LETTER ***adult*** 3/9/07

Warning: If you are offended by bad language, references to homosexuality, or diverse spiritual ideas you ought to stop reading now. I marked this entry as Adult because it is truly an adult story. Out of respect for my readers, I have placed this warning here. spike q

Relaxing in the sunshine my brother Joey and I are, reading the funny papers. Joey, he likes the sports section. At least that's what he says. Them scrawny ass chickens got out of the pen again. We thought-- being Sunday and all-- we'd let them roam. Maybe we could get more money for them at the market, being free-range and all. We don't go to church anymore. We're done with that racket. Them people at the end of our road they're right good neighbors and all-- ha! They called me and Joey queer.

Queers and in-breds and filthy tobacco road. Like their own shit don't stink. Them Marbo twins down the road are the worst of the lot, cornhol'ing each other out in Mrs. Pika's hayfields last July. I caught them I did as I went a'walkin' looking for the cows that had escaped through the open gate. Them filthy Marbo twins left the gate open I knows they did. But the joke back-fired as I seen with my own two eyes what they was doing. Pulled up their britches real fast they did I tell ya'. And they call me and my god-born brother Joey queers. Goddamn them little punks.

They set the hen house on fire they did last Christmas. The sheriff up here he is a useless piece of trash. Marbos' cousin I reckon. He said he ain't coming up here no sir. He don't want to catch no homo disease and the law be on his side. He steppin' out regular with the pastor's wife he does. But he sits all prim and proper in the church listening to his own wife singing in the choir. Yes he does. With his shiny white suit and his gentleman's cap.

Me and Joey, we ain't really brothers. Me and Joey, we are queers. And we don't go to that church no more. Jesus he is a hermaphrodite and a queer too. And he must got pretty good hearing cuz he's the only one who listens to me cry at night into my pillow cuz Joey done threw up again or pissed the bed and gettin' skinnier by the breath.

Yessir, that's right. We are the queers here in this here place and Joey got the homo disease he does. And he's gonna die right here and no one is gonna care when I point the end of the gun into the center of my queer in-bred forehead. No one gonna care. 'Cept for maybe Jesus the queer hermaphrodite who listens to queers dieing from the homo disease even though the church god don't.

signed,
Amos

GOOD FOR GOODE 12/22/06

Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., a Republican Congressman is standing by his position on immigration in spite of a fervor caused by his recent remarks regarding the plans of a Congressman from Minnesota to be sworn into office using the Koran. The congressmen are sworn in as a group. Individual congressmen may elect to also participate in a private ceremonial swearing-in.

Goode wants illegal immigration to be cut down to zero and he wants legal immigration to be cut back. He is opposed to any more immigration of Muslims from Middle Eastern countries. One pro-Muslim organization based in the U.S. sent him an English translation of the Koran. It was suggested that he read a specific verse relating that people and nations were not created to hate each other.

I suggest that all the people screaming about this read the entire Koran. Then goto http://www.outragedmoderates.org/, click on the Government Document Library, find and download the chapters from a terrorist training manual there and read them word for word. Then come back and state honestly that Islam is peace-loving and so was the founder.

For the text of the letter which Rep. Goode sent to his constituents, goto: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,237990,00.html

radical sapphoq says:
I don't care what book a member of congress uses to swear on when taking office. I do care about a future possibility of Muslims becoming a majority in the United States and/or in public office. While I remain an avid supporter of separation of church and state, I also totally support Rep. Goode on his position on immigration. Good for him for not backing down! If that makes me a bigot, then so be.


radical sapphoq



http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/21/quran.congress/

http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/4994466.html
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/4983096.html

http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/3798

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/
chi-0612220053dec22,1,4809344.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/
articles/2006/12/22/an_open_house_for_all/

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-muslim22dec22,1,6491840.story?
coll=la-news-politics-national&track=crosspromo

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4419910.html

DO I OFFEND? ONE EXPERIENCE WITH ONE MONOTHEIST 12/20/06

sapphoq wishes to thank the fine folks at Religious Tolerance of Ontario for the succinct wisdom contained in their article:
WHY RELIGIONS SOMETIMES PROMOTE HATRED, VIOLENCE, AND GENOCIDE .

