The Vatican Arrested a Feminist Activist for Kidnapping Baby Jesus - Mic

Bare breasts, kidnapping baby Jesus, and caped Vatican police.

The Vatican Arrested a Feminist Activist for Kidnapping Baby Jesus - Mic: Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the woman, Ukrainian citizen Iana Aleksandrovna Azhdanova, stands accused of vilification of religion, obscene acts in public and theft. A Vatican policeman stopped Azhdanova, who had "God Is Woman" written on her bare chest, after she seized the statue of the Christ child and attempted to make off with it shortly after Pope Francis had finished reading his Christmas greeting to the faithful assembled. The policeman attempted to cover Azhdanova with his cape with mixed success. (More importantly, please take a moment to appreciate the fact that Vatican police wear capes!)

Ohio homeowner told to take down his zombie nativity scene | Fox News

Fox news

The Religious Taste Police in Ohio are highly offended:

Ohio homeowner told to take down his zombie nativity scene | Fox News: An Ohio homeowner was ordered by town officials to remove a Nativity scene in front of his house that featured zombies instead of wise men and a baby Jesus.

Town officials will take "legal action" if owner doesn't take it down. Not sure what legal action that might be; freedom of speech and all that.

Vatican Observatory & ETs - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Tonight's Coast to Coast : Vatican Observatory and ETs - Shows - Coast to Coast AM. Host George Knapp, who is one of the best!

Always love it when we get the Pope, Vatican, and UFOs all in one...

Florida School Board Blocks Bible Distribution After Satanists, Atheists Demand Equal Time

While an Atlanta, GA school is giving away Bibles,(link in post below) a Florida school does some backpedaling after Satanists take advantage of their rights:

Florida School Board Blocks Bible Distribution After Satanists, Atheists Demand Equal Time: A school board in Florida is moving to ban the distribution of Bibles and other Christian materials after a satanist group requested to distribute its literature.

Orange County Public Schools decided last week to adjust its "passive distribution policy" so that no religious materials, Christian or satanic, can be put in public schools.

School's Bible Giveaway Prompts Threat of Lawsuit

Atlanta, elementary school gives out Bibles:

School's Bible Giveaway Prompts Threat of Lawsuit: According to an 11 Alive Atlanta story, Jessica Greene was alarmed when her fifth-grade son Leo brought home a brand new Gideon Bible on Thursday. “I was just shocked that the school system would do that,” she told 11 Alive. “I tried to contact the superintendent. He has not returned my call.” According to Leo, “We were in class, our teacher said that these people had volunteered to hand out Bibles, and she said there’s going to be a line in the library.” Students were then given a choice to either take a bible or not, he said. Leo took one. But one child who chose not to, according to FFRF’s letter, “was teased and ostracized and forced to defend herself by saying that she ‘believed in God, but in a different way.’”

Russian Orthodox Priest Seeks to Outlaw “Neo-Pagans” | The Wild Hunt

The Wild Hunt reports on the following efforts to outlaw paganism in Russia. Scary how paganism is considered as heinous as Nazism.

Russian Orthodox Priest Seeks to Outlaw “Neo-Pagans” | The Wild Hunt: MOSCOW –An influential figure in the Russian Orthodox Church has said he’d like to see “neo-paganism” made illegal in that country. In remarks at the international congress of Orthodox youth, as reported by Interfax, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin declared, “Let’s say that three things – Wahhabism, Nazism and aggressive neo-paganism – should be removed from the country’s life at the level of the law. Let’s not try to be friends with any of that.” (via The Wild Hunt)

McMass wants to put McDonald's in a church - LA Times

McMass wants to put McDonald's in a church - LA Times: Would you be more inclined to go to church if services came with a Big Mac and a side of fries? That's the idea behind McMass, a group whose goal is to put a McDonald's franchise in a church.  The group, led by Paul Di Lucca, a creative director at the church branding agency Lux Dei design, has launched a page on the IndieGoGo crowdfunding site. He's looking to raise $1 million to build the first McDonald's church.

News - Some say Virgin Mary, others say Jesus: Mystery image grows on Iowa tree - The Weather Network

You say potato… Jesus, Mary, ??? Actually it does look very holy like:



News - Some say Virgin Mary, others say Jesus: Mystery image grows on Iowa tree - The Weather Network



Related: this excellent 2007 piece by Richelle Hawks on Marian images in a Utah tree. 

‘Jesus died for somebody’s sins’: Patti Smith invited to perform at Vatican Christmas concert! | Dangerous Minds

Patti Smith (of whom I am a fan)  will sing at the Vatican. It is indeed a surreal world.

‘Jesus died for somebody’s sins’: Patti Smith invited to perform at Vatican Christmas concert! | Dangerous Minds: You have to commend Pope Francis for his good taste in music—it’s been announced that Patti Smith is slated to perform at the Vatican Christmas Concert in Rome—but you have to wonder if he’s ever heard The Patti Smith Group’s cover of “Gloria”?

You read that right, the poet/singer who shocked an entire nation nearly forty years ago singing “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine” on Saturday Night Live back in 1976 was asked to take part in the festivities at the Auditorium Conciliazione on December 13th after Pope Francis personally invited her, according to The International Business Times.

Student Omits ‘Under God’ From the Pledge of Allegiance, School Vindictively Lowers His Grades | Americans Against the Tea Party

Student Omits ‘Under God’ From the Pledge of Allegiance, School Vindictively Lowers His Grades | Americans Against the Tea Party







Very disturbing story of a high school student who refused to include the words "under God" when he lead students in the pledge. School authorities have found themselves a loophole by saying the student wasn't punished because he refused to say the pledge "properly" but because he refused to do his assignment. Uh huh.



