Category Archives: THE OAKS

ISSUE

Issue No.2, Summer 2000

ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE:

  • The 2nd WCER Conference – a complete report by Denis Dornoy
  • WCER2 / Ethnic religions – reality and future – speech by Koenraad Loegghe
  • WCER2 / Paganism as a Metagrid of the Future – paper by Prof. Lokesh Chandra
  • WCER2 / Earth is our Mother – paper by P. Parameswaran
  • Ukrainian Declaration
  • Arcana Europa – international fetsival in Spain
  • Interview with Jormundur Ingi – by Denis Dornoy
  • Paganism or the rediscovery of Identity – report by Jormundur Ingi
  • The Pagans' Letter to the Pope – the Committee for the Pope's Millennium Apology
  • Shinto – report by Michael Strmiska
  • The Akha People – report by Matthew McDaniel
  • Do the Gods Exist? – by Michael York

Editor: Jonas Trinkunas
Contributors: Angela Prokopiak, Martin Shetty
Design/lay-out: Ugnius Lioge (Dangus prs. www.dangus.net)
Online version: Martin Shetty

Bradesiai 3th, CONGRESS

The 2000 WCER Congress (9th – 11th August 2000)

The 2000 WCER Congress  (9th – 11th August 2000)

Report by Jonas Trinkunas

This year, on August 9-11, the 3rd conference of the WCER was held in Bradesiai, Lithuania. The conference was held simultaneously with the Romuva summer camp, which began on the 7th of August and ended on the 12th. Those attending the conference freely participated in the Romuva program throughout the entire duration of the camp.

Continue reading The 2000 WCER Congress (9th – 11th August 2000) →

REPORTS, Telsiai 2nd

The Pagans’ Letter to the Pope The Committee for the Pope’s Millennium Apology

Easter / Earth Day, April 23, 2000
Pope John Paul II
Vatican City

Your Holiness:

In November of 1999, this Committee sent to you a letter bearing 1,643 signatures representing the many millions of Pagans worldwide, and requesting the inclusion of our Pagan forebears (i.e. peoples of indigenous pre-Christian religious beliefs and cultures) in your March 12, 2000 Mass of Pardon: “Universal Prayer; Confession of Sins and Asking for Forgiveness.” Continue reading The Pagans’ Letter to the Pope The Committee for the Pope’s Millennium Apology →

CONGRESS, Telsiai 2nd

The 1999 WCER Congress Report by Denis Dornoy (16th – 19th August 1999)

The 1999 WCER Congress (16th – 19th August 1999)

Report by Denis Dornoy

The 2nd World Congress of Etnic Religions was held from the 16th to the 19th August 1999 in Telsiai, Lithuania.

Telsiai is situated in the province of Samogitia, in Western Lithuania.

Samogitia was, for several centuries, at the frontline of resistance against the Christian crusaders (the Teutonic knights).

The conference itself took place in a house in the outskirt of the city, built and decorated in traditional Lithuanian style by its owner, Adolfas Gedvilas.

A sacred fire has been maintained in the house since 1994.

You may visit the Manor of King Ringaudas website to learn more about this wondeful location.

At the end of the first day, participants took part in a fire ritual situated a ceremony on the nearby Satrija Hill.

The ceremony was organised by Romuva, with active participation of the Greek representatives.

The meetings took place in the main hall, and ended with a dance evening offered by the local traditional music ensemble.

The next day, participant were invited to a excursion to the nearby city of Klaipeda and the Baltic coast.

Continue reading The 1999 WCER Congress Report by Denis Dornoy (16th – 19th August 1999) →

REPORTS, Telsiai 2nd

Do the Gods Exist? by Michael York

Can they be found sitting somewher on thrones or perhaps in the thrones of physical embrace with one of us mere but lucky mortals? Perhaps sometimes is the answer. But whatever they are, they belong in part if not in essence to the supernatural, the preternatural or the superempirical. In other words, the vector of possibility allows them to manifest to us but not for us to access them in any direct or demonstrable manner. The nonempirical is simply beyond the natural world which we can approach, measure and test through science. This is not to say that it simply does not exist but that it exists differently. If this were not so, it would not be the magical otherworld that it is. Continue reading Do the Gods Exist? by Michael York →

REPORTS, Telsiai 2nd

The Akha People a report by Matthew McDaniel

The Akha tribe lives in the North of Tailand. Up to now, the people of Akha have preserved their unique ethnic culture and faith. They are now feeling great pressure from Christian missionaires. The people of Akha are constantly under the threat of disappearance. Mathew McDaniel lives with them and tries to help them. He also keeps the members of WCER informed about the news and events affecting the Akha people through the internet. The information we get demonstrates the actual tragedy created by the disturbance of a living traditional culture. Here is one of his latest reports. Continue reading The Akha People a report by Matthew McDaniel →