I was in attendance at a somewhat public meeting this weekend where it came to pass that some of the folks in attendance were speaking about their monotheistic male christian god in rather lofty and glowing terms, additionally claiming that they "knew" or were seeking to know said god's will for their individual lives. When it came my turn to speak, I advised that I was "sitting in a room of mystics." I asked who this god was and how do we know his will? I went on briefly to mention that people are killing each other in the Middle East right now believing that it is their god's will for them to do so [a mild simplification and thus an under-truth I know]. I also brought up the idea that here in our own country some of us g.l.b.t.i.q. folks are being denied the same basic civil rights that other American citizens take for granted. The denial of our basic civil rights is based partly on what some folks perceive is their god's will for all of us. Thus, I have a problem with this whole mystic experience thing. I shut-up then and the get-together ran its course. My friends are a varied bunch of folks and I love them. My good-natured questioning is nothing new to their ears. The event ended on a rather difficult note. One woman in attendance [an acquaintance rather than a friend] made last second comments about someone violating our cohesiveness as an organization which mystified me.

This evening I had occasion to run into the woman who grandstanded the gathering over the weekend. I asked her to explain what she was talking about. She said, "I was talking about you." I suggested that it might be better for us to sit down and communicate directly with each other about this. She said she thought that the group needed to know. I told her that grandstanding does nothing to improve communication between us but sitting down and talking about our differences might. She had forgotten the word I had called them [mystics] and didn't know what grandstanding was. I told her, adding that I also had my own experience with grandstanding and that is why I recognize it. She bristled then. I tried to explain the difference between unity and uniformity-- I was guessing that her real objection to my opinion lay more in that area. She informed me that I "shouldn't share" my personal struggle. I asked her where that was in the by-laws of said club. She stuttered a bit and finally said, "You make some people feel insulted" or something along those lines indicating that her feelings were my responsibility somehow. At last, the crux of the matter. I told her that is the risk we all take in communication. [I chose not to address the idea that I could make anyone feel anything.] She turned away then, and I left as I had other matters to attend to before sleeping.

I am aware that monotheists certainly do not have the monopoly on intolerance. We Pagans, Witches, Heathens, Druids can also lay vigorous claim to that turf. Anyone who has been involved in a Witch War knows this. And yes, some of us refer to Christians as x-tians. And a few of us boycott certain businesses run by Christians just as some Christians boycott pagan-friendly or glbtiq-friendly businesses. Everyone is guilty of intolerance. No one escapes with innocence in this life.

It is mental masturbation to presume that I know the whys and wherefores of any other human being's actions. I do not totally understand how it is that what I say can provoke such a strong reaction in one individual. I do not have to know.

What I do know is that in a casual circle of human beings, I have as much of a right to put forth my doubts about what others are talking about as much as everyone else there has to speak about their monotheistic male christian god in rather lofty and glowing terms. I endeavor to accord basic human respect to the human beings that I come into contact with in my daily life. In the course of average human relations with other adults, I expect the same basic human respect. I don't care if people respect my spiritual path. And I certainly am not asking for anyone's approval. What I want is to exercise my freedom of self-expression. And I want others to exercise their freedom of self-expression too. A difference of opinion is not something that violates any principle of an honest healthy relationship between two or more human beings.

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS DEBATE 12/14/06

It's that time of year where some folks go frantic and start rushing around in order to buy buy buy. Nowadays we have that to contend with along with the American Family Association that wants its contingency to boycott objectionable stores. Those would be the stores that have displays using the word "Holidays" instead of the word "Christmas" such as the Gap. All of this makes me wonder what a display case in a store has to do with the birth of Christ.

