The Wild Hunt

Alive and Well in Kiambu

2008-10-12T10:48:00.004-05:00

Amid the media frenzy over all things Sarah Palin, with a seemingly new scandal or story popping up every other day, it is little wonder that not a lot of background journalism has taken place. While assorted reporters and pundits were happy to play the video of Palin being blessed by African Pentecostal leader Thomas Muthee, few have been able to dig into his claims of driving out "witches" from the town of Kiambu in Kenya.

"According to the Christian Science Monitor, six months of fervent prayer and research identified the source of the witchcraft as a local woman called Mama Jane, who ran a �divination� centre called the Emmanuel Clinic ... after Pastor Muthee declared Mama Jane a witch, the townspeople became suspicious and began to turn on her, demanding that she be stoned. Public outrage eventually led the police to raid her home, where they fired gunshots, killing a pet python which they believed to be a demon. After Mama Jane was questioned by police � and released � she decided it was time to leave town, the account says."

Since then, many have wondered, what happened to Mama Jane? Was she really driven out? Was she killed by a mob, as so many other accused "witches" have been in Kenya? Luckily Zoe Alsop, who happened to be working as a journalist in Kenya, found Mama Jane alive and well and living in Kiambu.

"...some residents of Kiambu were somewhat skeptical of Muthee's claims. Not least among them is the herbalist Jane W. Njenga, a pastor with the African Mission of Holy Ghost Church, who is best known as Mama Jane. She says she didn't own a pet python and she's never left her compound, located about a half-mile from Muthee's immense new church. Last week Women's eNews interviewed her there, next door to the Superkid Solid Foundation Faith in Every Footstep daycare center just off Kiambu's main street. 'If I am bad, why haven't people attacked me?' Njenga says. 'Why haven't they burnt this building down? That is what people here do to witches.'"

In fact, just about every claim made in Muthee's witchcraft adventure has turned out to be false. The decrease in traffic deaths? New paving and speed bumps. Police killed a demon-snake? Mama Jane never owned one. Though one thing is true, Muthee did try to label her as a witch and have her killed or driven out.

"When Muthee came, he took a loudspeaker into the street and he told people to pray for seven days that I would die," Njenga says. "If I was not known in the town, I could not have survived even to put my children through school."

One wonders if Muthee's tale of victory over witchcraft was invented to impress his Western backers. No doubt his church gets plenty of fat donations from fellow "spiritual warriors" impressed by his bravado and willingness to engage in campaigns of demonization and incitement that would be illegal here in America. As one community health worker tells Alsop, the best way to get rich quick in Kenya is to build a church, and Muthee is nothing if not rich. Instead of the mighty witchcraft fighter, come to America to lay his blessings on the faithful, he has been exposed as a Christian con-man making a quick buck.

What Sort of Voodoo Did She Do (or Not Do)?

2008-10-11T09:17:00.003-05:00

I few days ago I mentioned a story in which Cobb County Commissioner Annette Kesting was accused of hiring a Voodoo priestess in South Carolina to put a death-curse on her political opponent (who ending up winning the election).

"[Cobb Commissioner Annette] Kesting wrote $3,000 in bad checks, allegedly for the services of a �high priestess of voodoo� to prepare an untimely demise for commissioner-elect Woody Thompson. Kesting wanted the priestess, identified by authorities as George Ann Mills of Blythewood, S.C., to cause Thompson to �catch cancer� or �have a car accident� according to a police report obtained by WSB-TV."

Voodoo Priestess George Ann Mills

Since these remarkable allegations have surfaced, Kesting has denied visiting or writing checks to George Ann Mills, claiming that her checkbook was stolen. Meanwhile, the priestess says she is certain it was Kesting, and that it was obvious what the commissioner wanted.

"The voodoo priestess, George Ann Mills of Blythewood, S.C., told Cavitt by phone that she's convinced Kesting did visit her and she knows exactly what Kesting wanted. "She wanted me to kill Mr. Thompson," said Mills."

Did Mills perform the alleged death-ceremony? According to a separate article recounting Kesting's troubles involving code violations for property she owns, the priestess says she didn't do the malefic magic that was requested.

"George Ann Mills said Kesting came to her with a request to do harm to Thompson. Mills declined to perform what she called a �death ritual,� on Thompson but did perform a ritual to help Kesting with family matters. The GBI is investigating."

In yet another article, Mills, in regards to the desired death-ritual, claims that "no true voodoo priestess would do such a thing". Both Kesting and Mills have met with GBI investigators.

If it is proven that Kesting paid (or failed to pay, to be more precise) for malefic magic against a political opponent, I'm curious as to what charges could be brought against her. As far as I know spectral evidence isn't allowed in court (plus, the intended magic was never performed), and no direct threats were made against Woody Thompson. I suppose that they could, taking the lead from Florida police, charge her with criminal mischief, but I'm guessing that no jail time or serious prosecution will result from this bizarre turn of events (though she might get dinged for writing bad checks, and her career as a politician is probably over for good).

Around the Pagan Blogosphere

2008-10-10T08:45:00.004-05:00

Articles, essays, and thoughts of note from the Pagan blogosphere.

We start off with some sad news. M. Macha Nightmare and T. Thorn Coyle have posted moving tributes to their friend Tara Webster, priestess of Hecate, and Soror Adessa of the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn. Webster passed away on October 8th after a long struggle with brain cancer. Thorn, who was at Webster's side during her passing, recounts how Hecate came to claim her.

"After a couple of hours of singing, the call came inside of me. A chant arose to one whom I have barely met. Your Matron tapped my shoulderblades. I wrote a chant for Her, for you. We sang that chant. We sang and sang. I left the room to grasp the counterpoint. When I came back in to sing it, S. said "Her breathing has really changed. We need to get someone." I paused. You were not breathing. The spaces between breath were big enough to hold the stars. All gathered, we chanted the Heart Sutra. Over and over, as you crossed. Hecate took you. Your spirit opened the door we had closed. Literally. It swung open and out you went. Mighty priestess. So skilled. So gorgeous. You lay in state in your rhinestone tiara, naked, as we blessed you."

Macha recounts Webster's participation in the Goddess 2000 project, and their shared connection with an old Pagan cartoon.

"...when Tara and I first met, we discovered we had a lot in common in terms of both approach and praxis. My experiences with my first coven, the Holy Terrors*, paralleled hers in many ways. I spoke of a cartoon published in an East Coast Pagan rag, Harvest (defunct), in the '80s that we Holy Terrors couldn't believe was so like we were. When we HTs first discovered this cartoon, we rolled around laughing. No one we knew subscribed to Harvest (if it even had subscriptions). We treasured our photocopies of the few episodes we'd found; later I found an opportunity to mail away for better copies of a full set. The cartoon was the Death Crones, and Tara was part of the Flaming Crones, the circle from which this cartoon arose!"

