7.30.2008
How "Earthy" Is Your Religion?
The Los Angeles Times brings us another edition of the ever-familiar "meet the Pagans" article. It has many of the usual "clever" lines journalists use when reporting on Pagans, allusions to Stevie Nicks, allusions to Harry Potter, Pagan Witches don't all wear pointy black hats, you get the idea. But Matthew DeBord's article rises from mere mediocrity into truly bad journalism thanks to some outright falsehoods and bizarre assumptions.
"Contemporary paganism doesn't draw its inspiration from the multiple-gods worship of ancient Greece and Rome so much as from less classical, earthier antecedents (although pagans can and do worship different gods and goddesses). Think Druids, or the shamanistic traditions of Native Americans. Satanism, being associated with the post-Christian world, is not usually considered part of the neo-pagan movement although neo-pagans, being exceedingly tolerant, would probably not object to Satanists being allowed to do their thing, as well."
Really? What does that mean for members of Feraferia, Hellenismos, the Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes, and Nova Roma? What about the large swathes of modern Pagans, including the Druids, who engage in "multiple-gods worship" (we call it "polytheism" round these parts). I also love that shamanism is somehow "earthier" than "classical" paganism. I wonder how one measures the "earthy" quotient of a spiritual/religious system. Is their an earthy hierarchy I'm missing out on?
I'm not sure if DeBord's assumptions are born from misinformed interview subjects or his own preconceived notions, but if your sweeping statements can't pass the Wikipedia test, then it's time to reevaluate your journalistic abilities. Then again, maybe modern Paganism has been taken over by earthy Druid-shamans and nobody told me.
Labels: Druids, journalism, LA Times, Paganism, shamanism, Wicca, Witchcraft
6.17.2008
Is the Associated Press Trying to Destroy Fair Use?
Last year I was interviewed by the Associated Press for a story about Marshall University in West Virginia adding Pagan holidays to its list of excused absences. Since I was proud of being interviewed on the subject, I quoted myself being quoted in my blog.
"By specifically including pagans, Marshall is taking an important step toward recognizing the validity of their beliefs, said Jason Pitzl-Waters, an authority on paganism who edits the Wild Hunt Web site, a blog about religion, politics and culture. 'That's part of the struggle for modern pagans,' said Pitzl-Waters, a pagan. 'Even though modern paganism has been in the public since the 1950s, a lot of people still see it as a rebellious teenage activity, not necessarily something you do as a religious observance' ... 'What binds [modern Pagans] together isn't our theology, necessarily,' Pitzl-Waters said. 'What binds us together is a sense of communal practice and togetherness.'"
I thought that in excerpting the above quote I was protected by the copyright principle of Fair Use.
"The Copyright Act says that "fair use...for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright." So if you are commenting on or criticizing an item someone else has posted, you have a fair use right to quote."
But now the Associated Press would want me to pay them $50 in order to quote them quoting me.
"In the name of "defin[ing] clear standards as to how much of its articles and broadcasts bloggers and Web sites can excerpt" the Associated Press is now selling "quotation licenses" that allow bloggers, journallers, and people who forward quotations from articles to co-workers to quote their articles. The licenses start at $12.50 for quotations of 5-25 words. The licensing system exhorts you to snitch on people who publish without paying the blood-money, offering up to $1 million in reward money (they also think that "fair use" -- the right to copy without permission -- means "Contact the owner of the work to be sure you are covered under fair use.")."
Not surprisingly, this new policy has shocked and angered the blogging community, and the AP is now sitting down with the Media Bloggers Association in order to negotiate some guidelines. However, any deal struck may well fly in the face of our already established rights and freedoms as journalists.
"I suggest it’s better described as yet another attempt by a big media company to replace the established legal and social order with with a system of private law (the very definition of the word “privilege”) in which a few private organizations get to dictate to the rest of society what the rules will be."
I personally think this payment scam is a horrible idea by the AP which flies in the face of established copyright law. Even worse, if you do pay them, you aren't allowed to criticize AP reporting!
"You shall not use the Content in any manner or context that will be in any way derogatory to the author, the publication from which the Content came, or any person connected with the creation of the Content or depicted in the Content. You agree not to use the Content in any manner or context that will be in any way derogatory to or damaging to the reputation of Publisher, its licensors, or any person connected with the creation of the Content or referenced in the Content […]"
If I followed their new rules, I would be restrained from saying anything "derogatory", and you know who gets to decide what's derogatory don't you? This whole thing is a farce, and until I am directly threatened with legal action I will take no action to change my established quoting and blogging methods. I can only hope that the backlash will make the AP realize that they don't get to tell the rest of us how to apply copyright law.
Labels: AP, blogging, copyright, fair use, free speech, journalism
6.08.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
Both The Times and The Independent review the new book "Stonehenge" by Rosemary Hill, which explores the social history and differing perceptions of this famous ancient monument.
"A great strength of Hill's method is that she is by no means inclined just to laugh at what seem ludicrous beliefs. She carefully unpicks them, showing what made them attractive in their cultures, and how scholarly their adherents often were, apart from their brief descent into Stonehenge madness."
You can read an excerpt of the work, here. Hill's "Stonehenge" looks like a worthy new tome exploring this ever-popular monument (including modern Pagan interactions with Stonehenge). Release date in the UK is June 10th, and in America on November 15th.
