221 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
221 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
Excerpts from Department of the Army Pamphlet 165-13
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RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS AND PRACTICES OF CERTAIN SELECTED GROUPS
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A HANDBOOK FOR CHAPLAINS
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Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C., dated 28 April 1978
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The following is an excerpt from the handbook that I think would be of interest
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to the 'other' religions as the army puts it. I hope that it can be of some
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benefit and that none take offense to it. As stated, it is an excerpt and
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typed verbatim. A complete copy of the book (price unknown) can be obtained
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from:
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Superintendant of Documents
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U.S. Government Printing Office
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Washington, D.C. 20402
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Stock Number: 008-020-00745-5
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In the handbook, there are seven main sections, being Christain Heritage
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Groups, Indian Heritage Groups, Islamic Groups, Japanese Heritage Groups, Jewish
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Groups, Sikh Groups and 'Other' Groups.
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This paper will deal exclusively with the 'Other' Groups, and more specifically,
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the 'Old' religions. This category is broken down into: American Council of
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Witches, Baha'i Faith, Church of Satan, Churches of Sciencetology, Foundation
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Faith of the Millenium, Gardinerian Wicca, Native American Church and Universal
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Life Church.
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INTRODUCTION: 'OTHER' GROUPS
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The groups considered in this section manifest the wide variety of religious
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options available in the U.S. They draw upon several distinct religious
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impulses, each with a long heritage.
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MAGICK
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Magick (not magic, which is considered a stage performers art and not a
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religion) groups have experienced considerable growth since the 1960's. These
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groups are distinguished by their use of occult practices (astrology and
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divination) and magick (the ability to willfully change the world by
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manipulating the cosmic forces). While like the psychic dimension, magick is as
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old as known history. It's contemporary revival, however, began in the early
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1900's.
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The most popular form of magick is witchcraft. Not to be confused with
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Satanism, witchcraft is a nature-oriented religion based on the worship of the
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male-female polarity, the observance of the agricultural seasons, and magick.
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Worship of the male-female aspects of nature usually expressed as allegiance to
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the Horned God and the Great Mother Goddess. Ritual follows the movement of the
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sun and moon.
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Magick seeks mastery of all the cosmic forces believed to control the world.
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Witches believe in the ancient principle of 'as above, so below', and in their
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worship seek to create a microcosm, a magical image of the whole. The universe
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is generally viewed as a sphere. The magical circle, drawn at the beginning of
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all magical rituals, is the outline of the microcosm intersecting the floor.
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Witchcraft had grown slowly until the repeal of the last of England's anti-
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witchcraft laws in the 1950's. Growth accelerated in the 1960's and 1970's.
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There are no less than thirty different witch (or the preferred term 'Wicca')
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groups plus numerous independent covens functioning in the U.S. The American
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Council of Witches represents the traditionalist covens which trace their
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ancestry to various medievel European traditions. The Gardnerians are one of
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several modern Wicca groups. Others are the Alexandrians, the Algard, and the
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Church of Wicca of Bakersfield (CA). There are also several miscellaneous
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traditions.
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Secrecy is a major element of the existence of both witchcraft and Satanism.
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Secrecy is protective and serves to guard the sacred mysteries of the group.
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***The following excerpts are condensed, otherwise I would be typing out a whole
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book.
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AMERICAN COUNCIL OF WITCHES
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HISTORICAL ROOTS: Witchcraft is the ancient PAGAN faith of Pre-Christian
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Europe.
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CURRENT WORLD LEADERSHIP: No central authority.
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ORIGINS IN THE U.S.: Brought to the U.S. in the 17th century by emigrants from
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Europe.
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NUMBER OF ADHERENTS IN THE U.S.: Unknown. Between 10,000 and 100,000
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The basic structure is the coven with 5 to 50 members
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(ideally 12-15) led by a High Priestess or High Priest.
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LEADERSHIP: The High Priestess or High Priest has authority for the coven.
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WHO MAY CONDUCT SERVICES: The High Priestess or High Priest.
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IS GROUP WORSHIP REQUIRED: No, but encouraged.
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WORSHIP REQUIREMENTS: None, but witches are expected to practice their faith.
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MINIMUM EQUIPMENT FOR WORSHIP: The 'atheme,' the 'pentacle,' a chalice and a
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sword.
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SPECIAL HOLIDAYS: Spring Equinox, March 21; Summer Solstice, June 22; Autumn
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Equinox, September 21; Winter Solstice, December 22; Candlemas, February 2,
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Beltane, April 30; Lammas, July31; and Halloween, October 31. Besides these
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eight, most groups meet either weekly or bi-weekly (on the full and new moon).
