Submit your comments on this article | |
Olde Tyme Religion | |
Wiccan Lawsuit's Goal: Acceptance | |
2006-12-24 | |
| |
Posted by:.com |
#16 As to Wiccanism, the current "religion" that is being practiced was manufactured out of whole cloth using ancient symbology by Gerald Gardner back in the early to mid 1900s. For the sake of intellectual honesty, the exact same thing can be said for the Hare Krishna It was only after decades of operation that the Krishnas received any sort of validating affiliation with another more reputable Hindu organization. |
Posted by: Zenster 2006-12-24 21:02 |
#15 Jackal, the islamic crescent is actually stylized horns. |
Posted by: twobyfour 2006-12-24 20:44 |
#14 I really don't have much respect for wiccans, but what the heck. They're Americans, too, and should have whatever they want if they make the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Heck, the upside-down pentacle types are very lovable, but I'd still trust one them over a crescent. |
Posted by: Jackal 2006-12-24 20:22 |
#13 ask Icerigger |
Posted by: Frank G 2006-12-24 19:19 |
#12 If a Wiccan wins national office, what do they swear on? |
Posted by: JohnQC 2006-12-24 19:17 |
#11 I agree that Wicca is flaky, but lots of women in her demographic have turned to Wicca because it gives them a framework within which to heal from serious emotional trauma. It's easy to make fun of, until it's your own mother. Wiccans have their reasons, and Jesus isn't always the answer. I'm not so much making fun of Wiccanism as pointing out how it, often as not, merely exchanges one elaborate set of rituals for another. My own feeling is that the human spirit is of such unusual depth and clarity that it doesn't take much window dressing to really clutter up the screens. Another term for this is "spiritual materialism", or the inability to relenquish entrenched modes of worship and ritual. That cluttering effect of excessive nomenclature and process can misdirect or divert focus upon what really matters, which is simple goodness, integrity and a sense of honor. If Wiccanism is helping your mother recover from emotional and physical trauma, more power to her. We each of us must find our own path towards human perfection and peaceful community. |
Posted by: Zenster 2006-12-24 17:22 |
#10 Aw, mac, the spike-haired kid is still in there. I just traded in the black eyeliner and hairspray for a law degree and guns, LOL. ;) |
Posted by: exJAG 2006-12-24 17:13 |
#9 Nice work there, ex-JAG, in recovering from the spiked hair phase. |
Posted by: mac 2006-12-24 17:07 |
#8 Sounds about right to me, Zen. But I'm not about to lecture my mom about her spirtuality. She's still finding herself after a brutal divorce and a horrible car accident, and nature makes her feel better. That's the result I want, and I'm not real particular about how she gets there. I agree that Wicca is flaky, but lots of women in her demographic have turned to Wicca because it gives them a framework within which to heal from serious emotional trauma. It's easy to make fun of, until it's your own mother. Wiccans have their reasons, and Jesus isn't always the answer. I wear the pentacle she gave me, beause it's meaningful to her. Occasionally I remind her of the Old Testament justice that's sure to be meted out, and that Muslims slaughter pagans first. She'll come around -- it just takes time. |
Posted by: exJAG 2006-12-24 17:03 |
#7 Old Time Religion Chorus: Give me that old time religion (3x) And that's good enough for me We will pray to Aphrodite Even tho' she's rather flighty And they say she wears no nightie And that's good enough for me We will pray with those Egyptians Build pyramids to put our crypts in Cover subways with inscriptions And that's good enough for me O-old Odin we will follow And in fighting we will wallow Til we wind up in Valhalla And that's good enough for me Let me follow dear old Buddha For there is nobody cuter He comes in plaster, wood or pewter And that's good enough for me We will pray with Zarathustra Pray just like we useta I'm a Zarathustra booster And that's good enough for me We will pray with those old Druids They drink fermented fluids Waltzing naked thru the woo-ids And that's good enough for me Hare Krishna gets a laugh on When he sees me dressed in saffron With my hair that's only half on And that's good enough for me I'll arise at early morning When the sun gives me the warning That the solar age is dawning And that's good enough for me |
