Earth religions get worship area at AF Academy
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Shera Crossan in Religion, Shera Crossan, Top Stories
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Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and other Earth-centered believers,
A double circle of stones atop a hill on the campus near Colorado Springs has been designated for the group, which previously met indoors.
“Being with nature and connecting with it is kind of the whole point,” said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Longcrier, who sponsors the group and describes himself as a Pagan. “It will dramatically improve that atmosphere, the mindset and the actual connection.”
The stones were moved to the hilltop last year because erosion threatened to make them unstable in their previous location near the visitors center. Crews arranged them in two concentric circles because they thought it would be a pleasant place for cadets to relax, Longcrier said.
When Longcrier and academy chaplains were looking for an outdoor worship space, they discovered one already existed in the form of the circles.
Lt. Col. William Ziegler, one of the academy’s chaplains, said designating the space is part of the school’s effort to foster religious tolerance and to defend the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
“It’s about our commitment as airmen to protect freedom and defend freedom. To me this is a freedom thing,” he said.
The school also has worship facilities for Protestant and Catholic Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists.
The academy superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michael Gould, has made religious tolerance a priority. It became a concern in 2004 when a survey found many cadets had heard slurs or jokes about other religions and that some felt ostracized because they weren’t religious.
Longcrier and Ziegler said they’ve heard no criticism of the new worship space but both noted its presence was just made public.
“Not to say that it’s not coming, but so far we haven’t had any real issues,” Longcrier said.
He said 15 to 20 cadets have shown an interest in Earth-centered beliefs, and eight to 10 regularly attend Monday night meetings. Of those, six or seven are devout believers and the others are “searchers,” Longcrier said.
“Earth-centered” spirituality encompasses many beliefs, Longcrier said, many that recognize multiple gods and goddesses and observe holidays tied to the seasons.
Longcrier said he personally doesn’t consider gods and goddesses to be actual beings but personifications of natural events that human ancestors wanted to put a face on.
“The goddess is symbolic of the Earth,” Longcrier said. “Do I believe I’m worshipping this female entity living in the Earth or up in space somewhere? No. The symbolism is very important.”
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Hm, still Odinism which was the main european religion at one time has yet to be cast out of the shadows as an important religion to let others follow. Diversity my ass.
Is that a Fylfot in the centre of the three triangles, as pictured above? Or is it just a sign of the sun wheel? cheers!
Lots of earth-worshippers…doesn’t make sense to worship the earth. It’s our domain. How easily people are led…
I think it is awesome. these people are serving our country and deserve a place to practice their religion. I am sure the Muslims and especially the Jews are not going to be happy. Odinism teaches ancestral pride and honor of white European heritage something the ZOG has been chipping away at for many years. But if our government is sending our soldiers off to fight in others wars, our warriors should have a place to worship as they chose.
Hail the Aesir and Vanir! Hail Odin! Hail Thor!
The government sanctions Wicca, Pagans, and Druids. Odinism would be frowned upon as racist. So is Christian Identity.
The earths is our domain so it makes no sense to worship it? How can you not worship nature, of which you are a part yourself? Maybe you should sprout some seeds and watch how one tiny little seedling can grow into a huge tree – that way you will perhaps finally see some magic. From the earth comes all that sustains us. It is all there is.