He got detention, his grade was lowered, and he is being threatened with more punishment if he doesn't say the pledge.

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TIME Magazine Compares Witches To Terrorists

TIME magazine has apparently has a nasty and stupid article on witches:

TIME Magazine Compares Witches To Terrorists: In a piece entitled, “Why Witches on TV Spell Trouble in Real Life,” TIME writer Jennifer Latson suggests that this revived interest in witchcraft is “mere silliness” at best and a sign of troubled times at worse. In the article, much to the offense of pagans and witches everywhere, Latson quotes history professor, Emerson Baker, in this amazingly offensive passage.

“Witches, like terrorists, threaten to wipe out everything you believe in. If they could, they would overthrow your government, overturn your faith, and destroy your society.” (Inquisitir, October 28, 2014)

Very sad and stupid.

Vatican & ETs - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

This Sunday's Coast to Coast: Vatican & ETs - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

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Witches, pagans and Wiccans in Alabama: A growing culture and a struggle for acceptance | AL.com

Nice and interesting article on pagans and wiccans in Alabama:

Witches, pagans and Wiccans in Alabama: A growing culture and a struggle for acceptance | AL.com: "In Alabama, marriage equality isn't as scary as paganism," Darksbane says. "I am more readily accepted for being gay than for being a witch."

"Once when I was dressed [like a witch], a woman came up to me at a restaurant and said, 'I wish I could drag you out in the street and beat you to death.' I said, 'Do you not realize how un-Christian that sounds?'" 

Mad World NewsMuslim Woman Forced to Remove Her Face Veil In Public, Didn't End Well

Mad World NewsMuslim Woman Forced to Remove Her Face Veil In Public, Didn't End Well: Cast members performing the opera La Traviata “objected strongly” to the presence of a woman in the audience wearing a niqab-type veil, who was seated in the front row. A singer didn’t spot the woman until the second act of the show, which was when several performers said they didn’t want to sing until she was removed from the Bastille Opera house, according to the Daily Mail.

The show’s director Jean-Philippe Thiellay confirmed the woman was kicked out of the venue, a move supported by France’s ban on Muslims covering their face in public. The law has been in effect in the socialist country since 2011.

Muslim women who reside in and around Paris found in violation of the law are typically given a fine; however, this is the first known incident of someone being ejected from an artistic venue. Thiellay said the security guard told the offender that in France there is a ban of this nature, before he asked her to either uncover her face or leave the auditorium.

Seems bigoted, sure, but turn it around… just think what it'd be like for say, a westerner living in some Muslim countries? And one as always, has to question why Muslims -- or any religious group at all --  who adhere to their traditions so strongly are both surprised at the responses of others to that adherence, and why they have chosen to live in a country not "theirs" or not overall welcoming of their conformist natures to their traditions?

 

'Godless' Churches Open Doors

'Godless' Churches Open Doors: Apparently, atheists are yearning for their crack at potluck dinners and picnics: There's no church in the traditional sense, and no steeple, but what opened its doors in Rochester, NY, this past Sunday is no less than an atheist church. Dubbed the Sunday Assembly, the group skipped the pastor and the choir and got the church party started with what the Democrat and Chronicle calls "an upbeat, rock band rendition of Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror.'" In the hourlong, laid-back service that followed, the group of 50 or so congregants focused on the theme of "wonder" via pop songs and a speech by a local education professor.

And you thought Unitarians were on the fence...

Tarot artist Patrick Valenza

Patrick Valenza, creator of the fabulous Deviant Moon tarot (I have both versions of this deck; the first one and the borderless version) has a new deck due out in October. Trionfi della Luna. I like this image of The High Priestess from his new deck; it has a distinct Marian vibe.

The Trionfi della Luna is not a tarot deck per se, but just the major arcana cards . . .

:

Angels and Demonology - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Tonight's Coast to Coast: Angels and Demonology - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Witchcraft-obsessed townsfolk try to drive out teen who opened Naughty Girls Donut Shop

Sixteen year old is harassed, townsfolk throw trash, write angry letters, and engage in slut shaming:

Witchcraft-obsessed townsfolk try to drive out teen who opened Naughty Girls Donut Shop: The family then received a letter that was also sent to several area businesses, threatening a boycott by “Local Catholics of Front Royal” if they did not stop advertising with a local newspaper.

The group had targeted the Warren County Report over allegedly anti-Catholic articles published by one writer, Roger Bianchini, who has covered clergy sex abuse and efforts to overturn a decades-old ban on fortune telling and other “magic arts.”

The town council voted last month to overturn the ban, which some residents wanted to remain in place “out of fear” of “Satanism.”

Don't know the artist or source for this image -- if anyone out there knows, I'd appreciate the citation.

Pagans in BeeBe, AR: We have the right to exist

Updates from the pagan family and their Seekers Temple, who have been illegally and unconstitutionally harassed by local authorities. From the police, the city council,churches; clearly illegal actions have been made towards Bert and Felicia Dahl, the pagan family who are victims of this non-stop harassment. We have the right to exist

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Florida School Board Member Tells Pagan: If You Deliver an Invocation, I’ll Walk Out and Ask the Crowd to Join Me

Here we go again, yet another current example of officials stubborn arrogance and ignorance when it comes to non-Christian beliefs. What's scary about this one is the continued hypocrisy and superstition -- in other words, uneducated and illegal -- not to mention insensitive, comments from a member of a Florida district school board! (Escambia County.) Scary shit here, scary indeed.



