Jesusween? Seriously? Am I the only one who has trouble taking that seriously as a name?
Yep, it's silly season again when all kinds of opinions come flying out of the woodwork - yes I am aware that includes my own! Some though are definitely saner and more intelligent than others, no matter how heartfelt. Happens every year at this time. (Wonder if King Kev will make his presence felt again? Hmmm)
Whoever or whatever doesn't actually detract from what is one of the most fun filled nights of the year for many, especially kids young and old. Nor from what is for many people, myself included, one of the most important ritual/religious nights of the year.
If you want to hand out bibles instead of candy or treats then go ahead - but I'm pretty sure that means I can hand you a pentacle or a Wicca 101 book in return. Or even, as @ashareem suggested a Koran. After all it never hurts to learn about and understand another religion, right? (Why yes I have read and studied the bible over the years)
One commenter after the original story said that s/he would text a prayer for each trick or treater (not sure why text but that's besides the point), then I should be able to offer up an invocation for him/her in return, right? Fair's fair since we have freedom of speech and religion after all. You believe in your god and I believe in my gods. Or as facebook recently put it, "Sure you can offer up a prayer for me, and I'll dance naked in the woods for you." Each to their own ;)
Pretty damn sure though that you, whoever you may think you are, have no claim on my son's soul to a religion that neither his father nor I follow and FWIW I wouldn't want to be the one handing a bible to our son if he's trick or treating with his father. Just saying.
Yup, silly season is here, Halloween is coming. I thought twice about blogging over Jesusween but in the end..... I just couldn't resist. Let the countdown continue, and don't let anyone spoil the fun you want to have. Stay safe and don't let the ghosts and goblins bite!
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
THAT Book Again
I had quit reading "What's the deal with Wicca?" since there was nothing new or overly interesting in it but since I haven't had to take the library books back yet I was skimming through it again this morning. That's when I ran into the chapter entitled "When a friend is in Wicca" "Warning Signs
How can we recognize if a friend is involved with Wicca and practising witchcraft?"
(Can you see what's coming?!)
1. Withdrawal from routine activities.
2. Obsession with death and suicide. (Apparently Wiccan belief in reincarnation leads to an increased chance of suicide)
3. Fixation with Wicca symbols and Runes.
4. Possession of Wiccan, pagan and shamanistic publications.
5. Excessive fears and anxieties.
6. Fascination with or possession of unique knives.
7. Owning a book of shadows.
8. Altars.
"Remember that your ultimate goal is for your friend to be freed from the spiritual darkness of Wicca."
Says it all I guess....
How can we recognize if a friend is involved with Wicca and practising witchcraft?"
(Can you see what's coming?!)
1. Withdrawal from routine activities.
2. Obsession with death and suicide. (Apparently Wiccan belief in reincarnation leads to an increased chance of suicide)
3. Fixation with Wicca symbols and Runes.
4. Possession of Wiccan, pagan and shamanistic publications.
5. Excessive fears and anxieties.
6. Fascination with or possession of unique knives.
7. Owning a book of shadows.
8. Altars.
"Remember that your ultimate goal is for your friend to be freed from the spiritual darkness of Wicca."
Says it all I guess....
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Anti-Wicca book = nothing new
Ok so as some of my twitter friends know I've been reading one of those anti-wicca books today - I've read several over time and if that's how they feel and they feel strongly enough to not only put it into words but also get it published, then more power to them, in that respect. Sadly, like many of them, this one has little respect for anyone or anything that/who doesn't agree with his way of thinking. Oh and his "facts" leave much to be desired on occasion.
He clearly has issues with girls/women/females wanting to empower themselves and with their taking issue with the male dominated hierarchy of mainstream Christianity - well it IS male dominated and hierarchical. "What's with all this girl-friendly stuff?"
Apparently "Wicca is a fashion-trend statement' - never realized I was a fashion trend setter lol Ok I'd never call myself Wiccan to anyone in the pagan community who understands what Wiccan is or isn't but I get called it a lot by mainstream culture and people and it's not SO far off that it's totally wrong from their perspective. It works as a label and a conversation starter. Although oddly enough most of my on pagan friends just call me the witch anyway. Go figure.
Just so we all know, Wicca is bogus, it's a creation of the devil, it leads to hell and damnation, etc, etc. Same old same old. Although as a Wicca 101 this book has sections that work! For someone denouncing Wicca and witchcraft as false and evil he does a decent job of giving teenagers (his professed intended audience) a basic guide to 101 Wicca.
Ok and now I'm tired of this - there's nothing new, nothing different. He is, like many others, trying to enforce his beliefs on others and to disrespect and denigrate the beliefs of others. I might waste time reading it and possibly even exchanging conversation about it - Mari - but I'm sure not going to lose any sleep over worrying about whether or not I'm being 'deceived by Satan'. And I still care about the earth and environmental concerns even if he sees no need to because his God will take care of everything.
question is, if his faith is as strong as he professes then why is he so threatened by the fastest growing religion in north America? And by women. And by freedom of choice. Suddenly I find myself wondering if he is an advocate of surrendered wives?
Oh and FYI being able to quote the bible means nothing to me, I took 5 years compulsory religious knowledge in school so I know my bible too - maybe not without looking, but well enough ;)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Detecting Witchiness ;)
Like others, I saw this on Twitter and had to share!
Question:
Fifty sure-fire ways to detect paganism without having to resort to a dunking stool or wart-inspection.
*1) Never puts any rubbish out on refuse-collection day. I mean, re-cycling and composting is fine, but you can take it too far.
*2) You casually ask what phase the moon is in, and she tells you down to the exact number of days, hour and minute of rising, position on horizon, and current angle of declination.
3) All the stray cats in the neighbourhood tend to congregate in her garden (and use your own as their litter).
*(In my case squirrels LOL)
4) A screech owl has chosen the lamp-post outside her house as its favorite calling-post. That’s just when it’s getting warm at night aand you like to sleep with the window open.
5) Doesn’t cut down the weeds in her garden; in fact it looks more like she’s cultivating them. Needless to say, you get the seeds wafting over onto your pristine lawn.
