Pagan Spirituality and Pagan Sexuality The Rise of Androgyne in The Last Days

By Endtimeshofar

Introduction to Pagan Spirituality and Sexuality

Pagan spirituality encompasses a diverse range of traditions, practices, and beliefs. It is often rooted in ancient religions, which honor nature, polytheism, and the cycles of life. Many modern pagans draw inspiration from Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, and indigenous traditions.

Pagan sexuality is integrally connected to these spiritual beliefs. It often highlights the sacredness of all forms of love and sexual expression. Unlike some religious traditions that may have strict rules about sexuality, pagan spirituality typically embraces a fluid understanding of gender and sexual identities.

Were seeing the rise of androgyne in the last days, people are gravitating back to Pre-Judeo-Christian religions of paganism, and the manifestation is being seen in the change of modern sexuality norms have reverted back to the ancient pagan days of androgyne and gender-fluid sexuality. How will the Church respond and minister to a neo-pagan society? Let us systematically explore how neo-paganism has rapidly change the views of Western civilization on sexuality, and the elimination of the traditional views of just male and female. 

Key Aspects of Pagan Spirituality:

• Polytheism: The belief in multiple gods and goddesses.
• Nature Worship: Reverence for the Earth, seasons, and natural cycles.
• Ritualistic Practices: Seasonal festivals, moon rituals, and rites of passage.
• Magical Practices: Spellwork, divination, and the use of objects like crystals and herbs.

Core Beliefs in Pagan Sexuality:

• Sacred Sexuality: Sexual acts are seen as expressions of divine energy.
• Fluidity of Gender: Recognition and acceptance of non-binary, transgender, and gender-fluid identities.
• Consent and Respect: Emphasis on consensual relationships and respect for all partners.

Major Pagan Traditions:

1. Wicca: Focuses on duality of the God and Goddess, and the Wheel of the Year.
2. Druidry: Reveres nature, specifically trees, and follows seasonal cycles.
3. Heathenry: Based on Norse myths, honoring gods like Odin and Thor.
4. Hellenism: Reimagines the worship of Greek gods such as Zeus and Athena.

Sexuality in Pagan Practices:

• Sexual rites: Often part of fertility rituals or celebrations of life cycles.
• Role of deities: Many pagan deities are patrons of love, sex, and fertility, exemplifying the divine nature of these acts.

In conclusion, pagan spirituality and sexuality provide a holistic approach where every aspect of life is interconnected, and sexuality is celebrated as a natural and sacred part of human existence.

Historical Context of Pagan Beliefs

Pagan beliefs have roots extending back to ancient civilizations. These systems of spirituality were diverse and oriented around nature, multiple deities, and the cycles of life. The following points highlight the historical context of pagan beliefs:

• Ancient Civilizations: Many ancient cultures, such as the Greeks, Romans, Norse, and Egyptians, practiced what are now considered pagan religions. They worshiped a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each governing specific aspects of life, from love to warfare to agriculture.
• Deification of Nature: Pagans saw the divine in all facets of the natural world. Rivers, mountains, forests, and celestial bodies often had their own spirits or deities. This intimate connection with nature influenced rituals and celebrations, many of which were tied to the seasons and agricultural cycles.
• Ritual Practices: Pagan rituals often involved offerings, sacrifices, and ceremonies to honor deities and ensure their favor. These practices varied widely among different cultures but shared a reverence for the sacredness of natural elements and life's milestones.
• Symbolism and Mythology: Myths played a crucial role in pagan belief systems. They provided explanations for natural phenomena, human behavior, and the origins of the world. Symbols derived from these myths were used to convey complex spiritual truths and foster a sense of shared identity among the followers.

"The religious systems we now call 'pagan' were the dominant modes of spirituality for millennia, shaping human history through their rich traditions and profound insights into the human experience." - Scholar of Religious Studies

• Transition and Adaptation: With the rise of monotheistic religions, many pagan traditions were either suppressed or absorbed into the new religious frameworks. Festivals, symbols, and even deities were reinterpreted or co-opted, blending the old with the new.
• Modern Paganism: Contemporary paganism, often known as neo-paganism, seeks to revive these ancient practices in modern contexts. Movements such as Wicca, Druidry, and Heathenry take inspiration from historical traditions while adapting them to contemporary spiritual needs.

Exploring paganism's historical context is crucial to understanding its spiritual and cultural significance, revealing a legacy intertwined with humanity's deepest connections to the divine and the natural world.

