.
Brandy, Wrenna Monet, and Fiona Horne
So maybe the show will be a little fluffy, but it can be too bad. Wait, she is introducing a feature on another aspect of modern Witchcraft. Maybe now we'll get some good educational content.
"But on the opposing side were "dark witches." Jymie and Vicky were dark witches that owned America's oldest occult shop. Jymie described dark witches as neutral, neither good nor bad. They had their own faith system and moral compass, but she warned that you should not cross them. Jymie explained that the main difference between dark witches and white witches was that white witches did not acknowledge the dark side and tended to live in a fantasy world."
Oh no. Please tell me they aren't going to do or say anything embarrassing.
"While Tyra's cameras filmed one of their ceremonies, Richard described their ritual of blood letting as a way to cleanse oneself of fear and hatred. Jymie talked about some items from her curious collection of relics, such as the last breath from a murderer and the burnt remains of a rapist. She said owning them helped cleanse the world of their negative energy."
Last. Breath. Of. A. Murderer. Why? Have I offended the gods that such torment is visited upon me? At least Tyra isn't confusing Satanists with Wiccans and Witches.
"This brought us to Tyra's next guests, Stanton and Szandora, two members of the Church of Satan. Stanton was literally born into Satanism, as the first child born in the church founded by his grandfather. Stanton revealed that Satanism was half anti-religion and half underground art, comprised of creative people such as musicians and artists. According to him, Satanists were not devil worshipers. Instead, they are people who embraced self-expression, individuality and indulgence. He noted that the best spokesperson for the practice was shock rocker Marilyn Manson."
Keep in mind that the title for this program is "Mysterious Lives of Witches", not "Mysterious Lives of Witches and Two Satanists". Man, this is like a bad flashback to the eighties. All we need now is a born-again saved from the terrors of Paganism.
"We learned how some individuals turn to witchcraft, but has anyone switched back to Christianity? This was a path Sarah took when she realized that white witchcraft was not what it appeared to be...She became a solitary practitioner and felt she had more control over her life as a witch. She explained how she lost control when she believed her spirit guide started leading her to ruin. She talked about the day she attempted suicide and how she found Christianity at college. Through her religious roommates, Sarah got in touch with God. She ended up burning all of her Wicca paraphernalia and never looked back. Sarah now believes that all witchcraft leads to was a dangerous place."
I believe that Tyra has achieved the hat-trick of bad talk shows about "the occult". Witch, Satanist, Born-Again Christian! Please my brothers and sisters in modern Paganism. Unless its Oprah, do NOT go on a morning talk-show. Don't! I know you'll try to rationalize it by thinking that the show producers will get someone worse if you don't go, but you are NO MATCH for them. You will only look stupid, and the show ALWAYS has the last word.
Labels: Christianity, Fiona Horne, Paganism, Pain, Satanism, Tyra Banks, Wicca, Witchcraft
1.19.2007
Interview with J.C. Hallman
Truly sympathetic outsider accounts of modern Paganism are often few and far between. So it was a pleasant surprise to read J.C. Hallman's new book "The Devil is a Gentleman: Exploring America's Religious Fringe". Hallman, the Banister Writer-in-Residence at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, has written an impressive book on the importance of a pragmatic religious pluralism in our modern world while exploring several new religious movements (including modern Pagans) with respect and an open mind. I recently had the opportunity to conduct an e-mail interview with Hallman to discuss his new work, his interactions with modern Pagans, and the legacy of William James.
J.C. Hallman
Your book "The Devil Is a Gentleman" is both a biography of William James, and an update of his most famous work "The Varieties of Religious Experience". For the uninitiated, can you quickly tell us who William James was, and why he is so important in the here and now?
James (who is the brother of Henry James, the novelist) is notable because he made significant contributions in a number of fields--psychology, philosophy, comparative religions, education, literature. It's hard to think of another American thinker who is more influential than James, though it's also true that many people are not familiar with him. This may be because he touched so many fields. It's hard to pigeonhole him into one category and identify him strictly with that. I was most interested in his contribution to comparative religions, a field he helped to kickstart with The Varieties of Religious Experience. Varieties attempted to defend religious experience in an era that was far more secular than are own, but as the United States now struggles with its religious identity I found that James's thinking applied just as well now as well as it ever had.
