5.06.2008
Recommended Reading
I've got some great links for any of my readers looking for some new online reading material. To start with, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, which recently heard the testimony of Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum on religious discrimination in prisons, has posted the full transcript of the proceedings.
"If the same standards that are being required of the Wiccans were applied to the Protestants, you guys would have to fire all the Protestant chaplains right now because they don't have any ground to stand on at all in all the services that they're getting."
This is historic testimony on behalf of minority faiths before a U.S. governmental body, and should be required reading for any Pagan concerned about our religious freedoms.
Turning from political concerns, the comics/pop-culture web site Sequential Tart interviews Thista Minai about her Hellenic faith, and her recently published book "Dancing In Moonlight: Understanding Artemis Through Celebration".
"And, of course, I'm nuts about animals and wilderness. I work as a veterinary technician, and I remember a rather amusing trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with my (very Catholic) father. There was a pendant on display showing Artemis as Potnia Theron, the Mistress of Animals, and I was explaining to my father (who by then was well aware of my obsession with Artemis and suspected that it was more than academic) exactly what all that meant. When I finished, he looked at me, looked at the pendant, then looked back at me and said, 'So, basically, She's the Goddess of veterinary technicians.' And I said '... Yeah, dad.'"
An interesting and wide-ranging interview that provides a nice look into Pagan religion and ethics outside the Wiccan paradigm.
Finally, the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) has posted all the papers from its 2008 international conference. A wealth of academic papers on modern Paganism, the New Age movement, syncretic faiths, and several papers dealing with Aleister Crowley and Thelema.
"CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions, was established in 1988 by a group of religious scholars from leading universities in Europe and the Americas ... CESNUR's original aim was to offer a professional association to scholars specialized in religious minorities, new religious movements, contemporary esoteric, spiritual and gnostic schools, and the new religious consciousness in general. In the 1990s it became apparent that inaccurate information was being disseminated to the media and the public powers by activists associated with the international anti-cult movement. Some new religious movements also disseminated unreliable or partisan information. CESNUR became more pro-active and started supplying information on a regular basis, opening public centers and organising conferences and seminars for the general public in a variety of countries. Today CESNUR is a network of independent but related organizations of scholars in various countries, devoted to promote scholarly research in the field of new religious consciousness, to spread reliable and responsible information, and to expose the very real problems associated with some movements, while at the same time defending everywhere the principles of religious liberty."
Some interesting looking papers include "The Rise and Fall of a Public Witch Hunt: Changing Media Attitudes to New Religious Movements Since 1988", by Suzanne Evans, "Online and Offline - Locating Pagan Community", by Angela Coco, and "Minority Religions and Law Enforcement: A Human Rights Perspective", by Alessandro Amicarelli. I recommend browsing the entire list.
Happy reading!
Labels: academia, Artemis, books, CESNUR, Chaplaincy, interview, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Prison, Religious Freedom, Sequential Tart, Thista Minai
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
5.02.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A new issue of the occult e-zine Rending the Veil has been posted. Leading off their Beltane installment is an article co-written by Taylor Ellwood and Lupa on the subject of advanced occult books.
"We think it's important to encourage the writing of advanced books on occultism. There's a small, but steadily growing interest in advanced occult texts. Writing a blog post or a single article, while it can cover an interesting topic, just doesn't provide the needed depth or volume that a book can bring. And while there are some excellent sites for occult writing, including this one, actual texts are needed in order to fully capture and develop some of the more advanced ideas in more detail. Additionally, there's definitely benefit to having your work edited, whether in a (hardcopy or online) magazine, or through the editing staff of a publisher. With all the unedited drek that floats around on the internet, peer-reviewed information, especially advanced, is even more necessary."
Speaking of "advanced" books, keep your eyes peeled for articles and interviews on this blog concerning some groundbreaking new Pagan books by authors like Brendan Cathbad Myers, Emma Restall Orr, and Gus diZerega.
Laura Miller at Salon.com gives Ursula K. Le Guin's new book "Lavinia" a favorable review. Calling it "a tribute to a relatively uncelebrated culture, that of early Rome".