May Tara Webster rest in the arms of Hecate. We here at The Wild Hunt offer our most sincere condolences.

Over at Letter From Hardscrabble Creek, Chas Clifton reports on the publication of a book that will be sure to please many long-time Pagan community members.

"'Green Egg Omelette: An Anthology of Art and Articles from the Legendary Pagan Journal' will be shipping soon and can be pre-ordered from Amazon with the link above or from the publisher. Oberon Zell did the heavy lifting: tracking down long-lost contributors, making editorial decisions, and laying out the pages. I wrote a general introduction and shorter introductions for each chapter."

A sure treasure-trove of classic Pagan writing. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. As for the Green Egg itself, while the print magazine is long-gone, it still survives as a online 'zine. Also, while you're at Chas Clifton's blog, be sure to check out his post about water witchery.

Author Sarah Kate Istra Winter (aka Erl Queen on LJ) links to an interview she gave for the online e-zine Sequential Tart.

"I do think the myths are important. For one thing, they are usually our first introduction to the gods. Sure, it's extremely important to begin forging relationships yourself, to learn of the gods directly, from experience. But that's a long process. And many people have a hard time relying on that type of experiential knowledge. The myths tell us about the collective beliefs and experiences of the people who first worshiped our gods. Even if the stories often conflict with each other, even if one can't take everything literally, an overall picture emerges of the gods' traits, likes and dislikes, mannerisms, etc. It's an important foundation. From cult practice (of course, another important foundation for the modern religion), we might learn that Apollon left Delphi each winter and the oracles ceased. But it is from myth that we learn why, and where He goes (Hyperborea), and what that place is like."

You can find more information about Winter's book, "KHARIS: Hellenic Polytheism Explored", at her web site.

Medusa Coils reports that the Glastonbury Goddess Temple has succeeded in acquiring St. Benedict's Church Hall from the Church of England for the purpose of Goddess-oriented worship and rites of passage.

"Glastonbury Goddess Temple was able to come to an agreement with St. Ben's Parish Council regarding the previous restrictions on the use of the Hall, which was owned by the Church of England and persisted even after the sale of the Hall. St. Ben's Parish Council has agreed to allow use of the Hall "without let or hindrance" for Goddess activities including ceremonies, courses, workshops, and other community activities, as well as a dedicated space for Pagan marriage ceremonies and handfastings."

You can read more about this story, and the plans Glastonbury Goddess Temple has for the space, here.

In a final note, The Pagan Prattle rightfully mocks "what passes for sane in some parts of the world". Specifically the recent story of a college student who accused an English teacher of blasphemy, and threatened to set her on fire for being a witch.

"A 20-year-old male student has been expelled from an adult education college after he poured liquid over his English Literature teacher and threatened her with a lighter and a cigarette. He accused her of being a witch. According to another report, Najor allegedly told police that he was trying to kill her by pouring holy water over her. More detail about the incident is given, suggesting that Najor was inspired by his Christian faith..."

The young man in question, Darin Najor, while initially detained in a psychiatric hospital, is now facing assault charges. One wonders if he attends some sort of church, or if this was his own special blend of crazy.

That is all I have for now, have a great day!

Update II: Palin's Anti-Pagan Coreligionists

2008-10-09T07:01:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought this story couldn't go even further down the Christian extremist rabbit-hole, up pops another revelation about a Sarah Palin coreligionist.

"On June 13, 2008 Mary Glazier told attendees at the "Opening the Gate of Heaven on Earth" conference, who represented many of the New Apostolic Reformation's top leaders, that she had been present at the inception of Sarah Palin's political career and that Palin was in her personal prayer group : 'There was a twenty-four year old woman that God began to speak to about entering into politics. She became a part of our prayer group out in Wasilla. Years later, became the mayor of Wasilla. And last year was elected Governor of the state of Alaska. Yes! Hallelujah! At her inauguration she dedicated the state to Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!'"

Who is Mary Glazier? She is the founder of Windwalkers International, and is a key figure in the Third Wave/New Apostolic Reformation movement. Part of C. Peter Wagner's inner circle. Wagner, as I have pointed out before, is the man who is waging a war on the "Queen of Heaven", whom he equates with pre-Christian goddesses, Islam, and Mary within the Catholic Church.

"Peter Wagner appears to be afflicted with a rather bizarre form of paranoia. He sees the world controlled by a demonic force he calls "the Queen of Heaven." He sees this demon in everything from ancient Moon goddess religions to Islam (e.g., the crescent moon), to environmentalism (Gaia), feminism, witchcraft, and even in mainstreem Christianity (e.g., Catholic respect of Mary as the Mother of Jesus). That's the purpose of the book, to help you, too, see that all these disparate religions are really united, and that the Virgin Mary is the demon behind it all."

Glazier's claims directly tie Palin into the world of anti-Pagan spiritual warfare. While some conservatives have defended the anti-witchcraft blessing of Palin by Thomas Muthee saying it was acceptable because of his cultural context, Glazier, who has her own witchcraft story, has no such excuse.

"In 1995, Mary mobilized a prayer network for Alaska's prisons and began experiencing spiritual warfare as never before. She had received word that a witch had applied for a job as chaplain of the state's prison system... Mary recalls, "As we continued to pray against the spirit of witchcraft, her incense altar caught on fire, her car engine blew up, she went blind in her left eye, and she was diagnosed with cancer" ... "Ultimately, the witch fled to another state for medical treatment. Soon after, revival visited every prison in Alaska. At the women's correctional facility in Anchorage alone, 55 of 60 inmates found Christ. "Ask largely," Mary says. "Intercessory prayer is making a major difference in North America."

I'll give you a moment for this to sink in. Glazier and her prayer warriors claim to have made God blind and give cancer to a Wiccan chaplain. Is this anything but the most malefic of magic? Any Pagan who proudly claimed to have given a Christian cancer, or put out one of the eyes of a Christian, would be rightly shunned and rebuked. Within this community of extremist Christians Glazier and her fellow prayer warriors are lauded as heroes, holy warriors striking a blow against Satan and the "Queen of Heaven". While these warriors are quick to post disclaimers saying their efforts are "merely" spiritual, who knows what an unbalanced mind would do with this sort of rhetoric.

This adds to the questions I would love to ask Sarah Palin (not that she's taking questions). Not just if she approves of the spiritual warfare techniques of the Third Wavers, but if she personally prayed for harm to come to one of our own (she was still deeply enmeshed in the movement back in 1995 after all). Sadly, while Obama and McCain were grilled on their religious stances, we're supposed to take it on faith that she will respect the rights of non-Christian faiths should she be elected?

Wiccan Wins Fortune-Telling Case

2008-10-08T10:56:00.003-05:00

A federal judge has tossed out a Livingston Parish Council ordinance barring all forms of fortune-telling. The ordinance was challenged by local resident Cliff Eakin, a Wiccan who believed the ban violated his religious freedoms.