Looking for Pagan music but aren't a fan of folk music, neo-medieval stylings, or darkwave? Then you might want to check out the latest offering from Jazz musician Jordi Rossy. His trio's new album is entitled "Wicca", and according to All About Jazz, it's "mesmerizing".
"Wicca is a largely ruminative album, Rossy somewhere on the piano spectrum between George Winston and his sometimes employer Mehldau ... Whether the piano is in the lead, organ droning behind, or organ leads, in churchy mode, with piano chords underneath, that sound is consistent and, at its best, mesmerizing. A comfort zone is established and observed, only breached noticeably on the title track, the CD's longest, adding trumpet and tenor sax and combining disparate elements of tempo and form into an intricate yet harmonious texture."
You can order the album from this web site.
Your Christian scare-mongering link of the week: beware of horoscopes (and palmistry, and Ouija boards).
"Just like the Ouija board, the horoscope can also be dangerous—a dangerous first step into the world of the occult. One woman, Barbara Gardner, writing in Today’s Christian Woman, explained how reading horoscopes sucked her into a dangerous pattern that led to astral projection—also known as “out of body experience”—palm reading, and fortune-telling. She ultimately attributed the breakup of two of her marriages to her obsession with occult activity."
Back! Back Rob Brezsny! Back into the pits of Hell with you and your ilk! Also, beware of "slutty" mermaids selling you coffee!
Are Pagans considered a part of the "religious left"? Pew Forum Senior Fellow in Religion and American Politics John Green seems to hint that we could be, if we wanted to.
"Attention has largely been focused on various kinds of Christians who hold these views, but it is important to remember that these groups extend to non-Christians as well, including believers in the Jewish community and people who are “spiritual but not religious.” There are progressive voices appearing in nearly every religious tradition."
Of course if Christians like Jim Wallis, who is regularly misrepresented as a liberal, get their way the "big tent" of the "religious left" wouldn't openly include the Pagans and other non-monotheistic outsiders that could embarrass him or moderate Democrats trying to win over "values voters".
Press profiling Pagans round-up! The Sault Star talks to author and Pagan Elizabeth Creith about her involvement in "flash fiction" and other artistic projects, Pennsylvania publication Voices talks to Art Shipkowski, a member of Ár nDraíocht Féin, at a Penn. State Pagan gathering, and The Shreveport Times talks to a Pagan husband and wife who run a local tattoo parlor called the Twisted Cauldron.
"The Clementses say opening Twisted Cauldron "is a 10-year dream." Knowing the previous tenants, Modern Primitives, B.J. said, the opportunity popped up and he jumped on it. "There isn't really a shop like this in the area, and privacy is a big issue," B.J. Clements said. "A lot of our success has to do with how we treat our customers," B.J. Clements said, adding one of the tenets of their Wiccan faith is "May you never hunger, May you never thirst." "I do commerce with all sorts of religions and denominations; it generally isn't an issue," he said of being Wiccan."
Did you get profiled recently in your local paper? Why not drop me a line! You too could be mentioned in my semi-regular round-up of Pagan press profiles.
In a final note, should you buy a Pan Flute? The answer may surprise you.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: Astrology, books, Christianity, journalism, music, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Religious Left, Rosemary Hill, Stonehenge
5.17.2008
Ex-Pagan Conversion Narratives
This past week has seen two very different ex-Pagan conversion narratives appear in the press. The first, from Internet news-provider NewsBlaze, is just what you would imagine. Troubled kid dabbles in the occult, finds Jesus, gets better.
"Wanting a religion with fewer rules than the legalistic Christianity she had been exposed to, Samantha discovered Wicca at age 12 when introduced to the religion by a friend ... "I loved it," Samantha says, "When I physically gathered the Elements' energy, I felt powerful and calm." But even with that power she claimed to experience and although she loved being a part of this rule-less religion, Samantha felt alone and unsatisfied. "I just eventually realized that I need rules in my life. I need some sort of structure, some 'being' that I know is always there," she says."
Here, as in other Christian conversion narratives, embracing a non-Christian faith is seen as a gateway into misery and sin. Drugs, rape, and abuse, all because she abandoned the "structure" and "protection" of the church. Accepting Jesus is the only cure. A story that demeans Pagan religion, and often angers the hundreds of thousands of Pagans who have somehow avoided destroying their lives.
"I'm very glad to hear that Samantha found a spiritual path, and that she cleaned herself up. But, she should also accept the fact that Wicca didn't put her through the trials she went through, her poor decision making did."
In contrast, the North Carolina News-Record presents a Pagan-to-Christian conversion narrative that avoids the overly dramatic, and gets closer to what a natural and healthy shift between faiths looks like.
"As with other transitions in my spiritual life the move away from paganism was gradual and relatively peaceful. I have never believed I was "in error" during my pagan years. The saying "God writes straight with crooked lines" is a perfect example of my spiritual development, and everything that has happened in my life has been grace-filled. My desire has always been to pursue as close a relationship as possible with the Divine. For two decades that yearning was satisfied within paganism. When that ceased to be fulfilling I began exploring other avenues."
No demonizing, no blaming Paganism for the problems in her life, just a change of opinion and attitude. Perhaps a story like that won't sell books, or excite those Christians looking for a reinforcement that they made the correct choice, but it sounds far more "true" than the numerous "damaged teen" narratives (many of which are "anonymous" and of dubious origin).