The Concept of Androgyne in Paganism

Paganism, an umbrella term encompassing various religious traditions, often embraces a fluid understanding of gender and sexuality. The concept of the Androgyne is deeply rooted in these belief systems.

Historical Context

In many ancient cultures, gods and goddesses with androgynous attributes symbolize the unity of masculine and feminine. For instance:

• Greek Mythology: Hermaphroditus, a deity embodying both male and female characteristics.
• Hinduism: Ardhanarishvara, representing a fusion of Shiva and Parvati.

The androgynous figures signify the wholeness and completeness in nature, transcending binary gender norms.

Symbolism

The Androgyne represents various metaphysical and spiritual principles in Pagan spirituality:

• Balance: Harmonizing the masculine and feminine energies within an individual.
• Transformation: Symbolizing inner metamorphosis and spiritual evolution.
• Unity: Reflecting the interconnectedness of all existence and the dissolution of dualities.

Modern Interpretations

In contemporary Paganism, the figure of the Androgyne has gained renewed significance, embodying ideals of inclusivity and diversity. It manifests in:

• Ritual Practices: Incorporating androgynous symbols and deities in ceremonies.
• Gender Fluidity: Affirming the validity of non-binary identities and expressions.
• Community: Fostering acceptance and understanding of diverse gender and sexual identities.

Influence on Pagan Sexuality

The Androgyne also impacts views on sexuality within Paganism:

• Sacred Sexuality: Celebrating sexual unions as sacred acts embodying divine balance.
• Sexual Freedom: Upholding the autonomy and inherent sanctity of all consensual sexual expressions.
• Spiritual Pathways: Recognizing sexual experiences as potential avenues for spiritual enlightenment and personal growth.

Integration in Pagan Practices

Pagans incorporate the Androgyne concept through:

1. Creative Arts: Depicting androgynous beings in art, music, and literature.
2. Educational Workshops: Offering teachings and discussions on gender fluidity and spirituality.
3. Community Celebrations: Honoring androgyny during festivals and sabbats.

The concept of the Androgyne thus continues to inspire and shape Pagan practices, promoting a more inclusive and holistic understanding of gender and sexuality.

Modern Revival of Pagan Practices

The modern revival of pagan practices features a renewed interest in ancient traditions. This movement stems from a desire to reconnect with nature, enhance personal spirituality, and challenge dominant religious narratives. Individuals are increasingly exploring practices that align with early paganism, integrating them into their contemporary lives.

Practices

1. Rituals and Ceremonies:
• Modern practitioners often conduct rituals that mirror ancient ceremonies.
• These include seasonal celebrations like solstices and equinoxes.
• Such rituals often aim to honor gods and goddesses, nature, and planetary cycles.
2. Festivals:
• Modern pagans participate in festivals such as Samhain, Beltane, and Ostara.
• These festivals usually involve community gatherings, feasts, music, and dance.
• They help reinforce a sense of community and shared belief.
3. Nature Worship:
• Reverence for nature is a cornerstone of pagan practices.
• Modern pagans might engage in activities like meditating in natural settings, tending gardens, or making offerings to nature spirits.
• Ecological concerns often drive participation in environmental conservation efforts.
4. Divination Practices:
• The use of tarot cards, runes, and other divination tools is prevalent.
• These practices seek guidance, insight, and connection to the divine through interpretive rituals.

Community and Identity

1. Inclusivity:
• Modern pagan communities advocate for inclusivity, featuring diverse identities and sexual orientations.
• Safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals and discussions around gender fluidity are common.
2. Online Platforms:
• The internet plays a significant role in the modern pagan revival.
• Online forums, social media, and virtual ceremonies allow global connectivity and exchange of ideas.

"The growing interest in pagan practices not only reflects a yearning for connection to the past but also represents a search for a more inclusive and holistic spiritual path."

Moral and Ethical Views

1. Ethical Living:
• Contemporary practitioners often embrace moral codes that emphasize respect for all living beings.
• Ethical and sustainable living practices form an important tenet.
2. Interconnectedness:
• Modern pagans believe in the interconnectedness of all life.
• This belief influences their view on environmental and social issues, promoting active participation in communal solutions.

