Archive for February, 2006

Why I’m A Pagan

[editor’s note, by its simple IF you ignore the complexity]I think exploring the basis of our faith traditions is important. I thank Roland for sharing his and hope promoting this helps make a statement in regards to Morgan’s recent diary.

It’s a funny thing. I haven’t thought seriously about the origins and underpinnings of my neopaganism in years. In the wake of my beloved wife Morgan’s post on non-Christian involvement in SP, however, I felt the need, and the reflection has been very good for my faith. I’ve spent some useful, valuable time thinking about what my spirituality means to me.

Anyway, my reason for being a neopagan. Well, I may be rather thoroughly hetero, but a common refrain from the LGBT community comes to mind: “do you think I’d put up with this much grief if this were a choice?” I certainly don’t believe that New Age faith is genetically based, but it almost seems as if our beliefs are written in our spiritual DNA at times. It’s commonly said that no one converts to paganism, you just realize one day that it’s what you’ve been all along.

Oh so much more after the flip.

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“Gab in the Grove” (for everyone)

Update [2006-2-22 2:8:25 by Matthew Krell]: In honor of our non-Abrahamic friends, those who are still persevering and those who’ve decided the cookies are too dry – MK

Since my Pagan Roundtable seemed to do well, it occurred to me to try this. Come, join us under the trees, bring the beverage and snackie of your choice, and join the parley, savvy? Everyone’s invited, regardless of their belief system (or lack thereof).

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Dwindling non-Christian population?

OK, I’ll admit off the top that I’ve been away for a while — I’ve had other things that needed doing that didn’t leave me much time for blog reading. But as I skim what’s on the front page (including diaries), and read comments, I seem to notice that the Street has gotten, well, less diverse.

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Test from the other direction

Since some of we pagans played with the theocrat test, it might be interesting to see how some of the Abrahamics do on this one:

Which Pagan Path Do You Follow?

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ACLU program on religious freedom

I know we’re not supposed to post links with no substantive commentary, but I wanted to let folks know about this one :-).

The ACLU Freedom Files: Religious Freedom
http://www.aclu.tv/religious (ed. note: link was updated to YouTube, but the video doesn’t seem to be up anymore)


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On Getting Over It

Okay, no promises, but I hope this is my last commentary on the cartoons, at least regarding the free speech flap. I’m actually going to come at this from the other end soon, but for now I have one more thing I have to say on the issue.

Links to some pretty inflammatory pictures past the flip.

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Words, Violence, Nuance and Proportion: Our Existential Crisis

I think we need to take serious stock of where we stand here. Civilization today is at a point where its very foundation — the idea that we can work out our differences without trying to kill each other — is in real danger. The facet brought up so often in the Traditional Media is our “interconnected, multicultural world.” In this frame, the question becomes whether or not freedom of expression can truly be maintained in the face of those who reject that ideal.

A whole heck of a lot more after the fold.

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I’m going to the special hell

FTR, I take the growing disaster in Europe over the Islam-slandering cartoons (but honestly –cartoons? Rioting over cartoons?) seriously. (Post edited to add the word “seriously” because I spaced and forgot it while posting at work. oops. –ed) And this post by Kevin Drum is almost the epitome of Liberal Not Getting It.

I still laughed my butt off at said post. I mean, this is Denmark we’re talking about here. I don’t think they are going to be invading anyone any time soon. What, are they going to burn a bunch of hemp in effigy? (They daren’t use the real thing — the contact high would stop the riots for weeks.)

Honestly, though, it’s really a very serious situation. We shouldn’t joke about it. Which is why I’m almost certainly going to the special hell reserved for molestors and people who talk in theaters (the latter of which I have, I’m embarrassed to say, also been known to do).

(/) Roland X
And actually, the hemp thing, that’d be the Netherlands. But since we’re stereotyping anyway… 😉

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Imbolc ceremony

Please refer to the Imbolc intro. If you have any questions on how something works, please post it in that pre-ritual diary so as not to disturb the ceremony.

Some of the things in italics are notes of what would be happening if we were doing this in person, done either by the High Druid/High Druidess or the congregation. You may “virtually” participate or just “watch,” depending on your comfort level.

Please post any responses within the ceremony to the appropriate comment, so that they thread properly. Thank you all for your consideration.

(Continued in the comments…)

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Imbolc ritual — intro (all welcome!)

[editor’s note, by its simple IF you ignore the complexity] The ceremony itself is here – those of us unfamiliar with Imbolc ritual are asked to read this first.I for one, have learned much about a figure I had previously encountered as St. Brigid and how her story has survived and been adapted by several traditions.May we all weave our own path from what we find leads us to connection and community beyond ourselves.Thank you for putting this together Morgan. Namaste

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I finally more-or-less caught up after being about a week behind, and was a bit surprised to see NO mention of Imbolc or Brigid today. Being as how the Exalted One is both our household matron (from before Roland moving in) and Roland’s personal Matron, this sabbat is special to us :-). So, here’s the open thread for commenting on the Imbolc ritual I’ll post later today.

You know the drill: more below the fold…

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