In a recent issue of the Yale Alumni Magazine, one former student claimed that the decline of their Divinity School and the Mainline Churches in the 1980s was partially due to ignoring William James' celebration of "the varieties of religious experience". Do you think this is true? Has mainline/mainstream religion lost its power by ignoring the fringe elements and new religious movements?
Certainly, the United States was founded on the strength inherent in diversity. Religious diversity in particular. Yet as the country has grown both more secular (with academic/scientific secularism ultimately amounting to a religion of its own) and fundamental (with the Christian right assuming power in government), it's precisely variety that we've forgotten how to celebrate. So it's not specifically that fringe elements or new religious movement's have answers that others can use, but that trying to convert everyone to way of thinking is the wrong way to bring about the basic promises on which the country is founded. James wrote: "the notion of the 'one' breeds foreignness and that of the 'many' intimacy." The Varieties of Religious Experience was as much about variety as it was about religious experience, and what this student may be referring to is the fact that a failure to celebrate variety hurts us all, in the end.
You list yourself as a adherent of the philosophy of Pragmatism. A school of thought partially pioneered by James that places a great emphasis on the practical results of theoretical ideas. How do the tenants of Pragmatism lead one to a greater tolerance and understanding of new religious movements?
Pragmatism, for James, was really a method. It's hard to call it a philosophy because there's nothing in it to really believe in. It's a way of approaching ideas. James argued that certain questions can't be approached with logic or reason, and we should approach those kinds of questions differently from how we approach questions which are susceptible to logic. There's a funny story behind this. James and a bunch of his pals were out camping one day, and they had an argument about squirrels. Squirrels, they noticed, when they climbed trees to get away from you, ran around to the other side of the tree, and kept moving around the tree if you tried to get a look at them. The question that started the argument was this: if you walked around the tree, could you be said to have walked around the squirrel? The squirrel would scurry away from you, and you wouldn't ever see its back. Indeed, from the squirrel's point of view, you were always in front of it. The argument raged for some time before James decided on an answer. Who cares? It doesn't matter. And that's the beginning of the Pragmatic method. Some questions cannot be resolved with logic, so the way to approach them is to assess what practical value they have--does the answer make a measurable, observable difference? When you ratchet up the question to something like is there a God, then the answer can make a measurable, observable difference. In this way, James approached religion scientifically.
Pragmatism asserts--again, strictly for questions not susceptible to logic--that we ought to embrace a kind of flexible truth. Variety in truth. An idea that produces a measurable result for one person may fail another entirely. So that idea is true for the first person, but not the second. If you embrace that, it's a much easier step to empathize with others whose beliefs are different from your own. Religious pluralism, then, is a natural by-product of the Pragmatic method. You don't have to legislate it.
When you set out to write this book, how did you pick and choose what went in and where you went? Were there chapters written that didn't make the final cut? Missed opportunities? Any places or groups you wish you could have covered?
You can't be comprehensive in a book about religion--it's just too vast. You can only be representative. So I tried to pick a set of religions that I felt were representative of something that was important. Ephemeral and inexpressible, perhaps, but important. James argued that by studying the fringe you got a sense of what was in the center, and I was emulating that, so I shot for a collection of groups that, after a little mental triangulation, gave one a sense of the United States' particular spiritual climate.
In the book you lament the lack of attention and coverage of new religious movements (NRMs), do you feel that the situation has improved since you started writing the book?
Not dramatically. Even within NRM's, even the ones I looked at, you have what James called the right side of religion's account, and the wrong side of its account. That is, there are religions which fall into a corporate sentiment and lose what's precious about them, and there are religions which celebrate individuality and earnest experience. For every Wicca-style movement that's on the right side of religion's account, there's a whole lot of media coverage, say, for Scientology, which is on the other side of the account. Overall, right now, I'd argue that a lot of us are caught in a battle between opposing fundamentalisms, and there's not much chance that the situation will improve until it's all over and the dust settles.
As a Pagan, I'm obviously the most interested in your coverage of the modern Pagans in your books. Two different sections are devoted to modern Pagans, one a Druid priestess in Northern California and the second the annual meeting of COG (the Covenant Of the Goddess). What made you decide on these two experiences? Do you have friends who are Pagan?