Paganism won't be for everyone, and those who convert shouldn't be used as grist in the ongoing propaganda battle between faiths, lest the small amounts of dialog and trust between our faith communities erode to a point of no return. Lets keep conversion narratives personal, instead of processing them through an idealogical filter designed to glorify the newly-found faith. After all, who knows what their future may hold, or what the next conversion narrative in the press will say.
Labels: Christianity, conversions, journalism, Paganism
5.14.2008
Covering the God(s) Beat
Reporter Tim Townsend writes about covering the religion beat for the Columbia Journalism Review, and in the process looks at two very different religious impulses that were part of the founding of this country.
"Of course, the spiritually polarized America we live in today is not new. Intolerance might as well have been the motto of the Puritans, separatists who crossed the Atlantic in 1630, fleeing religious persecution ... thanks in part to James Madison and his Bill of Rights, the Puritan vision of America as a rigidly intolerant society didn't come to pass. The First Amendment ensured that the government could make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, and America's protection of pluralism remains one of its most beautiful features. But beauty has been the root of some brutal fights, and theological skirmishes in twenty-first-century America are shaping up to be doozies."
In negotiating the troubled waters of faith in America, Townsend has two simple rules.
"Reporters who cover the fractured, volatile, weighty world of religion have a responsibility to be equally respectful of all beliefs. Whether someone is a Roman Catholic, a Jew, or a Raelian, we are privileged to ask such people personal questions about their most profound thoughts and hopes ... But again, journalists who cover religion also need to weigh that broad respect for belief against a larger truth. If a particular tenet of a particular faith has the potential to influence the public discourse outside the walls of the church, synagogue, or mosque, reporters are responsible for holding it up to the same scrutiny as any other idea tossed into the public square for debate."
I agree that respect and scrutiny must go hand in hand. Without that balance you can slip into sensationalism, or fall prey to uncritical admiration. For years now I have been monitoring how the press covers modern Pagan faiths, and while there have been some remarkable improvements in the last five years, the mainstream religious press has a long way to go.
Many journalists, including some rather prominent ones, still believe that an article on Paganism must be "balanced" by an anti-Pagan Christian, any anti-Pagan Christian, even if that opposition gives no insight or context to the story at hand. Journalistic balance is avoiding editorial bias, not seeking out idealogical opponents to give you a pull-quote. Also, you'll still see articles that dip into the sensationalist well. Finding the most "out-there" characters possible, or conflating Pagan religion with unsavory ideologies or people.
As modern Paganism continues to be a part of major news stories, the need to balance scrutiny with respect will become more and more important. One can only hope that more journalists take cues from people like Townsend, or possibly Peter Manseau, who urges reporters to "role-play" and "use their imaginations" when encountering a new religion or strange situation.
"Before I write about any sort of believer or community of faith, I indulge in a little role-playing fantasy. What might it feel like to have such fervor that I find myself speaking in tongues? Who would I be if I was a pagan among Christians in the Bible Belt? What would I be thinking if it were me riding high in a chair at a Hasidic wedding, floating on a sea of black hats? In place of belief I call upon that skill we all had as children but often lose by the time we become adults, or parents, or popes: "make believe."...If only we could cease praying to our conceptions of God just long enough to wonder what it might be like to pray to another. Just imagine."
If modern Pagan faiths are treated with respect, and given the benefit of the doubt by skeptical reporters, they may find that were actually quite normal once you get to know us (albeit, different from the dominant monotheisms). Deserving of the same rights and privileges as the more "mainstream" faiths in America, and a vital part of any overview of the religious spectrum in America.
Labels: journalism, Paganism, Religion, Tim Townsend
5.04.2008
As Handfastings Go Mainstream, So Do Pagans
Lisa Cupido, writing for The Modesto Bee, has a very informative and interesting write-up of the growing popularity of Pagan handfasting ceremonies among couples (both Pagan and non-Pagan) looking to wed. Cupido interviews a wide-ranging assortment of sources for the piece, from author Raven Kaldera (who touches on same-sex marriage within modern Paganism), to trained celebrant Lamira Martin.
"Lamira Martin is a celebrant from St. Louis, Mo., who trained with the Celebrant USA Foundation, an institute that teaches people to officiate at weddings, funerals and other personalized ceremonies. She has been performing pagan and nondenominational weddings for only a year and a half but has wed 60 couples of all ages and backgrounds. Her most popular requests include handfasting, unity candle lighting and sand ceremonies ... 'Most of the couples I meet are in their 20s and want something beautiful and spiritual, but not religious ... A lot of people have lost the connection to their churches, but they still want a ritual and to write their own ceremony.'"
In addition to covering the growing popularity of handfastings, Cupido also digs into what is feeding the popularity of handfastings (Paganism's explosive growth over the last twenty years), and the economic ripples this new popularity creates.
"As some vendors of pagan items can attest, there is no shortage of customers for popular Wiccan and Celtic wedding items like costumes, Renaissance gowns, handfasting ropes and candles. Kimberly and Bill Tuttle, the owners of Gryphon's Moon, started their company 13 years ago, unaware that their moonstone pendants and incense would attract so many pagan clients. The most popular item on their Web site, gryphonsmoon.com, is their handfasting ring, which features the inscription "Hearts as one," in Runic, an early Germanic alphabet."
In a final note on this very well-written and researched article, I would like to congratulate Cupido on being one of the first journalists to (indirectly) include the data about Pagans from the recently released Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. A survey that gives a big boost to the estimated Pagan population in America.