Actually I don't really care if employees of a store wish me a "Merry Christmas" or a "Happy Holiday." I usually smile and tell them I celebrate Solstice. Some of them know what that is and some of them don't. The blaring Christmas music-- much of it religious-- and the flashing light displays don't do much for my well-being but I know it will be over and things will get back to their secular normal in January.

Here I will insert the recent hoopla about Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky complaining about the Christmas trees over at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The airport managers ordered the removal of the trees. Some employees rebelled by bringing in their own little trees to display by their work areas. Actually, the rabbi didn't want the trees removed. He wanted an electric menorah to be included in the welcome display. The trees are back and Rabbi Bogomilsky has offered to donate a menorah. No word yet on whether or not Seattle-Tacoma Airport will take him up on the offer. I found myself saying, "Oh gee, ordering the removal of Christmas trees is going to far" but then hesitating when I read that it was a local rabbi objecting.

Then we have the whole question of religion in the public schools. Personally, I do not want my bisexual atheistic Witch tax bucks going to support a public education system where even a few teachers feel free to proselytize for Christ and to promote Intelligent Design in science classes. Right now most public school students come from homes where some form of Christianity is practiced. The argument that the majority of kids are from Christian households does not hold water with me. This is one issue where I differ with my good friend Jeremy Crow.

I still believe in my heart of hearts that the job of public schools is to provide a public education, that Intelligent Design discussions properly belong in philosophy or comparative religion classes, and that it is the parents who are responsible for instilling their own religious beliefs and traditions in their children. Teaching about religions is certainly different than promoting a specific ideology in the classroom. Of course, there are violations on both sides of the issue.

In my mind, a teacher who: forbids students to read their sacred texts during free time, downgrades homework and essays which include religious themes by virtue of their inclusion alone, or the passing out of religious material from one student to another [student who is willing to take it] is guilty of not following the rules regarding freedom of religious expression in public schools. So is the public school teacher who: prays with students, witnesses to students, or otherwise endorses any particular religious ideology during classroom time.

For several weeks, I was drinking the poisoned kool-aid which stated that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. I have since become enlightened to other facts and figures from non-Muslim sources. Whether or not the numbers of adherents to Islam will outstrip the number of Christians in our lifetime is a matter up for debate. If the United States ever was to become primarily Muslim, what would happen then? Muslims, I am told, do not celebrate Christmas. Some Pakistani Muslims celebrate the birth of Abraham though most Sharia Muslims consider that holiday to be "an add-on" rather than one that the Prophet intended. If any other religion was the religion held by the majority of American citizens in the United States, would Christians want that religion to be given endorsement by public school personnel? I think not. What ifs aside, we get all caught up in words and then the press adds to the confusion or to the fury-- depending upon how one wishes to perceive these things.

Unfortunately, many of my liberal friends have bought into the story that the president of Iran is a nice guy, that the American press is somehow distorting his views on the Holocaust [basically: it didn't happen, or, it happened but it wasn't all that bad] into something else, that we oughta give nukes to the Iranians and to the Syrians to "fix" Iraq. The president of Iran is not nice, he was one of the student-leaders-turned-terrorist during the take-over of the American Embassy 27 years ago. He denies the impact of the historical Holocaust and in fact is sponsering a two-day event regarding that. His government and the Syrian government both hold un-upstanding records of upholding human rights for all of their citizenry. Add Iraq's government to that last one, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and a few others over there.

I don't know the "answer" to all the stuff happening in the Middle East. I do know that perpetrating lies does no one any good. The lies that feed the stupid American pubic are thriving. Grown-ups know that not everyone wishes us well. And so this Christmas, this Solstice, this Kwanzaa, this Chanaukah, this whatever winter holidays I've left out, forgot, didn't know about, failed to acknowledge; my sincerest hope for all of us even overrides any hope for peace. I hope that we all remember this: Kool-aid is for kids. Adding cyanide to it can still kill off bunches of people.

