Monday 28 February 2011

UK Paganism and the Census




This article from the BBC explains how the census is expected to show an increase in those who recognise themselves as pagans.

"Ten years ago 42,000 people declared themselves as Pagans - the seventh highest number for any UK religion - but some experts believe the true figure was nearer 250,000 - and is significantly higher now.

BBC Religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the 42,000 figure was still only a fraction of those describing themselves as Jedi Knights."


Although these people consist mainly of hippies, star wars fans and social rejects, the fact that so many who reject Abrahamic religions are making themselves known may be of great help in off setting Monotheistic hegemony in the UK.

While bearded weirdos professing to have some knowledge of a long forgotten "Celtic" religion, are now to be recognised as practicing an official belief system, Asatru and its symbolism is being condemned as Fascist despite the comparative authenticity of its relativley well preserved, more widespread and more recently active mythology.

In an age where we claim to value the concept of religious freedom, it seems insane to ban the mere symbols of one religion while barbaric practices of others such as Halal/Kosher slaughter and circumcision are protected by law. Now that the hippy revival of a "celtic" religion forgotten for nearly 2000 years has gained legal recognition, it seems fair that Asatru, the religion that founded England and the English must also be acknowledged.

Thursday 24 February 2011

The Turin Horse



1889. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche witnessed the whipping of a horse while traveling in Turin, Italy. He tossed his arms around the horse's neck to protect it then collapsed to the ground. In less than one month, Nietzsche would be diagnosed with a serious mental illness that would make him bed-ridden and speechless for the next eleven years until his death. But whatever did happen to the horse? This film, which is Tarr's last, follows up this question in a fictionalized story of what occurred. The man who whipped the horse is a rural farmer who makes his living taking on carting jobs into the city with his horse-drawn cart. The horse is old and in very poor health, but does its best to obey its master's commands. The farmer and his daughter must come to the understanding that it will be unable to go on sustaining their livelihoods. The dying of the horse is the foundation of this tragic tale.

This looks like a good movie.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Traditionalism in the Digital Era





"traditionalists tend to speak of this loss of traditions as something like the extinctions of species, while I find myself more often agreeing with Jung’s frankly amazing observation that nothing is ever lost in the psyche- note: he meant the collective psyche, which is what I find amazing. Instead of thinking of traditions going extinct, imagine that “lost” traditions are simply latent sources of power, waiting to be revived."

Read the rest of this cool article by Rufus F on The League of Ordinary Gentleman.

Wednesday 2 February 2011

RIP John Barry

IP