Influence of Androgyny in Contemporary Society

In today's society, the concept of androgyny has gained remarkable prominence, impacting numerous aspects of life. The following key areas show how androgyny influences contemporary society:

Fashion and Aesthetics

• Unisex Clothing Lines: Designers increasingly create collections that blur gender lines, offering garments suitable for all.
• Model Representation: Runways and fashion campaigns feature androgynous models, celebrating gender fluidity.
• Personal Style: Individuals mix traditionally masculine and feminine elements, fostering a diverse fashion landscape.

Media and Entertainment

The rise of androgyny is evident in various media forms:

• Film and TV Characters: Shows and movies showcase androgynous characters, exploring themes of identity and fluidity.
• Music Industry: Artists like David Bowie and Janelle Monáe embody androgynous styles, influencing fans and peers.
• Influencers and Social Media: Platforms feature influencers who challenge gender norms, encouraging followers to embrace androgyny.

Gnosticism Promotes Androgyne

Gnostic Gospel of Phillip: There was no death when eve was still in Adam. Adam was called hermaphrodite, both male and female. thus the human soul is described as androgynous.

Has The Mass Media Industry Assisted the Gay Agenda?

Astonishing X-Men Issue #51 Same-Sex Marriage

In the June 20, 2012 issue of Marvel X-Men comic issue "Astonishing X-Men #51 had caused a controversy with comic character Northstar openly gay character was set to marry his long-term partner Kyle in a same-sex marriage ceremony(source). Most traditional family value groups are outraged by Marvel producing a comic on same-sex marriage, they believe it is being used indoctrinate young people to accept same-sex marriage. Even on television shows such as NBC New Normal, and ABC Modern Family promote same-sex relationships/marriage as the norm in this current culture. Has the mass media really aided the Gay Agenda with these types of comics and television shows? Should Christians be concerned or not?

This latest story about Marvel producing such a comic book story , is further confirmation on a interview I did in 2011 with Pastor Joe Schimmel with Goodfight Ministries called "The Real Gay Agenda is on tv and movie screens"     on Gay Christian Movement Watch Blog . Here is the  interview below.

Pastor Joe Schimmel

Shofarsound: There’s hardly a TV show now that doesnt have a “well adjusted” homosexual character. Is this intentional?

Pastor Joe: That’s a great question. Tragically, almost anything that is treated favorably by Hollywood and mass media becomes infectious and catches on, even if it is deadly.  Humans are very impressionable and easily led by the liberal media. Television shows and movies have been a powerful weapon in Satan’s arsenal to erode godly morals among the American populace.

Oprah Winfrey, who influences millions, promoted homosexuality when she made a cameo appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ “Coming Out” Episode.  Since Oprah claims to be a Christian when in fact she is a new ager, she has duped God only knows how many biblically uninformed Christians on the issue.

Television shows that promote homosexuality are too numerous to list, but in the last couple of years shows like “Degrassi,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Pretty Little Liars,” and “Glee” are at the top of the list, when it comes to glamorizing the sin of homosexuality. Many of these TV shows receive awards from the homosexual organization GLAAD for their promotion of homosexual lifestyles. Wise parents will protect their children from being enticed by programming that is intended to program their little ones with gay propaganda.

In “The Overhauling of Straight America,” authors Kirk and Erastes Pill, advocate this strategy to propagate the gay agenda:

“Where we talk is important. The visual media, film and television, are plainly the most powerful image-makers in Western civilization. The average American household watches over seven hours of TV daily. Those hours open up a gateway into the private world of straights, through which a Trojan horse might be passed … So far, gay Hollywood has provided our best covert weapon in the battle to desensitize the mainstream” (Marshall K. Kirk and Erastes Pill, “The Overhauling of Straight America.” Guide Magazine, October and November 1987 [emphasis added].

Consider the following revealing stratagem from a popular manual, advocating homosexual propaganda, by Harvard trained gay activists Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen:

“… Famous historical figures are especially useful to us for two reasons: first, they are invariably dead as a doornail, hence in no position to deny the truth and sue for libel. Second, and more serious, the virtues and accomplishments that make these historic gay figures admirable cannot be gainsaid or dismissed by the public, since high school history textbooks have already set them in incontrovertible cement. By casting its violet spotlight on such revered heroes, in no time a skillful media campaign could have the gay community looking like the veritable fairy godmother to Western civilization” (Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, After the Ball).

We can look at just two of the top movies that came out in the month of June 2011 to see how this propaganda works. The latest X-Men movie (X-Men: First Class) was number one at the box office and very few of the millions who viewed it, knew that they were being indoctrinated by a subversive gay propaganda film.

