Paganism

San Diego's Many Faiths Share Season of Holidays

November 30, 2001

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On November 30, 2001. The San Diego Union-Tribune featured an article on the diverse and numerous religious holidays that take place at this time of year. The article included a description of the following holidays: Ramadan - the Muslim holy month, Bodhi Day - the anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment, Hanukkah - "the eight-day Jewish festival of lights commemorates the victory of the Maccabees, Jewish warriors who overthrew their oppressors in about 165 B.C.", Yule and Winter Solstice - the Wiccan and Pagan holiday...

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New 'Domestic Terroist' Act Concerns RLLN

November 3, 2001

Source: Religious Liberties Lawyers Network

On November 3, 2001 the Religious Liberties Lawyers Network issued a press release saying it "pledges to monitor the impact the recently enacted USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. Law No. 107-56) has on the rights of minority religious." The Religious Liberties Lawyers Network is "a national organization of Wiccan, Pagan and civil liberties attorneys, paralegals and law students... The RLLN provides legal counseling and support in cases of religious discrimination, educational information on First Amendment rights, and a highly...

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Pagan Community of Arkansas

October 27, 2001

Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

On October 27, 2001, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, featured an article on Wicca and Paganism. The article discussed the diveristy of Neo-Paganism saying "Wiccans and Pagans have as many traditions as the Christian faith has denominations." The article also explianed that "Pagans view the Earth as sacred and believe the divine can be found in nature" and that the traditions incorporate the feminine divine noting "the concept of a goddess or goddesses...attracts many to the religion." The article also touched on "some of the...

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Wiccan Prohibited from Exposing His Daughter to His Religion

August 1, 2001

Source: InPgh Weekly

http://www.inpgh.com/html/2001_08_01/news/feature.tmpl

On August 1, 2001, InPgh Weekly reported that Pennsylvania resident "Conon Brewer may be held in contempt of court this week for allowing [his daughter] to see...anything...that hints at his personal sense of spirituality. He stands accused of violating his 2000 divorce decree, which orders him not to expose his young daughter to books with 'spirits and ghosts' or to the teachings of his...

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Ten Facts Illustrate Atlanta's Growing Religious Diversity

July 26, 2001

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "during the second half of the 20th century, metro Atlanta...became a richly diverse religious community." The article listed ten facts that exemplified the growing diversity. For example, "Hindus have several worship centers in Atlanta" and "Pagans and witches worship in their own ceremonies throughout the metro area."

Pagans Convey Concerns about Faith-Based Legislation to Congress

July 17, 2001

Source: Lady Liberty League

On July 17, 2001, the Lady Liberty League issued a press release reporting that "Pagans of many paths from around the USA concerned about HR 7 have joined the growing numbers of American citizens calling and emailing their concerns to US Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Some info is online at Wren's Nest at the Witches Voice website: http://www.witchvox.net/xwrensnest.html...HR 7 is of special concern to Pagans because one of the most widely cited...

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Mother Sues School After Daughter's Suicide

July 4, 2001

Source: The Detroit News

http://detnews.com/2001/schools/0107/04/a08-243315.htm

On July 4, 2001, The Detroit News reported that "the mother of a 12-year-old girl who committed suicide five months ago has filed a $10-million lawsuit against the Lincoln Park School District, claiming school administrators turned a blind eye to students who teased the girl about her religious beliefs...Much of the teasing revolved around [the girl's] belief in Wicca, a pagan religion...

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Dismissal of Charges of Promotion of Paganism Is Appealed

June 30, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On June 30, 2001, The New York Times reported that "the guardian of two children in the Bedford school district has asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn a ruling dismissing claims that the district promoted paganism, New Age thinking and the occult." The claims were made by "three Roman Catholic families in 1996 [who] asserted that a high school Earth Day ceremony with drum-playing and the offering of gifts crossed the line into worship of the planet."

Wiccans Face Many Challenges When They Go Public

June 18, 2001

Source: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

http://www.thirteen.org/religionandethics/week442/cover.html

On June 18, 2001, the TV show Religion and Ethics Newsweekly posted a transcript of one of their programs about "what it means when modern witches [Wiccans] 'come out of the closet.'" Many Wiccans face discrimination and the prevalence of false stereotypes about them. "Wiccans say that, in the end, it is their experience more...

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Council Denies Pagan Group the Right to Tell Fortunes

June 14, 2001

Source: The State Journal-Register

On June 14, 2001, The State Journal-Register reported that "a decades-old law that prohibits anyone from being paid to tell fortunes was reaffirmed by unanimous vote of Hillsboro [Illinois] City Council. The issue came up...when [the Coven of the] Mystic Moon [asked to] hold a fund-raising festival on city property at Lake Hillsboro. Among the games and activities to be offered would be readings of Tarot cards and fortune-telling...The practice of divination, or fortune-telling, is part of their religion, [a member of the...

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Wiccan Priestess at Harvard's Memorial Church

June 1, 2001

Source: Harvard Magazine

On June 1, 2001 the Harvard Magazine reported that "At 8:45 A.M. on February 20 a Wiccan priestess led the daily service of morning prayers in Memorial Church. 'Chapel has long afforded, since 1886 at least, a pulpit to non-Christians,' says the Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes, Pusey minister in the Memorial Church. Harris is 'the first Wiccan priestess of whom we are aware.'"

Florida Pagan Protests Christian School Board Prayer

May 30, 2001

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On May 30, 2001, the St. Petersburg Times reported that "community activist Charles Schrader, who was ejected from a School Board meeting last week for praying a pagan prayer over Chairwoman Patience Nave's invocation, asked...whether he can lead the prayer at the next regular board meeting June 12" in the spirit of religious diversity. Nave responded that "it was the board's meeting. So they should be the ones conducting the prayers."

In Spite of Christian Worries, Pagans Describe Themselves as Ordinary

May 27, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On May 27, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported on "the Spring Gathering of the Tribes here, on a remote wooded farm where hundreds of Pagans from Virginia and the East Coast have set up camp...Gathering attendees portrayed themselves as normal Americans who hold spiritual beliefs in the power of nature and in male and female sources of divinity...Some area ministers said earlier this week that they might organize a protest against the weekend gathering, but little has materialized."

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