Atheist temples, why and how?

Today, I shared this on Facebook with a comparatively long commentary that I thought I should blog about it, too:

My first reaction was why? What for? What does an atheist represent? What does it accomplish?

My second reaction was how? I think building atheist temples is particularly problematic because atheism doesn't belong to any single culture (although many atheists, arguably, seem to engage in a particular cultural trend, "New Atheism", but that's another story). We know that atheists are found in virtually all cultures, and can really be anything from intellectuals to culturally illiterate trolls. How ever can you make a temple that represent such a variety? And, what do all atheists have in common other than nonbelief in deity, anyway?

However, whilst I do question the point to building an atheist "temple", I also disagree with the suggestion that atheists already have their sacred spaces in libraries, laboratories, museums, and the LHC. They are, to use the word loosely, "temples" of knowledge, art, history, and science -- not atheism alone! And, these temples belong to all humankind, no matter what their beliefs are. Are atheists more likely to hold libraries 'sacred' than theists? From a very narrow definition of religion (Dawkins' atheism vs orthodox monotheism), one might be tempted to say yes, but a narrow definition of such a truly complicated matter is ultimately undesirable.

Besides, I think atheists, in general, don't need religious temples because they either: 1. already have their own (religious atheists who pray at Buddhist temples or atheist Jews who attend synagogue, etc); 2. their respective cultures don't distinguish temple from library from grove (atheist pagans, mostly); or 3. they're simply not interested in enshrining their nonbelief.

Your thoughts?

Gay beauty pageants and early morning conversations on politically correct terms (or lack thereof) in the Tagalog language

One of my dear friends, via text, so early in the morning: "Anó ang politically correct term ng baklâ?"

Me: No exact word, but roughly: effeminate homosexual.

Her: No, in Tagalog.

Me: Ah. Walâ because we are currently an unsophisticated people. But Tagalog used to have one: bayog-ín. It is archaic, but some scholars have revived its usage.

Note, though, that baklâ is largely pejorative whilst bayog-ín is neutral-to-positive. The latter is obviously older and comes from a more sophisticated past.

Addendum: There is also binabaé (for boys) and binalaki (for girls), but these are in reference to transgender, not homosexuality.

Her: Oh, okay. Salamat. I was asking kasí I saw a news clip kanina when I was on the bus going home. And Pinky Webb said 'mga badíng'. And I found it off-key.

Me: Yes, it's always off-key. It's roughly the equivalent of "faggot" or "nigger" on American television. They would never openly say it on air. Dito kebs kasí tangá tayo. Ha ha!

Her: I know! She was talking about a gay beauty pageant, BTW.

Me: Ah, gay beauty pageants. Where gay men are always assumed to be the same as transgender.

Her: I would post this conversation on Facebook.

Me: I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!

Me: I actually get up at around 10:30, but I read your message, and couldn't go back to sleep unless I answered you. Damn you!

Image: http://www.iias.nl/nl/35/iias_nl35_13.pdf

Adorations to Hera

I'm sure you're all (?) aware of the adoration trend going on in the polytheistic quarters of the Internet. I couldn't resist making one for Hera.

I drew a lot from her ancient epithets, but also added in my own experiences with her (I use 'mother' a lot, as you may notice). One other source is Ceisiwr Serith's prayer to the cow-mother Gwouwindā, which I absolutely adore.



I adore you, Hera.
I adore you, undoubted queen.
I adore you, splendid daughter of Rheia and Kronos.
I adore you, grandchild of broad-breasted Gaia and wide-arching Ouranos.
I adore you, sister and wife of loud-thundering Zeus.
I adore you, mother of peerless Ares.
I adore you, mother of youthful Hebe.
I adore you, mother of skillful Hephaistos.
I adore you, foster-mother of many gods.
I adore you, born in Samos.
I adore you, raised in Argos.
I adore you, mother of cows.
I adore you whose stream of blessings is ever-flowing.
I adore you whose shining body delights the eyes.
I adore you whose holy purity blesses all.
I adore you, nourishing one.
I adore you, fertile one.
I adore you, abundant and gracious.
I adore you, providing milk overflowing.
I adore you, lady of the pomegranate.
I adore you, lady with the lotus-staff.
I adore you, queen of heaven.
I adore you, bringer of sweet rain.
I adore you, kindler of stars.
I adore you, sending cool gales.
I adore you, shining heifer.
I adore you, dreaded lioness.
I adore you, cuckoo.
I adore you, drawn by peacocks.
I adore you, attended by the seasons.
I adore you, mother of kings.
I adore you, mother of heroes.
I adore you, source of sovereignty.
I adore you, highly crowned.
I adore you, knowing heaven and earth.
I adore you, mother of law and order.
I adore you, exalted one.
I adore you, mother of people.
I adore you, protector of women.
I adore you, patron of marriage.
I adore you, keeper of keys.
I adore you, protector at childbirth.
I adore you, keeper of harmony.
I adore you, faithful one.
I adore you, my lady, my queen, my mother.