radical sapphoq

THE ADVANCED BONEWITS' CULT DANGER EVALUATION FORM 12/5/06

The Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame (Version 2.6) Copyright © 1979, 2001, 2004 c.e., Isaac Bonewits Introduction Events in the last several decades have clearly indicated just how dangerous some religious and secular groups (usually called “cults” by those opposed to them) can be to their own members as well as to anyone else whom they can influence. “Brainwashing,” beatings, child abuse, rapes, murders, mass suicides, military drilling and gunrunning, meddling in civil governments, international terrorism, and other crimes have been charged against leaders and members of many groups, and in far too many cases those accusations have been correct. None of this has been very surprising to historians of religion or to other scholars of what are usually labled “new” religions (no matter how old they may be in their cultures of origin). Minority groups, especially religious ones, are often accused of crimes by members of the current majority. In many ways, for example, the “Mormons” were the “Moonies” of the 19th century — at least in terms of being an unusual minority belief system that many found “shocking” at the time — and the members of the Unification Church could be just as “respectable” a hundred years from now as the Latter Day Saints are today. Nonetheless, despite all the historical and philosophical warnings that could be issued, ordinary people faced with friends or loved ones joining an “unusual” group, or perhaps contemplating joining one themselves, need a relatively simple way to evaluate just how dangerous or harmless a given group is liable to be, without either subjecting themselves to its power or judging it solely on theological or ideological grounds (the usual method used by anti-cult groups). In 1979 I constructed an evaluation tool which I now call the “Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame” or the “ABCDEF” (because evaluating these groups should be elementary). A copy was included in that year’s revised edition of my book, Real Magic. I realize its shortcomings, but feel that it can be effectively used to separate harmless groups from the merely unusual-to-the-observer ones. Feedback from those attempting to use the system has always been appreciated. Indirect feedback, in terms of the number of places on and off the Net this ABCDEF has shown up, has been mostly favorable. For example, it was chosen by and is now displayed on the website of the Institute for Social Inventions, who paraphrased it for their “Best Ideas — A compendium of social innovations” listing. The purpose of this evaluation tool is to help both amateur and professional observers, including current or would-be members, of various organizations (including religious, occult, psychological or political groups) to determine just how dangerous a given group is liable to be, in comparison with other groups, to the physical and mental health of its members and of other people subject to its influence. It cannot speak to the “spiritual dangers,” if any, that might be involved, for the simple reason that one person’s path to enlightenment or “salvation” is often viewed by another as a path to ignorance or “damnation.” As a general rule, the higher the numerical total scored by a given group (the further to the right of the scale), the more dangerous it is likely to be. Though it is obvious that many of the scales in the frame are subjective, it is still possible to make practical judgments using it, at least of the “is this group more dangerous than that one?” sort. This is if all numerical assignments are based on accurate and unbiased observation of actual behavior by the groups and their top levels of leadership (as distinct from official pronouncements). This means that you need to pay attention to what the secondary and tertiary leaders are saying and doing, as much (or more so) than the central leadership — after all, “plausible deniability” is not a recent historical invention. This tool can be used by parents, reporters, law enforcement agents, social scientists and others interested in evaluating the actual dangers presented by a given group or movement. Obviously, different observers will achieve differing degrees of precision, depending upon the sophistication of their numerical assignments on each scale. However, if the same observers use the same methods of scoring and weighting each scale, their comparisons of relative danger or harmlessness between groups will be reasonably valid, at least for their own purposes. People who cannot, on the other hand, view competing belief systems as ever having possible spiritual value to anyone, will find the ABCDEF annoyingly useless for promoting their theological agendas. Worse, these members of the Religious Reich and their fellow theocrats will find that their own organizations (and quite a few large mainstream churches) are far more “cult-like” than many of the minority belief systems they so bitterly oppose. It should be pointed out that the ABCDEF is founded upon both modern psychological theories about mental health and personal growth, and my many years of participant observation and historical research into minority belief systems. Those who believe that relativism and anarchy are as dangerous to mental health as absolutism and authoritarianism, could (I suppose) count groups with total scores nearing either extreme (high or low) as being equally hazardous. As far as dangers to physical well-being are concerned, however, both historical records and current events clearly indicate the direction in which the greatest threats lie. This is especially so since the low-scoring groups usually seem to have survival and growth rates so small that they seldom develop the abilities to commit large scale atrocities even had they the philosophical or political inclinations to do so. The Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame (version 2.6) Factors: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Low High 1 Internal Control: Amount of internal political and social power exercised by leader(s) over members; lack of clearly defined organizational rights for members. 