Western Religions

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PHILO 1050

UNIT 2 READINGS

Class 18 Readings African Storytelling INFO: AFRICAN STORYTELLING IS A FORM OF TRADITIONAL TRANSMISSION. UNLIKE OTHER RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS THAT EVENTUALLY TURNED TO WRITTEN LANGUAGES TO PASS THEIR MESSAGES ALONG FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, AFRICAN GRIOTS (STORYTELLERS), LEARNED, ADAPTED, AND TOLD THE TRADITIONAL STORIES OF THEIR PEOPLE. IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE AN AMERICAN STORYTELLER, BABA, TELL US A STORY ABOUT FAMILY CONFLICT AND RECONCILIATION. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMh0gOomhIg]

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Martha Warren Beckwith’s Jamaica Anansi Story (published 1924 CE) George Park’s “The Fishing-basket” One great hungry time. Anansi couldn't get anyt'ing to eat, so he take up his hand-basket an' a big pot an' went down to the sea-side to catch fish. When he reach there, he make up a large fire and put the pot on the fire, an' say, "Come, big fish!" He catch some big fish put them aside. He said, "Big fish go, make little fish come!" He then catch the little fish. He say, "Little fish go, make big fish come!" an' say, "Big fish go, make little fish come!" He then catch the pot full an' his hand-basket. He bile the pot full and sit down and eat it off; he then started home back with the pot on his head and the basket. Reaching a little way, he hide the pot away in the bush an take the basket along with him now. While going along, he meet up Tiger. Now Tiger is a very rough man an' Anansi 'fraid of him. Tiger said to him, "What you have in that basket, sah?"--speak to him very rough. Anansi speak in a very feeble voice, say, "Nothing, sah! nothing, sah!" So both of them pass each other, an' when they went on a little way, Tiger hide in the bush watching Anansi. Anansi then sit down underneath a tree, open his basket, take out the fishes one one, and say, "Pretty little yallah-tail this!" an' put it aside; he take out a snapper an' say, "Pretty little snapper this!" an' put it one side; he take out a jack-fish an' say, "Pretty little jack-fish!" an' put it one side. Tiger then run up an' say, "Think you havn't not'ing in that basket, sah!" Anansi say, "I jus' going down to the sea have a bathe, sah, an' I catch them few 'itte fishes." Tiger say, "Give it to me here, sah!"--talk in a very rough manner. An' Tiger take it an' eat them all an' spit up the bones. Anansi then take up the bones an' eat them, an' while eating he grumble an' say, "But look me bwoy labor do!" Tiger say, "What you say?" Anansi say, "Fly humbug me face, sah!" (brushing his face). So booth of them start to go home now with the empty basket, but this time Anansi was studying for Tiger. When he reach part of the way, Anansi see a fruit-tree. Anansi say, "What a pretty fruit-tree!" (looking up in the tree). Tiger say, "Climb it, sah!" (in a rough manner). So when Anansi go up an' pull some of the fruit, at that time Tiger was standing underneath the tree. Anansi look down on Tiger head an' said, "Look lice in a Brar Tiger head!" Tiger said, "Come down an' ketch it, sah!" Anansi come down an' said to Tiger he kyan't ketch it without he lean on the tree. Tiger said, "Lean on the tree, sah!" The hair on Tiger head is very long. So while Anansi ketchin' the lice, Tiger fell asleep. Anansi now take the hair an' lash it round the tree tie up Tiger on the tree. After he done that he wake up Tiger an' say that he kyan't ketch any more. Tiger in a rough manner say, "Come an' ketch it, sah!" Anansi say, "I won't!" So Anansi run off, Tiger spring after him, an' fin' out that his hair is tied on the tree. So Tiger say, "Come an' loose me, sah!" Anansi say. "I won't!" an' Anansi sing now, "See how Anansi tie Tiger, See how Anansi tie Tiger, Tie him like a hog, Tiger, See how Anansi tie Tiger, Tie him like a hog, Tiger!" An' Anansi leave him go home, am' a hunter-man come an' see Tiger tie on the tree, make kill him.

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Class 19 Readings

Black Pentecostal Church service

INFO: IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES OF SOUTHERN CHARISMATIC AND PENTECOSTAL CHRISTIANITY THAT IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY PAN-AFRICAN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. FROM THE VERBOSE AND ENERGETIC PREACHING, TO THE MUSICALITY AND DANCING, TO THE COHESION CREATED BY SMALL, INTIMATE, LOCAL CHURCHES, THIS KIND OF CHRISTIANITY CAN BE FAVORABLY COMPARED TO PAN-AFRICAN TRADITIONS.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Y0EgnLznA]

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Pastor Joe Benson’s Whoop Preaching INFO: THIS STYLE OF PREACHING CAN BE COMPARED TO THE STORYTELLING THAT WE WATCHED LAST CLASS BOTH BECAUSE IT ADAPTS AND REUSES TRADITIONAL MATERIAL (HERE THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE) ALONG WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pEm9Hul4M]

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Class 20 Readings

Charismatic Catholicism INFO: IN THIS VIDEO WE SEE A LATIN AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT HAS EMBRACED THE CHARISMATIC, EVANGELICAL WAY OF PRACTICING THEIR FAITH. THE CONGREGATION JUMPS AROUND, CLAPS THEIR HANDS, WAVES THEIR HANDS, SHOUTS, SWAYS TO THE MUSIC, DANCES, SMILES, AND LAUGHS DURING THEIR WORSHIP SERVICE. THESE KINDS OF MOVEMENTS ARE FOREIGN TO EUROPEAN CATHOLICISM, AND COME FROM THE PAN-AFRICAN INFLUENCE ON CHRISTIANITY, MAINLY FROM THE SOUTHERN USA. FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT THE VIDEO ABOUT THE RING SHOUT. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6-5zew619Y]

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Carnival in Rio INFO: IN THIS FINAL VIDEO YOU WILL SEE CARNIVAL IN RIO. CARNIVAL IS THE CATHOLIC HOLIDAY CELEBRATED BEFORE THE SOMBER SEASON OF LENT. THE CELEBRATIONS LEADING UP TO CARNIVAL AND DURING THE HOLIDAY PROMOTE SOCIAL UNITY AND ARE OFTEN WILD, DRUNKEN, AND RACUOUS. NOTE HOW THE SINGING AND DANCING IS SIMILAR TO OTHER VIDEO YOU HAVE WATCHED (ABOVE). HOW IS IT DIFFERENT? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rQ7iuOYO0]

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Candomble in Brazil INFO: THIS IS A VIDEO PROVIDING AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT CANDOMBLE IN ONE BRAZILIAN COMMUNITY. NOTICE HOW THE PEOPLE HAD TO DISGUISE THEIR TRADITIONS THROUGH CATHOLIC ICONOGRAPHY, THE EMPHASIS ON SPIRIT POSSESSION, AND THE WAYS THAT MUSIC AND DANCE ARE USED IN THE TRADITION. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF PAN-AFRICAN TRADITIONS HAVE SIMILAR ASPECTS? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQfOXUFHws]

