Atheopagan
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Two Thousand and Counting
Atheopaganism started out with me talking to myself. Fifteen years ago, after two appalling experiences in the Pagan community, I quit. I retreated from the community and my friends, I let my altar gather dust, and I abandoned my rituals and observances. But soon I missed my ritual life, and so I began an exploration into the meaning of religion, how it serves the various appetites of the human brain, and how a religion can be based in the real world as described by science, and yet still meaningful, moving, and life-enhancing. The story is told in the essay that grew out of that period of exploration, and in my book.…
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Presenting THE WONDER: Science-Based Paganism (Launches Today!)
The podcast is a reality! You can listen to or download the first episode here or through any of the major podcast distribution channels (Apple, Google Play, etc.—though it may take a few days for this first episode to propagate through the various purveyors). Arwen and I are excited to present this work as an ongoing source for information, inspiration, ideas and support for the nontheist Pagan community particularly, but for anyone who finds it useful or entertaining. The first few episodes are conversations, but later we will do interviews, reviews, and other podcast-y stuff. Your ideas and questions can help us! Email to thewonderpodcastqs [at] [gmail] [dot] com with…
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Growing Light, Coming Changes: Introducing THE WONDER
The days grow steadily longer, and in my area the daffodils and poppies are up and blooming now. We’ve had unseasonably (? Climate change…) warm and dry weather throughout February and it’s looking like another drought year, but for now the hills and meadows are green and the bare trees are beginning to bud. It’s a time for planning the planting for the coming year, while nighttime frosts are still a danger…and for planning what we plant metaphorically, as well as physically. And I am excited to announce a big plan for the coming year! Ecologist, Atheopaganism Facebook group member, and YouTuber (The Pagan Perspective, Magic and Mundane, and the podcast…
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The Last Pantheacon, and What’s Next
Pantheacon, the largest indoor gathering of Pagans in North America, is no more. For a variety of reasons, Glenn Turner, the organizer, has decided to close it down and is retiring. I have been associated with PCon for a very long time. I attended the first one (I think), and have been to most of them over the 20-odd years it continued. It was a chance to see friends I didn’t see otherwise, to learn new things, meet new people, enjoy performances and generally to enjoy a majority-Pagan space for awhile, in stark contrast to the ordinary world. In recent years, it has provided opportunities to present and share about…
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Atheopaganism on the Placebo Magic Podcast!
Had a great conversation with Gary at the Placebo Magic Podcast. Listen at https://www.farmcodegary.com/post/s02e06-atheopaganism-with-mark-green/
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Growth is Change
Paganism generally—and Atheopaganism specifically—comprise intersecting sets of growing communities. And as we grow, we change. Generally, for example, the Atheopaganism Facebook group has been a very kind, warm context, but there has been more friction lately, and a need for more hands-on moderation. This is inevitable. When we were a group of 300 people, it was easy for people to know one another and for norms and conduct standards to be implemented organically. But now, there are nearly 2,000 people in the group, with about 20-30 coming in each week. Those folks don’t know the group vibe yet, and some of them are used to an Internet that is pugnacious…