"A Livingston Parish Council ordinance outlawing fortunetelling and soothsaying is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. A Wiccan minister, Cliff Eakin, sued the parish over the ordinance, asserting inspiration from the divine transmitted by a Wiccan minister should be treated legally the same way as a message from God transmitted to a congregation by a Christian minister. �I would highly recommend that the council not appeal it,� Blayne Honeycutt, the council�s attorney, said of Tuesday�s ruling."

The Livingston Parish Council, despite warnings from their lawyer telling them they would lose, decided to fight removing the ordinance on religious principle.

"Harrell and councilmen Jimmy McCoy and Eddie Wagner said they have no plans to change their votes. Other council members did not comment on where they stand. 'I got elected to represent my constituents,' McCoy said. 'I am a Christian and I love the Lord, period. We can vote today or next month, my vote won't change.'"

This case is just the latest in a string of successful legal and political challenges to outdated or religiously biased laws and ordinances banning fortune-telling. As I said when this case first emerged, today's fortune-tellers and diviners aren't simply grifters on the make, but a growing assortment of men and women who have a deep religious investment in their trade.

"While banning psychics was once seen as an easy political move to garner an image as a moral crusader fighting fraud (and activities that carry a Biblical injunction), in the last thirty years the business has changed. It isn't simply a bevy of frauds peddling fake "curses" and a smattering of sweet old ladies making a buck on the side, the business has been steadily infiltrated by modern Pagans, Afro-diasporic faiths (VooDoo, Santeria, etc), and the New Age movement, many of whom see divination work as a spiritual calling. These groups on the whole are more affluent (relatively speaking), more aware of their legal rights (and hence more litigious), and more rooted in their communities than the stereotypical image of the fly-by-night con-man (or woman) who makes a living grifting from the margins."

Laws explicitly banning psychics and other diviners from plying their trade are outdated and discriminatory, and the growing legal consensus has favored overturning such bans. Religious favoritism masquerading as social concern can no longer be tolerated in a free and multi-religious society. Congratulations to Mr. Eakin for his victory.

The Green Bay Nativity Case Fizzles Out

2008-10-08T09:46:00.003-05:00

The Religion Clause blog reports that a case involving a controversial Nativity Scene erected on city property in Green Bay, Wisconsin this past December has been dismissed by the judge.

A brief moment of religious inclusiveness in Green Bay.

"...a Wisconsin federal district court dismissed an Establishment Clause challenge to a nativity scene displayed last year on the roof of the entrance to Green Bay's City Hall. Plaintiffs sought a declaratory judgment, an injunction and nominal damages. Without reaching the merits, the court concluded that plaintiffs lacked standing because "none of the relief they seek would redress the injuries they claim." City Council had already enacted a moratorium on all displays, until a policy is worked out in the future. Also the city took down the display at issue on December 26, just hours before this lawsuit was filed. The claim for nominal damages was not sufficient by itself to create standing."

This ruling isn't exactly a rousing victory for Mayor Jim Schmitt. While Green Bay won't have to pay damages, this "Christmas Wars" showdown hasn't endeared him to the local press, and even local clergy have told him to keep city hall secular.

"Mayor Jim Schmitt has met with clergy to get their ideas on a city policy. They agreed that the city should stick with secular decorations and leave the religious displays to area churches and synagogues."

This case has displayed the worst impulses of politicians. Enacting policy in order to "take the fight to" organizations they disagree with, inviting religious diversity to cover their tracks, and then insulting a local Wiccan organization (Circle Sanctuary) by refusing to replace a holiday display that had been vandalized. It makes one wish that Green Bay's mayor had the same good sense as Muskego's.

"You have to be respectful of all religions and if you start putting one display up, you have to put up displays for everybody," Muskego Mayor John Johnson said. "If you put up a Nativity scene and then a group asks you to put up a Hanukkah display or a display for the Muslim holiday, do you tell them no? You can't."

While the Freedom From Religion Foundation's suit was dismissed, they, and the Green Bay residents who filed with them, really won the larger battle. It seems very likely that Mayor Jim Schmitt and the city council will take the advice of local clergy and keep things secular this year. Avoiding future games of litigious "chicken" for the sake of proving that Green Bay is more Christian than Madison. Let's hope this case fizzling out will be a harbinger of the larger "War on Christmas" finally losing momentum among the punditocracy.

(Pagan) News of Note

2008-10-07T09:20:00.004-05:00

My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.

A lesson to politicians and public figures, if you're going to hire a Voodoo priestess to curse an opponent, make sure you don't bounce the checks paying for said services.

"[Cobb Commissioner Annette] Kesting wrote $3,000 in bad checks, allegedly for the services of a �high priestess of voodoo� to prepare an untimely demise for commissioner-elect Woody Thompson. Kesting wanted the priestess, identified by authorities as George Ann Mills of Blythewood, S.C., to cause Thompson to �catch cancer� or �have a car accident� according to a police report obtained by WSB-TV."

Apparently Kesting was unhinged enough to not realize that leaving a paper-trail and an unhappy (and unpaid) priestess would come back to haunt her. Police are now investigating the matter.

Time Magazine reviews a new book about witch-hunts by John Demos entitled "The Enemy Within: 2,000 Years of Witch-Hunting in the Western World". According to reviewer Gilbert Cruz, the book explores the inherent sexism and insular nature of witch-hunting.

"While the goal for all is separation from a despised 'other,' witch-hunting alone finds the other within its own ranks. The Jew, the black, and the ethnic opposite exist, in some fundamental sense, 'on the outside'...The witch, by contrast, is discovered within the host community."

According to Demos, the last "real" witch-hunts in the West were the 1982 Bakersfield "Satanic Ritual Abuse" convictions. A sad example of how the "Satanic Panics" led to innocent men and women spending years in prison.

While I'm on the subject of book reviews, Christian blogger and academic John Morehead reads and reviews the odious anti-Pagan smear-job of Linda Harvey's "Not My Child: Contemporary Paganism and New Spirituality" so you don't have to.

"Just like other parts of society we evangelicals in our subculture create our own monsters. One of our leading monsters at present seems to be Paganism. Islam and homosexuality are other creatures in our laboratory. I wonder why we create them. That we do can hardly be denied when we consider the plethora of books we write on the topic and the sensationalist tone that often accompanies them. One of the tricky things about monsters is that they often come back to haunt their creators. Sometimes they ask us some thorny questions too ... what does evangelical monstrous creation and resultant fear of stereotypical Paganism tell us about ourselves? I'm afraid if we reflect on this monster we may not like the answers."

John, who edited the groundbreaking "Beyond the Burning Times", is quickly becoming my go-to filter for books about Paganism written by Christians. You should also check out his review of "Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca" (an anti-Pagan book I explored here previously).