"'Lavinia' is an old writer's book -- Le Guin is 79 -- in the best sense of the word; it is ripe with that half-remembered virtue, wisdom. This, Le Guin seems to be saying, is what it feels like to be the personification of your land and your people, to speak the words and perform the rites of "the old, local, earth-deep religion," to be the sacred guardian of harmony and plenty for a handful of rustic villages and farms, and to carry their past and future in your body. It's not a life any of us know how to live anymore, and most likely not one that most of us would choose, but some of us can still imagine it, and imagine that it was good."
I am very much looking forward to reading this book. You can read my previous post on Le Guin's "Lavinia", here.
Rocketing world food prices aren't just causing concerns over hunger, in India, it has become a serious religious issue as well.
"With prices soaring for staples such as cooking oils, wheat, lentils, milk and rice across the globe, priests like Atrey say they are seeing the consequences in their neighborhood temples, where even the poorest of the poor have long made donations to honor their faith. 'But today the common man is tortured by the increases in prices,' Atrey lamented during one early morning prayer, or puja, adding that donations of milk were down by as much as 50 percent. He had recently met with colleagues from other temples, along with imams from local mosques, who reported similar experiences. 'If poor people don't even have enough for bread, how will they donate milk to the gods?' he said. 'This is very serious.'"
Within Hinduism, milk is seen as a holy substance and is an integral part of daily religious life in India (not to mention dietary life, since many Indians are vegetarians). If a solution isn't found soon, a major crisis of hunger and faith in the country seems inevitable.
Ohio State University's religious studies program has been hosting a lecture series entitled "Through a Glass, Darkly: Public Interest in the Occult." Student paper The Lantern reports on the closing lecture by Lynn Schofield Clark on the intersection of the occult and popular television programs.
"Delving into the topic of current television shows, she attempted to explain why interest exists in them. Television shows about mysterious things have now evolved from scripted shows to reality shows such as SciFi's "Ghost Hunters" and the Canadian series "Ghost Trackers," highlighting the increasing popularity of this genre, she said. Clark connected the popularity of the shows to the nation's attitude post-Sept. 11. She said after the unexpected terrorist attacks, the nation's interest piqued in pop culture that shows unresolvable issues."
The lecture series also featured a talk by Pagan academic Sabina Magliocco, author of "Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in America". As for "occult television", I don't care how "occult" it gets, I refuse to watch "Ghost Whisperer" (though I do admit to watching "Moonlight" now and then).
A Pagan woman was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder after she told a group of teens and twenty-somethings (that she met regularly with at local Pagan gatherings) that a local man (and fellow practitioner) had raped her and her daughter (she also provided materials used in the attempted murder).
"'This is a group of young people with some strange beliefs ... being led by the passionate, distraught histrionics of an older - and in their eyes, much more powerful - mother figure,' York-Poquoson Commonwealth's Attorney Eileen Addison said. 'They got carried away ... but they got carried away because she encouraged them to do so.' According to testimony, Davidson met co-defendants Stephen Walters, 26, Dianna Breznick, 18, Thomas Rogers, 24, and Aaron Meadors, 23, at a shop in Norfolk that advertises itself as carrying Wiccan and pagan supplies. The group regularly attended a pagan drum circle there on Monday nights. Davidson was known to the group as "Red Phoenix." Barron, who was known as "Lord Othis," also attended the circle."
No proof or charges have been brought against Barron/Othis for his alleged assaults, nonetheless two of the attackers were unrepentant calling his maiming/torture "justice". No matter what the real chain of events that lead to this situation were, the outcome is a shameful one that mocks true justice and brands these Pagans as criminals who replace due process with unrestrained savagery.
In a final note, further memorials to Cora Anderson, who crossed over yesterday, have been posted at The Witches' Voice and the Acorn Guild Press web site. The latter contains a short eulogy from Starhawk.
"Cora was a great inspiration, a wonderful teacher, and a pioneer in the Craft at a time when it was a very hard and lonely path. I will always remember her stories, her humor, and her wonderful blend of mysticism and sheer common sense. I know that she will continue to guide and inspire now, wherever her soul journeys."
