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Religio Americana
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Messages: 1 - 4 (123 total)
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dawnpiper
7/13/2002 9:18 PM
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I decided to start a new thread for this, since it's somewhat off the topic of the original thread. Just to allay anyone's concerns about stepping on someone else's idea, I received this from Cei Serith this evening: "...You give me too much credit, however; I did think up the idea of American Paganism without outside influence, but I was certainly not the first one to do so, and lay no claim to credit for it. As you report me as saying, it is something that is in the air. I hope people run with it."
Let the planning commence! I believe in this concept - I think the times are right for it, and if others are as enthusiastic as I am, I think we may be at the beginning of something big. Cal, you said you and Amorphous were already brainstorming - I would be honored if you would share those thoughts here! I'll start by copying over my original brainstorm post from the other thread as a kick-off...
Dawnpiper,
Who is extremely excited by this whole concept!
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dawnpiper
7/13/2002 9:21 PM
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2 out of 123 |
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Reposted from the other topic...
DP
The "Religio Americana" meets the following criteria that I believe qualify it as at least a potential religion:
1. Deities. We've already agreed that the Founders qualify as Heroes, to whom it is fitting to pour libations on the holy days; and Cal has identified (I believe completely correctly) Libertas as our Patron.
2. Scripture. First and foremost, of course, the Constitution and its Amendments. The Declaration of Independence would also be canonical. The next layer might include the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, the proceedings of the Constitutional Conventions, and other applicable writings from the time of the Founding. Beyond that, there is a huge mass of commentary and interpretation.
3. A liturgical calendar. We have a well-established cycle of Holy Days - Independence Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Flag Day, Presidents' Day - most of which have either prescribed or customary ritual.
4. Sacred ground. To which people already make pilgrimages - DC, Philadelphia, Boston, Colonial Williamsburg, and any number of battlefields.
5. Iconography. The Flag and the Eagle are clearly religious symbols, and there's always Our Lady of the Harbor, as well as the images at Mount Rushmore. And, again as Cal has said, there are temples aplenty in DC - Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Library of Congress (oh wait, sorry, that's from my religion of the Book...) :P
I swear, I think this thing is just waiting for us to approach it intentionally in order to spring to life.
Dawnpiper
PS - One of my former professors, Jeff Meyer, has just written a book called Myths in Stone: Religious Dimensions of Washington, D.C.. I haven't got to read it yet, but I remember him as being a pretty sharp guy.
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Hadrea
7/14/2002 10:35 AM
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3 out of 123 |
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I like it as long as there is no homage paid to Christianity or the Christian god.
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Hadrea
7/14/2002 2:15 PM
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4 out of 123 |
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On October 28th, 1886, President Grover Cleveland accepted the Statue on behalf of the United States and said in part: "We will not forget that Liberty has here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected."
:)
And I just found an epithet for Libertas: "Mother of Exiles" - see The New Colossus
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