PROVIDENCE -- stirs church controversy

The First Unitarian Church plans to host a Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day tomorrow, but not everyone in the church is pleased.

The daylong program has drawn fire from critics who say that Unitarian Universalism is a rational congregation that has tried to steer clear of superstition.

In a letter being circulated among members, one critic called the scheduled series of pagan workshops "a potpourri of flaky spiritualities and ancient occult practices resembling a medieval Dungeons and Dragons festival."

"The sad and scary thing," the critic wrote, is that it will probably draw a bigger crowd than discussion on how Unitarians might lead a "long overdue reform" of liberal religion.

The writer added: "On the other hand, we are supposed to be committed to diversity. Therefore, instead of criticizing this travesty, maybe we should contribute to it, say, by providing booths to promote Voodoo, Santeria and the ancient Greek Olympian deities. . . . After all, what better way to exorcize the God myth than to adopt and worship a couple of dozen deities."

Lorna Steele, the event's organizer, said many may not know it, but First Unitarian on Benevolent Street has had a pagan presence for at least 14 years. During all that time, she has led a pagan group. For the last four of those years it has been known as the local chapter of CUUP, the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans.

This weekend's Pagan Pride Day, is a way for Rhode Island's estimated 400 pagans to get together and to "educate the public about what paganism is and isn't, " Steele said.

"There are a lot of misconceptions out there that we hope to correct," she said.

Steele describes paganism as an essentially earth-based spirituality, of which witchcraft, or Wicca, is only a small part. Some of the other forms, she said, include Native American spirituality, Heathenry and Hellenic Reconstruction.

Tomorrow's free event starts with an opening ritual at 8:15 a.m., and is followed by 34 workshops throughout the day in the church's auditorium and Sun, Moon Star, Diversity and Ocean Rooms.

Workshops will be offered on palmistry, making medicine bags, Wicca 101, Nurturing the Bay, Past Life Regression, Making a Book of Shadows, candle making, tarot, massage, aromatherapy, and discussions on Pagan Ethics and the failures of Neo-Paganism. The day's events include a Native American Ceremonial Singing Circle and performances by Kari Tieger, Kelliana, Kristi Martel and Jenna Greene.

The Pagan Pride celebration will continue with a day of activities including Medieval Street Fighting on Sunday in Goddard Park in Warwick.

Steele acknowledged that she said she has received some anonymous criticism of the event. Upon receiving one of the anonymous complaints by mail, she said, "I used it to line the bottom of the cage of my guinea pig."

rdujardi@projo.com / (401) 277-7384