Further tributes can be found, here.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: academia, books, Cora Anderson, Hinduism, Lavinia, law, Lupa, occult, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Taylor Ellwood, Television, Ursula Le Guin
2.22.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A paper in Livingston County, Michigan reports on the closing of a Pagan/Metaphysical shop in downtown Howell. The paper cites a depressed local economy and competition from larger retail and outlet stores as the primary reasons for the shop's failure, achieving what Christian protesters failed to do eight years ago.
"Wisdom of the Ages has withstood a religious protest against the store's Wiccan tradition and set up shop in mostly Christian Livingston County, but has fallen victim to Michigan's struggling economy ... The year Wisdom of the Ages opened, two Howell-area churches protested outside the building, praying for the souls of Lindsay and store staff. The Daily Press & Argus and television stations in Detroit, Lansing and Jackson picked up the story. Business spiked as a result, Lindsay recalled. "They wanted us shut down. It was the best thing that could have happened to us," she recalled."
The owner, Mona Lindsay, will be opening a smaller shop (called "Moon Magick") in nearby Hamburg Township, where no doubt rents are cheaper and the chances for success in a struggling economy a bit better.
Student Newspaper The Appalachian explores divination, magick, and Paganism, through the lens of a new class taught by anthropology professor Dr. Gregory G. Reck.
"As an outgrowth of Reck's anthropological interests, this spring semester he instructs a 'Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion' course that strives to understand different theoretical approaches to religious behaviors and beliefs. 'We use religion and magic as a kind of prism through which we can explore questions of the nature of the human experience,' Reck said. It is through that prism that such individuals as psychics, tarot card readers, or Pagans regard their world."
The article also talks to James Crew, an interdisciplinary studies major with a concentration in contemporary Pagan studies, and local tarot card readers Cheryl and Sage.
The American Muslim has posted a petition to appeal the execution in Saudi Arabia of Fawza Falih Mumammad Ali, a woman who has been accused of "witchcraft, recourse to jinn, and slaughter of animals". Among the signatories are Pagan leaders like Phyllis Curott, Ellen Evert Hopman, and Selena Fox.
"Surely it is the wisdom of God who is, as so many of the verses of the Qur'an teach, much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace, which must inspire mercy for Fawza Falih, and it is you who embodies that compassion in this realm where the least of humanity most needs your protection. In the name of God, please, halt the execution of Fawza Falih immediately and release her from the Quraiyat Prison."
You can add your signature, here. The New York-based Human Rights Watch has also written to King Abdullah asking for clemency. I'm still wondering why Abdullah's good pal George W. Bush hasn't responded to this controversy.
Executive Pagan points out that two major Druid organizations now have regular podcasts. OBOD's Druidcast, hosted by Damh the Bard, and Tribeways, the official podcast of the ADF.
"ADF's very first podcast, Tribeways, was released into the wild on February 19, 2008! You can download the podcast directly from our host, or through iTunes ... The February Feast features the following contributions: "Make Offerings, Dammit!" by Rev. Kirk Thomas ... "Comparative Mythology - Why Bother?" by Rev. Jenni Hunt ... "Trance Meditation" by Archdruid Emeritus Ian Corrigan"
The Tribeways podcast also comes with "liner notes", featuring notes and transcripts from the show.
In a final note, last week was Pantheacon, one of the largest indoor Pagan-themed conventions in America, and reports, pictures, and videos have been trickling in from the event. Cherry Hill Seminary has photos and commentary, Deborah Oak discusses embracing paradox at Pantheacon, Chas Clifton shares the news of who won the Llewellyn and BBI Media co-sponsored Pagan fiction contest, T. Thorn Coyle discusses the magic of possibility, and M. Macha NightMare leads us to some videos of the WOW Besom Brigade.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: academia, discrimination, Druidism, Druidry, Druids, law, Metaphysical Shops, Pagan News of Note, Pagan Studies, Paganism, Pantheacon, podcast, Witch Killings, Witchcraft
1.30.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
GenQ Music interviews author, Witch, and reality television star Fiona Horne about her latest album "Witch Web".
"I wrote the album with Paul Searles initially with the only intention being to record the songs that I personally sing in my witchy rituals. Often when doing public rituals I would sing acapella and people would ask if it was possible to buy a recording of it - now it is! But when Paul and I got in the studio we also realised we were starting to write songs that had a commercial feel and classic song arrangement, so we are happy that the album crosses over and can be enjoyed by people interested in the spiritual side as well as people who just want a chilled listening experience."
