barbarian at the door

About half ten this morning there was a knock on the door. No-one was up except Danz so she answered it.

It was a proselytising christian, bothering decent folk. You'd have thought the Pagan fish symbols on the back of both of our cars would have alerted it to the fact that this was a decent un-christian household, but these blinkered fuckers can't see the obvious!

So after bothering for a few seconds, drivelling on about this 'bible' thing Danz said 'We're Pagans.'

'So you're Satanists,' was the befuddled fucker's reply.

Danz slammed the door in its face.

Now how many times do we decent folk have to tell these morons that Satan is a christian god, that Pagans do not believe in evil and stand firmly against it. That evil comes from people - more often than not christians or their related 'faithful' - the sort that will aim bombs at children or crash planes into populated buildings - that Pagans take responsibility for our own actions, non blame some idiotic god with horns.

Hopefully later in the day someone other than a mild-mannered 13 year old girl opened the door to this moron and gave them a robust duffing-up.

a good christian

See, they're not all bad. This is a thoughtful piece. Respect!


Christianity’s Role in the Rise of Paganism

A Ciry Essay

I wanted to write an open letter to the Christian community and particularly to Christian clergy, to suggest a significant reason why I think so many people are leaving Christianity for other spiritual paths such as Paganism. (Not necessarily abandoning God or the Son--there are many people who describe themselves as Pagans who revere Christ--but abandoning the Christian religion in its evolving form.) I believe that a "new Christianity", which is emerging in the country, bears a great deal of responsibility for the flight of the faithful. I hope you will be patient enough to read this letter, for it may provide insight valuable to you as you assess the changing religious climate in this country and around the world.

A primary reason for the abandonment of Christianity by ever-growing numbers, I believe, is the inexplicable antipathy towards nature, God's grand creation, by powerful Christian factions. I, and countless others I have talked to, have become increasingly alarmed and dismayed at the stance that so many Christian leaders and conservative denominations have taken in recent years towards creation, by treating it with derision, ignoring its plight altogether, or, astonishingly, by trying to demonize it as an object of Pagan worship. There is much condemnation these days of the theory of evolution by Christian leaders, and yet we see little or no concern for the welfare of a world that they insist was created by God in His infinite wisdom. It is no wonder that people of faith who deeply love nature as an exquisite manifestation of God’s glory are turning to other religions or spiritual paths, or are abandoning religion altogether. Many of the faithful are having an increasingly difficult time tolerating a "spiritual" path that promotes unchecked capitalism (a glaring contradiction to Christ's teachings), fosters the unreasonable and sacrilegious glorification of human beings to the detriment of all else, and encourages the complete and absolute subjugation of the (godless) "environment". Those who enthusiastically espouse such aspects of the new Christianity seem to have forgotten Who created the world and what man’s responsibility is as steward of God’s masterwork.

Christianity, it seems to me, is evolving into a form of religious humanism, with a myopic view of mankind as the only important entity on the planet, and all other creations of God, be they animal, plant, or wild place, as nothing more than base fodder, suitable only for man's various uses. The creation itself is considered to be devoid of intrinsic value, certainly no sacred value, and is appreciated only for what men can extract from it, often brutally. There is no true respect for creation in much of Christianity today, no acknowledgment that the Creator may have fashioned its exquisite beauty and complexity for more than the most mundane of purposes. Man-with-a-Capital-M and his narrowly perceived and self-serving wants—the glorification of self, the pursuit of affluence, the importance of private-property rights and the resistance to governmental regulation regardless of consequences to the greater good—have an increasingly high priority in the Christianity of the 21st Century. One only has to turn to the dictionary to realize that the term "humanism" fits the new Christianity like a glove:
"Humanism : a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values."
A short-sighted and self-absorbed humanistic religion is not appealing to many who desire a meaningful spiritual path. It is my belief that the anthropocentrism so integral to Christianity today is a huge reason why Paganism is the fastest growing religion in several countries of the western world, including the United States. People yearn for a faith that acknowledges and appreciates, at a profound level, the value, beauty, and yes, the sacredness, of God's creation, with all its wondrous layers and facets, because they understand intuitively that the Creator is inherent in His lovely world.

Having lived in wild and remote places for much of my adult life, I see God in all of nature, in every exquisite natural thing there is. It's not difficult to see Him in nature, for it is all His art, His expression, His love. If I want to search for Him, all I have to do is walk in the woods and there He is, in every leaf and flower, in every living creature and breath of wind. Why is it considered an abomination to suggest that the living God might exist in the perfection of nature as well as transcend it, just as a human artist exists in his work as well as transcends it? Can we not see Leonardo da Vinci, the man, in his paintings? Is it possible to show respect for an artist without also showing respect for his creations? In truth, it would not be possible to separate one from the other. No one in his or her right mind would suggest that an intruder who breaks into a museum or art gallery and destroys a masterpiece such as da Vinci’s The Last Supper is in some way showing respect for the artist. And yet many within the confines of the new Christianity, with solemn piety, insist that they respect God the Creator Of All Things even as they condone the whole-sale destruction of a creation almost incomprehensible in its loveliness and complexity, very likely unique in all the universe.

