Wicca priestess explores feminine side of religion
Oct. 24, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- She'll be a couple days late for Halloween, but a noted scholar and witch will conjure up some interesting discussion on the feminine side of religion during a visit to Western Michigan University Friday, Nov. 2.
Dr. Nikki Bado-Fralick, assistant professor of American religions at Iowa State University, will be at WMU to present a lecture titled "May I Borrow Your Goddess? The Search for Female Images of Deity" at 7 p.m. in Room 2304 of Sangren Hall. Sponsored by the University's Department of Comparative Religion and the Women's Studies Program, Bado-Fralick's presentation is free and open to the public.
Bado-Fralick has been a Wicca priestess for nearly 30 years. Wicca is an American religious movement that emphasizes female power and feminine images of divinity and advocates the positive and healing nature of practicing witchcraft. Drawing upon her experiences with Wicca and using slides to illustrate her address, she will explore the complications that arise when goddesses from one tradition are appropriated by another.
Bado-Fralick is often sought out as an expert to interpret the significance of Wicca, which is an old English word meaning "wise woman," and other new religious movements of contemporary America. As a scholar, she has studied how Wicca covens develop rituals and use them to accomplish both personal and communal transformation. In addition, she recently completed a term as president of the Midwest American Academy of religion, an organization for religious scholars, and is the only witch ever to have held elective office in the academy.
For more information about Bado-Fralick's presentation, contact Dr. Nancy Falk, professor of comparative religion, at (616) 387-4393, or <nancy.falk@wmich.edu>.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu