The politics of witchcraft in the Muslim world (Middle East Quarterly)

"...the majority of news accounts implied that the woman was a victim of persecution by the Saudi government ... No Western reporters seemed to consider that the victim was actually practicing witchcraft, or why witchcraft is considered by the desert kingdom a crime punishable by death. ... magical beliefs can constitute an existential and political threat to Islamic religious leaders, provoking severe punishments and strict prohibitions of any practice not sanctioned by their authority. ... There is no doubt that clerics believe in the powers of jinn; they would no more question the existence of jinn than they would the Qur'an."

New Zealand rape trial invokes fear of witchcraft (3News)

GOP Virginia Lt. Governor candidate walks back link between yoga and Satanism (Huffington Post)

""I do not believe that yoga leads to Satanism. One of my ministers is a yoga instructor. What I said was that Christian meditation does not involve emptying oneself but filling oneself ... with the spirit of God. That is classic biblical Christianity," he said..."

Profile of classes in Wicca in Manhattan (NY Times)

Churches need to handle problem of child witchcraft accusations (Huffington Post)

"...it seems that today many of those accused of being witches are children, while in the past older women were more likely to be the targets. ... A network based in the United Kingdom with a strong Christian focus, Stop Child Witch Accusations (SCWA) is seeking to enlist the active support of a coalition of churches. The first goal is to publicize what is happening, the second to make clear that it has no place in a civilized, Christian community."

Pagan and pagan-friendly happenings featured in Winnepeg "faith briefs" (Winnepeg Free Press)

Zambia chief wants outdated witchcraft law repealed, replaced with tougher law (UK Zambians)

"The chief said people were taking advantage of the current laws on witchcraft to practise sorcery. “People are so bold now that they even threaten others during the day that they will bewitch them. A person with a gun is better than a wizard because you can dodge a bullet but you can’t escape witchcraft. “Even chiefs are not spared. We are appealing to Government to solidify the Act on witchcraft and those convicted should be jailed,” Chief Nkole Mfumu said."

Pilgrimage for Peace includes Druid ceremony (Hemel Today)

Sex and the Summer Solstice (CNN)

"In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice has a history of stirring libidos, and it's no wonder. ... It should then come as no surprise that the solstice is linked to fertility -- both of the vegetal and human variety. ... There is a similar mythology about dreaming of one's future spouse in parts of Greece. There, as in many European countries, the pagan solstice got co-opted by Christianity and rebranded as St. John's Day."

"Witchcraft tourism" in Nicaragua (Nicaragua Dispatch)

Witchcraft accusations on the rise-- with deadly results (Mother Nature Network)

"...across Papua New Guinea and in other places around the world, accusations of witchcraft and sorcery may be on the rise, with tragic results. ... Authorities and academics, however, are pushing back against the rising tide of witchcraft-related killings, torture and other crimes."

Book review: Interview with a Dead Man (London Review of Books)

Christian "prophet" says anyone of Native American/indigenous descent needs to repent for "sin of animism" of their ancestors (Huffington Post)

""If you have in your bloodline any animus, any Native American blood, for instance -- not all Native Americans worshiped the serpent or crocodile, many did — but you might want to renounce that and repent for the generational iniquity,” Jacobs says. “If you are -- perhaps you’re Mexican and you might have indigenous blood in you or Mayan blood -- those who have Aztec blood in any way, you need to repent for the sin of animism before you begin to deal with this spirit.”"

British MP calls for pardon of witches convicted and executed in Britain (BBC)

Professor claims Europe so thoroughly Christianized that it's almost impossible to get to the Pagan past (Real Clear Religion)

"In Europe at least, our immersion in Christianity is so long-standing and so total as to make it very difficult indeed to determine what is authentically ancient or pagan. Often, what looks very primal and ancient is in fact a recent concoction. ... In reality, it is very hard indeed to excavate through those medieval Christian layers to find Europe's pagan roots. Never underestimate just how thoroughly and totally the Christian church penetrated the European mind."

New exhibition in Devon, UK highlights William Stukeley, "the savior of Stonehenge" (This Is Cornwall)

FBI to start tracking hate crimes against Pagans, Wiccans, others (Huffington Post)

"The hate crime tracking will include "all self-identified religions in the United States as listed in the Pew Research Center’s Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (2008) and the Statistical Abstract (2012) approved by the U.S. Census Bureau," Fischer wrote in an email. "The recommended list includes Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Orthodox, Other Christian, Jewish, Islamic (Muslim), Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Other Religions, Multiple Religions-Group, and Atheism/Agnosticism."" [The Statistical Abstract also tracks Pagan and Wiccan as separate categories, each with many times more adherents than Sikhs.]

