Pagan 'blessing' sought for new building

A former employee of a Tennessee insurance company is objecting to a "ceremony" held at the construction site of a new building because it called on "the gods on the structure" for "good fortune and fertility."

The report on the ceremony came in an e-mail from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, which is constructing a new nearly $300 million office building at Chattanooga.

A spokeswoman for the company told WND the report comes apparently from an employee dispatched by the company to celebrate the "topping" ceremony of the building, with the report then transmitted to the insurance company's e-mail list.

"Upon arriving at the construction site we were greeted by the workers preparing to lift this tree with the crane. Why were they lifting the tree to the top of building one? Well according to the Scandinavian tradition from long ago, after the final foundation is complete you are to raise a tree to the top of a building to bless it. It was to 'bless' the house with fertility. But people still use the tradition to bless the structure with good fortune. It is a request for a blessing from the gods on the structure to provide good fortune and fertility," the company's e-mail said.

Insurance company construction site "blessed" in Tennessee

"As a former employee and former insured of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, I find it quite disconcerting to discover that they have now started practicing pagan blessing rituals at the workplace," said the WND reader, whose name was withheld. "It will be sad to see the judgment that befalls them due to their ignorant (or maybe not so ignorant) participation in this ritual."

But BCBS officials told WND it doesn't mean anything.

"No, Blue Cross doesn't endorse any religious perspective. It's simply a matter of tradition," a spokeswoman said.

(Story continues below)

"I'm aware it [the promotion] may have caused offense, if they had not been properly explained what the intent of the ceremony was," she said. That was simply to "wish luck on the site."

BCBS then blamed the situation on Skanska, the construction company, saying it was a contractor's tradition.

Jessica Murray, a spokeswoman for the builder, said it's "common practice" for builders to have such a ceremony.

"Centuries ago … when people first started doing it in Scandinavia, there had been some religious connotations. Nowadays all that is doing is signifying the project has been completed to its highest point. Lifting the tree up is symbolizing teamwork … and wishing luck on the building," she said.

She blamed BCBS for having an official statement in a speech during the ceremony that the history of the event included religious elements.

 

---

Related offers:

'Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged'

Why parents should pull their children from public schools!

New edition of 100-year-old book proves America's Christian heritage

"LAW-LESS: Why many Americans fear attorneys and judges more than terrorists"

Hillary stars in 'Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed'

"The Harsh Truth About Public Schools"

"The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool"

"Fish Out of Water: Surviving and Thriving as a Christian on a Secular Campus"

 

---

Previous stories:

'Deception': Christians war over worship day

Kindergarten cops rule: Witches in, Bibles out

Valedictorian sues over Gospel speech

Youth suspended over sketch of gun

School backtracks, will allow Bible reading

Flyer-censoring returns to Albemarle

Teachers rebel over atheism promotion

Pagan Christmas ritual pressed on young kids

'ACLU Solstice Barn' substitutes for Nativity

Students plan 'ACLU Nativity Scene'

Witch gets 'burned' by Supreme Court

Vet fights for Wiccan symbol on headstone

Wiccan halts 'Jesus' prayers at town council

Wiccan boy booted for wearing lipstick

Wiccans meeting on Air Force base

Witches: 10 Commandments don't spook us

District bans Halloween to not offend witches

Witchcraft led to girls' double suicide?

Cross-dressing Wiccan official sparks Christian mission probe

Witch files complaint against Christian pols

Judge: Witches can pray at county meeting

School bans Christmas, but OK with Halloween

Christmas in America becomes battleground

School bans saying 'Christmas'

Ban on Christmas leads to court fight