Heathen Patriot: Thoughts from a Heathen Libertarian
Exploring pre-Christian Germanic and contemporary Neopagan beliefs and practices, politics, culture, and from a different point of view. Welcome to the conservative/libertarian end of the Pagan / Heathen pool.
Grieve Indeed the Growth of Neo-Paganism
Over at Pantheos, Timothy Dalrymple, on his Philosophical Fragments blog, posted about a trip he recently made with the editor of the Pagan channel at Pantheos, Star Foster. After a pretty nice and friendly introduction, though, he lays open his bigoted Christian heart and says:
As a Christian, of course, I grieve the growth of modern Neo-Paganism. ... I find the historical scholarship of the Pagan communities sorely wanting, and the philosophy and theology behind it all is not yet mature. Although it’s always harder to hear an outsider say it, I think most thoughtful pagans agree (and many say openly) that there is, quite naturally, a lot of growing left to do.
And then bigotry transforms into condescension as we are treated to:
It’s like watching new religions take shape right in front of you, and observing the processes that transform ideas into teachings, teachings into communities, and communities into institutions and traditions. Sects are becoming religions.
Like monkeys in a zoo. How quaint! The cute little Pagans are starting to turn into a real religion right before my very eyes! Isn't that adorable? It's like they think they're real people!
I have a bit of historical analysis for Mr. Dalrymple, if I may, who despite his self-claimed status as a "scholar of religion" seems to think that "religion" equals Christianity.
Perhaps the "historical scholarship of the Pagan communities" would be a bit more robust if Christians had not gone around systematically obliterating as many traces of our history, beliefs, and practices as they could. Thanks to Mr. Dalrymple's forebears, we are forced to make do with fragments, bits and pieces that we are able to cobble together to get an outline of what our ancestors believed and how they acted on those beliefs. If the Christian conversion of Europe had spilled a little more ink and a little less blood, then perhaps those of us who utterly reject the Christian world-view would be able to satisfy Mr. Dalrymple's standards of scholarship.
Alas, we must make the most of what his forebears left us.
Perhaps the modern revival of Pagan and Heathen religions might have happened earlier, and thus would now find themselves in a more "fully grown" state at this point, if there had not been systematic oppression of non-Christian beliefs and practices. Perhaps, if there were no "Witchcraft Acts" in England, or if they had been repealed prior to 1951, we might be in a bit better place right now, compared to Christianity, which had a bit of a jump on Paganism these last thousand years plus.
Alas, we must make the most of what his forebears saw fit to allow us, in the time they saw fit to allow us.
And then we go beyond mere bigotry, beyond condescension, and into complete and utter xenophobic invalidation:
Personally, of course, I don’t want Pagans to find religion, because I want pagans to recognize that the great God above all gods become incarnate and communicated his love and reconciliation to the world through Jesus Christ, the God-man.
Because, dontcha know, Dalrymple really knows what's best for all of us, and if only we'd listen, we'd all agree with him. Because his god is "real" and ours are just... what? Demons? Figments of our collective imaginations? He seems to ask Star with incredulity:
When you honor Hephaistos, do you believe that Hephaistos (and the whole pantheon, for that matter) truly exists or do you honor Hephaistos as a symbol for important truths and values?
I have news for you: your Jehovah isn't "above" Thor or Odin on his best day. Your pathetic god was nailed to a cross. My God wields a giant hammer. Any questions?
Mr. Dalrymple lays accusations and faults at the feet of Paganism and Heathenry which are explicitly and historically the fault of Christianity. And then he has the audacity to say that it is our fault that we are not "mature" enough. Not "scholarly" enough.
Perhaps we should aspire to be as mature as Islam, whose enthusiastic supporters kill, burn, maim, and destroy at the slightest provocation because non-believers violated strictures that their believers are held to, and hold back basic human rights of women, homosexuals, and those who dare to want to follow a different faith.
Perhaps we should aspire to be as scholarly as Christianity, a significant number of whose evangelical adherents believe the Earth to be something on the order of 6,000 years old and who deny undisputed scientific observations of biology, astronomy, and geology in the process.
These are but two examples; one could of course find many more illustrations of maturity and scholarship among the "real" religions.
On second thought, perhaps we should be quite happy with the pace we've been setting. If that's where maturity and scholarship lead a religious movement, we might not want to get there all that quickly. Maybe we might be able to get where we're going with some more ink, and less blood, than the "real" religions spilled while en route.
(Originally posted at www.GOPagan.com)
Comments
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Tuesday, 18 September 2012I read Timothy's blog post this morning and I enjoyed it very much. He is aware that his own religious views color his judgement and makes no excuses for that. He views Paganism from a Christian world view, and from a Christian heart. I can understand how he would feel hesitant embracing religious views other than his own, as he has been taught--and obviously believes--that there is only One True God. He has found in Christianity what I have found in Hellenismos and on his blog, towards his Christian readers, he has every right to highlight the rise of Paganism from the standpoint of that conviction.