I wanted to undermine some of the stereotypes of both of these groups, so I executed a kind of reversal. With modern Druids, what non-Pagans tend to envision, I'd say, is groups of old men with long white beards and white robes. So I went to a female Druid who lived by herself in the woods. It's not by accident that a woman living by herself in the woods is the stereotype of the solitary witch--sort of Hansel and Gretel style. By way of contrast, for Wicca, I adopted a male solitary as my guide, and went to gatherings of many people. So the basic idea of these chapters, I hope, will challenge readers to think about Witches and Druids both with a new set of eyes.
During the COG meeting you had what you felt to be a "magical" experience at one of the main rituals. How do you feel about that experience now? Do you believe in "magic", or at least the reality of the Pagan magical experience?
The best part about Paganism, as I experienced it, was that it celebrated variety in exactly the way James would have prescribed. There's a whole range of thought in Paganism, and a huge variety, I found, in definitions of magic. The one I liked best was the idea that magic was not about the supernatural. There was no supernatural, really--there was just a variety of the natural world that science and logic could not approach. (You can probably already hear the hints of Pragmatism creeping in...) So magic is the attempt to manipulate, through ritual and belief, that aspect of nature we cannot manipulate in any other way. And I believe in that. I think this same basic idea explains, say, why doctors always wear white coats. Modern medicine relies more than it likes to admit on the placebo effect, and they recognize that a doctor's authority may trigger it. They're more than willing to take credit (and get paid) for someone getting better as a result of their care, even if it's just the white coat that did it. This, ultimately, puts them just a hitch step from shamanism.
One interesting thing I got from your coverage of the COG meeting was the disorganization, and a general lack of fiscal commitment that would take the organization to the "next level" in terms of size and influence. Most groups as you pointed out were opposed to even paying a regular membership due. Do you think this is a natural result of our religious autonomy and lack of hierarchy, or simply a failure to properly organize? Is the idea of a national Pagan organization (whether it is for advocacy or mutual support) a viable one?
I think it would be fair to criticize my ability to generalize on this point--I went to one CoG meeting, and one CoG meeting only. Yet I would make one observation, again relating to James. James's "wrong side of religion's account" boils down, basically, to organized religion. It's organization itself that leads to the corporate spirit. Certainly those who are drawn to religions based on a decentralized structure--decentralized precisely so it doesn't fall prey to that corporate spirit--will resist, and should resist, that corporatization. That said, I thought the CoG meeting was working. There were the benefits of organization, with little of the downside. Variety was celebrated. Maybe it wasn't an efficient process, but maybe it was as efficient as it can be.
Another dominant theme in the book that may be of interest to my audience is your dealings with the Church of Satan. You participate in a Satanic ritual, you meet Satan Xerxes, the son of Anton LaVey, and you even attend a Satanic wedding after your principal work on the book was finished. What are your attitudes now towards the Satanic movement? You seem to have a genuine affection for the people you met there, and you even seem to have been genuinely sympathetic to some of their views.
Modern Satanism demonstrated the basic idea of Pragmatism, but outside the context of belief. They found ritual to be empowering, but they did not literally believe in the figure toward which the ritual was directed. Church of Satan members are atheistic--yet they value rituals. (Incidentally, I think this probably describes a lot of Jews and Catholics as well.) As to sympathizing with them, I hope I found a way to sympathize with everyone in the book. I hoped to demonstrate the kind of pluralistic spirit that I thought I was writing about.
You cover the Church of Scientology. Of all the groups you cover in the book, from the flying saucer cult to the evangelical Christian wrestlers you seem the least comfortable with their methods and beliefs. Do you think the Church of Scientology is harmful, and has the Church responded to your book in any way?
The Church has not responded directly--though I probably couldn't tell you about it if they had. That said, Scientology did serve as kind of the "villain" of the book. Not because anyone in the Church seemed like a bad person--indeed, everyone I met seemed entirely earnest. Yet I would say that the basic structure of Scientology, its basic culture, is well down the road to the corporate spirit, and has long since slipped into the wrong side of religion's account.
Finally, how would you describe yourself religiously now, a few years after your initial visits and research? How has the book changed (or not changed) your belief structure?
