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

Salon.com profiles Norway, the Eddas, and literature inspired by them.

“There are two Eddas, the Elder and the Younger. Like the sagas, these were written in Iceland, not in Norway, but they remain the core of the ancient Norse religion. In these collections, we read how Odin, king of the gods, cut out one of his eyes as payment for a drink of the knowledge-bearing waters of the Well of Weird, then gashed his side and hanged himself for nine days from Yggdrasil, the ash tree that supports our world and eight other supernatural ones. Rabbits are gnawing at Yggdrasil’s roots. Someday it will fall and then the world will end.”

Gary Gentile of the Associated Press takes a look at the Internet phenomenon that is the “lonelygirl15″ video blog. Is the character in these viral videos a Thelemite?

“In subsequent “episodes” (so far, she has posted more than 30 videos with the latest entry posted Sept. 10), Bree talks about her parents, her friend Daniel and her “religion,” which includes a mysterious ritual Bree has been selected for. The ceremony only takes place “once in a really long while” and attendance is limited to a select few. “My parents won’t even be allowed to come,” Bree says. The ceremony also involves memorization and “special exercises” that Bree’s mother is going to help her with. Plus, she has to go on a diet. “Other than that, it’s basically like preparing for a bar mitzvah or a confirmation,” Bree says matter of factly. The mystery deepens. In her room is what looks like a shrine to the occult figure Aleister Crowley, leading many Bree-watchers to assume she is involved in some kind of Satanic cult.”

The Global Congress on World’s Religions is holding a five-day convention on religion after 9/11 from September 11th through the 15th. One of the speakers will be Covenant of The Goddess member Paula Johnson.

“For her part, the Lynn University alumna and current Master’?s candidate in Mass Communication will be talking specifically about the media’?s role in shaping the general public’s opinion about major world religions and marginalized belief systems. To her point, Johnson will focus her presentation (entitled “A Pagan By Any Other Name: The Rhetoric of Nature Religion in the Media”) on the high profile case of deceased U.S. Army Sergeant Patrick Stewart, a practicing Wiccan who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005.”

Bruce Hood, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol claims that superstition and magical thinking are all part of our evolution as humans.

“Religion and other forms of magical thinking continue to thrive ?? despite the lack of evidence and advance of science ?? because people are naturally biased to accept a role for the irrational, said Bruce Hood, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol. This evolved credulity suggests that it would be impossible to root out belief in ideas such as creationism and paranormal phenomena, even though they have been countered by evidence and are held as a matter of faith alone.”

Stephen McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly is interviewed by Beliefnet in the wake of the execution of Asatru prisoner Michael Lenz. During the interview McNallen gives us his vision for the future of Asatru.

“I would like it to continue the evolution that it has been making for years now, which is away from the warrior stereotype. I would like people to see that we are a balanced, positive path, that just as we have gods, so we have goddesses. Just as we value assertiveness and all of these “tough” values, so also do we value nurturing, the gifts of the Mother – and Mother with a capital M here – respect for the earth, care for the earth, love for the earth – Asatru is a native European religion. Just like the Native Americans have their way, so have we our way. Words like “pagan” and “heathen” are inadequate. I’d like the world in general to understand the importance of the ancestors, not just of my ancestors but their own. This time-transcending unity is, in many ways, our last defense against a mechanistic, inorganic, life-denying materialism that threatens to eat all of us, whether we’re in Norway or Nigeria.”

In a final note, a large number of Pagan Pride events are coming up this weekend. Expect the usual round of press as local Pagans and Heathens get interviewed by their local papers. If there is one near you, why not make an appearance?

Tags: Paganism