"A 2001 survey by the Graduate Center of the City University of New York found that the number of followers of Wicca, one of the many religions that fall beneath the pagan umbrella, increased from 8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001, making it the fastest-growing religion in America in terms of percentage increase. Marty Laubach, a sociology professor at Marshall University, says the number of followers of pagan religions is even higher now, citing a 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey that put the estimate at 1.2 million. 'My suspicion is that the first number was way too low due to people not responding,' Laubach said. 'The 1990 study was conducted at the height of the 'satanic panic,' which kept many neopagans in the closet.'"
One of the best articles dealing with modern Pagans I have read in awhile. I suggest reading the whole thing. Kudos to Lisa Cupido, this is what journalistic coverage of Paganism is supposed to look like.
Labels: handfastings, journalism, Lisa Cupido, Paganism, Pew Forum, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey
4.11.2008
Three From Salem
The Salem Gazette published three Wicca/Witchcraft related stories yesterday, each one revealing different aspects of the practice of Witchcraft in the "Witch City" of Salem, and the different ways that modern Paganism enters the mainstream. The first article concerns a panel discussion taking place tomorrow featuring author/journalist Margot Adler and Pagan activist Jerrie Hildebrand.
"The city of Salem's No Place for Hate Committee will host a panel discussion on April 12 that will focus on practices within the Wiccan faith and the everyday lifestyles of those practicing paganism. The objective of the event is to inform those in attendance about the religion, lifestyle and culture of those who practice Wicca while also touching on the history and its distinction within the Salem community."
The talk will be opened by Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, a politician who has enjoyed support from the local Pagan community since she first ran for the office. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of Old Town Hall, Derby Square.
The second story concerns the opening of a new Witch-themed shop called "Hex". The store, co-run by Leanne Marrama and Salem impresario Christian Day, promises an "old-world folk magic" feel and approach.
Christian Day and Leanne Marrama
"A new witch shop in town aims to bring this form of old-world folk magic to Salem's mostly modern pagan community. Hex: Old World Witchery specializes in voodoo dolls, spellbinding candles and European charms used to ward off evil. Shop owners Christian Day and Leanne Marrama, who both consider themselves clairvoyant, aim not only to supply the community with tools of folk magic, but also to serve as proverbial witch doctors, and practice what they preach..."
The ornately designed store is just the latest project from Christian Day, who has become a commercial force to be reckoned with in Salem. Running a tarot consultancy service, a psychic consultancy service, and a popular Salem festival.
The third and final story is a profile of Lori Bruno, a Strega Witch and folk-magic practitioner, who will be offering her services at Christian Day's new Hex store.
"At 68, Lori Bruno considers herself a kind of real-life version of the storybook witch strega nona. Upon meeting you for the first time she just might call you little cucinella and invite you over for a cup of tea. She smells of warm clothes that just got out of the dryer, has long dyed black hair tied in a loose knot and wears 13 gold rings on her fingers. From her ears dangle gold ankhs and peace signs. Around her neck hangs an Egyptian scarab beetle. And above her kitchen sink, beside the coffee maker, hangs a large stone pentacle. Bruno comes from a long line of streghe, or Italian witches. Growing up in Brooklyn, her mother, a southern-born Italian, would give psychic readings to her Jewish and Irish neighbors, reading tarot cards or using a glass of water like a crystal ball to tell the future."
These three stories help illustrate the ways that modern Paganism is slowly entering the mainstream. Through activism and education, through commercial ventures and public events, and through sympathetic journalistic profiles. Modern Paganism has utilized these three overlapping factors to slowly inch us towards acceptance since our emergence. Salem, with its large Pagan population (and Pagan tourist trade), represents a "perfect storm" of these elements.
In addition, the stories show how Witchcraft in Salem encompasses everything from the salacious to the sedate. You have practitioners in pointy hats and yards of black fabric wielding wands and brooms, and you have the more reserved wardrobes and methods of the Witches engaging in discussion with academics and politicians. Both serve a clearly defined purpose inside and outside our communities, and both are equally a part of the modern Pagan movement.
Labels: Christian Day, Jerrie Hildebrand, journalism, Leanne Marrama, Lori Bruno, Margot Adler, Paganism, Salem, Wicca, Witchcraft
3.31.2008
So Darn Normal
The latest assortment of "meet the Pagans" articles seem to point to a growing journalistic theme, Pagans are shockingly pedestrian. For example, Marvin Read from the Pueblo Chieftain discovers that a local Witch is "not fearsome at all", and that she is decidedly lacking in an assortment of Halloween-witch accoutrement. In fact, she is downright normal!
"...it's just plain ol' Lyn Brown, telephone receptionist at Colorado State University-Pueblo, once-upon-a-time Presbyterian, a native Puebloan, a woman who believes that any and all church buildings and any and all faiths are sacred and good, even as she asserts her right to disagree with some of them."
After these earth-shattering revelations of normalcy, what's next? Pagans getting together to eat pizza?
"If there are two things, however alliterative, that one wouldn't expect to find in combination, it's paganism and pizza. Nonetheless, a dedicated group of Santa Barbara pagans have been meeting once a month on Friday night to hang out at the Carrillo Rusty's, eat pizza, and talk about their beliefs, their lives, and their current projects - for the past fifteen years."
I'm scandalized! Here I thought most Pagans preferred delivery. If you think our newly-discovered normalcy will give people the wrong impression, not to worry, our mere existence can still drive Christians to do some odd things.
