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Welcome to my Sandbox, where we can play in the sand all day!

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Our topic for the wikipedia project in Digital Literacies is Earth Religion. We have chosen to add the sections: Origins, Religions, Under the Umbrella, Earth Religion in Pop Culture, Ethics in Earth Religion, Controversy/Criticism in Earth Religion, Ethics in Earth Religion. We are each in charge of a specific section but will all contribute to all the sections.

Team Druid's Section Heads

Origins – Bryce
Religions under the Umbrella – Jared
Earth Religion in Pop Culture – Alex
Controversy/criticism in Earth Religion – Kristal
Ethics on Earth Religion – Adrianna
==Hey, Dr. Newbold! Here's our sources:==
Sources

A note on sources

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Try to find high quality sources, and trace them back to their origins for accurate citation. For example, the source by Weir found in "Encyclobooks.com" is really a book written by Weir and published in 1897 called Religion and Lust. It's an eBook from Project Gutenberg at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26071/26071-h/26071-h.htm . I found it easily by searching in Google for a short passage with quotes around it to get an exact match. So it's not a really up to date source, although it is a serious one. Other sources, like About.com, are really derivatives or for-profit collections that sell advertising; so they are not to be relied on usually. Neither are the personal "pagan" sites like So really prefer the good stuff, like the J-Stor article, and use them for most of your info when at all possible. Also, there are other Wikipedia articles on related subjects that might list sources that you could use here. The page on the Origins of Religion might be able to help with more up-to-date info for the Origins section. Webster Newbold (talk) 03:20, 19 March 2013 (UTC)

Comments

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I'm really impressed with the amount of work this group has put in! You have tackled a really difficult task and made a strong beginning in defining and documenting some major aspects of Earth religion. In finalizing, editing for coherence and avoiding repetitions is probably the main task, and as we discussed yesterday, the Origins section needs some work when the additional source is included. It may be that some pruning may be necessary in several places (Ethics; the final section probably should be omitted) and expansion needed in others (the encompassed religions and practices), as well as editing for clarity. I'm available during class hour on Tuesday, or before that, if anyone wants to review their part and get some editing advice. Webster Newbold (talk) 21:37, 22 March 2013 (UTC)2

Origins

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Origin Claims by Earth Religion Sources

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It is unclear exactly when the practices and ideologies of Earth Religion came about because of the multiple religions included underneath the Earth Religion umbrella. There have not been many documented sources on how or why Earth Religion started, and so specific time or cause can be named for its origins. However, some cults and religions under the Earth Religion umbrella have tried to state how they believe religion came about, and their descriptions have many correlations to Earth Religion itself.

In the late 1800's, James Weir wrote an article describing the beginnings and aspects of early religious feeling. According to Boyer, early man was forced to locate food and shelter in order to survive, while constantly being directed by his instincts and senses. Because man's existence depended on nature, men began to form their religion and beliefs on and around nature itself. It is evident that man's first religion would have had to develop from the material world, he argues, because man relied heavily on his senses and what he could see, touch, and feel. In this sense, the worship of nature formed, allowing man to further depend on nature for survival. [1]

Neopagans have tried to make claims that religion started in ways that correspond to Earth Religion. In one of their published works, The Urantia Book, another reason for this worship of nature came from a fear of the world around primitive man. [2] His mind lacked the complex function of processing and sifting through complex ideas. As a result, man worshiped the very entity that surrounded him every day. That entity was nature. Man experienced the different natural phenomenons around him, such as storms, vast deserts, and immense mountains. Among the very first parts of nature to be worshiped were rocks and hills, plants and trees, animals, the elements, heavenly bodies, and even man himself. As primitive man worked his way through nature worship, he eventually moved on to incorporate spirits into his worship. [2] Although these claims may have some merit, they are nonetheless presented from a biased position that cannot be authenticated by traditional and reliable sources. Therefore, their claims can not be relied upon.

Origins of Religion

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See Also: Evolutionary origin of religions

The origins of religion can be looked at through the lens of the function and processing of the human mind. Pascal Boyer suggests that, for the longest period of time, the brain was thought of as a simple organ of the body. However, he claims that the more information collected on the brain indicates that the brain is indeed not a "blank slate." [3] Humans do not just learn any information from the environment and surroundings around them. They have acquired sophisticated cognitive equipment that prepares them to analyze information in their culture and determine which information is relevant and how to apply it. Boyer states that "having a normal human brain does not imply that you have religion. All it implies is that people can acquire it, which is very different." [3] He suggests that religions started for the reasons of providing answers to humans, giving comfort, providing social order to society, and satisfying the need of the illusion-prone nature of the human mind. [3] Ultimately, religion came into existence because of our need to answer questions and hold together our societal order.

