The San Francisco Gate interviews author (and modern mystic) Erik Davis about his new book “The Visionary State: A Journey Through California’s Spiritual Landscape”.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the spiritual eccentricity of California. I was born in the Bay Area, and I grew up in Del Mar, a beach town north of San Diego. And during my adolescence I was exposed to the whole gamut of California weirdness. It was the tail end of the spiritual counterculture. By the time I went away to college I had hung out with Zen practitioners, gone to the Hare Krishna temple and taken classes in my public high school from an EST leader. At a much later point in my life, I decided to find out more about California’s spiritual experiment: Why did it happen here? Where did it come from? Who were the major players?”

In addition to his visual tour of faith and spirituality in California, Davis is also the recent author of a mystical exploration of the Led Zeppelin IV album.

Earlier this month I reported on a Catholic radio station that had turned a former abortion clinic into a Catholic chapel. Here was the smug quote of triumphalism from Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo on the chapel consecration.

“In the tradition of the early church, pagan temples were turned into holy spaces. We have done the same thing here today.”

But it turns out that the Catholic radio station was lying. Instead of it being an abortion clinic it was a retired ophthalmologist’s office, a Catholic retired ophthalmologist’s office.

“…Wright explained that the building’s previous owner informed him that abortions had been performed in the office. But Howard said she doesn’t know where Wright got that impression. “I’m shocked that he thought that,” she said. “If he’s under that assumption, he’s wrong.” The story has since appeared across the country through Catholic News Service, a wire service for Catholic press. The Howards are Catholic and wouldn’t have allowed abortions in their building, Mary Jane Howard said. “I can guarantee we never had an abortion clinic in that place,” said Dr. Howard, a retired ophthalmologist. Mary Jane Howard, who managed the property, said she was concerned that the story as presented by WLOF “casts aspersions on our character.” “It takes [the property] from a respected medical building, which it was, to something that’s a little bit sleazy,” she said.”

Oops. Looks like the radio station has some explaining to do, not only to their listening audience but to the Bishop who was convinced he was consecrating a “pagan” temple of abortion to the Catholic cause. But don’t hold your breath, the owners are sticking to their “abortion clinic” story.

“Nonetheless, Joanne Wright maintained that a “reliable source” told the Wrights that abortions had been performed in the office space. “We weren’t out to find out who, what or where,” she said. “We trust this reliable source,” whom she declined to identify.”

It looks like a triumphal attitude doesn’t need the truth any longer, just a unidentified “reliable source”.

Since the release of Ronald Hutton’s “Triumph of The Moon” back in 2000, I have yearned for a book that would take an in-depth look at the history of modern Paganism in America. So I was more than a little excited and hopeful when I heard that Pagan academic Chas Clifton was rising to the task in his new book “Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America”. Finally a book that would take a look at how modern Paganism and Wicca took root in American soil and became one of the fastest growing faiths in the country.

Clifton – knowing that he could in no way cover everything that has happened from the 1930s to the present – has chosen with this book to lay down some basic parameters for talking about modern Pagan history in America. First he concentrates on Wicca: it being the largest and most influential modern Pagan religion in America. Secondly, when moving out from Wicca he generally stays with groups that claim to follow “nature” or “earth” religions. Not getting much attention in this history are the “reconstructionist” Pagan faiths and feminist Wicca.

“…the story of contemporary Paganism in America has too many strands to enumerate. Because of my wish to focus on many Pagans’ claim to follow “nature religion,” I have for the most part set aside those groups that pay more attention to ethnic roots, such as reconstructed Greek, Roman, ot Norse religions. Their history remains to be written. Even these, however, may yet welcome the label of nature religion or earth religion as it becomes more widely accepted in the larger society. Likewise, I have give the origins of feminist Wicca a fairly brief treatment; since the appearance of Starhawk’s The Spiral Dance in 1979, it has received much attention, perhaps to the point of obscuring its context in the larger Pagan story.”