*6) Most of her clothes on the washing line are black.
7) The local kids talk in whispers as they go past her house, then start running at the last moment.
*8) Nobody trick-or-treats her house; not after the incident when the kids’ costumes were less scary than hers when she opened the door to them. (She was embracing the Crone that year no doubt!)
9) Footprints on the roof. And the trees in her flight-path have been pruned down. I swear it’s true!
*10) She can’t even make a simple sandwich without adding fresh herbs to it. And don’t ask her for a cup of tea unless you want something yellow coloured and smelling of flowers.
11) She hardly ever gets junk mail. You ask her what her secret is and she confides that she returns it to sender after writing something on in strange curly writing.
*12) When you pop next door for a chat, the kettle is always already on.
*13) The Jehovah’s Witnesses never call (not anymore; not after the ast time .
*14) Keeps the local scented-candle shop solvent.
15) Has a pond full of frogs (and you haven’t seen that bothersome double-glazing salesman around for a while).
*16) She’s always smiling, darn her!
*17) She goes dressed as normal to a Hallowe’en fancy dress party; and wins first prize.
18) Her house always smells of incense.
19) Has named her four cats Hecate, Kali, Diana, and Moonbeam. (Or her rats Devon and Cornwall)
20) Her bumper sticker reads “I brake for toads”.
21) Frequently gets raided by the drug squad who confiscate large amounts of dried green leaves; they always return them with apologies after analysis.
22) At Christmas, it seems like half the garden has been moved into the house.
*23) You sometimes hear the sound of singing and dancing through the wall. If you look out of the window, it is usually a full moon.
*24) She was given a bodhram drum for her birthday. And she plays it at midnight in the fields. And she’s got a blasted tamborine.
25) You discover that her realistic resin skull ornament in her living room, actually is real.
*26) You catch her washing a crystal ball along with the dishes.
*27) She wears a lot of silver jewelry, even when doing the gardening. And bat ear-rings for goodness-sake.
28) You knock on her door and she answers it naked except for a toweling robe. You apologize for disturbing her in the bath, but notice that her hair isn’t wet.
*29) Irritating tendency to hum a lot. What’s she got to be so happy about, huh?
30) She has a tame robin that will eat from her hand in the garden. That can’t be natural.
*31) Never catches a cold, even though she walks barefoot most of the time. In the snow as well.
*32) Doesn’t kill spiders. Not even big hairy long-legged ones that suddenly appear from the waste-pipe whilst you’re having a bath.
*33) She listens to what you are saying like she really cares.
*34) She has lots of female friends who come round every few months. When you ask what they get up to, she tells you that they just have cakes and ale and a good natter.
*35) You catch her hugging a tree.
36) Her dinner-set is decorated with Celtic patterns.
*37) She has a mail-order account with a semi-precious gem wholesaler.
38) You notice that the parish priest crosses himself whenever he walks past her house.
39) She never watches television. ***And she has shelves full of books with black spines and silver-lettered titles.
*40) To your certain knowledge she has never set foot in the local church. In fact, you have heard rumours that she has been barred from it.
*41) She makes jars of quince and mandrake relish for the Women’s Institute coffee morning jumble sale.
(Ok Witchin Brownies from a genuine Witches Cookbok lmao)
*42) You ask to borrow a pack of cards for an impromptu bridge evening, and there are 78 in the pack.
*43) You have never known her to visit her GP.
*44) When you talk with her, she maintains eye contact all the time.
45) Expectant mothers are forever visiting her. Also women who become expectant mothers a month after visiting her.
*46) You ask her for suggestions for nice walks in the area, and they all go by way of stone circles and strange earth mounds.
47) She only buys organic. And you just bet that she’s a vegetarian as well. (Well, maybe not stricly vegetarian.. ..)
*48) When you ask her about her vacation plans, she tells you she will be camping in a tee-pee in the Brecon Beacons.
*49) There aren’t any mirrors in her house. Or clocks. (One clock - that tells Temp inside and out AND moon phase roflmao)
*50) She tells you that she is coming out of the broom closet, joins Witches’ Voice, and erects a stained-glass pentacle window in her front door . Ooo what a give-away!
Question:
Fifty sure-fire ways to detect paganism without having to resort to a dunking stool or wart-inspection.
*1) Never puts any rubbish out on refuse-collection day. I mean, re-cycling and composting is fine, but you can take it too far.
*2) You casually ask what phase the moon is in, and she tells you down to the exact number of days, hour and minute of rising, position on horizon, and current angle of declination.
3) All the stray cats in the neighbourhood tend to congregate in her garden (and use your own as their litter).
*(In my case squirrels LOL)
4) A screech owl has chosen the lamp-post outside her house as its favorite calling-post. That’s just when it’s getting warm at night aand you like to sleep with the window open.
5) Doesn’t cut down the weeds in her garden; in fact it looks more like she’s cultivating them. Needless to say, you get the seeds wafting over onto your pristine lawn.
*6) Most of her clothes on the washing line are black.
7) The local kids talk in whispers as they go past her house, then start running at the last moment.
*8) Nobody trick-or-treats her house; not after the incident when the kids’ costumes were less scary than hers when she opened the door to them. (She was embracing the Crone that year no doubt!)
9) Footprints on the roof. And the trees in her flight-path have been pruned down. I swear it’s true!
*10) She can’t even make a simple sandwich without adding fresh herbs to it. And don’t ask her for a cup of tea unless you want something yellow coloured and smelling of flowers.
11) She hardly ever gets junk mail. You ask her what her secret is and she confides that she returns it to sender after writing something on in strange curly writing.
*12) When you pop next door for a chat, the kettle is always already on.
*13) The Jehovah’s Witnesses never call (not anymore; not after the ast time .
*14) Keeps the local scented-candle shop solvent.
15) Has a pond full of frogs (and you haven’t seen that bothersome double-glazing salesman around for a while).
*16) She’s always smiling, darn her!
*17) She goes dressed as normal to a Hallowe’en fancy dress party; and wins first prize.