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Class 21 Readings G.G. Maragh’s The Promised Key (published 1935) INFO: LEONARD HOWELL, ALSO KNOWN BY HIS PEN NAME G. G. MARAGH, WROTE THE PROMISED KEY ADAPTING INFORMATION FROM AN EARLIER BLACK SUPREMACY TRACT FROM 1926 ALONG WITH EXCERPTS FROM THE HOLY PIBY, ANOTHER RASTAFARIAN TEXT FROM JAMAICA WRITTEN IN THE 1920’S CE. ONE KEY DIFFERENCE THE PROMISED KEY MAKES TO EARLIER RASTA THEOLOGY IS SEEING KING HAILE SELASSIE I AS THE KING OF THE MOVEMENT. THIS TEXT WAS WRITTEN AFTER HOWELL BEGAN PREACHING PUBLICLY THAT KING SELASSIE I WAS THE MESSIAH OF THE BLACK PEOPLE. HOWELL WAS IMPRISONED IN 1934 CE FOR HIS PREACHNG, AND DURING HIS TWO YEAR SENTENCES WROTE THE PROMISED KEY. The Mystery Country I wish to state to you my dear Readers, that Ethiopia is a Country of great contrasts largely unexplored and is populated by Black People whose attitude towards this so called Western civilization has not changed within the last six thousand years. The people are Christians while retaining Primitive customs. The result is that the Black People of Ethiopia are extraordinarily blended into a refined fashion that cannot be met with in any other part of the world. In 1930 the Duke of Gloucester undertook one of the most interesting duties he had been called upon to execute up to this date. The occasion was the Coronation of His Majesty Rastafari the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the conquering Lion of Judah, the Elect of God and the Light of the world. The Duke was to represent his father The Anglo-Saxon King. The Duke handed to His Majesty Rastafari the King of Kings and Lord of lords a Scepter of solid gold twenty seven inches long, which had been taken from the hands of Ethiopia some thousand years ago. The Duke fell down on bending knees before His Majesty Rastafari the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and spoke in a loud voice and said, "Master, Master my father has sent me to represent him sir. He is unable to come and he said that he will serve you to the end Master." See Psalm 72: 9 to 11 verses, also see Gen. 49 chap. 10 verse. On one side of the Scepter was inscribed Ethiopia shall make her hands reach unto God, and on the other side the King of Kings of Ethiopia, the top of the shaft was finished with a seal and above was a clean cross in which a single carbuncle was set. The Scepter was a magnificent piece of workmanship and had been designed from an historic piece in which the special ceremonies of His Royal Highness of Ethiopia, Earth's Rightful Ruler. The Duke also handed to Queen Omega the Empress of Ethiopia a Scepter of gold and ivory. The shaft is in the form of a spray of lilies and at the top a spray of lilies in bloom. It was a brilliant ceremony, the church began to be filled. The Ethiopians were brilliant in special robes having discarded their precious white robes, and wore Jewels of great value. The men's swords were being heavily ornamented with gems. On their heads they wore gold braided hats, in which the covered lion's manes

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were to be seen. In contraction then were the solar note struck by the women who were heavily veiled, and wore heavy cloaks. His and Her Majesty King Alpha and Queen Omega the King of Kings drove to the Cathedral in a Coach drawn by six white Arab horses. Queen Omega in a Robe of Silver and the escort on mules wearing lion's skin over their shoulders, forming into procession outside the Cathedral. King Rastafari and Queen Omega the Royal pair, the escort and a line of Bishops and Priests entered the guest rank obeisance. King Alpha sitting on his Throne homage was done to him by the Bishops and Priests fulfilling the 21st. Psalm. The ceremony took 10 days from the second day to the eleventh day of November 1930. King Alpha was presented with the orb spurs, and spears and many other mighty emblems of His High Office, Dignitaries of the world power presented King Alpha with the wealth of oceans. The Emperor attended to most of his preparations for the reception of his thousands of guests himself, and day after day could be seen rushing about in his scarlet car seeing how the white laborers were getting on with the new road he had ordered that the lawns he had laid down be attended to and that the extension of the electric lights throughout the city were being hurried on. The False Religion All the Churches Religious system of today, claims to represent the Lord God of Israel; but the Pope who is satan the devil, false organization is a hypocritical religious system that has three elements, first commercial political and ecclesiastical, to keep the people in ignorance of their wicked course. Money powers are the great bulwarks of their organization and they use the Religious elements as a smoke screen to keep the people in ignorance of the truth. The false teachers under the supervision of the Pope of Rome who is satan the devil. The agents of his speaking lies in the churches and let the people walk in darkness. My dear Readers you can see that all their foundations of the earth are out of course. Allow me to say that there is no throne for the Anglo Saxon white people, they must come down and sit in the dust on the ground there is no throne for them. See Isaiah 47th chapter. King Alpha was wroth with us the Black People and had polluted our inheritance for 2520 years and had given us into the hands of the Anglo-Saxon white people, they showed us no mercy therefore evil shall come upon them suddenly. Now let the Astrologers and Stargazers stand up and save the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom from the vengeance that shall come upon them suddenly. The Promised Key The glory that was Solomon greater still reigns in Ethiopia. We can see all the Kings of the earth surrendering their crowns to His Majesty Rastafari the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Earth's Rightful Ruler to reign forever and ever. Upon His Majesty Rastafari 's head are many diadems and on His garments a name

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written King of Kings and Lord of Lords oh come let us adore him for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Conquering Lion of Judah, The Elect of God and the Light of the world. His Majesty Rastafari is the head over all man for he is the Supreme God. His body is the fullness of him that fillet all in all. Now my dear people let this be our goal, forward to the King of Kings must be the cry of our social hope. Forward to the King of Kings to purify our social standards and our way of living, and rebuild and inspire our character. Forward to the King of Kings to learn the worth of manhood and womanhood. Forward to the King of Kings to learn His code of Laws from the mount demanding absolute Love, Purity, Honesty, and Truthfulness. Forward to the King of Kings to learn His Laws and social order, so that virtue will eventually gain the victory over body and soul and that truth will drive away falsehood and fraud. Members of the King of Kings arise for God's sake and put your armor on. Dear inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, the King of Kings warriors can never be defeated, the Pope of Rome and his agents shall not prevail against the King of Kings host warriors you all must stand up, stand up, for the King of Kings. All ye warriors of the King of Kings lift high King Alpha's Royal Banner, from victory to victory King Alpha shall lead his army till every enemy is vanquished. The Ethiopian Kingdom Dear inhabitants of this world King Rastafari and Queen Omega are the foundation stones of the Resurrection of the Kingdom of Ethiopia. Their prayer and labor for our Resurrection is past finding out; no library in this world is able to contain the work of their hands for us, for they work both day and night for our deliverance. As for this generation of the 20th century you and I have no knowledge how worlds are build and upon what triggers Kingdoms are set. In King Alpha's Encyclopedia he will explain to us all, how worlds are being built and upon what trigger Kingdoms are set on. He will also explain to us the capacities of generations. Speaking for the Universe and the womanhood of man Queen Omega the Ethiopian woman is the crown woman of this world. She hands us Her Rule-Book from the poles of supreme authority she is the Cannon Mistress of creation. King Alpha and Queen Omega are the paymasters of the world, Bible owner and money mint. Do not forget they are Black People if you please. Owing to the universal rend of our ancient and modem we are at this juncture of our history scattered over the Globe into little sectional groups. All our local bands throughout the globe are bent towards King Alpha's Royal Repository, the Royal Authority is to admit all Bands, Mission Camps, Denominations into the supreme Royal Repository. Queen Omega being the balming mistress of many worlds she charges the powerhouse right now. Ethiopia is the succeeding Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom. A man of greater learning and a better Christian soul, than King Alpha is not to be found on the face of the Globe. He makes the nations heart rejoices with raging joy, we give him the glory. Ethiopia rulebook leads us into different departments of the Kingdom, the records of the Kingdom are with us unto this day. The Regulations points

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us to the basis of the Kingdom. Many will not see the truth, because they are spiritually blind. See Matthew 3:13. The woman of Samaria first refused to obey the request of our Lord because she was spiritually blind. But when the great Physician opened up her eyes and healed her of her infirmities concerning her many husbands in the city of Samaria, she found out that her first teachers of denominations throughout the state or country of Samaria were false. Then she cried aloud unto the inhabitants of the city and said Come see a man that told me all that I ever did and is not a native of Samaria but an Hebrew, is not this man the very Christ. Our cities of today are inhabited with the same qualities of people as it was in the days of Jesus and the woman of Samaria. The Healing The healing plough of the repository transplanted and rebuilds our very soul and body without fail. The misery of the land is healed by fasting. King Alpha picks us up from out of the midst of the raging misery of the land and hides us from the raging wolves of the land into our Balm Yard. What is a Balm Yard? A Balm Yard is a Holy place that is wholly consecrated to God Almighty for the cleansing and healing of the nations. Where only the Holy Spirit of God alone is allowed to do the Royal work of healing. Who does the balming work? Consecrated men and women that the Holy Spirit moves upon the blazing altar of their soul and endowed them with power that they command and handle the infirmities of the nations. Have we any authority from King Alpha? Yes we are vessels of the divine honor. Have we any authority from the world? Assuredly yes indeed, King Alpha signs for our destiny and gave us His Supreme Affidavit a trillion centuries after the end of eternal life. Balm Yard First and last every soul for admission must be believers in the power of King Rastafari the living God. An admission fee must be paid in advance from four shillings up according to the power and duration of the miserable infirmities whereof one is afflicted (Special Notice). Sometimes King Alpha has to perform special medical attention. Royal Notice King Alpha said Bands are not (run) by Ministers, they are by the Priesthood not after the order of Aaron but strictly after the Royal Order of King Rastafari the King of Kings of Ethiopia. Revivalists are not common people, if some individuals of the lower order in the dung heap happen to get into the world by mistake he or she will soon get out and hang him or herself. The reason why revivalists would have not been lightened up with radiance before now, King Alpha was awaiting for the Delegates of the Resurrection of the Kingdom of Ethiopia and King Alpha's work is strictly perfect and He and Queen Omega do not business with Anglo-Militant white people nakedness. King Alpha said that a Balm Yard is not a Hospital neither is it a obeah shop. People that are guilty of obeah must not visit balm yards nor in the Assembly of Black Supremacy. No admittance for Fortunetellers witch and old hag. No admittance for obeah dogs none

