this is the familiar 'Catholic = Pagan = Satan' brand of
Protestantism, where Babylon of Revelation = the Vatican. There are
'mainsstream' editions of the Bible floating around the US with rants
like this in the 'editorial', but it isn't exclusively American,
though old 'The Two Babylons' by Rev Arthur Hislop was British (as was
'The Worship of the Dead' by Colonel Garnier , etc.). Catholic
theology is traced to a cult of deified Babylonian monarchs; Semiramis
and Nimrod.
These folks live on another planet - but are certainly culturally
relevant. Of course often what they dislike most about Catholicism are
the aspects pagans would approve of (not those listed below), which -
generalising - have been more more benign environments than Protestant
cultures for 'pagan' and magical traditions both sides of the
Atlantic. I'm not counselling rapprochement btw.
ALWays
Jake
On 22 March 2010 23:02, Morgan Leigh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Although the term pagan does seem to have a lot of currency among the US
> pagans I know, I don't know that this extends into the Christian
> community in any useful way, many of who simply see the pejorative sense
> of the term. For example when reading this article,
> http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/world/europe/21pope.html?sort=oldest&offset=2&scp=2&sq=pagan&st=cse
> on the Catholic Pope's recent statement about sexually abuse by the
> clergy I encountered this...
>
> "Back when pagan priests were recruited and allowed to bring along pagan
> rites, rituals and festivals, e.g. Christmas, Easter, All Saints Day,
> All Souls day, Relics, Purgatory, Transubstantiation, Indulgences, 7
> Sacraments, Celibacy, etc., they also brought along a darkness with them
> that haunts us to this day. Under the leadership of a litany of corrupt
> Pontiffs, who ordered the slaughter of millions during the 9 Crusades
> and Inquisitions, not to mention the annihilation of the Aztec people
> robbing them of their precious gold in the name of God, leading up to
> this present day where countless thousands of children around the world
> have been sexually raped and abused by cruel pagan pedophile priests,
> who rest securely behind the sacrosanct walls of the Vatican, only to
> repeat their crimes over and over again without reprisal, has to tell
> you something."
>
> Regards,
>
> Morgan Leigh
> PhD Candidate
> School of Sociology and Social Work
> University of Tasmania
>
> James John Bell wrote:
>> On 3/21/10 7:11 AM, "Caduceus Books" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> Another, perhaps unexpected, truth; and one which, perhaps, should be
>>> noted. In modern times, in which western country has the government most
>>> embraced paganism and occultism?
>>
>> I think the verdict is still out on this question. "Paganism" loosely
>> defined is enshrined everywhere in the United States. The attempt to change
>> the face of Americašs pagan inspired governmental architecture with a
>> monotheistic monument of the Ten Commandments didn't succeed. There are
>> about two dozen very large Zodiacs in public government buildings in
>> Washington, D.C. and many more Zodiacs on monuments and room interiors
>> honoring pagan deities all over the capitol.
>>
>> Author Jonathan Kirsch in God Against the Gods points out that from a
>> cultural perspective, paganism still holds a lot of ground here:
>>
>> "Classical paganism,š then, was the official religion of a civilization
>> that is recalled and honored today in classical texts that are studied in
>> our universities, the statuary that fills our museums and the architectural
>> styles that grace our monuments and public buildings."
>>
>> Even our seemingly benign daily rituals and customs, in America at least,
>> like making a wish by tossing a coin in a well or a fountain, give homage to
>> pagan gods. Though arguably the honoring of water deities and spirits is not
>> on most folk's mind.
>>
>> Also would need to consider the modern native nations in North America that
>> celebrate their old beliefs and have incorporated them into their modern
>> sovereign governmental systems, especially when it comes to their official
>> holidays and festivals.
>>
>> James
>>
>>
>> James John Bell
>> http://www.smartmeme.com
>
> --
>
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