18) Her house always smells of incense.
19) Has named her four cats Hecate, Kali, Diana, and Moonbeam. (Or her rats Devon and Cornwall)
20) Her bumper sticker reads “I brake for toads”.
21) Frequently gets raided by the drug squad who confiscate large amounts of dried green leaves; they always return them with apologies after analysis.
22) At Christmas, it seems like half the garden has been moved into the house.
*23) You sometimes hear the sound of singing and dancing through the wall. If you look out of the window, it is usually a full moon.
*24) She was given a bodhram drum for her birthday. And she plays it at midnight in the fields. And she’s got a blasted tamborine.
25) You discover that her realistic resin skull ornament in her living room, actually is real.
*26) You catch her washing a crystal ball along with the dishes.
*27) She wears a lot of silver jewelry, even when doing the gardening. And bat ear-rings for goodness-sake.
28) You knock on her door and she answers it naked except for a toweling robe. You apologize for disturbing her in the bath, but notice that her hair isn’t wet.
*29) Irritating tendency to hum a lot. What’s she got to be so happy about, huh?
30) She has a tame robin that will eat from her hand in the garden. That can’t be natural.
*31) Never catches a cold, even though she walks barefoot most of the time. In the snow as well.
*32) Doesn’t kill spiders. Not even big hairy long-legged ones that suddenly appear from the waste-pipe whilst you’re having a bath.
*33) She listens to what you are saying like she really cares.
*34) She has lots of female friends who come round every few months. When you ask what they get up to, she tells you that they just have cakes and ale and a good natter.
*35) You catch her hugging a tree.
36) Her dinner-set is decorated with Celtic patterns.
*37) She has a mail-order account with a semi-precious gem wholesaler.
38) You notice that the parish priest crosses himself whenever he walks past her house.
39) She never watches television. ***And she has shelves full of books with black spines and silver-lettered titles.
*40) To your certain knowledge she has never set foot in the local church. In fact, you have heard rumours that she has been barred from it.
*41) She makes jars of quince and mandrake relish for the Women’s Institute coffee morning jumble sale.
(Ok Witchin Brownies from a genuine Witches Cookbok lmao)
*42) You ask to borrow a pack of cards for an impromptu bridge evening, and there are 78 in the pack.
*43) You have never known her to visit her GP.
*44) When you talk with her, she maintains eye contact all the time.
45) Expectant mothers are forever visiting her. Also women who become expectant mothers a month after visiting her.
*46) You ask her for suggestions for nice walks in the area, and they all go by way of stone circles and strange earth mounds.
47) She only buys organic. And you just bet that she’s a vegetarian as well. (Well, maybe not stricly vegetarian.. ..)
*48) When you ask her about her vacation plans, she tells you she will be camping in a tee-pee in the Brecon Beacons.
*49) There aren’t any mirrors in her house. Or clocks. (One clock - that tells Temp inside and out AND moon phase roflmao)
*50) She tells you that she is coming out of the broom closet, joins Witches’ Voice, and erects a stained-glass pentacle window in her front door . Ooo what a give-away!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Books and a couple more random-ish thoughts
Hmm... should have been easier to remember my top ten, guess I'm getting old and will have to go check my list lmao Danggit I'm getting senile in my old age!
Top ten book wish list
Pagan Book of Living and Dying
Shamanic Book of Death and Dying
Pocket Neighbourhood
The Great Neighbourhood Book
On Guerilla Gardening
Urban Homestead
Dreaming The Dark (yeah, yeah, I still don't have a copy....)
I was a punk before you were a punk
Dumbing Us Down
The Grandmother of Time:
An eclectic mix, maybe, no more so than me...
Part of me wants to blog about everything that has been going on in the last ten days and part of me says no, not yet, it's not over yet and it's going to be a long and complicated post when I do blog it :/ Family always makes for complicated events and explanations! So more on that later.
I have, however, realized how much I miss blogging and realize that somehow I have to find time for it... somehow. Hard part isn't so much time as, on an average week, time at the computer to type without someone else wanting a turn, helping me, or asking what I'm doing every 2 seconds lol There are a number of things the I keep wanting to share and blog about, just going to have to try harder I guess - back to the old days of writing it by hand and then typing it up since typing it up can be done pretty fast as long as my spell check is on lol
So many things going on, life certainly isn't boring. Oddest thing just now, was thinking about something that happened last night that made me wonder if there's another visitor in our house - we get a few - when something moved by itself one night and Demon said to me "Was that the ghost?" I just asked "which one?" Mostly it's quiet but every now and then it starts to feel like "Which one?" Anyhow, something odd happened last night that makes me think there's another visitor here, and just as I was thinking that the broom fell out of the closet all by itself. Double omen that yeah, company's here. Guessing that doesn't make too much sense to most people if I haven't blogged about Olivia and the visitors she seems to attract - adding to my to do list!
Finally finished reading Ariadne's Thread, may well need a second read, it has a LOT of stuff in it. And provides seemingly random quotes.....
"Our religion is powerful but it must never get too organized, or the magic will be lost."
Guess it's a good thing that corralling witches is often likened to herding cats ;)
"Every voice must be heard before the whole story can be told and ... the truth resides not in one person but in the centre, in the agreed upon truth of all present."
Ok apparently I need to go to bed REAL soon, and, on the plus?? side I have a list of things to blog. Dammit I need more waking hours in the day!!!!!
Top ten book wish list
Pagan Book of Living and Dying
Shamanic Book of Death and Dying
Pocket Neighbourhood
The Great Neighbourhood Book
On Guerilla Gardening
Urban Homestead
Dreaming The Dark (yeah, yeah, I still don't have a copy....)
I was a punk before you were a punk
Dumbing Us Down
The Grandmother of Time:
An eclectic mix, maybe, no more so than me...
Part of me wants to blog about everything that has been going on in the last ten days and part of me says no, not yet, it's not over yet and it's going to be a long and complicated post when I do blog it :/ Family always makes for complicated events and explanations! So more on that later.
