We worship you, Oh Brian.

A little mythology, as it were, for you to mull over during the weekend. The astrological age that started roughly two thousand years ago and ends some time roughly nowish is the age of Pisces, the ethos of which is that people have to be told what to do and how to live a good life. The age that starts when Pisces finishes is the age of Aquarius, the ethos of which is that people must discover for themselves what the right path is. The end of the age of Pisces is referred to as the End of Days. You may have heard of it, but don't worry, it's not the end of the world. There wouldn't be an age afterward when mankind did anything if it was.
In the prophetic code that mathematician Eli Rips claims (and has as far as is ever possible statistically proven at least exists, if not foretells the future, using very stringent tests, all of which has passes three levels of peer review etc) is hidden in the Hebrew of the Torah, the End of Days is encoded with "All his people to war", "Delay", "Will you change it?", along with startlingly accurate predications thousands of years old of the actions of specifically named individuals. Many of these have come true, or foretell things happening in the middle east, America and other nations which certainly show all the signs of happening soon. Drosin, the author of the book 'The Bible Code' based on Rips' work believes the code indicates the 'End' being delayed by the actions of mankind. He's going on the Arnie reading of 'End of Days', and a bit worried about the world ending.
But here we are, knocking about the End of Days, and all over the world wars and conflicts and acts of terrorism abound, there is a resurgence of conservatism, fundamentalism, evangelism of various ideas, and a climate of fear of events and each other. And there is a definite theme of wanting to not only keep things the way we've had them for so long, but to get other people to have them that way too. A delay of the time when everyone gets to decide for themselves and amongst themselves how they're going to do things. "Done by mankind, done by a man." "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." "Give me a place to stand and I will move the world."
Surely, though, there is more value in someone who has to decide for themselves deciding to believe something than in someone who is told to believe obeying? All these things we think we can improve people's lives with are just things we think are right. Given that it is virtually impossible to get 100% turnout in an election, and very rare for there to be only two options to vote for that everyone supports one of, democracy could be called the system by which the candidates that most people don't want end up in charge. Is there a system I personally prefer? No. But someone else might come up with something that is better for their country if not all of them if they're given the chance.
Religion's role in society and in the world is changing dramatically, and the world needs to redefine the status and importance of personal beliefs and allow coalitions of like minded people to co-operate with each other to address the local and international needs of People. Yes, we are all different. There's a lot of talk about Rights. I have a right to this and a right to that... Newsflash: rights are a set of rules agreed between people. Nothing else. You think you have a right to life? So tell the grim reaper "I don't have to die, it's a violation of my rights." and see if he cares. You have to take part in the process of formulating and protecting these rights, these rules we agree to live by, and try to make a system where people generally get a fair return on the effort they put in.
Notnowmeg asked for a blog on paganism. For the basic detail have a look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/intro.shtml For what it means to me, as this one pagan speaking only for myself, I have to define a couple of terms. Gods and Goddesses to me are the forces at work in the universe, and Nature is the reality of all the things in the universe and the way they interact. Gravity, evolution, astronomy, astrology, sod's law, seasons, weather, geology, biology, the way plants to cure illnesses grow right out of the ground, the symbiotic relationship between plants and creatures, chaos theory, philosophy, psychology, the movement of information, the dynamic between men and women. I feel like I'm watching facts about the world stream past in front of me like the screens of code in the Matrix. I listen to Radio 4 programs about politics and bee keeping, I read books about forensics and prophecies, I buy the National Enquirer religiously.
There was a three dimensional model of the chaos theory fractal made recently, and it's a beautiful thing that looks like a spinning top shaped unicorn's horn. Imagine yourself as one atom of that model. Imagine it is rotating clockwise. Imagine that a person or a thing you interact with is another atom as far away from you on that model as possible. Your interaction is a line connecting your dots. Now imagine that you and that other dot start to rotate the other way. That to me is paganism. Trying to know as much as possible about the system of everything and how it works, so I can move in it for the most benefit with the least possible ill effect.
Statisticians tell us there's a bell curve for everything, height, intelligence, flexibility, psychoticness, so logically each of us is the place where a million bellcurves cross. You are unique. You are the only person who can do what you can do. So when you think something shouldn't be the way it is, be a part of it not being. Far be it from me to agree with Kilroy, but when he says he wants to get just enough Veritas MPs to hold the rest of parliament to account, he makes a good point. You don't need to be in charge to change things, you just need to be a part of the process. So know who and what you are, and MANIFEST. I want to know what everyone thinks, not just what the papers say everyone thinks. I want some real debate in the house of commons. I want Nelson Mandela to be right when he says we have an opportunity to be a great generation, and can be. My new mission statement is: "I may not agree with what you're saying, but I'll die for my right to hear it."