X-men films develop the theme of various X-men discovering their superpowers, as they struggle with their various mutations and societies reluctance to accept their “coming out,” with their superpowers.  Unbelievably, some behind the X-Men movies want their audience to see X-Men as superheroes “coming out,” as analogous to gays coming out of the closet, and their superpowers, as analogous to homosexual lifestyles.

Gay X-Men screenwriter Dan Harris, who wrote the screenplay for X2 with gay screenwriter Michael Dougherty, admitted that he sees X-Men mutancy, and the X-Men’s struggle for acceptance in society, as corresponding to homosexuality:

“…. it’s become more a metaphor for sexual identity and orientation because it’s more appropriate to look at a person and have to say, ‘Are you a mutant?’…. you can’t always look at a person and know that they’re a mutant just like you can’t look at a person and know that they’re gay” (Filmfreakcentral.net critic Walter Chaw, X2).

Openly gay X-Men Director, Bryan Singer, has not only directed most of the X-Men movies but recruited openly gay activist actor Ian McKellen, to star as Magneto, by convincing him that mutants were comparable to struggling gays. McKellen stated “I think he expected that I was going to consider it a not posh-enough job,” but revealed that he was told that X-Men is really about Lesbain, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. “I thought he was right,” says McKellen. “It’s not just a fantasy story. It’s a parable.” McKellen is a co-founder of the LGBT gay activist group Stonewall.

McKellen further stated “[The producers] will tell you one of the demographics that X-Men appeals to is young gays…. There are enough people in this world who think that the answer to the ‘problem’ of being gay is to be ‘cured’ of your abnormality.” Thus in McKellen’s mind, rather than view sex between two men as immoral behavior, why not portray it as positive genetic mutation, on the level of the fantastic powers of a superhero?

Homosexual William Earnest in his article “Making Gay Sense of X-Men,” admitted “Singer and his screenwriters equipped X-Men and X2 with the rhetorical stealth needed to fly below the gaydar of many critics and audience members.” [source]

In the latest X-Men installment, when an X-Men who works for the US military is asked how he got away with being discovered through the years, he replies “Well, they didn’t ask, and I didn’t tell.” An obvious reference to the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuality in the U.S. military.  Thus the line is drawn from this X-men’s superpower to homosexuality, and Hollywood has gone a step further than simply legitimizing what billions of people deem to be sinful and destructive behavior, to glorifying it as something to be coveted like a
cool superpower.

When we turn to Pirates of the Caribbean, which like X-Men, has been one of the most successful series of movies ever released, we see similar brainwashing. Johnny Depp admits that he read the book “Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition,” to prepare for his staring role as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Famous Film Reviewer, Robert Ebert wrote: “Depp seems to be channeling a drunken drag queen with his eyeliner and the way he minces ashore and slurs his dialogue ever so insouciantly.” When Rolling Stone asked Depp about the “certain gay undercurrent” so obvious in his Jack Sparrow’s character, Depp responded:

“Well, there was a great book I read…. ‘Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition.’ A very interesting book. I wasn’t exactly going for that with the character. And Keith [Richards] is not flamboyant in his actions. Keith is pretty stealth. But with Jack, it was more that I liked the idea of being ambiguous, of taking this character and making everything a little bit…. questionable. Because women were thought to be bad luck on ships. And these pirates would go out for years at a time. So, you know, there is the possibility that one thing might lead to another. You’re lonely. You have an extra ration of rum. ‘Cabin boy!’” (Rolling Stone, July 2006, p. 50).

Sadly, millions of parents had no idea that Depp had inculcated aspects of a homosexual pirate into his character. Children who are enticed by this character, are led to believe that since Captain Jack is portrayed as a hero, that wearing eye shadow and acting effeminate is the stuff heroes are made of today, unable to always discern the difference between fact and fiction. Gay activist Darrell Risk, in his article “Are Homosexual’s Born That Way?” acknowledges the infectious nature of homosexuality, when young people are exposed to it:

“I have found that even many of my most unbiased straight friends grow skittish with my homosexual candor—say, kissing my mate—when their children are around. Underneath it all, they too understand that sexually free ideas are infectious and that, once introduced to the suggestion of same sex love, their kids might just try it and like it” (Darrell Risk, ‘Born?’ p. 424).

