(Pagan) News of Note
Some recent articles, essays, and opinions of note for the discerning Heathen.
Jewish newspaper Forward features two book reviews by Jay Michaelson (founder of Zeek Journal) dealing with the Jewish goddess.
“Recently…archaeologists and biblical critics have revealed a far more complicated picture of how biblical Israelites lived their religious lives…most scholars now believe that the ancient Israelite world was far less monolithic, and monotheistic, than the Bible suggests. Household shrines, statuettes of male and female figures, and inscriptions and carvings describing “YHVH and His Asherah” all point to a decentralized biblical religion that was practiced largely within family structures, and well beyond the strictures of Jerusalem’s orthodox elite. Some scholars believe that this evidence points to an indigenous “goddess worship” that regarded the biblical God as one half of a divine couple. Others say it suggests the influence of non-Israelite religions. And still others…believe that the tradition of the Divine Feminine – a female half of God, or bride of God, or earth-centered, body-centered counterpart to the sky god Yah – endured long after the biblical period ended.”
The reviewed books are “Did God Have a Wife? Archeology And Folk Religion in Ancient Israel” by William G. Dever, and “The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature” by Rami Shapiro.
Proving that modern Pagans can’t be pigeon-holed, The Daily Barometer, student newspaper of the Oregon State University profiles local student Mike Reitmajer.
“Mike Reitmajer is a politically conservative, heavy metal bassist who enjoys being president of the OSU Bug Zoo. He also follows the Pagan faith. Not exactly your “typical” OSU sophomore in bio-engineering…A Republican, Reitmajer said he registered for the party as soon as he turned 18. But he said he disagrees with the promotion of Christianity often associated with the party.”
The Pulse, a local newspaper distributed in Minneapolis / St. Paul (aka Paganistan) takes a look at one of my favorite films (The Wicker Man) and talks about the pagan origins of May Day.
“The film has done better with English audiences than American, in part, one expects, because the American May Day, when observed, is the International Workers Day. This workers’ holiday is celebrated on the British Isles, but it is coupled with a traditional feast day, including May Poles, Morris dancers and bonfires. “The Wicker Man” effectively unpacks this festival, revealing the pre-Christian origin of many of the day’s activities, although adding its own dash of cinematic suspense. Perhaps one of the reasons “The Wicker Man” has developed such a following in Great Britain is because anyone who has attended the traditional British May Day festival-or any number of similar agrarian festivals-knows the creeping feeling that the entirety of the United Kingdom is still one step removed from paganism, and might revert back at any time.”
Much is being made of a local psycho’s Pagan affiliation. John Anderson, killed his former girlfriend Natasha Miller when he learned she was marrying someone else. Since the death he has been claiming it was part of a “Druidic” ritual, and that he is a Druid.
“Anderson told police he was a druid and lived by the elements of nature — earth, water and fire — and that’s why he placed her body in the river. He has been charged with one count of open murder and is being held without bond in the Oakland County Jail.”
I can see this one fueling the fears (and adding fodder for anti-Pagan tracts) of concerned Christians. Point of order: killing your ex-girlfriend isn’t related to Druidic ritual ancient or modern. It doesn’t make you a Pagan, it makes you a sick freak.
Finally, for the cat lovers out there. Stars & Stripes reports on the annual Cat Parade in Ypers, Belgium. Plenty of cat-related Pagan fun included!
“Exotic Egyptian cats ride in painted boats carrying Egyptian worshippers to the cat sanctuary in the town of Bubastis. Giant wild cats draw the German goddess Freya in her heavenly carriage. Black cats curl around their witch companions.”
That’s it for now. In honor of the parade I’ll see if I can curl up in the sun somewhere for a nap. Have a good day!
One response so far
I think the Bible is pretty clear about Hebrew polytheism. It’s one of the reasons the Israelites are constantly punished by God. An old issue of Archaeology Magazine explores this further.