Paganism

“God hasn’t been removed from the picture; he’s been relocated. Where did God go? There are as many answers as there are people. Consider some conversations I’ve had recently.” - TGC

“Baylor University scholar Paul Froese said the findings may reflect a greater interest in magical thinking as people move away from traditional religious beliefs.” - RNS

“Religious faith is ‘fragmenting’ in the UK as more than one in ten people who abandon Christianity in Britain take up paganism, wicca or another form of ‘spiritualism,’ according to the report.” - The Times

“Central to understanding the complexities of Halloween and its implications is the recognition that our world is not just physical; it’s a spiritual battlefield as well.” - DBTS Blog

“Visitors are welcomed by quotations from French artist Lucile Olympe Haut’s ‘Cyberwitches Manifesto,’ which urges readers to, among other things, ‘use smartphones and tarot cards to connect to spirits’ and ‘manufacture D.I.Y. devices to listen to invisible worlds.’” - Breakpoint

“Wicca… whose adherents, regardless of gender, call themselves witches, began in the U.K. in the 1940s. Wicca and Witchcraft are part of the larger contemporary pagan movement, which includes druids and heathens among others. All these spiritual paths, as pagans refer to them, base their practices on pre-Christian religions and cultures.” - RNS

“The common explanation for knocking on wood claims the ritual is a holdover from Europe’s pagan days, an appeal to tree-dwelling spirits to ward off bad luck or an expression of gratitude for good fortune.” - The Conversation

“The latest in a long, long string of examples signaling the increasing popularity of the neo-pagan climate religion comes from NBC News, which unveiled an online confessional this week for those who want to denounce themselves publicly for their environmental sins. This is a real thing being promoted by a real newsroom.

… instead of secularization it makes sense to talk about the fragmentation and personalization of Christianity — to describe America as a nation of Christian heretics, if you will, in which traditional churches have been supplanted by self-help gurus and spiritual-political entrepreneurs.

“Approximately 1,000 people have confirmed their plans to attend the hex event…. 50 percent of the proceeds from the event will be given to Planned Parenthood.” - WRNews