Witchcraft-Documentary Review: Mysteries of History, History Channel International

I watched the History Channel Internationals documentary this morning on Witchcraft. Being previously encouraged from watching the main History Channel’s documentary on Halloween, I thought that the international channel viewpoint would be just as open ended. And for the majority of the hour long episode there was some educational handling of the witchcraft subject, just not through the duration of the program.

Please, keep in mind that the following information is from the review and notes taken during the documentary. I am aware that not all this information is correct historically, even though that is how all of the information was present by the History International Channel. So, let us begin on the review portion of today’s post on Simple Abnormality.

…read full article…

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Pope Benedict gave a speech to more than a quarter of a million people in Paris last week. Now, normally I really don’t have that much to say about the Pope in general but there was one thing that stood out to me during the Pontif’s address and that is:

At mass on Saturday morning in Paris, the pope told more than a quarter of a million people that the modern world had turned money, possessions and power into idols as false as the gold and silver statues worshiped by the pagans of antiquity.

“Has it not imitated, perhaps inadvertently, the pagans of antiquity, by diverting man from his true end, from the joy of living eternally with God,” he said. Read full article here.

Another article to check out is this gem entitled Pope in Paris condemns love of money, power: PARIS (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI condemned unbridled “pagan” passion for power, possessions and money as a modern-day plague Saturday as he led more than a quarter of a million Catholics in an outdoor Mass in Paris.

Interesting theme for a speech coming from a religious leader decked out in gold. That’s just my thought on it. Kind of a “pot calling the kettle black” sort of thing. Funnier still is trying to promote the ideal that a love of money and power comes not from a religious institution that was built upon those precepts but no it comes form those “pagans”.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention everyones favorite overboard news agency Fox News. They ran the story of the Pope with this headline: Pope Condemns ‘Pagan’ Passion for Power, Money During France Visit

Yep, now I’ve gone and mentioned the Pope and quoted an AP article with a link

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“In short, women are abandoning the church,” writes Kristin Aune, a sociologist at the University of Derby. “Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by [the pagan religion] Wicca, popularized by the TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ Read full article here.

I’ll admit it, this statement provided me the Ha-Ha today.  Personally, I would like to hope that it would take more than a pop culture t.v. show to garner a reasoning for dropping ones faith.

By using the acceptance of what the media likes to play out as “entertainment paganism” there are way to many people jumping the bandwagon in the blame game looking for reasons outside of ones’ church as a way not to take any spiritual responsibility for its adherents not going to services anymore. Maybe, such places of worship who are upset about losing the female members of their congregations should take a look at what they can do about their problem instead of using pop culture as a scapegoat.

Just a thought.

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American citizen and atheist Brad Campeau-Laurion was at a Yankee’s game when during the 7th inning stretch the song “God Bless America” was played. He got up to take a bathroom break before the game resumed and was told by a police officer that he had to remain in his seat until the song was over.  He refused and was then restrained by two police officers and kicked out of the stadium. Brad said: “I do not believe in God, nor am in support of this country to a degree of patriotic fanaticism. The fact that I wanted to use the restroom instead of standing through God Bless America should not be grounds for a forcible ejection from a baseball game.” Read more here.

Now, not being a baseball fan myself I had no idea that after 9/11 that many stadiums picked up the practice of playing “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. I also had no idea that as an American citizen one could be escorted out of any building for not showing reverence during the playing of a song.

The song itself “God Bless America” is not even our national anthem. Our national anthem is the “Star-Spangled Banner”.  Maybe, those who subscribe to our nation’s patriotic fervor would do well to remember that.

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