Pagan Tombs Under St. Peter's Basilica?

I was browsing the Fox News site, and came across this story regarding Pagan tombs beneath St. Peter's basilica in Vatican City.

Honestly, I'm not sure whether or not I should be insulted, but I'm finding it funny non-the-less.

Apparently, Emperor Constantine (life-long Pagan who supposedly converted to Christianity, after deciding that it should be the religion of Rome, in order to calm the issues - but that's a different Xombyte), had the burial ground covered over in the fourth century, so that the Cathedral (housing the tomb of St. Peter) could be constructed over it. After years of restoration, to it's former splendor, the Vatican has opened the Pagan tombs for tours and such.

So, let me get this straight. One of the oldest Christian churches; where the man who is credited as being the first Pope; where it could be argued Christianity got it's start, sits knowingly atop the elaborate final resting places of Roman Pagans?

Now, I'm sure that there are many churches that are built upon ancient Pagan/Heathen burial grounds. But, those churches are probably unaware of this fact. They probably didn't do it on purpose, which is the difference here. And, chances are, they wouldn't be advertising the fact if it were figured out.

On the one hand, I find it disrespectful that a church was constructed, willfully, over the tombs of people who didn't ever adhere to the teachings/doctrine of said religion. On the other hand, I find it funny that Christians tend only to have saints and other VIP's worthy of honor buried within the confines of a Cathedral/church. Yet, here, in this all important Catholic location, there be Pagans nestled beneath. LOL.

**Originally posted, by me, on Xomba.**

Summer Solstice Celebrated At Stonehenge.

I know I'm a little late on this, but I found the article on Fox News.com about the Stonehenge celebration of the summer solstice on June 21st, and I wanted to share it with you.

The estimate for how many Pagans, Druids, and curious spectators, was around 28,000. Some people weren't religiously connected to the sacred space, but felt that it was such an important part of their English heritage/culture, they just had to attend.

Click here to view the story on Fox.

or.. copy and paste into your browser... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,369824,00.html

The Meaning of Life, From the Thoughtful Perspective of a Child

Before I became a full-time mommy, I worked in a private daycare center. I handled all age groups, ranging from 8 weeks to 8 years of age.

One day, one particular 8 year old was really grating on my last nerve. She just wouldn't behave, and it was making life stressful for not only the teachers and T.A.'s, but also the younger children.

Finally, I just could not take it anymore. So, I told her to sit in time out. She pushed me to tell her for how long she would have to sit there, so I said, "Until you can tell me the meaning of life!"

Now, I wasn't honestly going to have her sit there all day. Technically, we weren't allowed to have them sit in time out for longer then five minutes at a time. I just needed time to cool off, and for her to know that she couldn't get away with whatever it was she was doing (this was 7 years ago or so, I don't remember the exact offense).

A few moments later, she called me over. She told me that she had figured out the answer to my question. I was a little more then skeptical that an 8 year old had figured out the meaning of life, but I did tell her that she could get out of time out by giving my a pensive answer, so I awaited her response.

"To live," she told me. It was so simple, and yet so very compelling. My irritation with her antics faded quickly. I thought about her answer for a few seconds, and told her she could get out of time out and go play.

To live. The more I thought about it, the more her answer not only made more sense then anything I'd heard from a great many philosophers and intelligent adults, but it also brought more peace. From the lips of a rebellious child to my ears - The meaning of life is to live.

Attempting to Define Paganism

You, or your child, may run into situations where you'll have to define what Paganism actually is. Most of the time, it's just a lot easier to discuss your families own personal beliefs, as they specifically pertain to you. But, sometimes, you'll have to give a more general definition (online, or perhaps at school even).

It can be a very difficult thing to describe to someone who doesn't identify as Pagan. Hopefully, my little tirade below (which is a reprint of an article I wrote on Xomba), will help you in your endeavors to define it to people who may not know what it is. Or, who, worse yet, believe it to be something that it definitely is not!

The dictionary has a few definitions for Paganism, all of which are pretty vague. One such definition simply states that any religion not part of the big three Abrahamic faiths is deemed Pagan. However, I have yet to meet an individual who counts themselves as strictly Hindu or Buddhist who would identify themselves as "Pagan". So, for the purposes of what I'd like to talk about here, I'm going to be sticking with the people who would be most likely to identify themselves as "Pagan".

