Posted on 02/17/2005 3:06:35 PM PST by LurkedLongEnough
After applying and getting denied twice, the Boston University Nemeton Wicca Student Group was approved by the Religious Life Council as a new religious organization on campus Wednesday afternoon at Marsh Chapel.
The RLC denied the group, which applied as a pagan organization the first two times, because paganism is not formally recognized as a religion. But, last semester the organization changed its affiliation to Wicca, which is considered a religion, changing its name to the Wicca Student Group this year.
Nemeton President Aubrey Hooser said renaming the group was not an issue.
"The majority of the group follows Wicca, but the group welcomes anyone who is open-minded," the University Professors Program senior said.
As a unrecognized student group, Nemeton was denied certain privileges extended to religious groups, according to Nemeton Treasurer Jeffrey Barnett.
"In the beginning of the year, all of the religious groups have a table in front of Marsh Chapel," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said. "We would like to be able to represent our religion for the new students, as well. We would also like to be a part of the Interfaith Initiative, where a number of groups from BU get together to discuss their religions. Religious organizations also enjoy several resources the student groups do not have, such as a regular space to meet, protection from the school, the use of religious representations and being listed as a resource for students."
CAS senior Elizabeth Moss stressed the importance of being listed at the Office of the Chaplain.
"We are a very difficult community to find on-campus, even with a lot of initiative," Moss said. "Being associated with the Office of the Chaplain makes it a lot easier for interested people to find us."
Nemeton members said they were thrilled with the RLC's decision.
"I'm very happy about the results," Barnett said. "I'm very enthusiastic about working with the RLC and their resources in the future."
"We're very glad to become a part of the religious community at Boston University," Hooser said.
Moss said although the group's activities will not change, they will have the university privileges available to other religious groups.
"We have to meet with the Associate Dean of Marsh and we are now responsible to Marsh Chapel as well as the Student Activities Office," Moss said.
BU's Nemeton group was founded five years ago to provide an organization for pagans on campus. The group has 10 to 15 regular members and about 80 students on their mailing list.
The group will continue to be active on and off campus, meeting weekly, holding tarot workshops and hosting speakers like local pagan Christopher Penczak, Hooser said.
"We take part in a number of pagan programs, such as Pagan Pride Day, where pagans from all over Massachusetts meet, an annual retreat for the high-holiday Beltaine and open circles for lunar holidays on the BU Beach," she said.
We really do live in a wonderfully open society. However, if this group starts beheading people as part of their rituals, opinion could change.
Now we can start restricting THEIR freedom of religion!
What exactly is a pagan? I'm not trying to be flip, but how would I distinguish a pagan from an atheist?
"What exactly is a pagan? I'm not trying to be flip, but how would I distinguish a pagan from an atheist?"
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Well, pagans make an attempt to adhere to a belief system that is based on old, pre-christian european spirituality. The drawback is most of that information was probaly lost so, without being disrespectful to them, I have to say that they are basically 'winging it'.
A pagan does not believe in no deity or "higher being" as an atheist does; they believe in the deity of all things or the deity of nature. I once knew a wiccan woman who talked about how we are all gods or goddesses and she worshipped the earth. An atheist believes humans are the highest being but not in quite the same way, as I understand it.
And wicca is a religion. Many people consider it a wrong or evil or silly religion, but it is a religion.
Everything old is new again in Beantown.
"What exactly is a pagan? I'm not trying to be flip, but how would I distinguish a pagan from an atheist?"
As a graduate of a nearby university, I can explain.
An atheist wears black, has a pale face, and moans on about the unfairness of life. They are generally very skinny and drink coffee. They seldom have sex.
Pagans, in contrast, wear black, have pale faces with dark make up, and moan on about the unfairness of life to animals. They are generally kind of heavy and drink anything with vodka. They often have sex and then follow the guy around for months.
Now, if they could just get around to recognizing AmishDudeism.
"Interfaith"
So, wicca's a faith now is it? Faith in what? Who? Trees and frogs...?
"A pagan does not believe in no deity or "higher being" as an atheist does; they believe in the deity of all things or the deity of nature. I once knew a wiccan woman who talked about how we are all gods or goddesses and she worshipped the earth. An atheist believes humans are the highest being but not in quite the same way, as I understand it.
And wicca is a religion. Many people consider it a wrong or evil or silly religion, but it is a religion."
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It is interesting to note the fusion of paganism and christianity during the early years of roman catholicism. They did a pretty good job of adapting christianity to suit the belief systems already in place in northern europe. Of course, you do the same thing in the carribean and you get voodoo!
"What exactly is a pagan? I'm not trying to be flip, but how would I distinguish a pagan from an atheist?"
More, atheists don't believe in God. They quote Niche out of context and are proto-communists.
Pagans generally believe in some sort of earth-mother-goddess. This leads them to read Henry David Therough. They also sometimes dabble in lesbianism, but this ends at graduation when they go try to marry someone from Conneticut.
You've got to get into AmishDudeism, man. I mean, the precident of worshipping a jolly fat man with a sense of humor has already been set.
The latter neither believe in, nor worship, any higher or supernatural power. The former seem to place an inordinate amount of faith into such things as trees and rocks.
They gotta check out AmishDudeism. I eat rocks for breakfast.
"As a graduate of a nearby university, I can explain.
An atheist wears black, has a pale face, and moans on about the unfairness of life. They are generally very skinny and drink coffee. They seldom have sex.
Pagans, in contrast, wear black, have pale faces with dark make up, and moan on about the unfairness of life to animals. They are generally kind of heavy and drink anything with vodka. They often have sex and then follow the guy around for months."
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Don't forget a link to zoth ommog http://www.zothommog.com/main.htm in their 'my favorites' ie tab.
LOL.... You forgot the "Trekkie" part.... HAHhahaha... That was GREAT.
Wiccans, D&D, and Trekkies kinda hang out together.
Don't worry, Freepers, pagans aren't a threat. I can't think of a single pagan sect that actively proselytizes or recruits. They mostly want to be left alone. I know, because I am one of them.
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