Other adorations:

• Adorations to Dionysos (thehouseofvines.wordpress.com)
• Adorations to Persephone (melittabenu.wordpress.com)
• Adorations to Hephaistos (aithaloeistheos.wordpress.com)
• Adorations for Apollon (lykeiaofapollon.wordpress.com)
• Adorations of Hekate (flamingthyrsos.wordpress.com)
• Adorations for Hermes (inahawksi.wordpress.com)
• Adorations for Athena (youngflemishhellenist.wordpress.com)
• Adorations for Zeus (youngflemishhellenist.wordpress.com)
• Adorations for Antinous (aediculaantinoi.wordpress.com)
• Adorations of Ares (aspisofares.wordpress.com)
• Sannion adores the trend he started 

I hope we get to see more!

Hail and be thou well, 2012!

Have a happy and prosperous New Year, friends. Never fail to live life excellently, and to be excellent towards as many people and non-people as you can.

Reasons for the season

Okay, now this is what I intend to do as an Anglo-Graeco-Roman pagan revert from Roman rite Catholicism for the following days:

• Tonight (also the new moon, by the way): give birthday presents to the baby saviour gods (Jesus and Dionysus, or Dion-esus if you will)
• Light and frankincense for Baby Jesus
• Wine and grape juice for Baby Dionysus
• Honour ancestral mothers (Matronae) with milk, and agricultural gods with bread or grain for past week of safe and joyful Saturnalian festivities
• Feast with family, wishing strength to saviour babies 
• Watch Jim Carrey play Grinch and miss father
• Have LOTR movie marathon
• Tomorrow morning: greet dawn goddess, then greet baby sun god (Sol Invictus) and invite him to bless planet for another year, wishing him long life
• Tomorrow evening: greet celestial gods of the night sky
• Have an awesome last week of the year
• Clean house on or a day before eve of New Year
• Make sure shrines, threshold, and hearth are at their best, festive condition
• On eve of New Year (also the kalends of January): light fire at hearth shrine (both the last for 2011 and the first for 2012), use fire to light sacrificial fire at threshold shrine, offer goods symbolising happiness and health of family for next year (sweet fruit, butter, rice, flour, milk, honey, and oil preferably), have both fires meet by lighting candle from sacrificial fire and bringing it inside house, hearth first then dining table
• Music and lights at maximum
• Feast with family, wishing all auspicious and fortunate things to dominate the incoming year (top blessings are happiness, health, peace, bounty, and long life) for family, friends, and larger community
• On dawn of New Year, perform very first offerings and prayers to hearth goddess, threshold god, border gods, storage gods (all household gods, to be brief), land spirits, and ancestors - make sure ritual etiquette is observed for full auspiciousness
• Have super awesome start of 2012 for entire year
• Live excellently for self, family, and fellowmen

Why are we so obsessed with who's gay?

Perhaps because we are a hapless bunch, insecure of our own sexual and/or gender identities? Perhaps because we aren't amongst the most comfortable when it comes to the topic of sex, nor amongst the most educated? In fact, we're so ignorant that we've piled up everything we can't define about gender and sexuality into one word: baklâ.

Hapless, indeed, to have only one word (a bad word, not to mention) for everything else we are unwilling to introduce to decent society.

This is for my old phone and the ruffians who took it

When you find something that isn't yours, with information readily available for you to return it to its owner, you return it. Else you are a petty thief, deserving of neither anger nor sadness, but indifference.

Nonetheless, may you perish for an afternoon.

Three poems in Esperanto I wish I had made but did not

I've been too focused on French lately, that I've forgot(en) I'm learning Esperanto, too. Fortunately, my friend/language partner is still up to it. He's just made three poems, much to my envy.

With his permission, since he is blog-less, I am reposting all three. Comment away, amikoj. (As you can see, I did not even have the patience to write this introduction in la lingvo.)



mi supozis ke ĝi estis vi
starante trans la fervojo
sed ĝi estintus nebulo nur
estintus fumo nur
estintus mia penso nur
estintus io pli
trajnoj faras ankoraŭ
nebulo sternas ankoraŭ en la funga cielo
fumon spiratas ankoraŭ, pulmo al pulmo
pensojn pensatas ankoraŭ


la dioj
la dioj marŝintis ekster de aĵoj jam
ni estas iliaj piedoj kaj manoj, okuloj kaj nazoj
Mi, mi ĝuas estanta la lipa angulo de unu dioj
kaj la pubvilaro de alia

mia poŝtelefono
Mi preterlasis mian poŝtelefonon ree
sur la tablo?
sub la seĝoj?
ĉu vi povus alvokas min? rrrring rrrring!!!
ahh, tio bonfartigas min.

'Wag kang haharang-harang sa daan ko.

Lalaki ako. Mahal ko ang titi ko. Sapat na 'yun para maging lalaki. Hawak ko ang kasarian ko, hindi mo o ninuman. Iiyak ako kung gusto ko, at uurong ako sa inuman kung kailan ko gusto.

