Many of us in the field of comparative religion and mythology may never have guessed we would see the day when official organizations such as the police in Great Britain recognized the validity of Pagan celebrations that have their roots in antiquity. But it appears that we will see this development, which is not only interesting but also refreshing and encouraging.
A groundswell of people dumping the old, violent women-hating cults such as Christianity and Islam would be equally refreshing and encouraging. Let us hope that these "Pagans" are aware of the true meaning of their holidays - e.g., the astrotheological aspects - so they will be creating something genuinely grounded in reality, rather than just another culturally biased and bigoted cult of fabulous fairytales based on alleged founders who turn out to be mythical or sociopathic.
Indeed, with proper education, the Pagan movement could provide a very effective means of keeping at bay the plotted global domination under the monotheistic slave-cults. The following article, however, highlights some drawbacks already in the movement that will create ridicule and distance, obviously. Focusing on the scientific information behind the myths of ancient Paganism - such as the archaeoastronomical recording of planetary movements, seasons, etc. - would be far better than depicting Paganism as contacting the dead, casting spells and cavorting naked.
When the astrotheological origins of the Pagan holidays are factored in, there is nothing "oddball" about them, as the following article suggests. Indeed, they are natural and logical extensions of human perception dating many thousands of years. What is "oddball" is the contrived worship and reverence of fictional or quasi-fictional individuals of a particular culture or ethnicity that we find in "mainstream" religious cults.
Pagan cops get eight new holidays
A PAGAN police support group which gives cops the right to take EIGHT oddball holidays each year has been launched today.
The Pagan Police Association (PPA) was proudly announced by co-founder PC Andy Pardy of Hertfordshire Constabulary after Home Office chiefs officially sanctioned the group last week.
PC Pardy — who is a heathen worshipper of Norse gods, including hammer-wielding Thor — said Pagan cops could now take off a string of religious holidays.
By allowing Pagans to set up their own organisation, the Home Office has officially sanctioned a string of Wicca and Pagan-related holidays, which include leaving food out for the dead, 'unabashed sexual promiscuity' and going on long country walks...
Pagans — including druids, witches and shamans — will have to take the days as holiday days, but each day is given the same respect as Christmas for Christians, Ramadan for Muslims and Passover for Jews.
Pagan cops are also allowed to swear upon their own religion in court now, pledging to tell the truth not before God but by what 'they hold sacred'.
PC Pardy said that now that Paganism was a 'valid religion', officers — of which around 500 are believed to be Pagan in the UK — can officially apply for religious holidays...
From the same site comes a list of the eight major Pagan holidays, which are essentially astrotheological - this meaning should be emphasized, rather than the occultic aspects of Neo-Paganism, which are unnecessary and create misunderstandings. I discuss these holidays and many more in my Astrotheology Calendar.
Pagan holidays
The eight main festivals include;
* Samhain - On Halloween (October 31), Pagans celebrate the 'dark winter half of the year' by leaving food outside for the 'wandering dead', dressing up as ghosts and casting spells.
* Imbolc - The 'festival of the lactating sheep' held on February 2 every year. During this time, Pagans pile stones on top of each other and made 'priapic wands' to celebrate fertility.
* Beltane - on April 30/May 1, Pagan and Wicca worshippers celebrate the sun God with 'unabashed sexuality and promiscuity' in which married couples 'can remove their wedding rings' for the night.
* Lammas - On July 31, Pagans celebrate harvest time and are encouraged to go on 'country walks' through 'fields, orchards, springs, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes'.
* Yule - Celebrated on December 21, Pagans go door-to-door singing and burn a yule log to honour Kriss Kringle, the Germanic Pagan God of Yule.
* Ostra - On March 21, also known as Lady Day, is when Pagans celebrate Spring and heap praise on the Sun God and the Great Mother.
* Litha - or Summer Soltice. Pagans worship the longest day of the year on June 21. Members down honey mead and dance naked in the sun to celebrate the upcoming harvest.
* Mabon - Pagans, on September 21, celebrate the Autumn Equinox by dressing up in their 'finery' and holding a massive dinner party outdoors to celebrate the end of the summer.
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|2010-05-12 17:36:14 Frank - WOW!Some how I missed all that naked dancing and sex on the holidays! Couldn't be the author of that article is just trying to titillate the readers could it? True that certain forms of Gardenarian and Alexandrian Wicca used nudity, especially in its early days, but most modern groups I've been exposed to eschew those practices. Our own group tries to follow the earliest known forms of sun and earth worship, honoring the change of seasons under the various constellations. By the way, the holiday is OSTARA not Ostra.
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|2010-05-14 03:50:28 JH Chrestos - Doing the nakeyGood for them. What this world needs is more naked dancing. I'm serious. There are way too many tight-asses in the world screwing it up for the rest of us.
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|2010-05-14 09:12:05 Jon Smetana - UK police get Pagan holiday.My dictionary defines "Pagan" as, "1. A person who is not a Christian, Moslem or Jew; heathen. 2. One who has no religion. [Middle English,..civilian (i.e., not a soldier of Christ"
..]
"Heathen" is defined as, "1. One who adheres to the religion of a tribe or nation that does not acknowledge the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam..2. One who is regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened.."
"Heathenish" is defined as, "..2. Uncouth or barbarous.."
So pagans/heathens are "uncouth & barbarous."
If the barbarous Pagans are responsible for killing (fewer) people than the Christians, wouldn't the term "barbarous" be more fitting for the Christians?
"Christian" is defined as, (I'll go right to the good part.) 5. "..Neighborly; decent."
"Neighborly; decent" - was that before or after they killed their first 100,000 people?
My dictionary should make some corrections on their next edition.
