4.08.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The weekly Indian paper Mainstream takes a look at the recent protests and conflicts in Tibet, and discusses them as a conflict of rival faiths. Placing Communism in the same idealogical family as the Abrahamic faiths.
"Abrahamic religions, whenever they conquer a territory, convert the inhabitants and try to suppress their ancestral culture. Ancestral history becomes a prohibited subject. In Afghanistan and Pakistan pre-Islamic Hindu-Buddhist history is not permitted in schools. China is doing the same in Tibet..."
The author closes the piece by calling on the Indian government to abandon their "chicken-hearted" stance towards China and support autonomy for Tibet.
If you were looking forward to Robin Hardy's "Cowboys For Christ", a re-imagining of the cult classic film "The Wicker Man", you may have a long wait. Work on the film has been halted due to a loss of financial backing.
"Cameras were due to start rolling in Dumfries and Galloway this month on the follow-up to the 1970s film starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. However, a statement from the local council confirmed that producers had cancelled the shoot due to last minute difficulties with finance. Councillor Gill Dykes described the news as 'bitterly disappointing'."
Alternative financing is currently being sought, but there is a very good chance that the entire project will be scuttled and the film never made.
Followers of the Taoist sea goddess Matsu are planning to seek UN protections for their religious and cultural heritage.
"Followers of the folk deity Matsu from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are planning to seek United Nations approval to have the Matsu culture declared intangible world cultural heritage, a promoter said yesterday."
UN heritage declarations are usually made for tangible places or monuments. The awarding of world heritage status to a belief system would raise a host of questions and issues, conceivably pitting UN calls for protections and preservation against conversion attempts by monotheistic faith groups.
Is George Clooney's girlfriend Sarah Larson a Witch? Her ex-boyfriend seems to certainly hint at the prospect in a lurid accounting he gives to the tabloids.
"Rock musician Tommy McKaughan reveals how the former Las Vegas waitress used to spice up their moonlit romps in the woods with a spot of witchcraft ... 'Sarah's a total hippy at heart, heavily into all the spiritual, mystic stuff - crystals, tarot cards, healing. And along with her witch-like charms she's a brilliant fun girl with no inhibitions. She loves nothing more than getting naked in a forest.'"
Of course, with anything printed in the gossip rags, a huge grain of salt should be taken along with the sensationalist assertions.
In a final note, BostonNOW reviews an upcoming novel by A.W. Gryphon entitled "Blood Moon", another entry into Wicca-inspired fiction.
"Blood Moon is Gryphon's first book, and it is also the first novel in the planned Witches Moon Trilogy. As with several other books I've read recently, this one is hard to categorize. It deals with Wicca and Witchcraft, so it could be paranormal or urban fantasy, yet Blood Moon is also a mystery, and it could also fit as a women's fiction novel as we uncover a woman's childhood and the facts of her mother's life. Regardless, this is a book that will capture your interest from the beginning, and it will be hard to put down before the story is complete."
With this, and a recent fiction release by Druid priestess Ellen Every Hopman, the small but vital "Pagan fiction" genre continues to grow.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: books, Cowboys For Christ, India, Matsu, movies, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Sarah Larson, The Wicker Man, Tibet, UNESCO, United Nations
3.15.2008
The Tibet Situation
"As I have always said, unity and stability under brute force is at best a temporary solution. It is unrealistic to expect unity and stability under such a rule and would therefore not be conducive to finding a peaceful and lasting solution." - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Since March 10th (Tibetan Uprising Day) peaceful protests, and later riots, have broken out in Tibet. The Chinese government, which has controlled Tibet since their 1951 invasion, confirms between 7-10 dead though internal sources say the death toll is much higher. Meanwhile Tibetans and their supporters around the world have engaged in protests and actions in solidarity with those marching in Tibet.
Picture of protesters in Tibet.
"Hundreds of Tibetan exiles pressed ahead Tuesday with a march from northern India to their Himalayan homeland, defying a police ban on the demonstration against Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Olympics ... It was one of several events launched around the world Monday by Tibetans commemorating their 1959 uprising against China. ... Walking single file, waving Tibetan flags and holding aloft pictures of the Dalai Lama and Indian pacifist icon Mohandas K. Gandhi, some 350 exiles followed the road down from the mountains toward the plains of northern India."
The US ambassador to China and the EU have urged China to show "restraint" in dealing with the Tibetan protesters, while China has blamed the "sabotage" on a small "Dalai clique". Tibet's chief administrator Champa Phunstok claims that the protests are "really nothing" and that "everything is really great."
"Asked about the march, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, "Some ignorant monks in Lhasa abetted by a small handful of people did some illegal things that can challenge the social stability." He said monks were dealt with "according to the law," but gave no details."
Yes, we wouldn't want to give details, not when the upcoming Beijing Olympics are so close. After all, the Olympic torch is passing through Tibet, and we wouldn't want that marred with talk of human rights abuses. Even the current administration in America seems ready to look the other way, as the State Department drops China from their list of the top ten human rights violators.
"Perhaps it's because President George W. Bush really wants to go to the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer that China has been dropped from Washington's list of the top 10 countries violating human rights. There's nothing in the 63 pages in the annual State Department report on human rights in 190 countries to suggest China has been dropped from the top 10 on merit."
Anyone familiar with China's human-rights record knows that China has been brutally suppressing religious freedom for generations. This includes the indigenous faith traditions of China, various Christian denominations, Falun Dafa, and Buddhism. While some (State-controlled) religious freedom has been allowed in recent years, any faith seen as a political threat (that being any faith not controlled and overseen by China) is targeted as an enemy of the government. This is especially true of Tibetan Buddhism which China has been trying to subvert and control in a variety of ways in order to quell all remaining dissent in their occupation of Tibet.
