More futility

[theatokos]

1. You've talked about your interest in Christianity, but how did your interest in paganism begin?
It came about around the same time as I started discovering feminism and as my disillusionment peaked with evangelical and mainstream Christianity. After college I moved home and started attending the Orthodox Church there - I loved the liturgy, theology and presence of Mary. I was really looking for something female in the church. I started reading more about Mary and women's spirituality and... that led to some Wicca stuff. It was just baby steps. I think having some theology under my belt helped direct me. Ultimately, I've always felt God more in nature than in buildings and I've found the authoritarianism of the church to be stifling and hypocritical. There is little development of 'the still small voice within' - call it the conscience or the voice of god or what have you- but I think it's vital to a thriving, resilient, authentic faith. At heart I still feel that I have more in common with the mystical side of Christianity than any other parts. Mysticism among all religions seems to have more in common than not. I see my paganism as an extension of mysticism.


2. Now you're in the UK, is there anywhere in particular you plan to/would love to visit?
For at least a decade I've wanted to do a sacred sites pilgrimage around the British Isles. There are so many pre-Christian and Christian sites - often built on top of each other! I know this isn't British, but I MUST go back to Ireland. That's my top priority. But basically, I want to explore it all!

3. Besides Mary, are there any other saints who you are especially interested in/attached to- if so, who and why?
I hate to admit this, but I know fuck all about saints.

4. Tell me about a novel that's been particularly influential or important to you.
Going back to question one, I have to say that The Mists of Avalon were big for me when I first read it about 10 years ago. But also I've read 1984 3 times and I still remember the mind blowing impact it had on me when I read it my senior year. Hm. Also, Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. I think I am so naturally upbeat and optimistic that dystopic literature has been an important part of intellectual development.

5. What on earth does your username mean??
In.... 1997 or 98? I was setting up a hotmail account. I needed a username! And I didn't want to be BigDogg47. So I grabbed my dictionary and turned to the foreign words section. Ewigweibliche, in German, means the Eternal Feminine, while ewigweibliche means eternally feminine. I definitely intend the capital E version!

Comments

[seaivy.livejournal.com]

I am enjoying your explanation of your theological views. So that I may better understand may I ask about your educational background. Where did you do your BA and MA and in what subjects? What institution is granted your PhD? What courses did you take before starting your dissertation?

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

I have a BA in History from Western Washington University, minor in music and religious studies. I tailored my all the papers in my history degree toward religious subjects - for example, in my Eastern European History class I wrote my term paper on the role of the Catholic Church in the Solidarity movement.

My MA is in religious studies (areas of systematic theology and religious history) from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley. My thesis was on contemporary Mariology.

I'm currently with the University of Wales Lampeter. I don't have any more classes (though I do feel I could use them!). My dissertation is focusing on systematic theology, feminist theology and Mariology.

[bravenewcentury.livejournal.com]

At heart I still feel that I have more in common with the mystical side of Christianity than any other parts. Mysticism among all religions seems to have more in common than not.

This is something I definitely identify with; I've certainly found that the little I know of Eastern mysticism (thank you Avatar!) seems to fit fairly well with my existing (sporadic) contemplative practice. There are certainly differences, but a lot of similarities too.

It's quite a trek from where you are but I think you might enjoy north east England- it was of course the stomping ground for a lot of very important figures in early Christianity, and the area itself is wonderful- there's a wildness to a lot of the landscape still, as well as the more modern sadness of the old mining towns and villages that are everywhere.

Your username has a much cooler etymology than mine *g* I had a feeling it was probably German, but what little knowledge of the language I had has mostly rotted in the last five years.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

I forgot to credit you for the questions! Sorry.

NE England.... like York? Adam spent a year in Leeds so at some point we're going to head over that way.

[lillitu-shahar.livejournal.com]

ooh, i like this 5 questions thingie. ask me, and i'll thinm of ones to ask you!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

1. How does knowing you're having a boy change anything? Does it? Do you think Acacia is out there, or is she a part of current babe?

2. What is your favorite part of Starr King and your least favorite,so far?

3. Is being poly all it's cracked up to be?

4. Which god/dess do you have the closest relationship with? Which would you like to develop more deeply?

5. Have you thought about doing other pan-Feri rituals, beyond Samhain?