Remember my post a week ago about the rock-opera treatment of "The Wicker Man" currently playing in San Francisco? Well, fellow Pagan blogger Mertseger recently attended the production and has posted a review.

"Essentially, this stage production is The Wicker Man (1973) minus the music of Paul Giovanni plus the music of Jim Fourniadis ... All in all, the show is well worth the price, and I recommend Bay Area Pagans checking it out. If you like the 1973 film, then this show is a lively and small variation on the same material. Be sure to bring a beer in a brown paper bag (or you will feel horribly out of fashion) and enjoy the romp."

I recommend reading the entirety of this well-written review. If only more Pagan-centric arts criticism could be so erudite.

In a final note, both Bartholomew's Notes on Religion and Modemac's Bulldada Newsblog take note of a story in which an academic thesis on racist Odinist/Satanist Kerry Bolton was pulled from the library of a New Zealand college after he complained.

"Waikato University has abruptly pulled a student's thesis from its library after complaints from the subject of the research - a right-wing extremist. The thesis, exploring satanic and neo-Nazi themes, had already been marked and published, earning its author top marks ... The newspaper said it established that no legal threat had been received against either Mr Van Leeuwen or the University of Waikato. Rather, the thesis was the subject of a mere complaint from Kerry Bolton. Professor Bing told Nexus the thesis was a first-class piece of work, and was externally moderated by other universities before being published."

So an extremist writes in a complaint about a thesis regarding him, and despite rigorous vetting of said thesis for accuracy (by multiple institutions), it's pulled? Has the University of Waikato no spine? If every thesis that the subjects of research didn't entirely approve of got pulled, modern academia would very likely grind to a standstill. As for Roel van Leeuwen (himself a member of several occult and esoteric Orders and Societies), the author of the thesis, he stands by his work.

That is all I have for now, have a great day!

Are Modern Pagan Faiths in the 80?

2008-10-06T10:47:00.004-05:00

Last week the BBC announced a new religious series debuting in early 2009 called "Around the World In 80 Faiths". The show will feature part-time Anglican Vicar Peter Owen Jones traveling the world and participating in a variety of religious rituals.

Peter Owen Jones

"Part-time Anglican Vicar, Peter Owen Jones embarks on an epic challenge � to travel the globe and observe and take part in the most important rituals of 80 of the world's faiths. On the way he'll be exploring some of the planet's most beautiful and holy places: he'll be meeting snake handlers, Voodoo practitioners, whirling dervishes, horse-riding Sikhs, shaman and Taoist monks seeking immortality."

The show is being produced by the BBC Religion and Ethics team, and is being packaged as eight 60-minute episodes. A companion book written by Jones will also be released. Initial buzz, based on Owen-Jones' previous participation in the series "Extreme Pilgrim", seems to be quite positive.

"This may all sound a bit dull, but I urge you to watch it - knowing Peter he'll be throwing himself head-long into challenges and situations, be open to questioning his very essence and report back eloquently from some seriously gorgeous places."

I'm certainly interested in seeing this series (living in America I'll probably have to wait until it comes out on DVD), though I'm very curious as to which 80 faiths will be profiled in the series (if they do indeed profile 80 faiths). While I'm glad to see they are including indigenous faiths, I wonder if modern Pagan faiths will be explored as well. Will he hang out with Wiccans and Druids in Britain? Chat with Asatru in Iceland? Go to a Pagan festival in America? The press release does promise he'll explore "brand new cults and sects", but who knows what that means when there are hundreds (if not thousands) of NRMs to choose from.

ADDENDUM: It looks like he does visit some Pagans:

"As the main ritual came to a close, the ecstatic dancing ensued and Peter threw himself into it enthusiastically and unapologetically. He seemed entranced by the fire in the cauldron and was dumbfounded when the cone of power appeared, sending the flame spiralling high above the dancing Witches' heads to excited shouts of 'Kiss the Serpent'."

That is a report from an eclectic Pagan group in Australia. Thanks to Frozen In Honey for passing that along to me.

Winning the Battle of Stanton Moor

2008-10-05T08:32:00.004-05:00

Emily Dugan of The Independent profiles the tree-sitters and eco-warriors who have spent nine years living in the trees at Stanton Moor in the Peak District National Park. Their goal? To stop the planned re-opening of two mines that threatened the Nine Ladies stone circle.

The Nine Ladies

"There has been no shortage of locals keen to dismiss the Nine Ladies protesters as New Age hippies who should "go out and get a real job", but their achievement in saving this idyllic corner of Derbyshire has not gone unnoticed by their nearest neighbours. Geoffrey Henson, a pensioner whose home lies just outside the protest camp, admits that the onset of the dreadlocked army was a shock. But he says he has been pleasantly surprised. "We were a bit taken aback when we saw what looked like these scruffy long-haired layabouts arrive," he explained. "But they stuck it through all winds and weathers for nine years, which is more than we could have done." A friendly vicar also charges their car batteries, and some well-wishers have let them use their showers."

Now awaiting the official letter from Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears confirming their victory, the tree-sitters spend their last days saying goodbye to what has become their home, and wondering how they will re-enter normal English life.

One of the tree-houses.

"The next morning, protester Ben Hartley, 38, pondered, like his 14 compatriots, the end of life in their treetop homes. Many have no ties to the "normal" world of consumerism, jobs, mortgages and the credit crunch. 'A lot of us have spent huge parts of our lives here, so we'll be really sad to go,' he said. 'It's the end of an era.'"

One hopes that the admirers and supporters of the Nine Ladies will be able to help the protesters re-acclimate to the modern world after living a Robin Hood lifestyle for nine years*. This is truly a group who "walked the talk" of wanting to save England's heritage. To read more about the history of this protest you can head over to the Nine Ladies Collective web site, or the Nine Ladies page at The Modern Antiquarian. As for Stancliffe Stone, the company that wanted to re-open the Lees Cross and Endcliffe quarries, they will be allowed to extend an existing quarry in exchange.

* I hope I'm not the only one who noticed the mythic resonances of protesters sacrificing nine years of their lives in order to protect the Nine Ladies.

Music is Still Magic: Phonogram Returns

2008-10-04T10:09:00.004-05:00

Way back in 2006 I reported on a band new comic mini-series that was debuting called "Phonogram". The book revolved around the lives of magicians (called "phonomancers") who use music as their medium.

Phonogram t-shirt design.

"Music is Magic. You know this already. You've known this from the first time a record sent a divine shiver down your spine or when a band changed the way you dressed forever. How does something that's just noises arranged in sequence do that? No-one knows. It's just...magic. Everyone knows that. It's just that some realise that it's more than metaphor."

That series, now collected in graphic novel form, was an exercise in excavating one's musical youth as a phonomancer races to stop a blasphemy against his Britpop past. Now writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie are returning for a second Phonogram series that explores a club night from seven different perspectives.

