In the process of studying Biblical history, I’ve also studied a little bit of Greek, Hebrew, theology, philosophy, anthropology (physical and cultural), archeology, literary analysis, linguistics, economics, politics, military theory, and even (yes) basket weaving. The Bible, itself, is pretty sparse, so all these other techniques are used to illuminate this ancient and hoary document. […]
The Incredible Shrinking Jesus
May 21st, 2006 · Comments Off on The Incredible Shrinking Jesus · christianity, ritual
Tags: bible·biography·jesus traditions·practice
Om [Aha!]
April 16th, 2006 · Comments Off on Om [Aha!] · metaphysics, ritual
i. Magic is the art of transforming imagination into reality. [Hail Hekate!] ii. The axis of manifestation begins with imagination and it ends with reality. Simple rules dictate how objects, relationships, and events are manipulated across this axis into reality from the imagination. Most of these rules are institutionalized, in one form or another, into […]
Tags: biography·charts·paganism
Worship the Place Where You Live
October 11th, 2005 · Comments Off on Worship the Place Where You Live · Illuminations, ritual
I © Austin I moved to Austin nearly twenty years ago because I had fallen in love with the city. I loved the river, the trees, the humidity, and the way the place is with dense with life without being too thick with people. Many residents I have met feel this way: I certainly understand […]
Tags: biography·genius loci·practice
Hammer out the Love
February 23rd, 2005 · Comments Off on Hammer out the Love · metaphysics, ritual
1. I have a hammer. It is not an unique or expensive tool, yet I use my hammer proudly. 2. I am skilled with my hammer. I strive to practice with my hammer daily. It is only through practice that I can provide my greatest skill. 3. I know the truth of the hammer. With […]
Tags: biography
Hail Eris!
December 30th, 2004 · Comments Off on Hail Eris! · ritual
It has been something of a tradition with my wife and I to hang a small bell on the rear-view mirror of our car. She started the habit of ringing a bell whenever we pass a carcass on the road as a way of blessing the passing of whatever animal it had been. We like […]
Tags: biography·paganism·practice
Faith & Pleasure
April 8th, 2004 · Comments Off on Faith & Pleasure · christianity, culture, history
I’ve let a number of unconnected threads of news and history mingle about in my brain for a few weeks now, and have recently come to the realization that a number of social issues of note these days can be traced back to an attitude taken by a multitude of self-described “religious” people. Let’s narrow […]
It’s all make believe
September 3rd, 2003 · Comments Off on It’s all make believe · christianity, culture, history, metaphysics
With my first experiences with neo-pagan ritual came a series of doubts and inner debates. These early contacts with paganism were my catalysts in a major restructuring of how I viewed myself and the world around me. I think back on some of these early conflicts and sometimes I’m able to draw a line from […]
Tags: biography·early church·paganism·theology
History of the Church
June 4th, 2003 · Comments Off on History of the Church · christianity, culture, history, metaphysics
I’ve been having an interesting exchange of letters with a cousin I lost touch with twenty years ago. She was Catholic last time I saw her, seems she’s discovered paganism over the last five years. I ended up writing a summary history of Christianity, and realized when I was done that it was the most […]
Tags: anthropology·biography·concepts·faith·greeks·paganism·post-modernism·practice·questions·roman empire·theology