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Major holidays are termed sabbats, and weekly or bi-weekly mettings are esbats.
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FUNERAL AND BURIAL REQUIREMENTS: Practices vary widely but notify coven to
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which associated.
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IS A PRIESTESS OR PRIEST REQUIRED AT TIME OF DEATH: No.
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BASIC TEACHINGS OR BELIEFS: Underlying agreements are summed up in the
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"Principles of Wiccan Beliefs" adopted by the American Council of Witches.
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CREEDAL STATEMENTS: The 'grimore' or book of spells and a 'book of shadows' or
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book of ritual.
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ETHICAL PRACTICES: 'An Ye Harm None, Do As Ye Will.'
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RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER RELIGIONS: Cooperation with the whole Pagan community
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is very high. Relations with other religions are cordial, except those groups
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which have sought to persecute and defame the craft.
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GARDNERIAN WICCA
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HISTORICAL ROOTS: Founded by Gerald Gardner in 1954 due in part to the book
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'Witchcraft Today'.
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CURRENT WORLD LEADERSHIP: High Priestess Lady Theos and High Priest Phoenix.
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ORIGINS IN THE U.S.: Brought to the U.S. by Lady Rowen from England in 1962.
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NUMBER OF ADHERENTS IN THE U.S.: Unknown. Between 2,500 and 5,000.
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The basic structure is the coven with 5 to 50 members
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(ideally 12-15) led by a High Priestess or High Priest.
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LEADERSHIP: The High Priestess or High Priest has authority for the coven.
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WHO MAY CONDUCT SERVICES: Only the High Priestess can cast a circle.
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IS GROUP WORSHIP REQUIRED: Yes, but individual worship is possible but not
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encouraged.
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WORSHIP REQUIREMENTS: Covens meet weekly or bi-weekly (at the full or new
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moon), always in the evening. Worship in some (but not all) groups occur in the
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nude.
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MINIMUM EQUIPMENT FOR WORSHIP: The 'atheme,' a bowl of water, a censer with
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incense, salt, an altar and 6 candles in candlesticks. The 'pentacle,' and a
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sword are optional. All tools must be ritually consecrated by a High Priestess.
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SPECIAL HOLIDAYS: Spring Equinox, March 21; Summer Solstice, June 22; Autumn
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Equinox, September 21; Winter Solstice, December 22; Candlemas, February 2,
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Beltane, April 30; Lammas, July31; and Halloween, October 31. Besides these
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eight, most groups meet either weekly or bi-weekly (on the full and new moon).
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Major holidays are termed sabbats, and weekly or bi-weekly mettings are esbats.
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FUNERAL AND BURIAL REQUIREMENTS: Practices vary widely but notify coven to
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which associated. Ritual tools or materials found among the remains of the
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deceased should be immediately returned to the family or members of the coven.
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IS A PRIESTESS OR PRIEST REQUIRED AT TIME OF DEATH: No, but it would be
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permissable for any Chaplain to offer spiritual comfort at such times. Upon
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death, a prayer may be directed to GOD for the release of the soul from the
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Earth plane, separate and apart from any ritual work done by the member's coven.
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BASIC TEACHINGS OR BELIEFS: Gardnerians worship the Mother Goddess and also the
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Horned God, symbols of the basic polarity of all nature. They seek balance
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within nature, within themselves, and between male and female.
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CREEDAL STATEMENTS: 'The Book of Shadows' is authoriative.
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ETHICAL PRACTICES: 'An Ye Harm None, Do As Ye Will.'
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RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER RELIGIONS: Wicca is open toward other faiths,
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recognizing that the Great Mother appears in these faiths under various names.
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Because of the persecutions of past years, Wiccans take a guarded relation to
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groups which claim to possess 'the Truth' or to be the 'Only Way.' Wicca is
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only one path among many, and is not for everyone. Members are encouraged to
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learn about other faiths and attend services, should they desire to do so.
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*** Well, there you have it. A nutshell version of how the Army looks at and
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tell's it members about 'Other' religions. I would order the book just to see
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how it describes some contemporary religions versus other religions.
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Any responses or questions on this paper can be directed to me at Astralite BBS,
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404-925-9127.
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...Slade...
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Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm)
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& the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845
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Salted Slug Systems Strange 408-454-9368
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Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766
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realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 415-567-7043
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Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102
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Tomorrow's 0rder of Magnitude Finger_Man 415-961-9315
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My Dog Bit Jesus Suzanne D'Fault 510-658-8078
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