These limitations allow Clifton to focus on some little known figures and give credit to some unlikely heroes. One of those unlikely figures responsible for the rapid growth of Wicca and Paganism in America is journalist and parapsychologist Hans Holzer. Holzer, who has written over 138 books in his lifetime was one of the first people to introduce the idea of religious Witchcraft to a mass audience. At a time when finding books written by Pagans was difficult at best, just about anyone could find a cheap paperback copy of “The Truth About Witchcraft” during the 1970s.

“Ever since I wrote “The Truth about Witchcraft,” hundreds of people have approached me to show them the way to the nearest coven.” – Hans Holzer

Another major theme that emerges in the book is the author’s discussion of Wicca (and other related faiths) evolving into “earth” or “nature” faiths. The book plots the course of American culture’s heightened awareness of environmental issues and how – post Earth Day in 1970 – modern Pagans were uniquely situated to advance themselves as theologically in tune with the needs of the environment. Clifton also lays out three different kinds of “nature religion” that in one way or another encompass most of modern Pagan religions active today. The first is “Cosmic Nature” (dealing with abstract notions of nature), the second “Gaian Nature” (dealing directly with the natural world), and the third is “Erotic Theology” (dealing with the human body).

These three natures blend and intersect with Wicca and other related faiths (and most modern Pagan theologies incorporate at least two of these concepts) to create a unique “earth religion”: a religion grounded in our sacral relationship with the cosmos, our ecosystems, and our bodies.

There is so much more I wish I could cover in this review, the “Gardnerian Magnet”, the evolution of non-traditional Wicca, how British Wicca spread in America, and how the notorious Satanist Anton LaVey ended up interviewed or mentioned in most of the books about Witchcraft during the late sixties and early seventies. My only quibble with this book is that I wished it three times as large. This is really only what I hope will be the first in a series of books about how modern Paganism emerged and grew in American soil. Chas Clifton has done yeoman’s work here and should be highly praised. An essential book for anyone interested in our history, and how that history is shaping the future of modern Paganism. The bar has just been raised.

The Literary Review takes a look at Tristram Stuart’s new book “The Bloodless Revolution: Radical Vegetarians and the Discovery of India”. While the book concentrates mostly on the 17th and 18th century, the reviewer takes time to look briefly on classical sources and how interactions between India and the Western world have been shaping vegetarian ideals as early as the sixth century BCE.

“Although the word “vegetarian” was not coined until the 1840s, as long ago as the sixth century BC Pythagoras propounded a theory of immortality that entailed the transmigration of the soul between living creatures – and thus the immorality of eating the flesh of any of them. Pythagoras was thought to have encountered this theory while travelling in Egypt, to which country it was believed to have been introduced by philosophers from India. His doctrines were later advocated by such philosophical giants as Socrates, Diogenes and Plato and would become a seminal part of the Hellenistic philosophical tradition. Pythagoras may not have visited India himself, but Alexander the Great certainly did; and when Alexander arrived in Taxila (now in Pakistan) in 326 BC and encountered Brahmin, Jane and Buddhist ascetics (he called them “gymnosophists”) who also believed in reincarnation and non-violence and therefore did not eat meat, the link with (if not “the Discovery of”) India was confirmed. Just as this evidence of an early and exotic provenance lent credibility to Greek philosophy, so the existence of a culture that had survived – even thrived – for so long on a meat-free diet has inspired the vegetarian movement ever since.”

The books author (who is not a vegetarian himself) says that the motivations to become vegetarian haven’t changed too much.

“People decide to be vegetarian for the same reasons now as 2,000 years ago – it is good for their health and they don’t like the idea of killing animals.”

In our modern era, the issue of meat is still a contentious one. While there are between eight and twelve million self-described vegetarians in America (and around 4 million in the UK) the lifestyle choice still raises the hackles of defensive meat-eaters. Some of this is due to some shrill extremists who garner more press than the quiet majority, but I would argue that even more is due to an aggressive meat industry that intends to hold on to its market share at all costs.

I think these issues cut right to the core of Pagan religions that claim to live closer (or in harmony with) to the land. It is an issue of not only if we do or don’t eat meat, but how we treat our livestock (and how that livestock affects our environment). It goes beyond simply being “thankful” to divine powers for our food and instead making conscious decisions on how we interact with life on this planet. My personal veganism is simply how I choose to manifest that change within myself, an alternate (and equally valid) road is taken by people like Dave Haxton – a Heathen farmer who raises and provides naturally raised organic dairy products and meat to his community.

