"Survey: U.S. religious landscape in flux
Poll finds Protestant churches in decline, unaffiliated ranks
growing"
The Associated Press
updated 5:28 p.m. MT, Mon., Feb. 25, 2008
[1] Full News Story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23337807
[2] Complete survey results and statistics from the Pew (Foundation)
Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey:
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
*****
Here are the thoughts regarding thee above from the Temple of Kemetic Wicca:
Clearly, many (if not most) of these hugely financially funded social / demographic research organizations are Christian-based in their spiritual belief systems and just do not feel the need to be religiously tolerant toward, let alone acknowledging, any Pagan religion or Pagan spiritual path outside of Catholicism, Christianity, etc.
Again, this goes back to the fact that we Pagans MUST ban together (however slowly) and pool all of our resources in order to continue to thrive and build the organizations that will focus on the needs of our peoples of all ethnicities as well as all alternative religio-spiritual denominations.
So far, individuals (from published authors to professional bloggers), specific covens/groves/circles, the Internet, our various metaphysical shoppes, and related small businesses have been the "usual" way for us to be heard. I know that the many Pagan Communities here and around the globe spend a great deal of money and have buying power which can lead to serious / positive socio-political change, theological change via our marketing and promotional prowess. We must begin to collectively put all of our interpersonal skills, foundations of intellectual knowledge and education, and buying power together in order to influence and attain political representation and lobbying power in the United States of America and globally!
Just imagine if we pooled just some of our financial resources and pointed these funds directly toward those pertinent grassroots project that will affect and effect positive change for our communities now and into the distant future of our children and elders? We all, as practitioners of Alternative Religions and Spiritualities (ARS), are both ingrained and engrained in every part or aspect of the life we all share upon our planet Earth! We all are representative of every facet and/or level of the so-called "socio-economic and socio-political" ladders.
We have pondered and have held our counsel long enough! Pagan priest/ess, minister, clergy, or whatever appellative you may or may not refer to yourselves as are the beginning point(s) of this proactive endeavor. The Temple of Kemetic Wicca has a commitment, a definitive plan and has been actively seeking the assistance of many people in order to help with meeting the positive financial goals of our panoramic agenda (which IS NOT about recruitment, evangelism, proselytizing, or personal financial gain ever). Yes, Pagan ministries, organizations, and businesses do require financial capitalization and good financial accounting practices in order to fund their religio-spiritual projects, educational institutions (i.e., teaching, education, training, research and development, literary publications) and thrive.
All in all, we get turned down and turned away when we seek funding! Why? Because WE ARE PAGAN! Somewhere, somehow…many peoples around our Earth we all live in and share just do not take the time to get to know any of us and what we are all about. Everyone has the same social, economic, health, employment, political, needs, wants, and issues (i.e., everyday life challenges and expectations) as human beings on our planet Earth. We are all supposed to be relatively healthy, happy, and prosperous within our daily human lives and humanity within thee everyday mundane confines, restraints, and challenges that present themselves. Inherently, we are all the same and connected (like it or not) from thee cosmic evolutionary beginnings of the entire Universe all the way through the here and now of our present day and time. Please feel free to interpret this in any manner acceptable to you—because it’s all valid. Whatever form or formlessness of divinity speaks to YOU is indeed valid. However, the collective validity of all spiritualities and belief systems does reside within us…ultimately.
Positive action will influence and thus create an equally positive reaction of social, economic, and political change for the betterment of our nature-based spiritual practices, belief systems, and global communities…benefits to be reaped and shared by all—Pagan or not.
Em Hetep,
Blessed Be,
Rev. Dr. K.A. Sahure, D.D., Msc.D.
Rev. Dr. P.M. Lorca, D.D., D.Met.
Temple of Kemetic Wicca
Priests & Priestesses of Ma’at
Khadem nt-nTr.t Ma'at
Poll finds Protestant churches in decline, unaffiliated ranks
growing"
The Associated Press
updated 5:28 p.m. MT, Mon., Feb. 25, 2008
[1] Full News Story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23337807
[2] Complete survey results and statistics from the Pew (Foundation)
Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey:
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
*****
Here are the thoughts regarding thee above from the Temple of Kemetic Wicca:
Clearly, many (if not most) of these hugely financially funded social / demographic research organizations are Christian-based in their spiritual belief systems and just do not feel the need to be religiously tolerant toward, let alone acknowledging, any Pagan religion or Pagan spiritual path outside of Catholicism, Christianity, etc.
Again, this goes back to the fact that we Pagans MUST ban together (however slowly) and pool all of our resources in order to continue to thrive and build the organizations that will focus on the needs of our peoples of all ethnicities as well as all alternative religio-spiritual denominations.
So far, individuals (from published authors to professional bloggers), specific covens/groves/circles, the Internet, our various metaphysical shoppes, and related small businesses have been the "usual" way for us to be heard. I know that the many Pagan Communities here and around the globe spend a great deal of money and have buying power which can lead to serious / positive socio-political change, theological change via our marketing and promotional prowess. We must begin to collectively put all of our interpersonal skills, foundations of intellectual knowledge and education, and buying power together in order to influence and attain political representation and lobbying power in the United States of America and globally!
Just imagine if we pooled just some of our financial resources and pointed these funds directly toward those pertinent grassroots project that will affect and effect positive change for our communities now and into the distant future of our children and elders? We all, as practitioners of Alternative Religions and Spiritualities (ARS), are both ingrained and engrained in every part or aspect of the life we all share upon our planet Earth! We all are representative of every facet and/or level of the so-called "socio-economic and socio-political" ladders.
We have pondered and have held our counsel long enough! Pagan priest/ess, minister, clergy, or whatever appellative you may or may not refer to yourselves as are the beginning point(s) of this proactive endeavor. The Temple of Kemetic Wicca has a commitment, a definitive plan and has been actively seeking the assistance of many people in order to help with meeting the positive financial goals of our panoramic agenda (which IS NOT about recruitment, evangelism, proselytizing, or personal financial gain ever). Yes, Pagan ministries, organizations, and businesses do require financial capitalization and good financial accounting practices in order to fund their religio-spiritual projects, educational institutions (i.e., teaching, education, training, research and development, literary publications) and thrive.
All in all, we get turned down and turned away when we seek funding! Why? Because WE ARE PAGAN! Somewhere, somehow…many peoples around our Earth we all live in and share just do not take the time to get to know any of us and what we are all about. Everyone has the same social, economic, health, employment, political, needs, wants, and issues (i.e., everyday life challenges and expectations) as human beings on our planet Earth. We are all supposed to be relatively healthy, happy, and prosperous within our daily human lives and humanity within thee everyday mundane confines, restraints, and challenges that present themselves. Inherently, we are all the same and connected (like it or not) from thee cosmic evolutionary beginnings of the entire Universe all the way through the here and now of our present day and time. Please feel free to interpret this in any manner acceptable to you—because it’s all valid. Whatever form or formlessness of divinity speaks to YOU is indeed valid. However, the collective validity of all spiritualities and belief systems does reside within us…ultimately.
Positive action will influence and thus create an equally positive reaction of social, economic, and political change for the betterment of our nature-based spiritual practices, belief systems, and global communities…benefits to be reaped and shared by all—Pagan or not.
Em Hetep,
Blessed Be,
Rev. Dr. K.A. Sahure, D.D., Msc.D.
Rev. Dr. P.M. Lorca, D.D., D.Met.
Temple of Kemetic Wicca
Priests & Priestesses of Ma’at
Khadem nt-nTr.t Ma'at