I have, however, realized how much I miss blogging and realize that somehow I have to find time for it... somehow. Hard part isn't so much time as, on an average week, time at the computer to type without someone else wanting a turn, helping me, or asking what I'm doing every 2 seconds lol There are a number of things the I keep wanting to share and blog about, just going to have to try harder I guess - back to the old days of writing it by hand and then typing it up since typing it up can be done pretty fast as long as my spell check is on lol
So many things going on, life certainly isn't boring. Oddest thing just now, was thinking about something that happened last night that made me wonder if there's another visitor in our house - we get a few - when something moved by itself one night and Demon said to me "Was that the ghost?" I just asked "which one?" Mostly it's quiet but every now and then it starts to feel like "Which one?" Anyhow, something odd happened last night that makes me think there's another visitor here, and just as I was thinking that the broom fell out of the closet all by itself. Double omen that yeah, company's here. Guessing that doesn't make too much sense to most people if I haven't blogged about Olivia and the visitors she seems to attract - adding to my to do list!
Finally finished reading Ariadne's Thread, may well need a second read, it has a LOT of stuff in it. And provides seemingly random quotes.....
"Our religion is powerful but it must never get too organized, or the magic will be lost."
Guess it's a good thing that corralling witches is often likened to herding cats ;)
"Every voice must be heard before the whole story can be told and ... the truth resides not in one person but in the centre, in the agreed upon truth of all present."
Ok apparently I need to go to bed REAL soon, and, on the plus?? side I have a list of things to blog. Dammit I need more waking hours in the day!!!!!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Random Weekend Thoughts
Been a lot going through my mind this weekend - or not, depending on how you look at it. Demon has been in BC attending a funeral and I've been alone with my thoughts - well as alone as it gets with a 5 yr old, two dogs and a room mate - especially since I woke to pouring rain this morning which killed our original plans for today. Of course, the sun was shining brightly by 4pm but that was too late for any of our plans. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.
Anyway, firstly I was reading a lot of web pages last night and discovered that there is a name for places such as where I live - 'a cluster of houses/apartments clustered around some sort of shared open space'. Apparently I live in a "pocket neighbourhood". Nice - can ya tell I kinda like that name? lol And I found two new books to add to my MAJOR wish list - Pocket Neighbourhood, and The Great Neighbourhood Book. I think they make my top ten wants, might have to add them as a separate post.
Secondly, found this from @EarthActivists on Twitter - As #EarthGuardian you can help document your city... where are the dangerous places for children?... your mayor should intervene.
The sentiment is certainly one the provides food for thought and only adds to the ongoing thoughts stirring in my brain about talking to neighbours about our neighbourhood, about what they like, don't like and would want to see changed, removed, improved or included.
Also found this, or at least we re-reminded of it.
"The commons is everything that we inherit or create together and must pass on, undiminished, to future generations." the Commons
Thirdly, was reading about the decline in organized religion - and that therefore Canada is becoming a nation of atheists. "Canadians are increasingly identifying as religiously non-affiliated, suggesting that organized religion may be on the decline."
Guess I'm missing something - including the original question as it was phrased - because I don't see that just because increasing numbers of people are no longer affiliated to (I presume) mainstream organized religions, necessarily means that they are all atheists. Or am I missing something? Usually an question of religion considers the mainstream faiths, and the obligatory "other" category. Or I guess in this case "none". Yet I'd have to check "none "if given the choice between mainstream religions and none and yet I most certainly don't consider myself an atheist. Colour me a little confused by the logic applied and the extrapolation that a decline in adherence to mainstream religion equals Canada becoming a nation of atheists. Just seems to me that it's a little too much of a stretch of the data :/
I don't doubt that mainstream and even organized religions may very well be on the decline, we all know minority religions, non mainstream religions and personal spirituality - not sure you can call it "religion" per se when it's a person's personal path - are on the increase. Even here, "census data suggests that organized religion is heading for extinction in nine western democracies." But is that just mainstream religion, organized religion, or religious beliefs of any kind? Damn I hate sweeping statements that bother my warped sense of logic!
Oh and of course now Adobe wants to update my flash player, I swear it did that once already this weekend lol
Now where was I? Thirdly, was just checking some of the blogs on Circle of Moms faith based poll and the centre of their own controversy as to whether or not Pagan blogs count as 'faith' blogs - duh!
According to Dictionary.com
faith
–noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in god or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
And before you ask, Dictionary.com defines god thus
God
–noun
1. the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.
2. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: the God of Islam.
3. ( lowercase ) one of several deities, especially a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
Notably, in the definition of Faith it is "god" lowercase. Anyway, semantics aside, Faith Blog does not mean Christian Blog people, no matter what you might think of those of us other faiths, be they Judaism, Islam, paganism, Hinduism, worship of the great flying spaghetti monster or whatever. Too late on a saturday night to go off on THAT particular tangent.
Ok I got sidetracked - while reading a pagan blog I ran into this
"he stopped my hand and said "Mom, I want to learn to spell my favourite word... Namaste!"
For those who are unfamiliar, 'Namaste' translates to mean that there is a light in you, there is a light in me and we bow in honour of one another's light.
I asked my child why 'Namaste' is his favourite word and he replied "because if everyone has a special light inside, then we are all shiny together." Yes friends, a humble reminder from a preschooler!"
Out of the mouths of babes.....
Ok there's more but let's end that on a happy note :)
Anyway, firstly I was reading a lot of web pages last night and discovered that there is a name for places such as where I live - 'a cluster of houses/apartments clustered around some sort of shared open space'. Apparently I live in a "pocket neighbourhood". Nice - can ya tell I kinda like that name? lol And I found two new books to add to my MAJOR wish list - Pocket Neighbourhood, and The Great Neighbourhood Book. I think they make my top ten wants, might have to add them as a separate post.
Secondly, found this from @EarthActivists on Twitter - As #EarthGuardian you can help document your city... where are the dangerous places for children?... your mayor should intervene.