I agree with Timothy and Star that Paganism as a whole, and many of its branches, still have a lot of growing up to do. We are not united. We bicker amongst ourselves. We are not proud of the Pagan label and most branches fight to stand on their own despite the label. We focus on the individual (or branch), not the community. And this is fine, really, I understand. This is how Paganism was conceived and it has naturally progressed into this state. Yet, if we look at the big religions--you know, the religions that seem to have found a way to stay viable to this day--they have their unity in common. Do all the branches under the various labels love each other? No, not at all, but they (in general) don't fight the overarching label.
And, FYI, we are young. Wicca has been around for... what? 80 years? 70? Hellenismos only 20. Christianity has a couple of years on us. And the early Christians didn't do anything the Greeks (or Romans, etc...) did not do. In fact, the early Christians were hunted down and killed for their views.
Could Timothy have been more politically correct in his post? Yes, probably, but I wasn't offended at all. I may be the odd one out, I may not have all the facts, I may be stupid, but I think Timothy meant well. He speaks from his religion, and I respect that. A lot. Also... if we want him to respect us... wouldn't it be a nice gesture not to belittle him either? -
Wednesday, 19 September 2012I have no problem with any other religion until they get all pompous and inform us that they are better than anyone else who isn't a believer in whatever they think is the 'true' religion. Everyone has the right to find there own way to what they feel is the right way. I home educate my children and teach them about all religions and wouldn't dream of being insulting about any of those beliefs. It's just a shame other people feel they need to.
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Thursday, 27 September 2012
I am amazed that I am still amazed that someone can claim they are Christian and well versed in biblical scripture, yet ignore every last part of it that subscribes to what is wrong in our world. I am someone who was taught and trained to be a "christian - evangelical - women's ministry leader" yet, once I finally read the bible and allowed myself to not believe it through indoctrination of highly weighed in dogma, I was illuminated. This article or criticism of a vast group of people, who range from Hindus, Druids, Buddhists, The Wicca, Solitary Spiritualists, Mystics, and many more amazing people is mind boggling. I find it extremely difficult to grasp this man's view that "Pagans" are immature in their structural organizing of their separate religions, whilst he ignores the structural organization of one of the largest religions and how it rules the "f-ing" world and dominates it with harsh Patriarchal Tyranny. A story in the bible itself explains a man whom "god" commanded to sacrifice his son to and the man was willing to do it!!!! What sort of structure causes people to blindly believe this crap???? An abusive structure, that's what. The write of the article has no clue what his evangelism is causing in the personal lives of so many who blindly follow. And his fellowship with those, whom the bible says ignore until they reprove of their ways, seems to be a cry for help (in order for him to have a hand out to leave such organization.) I used to be afraid to say something back and say what I think, because of the social impact that is a consequence of such statements. But once I realized that Christians are not the minority like the leaders say, they are not protecting the little guys like the businesses say, they are adding to world hunger and poverty and condoning as well as since the beginning of the religion using slaves, and other immoral inhumane acts of cruelty to get what they want, I am able to not be ashamed or afraid to speak out. I actually toned this down a lot, from what I was thinking, in order to make it easier for whomever may be Christian and reading to not be thoroughly offended. I hope "dear God/ddess," I hope that at least more American women will WAKE UP and come out and let their voices be heard. Because once they realize how much they are marginalized, victimized and ruled over because they blindly follow the organizational structure of Christianity under the false hope that, following and doing will get them to heaven, they will be able to then shelter their children from such tyranny and save themselves a lot of grief. (Learned and Evolved from the influence of guilt, shame, and ridicule from hypocrites and tyrants!)
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Thursday, 27 September 2012
By the way, my response was to the article written by Dalrymple, that this one mentions. I apologize for not specifying to begin with.
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Thursday, 13 December 2012
So I am commenting again on this, because this post has been on my mind since my first comment. I must add an addition. My first post was very emotional, considering I was coping with some anger that I had towards an old church I was once part of. Two, the word christian, I don't find to be bad or evil or negative. Christianity I don't find to be the problem. I find to be the problem in which I have struggled with, is harsh things done by anyone in the name of good. And it can be christian, or any other religion. Its usually not the religion that harms but the people. And lots of time/most of the time they don't want to harm. Most religious people, I am assuming and believe just want to love and be loved, and things get all sorts of messed up once legalism comes into play. That is my last comment (should be on here.) Thanks for giving me something to think about for so long. Sorry for the initial long rant and complaint which was incorrect and emotional (it was out of place.)
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We could get into all the flaws inherent in the Abrahamic religions, but that would be beating a dead horse. Oh, and please do not get me started on Young Earth creationism.
I think your final paragraph wraps it up very nicely. Your point is definitely well-made.