David Suhor, a pagan, requesting to lead the prayer/invocation, gets the following treatment from the addle-headed Jeff Bergosh. School board member, no less:

Florida School Board Member Tells Pagan: If You Deliver an Invocation, I’ll Walk Out and Ask the Crowd to Join Me:

In fact, one of the board members, Jeff Bergosh, took to his personal website to write about how he has no intention of letting non-religious people deliver invocations:

"I mean, should the majority of persons in attendance at one of our meetings really have to listen to a satanic verse? What if a “Witch Doctor” comes to the podium with a full-on costume, chicken-feet, a voodoo doll and other associated over-the-top regalia? It could easily get out of hand, so far as I can tell….(I wonder what our local media would say about this?)"

  I won’t stay and listen if someone tries to be disrespectful like that. I’ll leave the room and come back after, or wear BOSE noise cancelling headphones. Or I’ll turn around and raise my fist in the air like the ’68 Olympians did(uh, I’m being sarcastic-I wouldn’t really do that…)…… I won’t be part of someone’s prank. (Jeff Bergosh, school board member)

In response to Suhor, Jeff Bergosh (remember, a supposed educated person serving the public, member of a school board and model for students and citizens) wrote:

When you come to bring your Wiccan, Atheist, or Klingon invocation — I’ll politely excuse myself from the room and simultaneously invite anyone in the audience who wants to join me in a Christian invocation out back. You can give your invocation to those that want to hear it and stay in the room. Nobody will prevent you from your free exercise of your religion, just as I would expect for you not to attempt to block me from exercising my constitutional right to my Christian belief via a Christian invocation outside the back door. A win-win, right Dave? (Bergosh) 

Read more at Jeff Bergosh's website: 

Teen Punished for Saying 'Bless You' in School: Report

Teen Punished for Saying 'Bless You' in School: Report: (NEWSER) – A high school senior in Tennessee says she was placed in in-school suspension because she said "bless you" after a fellow student's sneeze. Kendra Turner tells WMCTV her teacher told her that "bless you" is language for church. "She said that we're not going to have godly speaking in her class, and that's when I said we have a constitutional right," Turner says. The phrase is one of several banned in the class, according to students; they sent WMCTV a photo showing a whiteboard listing of such phrases, which also include "stupid," "my bad," and "hang out," Fox News reports.

Islamic State Stones 2 Women to Death for Adultery

Meanwhile...

Islamic State Stones 2 Women to Death for Adultery: (NEWSER) – Two women were stoned to death by Islamic State militants within a 24-hour period last month, the AP reports. Their alleged crime: adultery. "People were shocked and couldn't understand what was going on," says an activist witness to one of the stonings in northern Syria. Militants called on locals in the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa to hurl the stones, but no one would—prompting the militants to act alone.

Who Are the Yazidi, and Why Is ISIS Targeting Them? - NBC News.com

ISIS are not "militant rebels" they are terrorists. As the world continues to ignore history and Israel's reality while protesting that country's actions towards "the Palestinian people" ISIS continues, and yet, we hear little protest:

Who Are the Yazidi, and Why Is ISIS Targeting Them? - NBC News.com: Who are the Yazidi, why have Iraq's militant rebels threatened them with execution if they don't convert to Islam,

They are talking about YOU! | Shoshanna Schechter-Shaffin | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel

Yes! And it needs to said, and said again:

They are talking about YOU! | Shoshanna Schechter-Shaffin | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel: t’s time to leave the ivory tower and get personal. The anti-Semitic signs and slogans being chanted all over the world do not include neat disclaimers that state “When we mean Jews, we really just mean the super Zionist ones” or “We are not including the left-wing Jewish groups that want to give back Jerusalem” etc. They are clearly speaking about all Jews, all over the world. What do we know about the personal politics about the French Jews who were held hostage in a Paris synagogue during a memorial service for the three Israeli murdered boys, or the Jewish business owners in Saracelles whose shops were vandalized, burned, and pillaged? All the violent protesters knew is that these people were Jewish and they wanted to express violence towards the Jews…all while carrying and wearing Palestinian flags.

Be sure to read the entire article. And next time you criticize Jews/Israel, make good note of how and why you have chosen to do so.

Update: Beebe, AR Pagans: "We have the right to exist"

The Seekers Temple and its founder need support -- lawyers, legal aid, support and voices heard from the pagan community, etc. Here is their webpage where you can find out more, including contact info for the city council who have refused -- illegally, unconstitutionally --- Bert and Felicia, High Priest and Priestess, the right to open city council meetings with their prayers. (Read more at their site; link below.) Now, unfortunately, this harassment has caused them further hassles, for example, they used to go to the prison as part of their religious outreach (I know pagans in my own community who do this) but, because of the illegal and immoral interference by the local Christian authorities, that has been revoked.

We have the right to exist: We have gotten lots of emails and we thank you for every single one.
Perhaps it is time Mayor Micheal G. Robertson heard the same? His office may be contacted at 501-882-6295, FAXED at 501-882-8140 and Emailed at mikewhf@sbcglobal.net. No threats please, just tell him that we have the right to exist and are not going away.

Anti-Semitic riots in Europe ‘took us back to 1938′ - The Washington Post

Tragic, and frightening. No mention of how these views are expressed in the States:

Anti-Semitic riots in Europe ‘took us back to 1938′ - The Washington Post: Across the European Union, there is “a worrying level of discrimination [against Jews], particularly in employment and education, a widespread fear of victimization and heightening concern about antisemitism online,” found a 2013 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights report. Such discrimination, it said, “all too often remains unreported and therefore invisible.”