"To explore how much subjective experiences of a shared social event can differ. There's a quote I'm probably going to lob at the front of the trade from Wellington: �The history of a battle, is not unlike the history of a ball�� His point being that you can't write a history of a battle because it's too confusing and the individual perspectives and understanding of events vary so much. You may as well try and write what happened at a party. �The Singles Club� flips that observation � and a party can be an awful lot like a battle. When a DJ plays a certain record, to one person it could be the best thing imaginable. To someone else, it may be the thing to totally destroy you."

Phonogram "B-Side" art by Daniel Heard

In addition to the main story, each story will feature back-up stories ("b-sides") from "guest DJ" artists like Daniel Heard, Marc Ellerby, and Emma Vieceli. Being something of a music fanatic, and a strong believer in the magical power of music, I really enjoyed the first series and I'm looking forward to these new "singles" (which debut on December 10th). Ask your local comic-shop to order you a copy, and be sure to check out the 11-page preview of the new series. If you happen to be a fan of the intersections between pop-culture, myth, and magic, I think you'll enjoy "Phonogram".

Well Written - If Slightly Crazy

2008-10-03T09:07:00.005-05:00

I have a few loose ends that didn't make it into yesterday's "(Pagan) News of Note" that I'd like to share with you. The first is a response from UK dating columnist Ed Saunt concerning my criticisms of his ditching a "sweet and funny" girl because she was Wiccan.

"The final thing I learnt this week is not to mess with witches ... following my unfortunate experience with witch Julia two weeks ago, I have been condemned by the Pagan community as �a moron,� �a dork� and �a prat� in a well-written - if slightly crazy � blog"

Saunt makes an "impassioned plea" to any Witch with a good sense of humor and a "well-oiled broomstick" to give him a second chance. As for my blog being "slightly crazy" (albeit well-written), I'll take it as a compliment.

While I'm on the subject of Witches, Mark Morford sings their praises, and discusses the flap over Sarah Palin's witch-protectin' prayer by Thomas Muthee.

"Is it worth setting the record straight? Pointing out how true 'n' deep witchcraftery has nothing to do with evil or Satan or excessive black eyeliner or sacrificing newborn babies while listening to Ministry and smoking cloves? That those who've taken up this most ancient and potent of callings actually study their enchanted craft for years and know more about, say, the cycles of the moon and the body and the rhythms of the planet than Sarah Palin's most secretest pagan fever dream could ever conjure?"

For the record, I can confirm that while I have smoked cloves (though I can no longer tolerate them) and listened to Ministry (it was all downhill after "Psalm 69") at the same time, I have never (to my knowledge) sacrificed a newborn baby while doing so. As for Morford, something tells me he would have no problem finding a Witch to go on a date with (well-oiled broom optional), maybe he could give Ed Saunt some tips?

With all this talk of getting protection from, and dating, Witches, one wonders what the general public thinks about them? Well, if Halloween costume sales are anything to go by, they are incredibly popular among adults and children.

"The top adult costumes will be a witch (14.9 percent of respondents), pirate (4.4 percent), vampire (3.3 percent), cat (2.5 percent) and fairy (1.7 percent). About 1.5 percent say they'll dress up as a political figure. The top children's costumes include a princess, witch, Hannah Montana, Spider-Man, pirate and "Star Wars" characters."

No doubt many of those "witches" will be heading to Salem as it gears up for a month-long Halloween extravaganza (complete with real Witches). A topic you'll most likely be hearing more about as we approach Samhain.

(Pagan) News of Note

2008-10-02T10:38:00.003-05:00

My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.

We start off with news of a custody case involving accusations of anti-Wiccan judicial bias. An Arkansas woman, who says she lost custody of her son due to the judge's perceptions of Wicca, has lost her appeal to the state Court of Appeals.

"A Southeast Arkansas woman who argued she lost custody of her son because of a judge's perception of her alleged practice of Wicca lost her appeal Wednesday before a divided state Court of Appeals Wednesday. In a 4-2 ruling, the appeals court affirmed a decision granting custody to the child's father, though the judges disagreed on whether the lower court considered the mother's religious beliefs. In her appeal of Chicot County Circuit Judge Robert Vittitow's decision, the mother noted Vittitow described Wicca in his opinion letter as 'a religion, movement, cult or whatever it that may be.' The judge also wrote that while the mother testified she was only joking when she told the boy's father that she was involved with Wicca, the 'court believes she is much more involved than she would lead us to believe.'"

The two dissenting judges claim that the majority simply 'set aside' concerns over religious bias and that the initial ruling 'impermissibly considered' her religious beliefs. You can read the opinions of the judges on the appeal court, here (Andrea Hicks v. Joshua A. Cook). There is no word if Ms. Hicks will attempt, or be able to, appeal to a higher court. Considering the fact that one of the dissenting judges accused the majority of "torturing" the law and "mishandling the judicial-review process" one would hope that this case is explored further.

Is a psychic fair secular entertainment or a religious gathering? That is the question surrounding a controversial event being held on New York state property.

"The state Office of General Services, however, said the second annual Psychic Fair and Halloween Festival is just good clean fun. Psychics, astrologers, mediums, people who talk to angels, dream interpreters and tarot card readers will be on hand Oct. 29 at the Empire State Plaza�s concourse, where thousands of state workers pass daily ... �These vendors who are coming are strictly entertainment,� said OGS spokesman Brad Maione, noting the fair isn�t a cost to state taxpayers."

Rev. Jason McGuire calls the event a breach of church-state separation that contains "Satanic" and "occult" elements, while Dennis Poust, Director of Communications at New York State Catholic Conference, is a tad more measured in tone.

�I�m not saying these psychics are Satanists, though. The Catholic church does warn against divination, which is foretelling the future.�

I personally think its funny how many conservative Christians only seem to care about the separation of Church and State when it doesn't immediately favor them. As for psychic fairs, anyone who hasn't gone to one might be surprised that money and commerce, not religion, is the primary order of the day. A decidedly secular and multi-faith activity in our capitalistic society.

Was Jesus a magician in addition to (allegedly) being the Messiah? A pot that may contain the earliest written reference to Christ marks him as a magus.

"A team of scientists led by renowned French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio recently announced that they have found a bowl, dating to between the late 2nd century B.C. and the early 1st century A.D., that is engraved with what they believe could be the world's first known reference to Christ ... The full engraving on the bowl reads, 'DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS,' which has been interpreted by the excavation team to mean either, 'by Christ the magician' or, 'the magician by Christ.'"

The bowl could provide further proof of the intertwining of Christianity and paganism in the ancient world. Scientists also speculate that the bowl may have been used for divination purposes, which would certainly add a new twist to arguments against psychic practitioners by conservative Christians. Thanks to Megan for pointing me towards this story.

Looks like the Pagans, atheists, Buddhists, UUs, and other groups need to step up, because San Leandro middle school has decided to allow religious organizations to distribute flyers to children in classrooms.