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whatever, no admittance for ghost, witch, lizards, no admittance for Alligators, Snakes, Puss, Crabs, Flies, Ants, Rats, and Mice, and Lodestones, Pin, and Needles, John Crows, the Ravens and Candles, fast Cups and Rum Bottles and Grave Yards are not required. People's clothes, a beast hair and fowls and Grave dirt not wanted. The Woman's baby will strive in her belly, and your Snake and Lizards will not be able to hurt her. For your ghosts will come right back to you. For this is Ethiopia's balm yard and we do not have leprosy. For ghosts only visit the leper's home. This poison is for all bad spirits it is No. 666 it is good for the Pope of Rome and the Monarch of hell bottom you will not be here to grudge, or obeah, or rob the people nor breed up the young girls and treat them like dog. You will not plant your obeah self with no man or woman so that we who are King Alpha's children cannot get rid of you until the obeah rotten. Science my dear King your black and white heart obeah factory is up side down. Take this ramkin dose of fatal deadly poison and leave for God's sake do it quickly. By Supreme law of King Alpha the King of Kings, you will not blind, give big foot or sore, or turn any more children across the woman's belly and kill her baby when it is born, nor any time after. Every good looking man's wife you see you want to cohabit with her, you rotten gut snake, and anywhere a man put a business you go there to kill and drive away, you dead cold horse. This pole is Black Supremacy owned by King Alpha the King of Kings now Ethiopia knew the perfect value of Holy Baptism under water, for King Alpha taught us how to appreciate the power of holy baptism. Now we the Black People have no pardon to beg white supremacy, no favor to ask her for she is an acknowledged deceiver. From B.C. 4001 to A. D. second score, she faked all Christianity. Black Supremacy the Church Triumphant has denounced her openly for baptism is a very important subject to Black Supremacy. The King of Kings The King of Kings of creation the first and last said "Blessed are they that searcheth the deep things on the tree of life for His wisdom is deep and is past all finding out." Thus said the living God and owner of life, to overcome white bondage and filth and black hypocrisy amongst your own black skin you have to fast hard or the white man is very filthy and the black man is an hypocrite and hypocrite means a crook, a filthy man that class of white folks who cut with the crook they are called Black-White. Always have a basin of fine or coarse salt on your fast table as long as God is your ruler. When you break your fast do not throw the water over your heads the trouble will fall on you. When you are all ready with your cup in hand the Elder will ask is it all well with thee, everybody shall say together all is well with me Then the Elder shall ask again "Who will bear a true witness for the Tree of Life?" All shall say by the Living God will God help me for life, and the leader shall say follow me with your cup of trouble to the burying place of sin and shame. Then everybody walk quietly and respectfully throw away the water, then come in and wash your hands and face and be happy feeling satisfied and revived and lovely. House to house fasting is very powerful, it lifts the work and removes devils from homes of those

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in distress. Once a week for the general assembly is all right. A love feast every three or six months is needed. Department Mount Africa the world's capital, the new Bible land, the triumphant lot is for King Alpha own lot until this day. Slave Traders called the world's capital, Jamaica British West Indies. Before the Adamic deadly diseases poisoned the human family with fallen Angels, blue murders, there has been only one perfect language on the face of the globe. Therefore the Anglo Militant fallen Angel tongues are not appreciated by His Majesty King Alpha the Monarch of Life. Thus said Ras Tafari the living God to creation vast Rome has deceived the race of man, and has killed the mortal supreme monarch Ethiopia's glory is no guesser long before this world was Ethiopia's glory has been running Con-trillion of centuries ago. Ethiopia's Repository will change and qualify the fallen Angels deadly poisonous indomitable lying tongue. Stupidity is the most they get out of the various tongues spoken by the majority. Ninety-five out of every one hundred do not know what they do or say any ghost can fool them at any corner. Black Supremacy Black Supremacy has taken charge of white supremacy by King Alpha and Queen Omega the King of Kings. Instead of saying Civilization hereafter we all shall say Black Supremacy. Just takes this drench of indomitable fury and move for the Church triumphant right from the bridge of supreme authority. Black Supremacy will promote the mortals of every shade according to our powers to go. The Black Museum will be opened day and night for life. Education will be free and compulsory to all mortal beings, if you are not an enemy of black Supremacy, Man and women can marry right in School if you are of a respectable proportion of dignity. Black must not marry white nor white black, race enmity. Always be a respectful diplomat, always give an intelligent reply to every person that approach or write you on any subject always ask for the full value inside the nature of any written subject. Do not put your quick judgment on any person confidence is quick to move, just what the people are that is just the state of your government. Do not follow the Court House and Doctors they will fake you to death. Do not marry any divorced person it is a curse, stick to your own wife and husband. Do not watch and peep your wife or husband, you are only digging a grave for yourself. Do not try to make your wife or husband or family feel small because you have got more college filth in your head, hold them up, they are the cause of you being what you are. I know thousands of college hogs and dogs, professional swine's; also some very fine people. Eternal Law Office His and Her Majesty King Alpha and Queen Omega said that they do not call ministers to Black Supremacy banquets for ministers are not working for him they are following

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Adam Abraham Anglo-Saxon the leper. Legislators said one man cannot serve two masters. Adam Abraham the leper is boss for ministers and lawyers because all they teach and preach about is Adam-Eve and Abraham the leper. For they do not see one book in the Bible written by Adam and Eve or the book of Abraham or book of Isaac. According to the clearness of this case there is nobody name Adam Eve and Abraham. If you ever touch the slave papers they catch you sure as His Majesty Rastafari lives. The officers and soldiers at camp that have power and influence are well posted by King Alpha the King of Kings, their names you will not know. Legislators said one man cannot serve two masters. Ministers say they can't work with Adam and Eve and work for King Alpha and Queen Omega the same time. Abraham the historian said despise the both of them; lawyers said you got to find fault with them, the judges said leave the Alpha and Omega out, because they are black and skin for skin. Eve the Mother of Evil The Adamic tree of knowledge and Eve the mother of Evil, see Genesis 2nd chapter. The Adamic apple tree my dear leper your name is Adam-Abraham Anglo- Saxon apple tree, that look pretty and respectable to your eyes don't it? Yes indeed--gross beauty is the Queen in hell, and Royal leper Adam and Eve and Abraham and Anglo- Saxon are all white people if you please. King Alpha and Queen Omega said they are Black Arch Sovereign of most Holy Times, and perfect Virginity, and Supreme Crown Head of Holy Times The Pay Master and keeper of the Perfect Tree of Life and creators of Creation, Dynasties and Kingdoms, Holy Genealogy and Holy Theocracy and Celestial in Terrestrial Mediator if you wish to know their profession. The Eternal Come Back King Alpha the Monarch Sovereign Pay-Master and Owner of this world. Just make one Eternal come back at His Pay Office. King Alpha and his wife Queen Omega were here on earth before if you please. Old Alpha the Lion of Creation said to Queen Omega please hand me the Pay Roll and the Militant and Balance Sheet. And your Majesty will mount His Excellency's Great Circle Throne and throw Old Theocracy above the Wheel of Holy Time, right into Holy Eternity to the Lion of Alpha and Omega the King of kings forevermore. King Alpha and Queen Omega are Black People if you please. They are commonly called the Exodus if you please, the book of Exodus is theirs if you please. Notice if you see Moses and Aaron and Abraham gave any strong report of King Alpha and Queen Omega in their fake Bible if you please. Well since a man has right to pay without work, this world can also work with pay. There is no book in the Bible for the Anglo Saxon Creation, there is no book of Isaac or his father Abraham in the New Testament. King Alpha the Most Sacred and Everlasting God, Heaven and Earth's creator, said that Adam Abraham-Anglo Saxon whit people are not entitled to any eternal reward according to his schedule. My dear Ethiopians, Ethiopia