A recent survey suggested France had the highest percentage of residents — 37 percent – who were openly anti-Semitic, reported The Washington Post’s Anthony Faiola. In Italy, one-fifth of the population felt that way; in Germany, more than one-fourth. Other studies also found rising levels of anti-Semitism in other parts of Europe.

One thing that is not gone into in this article is the issue of Arabs, Muslims and non-Jewish immigrants moving to Europe, who then turn around and protest the reality of finding themselves expected to co-exist with others, including Jews. It's a topsy turvy sick world when the onus, world wide, is put onto Jews and Israel.

Benham Group Disrupts 'Synagogue Of Satan' Unitarian Universalist Worship Services, Receives Proclamation From Mayor | Right Wing Watch

American Taliban, the "Operation Save America" uber-Christian group invaded a service at a Unitarian Universalist church:

Benham Group Disrupts 'Synagogue Of Satan' Unitarian Universalist Worship Services, Receives Proclamation From Mayor | Right Wing Watch: Flip Benham’s group Operation Save America disrupted the services of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans on Sunday while the congregation was honoring a member who had died. The organization framed their action as simply an effort to “present the truth of the Gospel in this synagogue of Satan” as part of their efforts “to defeat the culture of death.”

If you think use of the phrase "American Taliban" is a bit hyperbolic, I think the following puts their agenda into context; one of the Operation Save America's followers, after disrupting the UUC service, said the following:

During an open “meditation” time, Deanna shared the Word of the Lord. When the female “pastor” took issue, Deanna reminded her that, “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:2). (From Operation Save America, as reported by Right Wing Watch)

Scary. Lest you think these clowns are merely clowns, and they are, they are also dangerous clowns.

"Religious Requirements to Hold Public Office?" at The Wild Hunt

From The Wild Hunt: Religious Requirements to Hold Public Office?:

 "It may not surprise anyone that the word “God,” “Almighty God,” or similar, is written into the constitution of all 50 states. In most cases, such words are found in the preambles and in the, often required, oaths of office. The mention of “God,” or the like, is used predominantly in reverent thanks or acknowledgment of a divine goodness.

However, what most people do not realize is that eight of the states also include a religious component to a citizen’s eligibility to hold public office and, in two cases, to testify in court or serve on a jury. These states include Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. While the language of each state’s “religious test” is slightly different, the ultimate idea is the same. In all cases, the laws exclude the Atheist from participating in officials roles. Beyond that and depending on one’s beliefs, these constitutional regulations could potentially exclude many citizens of minority faiths, including Pagans and Heathens."

Excellent article on the history and laws concerning religious beliefs in America -- and how some who hold office blatantly defy the constitution, clearly believing their beliefs trumps all.

"Wife of Wiccan Priest Recounts Religious Discrimination": TIME

Update from Carol Kirk, on her husband's disinvite: Wife of Wiccan Priest Recounts Religious Discrimination:

"Blake Kirk was uninvited from giving the invocation at a city council meeting in Huntsville, Ala. after it was learned that he's a clergyman of the Wiccan faith." 

Mother Mary Oracle Cards

I love this card; it's from Doreen Virtue's Ascended Masters Oracle Cards. I don't have this deck, but have been considering purchasing it. I do have Virtue's Mary, Queen of Angels oracle:

"America's Overwhelming Contempt Toward Atheists and Muslims" | Alternet

Alternet: America's Overwhelming Contempt Toward Atheists and Muslims. Everyone hates atheists, although atheist isn't specifically defined. Is agnostic included, or a part of the category of "atheist?" Other religions, such as pagan and wiccan are not included. Still, it's clear: atheists are hated by all ages, all religious groups, and Muslims don't fare any better. A tad better under naive and politically correct Democrats, but not much.

Selfie Toaster: Mass Culture Transubstantiation

Image source here

Well now, there's this item that allows pop culture to indulge in mass transubstantiation. From Jezebel.com, who reports:  The Selfie Toaster Is Exactly What It Sounds Like:

"According to Jenn Harris at the LA Times, (which is nobly stepping up its bread beat, from the looks of it, going after that elusive Pulitzer for Baked Goods reporting), a company named Burned Impressions in Vermont is selling toasters that make bread selfies. For the bargain price of $75, you can buy a signifier of the end times, aka a toaster that will burn an image of you onto a piece of bread.

It's the same company that created the Jesus toaster and the Rapture toaster with images of Jesus and bodies floating up toward the sky."

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Do Most Christians Even Know the 10 Commandments? | Alternet

Do Most Christians Even Know the 10 Commandments? | Alternet: But the truth is, very few Christians know the Ten Commandments from memory, for two very good reasons.

One reason is that the Bible actually gives two different sets of Ten Commandments, and they don’t match. In Exodus 20, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with a set of stone tablets. (This is the most popular version.) Then he gets mad and smashes them and has to go back up and get another set. And God says, “Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.” (Exodus 34:1). But then, apparently, God can’t resist tweaking them a little. Ok, a lot.

Vagina in a tree

From the skeptic-debunker blog Virgin Mary (again), this post on shapes in trees that represent the BVM, at least to some. An example of the skeptic view from this blog:"When a person who was pre-infected with beliefs in a fictional virgin…" so you can see that the writer is not a friend of the anomalous and Fortean realm. However, it's a good blog for news on images seen as religious visitations. Related post here.