1 _________________________ 2 External Control: Amount of external political and social influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members’ external political and social behavior. 2 _________________________ 3 Wisdom/Knowledge Claimed by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations; number and degree of unverified and/or unverifiable credentials claimed. 3 _________________________ 4 Wisdom/Knowledge Credited to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s); amount of hostility by members towards internal or external critics and/or towards verification efforts. 4 _________________________ 5 Dogma: Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or “fundamentalism;” hostility towards relativism and situationalism. 5 _________________________ 6 Recruiting: Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing; requirement for all members to bring in new ones. 6 _________________________ 7 Front Groups: Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group, especially when connections are hidden. 7 _________________________ 8 Wealth: Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members’ donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members. 8 _________________________ 9 Sexual Manipulation of members by leader(s) of non-tantric groups; amount of control exercised over sexuality of members in terms of sexual orientation, behavior, and/or choice of partners. 9 _________________________ 10 Sexual Favoritism: Advancement or preferential treatment dependent upon sexual activity with the leader(s) of non-tantric groups. 10 _________________________ 11 Censorship: Amount of control over members’ access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s). 11 _________________________ 12 Isolation: Amount of effort to keep members from communicating with non-members, including family, friends and lovers. 12 _________________________ 13 Dropout Control: Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts. 13 _________________________ 14 Violence: Amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s). 14 _________________________ 15 Paranoia: Amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; exaggeration of perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories. 15 _________________________ 16 Grimness: Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s). 16 _________________________ 17 Surrender of Will: Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual disempowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s). 17 _________________________ 18 Hypocrisy: amount of approval for actions which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate the group’s declared principles for political, psychological, social, economic, military, or other gain. 18 _________________________ A German translation of the 2.0 version of this is available at: Isaac Bonewits’ Sektengefahr Checkliste. A French translation of the 2.6 version is available at: Grille avancée de Bonewits pour l'évaluation du danger potentiel d'une secte. An Italian translation of the 2.6 version is available at: Documento Avanzato di Isaac Bonewits per la Valutazione del Pericolo del Culto. A Polish translation of the 2.6 version is available at: Zaawansowany Kwestionariusz Bonewitsa Oceniajacy Niebezpieczenstwo Sekty A Portuguese translation of the 2.6 version is available at: A Ferramenta Avançada de Bonewits para Avaliação de Seitas. Other translations will be posted as they are done. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Low High Copyright © 1979, 2001 c.e., Isaac Bonewits. This text file may be freely distributed on the Net, provided that no editing is done, the version number is retained, and everything in this notice box is included. If you would like to be on one or more of Isaac Bonewits’ emailing lists, click here to get subscription information. Note: this is one of his most popular essays, so if you want to mirror it, that’s fine with him, but please check back regularly for updates. If anyone wants to translate this or others of his essays into other languages, he will be happy to post them on his website. Is having access to this material worth a few dollars, punts, pounds, or euros to you? Click either graphic to make a fast and secure donation to Isaac Bonewits, so he can afford to keep his website going and growing! Or you can suggest to your local Occult/New Age bookstore that they bring him out for one of his colorful presentations, or you could just send money to him at PO Box 1010, Nyack, NY, USA 10960-1010. Back to the Contents Page of Isaac Bonewits’ Homepage Isaac & Phae say: We use PayPal and we recommend it! Back to the T.O.C. of Isaac Bonewits’ Homepage Pagan T-shirts ~ Mousepads ~ Coffee Mugs ~ Wall Clocks Take a look at the graphic designs Isaac has available at his CafePress store! (P. E.) Isaac Bonewits, Adr.Em./ADF Email: ibonewits@neopagan.net Snailmail: PO Box 1010, Nyack, NY, USA 10960-8010 This webpage is copyright © 1979, 2001 c.e., Isaac Bonewits Most recently updated: August 5, 2006 c.e. (advertising) This page’s URL is http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html My Homepage URL is http://www.neopagan.net . . . . !