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is the crown head of this earth field since heaven has been built by His Majesty Rastafari the living God. Thank and praise the ever-living God as long as eternal ages roll. King Alpha and Queen Omega said they are our parents, and the keeper of the Tree of Life. He and his wife are not any family at all to Adam and Eve and Abraham and Isaac and the Anglo Saxon Slave Owners; for that is exactly how His Majesty King Noah the Black Monarch was drowned at Antediluvia by Adam Abraham the Anarchy. Judge Samson lost his tribunal and life by marrying the Philistine white woman. See Judges 14, 15 and 10th chapters. See how the Philistine Judges plotting out riddles with the woman how to get him. The Rapers The AMERICAN rapers Klu-Klux-Klan and Mob Lynching policy! These unfortunate ones are the outcome of the advance Rate on the Anglo-Saxon slave train. The Advance Rate means--in time of slavery, the white slave masters committed boisterous fornication with the black woman that were taken slaves. In those days the black men held no opportunity to (Rate) that is, to lie with white women. Therefore, while the black men's blood was burning up in their bodies for the sexual support of their own women the white slave masters took away all the best black women and committed boisterous fornication with them and called it Advance Rate. That is how the third class people came into the human vein. In those days this act was called the Advance Rate of white supremacy; it is the universal spirit of abuse that manifests itself that the common class black man are now raping the common class white woman. Both rapers and mob lynchers and Klu- Klux Klan are to be shot down from off the face of God Almighty's beautiful earth. Ethiopian Question The Ethiopian Question is this: The continent of Ethiopia is that national. She is that rich national woman that has charmed the men of nations to be with her. After a time when they all have lived and cohabited with her they all broke her down and left her and persecuted her. That is just how all nations manage to soak through the Ethiopian woman of prosperity. She had too much sympathy for the perishing nations whose lives are riotously lived until this day. Slave traders went into Ethiopia and damaged her seeds, beyond any earthly cure. Because she had too much sympathy for willful idlers of various nations. They went into her robbed her lands, money and took her seeds to be slaves. Today she and her children have no power in her own land, or abroad. All that Ethiopians have to do now, is build anew. Get out a new dictionary and a new Bible, and a new Board of Education and Money Mint. The outfit shall be called Black supremacy; signed by His and Her Majesty Ras Tafari and Queen omega the King of Kings, head of this world. The lesson learnt by slave traders through Black Histories is well preserved. We have given our blood, souls, bodies and spirits to redeem Adam Abraham Anglo Saxon the white A. D. second score at his astonishing stop. He is still infested with indomitable, incurable, accursed, deadly disease. We have given him access to the tree

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of life, we gave him the Garden of Eden, we gave him Egypt, we gave them Daniel and the body of the Black Virgin, the mother of Jesus and they took Joseph also. We gave ourselves to be slaves for hundred of years. We gave up King Alpha and Queen Omega the first and the last. Now we are disgusted with them, we wash our hands of them for life. The First and Last Night His Majesty Ras Tafari alone with his bona-fide Lion hearted wife Queen Omega King of Kings, most Living and Eternal, and Ever Living Sovereign owner of Life, the Biblical Sovereign of this World. His Majesty Rastafari the Bible Owner of Holy Times denounced the Bible Militant also the Militant Dictionary. And take off the Black man, his posterity's from off the Anglo Militant Slave Train at Nationality and planted the Church Triumphant. The Black Supremacy on triumphant soil the world's capital the new Bible Land, the isles of Springs the same country that the Anarchy called Jamaica British West Indies. Black Supremacy's greatest men and women are sub-ways and air masters of every shade, they sleep in bed and eat with you, and you do not know what triggers your life and destiny is on the Gods of laws are my students said the King of Kings, the air you are breathing this minute is for King Rastafari. The barbed wire eternity is his; the brimstone is his. I want you to know that the firmament is his. When He speaks to her she obeys His Royal Voice, His and Her Majesty Rastafari and Queen Omega and we the Black People that is King Alpha and Queen Omega seeds will be here in gross prosperity as soon as the Anglo Saxon white peoples all die out if you please. King Alpha and Queen Omega are the typesetters for time and eternity if you please. The keeper of the tree of life, owner of the Zodiac, owner of this earth; they are the Ethiopian Kingdom owner, if you please. Adam Abraham Anglo-Saxon the leper has no place in this earth if you please. Matrimonial Affidavit His Majesty Rastafari said: now sweetheart my dear wonder, just take this drench of perfect wonders and live with me for life. His Majesty King Alpha and Queen Omega being the keepers of the tree of life Dear heart before we take charge of the Guest Chamber of Creation He said that they had to clear God's perfect reputation and the tree of life. They are requested to call the medical powerhouse of this world and have their best physicians to (loose) the Virgin matrix and give them a crown diploma of our dignity. The Royal name of this Ethiopian dignity is called Black Supremacy, by the Sacred Order of His Majesty Rastafari the living Creator, the living God, and Earth Superior, the master builder of Creation, the perfect Royal Head of this World. King Rastafari and Queen Omega the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the conquering Lion of Judah, the Elect of God and the Light of the World, the First and the Last, the beginning and ending. Black People, Black People, Arise and Shine

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Black People, Black People arise and shine for the light has come and the glory of the King of Kings is now risen upon thee. Let not the preachers of the white man's doctrine persuade you to turn your back against H. M. Rastafari the Lord God of Israel. Every man was created for the earth in order that he might have and enjoy the fullness of the richness of the Earth. The white man's doctrine has forced the black man to forsake silver and gold and seek Heaven after death. It has brought us to live in disgrace and die in dishonor. Now we the black man have found out that their doctrine was only a trick, and all their intention was to make themselves strong and to fool the black man. As I G. G. Maragh speak unto you, this is a very serious affair and must not be forsaken. The wise black man woman and children gaining knowledge diligently toward the truth of H. M. Rastafari Kingdom must be had before one could possibly receive the truth, for he is King of Kings and Lords of Lords, therefore he is earth's rightful ruler. In this name alone will the black people receive happiness. His throne is forever and ever and a Scepter of righteousness is the Scepter of his Kingdom. Woe be unto the preacher of the white man's doctrine a hypocrisy or devil worship. There are millions of persons of good will who see the cruel unjust and wicked things done in the Church organizations in the name of God. It is the will of H. M. Rastafari that such persons of good will may have an opportunity to get knowledge of truth. May I state that all reasonable persons who hear the truth should readily see that the Pope of Rome and his preachers are Rastafari who is the Lord God of Israel's great opposer and greatest enemy. Persons of good will to the Kingdom of H. I. M. will live forever. The other[s] will remain dead forever. Woe be unto them that forsaketh H. M. Rastafari as being God Almighty, they shall be cast into hell both body and soul. PEACE BE UNTO YOU, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

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Voodoo Priestess in Brooklyn, NY, USA INFO: THIS IS A VIDEO FROM VICE TV ABOUT A POPULAR VOODOO PRIESTESS WHO HOLDS CEREMONINES IN BROOKLYN, NY, USA. IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE MUSIC, DANCING, SPIRIT POSSESSION, GIFT GIVING, AND OTHER FEATURES OF PAN-AFRICAN RELIGIONS. SPIRIT POSSESSION IS ONE OF THE MANY WAYS RELIIGONS MAKE DIVINITY PHYSICALLY PRESENT WITH HUMANS ON EARTH. HOW DOES THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST COMPARE TO THIS EXAMPLE OF VOODOO SPIRIT POSSESSION? NOTICE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRIESTESS AND THE CONGREGANTS. HOW DO THE PARTICIPANTS RELATE TO THE PRIESTESS WHEN SHE IS POSSESSED? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixlbTa1yRds

