LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY raven_moon)

I know a slew of folks posted their intros as comments to catvincent's post, but I'm gonna do it in my own post. Meh, call me a rebel...

*EDIT* And since rebels sometimes cause trouble, this post in now cut

Anywho, I am raven_moon, and Raven will do fine. Mt IRL name is very unique, and I do like to preserve a thin layer of anonymity. (Very thin, but hey...) I have been here about 18 months or so? I found this comm via an interest search one night looking for sane postings to read. (I'm still looking, BTW - j/k)

I am a former advertising graphic art guru who decided I couldn't stand to make my living propagating the 'machine' as it were, so I called it quits. The world doesn't need more people telling them to buy more beer, wear more makeup, or that nursing homes are happy places. I went back to school to finish my degree, and I will start my 4th year of an accelerated, 5 year BA/MA program in Humanities/Religious Studies.

My reason for doing so ties in with both my beliefs and what I am willing to contribute. As many of us know, but few of the masses do, is that what Christianity is today is wholly a creation of the power structure, and has been a political device for the vast majority of its history. While I am not here to debunk the Church, (well, maybe kinda... ;-) I think it is important to understand the origin of the religion that has (like it or not) shaped western culture, and that understanding that helps us as a society to keep religion in perspective. If you are interested in my take on this, see THIS post, of which I am quite proud, by the way.

My beliefs are largely philosophical and spiritual rather than religious, but Pagan and Wiccan paths have influenced me, as has the work of Michel Foucault, George Orwell, and A. J. Slavin among others. (The Foucault has been formative for me - once you get it, it's everywhere!)

Anyway, that's enough about me, but howdy! with apologies to all whose F-lists blossomed out of control... :D