This form was authored by Issac Bonewits. In light of the recent articles concerning Ravenfire, radical sapphoq has presented this stuff for your further edumacation and has enclosed the little box at the bottom as directed by Issac Bonewits. radical sapphoq

MORE DRAMA ALA ELDER RAVENFIRE 11/29/06

Elder Ravenfire's proboard was taken down for TOS violations a couple of days after my initial review of his board. Since then, he has apparently been rather busy loudly protesting-- among other things, an e-mail he has gotten from an alleged group of witches which took it upon
themselves to "warlock" him. I have copied and pasted said e-mail and "Elder" Ravenfire's response below for your reading and edumacation. By all means, after reading his post or posts on the proboards, please scroll through all of the messages to find the truth of it.

Because "Elder" Ravenfire has taken it upon himself to litter the internet with this hoax of a letter and his response, I am reproducing it as found on a few proboards. If anyone wishes to google Elder+Ravenfire, a host of search results will indicate that this is so. Ergo, since "Elder" Ravenfire has pretty much pitched the content into electronica, I am doing my part to help him in his quest to, as he says it, spread the word of this council.


And just so y'all know, the person behind the e-mail has admitted that it was a hoax. At any rate, here it is as found on one proboard

http://evylynrose.proboards13.com/
index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1163877931&page=1

and another
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=144833

and a third
http://triplespiral.proboards83.com/
index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1163877685&page=1

in a post attributed to Elder Ravenfire:

Here it is, the end of peace, and love as we know it to be. People go around proclaiming to be protectors of the Craft, and deeming people unfit to be Witches. And spying on Forums, and on people. Is that what the Craft is now? Have we became Jedi? And need the Jedi council like this? What, and who do they think they are? Of course I’m speaking of this so called secret council of guardians of the old ways. Or whatever they call themselves. They go around spying on people and deem them unfit to be Witches because they won’t bend to there will, or believe the same as they do. It is something that needs to be dealt with. If left alone The Craft will be ruined. These people make people think they can banish them from the Craft. Make their magick not work, forever! Here this is what was sent to me


and it's an order I cannot ignore. I tried to warn you RavenFire. I
really did, but this is what you get.

Anyhow, ever obedient to the Guardians... .

We, who are the secret Guardians of the Craft of the Wise for North
America, in Council assembled, have been apprised by our agents of the
conduct of one [omitted by sapphoq], who resides on [omitted by sapphoq] and
who styles himself as "Elder Ravenfire." Having given this matter due
consideration we are now minded to render our judgment.

We find that that this man [omitted by sapphoq] aforesaid has arrogated unto himself
titles, offices, and authority which are in no way his by right or by
accomplishment. Further, we find that he has abused the intelligence,
discretion, and abilities which the Gods have seen fit to grant unto
him, and that in sum, his actions have been of such a nature as to
bring discredit and ignominy upon the Craft of the Wise, which we are
sworn to protect and uphold.

Wherefore we, the Guardians of the Craft of the Wise for North
America, in Council assembled, do hereby banish, expel, and warlock
this man [omitted by sapphoq] aforesaid from the company of all who practice the
Craft of the Wise, to wander the grey mists, alone and friendless. And
we further lay upon said [omitted by sapphoq] a binding and curse, that each and
every work of magic that he may essay from this time forth shall fail
utterly and come to naught. And these penalties both shall lie upon
him for this lifetime and for all lifetimes to come.

So say we all, who have the right, and the authority, and the power to
enforce this, our Will, in this matter. Wherefore we have set unto
this working both our sigils and our signs manual.