"I was moved by the sincerity of their comments. None of them expressed anger; they simply could not find what they needed within the institutional church ... I drove home with the windows down on that beautiful Easter day and when I arrived home immediately inserted The Passion of the Christ in my DVD player. Tears trickled down my cheeks as I watched unimaginable suffering. The representation of the price Jesus paid for our salvation made me grieve for a church that fails even one person who walks into its doors."
Nothing like a little savior-torture to reassert your Christian identity after discovering that Pagans aren't simply a bunch of resentful ex-Christians or rebellious teens. Yes, the secret is out, barring a minority of outright eccentrics (who the press still loves to give face-time to), most Pagans are quite indistinguishable from the general populace. It is no longer shocking to find out that a Nebula Award-nominee dabbled in Dianic Witchcraft, or that a sociology professor is giving talks on teenage Witches. We are everywhere, and after fifty-plus years of publicity, controversy, and growth, we are settling in quite nicely.
Labels: journalism, Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft
3.14.2008
A Spate of Pagan Articles, Plus: Bunky's Big Party
Sometimes I go weeks without seeing any direct coverage of Pagans in the mainstream media. Then, as if they can hold back no longer, a sudden torrent of stories spring forth all at once. As a result, you get the Sacramento News and Review covering a Thelemic Gnostic Mass, The Post in Ohio reporting on the growing population of Wiccans in Athens, the Marshall Parthenon (a student paper) looking at a Pagan organization on campus, and a Killeen Daily Herald story concerning local Pagans getting ready to celebrate Ostara.
"When the leaves start turning green, weather warms up and spring finally rolls around, it feels like magic is in the air; this Saturday's Ostara Fest is ready to make things feel a whole lot more magical. A celebration of spring, the event at Club Rodeo in Harker Heights will be hosted by new-age gift shop Sisters of the Earth and Sea and will bring vendors and participants from all over the country. "You've heard of 'Keep Austin Weird,'" said Laurie Roach, co-owner of Sisters of the Earth and Sea. 'Well, we're trying to keep Central Texas eclectic.'"
But wait! There's still more! The University of Washington's student newspaper explores the "highly controversial religious pathway" of Wicca, Gay Wired interviews astrologer, musician, tarot creator, out lesbian, and Goddess-worshiper Flash Silvermoon, while the Amherst Bulletin interviews Ellen Evert Hopman about Druids and her new novel "Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey".
"My original intention was to write a training manual for people who wanted to follow the Druid path," Hopman said. But, as she began to explain the first ritual, "All of a sudden, there's this full- blown ritual," spooling out like a movie in her mind. "The characters just took over," she said. "I had very little control over what happened after that."
Plus, if you act now, you can read an interesting profile of Orisa priestess Chief Fama in the California Press-Enterprise.
You would think that heady rush of journalistic exercise would drain the well for a few months (or at least until the Spring Equinox hits), but it looks like Wiccan multi-millionaire Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett just might grace the local headlines again. The newly expanded Mystickal Voyage shop celebrates its Bunky-funded grand re-opening in a impressively large 6500 square foot space this weekend.
"Our Grand Opening is set for the weekend of March 14th. The festivities will begin Friday at 1:00 with opening speeches and a ribbon cutting ceremony with special guests including Rev. Bunky Bartlett, Ginny Robertson from the On Purpose Women's Network, Steve Rouse [a local radio personality], and more! During the weekend, we will have guest workshops with Amber K, Azrael Arynn K, and Ann Moura."
In addition, the shop will be featuring a (sold out) acoustic performance from Rockstar: Supernova finalist Dilana Robichaux. I can't imagine an event like this not drawing reporters like moths to a flame.
All this media attention is just further proof that modern Paganism is becoming the "designated Other" in American (and British, and Australian) religious life. So we better get used to the increasing amount of press (and scholarly) attention.
Labels: Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett, journalism, Paganism, Religion, Wicca
1.11.2008
Finding An "Expert" To Talk To
The press continues to report on the shocking murder of two young girls in Iowa. The prime suspect is the step-father who says that the deaths were the result of a "spell gone wrong", and according to the mother of the girls, claims to adhere to some form of modern Paganism.
"The mother of two girls who were killed allegedly at the hands of their stepfather said he described himself as a pagan and practiced spells to keep those around him healthy and happy" ... She said Lawrence Harris told her about his religious beliefs, but that she told him to "keep it out of the house." "What he was doing is against my religion," Marla Harris said. "I told him, 'You take it elsewhere.'" She said that her husband did not introduce her to anyone else who shared his beliefs and that he kept his religion to himself."
Other than the revelation that the step-father considered himself a Pagan, no new information has surfaced, which means that journalists gets some more time to talk to "experts" on Pagan religion.
"Self-described pagan Lawrence Harris is charged in the killings and reportedly told police a 'spell went bad.' Leslie McQuaid, of Omaha, is an expert on Wicca and says don't blame the religion for the acts of one individual. McQuaid says, 'It's disappointing not only for the faith that he professed to practice but also very tragic that parenting skills have become so poor that people who are in need of assistance wait too long to get professional help.'"
I'm not sure how detecting an oncoming psychotic break is related to poor parenting skills, are parents now supposed to be able to detect clinical warning signs of psychosis in family members? Even if the mother had concerns about her husband's mental status, what are the chances that he had health insurance through his employer, and if he did, could they have afforded the $1000 deductible? Was the step-father, who may very well be suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia, supposed to realize he was losing touch with his own sanity?
