Naturalistic Paganism
[Dead Ideas] “Titoism I: Slovenia from Prehistory to Tito”, by B. T. Newberg
https://player.megaphone.fm/ADL4479010679?
Our new series is a delve into my own Slovenian ethnic heritage. Our dead idea is Titoism, the ideology of the former Yugoslavia which died along with its communist dictator, Tito. I also mix in stories of my family and my own conflicted feelings about ethnicity.
This Historic Moment (Part I), by [Starstuff, Contemplating]
Not all that long ago, three times as many people saw their chosen Bible as the actual word of their god, to be read literally as those who saw their Bible as a book of fables. For the first time in American history, more Americans see their Bible as a book of fables than the literal words of a god (because there are many different books called a “Bible” – some with 81 books, or 66 books, or 73 books, or other books, with different texts in those books, I try to avoid referring to “the Bible” – because there isn’t just one “Bible”, and the canon has never been settled, and probably never will be settled, even among Christians). This historic point was crossed just this May, and is, as we’ll see, not alone.
Happy Summer Thermstice/Lammas!
Celebrations
Heat! Summer! Productivity! Growing Darkness! These and many other themes join with the baking of bread and early harvest celebrations of Lunasa.
Some of the ways many of us are celebrating were published a few weeks ago. For my family, celebrations with our annual blueberry harvest and evening ritual will be this Friday. This year, our Earth, Moon and Sun bring the growing dark of Lunasa to us in the dramatic display of the August 21st eclipse. Not only is this display of darkness so fitting for Lunasa, but it will also pass directly over the great plains, where so much of our grain harvest comes from. For some of us, the celebrations will be later this week – the actual midpoint between the Solstice and the Equinox is August 7th. However you are celebrating (including Imbolc celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere), may your be celebration be blessed.
A New Contraceptive for Pagan Men
Sex and health are important topics for anyone, but maybe more so for us Pagans. Being an earth-based belief system, we tend to favor and embrace a more natural and holistic approach to our health; steering away from chemicals that can harm the Earth and us, and pills that may contain multiple side effects. And when it comes to sex, we don’t usually attach cultural taboos, and restrictions like other religions do but encourage that which gives our bodies pleasure when performed in mutual enjoyment. We don’t always wish to produce more children, however, so we use contraceptives to prevent this from happening. Read More
Fasting for Naturalistic Pagans, by Renee Lehnen
The Buddha fasted. Jesus fasted. Shamans and Mormons fast. In June, Muslims observed the month-long, daylight fast of Ramadan, a test of faith in northern latitudes. Along with ritual, adherence to core beliefs and values, and reflective practices such as prayer or meditation, most religions advise periods of abstinence from food. Naturalistic Paganism offers no specific direction on fasting. However, fasting is a powerful spiritual practice that Pagans may wish to adopt for several reasons. Here are six of them: Read More
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Pagan Coming Out Day – May 2nd
Naturalistic Paganism 