The sentiment is certainly one the provides food for thought and only adds to the ongoing thoughts stirring in my brain about talking to neighbours about our neighbourhood, about what they like, don't like and would want to see changed, removed, improved or included.
Also found this, or at least we re-reminded of it.
"The commons is everything that we inherit or create together and must pass on, undiminished, to future generations." the Commons
Thirdly, was reading about the decline in organized religion - and that therefore Canada is becoming a nation of atheists. "Canadians are increasingly identifying as religiously non-affiliated, suggesting that organized religion may be on the decline."
Guess I'm missing something - including the original question as it was phrased - because I don't see that just because increasing numbers of people are no longer affiliated to (I presume) mainstream organized religions, necessarily means that they are all atheists. Or am I missing something? Usually an question of religion considers the mainstream faiths, and the obligatory "other" category. Or I guess in this case "none". Yet I'd have to check "none "if given the choice between mainstream religions and none and yet I most certainly don't consider myself an atheist. Colour me a little confused by the logic applied and the extrapolation that a decline in adherence to mainstream religion equals Canada becoming a nation of atheists. Just seems to me that it's a little too much of a stretch of the data :/
I don't doubt that mainstream and even organized religions may very well be on the decline, we all know minority religions, non mainstream religions and personal spirituality - not sure you can call it "religion" per se when it's a person's personal path - are on the increase. Even here, "census data suggests that organized religion is heading for extinction in nine western democracies." But is that just mainstream religion, organized religion, or religious beliefs of any kind? Damn I hate sweeping statements that bother my warped sense of logic!
Oh and of course now Adobe wants to update my flash player, I swear it did that once already this weekend lol
Now where was I? Thirdly, was just checking some of the blogs on Circle of Moms faith based poll and the centre of their own controversy as to whether or not Pagan blogs count as 'faith' blogs - duh!
According to Dictionary.com
faith
–noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in god or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
And before you ask, Dictionary.com defines god thus
God
–noun
1. the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.
2. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: the God of Islam.
3. ( lowercase ) one of several deities, especially a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
Notably, in the definition of Faith it is "god" lowercase. Anyway, semantics aside, Faith Blog does not mean Christian Blog people, no matter what you might think of those of us other faiths, be they Judaism, Islam, paganism, Hinduism, worship of the great flying spaghetti monster or whatever. Too late on a saturday night to go off on THAT particular tangent.
Ok I got sidetracked - while reading a pagan blog I ran into this
"he stopped my hand and said "Mom, I want to learn to spell my favourite word... Namaste!"
For those who are unfamiliar, 'Namaste' translates to mean that there is a light in you, there is a light in me and we bow in honour of one another's light.
I asked my child why 'Namaste' is his favourite word and he replied "because if everyone has a special light inside, then we are all shiny together." Yes friends, a humble reminder from a preschooler!"
Out of the mouths of babes.....
Ok there's more but let's end that on a happy note :)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
My Old Lady is a Witch
Does it really need pointing out before I start that I'm out of the broom closet? Maybe. So, I am, in every way, people know I'm a witch. That said, something came up in conversation last night that started me thinking about paganism/Wicca/witchcraft etc and how much more part of the 'common' vocabulary it is these days.
The Demon's standard line to those people he likes enough to invite to our house is "You know my old lady is a witch, right?" Which as you can imagine has been met with a number of different responses, none of them THAT bad - Demon is big guy, and as I said it only comes up to people he LIKES lol.
Yesterday he was telling me that he had that conversation with one of his apprenti, C, and was surprised when C turned around and not only said the fairly common "What Wiccan?", but also knew all about it. So I started thinking back on some of the conversations that I've had on the subject as well as those Demon has related and realized that while "What Wiccan?" is probably the commonest response, there seems to be a variance in the tone? setting? of the conversation depending on whether the person is older or younger. Younger people seem much more at ease and familiar with the idea and with talking about it as matter of factly as they might discuss the price of gas, whereas older people seem to feel the need to have the conversation in a corner in hushed tones even when the content of the conversation is the same.
Curious. A generational thing? While I can't quote Demon's conversations since I only ever get the secondhand summary, mine tend to run along a couple of similar lines.
Older: In hushed tones in a quiet corner - "So I hear you're a, um, ah, um....."
"Yes, I'm a witch"
"Oh." Pause. "A white witch? Like a Wiccan?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Ok."
Depart older person to ponder that until next time.
Younger: Some lull in conversation, any time, any place, any company
"So you're a witch?"
"Yes."
"Cool," Pause almost always followed by specific questions - frequently involving reading tarot.
I really hadn't put it together until last night but that is generally how it runs, which suggests to me that paganism, Wicca and witchcraft really are becoming part of mainstream life these days. Apparently even among bible carrying Christians like those my roomie works with.
Roomie wears a pentacle, mine actually that I gave to him (a story in itself), and the first time his workmates saw it he got the usual reactions. Yes, including "You know that's a sign of the devil?" from Trent. Bless him.
Kev on the other hand asked Roomie if he knew what it was, Roomie said yes and said he got it from me. Kev was ok with that, then Roomie added that I'm a practising witch, again Kev was cool with that too. Poor Trent is probably still lifting his jaw off the floor though! Guessing Trent isn't going to be my biggest fan ;)
Anyway, that was what I was thinking about last night, figured I can't be the only one noticing something similar. Not sure if Paganism/Wicca etc is becoming part of the general vocabulary, or pop culture, or mainstream life or what, but it is nice to find people having half a clue when they have that conversation, even if they are often unclear, and sometimes plain wrong, on specifics. Ignorance can be fixed - stupid and prejudice can't ;) Besides, like everything else, we have so much specific terminology that only an 'insider' knows, I'll settle for roughly accurate generalities among those around me.
The Demon's standard line to those people he likes enough to invite to our house is "You know my old lady is a witch, right?" Which as you can imagine has been met with a number of different responses, none of them THAT bad - Demon is big guy, and as I said it only comes up to people he LIKES lol.