Mary Magdalene via Wikipedia

"Beloved Disciple" in the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene; by El Greco ca. 1580

Mary Magdalene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Mary Magdalene (original Greek Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή),[2] or Mary of Magdala and sometimes The Magdalene, is a religious figure in Christianity. She is usually thought of as the second-most important woman in the New Testament after Mary, the mother of Jesus.[3] Mary Magdalene traveled with Jesus as one of his followers. She was present at Jesus' two most important moments: the crucifixion and the resurrection.[4] Within the four Gospels, the oldest historical record mentioning her name, she is named at least 12 times,[5] more than most of the apostles. The Gospel references describe her as courageous, brave enough to stand by Jesus in his hours of suffering, death and beyond.[3] ~ Wikipedia

George Romney (26 December 1734 – 15 November 1802)

And this:

In the four Gospels, Mary Magdalene is nearly always distinguished from other women named Mary by adding "Magdalene" (η Μαγδαληνή) to her name.^[2] Traditionally, this has been interpreted to mean that she was fromMagdala, a town thought to have been on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Luke 8:2 says that she was actually "called Magdalene". In Hebrew מגדל Migdal means "tower", "fortress"; in Aramaic, "Magdala" means "tower" or "elevated, great, magnificent".^[11] Talmudic passages speak of a Miriam "hamegadela se’ar nasha", "Miriam, the plaiter of women’s hair" (Hagigah 4b; cf. Shabbat 104b), which could be a reference to Mary Magdalene serving as a hairdresser.^[12] ~ Wikipedia

Thanks to Michele Witchipoo for the link. As with Mary, I am deeply interested in the story of Mary Magdalene, and fascinated by the changes in the sacred myths surrounding her.

Walmart sorry for selling decorative Nazi ‘work makes you free’ poster

No comment needed:

Walmart sorry for selling decorative Nazi ‘work makes you free’ poster: Retail giant Walmart has apologized for selling a home decoration poster of one of the Nazi’s most notorious concentration camps.

The poster on Walmart’s website featured the front gate of Dachau Concentration Camp, showing the inscription “Arbeit Macht Frei” — or “Work will make you free.” Tens of thousands of prisoners died in the forced labor camp.

Paganism & The Boy Scouts from Raise the Horns

I didn't know about the origins of Boy Scouts, very cool and too bad it's become the fascist-military-Christian-patriotic and homophobic institution it is today:

Paganism & The Boy Scouts: There’s a lot of what feels “military” in today’s Boy Scouts, but it wasn’t always like that. In the United States the Scouting movement began with Ernest Thompson Seton, and his Scouting was radically different from what would follow in its wake. Setton’s Scouts focused on woodcraft, outdoor skills, and a deep and abiding love of the natural world. Seton’s version of Scouting was what I liked most about the Boy Scouts. Setton’s Scouting was also infused with the (for lack of a better term) white man’s version of Native American Spirituality. Setton spoke of the “Great Spirit” in nature, all while trying to keep his creation compatible with and acceptable to Modern Christianity.

The Persecution of Witches, 21st-Century Style - NYTimes.com

Western (American) Christians going over to other nations to preach the word against homosexuals (see John Oliver) and witches. Which then creates the space for the locals to get involved:

The Persecution of Witches, 21st-Century Style - NYTimes.com: Another factor, particularly in Central Africa and its diaspora communities, is the advent of revivalist churches, in which self-styled pastor-prophets rail against witchery and demon possession. They often claim to specialize in the casting out of evil spirits, sometimes charging for the service. Many of those congregations have emerged from Western evangelizing efforts.

One of Nigeria’s most popular Pentecostal preachers, Helen Ukpabio, wrote that “if a child under the age of 2 screams in the night, cries and is always feverish with deteriorating health, he or she is a servant of Satan.” As that implies, children in those communities are especially likely to be identified as possessed.

Local Wiccan uninvited to give city council invocation due to ‘community fears’ (poll) | WHNT.com

Not my God, once again:

Local Wiccan uninvited to give city council invocation due to ‘community fears’ (poll) | WHNT.com: “I gave the invocation earlier this year, at the time they did not ask me what my faith affiliation was, but when they did this time and I told them ‘Wiccan,’ I was told I was no longer invited to give it,” Blake told WHNT News 19 from his home Thursday night.

Another "If it ain't Christian, it ain't right" from the South, this time Alabama. No matter Mr. Blake had led meetings before with invocations, no matter the constitution, no matter hypocrisy and irony, Mr. Blake has been uninvited due to "community concerns." ACLU, are you going to take this on? They so far have been unresponsive to the case in Bebee, Arkansas of a Pagan whose permits were abruptly yanked when the city found out his store and church were not Christian, but Pagan.

Radical Islamists take hammer to Syrian artifacts | The Times of Israel

Religious fanatics destroy what they fear:

Radical Islamists take hammer to Syrian artifacts | The Times of Israel: In an act of cultural genocide strikingly similar to the Taliban’s demolition of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in 2001, the ISIL fighters appear –in pictures recently uploaded by a group working to protect Syria’s rich historical heritage — to smash a 3,000-year-old Neo-Assyrian statue illegally removed from a nearby archaeological site. Another image shows a man placing his foot — an act of disrespect in Arab culture — on the face of the Assyrian statue before its destruction.

Radical Islamists take hammer to Syrian artifacts | The Times of Israel

Religious fanatics destroy what they fear:

Radical Islamists take hammer to Syrian artifacts | The Times of Israel: In an act of cultural genocide strikingly similar to the Taliban’s demolition of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in 2001, the ISIL fighters appear –in pictures recently uploaded by a group working to protect Syria’s rich historical heritage — to smash a 3,000-year-old Neo-Assyrian statue illegally removed from a nearby archaeological site. Another image shows a man placing his foot — an act of disrespect in Arab culture — on the face of the Assyrian statue before its destruction.