"Last spring, Pastor Derek Jung of the Fundamental Gospel Baptist Church of San Leandro challenged the district when it refused to distribute a flyer about vacation Bible school. "I was shocked we were the first church that had ever used their system," Jung said on Tuesday. Armed with legal advice from the Florida-based Christian Law Association, Jung told the district that if it allowed schools to distribute information for community groups such as the YMCA, 4-H clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs or school fundraising foundations, it could not discriminate against religious organizations. District lawyers researched the issue - and agreed."

Remember, religious inclusion means all or nothing. When this happened to a school in Virginia, they quickly switched from "all" to "none" once the Pagans and atheists started distributing flyers. So lets not miss an opportunity to see how committed this school really is to including a wide range of religious options to middle-schoolers. Thanks to Kate for tipping me off to this story.

In a final note, author and "Techgnostic" Erik Davis has one of the more thoughtful ruminations on the religion of Sarah Palin, what the connection to African witch-hunter Thomas Muthee means, and how Pagans should ultimately respond.

"Muthee's Christianity trumps witchcraft not by disbelieving it--in other words, by dousing it with the holy water of secular rationalism and skepticism, like mainstream Euro-American Christians have done for a couple centuries. Instead, it tries to beat witchcraft at its own game, using what one can only think of as a rival spell--the spell of the Word. It's all about power and manifestation, the shape-shifting of social perception. But notice this: the game only really works if witchcraft remains, as the professor said, a reality."

As for what Pagans, occultists, and other magic-workers concerned about Palin should do? Davis suggests we all "get thy mojo working!".

That is all I have for now, have a great day!

Throwing Pagans From The Green Train?

2008-10-01T09:18:00.003-05:00

Did restaurateur Bob Wolf, co-founder of the eco-awareness organization The Green Train, fire a volunteer for being a Pagan? That is the accusation being made over at The Nashville Scene's blog.

"Nashville�s Green Train, an eco-educational non-profit run by Merle Haggard and restaurateur Bob Wolf, had a witch in its ranks until recently. Or, to be more precise, a pagan. Not the kind historically drawn and quartered or burned at the stake, but rather the contemporary tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, vegan variety. That was until Wolf charged this Wiccan ordained minister, Susan Hunter, with creating Green Train�s MySpace page. The personal networking catastrophe that followed-- replete with online earthy salutations and pentagrams--saw Hunter canned in spectacular fashion back in mid-September. She�s crying discriminatory foul."

Apparently Hunter, after creating the organization's MySpace page, did what almost all MySpacers do, invite people she knew to "friend" the organization. Anyone familiar with the ways of MySpace can guess what happened next.

"Hunter sent out �friend invitations� to 40 of her friends who also happened to be earth-loving hippies and pagans of various stripes. When the messages started flowing in��Blessed be� or �Faerie blessings,� usually accompanied by a pentagram and pictures of ivory-skinned ladies identifying themselves exotically as Asterope Morgaine and Feryia�Hunter says Wolf blew a gasket, ordering that all pentagrams be deleted. She says she deleted the Christian symbols too, out of spite before being summarily dismissed."

So is telling a Pagan volunteer to delete only Pagan symbols, and then firing her when she deletes all the religious symbols, discriminatory behavior? Susan Hunter seems to think so.

"'It�s my opinion that I was fired for religious reasons,' she said. Wolf claims Hunter was just a volunteer. But perhaps the most stinging accusation hurled by Hunter was this: 'The guy doesn�t even recycle.'"

Wolf insists this is much ado over nothing, and that Hunter "got her feelings hurt" and is now "witch-hunting" him in retaliation. Wolf says he has nothing against Pagans, and even attended a Pagan Pride Day festival and bought Hunter a book.

�This is a witch hunt by somebody who got her feelings hurt,� Wolf said, though the old clich� would seem to be reversed here. �I don�t have a problem with people�s opinions. I even went to a pagan day festival; we bought her a pagan bible.�

So, discrimination or misunderstanding? Something tells me that lawyers will soon be hired to figure it out.

Wicker Man the Rock Opera?

2008-09-30T12:34:00.005-05:00

After the dreadful abomination that was the 2006 remake of "The Wicker Man" are we really ready for another treatment of this pagan musical cult-classic? Foul Play SF and The Dark Room certainly hope so as they unleash "The Wicker Man: A Rock Opera About the Ultimate Sacrifice".

Photo by Geof Teague.

"October 2008, something wicker this way comes! We're presenting a Foul Play, the Wicker Man: a Rock Opera About the Ultimate Sacrifice, a musical thriller, and burning sensation just in time for Halloween from the team that brought you Attack of the Killer B-Movies."

In addition to changing the genre from folk to rock, the site refers to a new "original music score" from Jim Fourniadis with back-up from "Rock / Metal / Comedy" group Live Evil. Does this mean they are scrapping the old songs from the classic soundtrack? Will this new version be mocking camp or loving homage? The synopsis doesn't provide many clues.

"April showers bring the sanctimonious Sergeant Howie a mysterious letter concerning a missing girl from Summerisle, the tiny pagan island commune renowned for its bountiful produce and unabashed holy day rituals. His investigation of the restless natives proves as fruitless as last year�s crops, though; and the bizarre inhabitants only serve to add fuel to the flames of his righteous indignation. Driven to save the girl�s immortal soul from this den of idolaters, he discovers the truth behind the girl�s disappearance�that come May Day, the villagers intend to sacrifice her to their gods of the field to ensure a successful harvest. Howie must infiltrate their festivities, find the girl and escape�but will his plan put him out of the frying pan and into the fire?"

Whether tribute or take-down, I suppose that fans of the original film and soundtrack will have to risk it and go find out for themselves. The play runs from October 2nd to the 25th. If you live in or around the San Francisco area, or are planning to visit in October, you can purchase tickets online now.

Thanks to Qibitum for passing this along to me.

Religious Monuments Case Coming Up

2008-09-30T10:37:00.004-05:00

The Washington Times reminds us that the Supreme Court's upcoming docket (they resume hearing cases in October) will feature a case that could have far-reaching implications for minority religions.

"Religious doctrine is on the docket with Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, in which the Supreme Court is asked whether the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah, can display the Ten Commandments on a monument in a city park as a matter of free speech. The small Summum sect argues that if the city displays the Ten Commandments, it also should display their belief's Seven Aphorisms. City officials refused, which sent the dispute to the Supreme Court. "The betting money is that Pleasant Grove will come out ahead in this," said Tom Goldstein, a partner in the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld."

I discussed Pleasant Grove City v. Summum in some depth back in April. The court's ruling could ultimately decide if local government can control which (religious) monuments are erected, or if public parks should be treated more as an "open forum".