An additional idea on the origins of religion comes not from man's cognitive development, but from the the ape. Barbara J. King argues that human beings have an emotional connection with those around them, and that that desire for a connection came from their evolution from apes. The closest relative to the human species is the African ape. [4] At birth, the ape begins negotiating with its mother about what it wants and needs in order to survive. The world the ape is born into is saturated with close family and friends. Because of this, emotions and relationships play a huge role in the ape's life. Its reactions and responses to one another are rooted and grounded in a sense of belongingness, which is derived from its dependence on the ape's mother and family. Belongingness is defined as "mattering to someone who matters to you ... getting positive feelings from our relationships." [4] This sense and desire for belongingness, which started in apes, only grew as the hominid (a human ancestor) diverged from the lineage of the ape, which occurred roughly six to seven million years ago. [4]

As severe changes in the environment, physical evolutions in the human body (especially in the development of the human brain), and changes in social actions occurred, humans went beyond trying to simply form bonds and relationships of empathy with others. As their culture and society became more complex, they began using practices and various symbols to make sense of the natural and spiritual world around them. Instead of simply trying to find belongingness and empathy from the relationships with others, humans created and evolved God and spirits in order to fulfill that need and exploration. King argued that "an earthly need for belonging led to human religious imagination and thus to the otherworldly realm of relating to God, gods, and spirits." [4]

Encompassed Religions

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The term Earth Religion encompasses any religion that worships the Earth, nature or fertility gods or goddesses. There is an array of groups and beliefs that fall under earth religion, some more straightforward, such as: Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Wicca with Goddess Movement and Neo-Wicca, Animism, and Druidism.

Another perspective of Earth Religion to consider is Pantheism, which takes a varied approach to Earth, declaring that “we are an integral part of Nature, which we should cherish, revere and preserve in all its magnificent beauty and diversity” [5] .

The Earth also plays a vital role to many Voltaic peoples, many of whom “consider the Earth to be Heaven’s wife” [6], such as the Konkomba of northern Ghana, whose economic, social and religious life is heavily influenced by the earth. It is also important to consider various Native American religions, such as Peyote Religion, Longhouse Religion, and Earth Lodge Religion.

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Although the idea of Earth Religion has been around for thousands of years, it did not fully show up in popular culture until the early 1990s. X-Files was one of the first nationally broadcast television programs to air Witchcraft and Wicca (types of Earth Religion) content. On average, Wiccans - those who practice Wicca - were more or less pleased with the way the show had portrayed their ideals and beliefs. However, they still found it to be a little "sensationalistic". That same year, the movie The Craft was released - also depicting the art of Wicca. Unfortunately, this cinematic feature was not as happily accepted as X-Files had been. [7]

A few years later, programs showcasing the aforementioned religious practices - such as Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer - became widely popular. Although Charmed focused mostly on Witchcraft, the magic they practiced very closely resembled Wicca. Meanwhile, Buffy was one of the first shows to actually cast a Wiccan character. However, since the shows focus was primarily on vampires, the Wiccan was depicted as having supernatural powers, rather than being in-tuned with the Earth. [7]

Other movies and shows throughout the last few decades have also been placed under the genre of Earth Religion. Among them are two of director Hayao Miyazaki's most well known films - Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro. Both movies present human interaction with land, animal, and other nature spirits. Speakers for Earth Religion have said that these interactions suggest overtones of Earth Religion themes. [8]

Some popular Disney movies have also been viewed as Earth Religion films. Among them are The Lion King and Brother Bear. Those who practice Earth Religion view The Lion King as an Earth Religion film mainly for the "interconnectedness" and "Circle of Life" it shows between the animals, plants, and life in general. When that link is broken, viewers see chaos and despair spread throughout the once bountiful land. Congruently, Brother Bear portrays interactions and consequences when humans disobey or go against the animal and Earth spirits. [8]

Other Earth Religion movies include The 13th Warrior, The Deceivers (film), Sorceress (film), Anchoress (film), Eye of the Devil, Agora (film), and The Wicker Man (1973 film). These movies all contain various aspects of Earth Religion and nature worship in general. [8]

Controversy/Criticism of Earth Religion

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Hindrance of Progress

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Many religions have negative stereotypes of Earth Religion and Neo-Paganism in general. A common critique of the worship of nature and resources of “Mother Earth” is that the Rights of Nature and the Ecocide Movement is an inhibitor of human progress and development.[9] This argument is fueled by the fact that Earth itself is not a living being, and those who worship and protect its resources from harm by advocating the rights and liberties of the Earth itself. Wesley Smith believes this is “anti humanism with the potential to do real harm to the human family.”[9] According to Smith, Earth worshipers are hindering large-scale development, and they are viewed as inhibitors of advancement.