Even Pagans will tell you that "Pagan" is an umbrella term, used to refer to a vast number of individual faiths (much like "Christian" doesn't say which denomination or Biblical interpretation one adhere's to). Most of the individuals you'll find who will identify as "Pagan" though, will be reconstructionists (those who are attempting to reconstruct more ancient spiritual paths, as best and most accurately as they can in present time), Wiccans, or those who are more eclectic in their beliefs, but whose beliefs are largely not Abrahamic in origin.

Pagans come in all shapes and sizes, and most have very different ideas of God. Some believe in many gods, some in just one, some that all gods are one, some in none. And on and on it goes. One thing that most Pagans do have in common is that they don't believe in the Devil (at least, not the character presented in Christian mythology). Considering how difficult it is to worship, honor, or otherwise pay homage to something or someone you don't believe in, they are not Devil-worshipers. In fact, you'll often find that telling them they are "actually worshiping the devil" doesn't go over so well. And, frankly, it's not something I've ever been able to understand, considering that the Bible makes a clear distinction between "The Devil" and the gods worshipped by other peoples, in both the old and new testaments.

In a nutshell, that's what Paganism is and is not. It's a little vague, I know, but probably much more descriptive then anything you'll find in an dictionary. Basically, Pagans are just people. They are people who are searching for what they believe is the right spiritual path for them personally to follow. They are people who believe, or know to the best of their ability, that they have found that path. And, their path doesn't include most of what's found in Abrahamic religions. That's pretty much as detailed as one can get, without going through all the various beliefs held personally by all the Pagans in the world (but, I guarantee that even if I were capable of doing that, you would be asleep by the end of this article. I know I would!).

2 FREE Ways You Can Help Change the World For the Better.

Not all of us have the money to give as much as we want, need, or feel we should to charity. But, most of us want to help change the world for the better, even if it's just in a small way. Well, these sites will help you accomplish that, without having to spend any money at all, and with only devoting a small amount of your online time.

The Hunger Site (click here) donates food for the hungry as their primary function. Every day, you can click on a button at the top of the page, and donate 1.1 cups of food to the hungry by doing so. They have other ways you can help too, most of which are free, like sending an e-card.

One of the really great things about the hunger site is that you can give to other causes in the same way. Are you passionate about animals? Want to give more to breast cancer prevention? They have tabs for that and much more.

The available causes they have, that you can give to by clicking, sending e-cards, etc. are; (ending) Hunger, Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, Rainforest (preservation), and Animal Rescue.

Another great site, that will allow you to give to a worth cause, is FreeRice.com. This site serves two functions actually. When you go onto the site, there will be a vocabulary word, with four possible definitions below it. You click on the definition that you believe best suits the word. For every word/definition combo you get correct, the site donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme, to help end world hunger. So, you'll be building your vocabulary, having fun, and helping to end world hunger all at the same time, and all for free!

Get the kids involved in these online ventures! You'll be teaching them about using computers (if they're young), and teaching them about helping others simultaneously!

Book Review ~ "The Herbalist of Yarrow"

"The Herbalist of Yarrow" - A fairy tale of plant wisdom, written by: Shatoiya De La Tour, is a book I bought a while back for my eldest daughter. She's very into nature spirits, herbology, botany, etc. She may only be 6, but these interests have been obvious for quite some time now.

This book is really amazing for a child who loves plants of any type, or shows an interest in herbology. I would also recommend the book for a child that is showing less appreciation for nature then you'd like, as a way to get them more involved, interested, or even more kindly in that regard.

The actual story is fictional, but the book features recipes for various salves, teas, tinctures, etc. that are very useful, even for us adults. To that end, I would say that the book is able to reach a wide variety of age groups. My daughter is just six, and she loves the story. I'm 26, and I love the recipes.

In front of the book is a map of "Yarrow", which I feel makes the world the book presents more "real" feeling, and more fun to read about. Much like "The Wind in the Willows" did for me as a child, when I saw the map of the featured fictional world presented in the front of the book.

I whole-heartedly agree with the blurb on the back of the book, and I quote, "The Herbalist of Yarrow is full of fun and adventure with many pleasant surprises for the child in all of us. There are recipes for teas, herbal baths, and other healing remedies for preventive family healthcare. Gorgeous full-color illustrations by Pamela Becker create an engaging learning environment for child and parent. Ideal for 'sharing time.' A great gift."