In light of Darrell Risk’s admission that his own public sexual expression has the power to “infect” children who witness it, how much more are the purposely-seductive characters of Jack Sparrow, the X-Men and other Hollywood caricatures and story lines, enticing and infecting millions of our children?  Harry Hay, the founder of the gay liberation movement stated, Everyone, even heterosexual people, all have the potential to have that fairy spirit.”

Perhaps no movie has been quite as successful in propagating homosexuality as natural and normative as Brokeback Mountain. To get an understanding of how this movie manipulated the public we can look at a piece of propaganda created out of thin air by the father of the sexual revolution here in America, Alfred Kinsey. Kinsey was exposed for fabricating bogus numbers, when he claimed that 10 percent of Americans are homosexual.  Subsequent studies revealed that the truth ended up being between two and three percent. Kinsey was found to have inflated his statistics by interviewing large numbers of prison inmates and prostitutes.

Kinsey also made bogus claim that a disproportionate number of cowboys, who ride their horses in the open range, are in fact gay and hook up with each other to have homosexual encounters. Kinsey never showed any study that would suggest such was the case.  I mention this because Kinsey was trying to get America away from the effeminate stereotype of homosexuals that repulsed so many people.  Kinsey sought to cast homosexuals as real men.  What Kinsey may have done though, was take a page from a Marlboro cigarettes advertising campaign that popularized Marlboro among men just a few years earlier than Kinsey’s wild assertion.

Since 1924, Marlboro was marketed to women, as they were originally designed with a red band around the filter to hide lipstick and advertised as “Mild As May.” In the 1950’s, after cigarettes were proven to cause cancer, Phillip Morris wanted to attract men to his filtered cigarettes, men who would never use filters in the past.  How could he get men to smoke what was previously billed a women’s cigarette? Simple: reposition Marlboro as a man’s cigarette by placing it in the mouth of a rugged cowboy.  This cowboy, depicted on thousands of billboards nation wide, came to be known as the Marlboro Man. In a matter of months Marlboro went from a market share of less than less one percent to one of the best selling brands in the United States!

Ironically, even though homosexuality is often more deadly than smoking, Hollywood, like Kinsey, sought to make homosexuality acceptable by using a page out of Phillip Morris’ playbook.  The licentious movie Brokeback Mountain, recast homosexuality as a lifestyle akin to a healthy masculine cowboy. Kinsey would have been proud!

Shofarsound: Can you give a little more detail on Michael Swift’s comments in the Gay Community News that you mention in your CD expose’ Satanism and Homosexual Agenda?

Pastor Joe: Homosexual activist Michael Swift flaunted gay aspirations in the Gay Community News piece entitled “Gay Revolutionary” as he envisioned a gay utopia:

“We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools…. in your youth groups, in your movie theater bathrooms…wherever men are men together. Your sons will become our minions and do our bidding. They will be recast in our image. They will come to crave and adore us” [Michael Swift, Gay Community News, 15 February 1987].

What I find chilling, is that while some of Swift’s statements in the piece are somewhat satirical and inflammatory, is that many of the things he articulates as gay aspirations, with regard to our children, are already happening in our “youth groups…. movie theater’s [and] bathrooms” every day.

GCMW Note: Homosexual activists claim the Swift piece was only intended to be taken as “satire”.

Shofarsound: So can we assume that Swift’s revisioning of America under a homosexual rule is coming true?

Pastor Joe: My comments on the question you asked earlier about the media and Hollywood, reveal that they are indeed seeking to “recast” our children in their “image,” as Swift states. Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen detail a three-stage plan to homosexualize America in their book, After the Ball.  They describe the plan to further the gay agenda and homosexualize America as a threefold plan, “desensitize, jam, and convert.”

The first stage is to desensitize by inundating the public with a “continuous flood of gay-related advertising, presented in the least offensive fashion possible.” They go on to say, “The main thing is to talk about gayness until the issue becomes thoroughly tiresome . . . If you can get [straights] to think [homosexuality] is just another thing—meriting no more than a shrug of the shoulders—then your battle for legal and societal rights is virtually won.” The second stage, “Jamming,” is described as “psychological terrorism meant to silence expression or even support for dissenting opinion.” The third stage is “Conversion” and they define it as the “conversion of the average American’s emotions, mind, and will, through a planned psychological attack, in the form of propaganda fed to the nation via the media” (Selling Homosexuality to America,” Regent Law Review, Volume 14, Number 2, Spring, 2002, available at www.regent.edu).