That isn't my only criticism of this "expert" interview. Is Leslie McQuaid herself a Wiccan? The article never specifies. What qualifies her as an expert on Wicca? How many years of experience does she have? What is her educational background (if any), how has she distinguished herself within the Pagan community as an authority on Wicca? I ask this because her commentary seems a bit odd.
"McQuaid says the suspect probably did not belong to a group because the acts he was performing are not highly-regarded in the Wiccan community. "It is so far out of the norm that he was probably practicing alone simply because pagans and Wicca who understand their faith and have been trained in the faith would have rejected his practices as being outrageous, just as probably a Catholic community would reject someone without any training in the priesthood who decided to perform an exorcism," McQuaid says."
I don't want to be unfair, but we have no idea what his practices are, or what training he received. Often mental illness can run undetected, or be downplayed, even by close family. Even if he did belong to a group, that is no guarantee against a violent psychotic break, which can come on suddenly (nor do solitary practitioners live in a moral vacuum that would make actions like these any more likely). The sad truth is that some very well-trained religious people have done some pretty horrific things. Also, I would hesitate to place ritualized murder in the same moral continuum as rogue exorcists. As for the writer of this piece, saying that his practices would not be "highly-regarded", makes it sound like he was simply uncouth and not the perpetrator of child-murder. I can't think of a single Pagan who wouldn't find such a thing horrific and completely beyond the pale.
The simple fact is that no amount of religious training can cure a severe mental illness. Up to the murders everyone thought he was sweet, normal, and loving towards his step-daughters. This man's dabbling in spells and allegiance to a Pagan religion is no more responsible for this event, than Christianity is responsible for a man cutting off his own hand and subsequently microwaving it.
As for Pagan experts and the press, we have to be careful as this story develops to avoid guessing as to what really happened in this sad case (or why). The "Pagan" element should really be treated as a side-note to this man's tragic break from reality. His alleged "Pagan-ness" has no direct bearing on this any more than if he was Christian or Jewish. Let us be careful that our eagerness to explain modern Paganism to the press doesn't cloud what this story is really about.
Labels: Iowa, journalism, Lawrence Harris, Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft
1.09.2008
More Updates on "Witchcraft" Slaying
Since my entry yesterday praising local coverage of a bizarre "witchcraft" double-slaying, more interviews and details have surfaced. Local news channel KTIV (an NBC affiliate) interviews a professor of religion and a local Wiccan priest about the slaying.
"Dr. Bruce Forbes, Morningside College Religion Professor, 'Satanism and witchcraft, they kind of come together but there's no relation and in fact anyone I know involved in witchcraft at all thinks it's a joke.' Rev. Jeva Singh-Anand, Wiccan 'A lot of satanists reject these practices... They reject the actual hurting of people.' ... Jeva Singh-Anand, 'Being part of a spell that had gone wrong, it doesn't make sense, I don't know what the man's religion was, if it turns out he was a Wiccan, then I would say, as as Wiccan, throw the book at him.' Singh-Anand, 'He's casting a spell and something goes wrong, he ends up killing those kids, I think that's just an excuse.'"
Meanwhile, KMEG (a CBS affiliate), interviews another local Wiccan for some insight into Witchcraft, and the ethical philosophies of Wicca.
"The story of Kendra and Alysha touches the heart of the Wiccan community. They're saddened by the tragedy and the suspect's suggestion that the girls were killed by witch craft. It's a practice that's often negatively linked to the practice of Wicca ... [Dana Peterson] explains the difference between Wiccan practice and the suspect's account of the murders. 'It's a form of ceremonial magic,' said Peterson. 'We collect in a circle and use our energy for the best common good. People pray for peace. We cast spells for peace.'"
KMEG obviously hasn't heard the classic maxim of "all Wiccans are Witches, but not all witches are Wiccans", but still, the coverage has thus far avoided sensationalizing the "witchcraft" dimension of this case. They even mention that the local Pagan community is putting a collection together for the family. Next we turn back to the Sioux City Journal (whom I praised yesterday), who interviews the pastor of a local evangelical "mega-church" about the girls (who briefly attended a youth outreach group).
"Two young sisters who were murdered during a ritual slaying Sunday knew more about witchcraft then they should have for their age, a local pastor said. Pastor Cary Gordon of Cornerstone World Outreach said Kendra Suing, 10, and Alysha Suing, 8, bombarded a bus driver for the church with questions after a summer lesson about the sinfulness of practicing witchcraft ... 'Our bus captain got the creepy feeling that they obviously had a lot of weird stuff going on in their house.' After the lesson on witchcraft, Gordon said the Suing girls didn't attend another session of the program until the last one of the year in November. 'They had a real earful on why witchcraft is wrong that day, and then they got back home and then they went missing for a long time after that,' he said. 'We wondered if the kids didn't go home and say, 'Dad, the church says what you're doing is wrong,' and dad says, 'Well, you're not going back.' That's our speculation.'"
This article gets pretty close, through spotlighting the Pastor, to directly implying the step-father regularly practiced some sort of witchcraft. But there is still no proof that this man's "magical" activities were stemming from an interest (ongoing or recent) in some sort of Paganism (or other magic-practicing faith or tradition), or if it was simply the actions of a quickly deteriorating mind. Saying that he was casting a spell, and that "the spell could have had severe consequences", consequences that apparently included the death of his step-daughters, doesn't seem to portray a man in touch with sanity.
