Pagan group gets the boot in Hannibal

showmenews.com ^

[Next_Time_NJ]

By CHUCK ADAMSON of the Tribune’s staff Published Thursday, February 3, 2005

Cooper County pagans are coming to Columbia this weekend after being refused service in Hannibal.

Rose Wise, high priestess administrator of the Ozark Avalon Church of Nature-Wicca, said the Hannibal Inn and Convention Center sent them a letter about 10 days ago saying their retreat planned months ago couldn’t be held there.

[Next_Time_NJ]

Rose Wise, high priestess administrator of the Ozark Avalon Church of Nature-Wicca

BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!
Is that some kinda witch CEO??

[mike182d]

Silly pagans. Polytheism's for kids :-)

[JennysCool]

Cooper County Pagans

Finally! A name for my bluegrass band!

[Tax-chick]

Columbia will be just the place for them. Kudos to the Hannibal Inn for giving them the boot.

[Bones75]

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Rose Wise!!!" hahahaha.. "high preistess"....

AaaahhhHahahahahahahahahahahhahaha

[Bones75]

"Cooper County Pagans

Finally! A name for my bluegrass band!"

Right on!

The Cooper County Pagans.. Yeeeeeeeeee haw!

Bones

[small voice in the wilderness]

Ozark Avalon Church of Nature-Wicca

You might be a redneck wiccan if:

1. All your spells begin with "Hold muh brew 'n watch this".
2. You believe Stonehenge is actually the speakers located in Berl Bigguns' basement.

[Ignatius J Reilly]

"Columbia will be just the place for them. Kudos to the Hannibal Inn for giving them the boot."

Yeah, because religous intolerance is what this country's all about

[Modernman]

Columbia will be just the place for them. Kudos to the Hannibal Inn for giving them the boot.

I'll remember your statement the next time Christians get discriminated against.

[GOP_Proud]

To tag these freaks as a "religion" is an insult to me and mine.

[GOP_Proud]

I just don't see it as equal.

[Pharmboy]

Sounds like a motrocycle gang...

[Modernman]

I just don't see it as equal.

The Constitution and the Founding Fathers did, however.

[Ignatius J Reilly]

Whether you consider an insult or not does not matter a bit. maybe you've heard the phrase "Freedom of religion" Hitler thought his way of thinking was better than everyone else's too.

re·li·gion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-ljn)
n.

Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Just because you don't believe in it does not make it not a religion. I'm not trying to insult as I agree the wiccans are a little off their rockers in their beliefs but I'm sure they feel the same way about Christians.

[theFIRMbss]

>Silly pagans. Polytheism's for kids

Letter From Greece: The Gods Return to Olympus

by Matthew Brunwasser

In today's Greece, worshiping Zeus is a controversial practice.

For some modern Greeks and a growing number of foreigners, conventional ways of embracing Greece's rich past are insufficient. A perusal of Herodotus or an excursion to the Acropolis lack the personal satisfaction of participating in something larger than oneself. They want to live according to ancient ways, and to bring those ways to life through themselves.

There is no way to confirm the number of followers, but leaders of the very loosely organized movement, commonly referred to as the Hellenes or the Dodecatheon, after the 12 gods of the Greek pantheon, say there are maybe 2,000 hard-core practicing followers, and perhaps 100,000 nationwide who are open to the ideas and pursue some sort of interest. The movement has two main goals: to introduce a reformed version of ancient Greek religion, philosophy, and values to modern Greek society; and to curb the enormous power of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church. Many of the Hellenes' values are based on secular ancient Greek principles. Their mission is spread through self-published books, the Internet, and, on a more local level, discussion groups, courses in ancient Greek, and field trips to archaeological sites. Religious ceremonies and rituals are held both in groups and by individuals, at home and in public. The liturgical texts are largely based on Orphic hymns--invocations to the gods attributed to the mythical singer--and other ancient poetry. Some followers have small statues of the 12 gods on their living room shelves at home. One family allegedly has a miniature indoor temple.

But in both scholarly approach and purpose, the return of the Hellenes elicits only skepticism from scholars. "In my opinion, it is impossible for a modern society to go back to the 'ancient ways' of any kind," says Aristotelis Mentzos, an early Byzantine archaeologist at Thessaloniki University. "They sound like old well-to-do ladies musing about how much worse modern society is and how much better it used to be in the 'good old days.'"

[Ignatius J Reilly]

"To tag these freaks as a "religion" is an insult to me and mine."

The Romans considered earl Christians as the biggest kind of freaks out there

[Dogrobber]

Cooper County is next door to Boone County (the county wherein Columbia carries on its earthly existence) and a good 90 miles from Hannibal, Missouri. Knowing Cooper County as I do (I used to live there) I must comment on "Cooper County Pagans."

First, these Wichans are the minority of pagans in Cooper County. I know this because the Minister at the Bapist Church is always complaining about all the pagans who don't get to Church on Sunday and he sure isn't talking about Wichans. The Sister who teaches Catholic adult converts called me a pagan (I corrected her, I was only a heathen) and I have also heard the Church organist (no jokes now, she's a nice lady) complaining about all the pagan children running around. SOOOOO . . I know that there must be a bunch of pagans in Cooper County and ain't but a minority of um' Wichans.

Second, Wichans just can't play bluegrass. Oh, they'll beat on a drum like to split your head open and chant until the sun goes down and then comes up again - but pick'n an a grinnin'- nope, not a chance.

Last, but not least, d@m$ rituals always leave some kinda goat-head or some such laying about behind them when they leave. Not that I am against burning a little incense or sprinkling water (I am Catholic); but we draw the line at goat-heads. Too much risk to the political class.

[TChris]

...let them worship how, where and what they may.

I'm confident that members of every religion find at least some incorrect/objectionable material in most others. I like the idea of trying to teach and convert rather than ridiculing and/or banning them. As long as they aren't conducting animal sacrifices or group sex rituals in the main ballroom, I can't see much of a problem.

[Next_Time_NJ]

Photos Surface of the High Priestess

[Tax-chick]

Do. Private accommodations have the right to decide who uses their facilities.