On 26 March 2010 01:02, nagasiva yronwode, YIPPIE Director
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> hi Shya,
>
> Sue/Shya <[log in to unmask]>:
>> I think the broader questions might be:
>> 1. Is 'judgement' appropriate in the
>> Halls of Academe? ....
>
> more often than not, 'anthropology of magic' seems
> to fall under 'anthropology of religion' in its
> academic categorization.
>
> I don't appreciate the intrusion of personal
> judgement of any kind (positive or negative) to a
> topic when we are ostensibly discussing the academic
> study that topic. it is distracting from our aims
> and doesn't help us overall to understand the
> topics any better that we are studying.
>
> I'd like to treat this forum as an academic journal
> in which i can expect not to encounter any personal
> opinions on the subject of religion whatsoever.
>
> nagasiva yronwode ([log in to unmask]), Director
> YIPPIE*! -- http://www.yronwode.org/
> -----------------------------------------------------
> *Yronwode Institution for the Preservation
> and Popularization of Indigenous Ethnomagicology
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
my original comment, which appears to have kicked this thread off
pretty much, was that like it or not the public see magicians, pagans
etc. as New Agers wasn't meant to be particularly judgemental.
On the other hand I knew it would touch a nerve or two.
Nerve one, some do not identify with that label, and have negative
feelings about the New Age. These aren't entirely apt, as some of the
New Age *is* rigorous and does have a socially beneficial impact, (old
colonels getting into holistic medicine etc.).
Nerve two, that seems to have really taken off, is the
'anti-judgemental' nerve. Which reminds me that when well liked and
respected magician Lionel Snell (aka Ramsey Dukes) lived in the UK he
often wore a crystal round his neck and said positive things about
virtually every possible spirituality/occultism etc..He once got some
hard core Chaos Magicians to experiment with 'Holy Roller' ritual
formats; initially greeted with groans, once they got going they found
it stimulating and educational.
On the other hand, sorry folks, I'm not an academic, I will never
behave or - apparently - think like an academic. Not that I haven't
tried, I did well enough on a part time ancient history course to have
a thesis adopted for the next years course. But rather than
anthropology or sociology as it relates to belief systems etc. I put
my brain into understanding elements of Neoplatonism, Astrology
ancient and modern, and so on.
Appreciating cultural differences and the origins of particular themes
does play a role, but my emphasis is completely separate from some of
the stuff you guys appear to focus on. I'm far more a magician
accessing academia than an academic studying magic.
So while there is this big debate about judgemental attitudes and
exclusivity, it is kind of ironic that some intelligent questions I
posted at much the same time have been completely ignored. I have no
wish to be a lab rat or a passenger here, and some *informed* opinions
on various subjects are exactly what I am seeking rather than
consciously avoiding. If that isn't what the forum is about, fine,
I'll get my coat.
ALWays
Jake
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