Do we really think that God will be as much with us in a world devoid of deep and silent forests, flower-strewn meadows, and oceans teeming with life? Will we see Him as clearly when Man’s Grand Vision has supplanted God’s, when wild nature has been swept away and replaced in large part by pollution-choked mega-cities, vast mining pits, devastating clear cuts and oil-contaminated estuaries? When we look at the wonder of creation with its unfathomable beauty and mystery, with its myriad forms of life, aren’t we, in fact, glimpsing the face of God? It is my belief that when all of the pristine wild places are gone and the earth is a barren wasteland of asphalt and concrete, disease and despair, overrun by tens of billions of impoverished human beings who have nothing but rage to feed on, we will find that God, so inherent in His lovely creation, has abandoned us to our wretched condition, a fitting punishment for our wanton disregard for every last thing on earth but ourselves. How lonely we will feel when there is nothing left of the rich tapestry of His Great Work but us. And for those who say that the faithful will not see that dark day, remember that good men of faith throughout the ages have confidently anticipated the imminent end of days, and yet the world continues on. As we lie in our beds at night, we must consider the possibility that there WILL be a long and uncertain future, for our children, for our grandchildren and for our great-grandchildren.

If prominent leaders of Christianity truly want to stop the hemorrhaging of followers from the faith, then they need to start showing some respect for God the Creator of All Things. Why is Christianity leaving that to the Pagans, whose most obvious "sin", in the eyes of many Christians, is to show an unabashed reverence for God’s masterpiece of nature? If church leaders are indeed alarmed at the exploding popularity of other spiritual paths, then the Christian religion must begin to embrace wondrous nature, offer humble thanks to God for its glory, work hard to preserve it for those who will surely come after us, and above all, stop demonizing it as some sinister manifestation of the devil. You will find that many estranged followers will gladly return to the faith. (And perhaps God in His infinite mercy will be able to forgive these terrible sins against Him.) But if Christianity continues to condone the total destruction of wild nature, and continues to characterize it as something base and evil, worth-less and expendable, this great religion of the last 2000 years may very well fall by the wayside, perceived by the growing multitudes as a threat to the future, much too costly to a humanity which depends upon a viable planet for survival.

at it again

Yes, the work-shy monotheists are at it again. Our regional paper (Western Daily Press, 20 June 2007) has an extraordinary piece called 'Indoctrination of our Nation' by satanist Jonathan Skinner, a baptist 'minister'. In it he spouts off all the usual tosh about Pagans having no ethics, being unscientific (this is from a christian remember!!) and being a threat to Britain.

Now hold on fuckface, Britain is a Pagan country, always has been and always will be. The only indoctrination comes from you foreigners with your foreign 'religion'. Remember, Pagans don't proselytise, we let people find their own route. Indocrination comes from the monotheists, their evil books and their persistent jabbering to brainwash decent folk.

Now it turns out that our satanist chum has actually written a book all about Pagans, but in that usual monotheist way didn't actually want to do any research! So it's all a tissue of drivel, lies and downright libel.

So if you're in the region (the Heart of Pagan Britain) write to the editor (you can do it online) and let him/her know how you feel about this piece.

My reply goes -

I was appalled at your piece in the Press on 20 June, 'Indoctrination of our Nation' by Jonathan Skinner.

It makes some extraordinary claims about Paganism. That Pagans have no ethics for example. Our ethics go way beyond those of christians (who once were quite happy to burn us, conscience-free), not only do we do no harm to people, but also to the wider environment. We have probably the strictest ethical code of any religion - 'as it harm none do as you will'. We also take responsibility for our own actions, not blame them on that mischievous christian god, Satan. Pagans do NOT believe in demons and evil spirits - this is primitive superstition. Mr Skinner says these are spoken of in his 'bible' - where is the evidence for these creatures? In fact where is the evidence for any christian beliefs?

He has been severely hoist by his own petard. He can live in his superstitious supernatural world with its virgin births, demons and miracles - Pagans live in the real world, the world of science, of kindness to others, of working with rather than against nature and a world where everyone and everything is valued, not only some narrow interest group within it.

He wonders why his 'religion' and others like it are dying on their feet. His attitude shows exactly why - arrogance, selfishness and disinterest in this world and its beauty is why. And it's the reverse attitude, one that Pagans all over the world share, which shows why Paganism is indeed the fastest growing religion in the UK - a Pagan country now rediscovering its spiritual heart.

christian outrage

We found out the other day that our neighbour is Pagan too. Not difficult when she sports a magnificent pentacle tattoo.

She told us an interesting and barely believable story. That she went in a Bristol charity shop and the old dear behind the counter refused to serve her when she spotted the tattoo.

And why? Because she claimed it was the sign of the 'devil'. That she was a 'devil' worshipper.

What is it with christians? Do they set out to become ignorant, ill-mannered and stupid, or is christianity a 'religion' that only attracts people like that?

Get this you thick christian bitch - the 'devil' is a christian god. Pagans do NOT believe in a 'devil' or any other unpleasant supernatural force. The 'devil' is the christians' way of explaining away their perversions and evil behaviour. christians refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. christianity is an evil foreign religion that spread its moronic influence in Britain through torture, death and the worship of ignorance and hate.

The bitch in the charity shop should have been sacked and deported, back to fucking Jerusalem. Pagans are kindly, understanding people and we generally do not criticise other religions, even those that happily killed us and would kill us again. All I ask is that the christians leave this country and return to the 'holy' land where they can peddle their rubbish and lies all day long.

Britain is a PAGAN country, and we're beginning to get our teeth back ...

more typical christians ...

No comment needed ... but what is it with christians and children?? More here - if you can bear it.

beltane festivities

Some fuel for the fire - foreign propaganda ...



One Beltane tradition is to have two bonfires that you walk between. This is for fertility. These two were a little too close together!



Our own little rerunning of the Wicker Man! They burned really well.



A first for Hartcliffe? About to jump the fire ...

filth for kids

A parade of filth spotted in Bristol yesterday. Shouldn't all political propaganda be banned for under-18s? The owner of this foreign muck explained it was 'educational'! Shouldn't children be mature before they are taught the art of lying? Filth ...