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RELS 225 2009-04-01: Neo-PaganismRELS 225 2009-04-01: Neo-Paganism

AttendanceAnnouncementsNeo-paganismWicca

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AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Tomorrow, April 2: Religious Studies thesis defenses3:30 to 4:30, Annex 113

Wednesday April 8: Religious Studies book launchKornel Zathureczky: Messianic Disruption of Trinitarian Theology Campus Art Gallery 4:00-5:30

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Neo-PaganismNeo-Paganism

Variety of groups and practices“The ancient gods are not dead; but they think we are”Not virulently anti-ChristianMost trace back to ancient Egyptian religion

Polytheistic, yet monistic.Not absolute unity, but not pluralistic chaos either.Appropriate diversity (god of wisdom; god of love, etc.)balancing of interactions (male/female; four seasons, directions, etc.) create a totality.

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Contrast with Conventional Western ReligionsContrast with Conventional Western Religions

Christianity & Judaism are thought to privilege will, imposing it on human nature and earth’s nature.Neo-paganism favours imagination rather than will.

Seeks cooperation with the forces of nature, on a basis of reverence and exchange.

Christianity and Judaism are religions of historyGod has a purpose, from beginning (creation) to end (paradise).

Neo-paganism celebrates what isA religion of atmosphere instead of faith.A cosmos constructed by the imaginationCalling up the gods from within oneself is thought to be true magic.

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RitualRitual

Emphasis on the practical side of religious expression: the rite, gesture, ceremonial act.

Teaching is pale in comparison to rites.

The magical cosmos is evoked, made by acts done as if it were present.

A secondary world is created in a special time and place, far different from the outside world.Magic circle, wand, sword, flowers, dance.

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Relationship to other movementsRelationship to other movements

In the Western traditionEastern yoga and meditation are thought to be too foreign for westerners

Relationship with occultKabbalah, Tarot cards, astrology, etc.But use rite instead of intellectual/psychological exercise.More concerned with human relationship with nature

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BackgroundBackground

Roots in romanticismEliphas Levi (1810-1875) France, applied romantic feeling to magic.Papas (1865-1916) France, founded an Order.

Some Masons (1888) founded Order of the Golden Dawnled by S. L. MacGregor Mathers. (1854-1917), who claimed occult contact with 3 “Secret Chiefs” in Paris.

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947)expelled from the Golden Dawn founded his own Order (Argentinum Astrum), then joined Ordo Templarum Orientalis (1912).Wrote on “magick”, poet, heroin addict, exaggerator, dramatic.“Do what you will shall be the whole of the Law”Practiced sex magic.

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Categories of neo-paganismCategories of neo-paganism

Magical groupsInfluenced by Golden Dawn, CrowleyAntiquarianConcerned with evocation

Nature groupsRomanticInfluence d by Robert Graves, White Goddess.Concerned with celebration of existing goddesses.Quote from “Starhawk”

WiccaBetween these two: combines ritual magic and nature-oriented neo-paganism.

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WiccaWicca

Aligned to nature’s cycles.Moon, seasons.Typically worship Horned God and Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone).

May attempt to evoke the God and Goddess through dance, chant, gestures.Styles of ritual in American Wicca:

Gardnerian: energetic, nude dancingTraditional: clothed, slower-paced; homey implementsAlexandrian: adds Kabbalist-occult astrology, magic, etc.

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FeminismFeminism

Why call themselves “witches”?They insist the stereotypes are wrong.They identify with women who found power outside of male-dominated religion and society.

Some could not accept a God referred to exclusively with male pronouns (“He”).

Mary Daly, Beyond God the FatherJudith Plaskow, Womanspirit Rising.

Some Wiccan groups shifted the emphasis to the Goddess, away from the Horned God.Some groups were mainly lesbian.

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Aboriginal religionAboriginal religion

Trend in neo-paganismHealing, shamanismWhat can the sweat lodge, vision quest, way of the warrior, healing arts contribute to religion today?

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SummarySummary

RomanticImagination rather than will.Present rather than the flow of time.Practice rather than faith.Seek to recover a sense of wonder and respect as religious feelings toward nature.

HomeworkHomework

MondaySatanismNo homework

WednesdayReview for exam