Yesterday he was telling me that he had that conversation with one of his apprenti, C, and was surprised when C turned around and not only said the fairly common "What Wiccan?", but also knew all about it. So I started thinking back on some of the conversations that I've had on the subject as well as those Demon has related and realized that while "What Wiccan?" is probably the commonest response, there seems to be a variance in the tone? setting? of the conversation depending on whether the person is older or younger. Younger people seem much more at ease and familiar with the idea and with talking about it as matter of factly as they might discuss the price of gas, whereas older people seem to feel the need to have the conversation in a corner in hushed tones even when the content of the conversation is the same.
Curious. A generational thing? While I can't quote Demon's conversations since I only ever get the secondhand summary, mine tend to run along a couple of similar lines.
Older: In hushed tones in a quiet corner - "So I hear you're a, um, ah, um....."
"Yes, I'm a witch"
"Oh." Pause. "A white witch? Like a Wiccan?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Ok."
Depart older person to ponder that until next time.
Younger: Some lull in conversation, any time, any place, any company
"So you're a witch?"
"Yes."
"Cool," Pause almost always followed by specific questions - frequently involving reading tarot.
I really hadn't put it together until last night but that is generally how it runs, which suggests to me that paganism, Wicca and witchcraft really are becoming part of mainstream life these days. Apparently even among bible carrying Christians like those my roomie works with.
Roomie wears a pentacle, mine actually that I gave to him (a story in itself), and the first time his workmates saw it he got the usual reactions. Yes, including "You know that's a sign of the devil?" from Trent. Bless him.
Kev on the other hand asked Roomie if he knew what it was, Roomie said yes and said he got it from me. Kev was ok with that, then Roomie added that I'm a practising witch, again Kev was cool with that too. Poor Trent is probably still lifting his jaw off the floor though! Guessing Trent isn't going to be my biggest fan ;)
Anyway, that was what I was thinking about last night, figured I can't be the only one noticing something similar. Not sure if Paganism/Wicca etc is becoming part of the general vocabulary, or pop culture, or mainstream life or what, but it is nice to find people having half a clue when they have that conversation, even if they are often unclear, and sometimes plain wrong, on specifics. Ignorance can be fixed - stupid and prejudice can't ;) Besides, like everything else, we have so much specific terminology that only an 'insider' knows, I'll settle for roughly accurate generalities among those around me.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Burning Times and the Islands
There's a lot of heated debate surrounding the "Burning Times", the Inquisition, Witch hunts and everything associated with it.
I grew up in a place where they did burn witches and heretics. They burned them, hung them and more. Burning, as in the infamous image of burning them at the stake, was largely a European practise, though not a British one. The British preferred that their witches 'hang by the neck until dead'.
Except in the Channel Islands. There hanging was only one of several methods of punishment meted out to those convicted of witchcraft. Other sentences included banishment - for life or for a fixed term, burning, disfigurement or lashes.
There's a book, Witchcraft and Devil Lore in the Channel Islands that not only tells the story of witchcraft in the islands but also details the names and sentences of those accused of witchcraft and brought before the courts. The list is taken from the original french court records that still lie in the island archives.
"June 4th, 1624.
Ester Henry, wife of Jean de France.
This woman was burnt alive. The sentence states that her flesh and bones are to be reduced to ashes and scattered by the winds, as being unworthy of any sepulture."
The witch hunts, and witchcraft, are just one part of the history of islands steeped in myth, legend and history.
I grew up in a place where they did burn witches and heretics. They burned them, hung them and more. Burning, as in the infamous image of burning them at the stake, was largely a European practise, though not a British one. The British preferred that their witches 'hang by the neck until dead'.
Except in the Channel Islands. There hanging was only one of several methods of punishment meted out to those convicted of witchcraft. Other sentences included banishment - for life or for a fixed term, burning, disfigurement or lashes.
There's a book, Witchcraft and Devil Lore in the Channel Islands that not only tells the story of witchcraft in the islands but also details the names and sentences of those accused of witchcraft and brought before the courts. The list is taken from the original french court records that still lie in the island archives.
"June 4th, 1624.
Ester Henry, wife of Jean de France.
This woman was burnt alive. The sentence states that her flesh and bones are to be reduced to ashes and scattered by the winds, as being unworthy of any sepulture."
The witch hunts, and witchcraft, are just one part of the history of islands steeped in myth, legend and history.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Is your neighbour a witch?
Halloween is almost here, the favourite time of year of many witches and Pagans. Is your neighbour a witch? He could be and you would probably never know it unless he told you. And yes, witches and Pagan an be any sex.
Do you know if you live next door to a Pagan? Maybe you do. Paganism is the fastest growing religion in North America according to census figures, and that only counts those who openly identify as, and admit to being, Pagan when completing the forms. Many more Pagans are still hidden in the proverbial Broom Closet and keep their beliefs to themselves. Even those of us who are out rarely go around waving the fact in the faces of the people we meet every day. For a start ours is not a faith that believes in proselytisation, and we also consider that a person's faith is something between them and their gods and no-one else.
Anyway, most of us are too busy living our lives just like everyone else. We still have to juggle work, school, home, kids, bills and all the other facets of every day life. We're just like everyone else in that respect, and many others. We don't have two heads, we don't eat babies - except jelly babies. We don't put newts eyes or lizard legs in our supper, and we don't worship the devil. As an Abrahamic construction he's not even part of our cosmology so why would we worship something we don't believe in?
Generally speaking Pagans respect and honour the earth and everyone and everything on it. We note the passing of the seasons and the cycles of life, and of the Earth itself. Many of us worship in private, some alone, some in concert with like minded souls, depending on personal preference and circumstance. We consider that the gods will call who they wish to follow the Pagan path, so don't feel the need to actively seek out converts. Most of us, however, are more than happy to answer questions asked us about our beliefs as best we can.
Some of us do perform our religious rituals naked, many of us don't. Again it comes down to personal preference, location and the weather. The last being a not small consideration up here in Calgary. That and Pagans are no more likely to be exhibitionists than anyone else, so you're not likely to see us dancing naked in Olympic Plaza. Mind you, anything is possible!