"The outcome of this case is going to be a big deal for religious minorities. Remember the battles over Pagan inclusion in government-sponsored religious displays in Green Bay and Ohio? A SCOTUS decision here could all but force local government bodies to enact a fully-open policy concerning religious displays on government-controlled property. In other words, the local city council or mayor couldn't pick and choose which religious displays are worthy to be placed with a Nativity Scene or Ten Commandments monument. It would be all or nothing."

Pleasant Grove has an interesting defense of claiming that ruling against them would hamper government's right to free speech.

"Pleasant Grove argues that its selection of privately donated monuments for display in Pioneer Park fits within this long tradition of government speech. As the speaker, the city argues, it is under no obligation to modify its message to accommodate Summum�s speech; instead, Pleasant Grove 'is entitled to say what it wishes' through its monuments and can 'take legitimate and appropriate steps to ensure that its message is neither garbled nor distorted.'"

In other words, if you force them to remove the Christian monument, or force them to include other religious monuments, it would damage their rights to "free speech". This argument is echoed in a massive number of Amicus briefs from state governments, veteran's organizations, and conservative Christian advocacy groups. Meanwhile, Americans United, assorted Humanist groups, and several liberal religious groups have filed Amicus briefs arguing that this case shouldn't be heard on free-speech grounds, and is instead all about the Establishment Clause.

"The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, said the case raises an important conflict over the value of religious neutrality. �It�s not the government�s job to display the symbols of any faith,� Lynn said. �When government officials allow religious groups to place permanent monuments on public land, the government is accountable for the message. �Our government,� he continued, �should not -- and, under our Constitution, may not -- pick-and-choose among religions. This principle stands at the very heart of church-state separation.� The AU brief asserts that government cannot play favorites among religions and deny a minority religious request because of discomfort with the less-known religious views."

In other words, concerning religion in the public square, government should just stay out of it altogether. Interestingly absent among the many briefs are Hindu, Buddhist, and Native American groups (groups that have banded together in the past to file Amicus briefs).One wonders what assorted religious minority communities think of this case. Would they welcome a win for Summum here? Or would they prefer the stance taken by Americans United?

A win for Summum seems increasingly unlikely, but would a win for Pleasant Grove City mean a win for Christian religious expression to the exclusion of other faiths? I guess we'll have to wait and find out. Opening arguments are scheduled for November 12th.

Tradition and Tourism Trumps Maoist Ideology

2008-09-29T10:05:00.003-05:00

Back in August I reported that Nepal's new Maoist-led government seemed ready to scrap the tradition of the Kumaris ("living goddesses"), calling the practice an "inessential" and "evil" symbol of the former monarchy. A decision by the country's highest court ordering the Kumari to attend school seemed to be a further harbinger of an outright ban on the practice. But it looks like the fears of this tradition being scrapped are somewhat premature.

Shreeya Bajracharya, the new Kumari of Bhaktapur.

"Nepal's new Maoist-led government has appointed a 6-year-old girl as a "living goddess" in the ancient city of Bhaktapur, for the first time snapping the link between the ancient ritual and the ousted monarchy. For centuries, the head priest of the Nepali monarchy appointed the "Kumaris" in several towns in the Kathmandu valley. But with the abolition of the monarchy in May, that position has also disappeared. Instead, officials at the state-run Trust Corporation overseeing cultural affairs appointed Shreeya Bajracharya as the new Kumari of the temple-town of Bhaktapur near Kathmandu, Deepak Bahadur Pandey, a senior official of the agency said."

So what made a government hostile to the Kumaris willing to get into the living goddess business? First off, the Nepalese people have been increasingly hostile towards Maoist attempts to curtail religious traditions, and secondly, the Kumaris are a major tourist attraction.

"The Kumaris are a major tourist attraction and are considered by many as incarnations of the goddess Kali and are revered until they menstruate, after which they return to the family and a new one is chosen."

A tourist attraction that no doubt gained even more attention after the previous Kumari of Bhaktapur visited America to promote a documentary about their lives. So enter Shreeya Bajracharya, the new Kumari of Bhaktapur.

"Shreeya was enthroned on Sunday amid prayers by Buddhist priests and will be worshipped by devout Hindus and Buddhists until reaching puberty, the girl's caretaker Nhuchhe Ratna Shakya said, adding: "She is pretty and nice." Shreeya, in a golden costume with her eyelashes blackened by mascara, was sitting on a carved throne, a butterlamp burning by her side, when a Reuters team visited her on Monday. Asked what she wanted to become in future, a quiet Shreeya just said: "nurse." She loves to eat biscuits and flattened rice, a common Nepali food, her aides said."

Unlike previous Kumari, she will no doubt attend school and have more personal freedom than previous girls in her position. Her appointment may represent an new spirit of compromise between the Maoist urge to "modernize" Nepal by ridding it of "inessential" institutions, and the desire by Nepalese Hindus and Buddhists to keep their religious traditions intact. Perhaps, like in the case of Togo's Vodou adepts, Nepal will decide that human rights and modernization can move forward without destroying religion and culture.

You Mean There Isn't A Satanic Voodoo-Santeria Pagan Cult?

2008-09-28T09:06:00.003-05:00

A few days ago I mentioned a story that I had some major problems with. It concerned a woman, Michelle Rene Wood, who was badly beaten and rushed to the hospital.

"Michelle Rene Wood, 42, of Palm Coast was found covered in blood with both eyes swollen shut early Monday, according to a St. Johns County sheriff's report. A rope was tied around her right wrist and a bungee cord around her left ankle, the report states."

Wood claimed that her injuries were from members of a "Santeria Voodoo" cult she had been affiliated with. This alleged cult, who she claims robbed and beat her, participated in Satanic rites and needed her for an important Autumn Equinox ritual.

"[Wood] said Sunday's abduction and beating were not the first she had suffered in recent days as a result of her leaving the group last year to become a Christian ... She was later taken to another home, believed to be in Flagler Estates, where her captors took drugs and performed a devil-worship ritual ... Wood also told investigators the men and a petite blonde woman named "Sky" took her to an open field near a home where a bonfire was burning. They were "preparing" for the autumnal equinox, she said. "They needed me to help call the spirits," Wood told investigators..."

A cult that mixes Santeria, Voodoo, Satanism, Paganism, drug-using, and guns? I've heard of syncretism, but this is ridiculous. Apparently the local police think so too, since they have closed the case.

"Flagler County sheriff's investigators closed the case of a Palm Coast woman who claimed to be abducted and attacked by members of a voodoo group, officials said Friday ... cult experts said Wood's story didn't line up with known voodoo practices. And sheriff's investigators found no evidence of organized satanic worship in the county, according to Maj. David O'Brien, Criminal Investigation Unit supervisor. In fact, O'Brien said his investigators couldn't find "credible evidence" that a crime even occurred. Plus, Wood has a history of making similar fraudulent claims to law enforcement, the Sheriff's Office said."