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Orisha Spirit Possession and Parade INFO: THIS IS AN ORISHA CEREMONY INCLUDING MUSIC, DANCING, SPIRIT POSSESSION, AND PARADING FROM TRINIDAD. NOTICE THE MAIN DANCER’S POWERFUL AND EMPHATIC MOVEMENTS AS WELL AS THE LEAD-SINGER’S CALL-AND-RESPONSE STYLE. WHAT WOULD PARADING AROUND THE TOWN WITH SOEMONE POSSESSED BY A POWERFUL DEITY DEMONSTRATE TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6AUzVdNqIo

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Class 22 Readings Martin Luther King Sermon about If versus Though Faith (1967 CE) INFO: IN 1957 MLKJ WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, AN ORGANIZATION FORMED TO PROVIDE NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE NOW BURGEONING CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THE IDEALS FOR THIS ORGANIZATION HE TOOK FROM CHRISTIANITY; ITS OPERATIONAL TECHNIQUES FROM GANDHI. IN THE ELEVEN- YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 1957 AND 1968, KING TRAVELED OVER SIX MILLION MILES AND SPOKE OVER TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED TIMES, APPEARING WHEREVER THERE WAS INJUSTICE, PROTEST, AND ACTION; AND MEANWHILE HE WROTE FIVE BOOKS AS WELL AS NUMEROUS ARTICLES. IN THESE YEARS, HE LED A MASSIVE PROTEST IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, THAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD, PROVIDING WHAT HE CALLED A COALITION OF CONSCIENCE. AND INSPIRING HIS “LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL”, A MANIFESTO OF THE NEGRO REVOLUTION; HE PLANNED THE DRIVES IN ALABAMA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF NEGROES AS VOTERS; HE DIRECTED THE PEACEFUL MARCH ON WASHINGTON, D.C., OF 250,000 PEOPLE TO WHOM HE DELIVERED HIS ADDRESS, “I HAVE A DREAM”, HE CONFERRED WITH PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY AND CAMPAIGNED FOR PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON; HE WAS ARRESTED UPWARDS OF TWENTY TIMES AND ASSAULTED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES; HE WAS AWARDED FIVE HONORARY DEGREES; WAS NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR BY TIME MAGAZINE IN 1963; AND BECAME NOT ONLY THE SYMBOLIC LEADER OF AMERICAN BLACKS BUT ALSO A WORLD FIGURE. AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-FIVE, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WAS THE YOUNGEST MAN TO HAVE RECEIVED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. WHEN NOTIFIED OF HIS SELECTION, HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD TURN OVER THE PRIZE MONEY OF $54,123 TO THE FURTHERANCE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 4, 1968, WHILE STANDING ON THE BALCONY OF HIS MOTEL ROOM IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, WHERE HE WAS TO LEAD A PROTEST MARCH IN SYMPATHY WITH STRIKING GARBAGE WORKERS OF THAT CITY, HE WAS ASSASSINATED. IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL HEAR REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINDS OF APPROACHES TO FAITH. HE DESCRIBES HOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN GOD ONLY WHEN THINGS GO THEIR WAY, WHILE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN GOD EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T. HE EXPLAINS THAT “THOUGH FAITH” IS TRUE FAITH AND THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS BUILT UPON THE HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT AND FAITHFULNESS TO GOD. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji1SH06FKik]

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Malcolm X Speech after Hajj (1964 CE) INFO: MALCOLM X WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADER AND PROMINENT FIGURE IN THE NATION OF ISLAM WHO ARTICULATED CONCEPTS OF RACE PRIDE AND BLACK NATIONALISM IN THE EARLY 1960S. AFTER HIS ASSASSINATION, THE WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF HIS LIFE STORY— THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X (1965)—MADE HIM AN IDEOLOGICAL HERO, ESPECIALLY AMONG BLACK YOUTH. WHILE IN PRISON FOR ROBBERY FROM 1946 TO 1952, HE UNDERWENT A CONVERSION THAT EVENTUALLY LED HIM TO JOIN THE NATION OF ISLAM, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT THAT COMBINED ELEMENTS OF ISLAM WITH BLACK NATIONALISM. AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON MALCOLM HELPED TO LEAD THE NATION OF ISLAM DURING THE PERIOD OF ITS GREATEST GROWTH AND INFLUENCE. HE MET ELIJAH MUHAMMAD IN CHICAGO IN 1952 AND THEN BEGAN ORGANIZING TEMPLES FOR THE NATION IN NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, AND BOSTON AND IN CITIES IN THE SOUTH. HE ALSO ARTICULATED THE NATION’S RACIAL DOCTRINES ON THE INHERENT EVIL OF WHITES AND THE NATURAL SUPERIORITY OF BLACKS. IN 1963 THERE WERE DEEP TENSIONS BETWEEN MALCOLM AND EILJAH MUHAMMAD OVER THE POLITICAL DIRECTION OF THE NATION. MALCOLM URGED THAT THE NATION BECOME MORE ACTIVE IN THE WIDESPREAD CIVIL RIGHTS PROTESTS INSTEAD OF JUST BEING A CRITIC ON THE SIDELINES. MUHAMMAD’S VIOLATIONS OF THE MORAL CODE OF THE NATION FURTHER WORSENED HIS RELATIONS WITH MALCOLM, WHO WAS DEVASTATED WHEN HE LEARNED THAT MUHAMMAD HAD FATHERED CHILDREN BY SIX OF HIS PERSONAL SECRETARIES, TWO OF WHOM FILED PATERNITY SUITS AND MADE THE ISSUE PUBLIC. MALCOLM LEFT THE NATION IN MARCH 1964 AND IN THE NEXT MONTH FOUNDED MUSLIM MOSQUE, INC. DURING HIS PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA THAT SAME YEAR, HE EXPERIENCED A SECOND CONVERSION AND EMBRACED SUNNI ISLAM, ADOPTING THE MUSLIM NAME EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZ. RENOUNCING THE SEPARATIST BELIEFS OF THE NATION, HE CLAIMED THAT THE SOLUTION TO RACIAL PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES LAY IN ORTHODOX ISLAM. IN 1965 HE FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRO-AMERICAN UNITY AS A SECULAR VEHICLE TO INTERNATIONALIZE THE PLIGHT OF BLACK AMERICANS AND TO MAKE COMMON CAUSE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD—TO MOVE FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS. THE GROWING HOSTILITY BETWEEN MALCOLM AND THE NATION LED TO DEATH THREATS AND OPEN VIOLENCE AGAINST HIM. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1965, MALCOLM WAS ASSASSINATED WHILE DELIVERING A LECTURE AT THE AUDUBON BALLROOM IN HARLEM; THREE MEMBERS OF THE NATION OF ISLAM WERE CONVICTED OF THE MURDER. HE WAS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, BETTY SHABAZZ, WHOM HE MARRIED IN 1958, AND SIX DAUGHTERS. HIS MARTYRDOM, IDEAS, AND SPEECHES CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK NATIONALIST IDEOLOGY AND THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT AND HELPED TO POPULARIZE THE VALUES OF AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE 1960S AND ’70S. THIS IS A SPEECH MALCOLM X GAVE AFTER RETURNING FROM THE HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA). IN THIS VIDEO HE EXPRESSES THE PROFOUND IMPACT THE HAJJ HAD ON HIS SENSE OF IDENTITY AND REITERATES THAT HE WILL SEEK JUSTICE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES FOR THE BIGOTED AND RACIST TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE USA. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuHYZdf-ad0]

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Class 23 Readings

Native American Activist Russell Means at US Congress (1989 CE) INFO: RUSSELL MEANS IS LAKOTA INDIAN WHO SPENT MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE FIGHTING AND PROTESTING AGAINST THE MISTREATMENT OF AMERICAN INDIANS BY THE US GOVERNMENT. IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE RUSSELL MEANS ADDRESS THE SENATE DESCRIBING HOW THE US GOVERNMENT HAS HABITUALLY AND PURPOSEFULLY TRIED TO OBFUSCATE THE CREATION OF A VIABLE AND ROBUST NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND ECONOMICS. IN PARTICULAR, IN THIS VIDEO, HE IS ADDRESSING THE MEDDLING OF THE US GOVERNMENT IN THE CREATION OF GAMING INDUSTRIES, LIKE BINGO AND CASINO GAMES, WHICH IN THE 1980’S BECAME A MAJOR MEANS OF RAISING MONEY FOR SOVEREIGN, INDIAN NATIONS. I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING MADE IN SPORTS GAMBLING TODAY (BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR NOW), AND WHY IT IS THAT NATIVE AMERICANS WERE STOPPED FROM PURSUING SUCH LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LATE 1980’S AND BEYOND. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVANRroxuOo

