Paganism and the Media

[Morte]

Allo..

I go to a pagan discussion group every other Wednesday night and this weke our discussion is (at my request) Paganism in the media...

does anyone else have any thoughts about the mixed blessing of the sudden rash of pagan characters in television and books? I get Junior High level book order forms through my mom and there are SEVERAL "teen witch" series! It blows my lil mind...

to me at times it feels like this pechant for pagans is undoing years of work convincing the general public that we *aren't* evil, but *are* taking part in a meaningful religion

anyone have any thoughts about why pagans are so popular these days?

[Tempest_Gypsy]

Try checking out a few of the Nora Robert's series. She seems to have a great passion for writing about families of 'witches' The "Three Sister's Island Trilogy" is a big series that she just finished writing the third book last summer. I will say that, while most of her stuff is bunk, at least she paints pagans in a positive light.

[Morte]

i've actually read all of her "witch" stories i'm aware of.. and although i enjoy them on one level on another im writhing at how she never really addresses the RELIGIOUS side of things.. magic and sparkles elves etc sure.. religion no.. they're actually some of the examples im plannign on taking to my meeting tomorrow 8)
they're kind of what raised the question with me...
is the false yet positive image worth the good press?

[Avhiennda]

To me, its a mixed blessing...or both a blessing and a curse.

Blessing:
Witches ARE being portrayed more often...and in a positive way, for the most part, even if not accurately. I think this is a good thing. However

Curse:
Its still not accurate. They concentrate on the fluff fluff magic side and don't ever touch the religious side. Nor will they. The closest thing I saw was the College Wiccan Group on Buffy Last night.

It makes Witches/Wicca seem like a novelty. I have people who are literally 'waiting' for my Witch phase to pass. They don't understand that to me, its not Hocus Pocus but a way of life and a set of moral standards and beliefs. And when some people here 'I'm Wiccan' they tend to think I'm one of those who does whatever the 'In' thing is at the moment.

It does little or nothing to promote religious tolerance

I'm sure I had other points....but I forgot :(

I need Ginko...

Ginko Gurl to the rescue! Up up and...uh...wha?

Avhiennda

[vanessa]

I could not tell you the source because I only saw it as a blurb somewhere this past week, but apparently, the Vatican (or some other major Christian focal point) has put together a "study" of New Age (they couldn't even call it religions!) and says that it has some good points but still no replacement for religion.....

Wish I could remember where I saw that because that would be a good piece for y'all.....

[Ysobelle]

I could not tell you the source because I only saw it as a blurb somewhere this past week, but apparently, the Vatican (or some other major Christian focal point) has put together a "study" of New Age (they couldn't even call it religions!) and says that it has some good points but still no replacement for religion.....

Wish I could remember where I saw that because that would be a good piece for y'all.....


Try these: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=vatican+new+age

Looks like depending on where you read about it, the Vatican either denounces New Age or pats it on the head. At least they've given an emphatic green light to our boy Harry.

I can't recommend Google's new news service enough, BTW. Probably the BEST place to find up-to-the-minute news coverage, as it covers thousands of publications, from The Washington Post to The Great Falls (MT) Tribune. They also list, for the newest stories, how long ago they went online-- as in hours, and sometimes even minutes. Go, Google, go! www.news.google.com

[Morte]

Darn! Wish i'd had time/thought of that before the meeting...

we had an interesting somewhat heated discussion on the subject and several tangents... one of the most interesting to me is that the groups leader/founder thinks of reccomending fictional books to friends and aquaintances as a waste of time ... wow.. i'm just BOGGLED by that.. he's entitled to his belief of course but it's just a completely foriegn precept to me!
(We came to this talking about whether or not fictional portrayls of Pagans as they exist can be a jumping off point for a meaningful discussion about Paganism)