Florida Freemason rule banning Pagans is overturned (Freemasons for Dummies)

Alternatives to Boy Scouts (New York Times)

"The protracted debate over whether to allow gay scouts and scout leaders has angered many church leaders and parents across the political and religious spectrums. The result is a surge of enrollments in alternative outdoor and character-building programs that cater to pagans and Pentecostals and everyone in between. ... The variety of choices include the Royal Rangers, which offers “Christ-like character formation” for boys, as well as SpiralScouts International, founded by the Aquarian Tabernacle Church of Wicca, which awards badges named for pagan holidays."

Asatru wedding in Iceland (Iceland Review)

Scouts to renovate Long Man of Wilmington (The Argus)

"An ancient chalk carving thought to be an Iron Age symbol of fertility will be repainted by the Scouts. The Long Man of Wilmington was painted green during the Second World War so German bombers could not use it as a landmark. Now 40 Scouts will freshen up the 235-foot man-shaped image cut into the South Downs. Action man and chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “Volunteering is at the heart of Scouting and this is a great way for Scouts to get out and do something for their community.”"

One African soccer club suing another over witchcraft accusations (Nyasa Times)

Ritual circumcision initiation deaths blamed on witchcraft (iOL News)

"The office of King Mabhoko III of the Ndebele tribe has blamed the deaths of 28 initiates in Mpumalanga's highveld area on witchcraft. ... “These deaths are not normal, kune buloyi la (there is witchcraft here),” said Mahlangu, who was also critical of the House of Traditional Leaders (HTL)."

Saudi Arabia sentences two "witches" to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes (Frontpage Mag)

Seeking understanding for Oregon's Pagans (Corvallis Gazette-Times)

"Carl F. Neal is a new spokesman for the 1 percent of Oregonians who identify themselves on census forms as active Wiccans, Pagans, Neo-Pagans, Heathens, Druids or Witches. Based on 20 years’ experience, he’s pretty sure that not everyone is going to be OK with that."

Christian church sponsors interfaith dialogue with Wiccans (Goddiscussion.com)

Texas passes law on "winter holidays", non-Abrahamic faiths conspicuous by their absence (State of Texas)

"A school district may educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including: (1)  "Merry Christmas"; (2)  "Happy Hanukkah"; and (3)  "happy holidays.""

Arizona legislator doesn't like Atheist giving opening... er... non-prayer, is rebuffed by non-Christian legislator (Huffington Post)

Abu Dhabi police launch drive against witchcraft (Gulf News)

"Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi police are trying to break the spell of sorcerers on ordinary people. The police have launched an awareness campaign called Amman, encouraging people to come forward and report anyone practicing witchcraft or sorcery."

Wikipedia admits prominent editor conducted anti-Pagan purge (Tech Eye)

Women in Nepal tortured because of witchcraft allegations (Al Jazeera)

"Women accused of witchcraft in Nepal are often tortured and beaten by their own community. Human rights activists have been trying to stop the persecution but they say current legislation is too weak and is not helping. It is thought that about four women are abused every month, having their heads shaved and being beaten and bound."

SCOTUS to hear case on Christian prayers at beginning of public meetings (Miami Herald)

Public radio interviews convert to Khemeticism (KBIA)

"Porsha Williams knows a thing or two about walls – metaphorical ones, that is. She’s been up against a lot of them, whether religious, psychological or cultural. She describes herself as a “raised Christian, converted to Pagan woman.” And that conversion is the source of many of these walls."

A skeptical look at dowsing (Livescience.com)

Tories say law allowing humanist weddings could lead to "ridiculous" groups being allowed to conduct weddings... like Pagans and Druids (Daily Mail)

"Jedi, druid and pagan weddings could be made legal across Britain under proposals from MPs, it was claimed last night. They want to change the law to allow humanist weddings, for couples who do not want a religious or civil marriage to express their commitment. But Tories say such an amendment would ‘dilute’ the institution of marriage by allowing other ‘ridiculous’ sects to marry couples."

Construction crew demolishes centuries-old Mayan pyramid for gravel (i09)

Convicted murderer claims prison discriminating against his Wiccan faith (Lowell Sun)

"Daniel J. LaPlante, who is serving life behind bars for the 1987 murders of Patricia Gustafson and her two children in their Townsend home, has filed a federal lawsuit against the state Department of Correction claiming his religious rights are being violated by limitations to his Wicca faith."

Census data lead Pagan Federation to call for end to stereotypes (Chronicle Live)

Psychiatrist barred from practicing due to "evil spirits" diagnosis (Boston Globe)

"A Boston Children’s Hospital psychiatrist who became convinced his 16-year-old patient suffered from “evil spirits” and appointed himself as her spiritual mentor has been barred from practicing medicine, according to the state Board of Registration in Medicine. Raymond W. Kam gave the girl a cross to wear in exchange for a different, undisclosed religious symbol she had on; he also took her to church with him and let her stay at his home..."

Well-dressing in Derbyshire (This is Derbyshire)