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Wynona LaDuke on Redemption between Europeans and Native Americans INFO: IN THIS VIDEO SCHOLAR-ACTIVIST WYNONA LADUKE DESCRIBES HOW EURO- AMERICAN FARMERS FROM KANSAS SENT SEEDS TO NATIVE AMERICANS WHO WERE RELOCATED TO OKLAHOMA IN ORDER TO HELP THEM REVIVE ONE OF THEIR STAPLE FOOD SOURCES AND SACRED OBJECTS. THIS STORY IS MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE AND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LAND, FOOD, AND IDENTITY FOR MANY NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbg_raLnhYE

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Class 24 Readings Inca’s Virgin of Sun Mummy INFO: IN INCA IMPERIAL RELIGION VARIOUS FAMILIES WOULD DEDICATE CHILDREN TO THE SERVICE OF THE EMPIRE, SOME TO MILITARY SERVICE AND OTHERS, GIRLS, TO SERVE IN THE TEMPLE OF INTI. INTI WAS THE IMPERIAL/NATIONAL DEITY OF THE INCA PEOPLE AND WAS SYMBOLIZED BY THE SUN AND GOLD. IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL HEAR THE STORY OF THE A VIRGIN PRIESTESS TO THE DEITY INTI. THIS GIRL DEDICATED HER LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF INTI SO MUCH SO SHE SACRIFICED HERSELF ON A VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN, BECOMING NATURALLY MUMMIFIED IN THE SNOW. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHge8wdPTk]

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Bartolome de Las Casas and Indigenous American Liberation INFO: DE LAS CASAS WAS AN EARLY SPANISH HISTORIAN AND DOMINICAN MISSIONARY WHO WAS THE FIRST TO EXPOSE THE OPPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES BY EUROPEANS IN THE AMERICAS AND TO CALL FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY THERE. HIS SEVERAL WORKS INCLUDE HISTORIA DE LAS INDIAS (FIRST PRINTED IN 1875 CE). A PROLIFIC WRITER AND IN HIS LATER YEARS AN INFLUENTIAL FIGURE OF THE SPANISH COURT, LAS CASAS NONETHELESS FAILED TO STAY THE PROGRESSIVE ENSLAVEMENT OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF LATIN AMERICA. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Li93X-VXr4]

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Gustavo Gutierrez and Catholic Liberation Theology INFO: BROADLY SPEAKING, LIBERATION THEOLOGY IS A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CHURCH THAT ATTEMPTS TO INTERPRET THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OPPRESSED PEOPLE. WHILE THAT DOESN’T NECESSARILY SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE A CAUSE OF CONTENTION IN THE CHURCH, IT HAS, IN THE 60 OR SO YEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN PRACTICED AND THOUGHT, CAUSED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONTROVERSY. LIBERATION THEOLOGY HAS ITS ORIGINS IN LATIN AMERICA IN THE MID-1950S AS SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUSHED THE PEASANT WORKERS AND FARMING POPULATIONS INTO DESPERATE POVERTY. WITH THE ECONOMIC UNREST CAME POLITICAL UNREST, AND MILITARY DICTATORS TOOK OVER MANY GOVERNMENTS IN THE NAME OF NATIONAL SECURITY. WHILE THESE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE, THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE WAS ALSO MOVING TOWARD A MORE SOCIALLY ORIENTED MISSION. LAYPEOPLE, RELIGIOUS, AND CHARISMATIC MEMBERS OF THE HIERARCHY COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO WORKING WITH THE POOR. THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, AND THE ONE THAT CAUSED MOST OF THE CONTROVERSY, WAS THAT SOME STRAINS OF LIBERATION THEOLOGY USED MARXIST ECONOMIC THEORY, APPLYING IT TO THE GOSPEL. IN THIS INTERPRETATION, JESUS BECOMES THE “LIBERATOR” AND ALWAYS IS FIRMLY ON THE SIDE OF THE POOREST OF THE POOR. BECAUSE OF THIS PREFERENCE FOR THE POOR, LIBERATION THEOLOGY OFTEN CALLS FOR REORGANIZATION OF SOCIAL, GOVERNMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES SO THAT THE POOR ARE NOT MERELY CARED FOR, BUT BROUGHT INTO THE FULLNESS OF HUMAN FLOURISHING. THE SEMINAL WORK ON LIBERATION THEOLOGY WAS WRITTEN BY DOMINICAN FATHER GUSTAVO GUTIÉRREZ IN 1971. A THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION GAVE THE MOVEMENT ITS NAME, AND EMPHASIZED THE CHURCH’S MISSION TO THOSE ON THE PERIPHERY OF SOCIETY. AS LIBERATION THEOLOGY PICKED UP STEAM AND SUPPORT, ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VATICAN AND THE CHURCH HIERARCHY BECAME CHILLY—AND SOMETIMES HOSTILE. IN 1984 THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, LED AT THE TIME BY CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER, CONDEMNED LIBERATION THEOLOGY BECAUSE OF ITS USE OF MARXIST PRINCIPLES AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH POLITICAL MOVEMENTS. POPE FRANCIS HIMSELF HAD A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MOVEMENT WHEN HE WAS IN ARGENTINA, CLASHING WITH SOME OF HIS FELLOW JESUITS WHO WANTED TO CONFRONT ARGENTINA’S VIOLENT MILITARY DICTATORSHIP. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbg_raLnhYE]

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Cactus Ritual in San Pedro, Peru INFO: IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE A RELIGIOUS WORKER WHO USES HALLUCINOGENS AND CATHOLIC NOTIONS TO HELP AND HEAL PEOPLE FROM HIS LOCAL COMMUNITY AND FROM ACROSS PERU WITH THEIR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d76BEY5ejL8

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Class 25 Readings Pope Francis addresses people in Chiapas, Mexico INFO: BORN IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, ON DECEMBER 17, 1936, JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO BECAME POPE FRANCIS ON MARCH 13, 2013, WHEN HE WAS NAMED THE 266TH POPE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. BERGOGLIO, THE FIRST POPE FROM THE AMERICAS, TOOK HIS PAPAL TITLE AFTER ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI OF ITALY. PRIOR TO HIS ELECTION AS POPE, BERGOGLIO SERVED AS ARCHBISHOP OF BUENOS AIRES FROM 1998 TO 2013 (SUCCEEDING ANTONIO QUARRACINO), AS CARDINAL OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ARGENTINA FROM 2001 TO 2013, AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF ARGENTINA FROM 2005 TO 2011. NAMED PERSON OF THE YEAR BY TIME MAGAZINE IN 2013, POPE FRANCIS HAS EMBARKED ON A TENURE CHARACTERIZED BY HUMILITY AND OUTSPOKEN SUPPORT OF THE WORLD'S POOR AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLE, AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED ACTIVELY IN AREAS OF POLITICAL DIPLOMACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY. POPE FRANCIS IS THE FIRST ELECTED POPE FROM LATIN AMERICA. IN THIS VIDEO, WATCH AS HE SPEAKS TO THE HARMS CAUSED TO INDIGENOUS MEXICAN PEOPLE AND HOW MUCH THE WORLD COMMUNITY CAN LEARN ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE EARTH FROM THOSE IN CHIAPAS. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ErR6KdQVw]