Update on Beebe: “That man’s God is not my God.” | The Wild Hunt

From the excellent blog The Wild Hunt, this update on Bertram Dahl's situation in Beebe. Dahl is a high priest in his pagan church and applied for zoning permits to have a church and store on his property. As the article points out, surrounding properties have churches. Thing is, they're all Christian churches. Soon as the mayor and local bureaucrats realized Dahl is a pagan, they are willfully breaking laws in their attempts to stop Dahl from opening his church and his store. Furthermore, he is being harassed by one of the churches across the street from him. I'm surprised the ACLU hasn't supported Dahl on this yet.

Update on Beebe: “That man’s God is not my God.” | The Wild Hunt: More details emerge in the conflict between Mayor Mike Robertson of Beebe, Arkansas and a Pagan church. High Priest Bertram Dahl said the city of Beebe welcomed him, his church, and store to relocate to the town with open arms – until they found out the church wasn’t a Christian church. Now the mayor claims Dahl’s Seekers Temple and metaphysical store cannot open due to zoning issues. In our interview with the Dahls they say it has nothing to do with zoning and everything to do with religious discrimination.

Church Cross Latest Attempt at Stealth Cellphone Towers - DailyFinance

Be careful what you're praying there to kiddo:

Church Cross Latest Attempt at Stealth Cellphone Towers - DailyFinance: By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ

DES MOINES, Iowa -- One might be hidden in a cross on a church lawn. Others are disguised as a cactus in the desert, a silo in farm country or a palm tree reaching into a sunny sky.

Whatever the deception, the goal is the same: concealing the tall, slender cellphone towers that most Americans need but few want to see erected in their neighborhoods.

Siberia in the News: Paganism goes formal and a God is found | The Wild Hunt

News on doings in Russia, including "legalizing" a pagan path, from one of my favorite blogs, The Wild Hunt:

Siberia in the News: Paganism goes formal and a God is found | The Wild Hunt: Siberia in the News: Paganism goes formal and a God is found
Cara Schulz May 31, 2014 - Russian Republic Legalizes Neo-Pagan Faith.
Russia, more often making headlines for repression of minority faiths, recently recognized the neo-Pagan faith Aar Aiyy as an official “religious organization” in the Siberian Russian Republic of Sakha. Religions with this special designation receive greater protections and privileges in Russia than those who are merely religious groups. 

More at The Wild Hunt blog.

Theory that Adolf Hitler fled to Argentina and lived to the age of 73 | Mail Online

However, (see post below) there are those that don't buy into the Hitler escaped to Argentina theory at all. Why is such an idea so impossible for some to accept? Theory that Adolf Hitler fled to Argentina and lived to the age of 73 | Mail Online

FBI Quietly Opens Secret Files That Attest HITLER WENT TO ARGENTINA Rather Than Commit Suicide... | RedFlagNews.comOpens Secret Files That Attest HITLER WENT TO ARGENTINA Rather Than Commit Suicide... | RedFlagNews.com

Not surprising, but here's the proof. I love it when a conspiracy theory is no longer theory:

Almost 70 Years Late -- FBI Quietly Opens Secret Files That Attest HITLER WENT TO ARGENTINA Rather Than Commit Suicide... | RedFlagNews.com: Recently released FBI documents are beginning to show that not only was Hitler and Eva Braun’s suicide faked, the infamous pair might have had help from the Swiss Director of the United States OSS himself, Allen Dulles.

In one FBI document from Los Angles, it is revealed that the agency was well aware of a mysterious submarine making its way up the Argentinian coast dropping off high level Nazi officials. What is even more astonishing is the fact that the FBI knew he was in fact living in the foothills of the Andes.

Are Your Children Playing With Lucifer's Testicles?The Truth About Easter Eggs

Beware the nasty and Satanic Easter Eggs:Are Your Children Playing With Lucifer's Testicles? The Truth About Easter Eggs: "It's not that difficult to understand," says Author/Creation Scientist, Dr. Daniel Cameroon. "In the old days, deluded pagans would gather round and hump like bunnies on Easter Sunday because they thought it would make their tomatoes grow faster."

Now, I had to know -- is this a joke, a hoax, a parody? From my little bit of exploring on the intranets I discovered that, bizarrely (as well as frighteningly) this appears to be a serious book by serious Christians about the serious evils of Easter Eggs. Oy.

Muslims Object to Easter Eggs | Todd Starnes

Yep, these Muslims were offended that Easter Eggs, and the Easter Bunny, are afoot in American culture. Apparently not quite understanding the concept of the U.S. Constitution and "freedom of religion" they find it offensive a Christian church would be promoting Easter with eggs and bunnies and such. Sigh. Muslims Object to Easter Eggs | Todd Starnes Although, the point is taken that the church and public school relationship should not have been made. On that, I agree.

Mary Magdalene and the Red Egg

Mary Magdalene and the Red Egg. Also visit this link Mary Magdalene Easter Eggs and this from The Good Heart.

‘Noah’: Twitter conservatives outraged that film deviates from Bible’s original English | The Raw Story

Not surprised; many a Christian is up in arms (figuratively) over Noah, because it "deviates from (the) Bible." Oy.

I don't have a personal interest in the seeing the movie only because it doesn't' seem to be my cup of tea. But now I might have to see it, if only to further tick off the xians; you know, one more for the box office stat. I also hear the animals are pretty cool, all CGI and intentionally made to look not quite like the real thing, adding a surreal fantasy type vibe to the film. So, might see it after all. Also, despite criticism of Crowe in general (so I hear) I do like him.