Pagans respect life, so no we don't sacrifice animals or eat babies. We value children, especially our own and raise them to be free thinking individuals who know enough to be able to choose their own religion when they are mature enough to make an informed choice, even if they choose a religion different from our own. Pagans don't believe in any one right religion, only that the one a person is following is the right for that particular person. We accept and respect the existence of many gods, our own and those of others and do not disrespect the gods, holy places or sacred items of another religion. We ask only that other people show us the same respect.
Is your neighbour a witch? She could be but you probably wouldn't know just by looking at her. Pagans and witches come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and from all races, places, political affiliations and income brackets. In short, there are Pagans in all walks of life, you'd be surprised if you knew how widespread and diverse we are. But you know what? We're also just like you, we're no worse as neighbours than anyone else. Ask my neighbours, they live next door to a witch.
(Apologies for any typos - tiredness!)
Do you know if you live next door to a Pagan? Maybe you do. Paganism is the fastest growing religion in North America according to census figures, and that only counts those who openly identify as, and admit to being, Pagan when completing the forms. Many more Pagans are still hidden in the proverbial Broom Closet and keep their beliefs to themselves. Even those of us who are out rarely go around waving the fact in the faces of the people we meet every day. For a start ours is not a faith that believes in proselytisation, and we also consider that a person's faith is something between them and their gods and no-one else.
Anyway, most of us are too busy living our lives just like everyone else. We still have to juggle work, school, home, kids, bills and all the other facets of every day life. We're just like everyone else in that respect, and many others. We don't have two heads, we don't eat babies - except jelly babies. We don't put newts eyes or lizard legs in our supper, and we don't worship the devil. As an Abrahamic construction he's not even part of our cosmology so why would we worship something we don't believe in?
Generally speaking Pagans respect and honour the earth and everyone and everything on it. We note the passing of the seasons and the cycles of life, and of the Earth itself. Many of us worship in private, some alone, some in concert with like minded souls, depending on personal preference and circumstance. We consider that the gods will call who they wish to follow the Pagan path, so don't feel the need to actively seek out converts. Most of us, however, are more than happy to answer questions asked us about our beliefs as best we can.
Some of us do perform our religious rituals naked, many of us don't. Again it comes down to personal preference, location and the weather. The last being a not small consideration up here in Calgary. That and Pagans are no more likely to be exhibitionists than anyone else, so you're not likely to see us dancing naked in Olympic Plaza. Mind you, anything is possible!
Pagans respect life, so no we don't sacrifice animals or eat babies. We value children, especially our own and raise them to be free thinking individuals who know enough to be able to choose their own religion when they are mature enough to make an informed choice, even if they choose a religion different from our own. Pagans don't believe in any one right religion, only that the one a person is following is the right for that particular person. We accept and respect the existence of many gods, our own and those of others and do not disrespect the gods, holy places or sacred items of another religion. We ask only that other people show us the same respect.
Is your neighbour a witch? She could be but you probably wouldn't know just by looking at her. Pagans and witches come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and from all races, places, political affiliations and income brackets. In short, there are Pagans in all walks of life, you'd be surprised if you knew how widespread and diverse we are. But you know what? We're also just like you, we're no worse as neighbours than anyone else. Ask my neighbours, they live next door to a witch.
(Apologies for any typos - tiredness!)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Dabblegate
Somehow I don't think Christine O'Donnell ever expected to become a teaching aid and opportunity for the
Pagan community.
Thanks almost entirely to her own efforts to apparently play it down, Dabblegate isn't going to be forgotten any time soon. And you know, that may not be an entirely bad thing - bad for her, not so bad for the Pagan community.
I was struck today by the realization that Dabblegate and Christine O'Donnell could actually turn out to be good for the Pagan community.
Let me explain. In the beginning was her now infamous comment about 'dabbling in witchcraft' in high school and having a date one a 'satanic altar'. Her comments were just another rerun of old, worn misinformed stereotype - although in one fell swoop she did manage to irritate both Pagans and Satanists alike - no mean feat. Pretty sure she didn't win herself any voters either but that's her problem.
Christine O'Donnell did, however, provide what Rev, Selena Fox called a 'teachable moment', and Selena, T Thorn Coyle and many others have been swift to make the most of that moment, publicly and privately, nationally and locally, to set the record straight as to what paganism is and who Pagans are.
Christine O'Donnell's denials, and her attempt to defuse the situation and salvage her candidacy probably sealed her loss of the Pagan vote when she tried to say that her 'dabbling' was simply a result of her hanging out with undesirables in high school.
Certainly her comments have given Paganism in general and witches in particular a moment in the national media spotlight, and there are enough well known Pagans willing to speak publicly to set the record straight. It has been a perfect chance to get accurate information out there in a calm, civilized way with a hint of humour. That in itself may well do the Pagan community more good in the long run than any amount of 'we do not worship the devil' type statements.
Then Christine O'Donnel comes out with her "I am not a witch" campaign ad, while looking as if she had stepped straight off the set of "Charmed". My first thought was that i would love to make an ad that began "I am a witch" and apparently i was far from alone in that thought. So far today I have seen two, and I just know that is going to be the tip of the iceberg - one kind lady http://aquakerwitch.blogspot.com/ is going to collect up all the links she can find and assemble them in one place.
Christine O'Donnell's misguided, ill informed comments see to have backfired and brought out many Pagans and united them in a way that doesn't happen every day. She has given us a chance, both individually and as a community, to stand up and speak out and offer accurate, straightforward information and to show that we don't have two heads or bat wings - we are just people with morals, ethics and our own religions.
And she has also managed to crack open the door of the Broom Closet a little wide than it was before, and that can only be a good thing .
Yep, call me odd, but I can see many ways that as time passes we could well come to see Dabblegate as a good thing for witches, pagans, and the Pagan community.
Pretty sure it won't go down in history as a good thing for Christine O'Donnell though, unless she one day decides to come out of the Broom Closet. And I'm pretty sure she has permanently lost the Pagan vote. Sorry Christine.
Pagan community.
