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Wicca, polytheism and gods' native religions.
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Messages: 1 - 4 (13 total)
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Neina
2/8/2005 7:26 PM
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1 out of 13 |
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Most Wiccans seem to acknowledge the gods of other cultures; they see them as archetypal figureheads for ideas; as being facets of the greater Goddess and God; or that each god and goddess is an individual divine entity (polytheism, as far as I know).
If we take the standpoint of polytheism for a moment, and see the millions of gods and goddessess as individual entities with influence in their particular fields, it is hard to escape the fact that they are grouped together in 'cultural families'.
There were cultures (in a few cases, still are) who "had" particular families of gods; the Greek had their Greek gods, the Norse had theirs, etc. They also had systems of religion based around these gods and the land they lived in.
Some of these belief-systems are being "reconstructed" (generally) to the best that one can given the information available at this time. The Asatruar, the Hellenists, Druids, they all have working belief-systems built upon scholar and archaeological findings, and from what I have seen those people submerge themselves in the history, culture and myths of the culture they are attracted to. They attempt to honour and work with the gods of that culture in the way they were previously honoured.
If we maintain that these gods are individual divine entities, it could stand that they have made the way they desire to be honoured quite plain to the people of their respective cultures.
How then does a Wiccan rationalise "working with" or even worshipping / honouring those gods in the Wiccan way, when those gods have already shown us their own system? How can a Wiccan have a patron or matron, a divine entity they feel an affiliation with, and although the means exist to worship them as they once were--or as close as possible given the information--continue to worship them using Wiccan ritual, symbolism and language?
----
This is more a question than it is a criticism, but I felt it would be best to post this in this forum instead of the 'learn about Wicca' one. Please pardon me if you find my post offensive, that isn't my intention.
Bright blessings,
Neina.
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KeaErisdottir
2/8/2005 9:38 PM
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2 out of 13 |
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How then does a Wiccan rationalise "working with" or even worshipping / honouring those gods in the Wiccan way, when those gods have already shown us their own system?
To paraphase Neo, "Becaause we choose to." Since it is the rigt of huma beings to worship how, where and what they will, I am unsure that there is big issue.
How can a Wiccan have a patron or matron, a divine entity they feel an affiliation with, and although the means exist to worship them as they once were--or as close as possible given the information--continue to worship them using Wiccan ritual, symbolism and language?
Because until a Divinity says to do it some other way, there is no cause to change.
Reconstructionism is hardly perfect. In fact, there is a lot of discussion and complaint about how hidebound many Recons are--among recons. No system of worship is perfect, not even historically faithful ones.
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embreis
2/13/2005 10:38 AM
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3 out of 13 |
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I think there is a misconception here. Modern readers who pick up a book on "Greek Myths" or "Egyptian Religion" may get the impression that Greek, Egyptian and other ancient and classical cultures had a consistent mythology and associated "church" that held sway over large areas, but actually the original pagan religions were specific to very local areas. The gods were worshipped under different names, with different rites and ofter were understood to be very different in character in different cities, regions islands, et cetera. When Alexander spread Greek language and Greek culture throughout the easter Meditteranean and western Asia, Greek scholars and poets began the project or rationalizing the different religious practices into a coherent system of belief, but even in classical there was never a consensus of belief. Nor was there ever in belief among the pagan scholars that the local variants were "wrong" merely that they reflected different perceptions of a central truth. For the most part, every temple in every city was its own theology down to the final military and political triumph of monothheism.
My point is that the consistent "mythologies" with which we are familiar were created by european schholars since the rennaisance, under the influence of monotheistic thinking. They were constructed by men and women who could not grasp the idea of real polytheism, without any central orthodoxy.
If you study actual document of the early years, you will see that to the early pagans: religious practice was always local, although to the philosophers, each local doctrine reflected a central truth.
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redshire
2/13/2005 6:47 PM
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4 out of 13 |
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How then does a Wiccan rationalise "working with" or even worshipping / honouring those gods in the Wiccan way, when those gods have already shown us their own system? How can a Wiccan have a patron or matron, a divine entity they feel an affiliation with, and although the means exist to worship them as they once were--or as close as possible given the information--continue to worship them using Wiccan ritual, symbolism and language?
I feel that the gods were reflected durring the times and periods of their worship, as best as the present cultures could express them. Today, a vast majority of those ancient cultures do not exist, but the gods are still very much there. What is wrong with honoring the gods that have called you, within a tradition that reflects ones current, modern culture?
I work with the Egyptian pantheon, and while I incorporate much of the cultural symbolisim and ways into my practices, I have a decidedly Wiccan way of going about things.
Point being, the gods are beyond culture and time.
em hotep
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