Saturday 22 November 2008

On Religious Examination, Burning Child Witches And Islamic Homosexuality

I have been reading some really interesting stuff from my favourite blogs lately which is why I have not had the chance to update both my blog and private diary. That and, of course, the life sucking nature of my job. Anyway, here are some of them.


Islamic Homosexuality in Indonesia? by Brian

Indonesia is such a baffling country. At times it seems like the hardline Muslim faction is taking control and is successfully imposing repressive Sharia laws on the populace. Yet at the same time Indonesians are not Arabs and their traditional laid back tropical island culture is not well suited to the bleak outlook of your typical austere desert dweller.

Read rest here.


Always Asking "Why" by Catherine Noble-Beyer (author of Wicca For The Rest Of Us)

If there is only one piece of advice I can give to religious seekers, it would be this: never stop asking yourself why you do what you and believe what you believe. (...) Any ritual without purpose is pointless.

Read rest here.


Religious Interpretation of Biology by Catherine Noble-Beyer

I returned home to Detroit this week to visit friends and family. Among old acquaintances I caught up with was a friend who spoke at some length about the agonizing choice he made a few years ago to give a son up for adoption.

The process included choosing the adoptive parents from a list of candidates hoping to adopt. Some of the choices were easy for him. As an example: he immediately weeded out anyone who said God had made them barren specifically in order for them to adopt his baby. He didn't want his child being raised in that sort of atmosphere.

Read rest here.


The Sad Fate of Child-Witches in Nigeria by Brian

The people of Nigeria have sunk to a new low. The Invisible Pink Unicorn has the details on the sad tale of Nigeria's so called Child-Witch problem. It seems that quite a number of parents are beginning to blame their problems on their own children, who they claim are either witches or demon-controlled in some way. Many such children are murdered outright but the survivors, these outcast children, are filling the shelters.

Read rest here.


Update on Nigerian Child Witches by Brian

In case I didn't point it out strongly enough in that last post, these atrocities are being directly caused by Evangelical Christians who are being manipulated by their pastors and prophets. It also really needs to be pointed out loud and clear that Sarah Palin's Nigerian pastor friend, the one who anointed her for public leadership, is one of the ringleaders of this anti-witchcraft movement and that Sarah Palin herself applauded the story of his chasing a witch out of town.

Read rest here.

Sunday 2 November 2008

Closing All Hallows

As we end this three day feast of darkness and death; of passing and remembering, I offer this space to a dear friend who passed away this year.

It is true what they say. You never really get over it. You can cope but you can never get over it.


I will miss you, Noel. I wish I had spent more time with you. You know that I wanted to. Fuck work! I wish I had appreciated you more. I am sorry for being grumpy with you all the time back in high school.
And I am sorry it took this long, and at this state, for me to finally find you. It breaks my heart that I never got to see you again after 5 fat years. Do know that you were, and still are one of the bestest best friends I have known. I am sorry that it took me this long to tell you all this.

I shall see you again, brother.
You will always be in my heart. Wait for me at the Great Shade. But not yet.

By the way, I really appreciate you visiting me that night. Thank you for forgiving me. I love you.



Those gone before, you who wish me good, hear me; guide and guard me, and when the time comes, greet me. You are neither blind nor deaf to this life I live; you did yourself once share it. I come to you in love and trust. I seek to honor you.

Ancestors, you who came before us and were the roots of our line, we ask you to come again into our lives so that we may share in your wisdom and love.

Beloved friends who went before us, we ask you to come again into our lives so that we may once again laugh with you and stand strong together through turmoil.

Dearest children who have gone before us, we ask that when you are ready to be reborn you find happiness.

The wheel of the year turns, and as we pass through the darkness together, we ask that the memory of love stay strong and that we can treasure each time that we are together, whether in this life or another.

Prayer by mothercrone