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.
He's mentioned in your textbook!? How old is it? You should start a thread describing all the details of it. People should know about that.
Honestly, whether we're deluded and dealing with Satan or not, there are in fact a fair number of Republican pagans. Understandably we tend to keep a low profile. My husband and I are not the stereotypical run-through-the-woods-nekkid weirdos. We're pretty dull, in fact. You could live next door to us and never know we weren't Christian. The majority of pagans are like that and that is part of what I mean by saying "we're not a threat to you."
I never realized before how much Christianity resembles Microsoft.
Seriously, Wicca is 'odd', but is it any odder than, say, Mormonism? How many Freepers would like to contend that all Mormons are hell-bound? I have always taken "in my Father's house are many mansions" to be a statement of great tolerance.
There's a lady Wiccan around San Antonio, Kathryn Graham who runs a PI agency, is an A&P mechanic and teaches that as well, and who also teaches concealed handgun classes. She definitely gets left alone when that is what she wants.
What exactly does it say about Churchill (the freak, not the stateman)?
Kick *ss! ;)
That would depend on the state of the individual Mormon's soul. It is Mormon belief that Jesus is only one of God's many children. That is quite contrary to what Christian Scripture teaches (Jesus as God's "only begotten Son").
U.S. Government Publication No.008-020-00745-5
"Minimum Requirements for Worship: The athame, or ritual knife; the pentacle, a metal disc inscribed with magical symbols; a chalice; and a sword. Various traditions will demand other items.
Facilities for Worship: Witches worship within a magick circle that is inscribed on the ground or the floor. The circle should be located so as to insure the privacy of the rituals."
Also known as "US Army Chaplain's Guide to Wicca." Wish I were making this up.
http://www3.telus.net/hillwalker/milwicca.htm
Sorta reminds me of when going to Catholic school as a kid, giving money to the Pagan Baby Fund.
There are very few true Christians or Pagans because, well, as Jesus said, "The Gospels were made for man, not man for the Gospels." Man, if you believe Christ, is bigger than the Gospels or any religion, Pagan or not.
It is not so much what we profess but how we live. Like the Course In Miracles says, "You are free to believe what you choose, and what you do attests to what you believe."
BU ping
If Mohammedanism can be a religion, so can nude, co-ed, full contact delusion. They both have the same credibility
He used to tell the guys that he could make a woman um, you know, have the Big "O" from across the room just by looking at her and making eye contact.
Univ. of Texas "Informal Class" Wicca 101 (as a religion)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1335186/posts
Yeehaw!!
A group who started burning people at the stake could have problems too.
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