Renaissance Fair: A Phenomenon of Evil
http://www.thecomingpersecution.com/?p=7

I once took my family to a Renaissance Festival. Something that seemed perfectly innocent to me. It was meant to be edifying to my children. A chance to see knights joust, some crafts, and art work being done, story telling, etc.

We walked about and watched the folks in costumes. We explored the booths and participated in the low-tech entertainment. The kids enjoyed the glass blowing and the dress up. Mostly the dress up, until the knights came out and clashed. That was the highlight of their day.

I sensed something amiss. Wouldn�t there have been a ton of religious walking about, a bishop with his entourage riding through. Where was Friar Tuck? There wasn�t even a hint that there was religion in the middle ages let alone that the Renaissance was born of Christendom.

But it wasn�t just that, the whole fair was tinged with blatant paganism. There were fairy themes and there was a Magick and Herbs shop. All kinds of bric-a-brac was for sale with dragons and warlock imagery. Click here to read the rest...

when you view the world in terms of good/evil (one to embrace and one to shun and fear and stay away from) instead of creation/destruction (both necessary in the cycle, with nothing to fear), some things will scare you shitless.

knowledge will light the darkness, but some take pride in their crippling fear and prefer to just run away from the unknown.

knowing all experience is a matter of perspective, i found the girl in the shop to be most insightful. can't recognize a "come hither" look unless you know it yourself. wonder how often he employs it.

this guy is dysfunctional in his own reality. didn't even have the courage to stay and confront that which challenged him. a lesson in his life, a chance to learn and grow, blatently presented to him, which he chose to ignore.

weak sauce.

I'm impressed that he really thought the girl in the shop was giving him that look.  Is he that egotistical, or does he think that all Pagan women want to lead good, Christian, family men astray?  (sort of like the idea that many straight people think that all gay people want to have sex with them simply because they are the "right" sex, or that all Muslims want to kill all Christians!)

So, they enjoyed themselves completely UNTIL they realized that there were many Pagans at the festival.  What changed?  Only their perspective.   It's truly amazing what a mind full of ignorance will force a person to think about his surroundings.   Until they noticed the Pagans, everyone was just like everyone else--just like them.  Until they noticed the Pagans, the show was great.  Until they noticed the Pagans, the surroundings were good and wholesome.  Then they noticed the Pagans.  Is it just me, or do I sense a bit of religious Bigotry here?  What would they do if they were stuck in an elevator with a group of Muslim men and women?  Die of Panic?  Or if they had to sit next to a Sikh in a turban on an airplane?  Shout out, "We're goin' down, Gertie!"  Gawd, I have a hard time with ignorance!

Me thinks this autor needs to get the stick out of his Bum and lighten the Flock up.

"And thats all I have to say about that." ~ Forrest Gump

Oh darn, they're on to us!!!!  Mwahahahahaha      

Honestly that man needs more challenges in his life if he's viewing Ren Fests as "out to get him"!

ah crazy conspiracy theory's ^^ gotta love them

— EarthMother wrote

Me thinks this autor needs to get the stick out of his Bum and lighten the Flock up.

"And thats all I have to say about that." ~ Forrest Gump

I totally agree with you.

I love the girl in the shop bit. Shame on her for finding him attractive! Doesn't she know that if you're walking around with children, you MUST be married.

This was absolutely laughable. I loved the first post in response that asked if the author was schizophrenic. He absolutely sounds schizo, hearing evil voices and all. Luved it.

I realize that this is a pretty old topic, but being new to the castle, i just had to comment on it.
This really pulled at the ole heart strings.
To think that people are so closed off or up tight to the wonderful joys of our world. Its sad.
the thing is, i can almost remember being like that....sooooo many years ago. It gives me the chills, and alot of bad memories, of late night bible studies, camps, and badge earning as a missionette.
I am at ease with life now, to know that i have choosen a path that surrounds me with so much energy and wellbeing, to me, is the best feeling you can have.
                                                        (cloud 9)

Hey, Dedders, I was a Missionette, too!  Wow, that WAS a long time ago!

Ok now wait a minute here. I truly did not think that this was going into a "religious" war sort of thing.
I thought perhaps it was a tongue in cheek reference to the differences between the fairs back in the day and the commercialism in the fairs of today.
Thats the evil folks, the commercialism.
Back in the day, after paying admission, the fair could be enjoyed for a fistful of change and a few dollars. The wares were made by the individual who sold them and while sometimes pricey, most were reasonable. Now I understand in this day of "management companies and corporations" booths are and space is very expensive and runs up prices and so now more free readings from wandering soothsayers and I will not even get into the food.
The evil here is that the fairs have become big business and our artisan fratres and sorors must up their prices just to bring their goodnesses to us.

That said. Even though I do not like where the author went with this, he is correct about one thing, a true Renaissance Fair would have had a very Yahwist flavor, not a Pagani one, at least on the surface. Still i see no evil in either one, only people who chose to make it a war will make it so.

At the Ren Faire outside of Shakopee Mn, it's not authentic. If it was then there wouldn't be any belly dancers and other non-period people or rather non-local people..

As for the booths, I haven't asked the Pickle man, but the actual artisans, ARE the sellers.. Leather workers, decorative blacksmiths and musical instruments all sell their own products.. Usually they cost what the same products by other people are selling for. It's not perfect, I don't think Nacho's were invented in the dark ages, but the turkey legs are huge and almost to die for.. The Mead is purty good too..  

And unless McDonalds is in the business of Mead and Turkey legs then I don't see any big business interfering in the ren faire here..It's fifteen to get in and then whatever you want to buy.. I bought a couple of tails last time.. All the jousting and the shows are free.. There's five or more different stages where comedy and dancing and other stuff is going on during the whole day..

Lets not forget that, usually people don't want to relive history.. I don't want to live back when women were no better than something for labor and bathing was a special occasion. I like the whole fairy, pagan, sexiness feel that my Ren Fair has.. You've never flirted unless you're flirting with the Town Drunk/Pickle Man/Beer salesman, wearing something that makes you look like you have a pair of Double D's..    BooYah..  

I always have fun at those things.. People just need to calm down and have fun. Just like SeaMonster said, nothing changed but their perspective of who the other people were.

Mara