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Mayan Sweat Ceremony (2009 CE) INFO: THE SWEAT CEREMONY CONSISTS IN ENTERING THE STRUCTURE, FILLING THE PIT WITH HOT STONES THAT ARE REVERENCED AS ANCIENT AND SPIRITUAL IN NATURE, POURING WATER ON THE HOT ROCKS, PRAYING, SINGING, SPEAKING FROM ONE'S HEART, CLOSING AND OPENING THE DOOR A SET NUMBER OF TIMES, AND EMERGING FROM THE LODGE. IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE CEREMONY THAT VARY IN EMPHASIS FROM GROUP TO GROUP ARE COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPIRITUAL REALM, MORAL AND/OR PHYSICAL PURIFICATION, THE HUMBLING OF ONESELF, HEALING OF SELF AND/OR OTHERS THROUGH THE PHYSICAL AND/OR SPIRITUAL AGENCY OF THE SWEAT, AND VOLUNTARY SUFFERING TO ACHIEVE A SPECIFIC NEED OR TO FULFILL A PLEDGE FOR REQUESTS ALREADY GRANTED. VARIATIONS IN THE CEREMONY AND STRUCTURE OF THE LODGE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR BY THREE FACTORS: HISTORIC ERA, CULTURAL GROUP, AND SPECIFIC RITUAL LEADER. NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS REMARKABLE CONSISTENCY IN THE CORE RITUAL AND STRUCTURE ACROSS TIME AND AMONG DIFFERENT INDIGENOUS AMERICAN GROUPS IN NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA. VARIATIONS INCLUDE THE INCORPORATION OF A PRAYER PIPE AND A VARIETY OF SYMBOLIC OBJECTS SUCH AS A BUFFALO SKULL PLACED ON THE ALTAR OUTSIDE OF THE SWEAT LODGE; THE ERECTION OF A POLE ON WHICH TO TIE OFFERINGS; THE USE OF SWITCHES MADE OF SAGE, WILLOW, CHERRY, BUFFALO TAIL, OR HORSE HAIR; SONG ACCOMPANIMENT WITH A DRUM AND/OR RATTLE; THE SACRED USE OF PLANTS SUCH AS SAGE, CEDAR, OR PINE NEEDLES; THE POURING OF HERBAL INFUSIONS ON THE ROCKS; DRINKING WATER BETWEEN ROUNDS AND SOMETIMES POURING IT ON ONESELF; SPIRITUAL SUPPLICATION THROUGH CRYING; SPIRITUAL TALKS, PARTICULARLY BY THE LEADER AND SOMETIMES OTHER PARTICIPANTS; JOKING WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN; AND BATHING IN A COLD STREAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY. THE SWEAT LODGE CAN BE A CEREMONY IN ITSELF BUT IS ALSO USED IN PREPARATION FOR OTHER CEREMONIES SUCH AS THE SUN DANCE, SACRED BUNDLE CEREMONIES, VISION QUESTS, AND SOMETIMES NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH MEETINGS. AMONG SOME TRIBES, MEN AND WOMEN SWEAT TOGETHER, WHILE IN OTHERS THEY ARE SEGREGATED. THERE ARE RITUAL RESTRICTIONS FOR WOMEN IN MENSES. IN THIS VIDEO WATCH AS SOME YOUNG TOURIST TYPES ENGAGE IN A TRADITIONAL MAYAN SWEAT CEREMONY. THIS CEREMONY IS MEANT TO CLEANSE THE ENTIRE BODY AND MIND, FOCUS ENERGY, AND PROVIDE CLARITY FOR THOSE WHO UNDERTAKE THE RITUAL. ALSO NOTICE HOW IN THIS VIDEO HOW MAYAN RELIGION HAS BECOME A KIND OF TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR ADVENTURE SEEKING EUROPEANS. HOW DOES THE SALE OF SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT RELATE TO THE PLIGHT OF INDIGENOUS MAYANS NOWADAYS? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdPuiIMf404

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Day of the Dead (2015 CE) INFO: ON THE MEXICAN HOLIDAY KNOWN AS THE DAY OF THE DEAD (EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS), FAMILIES WELCOME BACK THE SOULS OF THEIR DECEASED RELATIVES FOR A BRIEF REUNION THAT INCLUDES FOOD, DRINK AND CELEBRATION. A BLEND OF MESOAMERICAN RITUAL, EUROPEAN RELIGION AND SPANISH CULTURE, THE HOLIDAY IS CELEBRATED EACH YEAR ON NOVEMBER 1-2. THE ROOTS OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD, CELEBRATED IN CONTEMPORARY MEXICO AND AMONG THOSE OF MEXICAN HERITAGE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, GO BACK SOME 3,000 YEARS, TO THE RITUALS HONORING THE DEAD IN PRE-COLUMBIAN MESOAMERICA. THE AZTECS AND OTHER NAHUA PEOPLE LIVING IN WHAT IS NOW CENTRAL MEXICO HELD A CYCLICAL VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE, AND SAW DEATH AS AN INTEGRAL, EVER-PRESENT PART OF LIFE. UPON DYING, A PERSON WAS BELIEVED TO TRAVEL TO CHICUNAMICTLÁN, THE LAND OF THE DEAD. ONLY AFTER GETTING THROUGH NINE CHALLENGING LEVELS, A JOURNEY OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD THE PERSON’S SOUL FINALLY REACH MICTLÁN, THE FINAL RESTING PLACE. IN NAHUA RITUALS HONORING THE DEAD, TRADITIONALLY HELD IN AUGUST, FAMILY MEMBERS PROVIDED FOOD, WATER AND TOOLS TO AID THE DECEASED IN THIS DIFFICULT JOURNEY. THIS INSPIRED THE CONTEMPORARY DAY OF THE DEAD PRACTICE IN WHICH PEOPLE LEAVE FOOD OR OTHER OFFERINGS ON THEIR LOVED ONES’ GRAVES, OR SET THEM OUT ON MAKESHIFT ALTARS CALLED OFRENDAS IN THEIR HOMES. THESE INDIGENOUS MEXICAN CUSTOMS MIXED WITH ALL SAINTS DAY CUSTOMS FROM SPAIN MAKING UP THE MODERN EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FHrhH9k-PY]

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Class 26 Readings Creation of Fire (2014 CE) INFO: IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL WATCH A PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER RELATE THE CREATION OF THE FIRST FIRE BY AN UNEXPECTED ANIMAL. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST OF CREATURES CAN DO AMAZING AND HEROIC FEATS. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=othiWKn0trU]

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Apache Rite of Passage to Womanhood INFO: IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL WATCH AN APACHE GIRL BECOME A WOMAN THROUGH A SERIES OF RITUALS COLLECTIVELY WE CALL A “RITE OF PASSAGE.” MANY RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS HAVE SUCH RITES, WHETHER WE ARE DISCUSSING FIRST COMMUNION IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION OR A BAT MIZTVAH IN JUDAISM. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT RITES OF PASSAGE IS THAT THEY HELP INDIVIDUALS TRANSITION FROM A PREVIOUS PERSPECTIVE AND IDENTITY TO A NEW ONE THAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Cx_9YDQEc]

PHILO 1050

Ghost Dance (2007 CE) INFO: GHOST DANCE, EITHER OF TWO DISTINCT CULTS IN A COMPLEX OF LATE 19TH- CENTURY RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS THAT REPRESENTED AN ATTEMPT OF INDIANS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES TO REHABILITATE THEIR TRADITIONAL CULTURES. BOTH CULTS AROSE FROM NORTHERN PAIUTE PROPHET-DREAMERS IN WESTERN NEVADA WHO ANNOUNCED THE IMMINENT RETURN OF THE DEAD (HENCE “GHOST”), THE OUSTING OF THE WHITES, AND THE RESTORATION OF INDIAN LANDS, FOOD SUPPLIES, AND WAY OF LIFE. THESE ENDS, IT WAS BELIEVED, WOULD BE HASTENED BY THE DANCES AND SONGS REVEALED TO THE PROPHETS IN THEIR VISION VISITS TO THE SPIRIT WORLD AND ALSO BY STRICT OBSERVANCE OF A MORAL CODE THAT RESEMBLED CHRISTIAN TEACHING AND FORBADE WAR AGAINST INDIANS OR WHITES. MANY DANCERS FELL INTO TRANCES AND RECEIVED NEW SONGS FROM THE DEAD THEY MET IN VISIONS OR WERE HEALED BY GHOST DANCE RITUALS. IN THE FIRST VIDEO YOU WILL SEE A RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE GHOST DANCE PRESENTED, ONE THAT EXPLAINS THE CONNECTION WITH THE ANCESTORS AND THE HOPE FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW, NON-EUROPEAN UTOPIA. JUXTAPOSE THIS WITH THE SECOND VIDEO WHERE A SCHOLAR DESCRIBES THE EMERGENCE OF THE GHOST DANCE AND WOVOKA’S PART IN ITS CREATION IN TERMS OF THE SPARSITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE GEOGRAPHIC INCURSION OF EUROPEAN SETTLERS IN THE WESTERN USA. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1Fslf3g2M] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8mEa3Vo5W0]