There are still far too many variables and unknown details to get a clear picture. The mother hasn't made a statement about her husband's activities or beliefs, no autopsy information has been released, and we have no background information on Lawrence Douglas Harris (history of mental illness, any tangible affiliations with any Pagan or occult group, etc). Until more information comes along, this story will be stalled at guess-work and interviews with community members and experts.
ADDENDUM: Mother Marla Harris says that her husband is/was a Pagan:
"The mother of two girls who were killed allegedly at the hands of their stepfather said he described himself as a pagan and practiced spells to keep those around him healthy and happy" ... She said Lawrence Harris told her about his religious beliefs, but that she told him to "keep it out of the house." "What he was doing is against my religion," Marla Harris said. "I told him, 'You take it elsewhere.'" She said that her husband did not introduce her to anyone else who shared his beliefs and that he kept his religion to himself.
He is also writing to Satanists:
"She knew about a spell book he kept in their bedroom, but she said he kept it on a high shelf, out of reach of the children. She said that one day she noticed an addition of a Church of Satan listing in a shared e-mail address book. "I asked him about it, and he said he was just writing back and forth with them," she said."
Now that the mother claims her husband is a Pagan, and that he has had contact with Satanists, will that change the reporting in the mainstream press? We can certainly expect the right-wing fringe to start harping on the dangers of Paganism any time now.
Labels: journalism, Paganism, Sioux City Journal, Wicca, Witchcraft
1.08.2008
Talking to Actual Experts
I don't get to say this too often, but bravo to the Sioux City Journal for their even-keeled and well-sourced follow up story to the horrendous "witchcraft" killing of two young girls.
"The sisters were found dead in a second floor room of their Nebraska Street home. Fire crews discovered the bodies while responding to a fire call at the home Sunday afternoon. It was initially ruled suspicious ... Their stepfather, Larry Harris, is now charged with two counts of first degree murder ... Police say the girls were found strangled and stabbed in their home. Larry Harris told investigators at the scene that the girls were dead in their room, the victims of witchcraft gone badly."
Faced with claims of "witchcraft" and the murder of two young girls, the Sioux City Journal, instead of going for sensationalism, went to actual academics who study modern Paganism and Religious Witchcraft for answers.
"Professor Helen A. Berger, author of three books on witches, said she doubted anyone claiming to have killed children while casting a spell is a true practitioner of witchcraft or Wicca, a nature-based religion often associated with witchcraft and spell-casting. It is unclear what belief system, if any, Harris was acting on when he allegedly killed the girls, Alysha and Kendra Suing ... Lisa Stenmark, a professor in San Jose State University's Comparative Religious Studies program, said most people proclaiming to be witches -- especially those who practice Wicca -- would not harm or sacrifice a human during a ritual. Stenmark said she believed further investigation would show Harris' actions likely had nothing to do with witchcraft or Wicca."
In addition, when the article looks for previous examples of ritualized killings, they don't dig for something Pagan-related, they instead focus on a far more common religious paradigm.
"Kendra and Alysha's killings may be out of line with what experts consider modern witchcraft and pagan practices, but they are not the first children to die during a failed ritual. In 2004 in Georgia, two people told authorities they had killed a 6-year-old girl during an exorcism gone wrong. Police said Christopher and Valerie Carey strangled, beat and stabbed the girl in an attempt to rid her of demons. Investigators found the girl, whose back had been broken, in a hotel room, covered with pages from a Bible."
This is solid and balanced journalism by Journal staff reporter Molly Montag. Kudos to her for avoiding the tired trend of "balancing" the article with anti-Pagan Christian "experts", or dipping into sensationalist exposition in order to sell more papers. If only all Pagan-related journalism was more like this.
Labels: Helen Berger, journalism, Lisa Stenmark, Molly Montag, Paganism, Sioux City Journal, Witchcraft
12.20.2007
Taking a Green Bay break.
While the situation in Green Bay continues to roil, I thought I would clear the pallette and write about something else for a change (don't worry, I'll get back to it soon, in the meantime why not check out the discussion on this issue at Get Religion). For instance, an Asatru inmate has filed a lawsuit against the Utah Department of Corrections for allegedly denying him his right to practice his faith.
"Michael Polk, who is serving time for aggravated assault and robbery, filed the lawsuit against corrections officials in federal court, accusing them of denying him several religious items that he claims are necessary to practice the Asatru religion, which worships ancient Nordic gods like Odin, Thor, Tyr and Heimdal ... In his lawsuit, Polk said he asked the prison chaplain for the items and was denied them. Corrections officials noted that he checked the box marked "None/Atheist" when he entered the prison. After he appealed, corrections officials allowed Polk to have a wooden Thor's Hammer pendant. The other items were denied because of security reasons."
A couple questions arise, first off, did Polk have no choice but to check "none" since there was no box for Asatru? Secondly, while his list of required items seems a bit long (a Thor's Hammer, a prayer cloth, a Mead Horn used for drinking Wassail, a drum made of wood and boar skin, a rune staff and a (cardboard) sword) are other (more mainstream) faiths allowed similarly long lists of religiously-themed items? Information concerning these details would help greatly in finding out if Polk's case is merely frivolous or if the prison is truly limiting his religious freedom.
Sadly, instead of answering these questions, the Deseret Morning News decided to talk about vampires instead.
