-Caveat Lector- Is there a Media War coming against the Goddess Culture? by Ed Hubbard September 18, 2000 URL: http://www.themestream.com/articles/180575.html THE MEDIA WAR AGAINST THE GODDESS CULTURE by Rev. Ed Hubbard Today the Goddess Culture is a growing, even thriving society within our Global Civilization. In the United States, We see various Groups seeking to provide service to the Goddess-Based Culture, others providing networking tools, yet others supply goods, while others yet seek to exploit it for commercial reasons. Hollywood adores the idea of a Goddess Culture and mainstream media has a love-hate-confusing relationship with the various communities. All of this points to signs of growth and changing ideas all around us, that have given the community space to mature. When I speak of the Goddess Culture, I speak of individuals, singly and collectively, which hold that life is in itself, divine and hold at least some ideas of feminine forms of Deity, as well as male deity forms. Often they see the Living Earth as mother, and symbolically Our Divine Mother, provider of life. This community has labels that include Pagans, Wiccan, Isians and Ecospiritualists but may also include Gaiaist Scientists, Environmentalists, and even Evolutionists. This is by no means an inclusive list, just a sampling of individuals who share some belief in Divine life. We have seen the Goddess Culture grow in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America, Parts of Asia, and now deeply in South Africa. Everywhere we turn see communities awakening and networking at incredible speeds. This has been a turning point for a faith that is most ancient and newly born for this age. But we are seeing a conflict emerge between those who hold stricter Christian Beliefs and the newly emerging Goddess Culture. I am defining stricter Christian Groups as ones who believe in separation from nonbelievers and obedience to God, Church, and State, usually in that order. That theirs is the only proper way of life and that Laws based on religious beliefs should be placed on all members of society. Of Course, not just the Goddess Community, but any community which does not share Similar Christian Values as community standards and recognize the appropriate power structure will come under attack. The Goddess Culture is becoming a much more frequent target by these forces. The question is why the Goddess Community (Mostly Pagan/Wiccan components) come under attack and why this is just the beginning of a first volleys in a larger Media War? The Strict Christian Community depends upon a structure of Churches, Sunday Schools, Mass or Services, Schools, and Family Participation as the process to control and even grow their congregations. This structure provides stability and security for all parties involved. They are secure of the rules of society and their place within that community. Yet by having just such an alliance, it then becomes an easier task to elect individuals to government office that share this belief and support the continued advancement of the this structure. This allows the Church, and their leadership to carry out a crucial function, Control of Knowledge. Control Of Knowledge is the primary mechanism of perpetuation of the Strict Christian Community. Schools, Government Officials, Churches, Families, even Law Enforcement require uniform standards of behavior according to this system. Lastly, combined with control of Media and sources of news truly controls the education and knowledge base, and in turn controls the behavior of the group with powerful means of forcing those who disagree into submission or isolation. What does this have to do with the Growing Goddess Culture? It is a diverse community utilizing long-range forms of communication. We exist strongly in many places, we are active, and we are dedicated. In the older structure of State Christianity, we would have been left isolated in our local communities. But we believe in unity and fellowship beyond the local community and share across nations. And we evolve. Today's world is becoming hyperactive, accelerated, and wired for the concept of open communication. Regularly beyond any one government's or societies control humanity is communicating. Open communications threatens isolated communities, as new information enters. Individuals, singly and in mass, are gaining access to their own knowledge, be it for entertainment or serious inquiry. Isolated and powerless, together across vast distance we work together almost in telepathic fashion. This changes societies and old power structures break down, and in the end wars may emerge. Conflict at the very least as old beliefs are tested. When control is lost, one must surrender or conduct a war, even if only a war of words. War in the Media is the most acceptable form of violence available to those who insist on control today. We have begun to see the strategy played out. Even a presidential Candidate and Governor of Texas has stated his opposition against Wicca in the military. We see the ability and timing of a conflict that could emerge beneath a presidential election. Already in South Africa, we see violence and accusations now on a weekly basis in Johannesburg and ABC News. As we turn we receive praise and scorn by the very same media. Media Wars give power and substance to rumor, guilt is assumed, innocence is quickly lost. Powerful jealousies build and ideals can be squashed. In the end isolation, despair, tragedy and even death follow the those who fall victim in such conflicts. The Goddess Community has highly identifiable traits that will create a strong fodder in any conflict and enough people who will engage in it because we may not have a choice. My Question to you is the Goddess Community seeing the first conflicts in a Media War? Copyright Ed Hubbard About this author: Media Consumer, Ed is an activist with the Pagan and Wiccan Communities, as well as communicator through Telepathic Media. Ed is also the Editor/Publisher of Daily Goddess News along with his partner and beloved Joy Fry. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om