Are Modern Pagan Faiths in the 80?
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, photo by Alan Burles.
“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.
2 responses so far
Greetings,
Glad to see you've picked up this story – we're the Sydney coven of witches who had Peter dancing round the fiery cauldron you're referring to!
In an email out of the blue from a BBC producer, we were approached to participate in and be part of this doco. We were initially surprised that Peter and his crew wanted to travel half way round the world to film a group of witches, when there must be plenty in the UK – the birthplace of modern Wicca. We were nonetheless honored and intrigued.
The filming of our Full Moon Esbat rite was quite an experience. We've had photographers in our circle in the past, but never a camera and a roving 'woolly' mic (see pics on Flickr). The crew blended into the circle as best they could and we relished the opportunity to share such a sacred ritual with genuinely interested people.
We really wanted Peter to have an authentic and unapologetic experience of what it's like to be at the Esbat. He took a bit of persuasion before he decided to join the coven skyclad, but I think he's glad he did, as were we.
I should note that we haven't actually seen any footage yet, although the Producer has been in touch to say she will be sending us a copy. Ironically the program is not scheduled to be aired here in Australia yet either! So we are relying on UK pagans in order to get a glimpse.
You can see some photos taken by our friend Jennie Jones on the night via my Flickr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58658312@N00/
vinum sabbati,
Tim Hartridge & Tori Collin
http://www.witchesworkshop.com
http://www.witchcampaustralia.org.au
[...] more on this program, check out my original entry on the subject (which includes a comment from a member of the coven Peter Owen Jones visited). As for the rest of [...]