So let's see if I get this straight. A woman with a history of lying to the police, who (indirectly) admits to taking drugs, concocts a story about a "cult" after getting beaten up and this uncritically hits the headlines of the local newspapers and television broadcasters? You would think that a few more phone-calls would have produced the more likely scenario of a woman who has been attending church in an attempt to get clean, falls off the wagon, runs afoul of a gang, and gets robbed and beaten. A story that is just as tragic, but one that avoids smearing non-Christian minority faiths.

This isn't the first time that strange things have been incorrectly blamed on members of occult, modern Pagan, or Afro-diasporic religions, and it most likely won't be the last so long as journalists continue to act as unthinking regurgitators of press releases and police reports. Journalism isn't just repeating what other people say, but a process of gathering information with a set of ethical standards attached. While sensationalism sells, it also creates a fearful and jaded audience who eventually numb to the constant "bleed and it leads" ethic. It is little wonder that blogs and other new media outlets have become so popular at "mainstream" journalism's expense.

Harry Potter Haters

2008-09-27T06:35:00.002-05:00

MTV reports on the upcoming documentary about Harry Potter fan culture "We Are Wizards". Among the threads in this interesting-looking film is the opposition to Harry Potter by Christian conservatives, and the film features far-right conspiracy theorist Carol Matriciana as their voice.

"The fans� fight not just with Warner Bros. but also the religious right is also included, via occult researcher Carol Matriciana, who had made an anti-Potter film called �Witchcraft Repackaged.� �Her work has inspired a lot of Christian activists,� Koury said. �If doesn�t help anyone�s case if you�re going to show someone who rants and raves on either side, so I wanted her because she can make a sound argument.�"

If Matriciana is the "reasonable" voice of Christian opposition to Harry Potter, then it just shows you how far out of the mainstream these people are*. You see, her documentary "Witchcraft Repackaged" is sold by hate-literature mavens Chick Publications!

"This video explains how Scholastic Inc., the largest publisher of children's books in the world, is supplying Harry Potter materials to millions of schoolchildren. Scholastic Inc. is using its unrivaled position in the educational system to flood classrooms and libraries with wizardry, repackaged as 'children's fantasy literature.'"

In addition to falsely equating fantasy depictions of magic with the religious practice of modern Pagans, Matriciana also takes time out to spread slurs about Hinduism as well and is apparently a "ex-New-Ager" turned to Jesus.

"But years ago Chuck Smith and Carol Matriciana who had been in new age for years did a video on Hinduism, and in that exposure of an ashram up in Washington or Northwest somewhere, you saw people chanting demon names, then getting possessed, and writhing on the floor as demons entered them."

Sadly, people like Matriciana aren't some fringe element, but merely the "dark" side of anti-Harry Potter arguments by Christians. The flip side of a coin. Even "nice" Christians seem to lose their cool when discussing the boy wizard and his successful books.

"There were a few things in the book that I found problematic - the authors start on a tirade about the Harry Potter series� and while I do hold issue with the Harry Potter series, I do not think its the singular cause of the rise in Wicca in our country. First of all, it was on the rise well before the series came out and second of �well even the book goes into more details as to the rise of Wicca, but at first the book feels like its a condemnation of all things Potter� and they never quite make a conclusion, which is bothersome�"

The fact is that, despite attempts by some elements to ban Harry Potter, it has become a cultural phenomenon that will resonate for generations to come. Not a phenomenon of occult recruitment, but one of a shared story, a unifying world of fantasy and possibility that has united people across cultural, economic, and racial lines. I think the real problem for Christians is that Harry Potter, despite being written by a Christian, espouses a secular-based harmony at odds with the "safe" Biblical allegory (or "supposals") of C.S. Lewis. It isn't that Harry Potter makes Pagans, its that Harry Potter doesn't exclude or demonize Pagans, allowing them to fully insert themselves into the story alongside the Christian readers.

�We Are Wizards,� opens in New York on November 14.

* Check out "Hogwarts Professor" for a pro-Harry Christian perspective.

Brunswick Board is Back in the News!

2008-09-26T08:24:00.003-05:00

Some of you may remember our old friends on the Brunswick County School Board of North Carolina. Back in 2006 they tried to allow Christian groups to hand out religious literature on school campuses, a plan that was scuttled when Pagan publisher Llewellyn Worldwide told the board they would provide free books for local Pagans to hand out in schools.

Brunswick County Board of Education considering Pagan books.

"Board member Shirley Babson says she's not afraid of potential lawsuits. She's afraid of giving the appearance that the board approves of the literature groups would show the kids. "If I put something like this on the table, kids are going to say 'Mrs. Babson thinks that's alright. Mrs. Babson thinks that's fine,' " Babson said."

Then, in 2007, the Brunswick Board petulantly threatened to ban Harry Potter books from their libraries in seeming retaliation against the Witches.

"Brunswick County school officials will consider a procedure for students' parents to challenge books available at school libraries ... Board member Shirley Babson said some parents have expressed that books such as the Harry Potter series represent witchcraft and promote the practice of Wicca. Board member Jimmy Hobbs said he sees the importance of reviewing the policy. 'The issue is a valid issue,' Hobbs said. 'I'm not attacking Harry Potter. When the issue of Bibles in schools came up last year, the ones that raised the most opposition was the group known as Wicca. Does this policy give them a free pass to get their materials into the schools? When distributing materials, we should be careful by not being biased. Is Wicca being allowed, in other ways, to the exclusion of Christian literature?'"

Now our old pals are back again, and this time they want to "teach the controversy" by introducing creationism into their curriculum.

"Articles in the Wilmington, North Carolina Star News on Tuesday and Wednesday report that the Brunswick County (NC) School Board is looking for a way to teach creationism in the schools. The issue was raised at Tuesday's board meeting by parent Joel Fanti who told the board that it was unfair for evolution to be taught as a fact. Fanti said: 'I wasn't here 2 million years ago. If evolution is so slow, why don't we see anything evolving now?' School board member Jimmy Hobbs responded: 'It's really a disgrace for the state school board to impose evolution on our students without teaching creationism. The law says we can't have Bibles in schools, but we can have evolution, of the atheists.'"

Sadly, while their hearts want to teach children that people were hanging out with dinosaurs, state law prevents them from teaching religious dogma in science classes.

"But neither creationism nor the related �intelligent design,� which says life forms are so complex only a higher power could have created them, may be taught as a required course of study, Edd Dunlap, science section chief for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, said Wednesday. These are considered religious teachings and may not be taught in science class or as fact, although they may be included as part of an elective, such as a course on religion or philosophy, he said."

Looks like the Brunswick Board has been foiled again! You know, maybe they should turn their attention to actually improving the schools they oversee instead of constantly hatching plots to insert Christian religion into the school district. If they truly feel that the only good education is a Christian education, maybe they should move into the private sector.