Horne started her musical career as a singer for the dance-rock band Def FX. To listen to samples from "Witch Web" check out her MySpace page.
Ohio State University's student paper, The Lantern, takes a look at interest in the occult on campus and discovers that OSU is the academic capital for magic in the United States.
"'Ohio State has more scholars on the history of magic than any educational institution I'm aware of,' said Sarah Iles Johnston, professor of Greek and Latin and director for the Center for the Study of Religion. There are six experts on the history of magic at OSU. They study the history of magic from a variety of perspectives such as its role in ancient Greek and Roman religions as well as in modern American culture."
OSU recently hosted a lecture series to capitalize on their expertise entitled: "Through a Glass, Darkly: Public Interest in the Occult". So for you Pagan high-school seniors trying to decide where to go for college, Ohio might be just the place for you (if your interested in studying magic that is).
Treadwells and Lastal both report that experimental media artist Raymond Salvatore Harmon will present seven films in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the union of Leila Waddell and Aleister Crowley.
"Experimental media artist Raymond Salvatore Harmon will present a live improvised set of 7 films. Each based on the individual rituals in British occultist Aleister Crowley's Rites of Eleusis, first presented in Caxton Hall, London in 1910. Crowley based the rituals of Rites of Eleusis on each of the seven classical planets of antiquity - "Saturn", "Jupiter", "Mars", "Sol" (the Sun), "Venus", "Mercury" and "Luna". Utilizing the entire text of Crowley's rites as subliminal content Harmon will improvise the abstract layers of imagery to a prepared score. Presented in a 3 channel video environment Rites of Eleusis promises to be an updated public occult ritual for the 21st century."
The performance will take place on Friday March 7th at The Horse Hospital (an arts venue) in London.
Classics professor Mary Beard bemoans the proposed removal of Britannia (the personification of the United Kingdom) from British coins.
"Britannia fits the bill rather nicely. An appropriately antique goddess, invented by the Romans, as a symbol of their new province, and used on British coins since the seventeenth century. If she goes, I don't hold out much hope, long term, for that nice bit of Virgil (decus et tutamen -- from Aeneid Book V) around the pound coin. I have a sneaking suspicion that Mr Brown isn't much of a fan of Latin."
Will it be bad luck to remove Britain's goddess from their coinage? Will she eventually join America's Columbia as a half-forgotten relic from a grander time?
The Boston Globe publishes a visitors guide to Salem, Massachusetts that illustrates just how tied to witchcraft their tourism is.
"Witches put Salem on the Colonial map, and this historic North Shore city has its share of creepy and comical tributes to the practice of witchcraft. Magic supplies, herbal potions, tarot cards, "spell baskets," custom-made capes - you'll find them all here ... Salem is loaded with museums, many of them funny-spooky places that document the city's witchcraft history. Among them are the Witch History Museum, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, the Salem Wax Museum, the Spellbound Museum, Salem's Museum of Myths & Monsters, the New England Pirate Museum, and Salem's 13 Ghosts..."
So despite those who wish to de-emphasize Salem's "witchy" appeal, the town remains the "Witch City" of the east coast.
In a final note, a proposal has come forth on the Non-Fluffy Pagans community concerning a new "law" involving discussion about Witchcraft and society. An adage that some are calling the Witches' equivalent to Godwin's Law.
"In any discussion of the interaction of modern witches with the rest of society, as the length of the discussion increases, the probability of the mention of The Burning Times approaches unity."
With the new law comes a proposed corollary:
"In any argument related to modern witchcraft, the first person to mention The Burning Times automatically loses the argument."
The new law has been dubbed "Brock's Law" after the author.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: academia, Aleister Crowley, art, Britannia, Brock's Law, Fiona Horne, Magic, Mary Beard, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Salem, The Burning Times, UK, Witchcraft
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
1.01.2008
Studying Santeria (in School)
The Miami Herald has a nice little story looking back at Florida International University's first-ever course on Santeria.
"Those who came to Oba Ernesto Pichardo's fall semester course at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay campus expecting chicken heads, seashells and drum circles probably left disappointed. The controversial, charismatic and enterprising Pichardo, a Yoruba priest and the country's leading expert on Santeria, spent hours talking about the transatlantic slave trade, paraded in cultural anthropology professors and expected both Powerpoint presentations and 12-page research papers at semester's end."
No doubt some would argue with whether Pichardo (head of the Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye) is truly the "leading expert on Santeria" in America, but the story is very positive and is a nice change of pace from the "decapitated animals it must be Santeria" sensationalism one usually sees. It also hints at the fact that minority religions are slowly making their way into the traditional religion curriculum at Universities.
"Four months ago he concluded FIU's first three-credit Santeria class, with a grand prediction: "You are making history here today." "This is not some fringe movement," Pichardo told his students. "If you can get a Ph.D. in Judaism or Christianity, you should at least be able to take a course in Santeria." ... Pichardo hopes his course will grow into a major."
Certainly courses touching on modern Paganism have been popping up here and there, but like this Santeria course they aren't tied into a major, and are usually electives. Considering the growth of religious minorities in America, it isn't unheard of to someday see a Masters in Pagan Studies, or Doctorate in Afro-Cuban Faiths at some point in the future.
Labels: academia, Ernesto Pichardo, Florida International University, Lukumi, Pagan Studies, Santeria
11.16.2007
Pagans and the American Academy of Religion
If you happen to be on the west coast this weekend, you might want to stop by the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in San Diego. The AAR is the world's largest association of academics who research or teach topics related to religion, and their annual meeting has become a vital place to hear about the latest scholarship in the field of Pagan Studies. Today, the day before the AAR meeting starts, the annual Conference on Contemporary Pagan Studies is being held.
The theme for this year's CCPS is "Material Culture and the Cutting Edge", and features paper presentations by Chris Klassen on student responses to Witchcraft, and a panel discussion on creating a professional academic profile featuring Doug Cowan, Nikki Bado-Fralick and Paul Thomas. In addition, there will be several research reports from a variety of scholars working in the Pagan Studies field.
As for the AAR Meeting, there are several presentations and panel discussions that the Contemporary Pagan Studies Consultation are involved in. First is the CPSC's session focused on "Pagan Borderlands" featuring presentations by Dr. Wendy Griffin, Barbara Jane Davy, and Laurel Zwissler (among others).
"This session of Contemporary Pagan Studies on "Pagan Borderlands" will address the various ambiguities of the liminal edge - whether as a porous bridging area between diametrically different identities, a defensive bulwark against intrusion or loss, or as the very "edge of chaos" where innovation and dynamic change arise. Mirroring Paganism's own perception of the lethal dangers and sacred gifts of nature, the Pagan navigates the "land at the border" as an awesome zone of both vulnerability and fecundity."
Also of note are the joint sessions the CPSC is holding with the Ritual Studies Group, and the Religion, Politics, and the State Group.
"Pagans at the Gate: Breaking through Church/State Boundaries. Challenges from the margins of America's pluralistic society provide insight into church/state issues well beyond the usual Christian right/secular left dichotomy that prevails in public discourse. Those who have argued for a more prominent role for religion in the public square have invited, perhaps unwittingly, previously obscure religious groups to stake their claims to America's religious freedom and the promise of unbiased government treatment of religion. This panel addresses the struggles of one such group, the Pagans, whose efforts to gain acknowledgment in the public square and to attain their own rights have profound implications for the rights of others."
For a more robust listing of presentations, talks, and panel discussions of interest to modern Pagans check out this link. For those of you disappointed that you couldn't get to California this year to attend, take heart, the next AAR annual meeting is being held in Chicago, which should make it easier for those of us in the Midwest to attend. Pagan involvement in scholarship and academia is a vital component of our maturation, giving us a better understanding of ourselves, and communicating with outsiders the diversity and vitality of our movement.
PS - For my readers interested in Unitarian-Universalism and liberal religion, the blog "Transient and Permanent" has a run-down of UU-related events at the AAR.
Labels: academia, American Academy of Religion, California, Pagan Studies, Paganism
10.01.2007
How to Study a Goddess
The Taipei Times reports that an international conference sponsored by the Academia Sinica (the national academy for Taiwan) will be held to look into belief in the Taoist sea goddess Matsu.
A shrine to Matsu in Taiwan.
"Academia Sinica is organizing an international conference next month to discuss belief in the goddess Matsu and her connection with the Matsu Islands, officials with the Lienchiang County Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau said yesterday. The officials said that Academia Sinica's Institute of Ethnology would invite 40 academics from Taiwan and abroad to participate in the conference on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18 at the Matsu Folklore Culture Museum in Nangan, one of five major islands in the Matsu archipelago ... Today, Matsu has become the most widely worshipped deity in Taiwan, with temples dedicated to her seen in almost every township and city."
Matsu ("Mother-Ancestor") is a deified human once known as Lin Moniang. According to the stories, Lin Moniang was the daughter of a fisherman who used her affinity with the sea to help people in her village, at the age of 28 she was taken to heaven and became a goddess (though other stories say she drowned, then became a goddess). As the article mentions, Matsu is the most popular deity in Taiwan.
Reading this story you can almost envision a world where European paganism never diminished, and international conferences at Cambridge or Harvard would be called to discuss belief in Brigantia or Athena.
Labels: academia, Academia Sinica, goddess, Matsu, Paganism, Taiwan, Taoism
9.28.2007
A Few Quick Notes
A somewhat slow news day today, but there are a few smaller items that may be of interest.
The always-excellent legal blog "Religion Clause" has pointed out two recent legal cases of interest to modern Pagans. The first is a prisoner case involving an Asatru inmate:
"In Keen v. Noble, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69629 (ED CA, Sept. 20, 2007), a California federal district court refused to dismiss a federal prisoner's complaint that his free exercise rights were violated when prison authorities refused to provide him with runestones for his Asatru religious practices. However the court agreed with a Magistrate's recommendation to dismiss on qualified immunity grounds plaintiff's complaint that he was denied a hof. The court also held that RFRA does not authorize the award of monetary damages."
So it looks like Runes as a religious tool are allowed within prison (with qualifications for safety), opening a door for similar religious items for modern Pagans and Heathens. The second case, while not involving Paganism, does seem to settle a growing issue being pushed by some Christians.
"Rivera-Alicea v. Gonzalez-Galoffin, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69905 (D PR, Sept. 20, 2007), involves claims by a secretary in Puerto Rico's Department of Justice that she was retaliated against for complaining that "pagan" office Halloween decorations offended her Pentecostal Christian religious beliefs. In rejecting plaintiff's Establishment Clause claim, the Puerto Rico federal district court held: Halloween decorations, like valentines, Easter bunnies, and egg hunts are all secular displays and activities that neither convey religious messages nor constitute religious symbols. Halloween lost its religious and superstitious overtones long ago. It has become instead a commercial holiday enjoyed by communities in its many forms of entertainment."
Secular Halloween decorations, despite the protestations of some conservative Christians, aren't an endorsement of Pagan religion. Rulings like this may also protect Halloween decorations from the complaints of Pagans who find traditional Halloween decorations offensive.
Finally, for my academic-oriented readers, there is an open call for papers for a conference on the subject of religion in comic books and graphic novels. The conference, sponsored by the Luce Program in scripture and literary arts at Boston University, specifically points out that they are looking for works that explore Pagan forms of religiosity within comic books.
"We are particularly interested in the following works and topics, though others will be considered: ... Pagan Missionaries: the works of Moore, Gaiman, and Morrison as mouthpieces for New Religious Movements.
So if you are an academic, and have been looking for a place to present that paper on Alan Moore's "Promethea", now is your chance.
Labels: academia, Asatru, Comics, Halloween, litigation, Paganism, Prison, Religion Clause, Runes
8.31.2007
Wild Hunt Book Roundup
Pellet reviews of some recently released books of interest.
Barbara Jane Davy's "Introduction to Pagan Studies" is an essential overview and distillation of current academic thought concerning the history, beliefs, and practices of modern Paganism. Accessible and written as an introductory textbook, Davy provides an excellent starting point to people wanting to know more about Paganism, and to Pagans wanting to explore the burgeoning realm of Pagan Studies. Highly recommended, and I'm not just saying that because my writing is referenced in one of the chapters.