PHILO 1050

Class 27 Readings Interviews with Prophet Hinckley and young Mormons (2008 CE) INFO: GORDON B. HINCKLEY, (1910-2008), 15TH PRESIDENT (R. 1995–2008) OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE MORMON CHURCH. HINCKLEY HELPED TO EXPAND THE CHURCH FROM SOME 9 MILLION TO NEARLY 13 MILLION MEMBERS WORLDWIDE AND LED IT FROM THE MARGINS TO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. HINCKLEY WAS DESCENDED FROM PILGRIMS WHO SAILED ON THE MAYFLOWER AND FROM MORMON PIONEERS WHO MOVED FROM ILLINOIS TO UTAH IN THE 19TH CENTURY. HE EARNED A DEGREE IN ENGLISH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH IN 1932. FROM 1933 TO 1935 HE PREACHED PUBLICLY IN LONDON’S HYDE PARK, THEREBY COMPLETING THE TWO-YEAR MISSIONARY SERVICE THAT YOUNG MORMONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PERFORM. HINCKLEY’S ACTIVITIES IN ENGLAND SO IMPRESSED CHURCH LEADERS THAT UPON HIS RETURN TO UTAH HE WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE CHURCH’S NEWLY CREATED PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE. DURING THE NEXT 20 YEARS HE PRODUCED A RADIO SERIES ON CHURCH HISTORY, SUPERVISED CHURCH EXHIBITS AT THE 1938 WORLD’S FAIR IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH IN 1949, AND HELPED TO CREATE A NETWORK OF CHURCH-OWNED RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS. IN 1961 HINCKLEY BECAME A MEMBER OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, THE SECOND HIGHEST GOVERNING BODY OF THE CHURCH. AS AN APOSTLE HINCKLEY WAS SENT ON GLOBAL MISSIONS, EVANGELIZING IN AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AND ASIA. IN 1981 HE WAS APPOINTED A COUNSELOR OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY—AN OFFICE CONSISTING OF THE PRESIDENT AND USUALLY TWO COUNSELORS. BECAUSE OF THE POOR HEALTH OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENCY, HE EVENTUALLY ASSUMED MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF RUNNING THE CHURCH. HE WAS ORDAINED PRESIDENT ON MARCH 12, 1995. AS PRESIDENT, HINCKLEY LED A PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH FROM A SMALL GROUP BASED LARGELY IN THE AMERICAN WEST TO A RESPECTED WORLD RELIGION. HE WORKED TO DISPEL THE IMAGE OF CHURCH LEADERS AS SECRETIVE AND ISOLATED AND TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE CHURCH WAS NOT A NON-CHRISTIAN CULT AND THAT MORMONS WERE NOT, IN HIS WORDS, “WEIRD PEOPLE.” STRESSING COMMON GROUND WITH CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, HINCKLEY JOINED THEM IN OPPOSING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND PROMOTING SO-CALLED FAMILY VALUES. HE ALSO PROMOTED USE OF THE CHURCH’S OFFICIAL NAME, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, INSTEAD OF THE MORE COMMON “MORMON CHURCH.” FOR HIS HUMANITARIAN AND EDUCATIONAL WORK HINCKLEY WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM IN 2004. IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE PORTIONS OF AN INTERVIEW WITH PROPHET HINCKLEY AS WELL AS SOME LDS YOUTH. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK0PxT5Vm4g

PHILO 1050

Interview of Anton LeVey, the founder of the Church of Satan INFO: FOUNDED ON APRIL 30, 1966 CE BY ANTON SZANDOR LAVEY, THE CHURCH OF SATAN IS THE FIRST ABOVE-GROUND ORGANIZATION IN HISTORY OPENLY DEDICATED TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF MAN’S TRUE NATURE—THAT OF A CARNAL BEAST, LIVING IN A COSMOS THAT IS INDIFFERENT TO OUR EXISTENCE. TO SATANISTS, SATAN IS THE SYMBOL THAT BEST SUITS THE NATURE OF HUMANITY; CARNAL BY BIRTH—PEOPLE WHO FEEL NO BATTLES RAGING BETWEEN OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, WHO DO NOT EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF A SOUL IMPRISONED IN A BODY. SATAN REPRESENTS PRIDE, LIBERTY, AND INDIVIDUALISM—QUALITIES OFTEN DEFINED AS EVIL BY THOSE WHO WORSHIP EXTERNAL DEITIES, WHO FEEL THERE IS A WAR BETWEEN THEIR MINDS AND EMOTIONS. AS ANTON LAVEY EXPLAINED IN HIS CLASSIC WORK THE SATANIC BIBLE, HUMANS—USING THEIR BRAINS—INVENTED ALL THE GODS, DOING SO BECAUSE MANY OF OUR SPECIES CANNOT ACCEPT OR CONTROL THEIR PERSONAL EGOS, FEELING COMPELLED TO CONJURE UP ONE OR A MULTIPLICITY OF CHARACTERS WHO CAN ACT WITHOUT HINDRANCE OR GUILT UPON WHIMS AND DESIRES. FOR SATANISTS ALL GODS ARE THUS EXTERNALIZED FORMS, MAGNIFIED PROJECTIONS OF THE TRUE NATURE OF THEIR CREATORS, PERSONIFYING ASPECTS OF THE UNIVERSE OR PERSONAL TEMPERAMENTS THAT MANY OF THEIR FOLLOWERS FIND TO BE TROUBLING. WORSHIPPING ANY GOD IS THUS WORSHIPPING BY PROXY THOSE WHO INVENTED THAT GOD. SINCE SATANISTS CLAIM THAT ALL GODS ARE FICTION, INSTEAD OF BENDING A KNEE IN WORSHIP TO—OR SEEKING FRIENDSHIP OR UNITY WITH—SUCH MYTHICAL ENTITIES, THEY PLACE THEMSELVES AT THE CENTER OF THEIR OWN SUBJECTIVE UNIVERSE AS THEIR OWN HIGHEST VALUE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exWUeQ53ICg

PHILO 1050

English Wicca INFO: WICCA IS A PREDOMINANTLY WESTERN MOVEMENT WHOSE FOLLOWERS PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT AND NATURE WORSHIP AND WHO SEE IT AS A RELIGION BASED ON PRE- CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE. IT SPREAD THROUGH ENGLAND IN THE 1950S AND SUBSEQUENTLY ATTRACTED FOLLOWERS IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE PRECURSORS TO THE MOVEMENT, THE ORIGINS OF MODERN WICCA CAN BE TRACED TO A RETIRED BRITISH CIVIL SERVANT, GERALD BROUSSEAU GARDNER (1884–1964). GARDNER SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER IN ASIA, WHERE HE BECAME FAMILIAR WITH A VARIETY OF OCCULT BELIEFS AND MAGICAL PRACTICES. HE ALSO READ WIDELY IN WESTERN ESOTERIC LITERATURE, INCLUDING THE WRITINGS OF THE BRITISH OCCULTIST ALEISTER CROWLEY. RETURNING TO ENGLAND SHORTLY BEFORE THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II, GARDNER BECAME INVOLVED IN THE BRITISH OCCULT COMMUNITY AND FOUNDED A NEW MOVEMENT BASED ON A REVERENCE OF NATURE, THE PRACTICE OF MAGIC, AND THE WORSHIP OF A FEMALE DEITY (THE GODDESS) AND NUMEROUS ASSOCIATED DEITIES (SUCH AS THE HORNED GOD). HE ALSO BORROWED LIBERALLY FROM WESTERN WITCHCRAFT TRADITIONS. FOLLOWING THE 1951 REPEAL OF ENGLAND’S ARCHAIC WITCHCRAFT LAWS, GARDNER PUBLISHED WITCHCRAFT TODAY (1954), FOUNDED HIS FIRST COVEN OF FOLLOWERS, AND, WITH INPUT FROM ITS MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY AUTHOR DOREEN VALIENTE, DEVELOPED MODERN WITCHCRAFT INTO WHAT TODAY IS KNOWN AS WICCA. IT SPREAD QUICKLY TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE LATE 1960S, WHEN AN EMPHASIS ON NATURE, UNCONVENTIONAL LIFESTYLES, AND A SEARCH FOR SPIRITUALITY DIVORCED FROM TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS WERE ESPECIALLY IN VOGUE. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nPsyZJBTeQ]