Wednesday, February 03, 2010
(photo: F. Arangio)
As part of its effort to make the school more tolerant of different beliefs, the U.S. Air Force Academy has agreed to recognize an outdoor worship area for Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and other Earth-centered believers. The academy superintendent, Lieutenant General Michael Gould, is making religious tolerance a priority following complaints during the Bush years that non-Christian cadets were subjected to abuse or slurs for their beliefs.
In addition to creating a space for Pagans (which consists of a double circle of stones atop a hill), the school has worship facilities for Protestant and Catholic Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. Of the 4,000 cadets at the academy, only 15 to 20 have demonstrated an interest in Earth-centered beliefs.
The news of Pagan tolerance at the Air Force Academy follows that of Dan Halloran, who was endorsed last September by the Republican Party for a city council seat in the New York suburb of Queens, even though he worships Theodism, a pagan religion that predates Christianity. On November 3, 2009, Halloran was elected to represent New York City’s 19th district.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Earth Religions Get Worship Area at AF Academy (by Dan Elliott, Associated Press)
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