Jason, the New Right (as it exists in the UK and Europe) is remarkably a lot like the Knights Party http://www.kkk.bz , the most prominent face of the KKK in America today. More, it's figure-head David Duke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Duke travels extensively in the UK and Europe to promote his particular brand of racism. I wouldn't at all be surprised to hear if he has connections with these folks. It's just like the relationship between the FARC and the NRA - they're in different parts of the world, but they cooperate on common interests http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Duke#Conferenc... . I researched the Knights Party as part of my effort to get my friend to change his mind - it didn't work, but comparing what I know about the KKK to the New Right their speaking points are nearly identical. Speaking only for myself I find it disturbing that this hydra has sprouted heads in so many corners of the world.

Racism is an ugly trap to fall into; I once had a close friend but lost contact with him after he went on a few deployments to Iraq. When he came back he was a different person and had taken up not just with the Christian Identity / Dominionism crowd but also with the KKK. I thought I was wise enough to talk him out of his new friendships, but the conversation quickly devolved. He had learned a few speaking points and some very slippery arguments; in the end, the only way I could find forward was to put him out of my life. It's difficult to carry on a conversation with this crowd because they have a way dividing everything into splitters and fractures that defy logical debate and refuse to be "solved" by any manner of rational discourse. This isn't the first time the dark horse of racism has appeared in the occult community (some Asatru and Odinist groups are accused of the same), but that doesn't make it any less repulsive. Hell knows what Aleister Crowley would have to say on this matter?

Thanks for the response, Mr. Jacob; I can appreciate that you have Heroic goals and I wish you the best.

I'm a little shocked to hear that ToR is closing - I've been so impressed with the tradition, community, and infrastructure that Drew Jacob built that I can't say I entirely understand why it's closing. Of course I can appreciate that Mr. Jacob is always free to go his own way and do what he will (as are any of us), but I can't say that understand why he's closing the temple and disbanding the religious community he helped form. If his motivation is to live a heroic life, I don't know why he can't leave the temple and his community-at-large in the hands of his more capable students. I guess I'm confused - are there any more details on why Mr. Jacob is closing everything completely?

EDIT: I've read and re-read the interview posted above, but it still seems rather vague. How does on quantify another's spiritual progress? I'm not a member of ToR and am not impacted by Mr. Jacob's decision, but I have to say it feels like a death in the community to hear that one of the most well-established polytheist organizations in the United States is suddenly closing doors.

Before rallying around a common name, I think the first question that one should ask if the name in question is even worth using:

Pagan Pa"gan (p[=a]"gan), n. [L. paganus a countryman, peasant, villager, a pagan, fr. paganus of or pertaining to the country, rustic, also, pagan, fr. pagus a district,canton, the country, perh. orig., a district with fixed boundaries: cf. pangere to fasten. Cf. Painim, Peasant, and Pact, also Heathen.] One who worships false gods; an idolater; a heathen; one who is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew. [1913 Webster]

Under this definition, we're idolaters who worship false gods; let's pick something else.

Where's Ray's "law of attraction" now? Why isn't he "attracting" his way out of this latest legal trouble? Or maybe the strength of his clients' attraction to severe legal recourse is simply stronger than his attraction to freedom.

I think part of the trouble with defining paganism is that the definition has been written by a Christian pen. Consider these definitions:

Paganism Pa"gan*ism (-[i^]z'm), n. [L. paganismus: cf. F. paganisme. See Pagan, and cf. Painim.] The state of being pagan; pagan characteristics; esp., the worship of idols or false gods, or the system of religious opinions and worship maintained by pagans; heathenism. [1913 Webster]

Pagan Pa"gan (p[=a]"gan), n. [L. paganus a countryman, peasant, villager, a pagan, fr. paganus of or pertaining to the country, rustic, also, pagan, fr. pagus a district, canton, the country, perh. orig., a district with fixed boundaries: cf. pangere to fasten. Cf. Painim, Peasant, and Pact, also Heathen.] One who worships false gods; an idolater; a heathen; one who is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew.
[1913 Webster]

In other words, anybody who doesn't worship according to one of three Abrahamic faiths is a pagan. Clearly anybody can see that "pagan" didn't have the cultural significance in 1913 as it does today in 2011, but the the definitions are still largely the same. Some references are coming up to speed and acknowledging the gross bias in naming everything that is not Islam, Judaism, or Christianity in a pejorative sense, but for the most part "pagan" is (outside of our community) still synonymous with infidel.

Of course, paganism is often used to describe polytheistic faiths, so I don't see why Christians shouldn't also be called pagans - they worship a triune god, some worship Mary, and others also give special significance to saints and angels.

My impression is that the trend outside of the Christian community is changing rapidly in favor of a positive modern interpretation of the word pagan, but within the Christian community I'm not sure there'll ever be a distinction.

I'll keep you and yours in my prayers; sending love and light! -James

Thank-you, Mr. Dybing, for starting this initiative.

Welcome, welcome... did you sunglasses for the believers? Once they open their eyes, the light of awareness is going to be awfully bright after so many years of darkness.