I urge Pagans concerned about the religious freedom and human rights violations happening in Tibet
* For ongoing updates on the Tibetan uprising and connected protests, I would suggest checking out the Phayul.com web site.
Labels: Buddhism, China, Dalai Lama, human rights, Olympics, Religious Freedom, Tibet
9.03.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The Record takes a look at the spread of Santeria in the ranks of Major League Baseball, and interviews Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen about his public devotion to the Orisha.
"If you see my saints, you'll be like 'Golly, they're ugly ... They've got blood. They've got feathers. You go to the Catholic church, the (saints) have got real nice clothes. My religion, you see a lot of different things you never see."
The article lists MLB players Los Angeles Angels pitcher Francisco Rodriguez, Florida Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, and the White Sox's pitcher Jose Contreras as active adherents to Santeria, while Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez and Chicago Cubs infielder Ronny Cedeno have reportedly "experimented" with the faith. Sort of puts a whole new spin on post-game prayer doesn't it?
Over at Get Religion, Terry Mattingly looks at the latest round of news stories in the Veteran Pentacle Quest (involving the President's snub and subsequent apology to Roberta Stewart) and wonders where the conservative Christian religious groups and activists were during this fight over religious liberties?
"Did conservative religious groups take a stand on one side or the other in this case, or where they divided? I think many journalists would assume that conservative believers oppose the Wiccan case. I do not think that can be assumed, because many conservatives now realize that equal access means equal access and freedom of association means freedom of association."
But as commenters on the post (including me) pointed out, many conservative Christians have an irrational reaction to religious liberty and freedom cases involving Pagans. One conservative Republican Pagan was given the cold shoulder every time he approached a popular conservative pundit, while a Wiccan Army veteran was told outright by the American Center for Law and Justice they they "don't support Satanists". Kind of hard to build coalitions for a common goal with people who want nothing to do with you.
For those keeping track of China's recent move to ban unauthorized reincarnations (in order to lessen the influence of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile), the leaders of Tibetan Buddhism have issued a joint statement repudiating China's attempt to control the "living buddhas".
"The heads of all the religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism; the monks, nuns, mantra holders and other lay followers of the respective schools and the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration collectively issue this statement repudiating the so-called order no. 5 of China's State Administration of Religious Affairs that it is against the United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights and the PRC's constitution; that it is against history and the aspiration of the broad masses of people who believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Furthermore, it is a new weapon employed by the Chinese government to undermine Tibetan Buddhism, and to insult and oppress the Tibetan people."
Calls continue to either boycott, or use the Olympics to place pressure on China to respect the religious freedoms of the Tibetan people. Meanwhile tensions rise over what will happen once the current Dalai Lama passes on. Since the true Panchen Lama (the second-highest ranking lama) is being held by China, many believe that Ugyen Thinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa will rise to leadership during the Dalai Lama's absence.
In a final note, the lottery win of Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett continues to gain attention. Boing Boing opines: "Dude, talk about blessed be." The SoMA Review wonders if some lottery hopefuls might consider a conversion: "Christians who pray for lucky lottery tickets but never win might consider switching over to Wicca." But perhaps a truly fitting statement comes from a friend of Bunky's, who opens a post on her friend's win with: "And people say that Magick doesn't work."
That is all I have for now, have a good (Labor) day!
Labels: Baseball, Dalai Lama, Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett, Get Religion, Paganism, reincarnation, Roberta Stewart, Santeria, Terry Mattingly, Tibet, Veteran Pentacle Quest, Wicca
8.05.2007
China Says Dalai Lama Can't Reincarnate
China continues its cultural and spiritual genocide on the people of Tibet. This time they have passed a law saying that no "living Buddha" can reincarnate without the express permission of China's State Administration for Religious Affairs.
"Tibet's living Buddhas have been banned from reincarnation without permission from China's atheist leaders. The ban is included in new rules intended to assert Beijing's authority over Tibet's restive and deeply Buddhist people. 'The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,' according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1. The 14-part regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs is aimed at limiting the influence of Tibet's exiled god-king, the Dalai Lama, and at preventing the re-incarnation of the 72-year-old monk without approval from Beijing."
The fourteenth and current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, who is considered a reincarnation of Avalokiteshvar: the bodhisattva of compassion, has already announced that if he dies in exile so his successor will be born. This no doubt worries the government of China who have been trying to take over Tibetan Buddhism through imprisonments, persecutions, and laws designed to move all decision-making to Chinese officials. As China continues to "convert" Tibet into a mirror-image of the Chinese mainland, tensions among native Tibetans are rising.
"The atmosphere in Lithang, eastern Tibet, is tense and there are fears of a further security crackdown after a local Tibetan nomad, Runggye Adak, was detained after speaking about the Dalai Lama and his concern about social issues in the area to a crowd of hundreds of people gathered for the horse racing festival in Lithang ... According to various reports, many Tibetans congregated to protest about the arrest of Runggye and police had to fire warning shots in the air to disperse the crowds. Several Tibetans have sought the release of Runggye Adak from custody through dialogue with police and Kardze officials."
Of course no real pressure is being brought to China for these offenses, the US doesn't want to offends its number one "most-favored" trading partner and many American companies are more than willing to help China round up anyone who dares criticize the nation from within. But many are hoping that with China hosting the 2008 Olympics more political pressure can be brought against the nation for their abysmal record on human rights and their handling of Tibet. If you are interested in moving forward on this issue, there is a special website called "Race for Tibet" that discusses ways ordinary people can work towards real progress in Tibet.
Labels: Buddhism, China, Dalai Lama, reincarnation, Religion, Religious Freedom, Tibet
