2008 Woodie Awards
Vandy Faces: Arthur Moore leads Vanderbilt Pagans
Aaron Kraft
Editor-in-Chief
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Arthur Moore is a senior in Arts & Science majoring in neuroscience and is the president of the recently formed Vanderbilt Pagan Association. This new organization, which now attracts as many as 20-25 people to its rituals, has grown impressively since its establishment.
Arthur explains paganism as a broad category of religion, including such traditions as Wicca and Native American Spiritualism. With the resurgence of older religions in the United States and Europe, paganism has been increasing its presence. Both within paganism and the Pagan Association, varied and distinctive views and opinions exist and are encouraged, generating a diverse atmosphere.
The rituals performed by the Association are organized by the club’s officers, and encompass a variety of different components, including a celebration of nature, life and the higher power. One misconception that Arthur notes is that paganism is associated with polytheism; this is not the case. In rituals, they do call on gods and goddesses bearing different names. Most recently they called on those from the Greek Pantheon, though the deities could just as easily be Egyptian, Irish or those of any culture. However, these gods and goddesses are analogous to Catholic Saints who are venerated with a purpose, but are not gods themselves. For some, they all represent one greater power.
Arthur began his study of Wicca seven years ago. He sought it out on his own, locating a high priestess in his hometown. His parents are Lutheran and of his four brothers, one is Catholic, two are agnostic and one is a Native American Spiritualist/Buddhist. After much study, he was “ordained” a high priest two to three years ago by the high priestess who first introduced him to wicca.
Spell-casting is another misconception about paganism that Arthur has encountered. Many seem to imagine pagans sacrificing goats or killing babies, but these perceptions are not accurate. Spell work is much more akin to prayer. In addition to the divine power, one asks the force that permeates from every form of life for help in accomplishing a task. Pagans do not practice black magick either (notice that magick is different from “stage” magic). They believe the energy in nature is meant to be used and focused. Spells are completely up to the individual; one can use words, light candles or even mix herbs.
When Arthur came to Vanderbilt, there were four other students who already held rituals in which he participated but the group was not official. His two main goals in starting the organization were to provide acceptance and a safe haven where those with similar beliefs could congregate. Anyone of any religion is welcome to come to any meeting, and rituals are open to all. The decision to start the club was also based on the fact that several students on campus had been discriminated against based on their beliefs.
As for Pagan Association signs around campus, people have torn them down or drawn crosses on them. The posters show a pinnacle surrounded by a circle. The bottom four points are the elements (earth, fire, wind, water); the top point represents the spirit; and the circle demonstrates that all are connected.
The Association does not try to convert and condones every religion based on love. Its members do not fit stereotypes that societal misconceptions and misunderstanding have created for paganism.
Arthur has early acceptance to Vanderbilt Medical School and has been the president of the neuroscience club. The two rules to which Wiccans and Pagans adhere are the Rule of Karma (the three-fold law); that you get back three times what you put out and the law “and ye harm none do what ye will,” which means that one should treat everyone with respect. A central principle of Wicca is that it is based on the individual, so the religion tailors itself to fit the practitioner, not vice versa. The views expressed in this article are not the views of every pagan.