Thanks almost entirely to her own efforts to apparently play it down, Dabblegate isn't going to be forgotten any time soon. And you know, that may not be an entirely bad thing - bad for her, not so bad for the Pagan community.
I was struck today by the realization that Dabblegate and Christine O'Donnell could actually turn out to be good for the Pagan community.
Let me explain. In the beginning was her now infamous comment about 'dabbling in witchcraft' in high school and having a date one a 'satanic altar'. Her comments were just another rerun of old, worn misinformed stereotype - although in one fell swoop she did manage to irritate both Pagans and Satanists alike - no mean feat. Pretty sure she didn't win herself any voters either but that's her problem.
Christine O'Donnell did, however, provide what Rev, Selena Fox called a 'teachable moment', and Selena, T Thorn Coyle and many others have been swift to make the most of that moment, publicly and privately, nationally and locally, to set the record straight as to what paganism is and who Pagans are.
Christine O'Donnell's denials, and her attempt to defuse the situation and salvage her candidacy probably sealed her loss of the Pagan vote when she tried to say that her 'dabbling' was simply a result of her hanging out with undesirables in high school.
Certainly her comments have given Paganism in general and witches in particular a moment in the national media spotlight, and there are enough well known Pagans willing to speak publicly to set the record straight. It has been a perfect chance to get accurate information out there in a calm, civilized way with a hint of humour. That in itself may well do the Pagan community more good in the long run than any amount of 'we do not worship the devil' type statements.
Then Christine O'Donnel comes out with her "I am not a witch" campaign ad, while looking as if she had stepped straight off the set of "Charmed". My first thought was that i would love to make an ad that began "I am a witch" and apparently i was far from alone in that thought. So far today I have seen two, and I just know that is going to be the tip of the iceberg - one kind lady http://aquakerwitch.blogspot.com/ is going to collect up all the links she can find and assemble them in one place.
Christine O'Donnell's misguided, ill informed comments see to have backfired and brought out many Pagans and united them in a way that doesn't happen every day. She has given us a chance, both individually and as a community, to stand up and speak out and offer accurate, straightforward information and to show that we don't have two heads or bat wings - we are just people with morals, ethics and our own religions.
And she has also managed to crack open the door of the Broom Closet a little wide than it was before, and that can only be a good thing .
Yep, call me odd, but I can see many ways that as time passes we could well come to see Dabblegate as a good thing for witches, pagans, and the Pagan community.
Pretty sure it won't go down in history as a good thing for Christine O'Donnell though, unless she one day decides to come out of the Broom Closet. And I'm pretty sure she has permanently lost the Pagan vote. Sorry Christine.
Friday, November 16, 2007
English can get you killed.
Taliban kill Afghan boy
He was 16, all he did was teach his friends and classmates how to speak English, and for that he was dragged out of school and shot. Dead. Not because he was doing anything illegal but because he was doing something religious leaders didn't like. And they aren't even theoretically in charge of the country.
It's just wrong.
Actually he is probably one reason to have hope that there might be a more peaceful future out there for Afghanistan, while his death is one more reason to consider that a forlorn hope. I could almost wish that for every person who suffers his fate for similarly hopeful reasons, two more take his place. Be it girls learning to read or wanting to be doctors, or boys teaching their friends English.
He was 16, all he did was teach his friends and classmates how to speak English, and for that he was dragged out of school and shot. Dead. Not because he was doing anything illegal but because he was doing something religious leaders didn't like. And they aren't even theoretically in charge of the country.
It's just wrong.
Actually he is probably one reason to have hope that there might be a more peaceful future out there for Afghanistan, while his death is one more reason to consider that a forlorn hope. I could almost wish that for every person who suffers his fate for similarly hopeful reasons, two more take his place. Be it girls learning to read or wanting to be doctors, or boys teaching their friends English.
Bossy Bishops
So the Catholic church is instructing it's congregation on how they should vote in the presidential elections - nothing surprising there - they like to dictate all other aspects of life so why not the democratic voting process as well?
Bishops and voting advice
So many things I'd like to say when they come as coherent sentences. Then again I'm no lover of the Catholic Church as an institution.
The part that makes me want to go WTF?
The bishops said that voting for a candidate specifically because he or she supported "an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism" amounted to "formal co-operation in grave evil".
Talk about playing on fear and using such as a means to get your own way and retain control over those who look to you for guidance. In other words, all those devout Catholics who truly believe that their eternal souls can be forfeit, or banished to Hell for eternity if they sin, are being told that the only way to ensure that they don't suffer such a fate is to vote in accordance with the wishes of the bishops of their church.
That's applying a very large stick of fear to all those who truly believe the doctrine of their church - please note I don't have a problem with people who are catholic per se, (I may disagree with them but it's their right to believe whatever they want) just with the Catholic Church and much organized religion generally, as institutions. To stick to the point, for now, so much for the free and democratic process.
If this was being done in any other name than that of religion it'd be called oppression, or interfering with the democratic process or some such. But since it's religion, that's ok. Now there's hypocrisy for you.
Bishops and voting advice
So many things I'd like to say when they come as coherent sentences. Then again I'm no lover of the Catholic Church as an institution.
The part that makes me want to go WTF?
The bishops said that voting for a candidate specifically because he or she supported "an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism" amounted to "formal co-operation in grave evil".
Talk about playing on fear and using such as a means to get your own way and retain control over those who look to you for guidance. In other words, all those devout Catholics who truly believe that their eternal souls can be forfeit, or banished to Hell for eternity if they sin, are being told that the only way to ensure that they don't suffer such a fate is to vote in accordance with the wishes of the bishops of their church.
That's applying a very large stick of fear to all those who truly believe the doctrine of their church - please note I don't have a problem with people who are catholic per se, (I may disagree with them but it's their right to believe whatever they want) just with the Catholic Church and much organized religion generally, as institutions. To stick to the point, for now, so much for the free and democratic process.
If this was being done in any other name than that of religion it'd be called oppression, or interfering with the democratic process or some such. But since it's religion, that's ok. Now there's hypocrisy for you.
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