No matter how we choose to effect a more responsible lifestyle it is becoming clear the issue can’t be ignored for much longer. We can’t go on the way we have been going on without serious repercussions for our children and future generations down the line.

Three young criminals loot and desecrate a string of six churches in Alabama. The local sheriff catches the young men (which he attributes to “God’s grace and the prayers of the people”) and they now face trial and sentencing. Seems pretty cut and dried doesn’t it? Lawbreakers get caught, face justice. But the twist here is what was seized as “evidence” during the search warrant.

“Almost all the items were recovered after officers executed a search warrant at two local residences. Officers also found documents related to Wicca, a pagan religion, and other occult-related documents.”

Motive Wicca? While I hope these criminals face justice and are made to repay their debt to society, I also hope that the found “Wicca documents” are thrown out as any sort of evidence in the case. Unless they are also going to start seizing Bibles from Christian criminals as evidence for their motivations.

In a final bid to halt his execution this evening, Michael Lenz (a member of the Nordic Pagan religion Asatru) has filed a last-minute petition to Virginia Governer Tim Kaine for clemency. Kaine, a centrist Democrat and faithful Catholic said during a radio talk-show that he is considering the appeal. In the past Kaine has made his deep personal misgivings about the death penalty, misgivings that stem from his Catholic faith, known. While he has allowed two executions to happen during his term as Governer, he has also delayed an execution to allow for extensive psychological testing.

Lenz is being put to death for the stabbing death of a fellow inmate during a religious ceremony. Will the Catholic pardon the Pagan? I guess we will find out tonight.

Update: Lenz was put to death by injection at Greensville Correctional Center. He was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m. EDT

Fellow Pagan blogger (and trial lawyer) Fiacharrey weighs in on the jury selection for the murder trial of Scott Dyleski. I thought the lawyers were twisting the rights to a jury of one’s peers by eliminating anyone with an interest in Wicca or the goth subculture (another Pagan blogger says it is out and out jury stacking), but Fiacharrey says this is just the give and take involved in ensuring a relatively fair jury trial.

“When it comes down to it, there are really only two general ways that are fair to select a jury. The first would be a truly random selection, and whatever you get is what you get. That would be fair, but most people wouldn’?t like to spin the wheel quite that much. The other choice is to have some process by which jurors are reasonably selected and anyone with unfair biases somehow weeded out…So, yes, Wiccans will be eliminated in occult-themed cases. So will “God-Fearin’ Bible-Thumpers” because the Defense gets to de-select jurors too. Both sides have to burn up their limited allotment of free strikes, called “peremtory challenges” in Louisiana, to do so. The defense attorney will certainly try to eliminate anyone too conservative or too easily swayed by the State’s witnesses. In other cases, the people “discriminated” against might be Mormons, might be Methodists, might be used car dealers. It’s not jury stacking, it’s jury selecting.”

While this case may not be “jury stacking” I’m still not convinced he is being tried by a jury of one’s peers. It seems these sorts of acceptable tactics are being used to not only eliminate extremists (”I can tell he is guilty by looking at him”) but to eliminate anyone with anything resembling a sympathetic knowledge of the cultures being discussed in the trial. Isn’t this current method only a few shades better than the days of blatant jury-rigging (as in the mob days, or during the civil rights struggle)? Is justice being served when cases are being decided by the uninformed?

If you think church and state conflicts are heated in North America, you should look at South America where the stakes can be far higher. Recently, Bolivian President Evo Morales has come under fire for his plan to remove Catholicism as the sole faith taught in public and private schools.

“Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday said some members of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy are behaving as if they were in “the times of the Inquisition” as he defended his government’s plan to remove Catholicism as the sole religion taught in schools…”I want to ask the [church] hierarchies that they understand freedom of religion and beliefs in our country,” Morales told reporters. “It’s not possible to impose their views.”…Catholicism will be taught alongside world religions, especially Bolivian Indian religions.”

