Archive for December, 2009

Newer Entries »

News & Submissions 12/8/2009

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

It is time to negoitate a peace treaty and end the ‘War on Christmas’
Jesus was not born on December 25. Early Christians picked that date because it was a popular Roman pagan holiday marking the winter solstice. Jesus probably wasn’t born in a stable, either. Read full story from the examiner.com

Ashland OR school removes holiday tree
ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — The principal of an elementary school in Ashland, Ore., has removed a holiday giving tree from the school after several families complained it was a religious symbol. Read full story from kgw.com

Kaleidoscope of religions
Every five years a gathering known as the Parliament of the World’s Religions draws people from all over the world. It’s happening now, this time in Melbourne, Australia. For seven days, a jam-packed schedule of events ranges from the ultimate and urgent to the personal and pragmatic. There’s culture, politics, meditation, exhibitions, bells and, yes, some whistles. Monks mingle with Catholic priests, Hindu swamis with Zoroastrians and Sikhs. Atheists and pagans have their place. Just walking through the crowd gives a vivid portrait of humanity. And a sea of cameras capture the extraordinary scene. Read full story from newsweek.washingtonpost.com

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Pagan News | Comments Off

News & Submissions 12/7/2009

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Taking back the Pagan holiday tree and where to find Pagan ornaments
Anyone who knows their history knows that the “Christmas” tree was first introduced by ancient Pagans.  The Egyptians decorated palm branches during the winter solstice to symbolize resurrection. Ancient Greeks decorated evergreen trees in worship of Adonia, who was resurrected by a serpent.  The ancient Germans decorated evergreen trees in worship of Woden.   Romans covered their trees with metallic decorations and candles to honor Bacchus.  All of these tree decorating traditions predated Christianity. Read full story from examiner.com

Fifth Parliament of World’s Religions
The Fifth Parliament of World’s Religions is currently convening in Melbourne, Australia. Every major religion is represented in the name of peace. Read full story from examiner.com

Police force ‘consulted warlock over horse plaiting’
Owners in west Dorset and the surrounding counties had believed that thieves plaited the manes of the beasts to identify which ones to steal when they returned at night. Read full story from telegraph.co.uk

The problems with therapy
The group, founded by Nancy Alcorn, an American Christian evangelist who blames psychiatric illnesses and homosexuality on “demonic activity”, has homes in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It claims it has helped more than 2,500 girls worldwide to overcome depression, eating disorders, addiction and other “life-controlling issues”. It is believed that about 20 young women are now in care in the UK home, which opened in 2006 Read full story from timesonline.co.uk

‘Witchcraft is no stranger than pigeon racing’
Pointy hats, black cats and broomsticks – Marcus Katz has heard it all before. The 43-year-old from Keswick is a witch… and he’s not ashamed to admit it. Read full story from newsandstar.co.uk

Devotion to Saint Death
On the first day of each month, one of the most unusual religious congregations in Mexico gathers here at Alfareria Street in a tough barrio that even aspiring outlaws regard as a place to watch your back. Read full story from washingtonpost.com

Vets come out ‘of the broom closet’
Charles Arnold is national commander of the Pagan Veterans of the United States. The Morrisville Vietnam veteran said his members deserve respect equal to any Christian, Jew or Muslim who served the country. Read full story from phillyburbs.com

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Pagan News | Comments Off

News & Submissions 12/2/2009

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Happy Re-Birthday: Celebrating the Light’s Return at Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice marks the shift of the seasons from harvesting crops to rejuvenating the Earth.
In 2009, this longest night of the year falls on December 21. While the notion of winter usually evokes images of warm coats, mittens and boots, in ancient times Winter Solstice was honored as the turning point when the sun begins warming the Earth a little bit longer every day. Read full story from visionmagazine.com

Midwinter revels and holidays of light
“Go Christmas, go Hanukkah, go Kwanzaa, go Solstice!” So shout the brightly clad young models of a current TV commercial, as they leap about the screen like cheerleaders in their stripy sweaters and knitted gloves. Yet another seasonal advertisement by a multinational garment-selling conglomerate. But wait. What are the holidays mentioned in the ad again? Do they really finish their cheer with Solstice? Read full story from mountainx.com

Satanic activity in the Forest of Dean sounds strangely familiar
Fans of Dennis Wheatley and Hammer horror will know that British rural life has long been synonymous with the occult. The apartment-block Satanism of Rosemary’s Baby is simply not for us: we feel goats’ skulls, naked virgins and wicker men look better in a forest or field than on Clapham High Street. Read full story from telegraph.co.uk

ADL Urges Appeals Court to Allow Religious Leader to Challenge Discriminatory Policy
New York, NY, December 1, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged a federal appeals court to allow a Wiccan religious leader to have his day in court to pursue a religious discrimination case. Read full story from adl.org

Celebration of Light events to honor lost loved ones
The first holiday season after a loved one’s death can be among the hardest experiences for his or her survivors — burdensome and isolating while others celebrate in good cheer. Read full story from insidebayarea.com

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Pagan News | Comments Off

News & Submissions 12/1/2009

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

December 1 is World AIDS Day
Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day – a day to bring awareness to this pandemic that does not discriminate based on gender, age, color, religious sect nor sexual orientation. Almost every one of us knows someone who has been touched by this disease in some way: a friend, a sibling, a parent, a child, a cousin, a friend’s child – someone in our lives has been affected. Read full story from examiner.com

Climate change, drought transforming Navajo’s dunescape to a dust bowl
WINSLOW, Ariz. – Instead of spending his time in ceremony one warm night last July, Navajo rancher Robert Diller spent it in his tractor, digging other attendees and their cars out of the sand. He lost count after 10. Read full story from indiancountrytoday.com

An Open Letter To President Obama On Afghanistan
Do you really want to be the new “war president”? If you go to West Point tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8pm) and announce that you are increasing, rather than withdrawing, the troops in Afghanistan, you are the new war president. Read full story from huffingtonpost.com

Town seeks protection from pending ‘witches conference’
The chiefs and people of Hiawu Besease in the Ashanti Region are fervently organizing prayers and fasting to fend off any evil as the date for an intended witches conference slated to take place in the town. Read full story from modernghana.com

Religious Right Launches Fresh Assault on US Abortion Rights
Catholic bishops and Protestant evangelists in the US have unleashed an intense lobbying campaign to force fresh limitations on access to abortion into healthcare legislation under debate in the Senate this week. Read full story from commondreams.org

Same-Sex Marriage Passes D.C. Council, 11-2
No big surprises in the first D.C. Council vote on legalizing same-sex marriage: the Council today voted 11-2 to approve the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009,” with Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) the only dissenters. Read full story from dcist.com

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Pagan News | Comments Off

Newer Entries »