So Mote It Be.

This unfortunately is permanent Ravenfire. I'm so sorry.




And they really believe this! They really believe they have this power. Ending with So Mote it Be. With blasphemy. How dare they do this. And some people really think they can do this. I lost one Coven member because of this crap. I think these people need to be stopped. There is no need for liars to be running around telling people they are not Witches, and telling them that they are warlocks. This is stupid. I have the target of attack, after attack. And I have had it. I will spread the word of this council. I will do my best to end there rain of horror. And not let them destroy another person.

My email is [omitted by sapphoq]

Blessed be, Elder RavenFire

Link: http://evylynrose.proboards13.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1163877931&page=1

EXITING THE LIFE 11/19/06

Ex-gay ministries have existed for many years. I was first aware of this through literature put out by Teen Challenge Inc. in the late 1970s which featured a man and a woman who self-identified as ex-gay. They got saved, got heterosexualized, got married. In the picture, the woman could have been mistaken for a "butch" I suppose. She had short hair. I learned better later on. I now know that some butches have long hair. And lots of women who aren't lesbian or bisexual have short hair.

There existed in Albany NY for at least one summer Sunday night Christian meetings of a sort housed in a second-floor flat near the gay juice bar. I do not know which organization they represented nor what methods they used nor their success rate. None of my friends or acquaintances disappeared from the scene during the late 80s to take up a new straight life. They must have pulled from different parts of the community than the radical in-your-face activists that I was a part of and hanging out with.

How very odd in this day and age when GLBTIQ activists are protesting the inclusion of non-heterosexuality in a Department of Defense list of defects and conditions [an improvement over being considered as a "mental disorder"?] that the ex-gay movement would remain a source of hatred by those of us who celebrate our non-heterosexuality. Yeah, I am familiar with all of the arguements.

People in ex-gay ministries and counseling outreach services do occasionally wind up in bed with each other or with a wayward staffer. A few? some? folks seeking to get out of the life may feel deep self-hatred. Most? All? ex-gay places are run by fundies and we have suffered prejuidice and discrimination at their hands for eons. And yes, the monosexuals [homosexual and heterosexual] in the population do tend to believe that sexual orientation is static rather than fluid.

The bisexuals among us [that is the tribe I fall into] tend to believe that sexual orientation is fluid and [will at least give lip service to the idea] that one's sexual orientation throughout life can change and all of them are equally valid. AIS [Androgen Insufficiency Females] statistically are 100% either attracted to women or to both women and men. A few transgendered friends going through the procedures to match their external gender to their internal gender have experienced a genuine but unplanned sexual orientation change shortly after the introduction of hormone treatment.

So if seeking to trade in my sexual orientation for another one via the path that some people have chosen is not for me, I still do not have to invalidate those who have made different choices than I have. A campus which allows gay-straight alliances and glbtiq clubs to meet needs also to allow ex-gay groups the same privilege and voice that we experience and expect. A workplace which discriminates on the basis of past sexual orientation ought to be as offensive to the civil rights activist as one which discriminates on the basis of present sexual orientation.

A pastor who has recently confessed to dealings with a hustler [male prostitute for men] deserves respect for seeking to address his failings, regardless of how he chooses to do so. Ted Haggart has admitted to despising that part of himself which engaged in male one-on-one sexual conduct and will be seeking counseling from James Dobson [Focus on the Family leader, for those of you living in a news vacuum] because he wants out. Ted Haggart is married and he has broken his marriage vows. If I broke my marriage vows-- regardless of who I broke them with-- I might hate that part of myself too.

Give the man a break people. He done wrong. He is going to fix it the best he can. If he comes out deciding that he is gay or bisexual or straight I really do not care. I hope for his wife's sake that he is able to remain married to her and faithful to her alone. The GLBTIQ community is not the real victim here. Sure, Pastor Ted Haggard has been identified as someone who has been part of the very vocal system out in Colorado which would deny us civil rights. Should we deny him his right to decide how he wishes to conduct himself in his personal life?