"Savage Breast: One Man's Search For the Goddess" by Tim Ward, is an unflinching look into one man's psyche as he goes on a quest for the divine feminine. Ward travels the world investigating holy sites dedicated to ancient goddesses, while working out his own personal issues with women along the way. I don't say "unflinching" lightly, Ward goes through some pretty ugly emotional purging and realizations about how he has viewed women, and ultimately comes to feel that the absence of goddesses has created an unhealthy cultural and spiritual imbalance that must be corrected. This is a uniquely powerful and emotionally honest work.
Lisa McSherry's book "Magickal Connections: Creating a Lasting and Healthy Spiritual Group" tackles the thorny issue of Pagan group dynamics and offers some solid advice in building and maintaining spiritual groups. McSherry draws from a variety of sources both religious and secular (including the excellent "Antagonists in the Church") to help overcome common problems found within the small worship and ritual groups that typify our communities. This is a wonderfully functional and useful book that deserves wider attention.
America's religious illiteracy is becoming dangerous, and something needs to be done. That is the basic thesis of Stephen Prothero's "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't". Prothero's book looks at the roots of our country's religious illiteracy (and measures equal blame to both the idealogical "left" and "right") and advocates for a renewed commitment in our public schools to religious education. Prothero envisions a "fourth R" (religion) to help students grapple with the religious underpinnings of important social and political issues that face us today. While I do quibble a bit with how "literate" in religion early Americans truly were, I do agree that classes dealing with the prominent religions in our world are increasingly necessary. But the needed compromise between the secular left and Religious Right to make Prothero's proposals happen may not be coming any time soon.Labels: academia, Barbara Jane Davy, books, Lisa McSherry, Paganism, Religion, Stephen Prothero, The Goddess, Tim Ward
5.26.2007
Religion, Pop-Culture, Academia
The National Post in Canada has an interesting article posted concerning the rise of interest in academic study of pop-culture and the role of religion within it.
"Prof. James, who has taught at the prestigious Ontario university for the past three decades, is one of dozens of scholars who will be bridging the vast academic divides between high-brow, low-brow and near-satirical esoterica at this year's conference, which is being held as part of the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Saskatoon. At this summit where Almighty notions will be poked, prodded and deconstructed, religion scholars will deliver presentations on topics as varied as 'Women's Hair Donation in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism,' 'Durkheim Goes Mainstream: Durkheimian Shadows within Popular Feminism and Media Representation of Sisterhood,' and 'Monotheistic Monsters and the Power of Polytheism in Battlestar Galactica.'"
Why this rise of interest in the deeper meanings within pop-culture? The piece asserts that the post-9/11 rise of two cultural flash-points (from two different religious/political positions) has fueled this interest.
"...the events that followed 9/11, the controversy surrounding the bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code and the flap over Mel Gibson movie Passion of the Christ - and the growth of the pursuit of spirituality - all have contributed to a boomlet of student curiosity in their field of expertise."
Also feeding this trend has been the rise of the Harry Potter witch-hunts, and the popularity of celebrity atheist authors like Richard Dawkins. While all coming from different places they have all helped insert religious and philosophical meaning into our popular culture. Scholars are particularly interested in how themes and trends within popular culture affect how we act.
"The image of scholars searching for allegorical meaning in mainstream movies or popular paperbacks might seem farfetched, but as God scholars point out, holier-than-thou attitudes in religious departments have taken a democratic twist over the past couple of decades. They now focus less on what the masses are thinking - the philosophy or theoretical approach - and concentrate more on what they are actually doing: the sociology of their religion."
Personally, I have always taken the position that pop-culture is important, especially for adherents to minority faiths like ours. Movies like "The Da Vinci Code", television shows like "Battlestar Galactica", comic books like "Phonogram", and even Summer blockbusters starring certain pirates, all help clear a path towards mainstream acceptance and understanding. It isn't so much evangelism (despite the hysterics of some Christian groups), as it is a subtle form of apologetics for outsider views.
This is why I liberally mix "hard" news in with posts about movies, books, and television shows. Because they can be a bellwether for our future, and can prepare us in a way other media cannot. In today's society, what we watch when we are having fun can be almost as important as what we publicly claim to believe.
Labels: academia, pop-culture, Religion
