The quintessential techno-Pagan

Last week I was part of a large public ritual at Pantheacon, about which I will write more later. But yesterday my friend Brighde sent me this photo she shot of one of the other ritual participants, and it's so funny I had to post it.

Jeff was the principal priest in the ritual, which has a rather lengthy script. Here he is in the garb he wore for the ritual. Only instead of carrying around a  paper cheat sheet with the text of the ritual script, he used a newer technology.

Yup, that's an Apple iPhone stuck to his staff. And yes, he did occasionally glance at it for reference during the ritual .

Sometimes people who don't know the Pagan community think we are all a bunch of romantic  Luddites, eschewing modern technology in the name of authenticity. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Not to do an Al Gore thing and claim that Pagans invented the Internet (yes, I know that's only a myth), but it's true that many many many Pagans, particularly here in the Bay Area  were involved in its expansion, and the creation of new follow-on technologies.  Scholars who study us say we Pagans are the true ``cultural creatives'' of  the age.  People like Jeff certainly help make that case for us.

technology Apple iPhone Pagan Paganism Internet culture cultural-creatives ritual Pantheacon Bay+Area

Comments

[Green]

Hi!

Thanks, This is hilarious! We are pagans not Amish. We can integrate the new and honor the ancient.

Cheers,

Green Pheoniz

[Sia]

Brilliant.

You made my day. Thank you.

You might like this article:

21st Century Pagans:
http://fullcirclenews.blogspot.com/2007/05/21st-century-pagans.html

All good things,

Sia
who lived in Silicon Valley for many years and who misses going to PantheaCon

P.S. Can someone out there *please* help the organizers get the workshop list up on the website? A PDF file? Come on!

[Southern Pagan]

that is completely ridiculous - so is using a paper script. Memorise your lines or don't bother.

[Jeff]

Awesome photo!!

Just a quick note here. I don't have a problem with this photo being public (and hence my identity as a pagan being somewhat public), but you guys should have asked first. (Jeff)

[Dagnachew]

Nate makes very good points on wehehtr Elvis fans have an actual religion or not. I think religions are based on people's own interpretations. Some people may find an ultimate reality and may believe there is a religion while others may not. There are people who may be uncomfortable just to think that this could even be a religion. I would prefer to not call this a religion just because I see it as very odd and weird but there may be people who do and they can believe what they want.