I think I'm generally more open-minded and forgiving of views antithetical to my own. That's, again, a by-product of entertaining Pragmatic truth.
Labels: interview, J.C. Hallman, Paganism, Satanism, William James
1.08.2007
(Pagan ) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A group of Pagans and other well-wishers gather in the UC Berkeley campus to celebrate the one month anniversary of three tree-sitters living in an oak tree.
"About 50 well-wishers turned out Saturday afternoon to commemorate three tree sitters' monthlong perch in an oak tree just outside Memorial Stadium on the UC Berkeley campus. Part of a group called Save the Oaks, they say they will stay in the tree until the university agrees to abandon its plan to cut down 38 oaks to make way for a new athletic training facility...They chanted "Om," someone began drumming and then it began: an ancient pagan ritual known as the spiral dance."
Their legal request for an injunction is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.
Anna Kaplan of Recordnet profiles Rick Nafzinger, a convert to Hinduism, and leader of a local interfaith Goddess-worshipping group.
"Nafzinger leads the Circle of the Feminine Divine, a Stockton group that takes an interfaith approach to revering the feminine side of deities ranging from the Virgin Mary to the Hindu Goddess Radharani to the Wiccan Earth Goddess...Nafzinger is currently the chairman of the Interfaith Council of San Joaquin County, where he uses his experience with these different faiths to bring people in the community together."
The article also states that he has "ordinations" in Wicca, Christianity, and Hinduism, but doesn't mention exactly what traditions or groups he received these ordinations from. A little more checking on his credentials would have been nice.
The Italian police and the Vatican have created a new special forces unit to deal with the problem of Satanism in Italy!
"A specialist Italian police squad has been set up to combat a growing tide of Satanism sweeping the country. Vatican officials have become worried at the number of churches being desecrated by Satanists and there have been several grim murders linked to devil worship. As a result, church officials have given Italian police help to set up a special unit to deal with the phenomenon, named the Squadra Anti Sette (SAS) Anti Sect Squad.... officers... will go undercover to infiltrate the sects, the SAS units will work with psychologists. They will have help from Vatican experts on Satanism and a special freephone hotline has been set up to report occult activities."
A Vatican official claims there are "8,000 Satanic sects across the country with more than 600,000 members". I would love to see the hard data for that figure. It looks like Satanic panic is alive and well in Italy. Though, I can't help but think this would make a great television show. Imagine a "Law and Order" but with priests instead of lawyers.
Guillermo del Toro, writer and director of "Pan's Labyrnith" is still awesome.
"I love writers and artists who are concerned with the pagan as a form of knowing the subconscious...I've circled this theme all my life, with 'Cronos' with 'Devil's Backbone.' And I felt that it was finally a time to be brave and try it, you know?"
Conservative Catholic Susan Beckworth continues her hunt for heretics within the Church and names the "Enneagram" and "Centering Prayer" as pagan/Satanic things of Witchcraft!
"Centering Prayer is neither Catholic nor prayer, yet it is offered at most retreat centers. Nowadays, most retreat centers can scarcely be called Catholic and are notorious for adopting New Age and other non-Catholic techniques and philosophies. The New Age practices offered at retreat centers are insidious, but remember, Satan thrives in subtlety...Tarot card reading and use of the Enneagram are witchcraft and purely demonic; yet most people do not even know that all of these "New Age" practices are entirely forbidden by God in the First Commandment."
Clearly Catholics must
Finally, speaking of Catholics and Satanic temptations, an Italian scholar is fed-up with the re-purposing of Mary Magdalene for "new age" groups and has written a stern book decrying the heretical notions.
"Mario Arturo Iannaccone, an Italian scholar whose previous works have touched on themes of Gnosticism and alleged Biblical conspiracies, reports that in modern times Mary Magdalene - depicted in the Gospel as a repentant sinner and follower of Christ - has emerged in a new light as the representative of 'the sacred feminine and a spirituality of the goddess.' This radically altered view of the Christian saint...has been promoted by pagan influences including Wicca and New Age spirituality, the book says."
No doubt Iannaccone hopes that his book will inspire Catholics to
That is all I have for now, have a good day!
Labels: Catholicism, enviornmentalism, Guillermo del Toro, Mary Magdalene, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Pan's Labyrinth, Satanic Panic, Satanism, The Goddess
