Paganism

Culture and Community: Do Pagan Bloggers Help to Shape Pagan Culture?

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The use of the internet in modern Paganism has changed the way that people access information and express themselves in modern culture. One of the most widely used mediums for information sharing has become the blogosphere. Pagan blogs range from having an academic theme to the purely personal, and everything in between. The popular transition from reading books to reading blogs has created a culture of fast information gathering and the ability for everyone to have a format. This has also contributed to the idea that everyone is a potential “expert,” making the distinctions of reliability challenging.

Paganism

Culture and Community: Technology in Modern Paganism

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Technological advances and access to technology have greatly changed the everyday experience of many communities around the world, especially here in America. Everything from access to information, training, and the ability to connect with people in different geographical areas, have made the process of connection much different than it was ten, twenty, or thirty years ago. According to Internet World Stats, 84.9% of the population in the United States have internet access or are internet users. Avenues of communication in greater society have been largely replaced with social media platforms, email, video chats, and online learning systems; these same systems are translating to Paganism as well. The impact of living in a booming technological age on Paganism has shown how interesting advances can enhance or hamper community connectivity.

Paganism

Column: Social Unrest and the Reflections of Pagans of Color

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The current climate of society has always directly influenced the cultural tone of the time. With increased racial tension in the United States, between Obama’s re-election, the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, and the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case, these larger society issues also have a profound impact on Pagans and how we interact in community. Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, and other social networking mediums have been flooded with reactions and responses to the most recent media bomb, the Trayvon Martin court case verdict, and everyone seems to be talking. What has become quite apparent in these discussions everywhere is the disconnect between different concepts of oppression, culture, cultural response, and empathetic exchange or cultural sensitivity. The widening diversity gap within the faces seen in Pagan groups and circles bring about a growing need to understand the complexities of cultural integration into the Pagan community.