A Few Bad Apples

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A lot of criticism of Earth Religion comes from the negative actions of a few people who have been chastised for their actions. One such negative representative of Earth Religion is Aleister Crowley. He is believed to be “too preoccupied with awakening magical powers”[10] instead of putting the well being of others in his coven. Crowley allegedly looked up to “Old George” Pickingill, who was another worshipper of nature who was viewed negatively. Critics regarded Pickingill as a Satanist and “England’s most notorious Witch”[10].

Crowley himself was “allegedly expelled from the Craft because he was a pervert.” [10]. He became aroused by torture and pain, and enjoyed being “punished” by women.[11] This dramatically damaged Crowley’s public image, because of his lifestyle and actions. Many people regarded all followers of Earth Religion as perverted Satanists.[10]

Accused of Satanism

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Followers of Earth Religion have suffered major opprobrium over the years for being Satanists. Some Christians view religions other than Christianity as being wrong because they worship the devil. Witchcraft, a common practice of Wiccans, is largely associated with worshipping the devil. From the Wiccan perspective, however, Earth Religion and Wicca are completely unrelated to Satanism.[12] [13] Because followers of Earth Religion worship nature and elements of the earth, many people believe that they are worshipping the evil Satan; in reality, nature worshipers do not believe in an all-evil being, and are simply worshipping and celebrating the natural resources of Earth. Satanism and Wicca “have entirely different beliefs about deity, different rules for ethical behavior, different expectations from their membership, different views of the universe, different seasonal days of celebration, etc.”[12]

Neo-pagans, or Earth Religion followers, often claim to be unaffiliated with Satanism.[14] They dwell on the fact that Satanists believe and follow the evil form of Satan, while Neo-pagans, Wiccans, and Earth Religion believers do not believe in this evil deity. Satanism stems from Christianity, while Earth Religion stems from older religious concepts.[15] Because of these differences, many Pagans separate themselves from the Satanist religion.

Ethics

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Because of the vast diversity of religions that fall under the title of Earth Religion there is no consensus of beliefs.[16] [17] However, the ethical beliefs of most religions overlap. The most well-known ethical code is the Wiccan Rede. Many of those who practice an Earth Religion choose to be environmentally active. Some perform activities such as recycling or composting while others feel it to be more productive to try and support the earth spiritually.[16] These six beliefs about ethics seem to be universal.

  1. There is no divine judgement[18]
  2. It is up to each individual to decide what is ethical[19][20] [21][22]
  3. Each individual is responsible for his or her actions[18] [19] [23][20][21]
  4. Nature and all life should be honored[24][25]
  5. There is no one correct path or religion, only that which fits best for each individual[24]
  6. Moral doings are done for their own sake and not for a reward[23][20]

The Wiccan Rede

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"An [if] it harm none, do what ye will."[16]
Commonly worded in modern English as "if it doesn't harm anyone, do what you want."[19] This maxim was first printed in 1964, after being spoken by the priestess Doreen Valiente in the mid-20th century, and governs most ethical belief of Wiccans and some Pagans. There is no consensus of beliefs but this rede provides a starting point for most people's interpretation of what is ethical.[16][24] The rede clearly states to do no harm but what constitutes as harm and what level of self-interest is acceptable is negotiable.[16] [18] Many Wiccans reverse the phrase into "Do what ye will an it harm none," meaning "Do what you want if it doesn't harm anyone."[19] The difference may not seem significant but it is. The first implies that it is good to do no harm but does not say that it is necessarily unethical to do so, the second implies that all forms of harm are unethical. The second phrase is nearly impossible to follow. This shift occurred when trying to better adapt the phrase into modern English as well as to stress the "harmlessness" of Wiccans. The true nature of the rede simply implies that there is personal responsibility for your actions. You may do as you wish but there is a karma reaction from every action. [19] Even though this is the most well-known rede of practice, it does not mean that those that choose not to follow it are unethical. There are many other laws of practice that other groups follow.[17]

The Threefold Law

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For all actions there is always a cause and effect. For every action taken either the good or ill intention will be returned to the action taker threefold. This is why the Wiccan Rede is typically followed because of fear of the threefold return from that harmful action.[26]

Honor

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This term is what Emma Restall Orr calls reverence for the earth in her book Living with Honour: A Pagan Ethics. She separates the term into three sections: courage, generosity and loyalty, or honesty, respect and responsibility. There is no evil force in Nature.[23] [27] Nothing exists beyond the natural, therefore it is up to the individual to choose to be ethical not because of divine judgment. All beings are connected by the Earth and so all should be treated fairly.[23] There is a responsibility toward the environment and a harmony should be found with Nature.[24][28]

