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Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, July 28

China puts the pressure on nomadic ethnic minorities along its northern border. Feminists within Orthodox Judaism struggle to make their voices heard. And the Scandinavian far-right takes a populist stance. That's right it's time for Fiery Tuesday, our weekly news segment on political and social news from around the globe. If you're looking for a Pagan perspective on the news, here's our take!

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Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, June 16

We Pagans often like to think of ourselves as a minority religion, ignored and disregarded by mainstream culture. But we're far from the group striving for equality and representation. This week for Fiery Tuesday we take a look at America's first underprivileged group: the American Indians / Native Americans, who've struggled for centuries against colonialism and exploitation. Read on to hear about some of the most relevant issues affecting natives today, from protecting their rights to their ancient traditions to how they're represented in the U.S. Census. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

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Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs
Clashing Cymbals

Today's blog post is going to delve into the world of Christians and an aspect of the way many practice their faith.  I realize that the audience here may not be all that interested.  However, the community "fencerow" that I dwell and work in is populated on both sides by Christians.  As a matter of fact, until the turning of the 21st century (give or take a couple of years), I walked the same path.  So, it is just natural that my musings and experiences are still influenced. 

Recently I had the wondrous experience of being "damned to hell for all eternity" because I shared a post on my Facebook page about recognizing the Feminine Divine.  The post basically pointed out that while many Bible believers will say that God doesn't have a gender, they will get offended if you refer to God in any feminine term.  That set off a locally known person. He went on a rant on his own page babbling about calling God female is "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" and that anyone even hinting at that is going to hell for eternity.  I considered the source and instead of being angry, I just put up a little picture of one of those weird monkey toys that clashes cymbals.  I had previously responded to this same person with the same scripture source that he likes to use in his judgmental attacks, the Bible.   He makes a mistake when trying to use Biblical references in debate because even though I am not a Biblical Scholar, I used to teach Bible at church and did so longer than he has even been alive.  Anyway, I digress...

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Carol P. Christ
    Carol P. Christ says #
    Pneuma, spirit or breath, is a neuter word in Greek. Ruah breath, shekinah, presence, and hokmah, wisdom are all feminine in Heb
  • Ian Phanes
    Ian Phanes says #
    Carol, Thank you for the correction, I was misled by the -a ending.
  • SophiaDawn
    SophiaDawn says #
    Yes, this is absolutely correct. The Hebrew word, Shekinah, refers to the Holy Spirit and is a feminine word. Horrors if you poi
  • Ian Phanes
    Ian Phanes says #
    I would point out that "Hagia Pneuma", that is, the phrase in the New Testament translated as "Holy Spirit", is feminine--never ma
  • Thesseli
    Thesseli says #
    I don't even bother dealing with Christians or other minions of the so-called "God" of Abraham like this. It would be like a geolo

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Dear Christians, can you see me?

I was married five years ago. Now I am not. My divorce was awful (surprise). My ex-husband was abusive. I had a bad experience in bible college. I was hurt by the church.

When I talk to Christians, I inevitably face a myriad of questions about these experiences, followed by condolences and apologies and reflections of how sad and hard it must have all been. It was sad and hard. And in the years that followed I have healed, I have learned, I have grown, I have fallen in love, with wonderful people, with my life, with my community, with Spirit, and with myself. I am happier now than ever before. My life is not a collection of knee-jerk reactions to pain.

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Jeanine Byers
    Jeanine Byers says #
    I was drawing down the moon before I knew what that was, too!! And I am SO glad I have found your blog. Everything you've said in
  • Camille
    Camille says #
    I joined this site just so I could follow your excellent and thought-provoking blog. I want to read more!
  • Lizann Bassham
    Lizann Bassham says #
    Thank you for sharing your story Annika. I was lucky in that the Christian denomination I became part of in middle school is very
  • Ted Czukor
    Ted Czukor says #
    This is fascinating to me, Lizann - as you will know if you've followed my debate with Anthony on my "Common Ground" blog. What, p
  • Annika Mongan
    Annika Mongan says #
    Reclaiming is the tradition I have been studying with as well, and I am also still involved in a progressive Christian community.

I must begin this article with a disclaimer. There have been entire books written on each of these ancient symbols, and I cannot presume to include all of the information, or all of the esoteric theories, in these few paragraphs. I propose here to discuss the one theme which they all share in common: each of these figures is a three-tiered representation of the levels of Creation.

1)  The first figure is sometimes called the Star of David, but it is not exclusively Jewish; you will see it carved in Hindu temples and used by Rosicrucian alchemists. In actual fact it is not a "star" at all, but two interlacing triangles, one pointing up (symbolizing human aspirations toward the Divine) and the other pointing down (symbolizing the Divine's willingness to meet humankind half way). The space where they intersect indicates the creation of a third state: the moment when Divine Consciousness manifests in human flesh. This is the state of Grace. It is Enlightenment. It is Samadhi.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs


"I once was found
but now I'm lost
could see
but now I'm blind"

That is how many Christians think of me these days. I was a Jesus Freak with a passion to convert Pagans, but it backfired. The Pagans won. And Christians and Pagans alike ask the same question: Why? What happened?

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • sarel
    sarel says #
    I had also tried to converts at times there were success now i have left christianity an became a pagan. Like you the pagans won i
  • katiJeffy62079e
    katiJeffy62079e says #
    im currently stuck in between. Trying to find my way out. My family raised as a baptist. However I never really followed the relig
  • Zanna Russell
    Zanna Russell says #
    Welcome home, Annika.
  • Rebecca Buchanan
    Rebecca Buchanan says #
    Welcome to PaganSquare! I look forward to reading future posts.

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