“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.

Technorati Tags: church blames buffy, entertainment paganism, females, Ignorance, laura jean karr, paganism, pop culture, simple abnormality, Wicca

Ellinais spokeswoman, Doretta Peppa told reporters that her Pagan group will hold a prayer protest on Sunday at the Parthenon. The prayer being done will be in worship to the Goddess Athena and to also protest the Christian destruction of the Acropolis grounds 1,500 years ago.

The group also, intends to ask Athena for help with the protection of Athen’s and the temple that use to belong to her that is known worldwide as the Parthenon. In the 5th century A.D the Parthenon was converted to a Christian church.

Ellinais has held several public ritual prayers at ancient Pagan landmarks, despite Italy’s Cultural Ministry banning the Pagan expressions.

“I don’t know how many of us will be there.” Peppa said, “People are afraid. The fact is that we are subject to religious persecution.”

Read more here.

Technorati Tags: athena, athens, doretta peppe, greek pagan, pagan news, parthenon

A retired vicar named Rev Kevin Logan published a book in 1987 entitled Paganism and The Occult. In light of Harry Potter’s popularity, the reverend has decided to update and re-release his book.

Now, I have purposely not commented on the whole Harry Potter and Paganism topic over the years because I felt that the “hoohaa” was completely unfounded. In my personal opinion, which goes the same for the controversy over Brown’s Da Vinci Code, these books are works of creative fiction. Rowling tells a good story that appeals to many people and she does it in away that captures people’s imaginations. Yet, at the end of the day they are still works of fiction neither Rowling nor Brown has ever tried to sell their work as historical truth. I digress, though as covering Rowling’s work is not what this post is about.

This post is about the Rev Kevin Logan and his statements to the UK’s The Citizen. Rev Logan who expresses his concerns about the rise of Paganism as: “Harry Potter is a PR exercise for paganism. One hundred children a month are contacting pagan organizations wanting to know how to become a witch or wizard. I did a Google search for paganism and thousands of groups were inviting me to join a coven or become involved with pagan ways – it is an issue we need to be aware of.”

One of the main tenets underneath the umbrella of Paganism is that we do not prostelytize. Pagans do not go around trying to convert people and coven’s do not actively seek people to join up. We don’t have social conversion or prayer gatherings and we certainly do not require as a part of the faith to go door to door to spread our own beliefs to people who are not looking for it. I would really like to know where Rev Logan came by is statistics.

Who are these “thousands of groups” who he states that tried to get him to join a coven? Where is the statistical information showing that one hundred children a month are contacting Pagan organizations? Does Rev Logan even know of any Pagan organizations?

Blatant assumed statements like Rev Logan’s confuse me in this day and age. What seems to be going on here (and I could be wrong) is that Rev Logan is retired and is at an apt stage to re-release a book for profit. If the concern was really with saving people from Paganism, why not re-release the book for free? He also seems to be a bit late in rehashing the whole war on Harry Potter and Paganism stance, as the books have been out for quite awhile. Why wait so long to warn people about the dangers?

Technorati Tags: harry potter, Kevin Logan, Pagan, paganism, pagans, Rev Kevin Logan, rowling

Ok, I came across Jason’s post here: Reality Television Hits New Low (If That’s Possible) and just about fell out of my chair giggling. I thought perhaps this was another “reality” joke… but no.

The Reverend George Hargreaves, whose idea it was for this show, seems to be of the opinion that people who are not Christian are at the cause of England’s moral decline. I find the reverend’s opinion humorous, only due to the fact that Christian’s out number those who chose not to be. If Christian’s are the majority and thereby hold more political office having more influence on how the country develops…then it would seem to me that the obvious cause for the moral decline would be…

Yep, not going to get into the rest of it. I do trust that you all understand what the point is.

However, if one should not understand what I am alluding to all you have to do is ask and I will explain it. Should you ask, be prepared for a historical lesson beyond the religious one.

Thank you and good evening.

Technorati Tags: british tv, make me a christian, religion on tv, reverend hargraves, stupid reality shows