"In Utah, several inmates have filed lawsuits over religion. In 2002, the Utah Court of Appeals denied one inmate's claims that the prison violated his religious rights by refusing to allow him to drink blood or partake in a sacrament with a 'vampiress.'"
Not to question the sanctity of religious vampirism, but the reporter seems to have classified this as a "oddball" story instead of a religion story. As such, we get no follow-up and some unrelated trivia. There is a rich history of legal cases involving Asatru, and it's a shame they couldn't have been explored here.
Labels: Asatru, Heathen, journalism, Prison, Religious Freedom
10.23.2007
Tis the Season (to interview Witches)
Halloween is quickly approaching, which means that journalists across the country are looking for willing (real live) Witches to interview. This time of year is usually one of the busiest (journalism-wise), and the theme often turns to "dispelling myths" concerning Witchcraft and Paganism. Such is the case in a recent interview with Salem's own Laurie Cabot.
"We don't dress up like the chainsaw massacre. We don't paint our faces green because we're not green. We don't have a hatchet sticking out of our heads asking to be murdered. We dress up like what we want to be ... I think propagandizing our holiday in such a nasty way is not educating anybody or making anybody happy. I'd rather see the whole world dressed up in something beautiful in October and have a great time and still party."
You don't have to be a (in)famous author/personality from Salem to get an October article, you just have to be willing to speak out about your beliefs. You can even get away with saying some rather contentious things about religious Witchcraft/Wicca like Utah Witch Daneen Deuel:
"Wicca is more than just being a witch ... Wiccan's have a deep love of nature, and work on self improvement, and sending good out toward the universe ... Wicca is an ancient Celtic religion which was revived around the twentieth century ... It's really hard to explain Wiccanism because there are really broad principles, and you can take whatever you want from it ... We believe that all Deity are aspects of the same universal power that we are all a part of and we are here in this sphere to learn and grow,"
Of course these articles also take time out to convey important facts about our lifestyle and the ethics we live by:
"Real witchcraft is not glamorous in any way shape or form ... We're not sacrificing babies and boiling cats, for crying out loud..."
Most Wiccans and Witches interviewed for an October article try very hard to come off as normal and harmless as possible, in an ongoing battle to normalize modern Pagan religions.
"The neighbors are really good. We've never had any problems because they know we are good people. We have a dog and a turtle and two children. We are a normal family ... We honor the gods and goddesses of ancient mythology. We honor the sun, the moon, the Earth. There is nothing evil about it [Wicca] ... Many witches believe in the wiccan rede - that what you do to others comes back to you threefold. So we don't do harm."
But no matter how "normal" we all try to appear, it is important to remember that journalists are drawn to odd eccentrics like moths to candle-flame, so expect a fair helping of Witch interviews to follow that trend.
"In 1999, when she went by the name Laurie Jean, the spirits commanded her to change her name and be reborn as a witch. What followed, she said, was a period of deep research on her part of the "ancient archives on the mysterious and unknown things" ... Israel [Shvhu V. Magdaglene] recognizes herself as the reincarnated spirit of Egyptian queen Cleopatra; she claims to be waiting for Mark Antony. If he shows up at the shop, though, he might miss her. Israel plans to move on, possibly in a year or two, to model goddess, witch, vampire and princess clothing in New York City ... Until then, however, she'll be content to run her store in Melvina with her two Timber Arctic wolves. She keeps them as pets and says they're kind and sweet."
So enjoy the Samhain/Halloween season, just watch out for journalists lurking in the shadows, they may want to interview you!
Labels: Halloween, journalism, Laurie Cabot, Paganism, Samhain, Wicca, Witch, Witchcraft
12.20.2006
Use Your Imagination
A perennial problem for modern Pagans is how the press represents us and our viewpoints. Our beliefs are either boiled down to meaningless catch-phrases, or worse, completely misinterpreted. It is a rare journalist who takes the time to portray our perspectives correctly and makes the effort to understand our motivations. One writer who has covered modern Pagans well in the past is Peter Manseau.
Manseau, along with co-author Jeff Sharlet, tried a new experiment in religious journalism that ended up a book called "Killing the Buddha: A Heretic's Bible". The book featured two chapters in which the authors tried their best to give an voice to the modern Pagans they met during their travels. While their reporting on us wasn't always flattering, it was honest and sincere, a quantum leap forward in covering our faiths. At the beginning of December (during the media-storm that was the Pope's visit to Turkey), Manseau delivered his secret to good religion reporting. Role-playing.
"Before I write about any sort of believer or community of faith, I indulge in a little role-playing fantasy. What might it feel like to have such fervor that I find myself speaking in tongues? Who would I be if I was a pagan among Christians in the Bible Belt? What would I be thinking if it were me riding high in a chair at a Hasidic wedding, floating on a sea of black hats? In place of belief I call upon that skill we all had as children but often lose by the time we become adults, or parents, or popes: "make believe."...If only we could cease praying to our conceptions of God just long enough to wonder what it might be like to pray to another. Just imagine."
If only more reporters would take the time to see from our perspective, to "make believe", then perhaps all those poorly written news stories about Pagans would disappear (or at least lessen). Lets say it is my holiday wish for this blog! Oh, and if your looking for last-minute holiday gifts, Manseau's latest book "Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Their Son" (recently released in paperback) is an excellent read.
Labels: Jeff Sharlet, journalism, Killing The Buddha, Paganism, Peter Manseau, reporting
