Monday, April 15, 2013

Dr. Farajajé on LGBT Religious Archives Network

GTU Professor and SKSM Provost Dr. Ibrahim Farajajé recently added to LGBT Religious Archives Network Oral History Library!

"Dr. Ibrahim Farajajé (formerly Elias Farajajé-Jones) is a pioneer who has worked to help faith communities of color create compassionate responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He was born to a mixed racial heritage family in Berkeley, California, and his youth was spent in a religiously pluralistic, diverse mixed-class neighborhood...."

Listen to the interview here!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Blessings of the Spring and Summer!

GTU has announced courses for 2013-14. View the Searchable Course Schedule and our Courses page for recommendations for Pagan-related classes.

Courses include Queer Studies: Multireligious Perspectives, Mysticism and Social Change, NeoPagan Liturgy: Earth Ritual, & others!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Survey on Paganism for Michael York's research

From Michael York:
In preparation for a paper for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion’s annual conference, I am seeking answers from pagan practitioners to the following questions. The title of my presentation is “Religion and Theology: A Contemporary Western Pagan Perspective on Identity Formation and Modern Policy.” The analytical framework I propose to use is one that differentiates paganism (broadly of course) from Abrahamic, dharmic and secular religions or perspectives, but for the questionnaire itself that differentiation need not be considered if it does not seem to be relevant for any respondent. There are five questions overall and concern theological and other distinctions of paganism from other religions. I welcome any and all answers that anyone wishes to supply. These answers will be presented anonymously in my paper unless a respondent explicitly allows me to use her or his name.

The questions are:

(1)  How is paganism different?

(2)  What is the significance of its difference?

(3)  What are the key issues in a modernity project?

(4)  What can paganism contribute to these issues in contrast to contributions from other religions?

(5)  How can or does paganism work with other religions in addressing issues of economic imbalance, corporate power, industrial pollution, global warming, disaster relief and constructive cooperation?

I am most appreciative for any responses anyone is able to return to me. My email address is exchange@michaelyork.co.uk.