‘Noah’: Twitter conservatives outraged that film deviates from Bible’s original English | The Raw Story

Bill-asphemy: Does Maher Deserve A Whipping For Slandering God? | BarbWire.com

Tristan Emmanuel wants to bring back public punishment and torture for those who blaspheme the Christan god.  Nice to be reminded that religious psychopaths are found throughout the world, and in every religion:

Bill-asphemy: Does Maher Deserve A Whipping For Slandering God? | BarbWire.com: "I don’t know Maher. And I have no reason to hate him. But I do know God. And Maher’s public vilification of God is the most offensive and slanderous thing I have ever heard. Frankly, if a Christian doesn’t have a gut wrenching reaction about this, I’ve really got to question him." ~ Tristan Emmanuel

(Thanks to the prolific and eloquent Alfred Lehmberg for the link.)

Mystery of glowing Virgin Mary statue visited by hundreds in Belgium is solved | Mail Online

Mystery of glowing Virgin Mary statue visited by hundreds in Belgium is solved | Mail Online: The mystery of the Madonna figure which glowed in the dark, attracting thousands of pilgrims to a sleepy Belgian village, has been solved - and it's not a miracle.

---

That's one mystery solved!

VA Christian school bans 8-year-old girl because her tomboy looks aren’t ‘biblical’ | The Raw Story

Eight year girl expelled for not being girl enough:

VA Christian school bans 8-year-old girl because her tomboy looks aren’t ‘biblical’ | The Raw Story: “We believe that unless Sunnie as well as her family clearly understand that God has made her female and her dress and behavior need to follow suit with her God-ordained identity, that TCS is not the best place for her future education,” the principal wrote.

Those Kooky Christian Album Covers | Adam Gorightly's Untamed Dimensions

Conspiracy Fortean author Adam Gorightly often posts "those kooky Christian album covers" on his site. Take a look: Those Kooky Christian Album Covers | Adam Gorightly's Untamed Dimensions

Saint Stevie Nicks Prayer Candle Patron Saint by GreaserCreatures

Etsy find. There is also an Elvis and a Bowie, among others. Saint Stevie Nicks Prayer Candle Patron Saint by GreaserCreatures

'Saudi religious police hunt down Twitter witchcraft accounts'

​Saudi religious police hunt down Twitter ‘witchcraft’ accounts — RT News: Saudi Arabia, which has the largest number of Twitter users relative to internet users in the world, has formed a special task force to track users of the popular social media who are accused of spreading vice and witchcraft.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which serves as the religious police of the conservative Gulf kingdom, is conducting surveillance of Twitter accounts in an effort to reign in heightened interest in subjects related to sorcery. 
The religious public watchdog is keeping a lookout for those accounts which “are spreading vice and witchcraft” through the community, said Ahmed Al Jardan, the Commission’s spokesman, as quoted by the Saudi news network Al Arabiya.

It IS Hysterical that some are offended at the "Satantic" Grammy Performances, However . . .

As I commented on Facebook: 

"There are however deeper conspiratorial heavings going on that the offended Christian types will never get, and the culture stream in general will remain blissfully unaware, voicing smug and hypocritical outrage, in varying degrees at the "satanic" and "anti-Christian" messages. Meanwhile, the indulgent celebs continue to appropriate, mock, misuse, and misrepresent these areas to feed their fame, all the while subconsciously playing into the deeper manipulations of, for lack of a better word, demonic energies afoot everywhere that blare at us from the White House, the Pentagon, the military industrial complex, Big Pharma and Big Science, the Vatican, and your basic Global Elitists."

Christian Singer Walks Out on Grammys After ‘Satanic’ Performances Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

Natalie Grant, Christian singer, walks out of the Grammys due to the "Satanic" nature of Katy Perry's performance.

 Christian Singer Walks Out on Grammys After ‘Satanic’ Performances Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Katy Perry, who was surrounded by demons as she danced around an upside down broomstick before being encircled by fire during a performance of her song “Dark Horse”. Perry wore clothing bearing an illuminated Knights Templar cross.

Doves released in the Vatican are immediately attacked by seagull and crow | Mail Online

Source: Mail Online

The symbolism doesn't need any further explanation:

Doves released in the Vatican are immediately attacked by seagull and crow | Mail Online: To millions of Christians, they are a symbol of peace.

But to a pair of larger birds, the two doves released in the Vatican yesterday were nothing more than a chance for a bit of Sunday morning sport.

No sooner had the birds been set free in St Peter’s Square – as a symbolic gesture of peace for Ukraine – than they were set upon by a seagull and a crow.

NY Times:"California first-grader barred from distributing candy canes with religious message" and a Rant

   

     In California, a first grade teacher throws a religious message in the trash. Family is considering a lawsuit, the expected debate rages on. In this case however I have mixed feelings. While the teacher's actions seem harsh and the whole thing could have been handled differently, and better, it could be the teacher was concerned with the class as a whole -- all the students, and was trying to adhere to state and federal rules concerning the promoting of religion. "Jesus is not allowed in the school" the teacher is alleged to have said, and, the teacher is correct.It's fine if this child and his family believe what they believe, but giving a non-Christian this kind of message, well, for myself, it would annoy me. Let's turn this around; just how do you think the majority of parents would react if a child handed out a Pagan themed item? Oh the shit would fly! The parents knew the public school's policy and did their thing anyway.  So in this case, it isn't close to what the Buddhist student in the south (see post below) experienced. Teachers (as an educator, I have sympathy!) are expected to do so much that goes beyond teaching academics, and are always walking that blurry, ever changing line of what's politically and legally correct at the moment. On the other hand, it could be the teacher was a smug atheist asserting their brand of critical thinking and educational correctness.

