Ogden Pagan Pride Day

Last Saturday I spent a few hours at the first annual Ogden Pagan Pride Day in Ogden, Utah. My participation involved the promotion of Beyond the Burning Times: A Pagan and Christian in Dialogue (Lion, 2008). I would especially like to thank my friends Kelly Richan and Luna Aileen, who were involved in coordinating this event who are also involved with Ásatrú Utah who extended their gracious invitation to promote this book. My hope is that our relationships will continue, and that this book becomes a foundation for our continued dialogue.

Utah Summer Spirit Fest Workshop

Tomorrow I will be presenting a workshop at the Utah Summer Spirit Fest. This is a Pagan gatherng put together by Eagles Kindred of Utah. The event begins this afternoon and runs through Sunday and it will be held in Ogden. The title of my workshop is "Reflections of a Christian Guest on Hospitality and Dialogue in a World of Pluralism."

My relationship with some in the Utah Pagan community has also resulted in an invitation to present a workshop at Pagan Pride Day on September 22 in Murray Park in Salt Lake City. I have been asked to address my Burning Man Festival research and experiences, and how spirituality might be found in such places.

I am looking forward to these opportunities, and to fostering additional relationships within Utah's Pagan community.

A Busy Week - A Few Items

Philip Johnson is in Utah from Australia leading an intensive course in new religious movements at Salt Lake Theological Seminary. I am a part of this course and am busy with lectures and reading this week. I will catch up with other courses and ministry activities next week and can only make brief entries in blogging this week, but I wanted to note a few items.

First, John Smulo has launched a new website or blog called "Missional Apologetics." Drop by and take a look at how a new model of apologetics is shaping up.

Second, there is an interesting interview with the noted sociologist Peter Berger where he shares his thoughts on religion and globalization. These considerations are relevant to mission in the West, and emerging and contemporary church leaders should take note.

Third, I had an opportunity to observe a Yule Sabbat on December 23rd as a course assignment for the new religions course. The Sabbat celebration involved the Eagles Kindred group, a Neo-Pagan group from the Odinist and Asatru tradition. I would like to thank this group, and my contact from the Ogden Pagan Community Builders Yahoo! Group for allowing a seminary student to observe this celebration and get to know this community. I will post my observations and reflections next week.