Bolivia has been heavily Catholic since it was colonized by Spain, Morales is the first indigenous head of state in 450 years. Morales hopes that his plan of demoting Catholicism to one of many faiths will knock down “ethnic borders” that have marginalized indigenous peoples in his country. But there have been rumblings from the Catholic establishment that violent resistance could ensue if Morales is seen as going too far.

“Bolivia’s Cardinal Julio Terrazas told Catholics on Sunday to stop being “passive” and defend their faith. “Great wars began with small theories … with this discourse of hate, rancor, of unforgiveness,” Terrazas said”

It remains to be seen how far “active” defense of the Catholic faith will go in this context. It should be interesting to see the cultural ramifications of Morales’ plan and how far he will be allowed to push Catholic religion out of a dominant place in the country before Catholic forces push back.

Anyone interested in taking the discussion started yesterday on this blog about Asatru in (and out of) prison further should head over to Dave Haxton’s blog for the insiders perspective. Haxton critiques the critics poor grasping of Asatru theology both historically and in the present time.

“…could you point out any reference in our lore, ancient or modern, where my failure to engage in mortal combat in a frithstead will give me a “black mark” on my soul? While you’re at it, why don’t you show me the coherent Asatru conception of the soul – I know scholars who’ve been looking for it for years! I’ve stood blot and sumble with twits who surely deserved a good ass-kicking – and I’m sure the feeling was reciprocated. Yet somehow we never managed to engage in combat, mortal or otherwise, within a frithstead. Or even outside of one. Wanna know why? Because we’re not criminals!”

As I said in yesterdays entry, I thought the article should have spoken to more people within Asatru and relied less on outside “experts”. Once again, a reporter fell into the trap of providing “balance” from outsiders (some who have a hostile opinion on the religion) on issues of Pagan theology instead of going to the source.

The Associated Press has a story out dealing with the growing influence of Asatru (aka Norse Paganism or Odinism) inside American prisons. With the upcoming execution of Asatruar Michael Lenz this Thursday for the killing a fellow inmate, the culture of the faith in and out of jail is examined.

“A pagan religion that some experts say can be interpreted as encouraging violence is gaining popularity among prison inmates, one of whom is scheduled to be executed this week for killing a fellow prisoner at the foot of an altar…Asatru has been gaining popularity among inmates, say religious leaders and prison experts who believe its roots in Viking mythology attract prisoners seeking power, protection and unity.”

AP writer Kristin Gelineau talks to Stephen McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly, Pagan author M. Macha NightMare, and Patrick McCollum, Wiccan chaplain of the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif., and national religious adviser for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. McCollum and McNallen both insist that only a small percentage of incarcerated Asatru are violent or part of a white supremacist “warrior” mentality that lead to the killings in Lenz’s case.

“McNallen said most Asatruars are peaceful people who abhor the kind of violence seen in the case of Lenz, who was sentenced to death in 2000 for Parker’s murder. Lenz and another inmate, fellow Asatruar Jeffrey Remington, fatally stabbed the 41-year-old Parker a combined 68 times with makeshift knives during the prison ceremony. Remington also was sentenced to death, but committed suicide in 2004.”

Despite these assertions, many in the mainstream have a hard time separating the violent offenders and racists from the true believers. Groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center who report extensively on racist Heathen groups (and hate groups in general) seem to have trouble finding the non-racist elements of Asatru.

“That kind of warrior mentality can exacerbate an already tense environment behind bars, some experts say. “It’s a theology that celebrates raw physical power and domination — and that is why I think it is so popular among prison inmates,” said Mark Potok, director of the intelligence project at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., which monitors hate groups.”

The situation seem to be heading for a boiling point, with Asatru quickly gaining converts, a prison system that sees that growth as a threat to security, and a lack of qualified Pagan/Heathen prison chaplains to mediate between converts and prison staff. It seems like it is only a matter of time before something even uglier than a isolated ritual murder takes place. I wish this article had gone further, talked to more Asatru leaders, and made clearer the distinctions between the racist strains of Asatru and the much bigger peaceful mainstream of the faith.