So here we are at our third issue. I’m still as excited about Pagan Moon as I was when we started working on it back in November. We’ve actually started getting unsolicited submissions, people write us to tell us what they think of our publication and overall things seem to be looking great.

I really feel that we’re starting to achieve some of our goals. Something happened the other day though that made me realize not everyone understands what those goals are. Someone asked “What’s the point?” that’s a very valid question, and one that several people seem to be confused about. Pagan Moon, despite its name is not a “pagan publication.” We’re not just about paganism. Our name was taken from our domain name, which was donated, pre-hosted, to our parent organization. Anyone who’s been involved in volunteer work knows that you take what you get. And when you’re talking about a domain name and hosting service, provided free you take it and run. 

Pagan Moon is the voice of Alternative Faith Awareness (AFA).  We started AFA for a lot of reasons. All of the founding members have at one time or another felt lost spiritually. We have felt alone. We have suffered because of misinformation. We have studied and searched to reach the point at which we each now stand personally. All of us feel that each person’s religious path is something they must find themselves, but we don’t think that it should be a trial by fire.  We don’t think that misinformation should be as rampant as it is.  We think that understanding comes through education.  And that fear comes mostly from a lack of knowledge.  We wanted to provide a place where people of different backgrounds and faiths could come together to learn about each other. That’s where Pagan Moon came from. 

We have other projects that we’re working on to promote knowledge; the Library Project is perhaps the most important. We’re collecting books on different faiths, anything we can find to provide a bias free library for those who wish to study. We’re also hoping to compile a series of “mini-brochures” about different faiths containing the major beliefs, tenents, holidays and other important information about different faiths along with a list of useful resources for the interested. Proselytizing is strictly forbidden in anything sponsored by the AFA. We’re also trying to provide a network of religious groups locally so we can refer interested parties to the right place.

We’re not here to tell you what’s right or wrong.  We’re here to give you information you can use to make your own decisions. We exist to give you a place to share your views, while learning about the views of others.  Our only requirement is respect.

Best Wishes,
Morte Portney
CO-Editor-In-Chief

Suddenly the joyous times have past and open warfare is going on. In another country you ask? In the streets perhaps? No, I mean amid the hustle and bustle of the Internet. In what were friendly chatrooms, newsgroups, and mailing lists, open warfare seems to have come.

Perhaps it's just a misunderstanding.  Perhaps some planet is in Mercury. Or perhaps you just got fired. I don't know for sure.  All I know is that I've been feeling the impact, and sometimes I'm afraid to say, I've been the one on the sending side, instead of just the receiving.  And for that I would like to just say I'm sorry.

I've seen a wonderful creative group break into name calling, banning, and harassment of those that disagree.  Over what you ask?  The choice of religion?  Over succession of a country?  Over abortion?  Over gun control?   All of which are pretty good reasons; each seem to be moving more in the forefront every day.  But alas, it was over the clothing in which to dress one's child. The content, and the color.

I've seen another group break down over someone accidentally mistyping another user's name.  And still others over misattributed quotes.

I know I've personally had an argument with my co-editor over issues such as sponsorship.   And not just over how to do it.  I think we'd be happy if that was the reason, since then we'd have a logical standpoint and opinions that we equally valid.  But we argued over the semantics of the word, and if apples and oranges were more than just literal in this sense, we would have been hurling them at one another.

Is there a reason for this warfare?  Is it stress?  Or perhaps the whims of some Mercurial state.  Or are we just operating as a result of some curse brought upon us?   I wish I could say.   I wish someone would tell me, or if not that, could they at least let me win the lottery so that I wouldn't have to care. (I'd pay someone else to care for me.)

We must remember that as some ancient astronomers finally figured out.  The sun doesn't revolve around our planets.  And it doesn't revolve around us personally.   Others may have valid opinions.  Please stop and consider why they feel strongly about them.  And it doesn't hurt to stop and say sorry, sometimes.

Neal Levin
CO-Editor-In-Chief