California first-grader barred from distributing candy canes with religious message- NY Daily News: California first-grader barred from distributing candy canes with religious messages. Robert Tyler, of the Advocates for Faith & Freedom, is threatening legal action against the West Covina Unified School District on behalf of Isaiah Martinez, a 6-year-old who said his teacher threw his gifts to classmates because they contained religious messages. Tyler alleges the boy's teacher said 'Jesus is not allowed at school,' and the district says it tries to maintain 'religious neutrality in the classroom.'

     Somewhat related, many years ago, when I was lead teacher for a pre-K program at a public institution, one of the assistants wanted to do an art project involving the peace symbol. This was during the Gulf War and the emotions and political climate was intense at the time. I liked the project very much but had to say no to it. I told the assistants that it could be misconstrued -- we had some very gung ho families with spouses and family members, parents of students, overseas -- and so to avoid any outrage and hassles with parents and the institution I worked for, I didn't allow it. A couple of days later, I was out of the classroom for meetings, when I returned, I saw that another assistant had given each student a postcard with the American flag splashed over it and pro-war slogans. I was pretty furious; she shrugged and said "We all have our opinions." That was a nasty thing she pulled and wrong, and yep, it pissed off some parents who were anti-war. And, of course, I was the one who got the shit storm. So teachers are often in a no-win situation, trying to please everyone, and follow the rules mandated by the feds, the state, their district or institution, and their principals. And your own beliefs and values often get swallowed up in the dance of trying to do the right thing. Let alone the original thing, which is to teach, not play games.
     And on another tangent, here in Oregon, it was recently voted into law that all schools must have their classes stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance one day a week. Ridiculous and I'm surprised it is legal, hopefully the ACLU will get around to that one. There is the limp disclaimer that those students who find saying the pledge, or at least the "under God" part, may refrain as long as they are respectful. But what about the teachers? They have no choice. One might argue that teachers are at work and being paid and as such, need to follow the rules. Sure. But at what point does the infringement of personal beliefs, (let alone dignity) interfere with the right of the government to tell an individual what to believe, and, regardless of that belief, disseminate political and religious opinion?

From NY Times: ACLU Sues Bible Belt School for Bullying Buddhist Student

Public school in the south harasses Buddhist student, ACLU is on it. Teachers and administrators blatant in their enforcement of a Christian milieu. Incriminating is the right-over-their-heads suggestion by the principal, who suggested to the student he go to a different school where there are "more Asians" racist implication that all Asians are Buddhists, and non-Asians are not.

ACLU sues Bible Belt school for allegedly bullying Buddhist student - NY Daily News: Sharon and Scott Lane are suing the Sabine Parish School board for religious harassment and for routinely pushing Christian beliefs onto its students.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Shreveport on Wednesday.

New Jersey Churches Attacked, Religious Statues Destroyed, Virgin Mary beheaded, Joseph chopped in half | Atlas Shrugs

image source: Atlas Shrugs

     No proof it's fanatical Muslims, and equally scary as the thought of Islamic fundies destroying religious icons in the U.S. is, is the idea it is crazy Muslims responsible for such symbolic gruesomeness.  The fact of this news item is not in dispute, but the source where this links to is a little rabid as well. Either way, whoever is responsible for this vandalism; it's creepy. New Jersey Churches Attacked, Religious Statues Destroyed, Virgin Mary beheaded, Joseph chopped in half | Atlas Shrugs

UPI Item: 'Nun in Italy names surprise child Francesco"

She's keeping the baby. This article doesn't say if she'll continue to live in the convent. I'd like to more -- a lot more!

Nun in Italy names surprise child Francesco - UPI.com: Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A 31 year-old nun at the Little Disciples of Jesus convent in Rieti, Italy discovered she was pregnant and about to give birth when stomach pains sent her to the hospital on Wednesday.
Hours after arriving at the S. Camillo De Lellis hospital, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Media reported that the nun, originally from El Salvador, has named her son Francesco, the same name as Pope Francis.

Student Expelled for Casting a Spell - ABC News

This showed up in my Facebook page. It does not seem to be a spoof. It's dated 2000, over ten years ago. Time marches on, but we're talking a decade, not centuries. The Inquisition has been over for awhile; wonder if Oklahoma knows that? Yes, Oklahoma. This didn't happen in an African country, or a Middle Eastern country, or some Eastern European village amidst mist and ruins, but here in the United States: Student Expelled for Casting a Spell - ABC News. Nicely juxtaposed with my previous post on the would be Satan statue, also in Oklahoma. Whatever is in their drinking water? Here's another article.


I keep thinking this has to be a satire piece from The Onion or The Daily Current. Has to be. If it weren't so goddamn frightening for its surreal and supreme ignorance, it's be funny.

But it isn't.

In the article, it is admitted that school authorities (dear sweet fucking goddess, these people are educators!) have nothing to go on, except, you know, the purest form of idiocy.

Satanists unveil proposed statue for OK state capitol

An in your face bit of performance religious theater:

Satanists unveil proposed statue for OK state capitol: Will Satan be celebrated on the lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol?
A devilish group based in New York believes it should be perfectly OK.
The group, which calls itself "The Satanic Temple," today unveiled its proposal for a monument it intends to erect next to another religious statue: a depiction of the Ten Commandments.
According to The Satanic Temple's application, the proposed monument features a large pentagram and “a 7-foot tall goat-headed Baphomet that sits cross-legged flanked by a child on both sides. The lap will serve as a seat for visitors.”