Jennifer's Alternative Religions Blog

Today is the traditional Feast Day of Mary Magdalen, Saint, purported gospel author, and apostle of Christ. For millenia Mary was relegated to a minor role, as a repentant prostitute, but today she is emerging as a powerful figure, increasingly regarded as an important apostle, a teacher in her own right, and to some, the true spiritual heir of the Savior.
For more about Mary Magdalen:

Jesus, Mary, and Da Vinci?
Mary Magdalene links, images, and resources.

One of the most persistent criticisms of Scientology are for its stance on mental health, especially the doctrine that psychiatric medicine- especially the buse of psychotropic drugs- is an evil influence to be avoided at all costs. So, like the Christian organizations who eschew medical doctors in favor of prayer, Scientologists are faced with tough decisions when faced with illnesses for which the church insists Scientogy is the only acceptable solution. As a result, adherents (and their families) faced with mental illnesses attempt a religious rather than medical cure, often with disastrous results.

The tragic case of Jeremy Perkins, a schizophrenic who stabbed his mother to death after , is often cited by critics of Scientology, who claim such tragedies are inevitable in a faith that refuses to compromise with modern medicine- and it seems they are correct, after a near identical incident in Australia last week, wherein a 15-year old schizophrenic is accused of fatally stabbing her father and sister and gravely injuring her mother after being similarly refused treatment.

Today is the birthday of legendary wizard john Dee. Who was John Dee? He is virtually unknown in modern times, although he has had a profound influence on popular culture- without John Dee, there would be no Harry Potter, no Gandalf, no archetypal storybook wizard bearing a crystal ball...

Public domain image

This week's issue of Time magazine carries a story of enormous import in the religious world (meaning it will likely be ignored for another decade). The piece is written by David Van Biema and concerns an unassuming looking stone tablet thought to be related to the Dead Sea Scrolls. The tablet, which dates to a period just before the birth of Christ, contains an apocalyptic narrative in the voice of the angel Gabriel, and mentioning a messiah who will die and be resurrect in three day's time- a concept often believed to be unique to the Christian faith and the life narrative of Jesus. What is to come of this interesting artifact remains to be seen.

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A Satanist in Indiana may have to defend his religion in court, where his ex-wife will argue to restrict his visitation time with his children so that they may attend a Christian Church. The article lets a few obvious questions slide, as when it mentions a remark from the Mother's lawyer defending "his client’s right to shape the religious upbringing of the children." (He doesn't? Why not?) A linked commentary by the same columnist also uncritically promotes a comment questioning a religion that "openly taught contempt" for another. It's been years since I've been to a Christian service, but I'm pretty sure they haven't begun any campaigns of tolerance for Satanism in the intervening time.

An Australian government minister has been defended by her peers after visiting an anti-Scientology protest, where she questioned the organization's tax-exempt status: "They should be taxed, the bastards. They shouldn't be tax-free; we're subsidizing them. I like your masks." The conversation was subsequently uploaded to Youtube, resulting in much public complaining. Of course, this might come off hypocritical in light of regulations passed in Sydney that prohibit would-be religion protesters from "annoying" Catholics who turn up to greet the Pope on his Australian tour. What "annoys" is wholly given to the police to interpret, an ill-omen for free expression.

The professional hysterics at the American Family Association had their own silliness come back to haunt them- seems the auto-replace script they used on site to convert any instances of the word 'gay' to the less pc 'homosexual' in AP stories they ran resulted in some very strange Olympic coverage.

A man in Knoxville is suing his church for millions, claiming he got so spiritually enraptured during a service that he fell and injured himself. He's not suing over the fall, which he attributes to the Holy Spirit, but because nobody caught him before he hit his head.

Cernunnos is the mysterious horned deity worshipped by Iron age Celts across Europe until the end of the first century. Very little is known about Cernunnos except his name and his image, which appears on numerous stonecarvings and other artifacts throughout Europe. He appears crowned with stag's antlers, is often seated in a meditative position, and is almost always depicted with images of wild animals.

His original Celtic name is unknown, although he may be associated with Derg Corra, the early Celtic "Man in the Tree."

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Both "green language" and the "language of the Birds" refer to the oblique writing styles used by alchemists, magicians, and other mystical initiates to communicate with one another publicly while 'concealing' the information from the hostile or unworthy.

In short, it is a method of symbolic writing which appears opaque or unintelligible unless one has the necessary understanding of its symbolism to interpret it.

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The Tree of Life is an important symbol in nearly every culture. With its branches reaching into the sky, and roots deep in the earth, it dwells in three worlds- a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below. It is both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance, and a masculine, visibly phallic symbol- another union.

In Jewish and Christian mythology, a tree sits at the center of both the Heavenly and Earthly Edens. The Norse cosmic World Ash, Ygdrassil, has its roots in the underworld while its branches support the abode of the Gods. The Egyptian's Holy Sycamore stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the worlds. To the Mayas, it is Yaxche, whose branches support the heavens.

Continue reading: The Tree of Life

The word abracadabra is known universally as the "magic word" of stage conjurers. What little know is that it is a word of ancient origin, used by genuine magicians from about the third century.

The word abracadabra is derived from a Aramaic phrase (Avarah K'Davarah) meaning, "I will create as I speak." (Harry Potter fans might recognize this spelling; however, it is not a curse.) It has appeared in Kabbalistic and Gnostic texts alike.

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This is cute- it seems a particular Shinto shrine in Kyoto has earned a particular reputation for aiding adherents in severing ties with unpleasant people, especially exes. The Mainichi Daily News reports that the shrine ios so popular it has hundreds of thousands of prayers plastered to it- so many, in fact, that it resembles an igloo.

See also: Shinto