Desisyon ko ring hindi mag-asawa kung gugustuhin ko; hindi ito kabasawan sa pagkalalaki ko. Kung babae man o lalaki -- o pareho -- ang hilig ko ay wala na kayong pakialam dun. Sino'ng sira-ulo bang may sabi na ang lalaki ay para lamang sa babae?

Wala nga palang kasarian ang tela. Lalaki pa rin ako kahit ano'ng isuot kong damit. Hindi malalaglag ang bayag ko kapag nagpalda ako o headband; kaya pa rin kitang upakan (at kaya ka ring upakan ng lola ko -- ang kakayahang umupak ay walang kinalaman sa kasarian o edad ng isang tao).

Hindi kita mapipigilang tawaging akong bakla kung 'yun lang ang konseptong kaya ng makitid mong utak. Wala rin akong pakialam kung utos ng relihiyon mong bano na kamuhian mo ako. 'Di ko kasalanang tanga ka. Basta, ako, lalaki ako -- isang taong pinanganak na may titi, at nagmamahal sa kanyang titi. Kung 'di mo ako kayang igalang, bahala ka, buhay mo 'yan. 'Wag mo lang akong pagkaitan ng karapatan kong pantao para pagharian ang sarili kong kasarian at pagkakakilanlan. 'Wag kang haharang-harang sa daan ko.



Siya nga pala, kahit sino pwedeng uminom ng Colt .45, mapababae o mapalalaki.

Hocus Pocus turns 18

Watching Hocus Pocus on its 18th year, on the same night the movie was set in, on the same night I first saw it when I was 7. A tradition I shan't break.







































I had really hoped for a sequel.

AVE MERCVRIVS

Today is the third Wednesday from the Kalends (Noumenia) of October, and the third day of my three-day thanksgiving to Hermes-Mercurius as god of commerce and travel. I have so far already offered white chocolate mocha on the first day, hot chocolate with cinnamon and nutmeg on the second day at our house herm, and green tea latte today (though, I did originally promise strawberries and cream).

I joyfully consumed them all in his honour; but, of course, not without a symbolic libation (our business areas are carpeted).

As someone who depends on sales, wit, and cunning for a living -- not to mention being in a business that involves travel and hospitality -- I owe him heaps. So, be thou well, Mercator! Agoraios! Fortunus! Beloved lord and friend!

As you will recognise, this is the prayer I offer you before beginning every work day:

Hear thou Mercury, full of luck,
Who guides the traffic of merchants and travellers:
Praises I pour out to thee,
O champion of commerce, silver-tongued god.
Open my day today to all things auspicious and fortunate,
To joyous business and prosperous sales,
As you have always done, faithful friend.
Be thou increased in power, o god dearest to mankind,
So that we may be increased in joy.

If you like it, please continue to bless my path, my words, and my business -- and that of my kin -- every single day.

Die, Gumby

This green bastard used to scare me. I'm still a little freaked out looking at him. Happy 90th Birthday, Art Clokey! We can take down the little green goblin now, thanks.

National Coming Out Day

Today is National Coming Out Day. I am coming out to all of you in behalf of those who cannot.

Let it be known that I am gay. And lesbian. And trans, queer, pan, and bi. Also intersexual, asexual, pomosexual, questioning, unlabelled, and undecided. I am everything this intolerant, ignorant society cannot accept. But I am a human being and I shall not stand by as others tell me I do not deserve the same rights that they enjoy.

I am here. I will not be bullied. I deserve the same humanity.

If you can, I hope you can come out with us, too. For equality and awareness, may we achieve victory in doing so.

Reality disagrees with the CBCP... as usual.

As if President Aquino's halfbaked support for LGBT rights wasn't sad enough, a certain Fr Melvin Castro had to make it all worse. Here, he says: "Essentially we don't believe that same sex attracted people are discriminated upon in the Philippines. What we do not agree is for them to have marriage."

Erm, what? In what alternate universe is denying marriage equality not discrimination? In what fucked up cosmos is all the shite that gay men and women have to put up with in the Philippines not discrimination? Can somebody give this priest back his brain?

I refuse to believe that these people speak for Jesus.

Fr Melvin Castro probably left his at the door



Bastos?

Siyá: Ikáw ba, hindî ka magagalit kung lagyán ko ng titì ang picture ng tatay mo?
(Him: Wouldn't you get angry if I placed a penis in your father's picture?)

Akó: Hindî. Hindî ko namán tatay 'yan e. Walâ namáng titì sa mukhâ ang tatay ko e.
(Me: Nope. That's not my father. My father doesn't have a penis on his face.)

Sapagkát ang larawan mong pinapangit ay hindî mo na larawan... kung hindî ka talagá pangit.
(Because a defaced picture is no longer your picture... if you don't actually look that way.)

Christ or Mickey Mouse?
Neither.
This is Chrismouse.