The fact that restorative therapy has been dissed by the American Psychological Association back in August does not mean that it should be outlawed. Other mental health bodies have come out with statements of the dangers inherent in change ministries. Dangers like increased depression and self-loathing were mentioned. Reparative therapy has many uses with varying results-- depending sometimes on who is doing the reporting. Quite frankly, Haggard does not deserve to be on exhibit as "proof" that sexual orientation cannot be changed. And yes, even if he never embraces our struggle for civil rights, I hope he is successful in "exiting the life."

-radical sapphoq

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20061118/NEWS/611180351/1116

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/529619_1

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/
nation/11/19/19haggard.html

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111506soulforce.htm

http://www.pathinfo.org/index2.htm

http://www.progressiveu.org/221844-the-ex-gay-movement

ELDER RAVENFIRE PROBOARD 11/9/06

I had the occasion today to visit the proboard run by one elderravenfire, his wife, and a younger relative helping out. If you want to get an idea of what pagans, witches, and wiccans are like, don't go here:
http://elderravenfire.proboards103.com/

Elder Ravenfire is a young man with a good idea and bad execution. His misspellings make it difficult to read his posts. His false ego makes him argumentative when someone in a particular trad tries to correct his misinformation. He and his wife both fall back on the idea that no one should ask him for his sources or correct his misinformation because (a). that is disrespectful, and (b). apparently reality is totally subjective so no one has a "right" to say that anyone's information is not accurate. There are examples of him cussing out posters when their views square his littered all over the board. His antipathy towards research and proofs is astounding.

Thumbs down, along with all of the other fingers.

reposted from http://sapphoq reviews.blogspot.com/

Link: http://elderravenfire.proboards103.com/

MIKE JONES, FORMER GAY ESCORT 11/4/06

Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Fellowship, a mega-church in Colorado Springs, has voluntarily accepted administrative leave in light of the accusations of a "former" escort worker. He has also resigned from his position as president of the National Evangelical Association.

The "former" escort worker, Mike Jones, claims that Haggard had a three-year paid sex relationship with Haggard. He also maintains that Haggard did methamphetamine frequently during those three years before having sex. Jones denied selling the meth to Haggard, but admits that he "asked around" for it.

Mike Jones says he didn't know who Haggard was until six months ago when he saw him on the teevee during a workout at the gym. Haggard used the name, "Art." Evidence for these goings-ons: one envelope containing money with "Art" scrawled on one corner. Jones had two voice mails from Haggard but these had been erased.

For his part, Ted Haggard claimed he bought meth from Jones and received one massage from him, but no sex. He said he threw away the meth without using it. He said he was referred to Jones by a concierge of a hotel.

What is most intriguing about this newest scandal to me is why Mike Jones decided to come forward now. I doubt that it was out of a sense of public duty. Colorado Springs is noted for its' strong stance against glbt rights [even giving rise to a "Boycott Colorado" campaign several years back which was alleviated by a Coors beer advertising campaign catering to the glbt community]. James Dobson lives there. And Haggard speaks to President Bush or a close advisor once a week. I believe that Mike Jones is chiefly motivated by resentment against the forces in Colorado Springs which are blocking the passage of a gay marriage bill in Colorado. It will also be interesting to see if Mike Jones lawyers up for lawsuit purposes.

A male pastor having gay sex is no big whoop to me. I live close enough to Albany to have gotten to know some gay male priests and ministers who were sexually active with other men. It is probably bigger whoop to the wives of the male pastors who stand accused of the same.

sapphoq's verdict:
Mike Jones probably did sell the meth to Ted Haggard.
They probably did have sex.
The concierge of the hotel probably did refer Ted to Jones for male attentions.
Ted Haggard probably did do some meth, but probably not nearly as often as Mike Jones wants us to believe.
All three of them are minimizing their actions.
The evidence-- so far-- is not substantial.
The Colorado voters will mostly ignore this stuff and vote the way they were going to before the story broke.


radical sapphoq