The Earth Religion Anti-Abuse Resolution (1988)

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The following was written by the Church of All Worlds in 1988 and was affirmed by the Pagan Ecumenical Conferences of Ancient Ways (California, May 27-30) and Pagan Spirit Gathering (Wisconsin, June 17).[25] [29] The Pagan Community Council of Ohio then presented it to the Northeast Council of W.I.C.C.A.[25]

"We, the undersigned, as adherents of Pagan and Old and Neo-Pagan Earth Religions, including Wicca or Witchcraft, practice a variety of positive, life affirming faiths that are dedicated to healing, both of ourselves and of the Earth. As such, we do not advocate or condone any acts that victimize others, including those proscribed by law. As one of our most widely accepted precepts is the Wiccan Rede's injunction to "harm none," we absolutely condemn the practices of child abuse, sexual abuse and any other form of abuse that does harm to the bodies, minds or spirits of the victims of such abuses. We recognize and revere the divinity of Nature in our Mother the Earth, and we conduct our rites of worship in a manner that is ethical, compassionate and constitutionally protected. We neither acknowledge or worship the Christian devil, "Satan," who is not in our Pagan pantheons. We will not tolerate slander or libel against our Temples, clergy or Temple Assemblers and we are prepared to defend our civil rights with such legal action as we deem necessary and appropriate."[30][29][27] [25]

Notes

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  1. ^ Weir, James (16). "Lust and Religion" (EBook). Retrieved 19 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b Bright Morning Star (2005). The Urantia Book. New York: Uversa Press. pp. 805–810. ISBN 0965197220.
  3. ^ a b c Boyer, Pascal (2001). Religion Explained. New Work: A Member of the Perseus Book club. pp. 1–5. ISBN 0465006965.
  4. ^ a b c d King, Barbara J. (2007). Evolving God: A Provocative View of the Origins of Religion. New York: Doubleday Religion. ISBN 978-0385521550.
  5. ^ "WPM Statement of Principles". World Pantheism. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  6. ^ Zimoń, Henryk (2003). "The Sacredness of the Earth Among the Konkomba of Northern Ghana". Anthropos. 98 (2): 421–443.
  7. ^ a b "The Juggler". Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  8. ^ a b c krasskova. "My Top 10 Pagan/Heathen Movies". Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b Smith, Wesley. "Ecocide is Earth Religion". Human Exceptionalism. National Review Online. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d Slater, Herman (1976). "Earth Religion News". geraldgardner.com. I (1): 2-3. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  11. ^ Symonds, John (1952). The Great Beast. Roy. p. 23. ISBN 0356036316.
  12. ^ a b "What is Wicca?". An Eclectic Neopagan Circle. The Circle of the Sacred Well. 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Wicca: a Neopagan, Earth-centered religion". Religioustolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Neo-Pagan Witchcraft vs Satanism". Confusions and Distinctions. The Pagan Library. 2000. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  15. ^ Vera, Diane. "Is Satanism "Pagan"?". Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d e McColman, Carl. "Principles of Moral Thought and Action". Patheos.com. Retrieved 14 Mar 2013.
  17. ^ a b Lark (22). "Beyond The Wiccan Rede - Other Pagan Ethics". realpagan.net. Retrieved 15 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b c Wigington, Patti. "Pagan Ethics: Is it Really All About You?". About.com. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d e Piper, David. "Wiccan Ethics And The Wiccan Rede". paganlibrary.com. Retrieved 15 Mar 2013.
  20. ^ a b c Brown, Nimue. "Godless Pagan Ethics". Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  21. ^ a b sky (14). "Ethics and Morality". earthenspirituality.com. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ Sky (19). "Reasoning and Knowing". earthenspirituality.com. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  23. ^ a b c d Sky (9). "Introduction to Pagan Ethics". earthenspirituality.com. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ a b c d "Pagan Ethics". ppo-canada.ca. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013.
  25. ^ a b c d Skelhorn, Angie (15). "The Earth Religion". witchkel.com. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  26. ^ Wren (16). "The Law of Three". witchvox.com. Retrieved 19 Mar 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  27. ^ a b "WFT Ethics". Retrieved 22 March. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  28. ^ Orr, Emma (1). Living With Honour: A Pagan Ethics. Moon Books. ISBN 978-1846940941. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  29. ^ a b "The Laws of Witchcraft". witchsanctuary.com. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013.
  30. ^ "Ethics: The Earth Religion Anti-Abuse Resolution (1988)". jesterbear.com. Retrieved 18 Mar 2013.
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