Posted by: Zenster 2006-12-24 16:43 |
#6 Technically, it is the interior pentagon within the pentangle that should be pointing upwards in order to create the "good" pentagram. An inverted pentangle is what creates this. Wiccans use the un-inverted pentangle which actually could be construed as being engaged in devil worship by exacting individuals. I have been to Wiccan covens and they are, for the most part, harmless. I just happen to view it as another massively layered pantheon that does not necessarily elucidate or articulate with great clarity about the human spirit itself. My own perception is that it represents a pleasing escape from more rigidly patriarchal forms of established religion while cloaking itself in remnants of historical references that give it an air of authenticity. One might as well believe in the the Greek or Roman mythologies for that matter. That said, it is a relatively harmless practice and certainly not worthy of censure unlike another ideology that gets a lot more electronic ink around here. As to Wiccanism, the current "religion" that is being practiced was manufactured out of whole cloth using ancient symbology by Gerald Gardner back in the early to mid 1900s. Wicca is a Neopagan religion and a religious movement found in various countries throughout the world. It was first popularised in 1954 by a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner[1] after the British Witchcraft Act was repealed. He claimed that the religion, of which he was an initiate, was a modern survival of an old witchcraft religion, which had existed in secret for hundreds of years, originating in the pre-Christian Paganism of Europe. Wicca is thus sometimes referred to as the Old Religion. The veracity of Gardner's claims cannot be independently proven, and it is thought that written Wiccan theology began to be compiled no earlier than the 1920s. Various related Wiccan traditions have since evolved, or been adapted from, the form established by Gardner, which came to be called Gardnerian Wicca. These other traditions of Wicca each have distinctive beliefs, rituals, and practices. Many traditions of Wicca remain secretive and require that members be initiated. There is also a movement of Eclectic or Solitary Wiccans who do not believe that any doctrine or traditional initiation is necessary in order to practice Wicca. |
Posted by: Zenster 2006-12-24 16:22 |
#5 SteveS, I'd considered that, but is the difference between a pentacle (point-up) vs. pentagram (point-down) any more subtle than the Star of David having six points instead of five? I'd say no, it's just more common. At the same time, I consider something my dad said to me as a teenager, when I was in that spiked-purple-hair, nose-ring, black-leather phase: "shit, kid, if you don't want people staring at you, don't dress like that." I thought, "fuck you." But he had a good point. :) |
Posted by: exJAG 2006-12-24 15:45 |
#4 Point up vs point down is a pretty subtle distinction. Rather like noticing which way the arms on a swastika point. The whole idea of a symbol is quick recognition. Maybe they should use an ice cream cone. Everyone likes ice cream. As for the other points (heh): Preseving freedom - good Suing for acceptance - not so good. |
Posted by: SteveS 2006-12-24 15:27 |
#3 My mom's a Wicaan (a Wiccan Republican, heh). The pentacle has the star pointed up, and symbolizes protection. Devil worship has the star pointed down. Perhaps people could pause from their wigging out long enough to notice the distinction. However, suing people is definitely not the best path to acceptance. |
Posted by: exJAG 2006-12-24 14:54 |
#2 Actually the suit is whether to put a pentacle on the tombstone. Given that this is also a symbol of devil worship, I can understand the government's position. Most religions have multiple symbols to identify themselves. PErhaps the Wiccans can select another symbol. Al |
Posted by: frozen al 2006-12-24 14:19 |
#1 As a Christian I have no problem with this - in fact, I support it fully. If they served our country and are buried with Veterans honors they should have whatever symbol represents their religious beliefs - they've earned it. Wicca itself: I have numerous issues with, but they are all strictly theological. I have no concern about Wiccans and potentially divided loyalties as citizens. Islam, on the other hand... |
Posted by: xbalanke 2006-12-24 12:54 |