Inventions To Thank Pagans For

[Goose and Fig]

Oh no- I'm not saying the saints are worshipped. I'm talking about how each saint has their own patronage. Say like how St.Francis of Asissi (my particular favorite) is the patron saint of animals, St.Jude is the patron saint of hopeless cases, St. Therese is always represented with roses, St.Anthony will help you find things that are lost .......and on and on.

I just see the similarity with Greek mythology and other polytheistic faiths.

For example- my dog is sick. If I were a Catholic- I would say a prayer to St. Francis. It's his "specialty" See where I'm coming from? If I were a pagan, and my crops needed rain...............

 

[deb1]

Quote:
Now I understand you and this is the sort of similarities that I find not only fascinating but encouraging. We could start a whole different thread on the similarites in different religions.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
Now I understand you and this is the sort of similarities that I find not only fascinating but encouraging. We could start a whole different thread on the similarites in different religions.

Oh don't even get me started! I minored in Humanities/sociology. Could talk about this stuff all day. Mythbusting too! OMG I love that.
I think this has been a great thread even if we got off-topic a bit. Sorry about that!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I am with you guys! My avocation is sociology and comparative religion.

When I say Catholicism is the most pagan I am speaking exactly as Happy Mtn says. Because it is so old and made so many accommodations to the existing religions in the cultures it converted it retain a great deal of local or pre-christian practices. You really want to get a kick look up the origins of St. Brigid....... There are many aspects of religion as doctrine vs dogma vs spirituality that allow for many perspectives to be "right" while others that appear contradictory are also right.

It is not whether you believe the dogma of a religion that makes that religion right or wrong. I know many many practicing catholics that disagree mightily with some aspects of catholic dogma... And none of us can say for certain what some one hundreds of years ago did or said. History is written by the victors not the vanquished. (As well as the literate.

)

I adore discussions of religion, as long as no one gets their knickers in a knot. I am game to debate all day.



When we discuss pagan the evolving meaning of the term must be taken into account. Pagan as it was said in 1500 is not necessarily the same as pagan as it was used in 1700 let alone today. The etymology of words is another great topic!! Websters' dictionaries are exhaustive and authoritative, but the older versions clearly show their ethnocentric slant. The only thing more fun than comparing various old dictionaries is doing side by side comparisons of bibles. Proof positive of my undying geekiness.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Oh I agree completely.

Once in awhile I get lucky and they have linguist on NPR. Who ever thought it would be so fascinating?
If that makes me a geek- so be it.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Have you ever read or heard any John McWhorter? He is a great linguist who makes amazingly detailed lectures that really keep you interested. He tracks the travel of certain words and shows how they show the extension of trade and intermarriage Cool stuff.

 

[Blackbird]

I see what you mean now Happy Mtn. You are right, some, but not all, Pagans have varying patronages. When I was still Catholic, very few people prayed to, or had specific patronages, but I'm sure that varies as well. We did have several priests who were off their rockers as well, which also played a part in my leaving.

You are right about that IHWIMY; Catholic(ism?) has changed a lot over the years, and now some of it is considered downright contradicting, as compared a lot of denominations.
I do think we can all agree though, the basic principles of Catholics and Pagans are very different.

It kind of seems like anyone not following or belonging to specific organization or with special titles often get branded as Pagans, whether they are or not. Makes it harder to pinpoint specifics on what the majority may or may not believe. I have my beliefs but they are probably very different from some others.

I do want to suggest the book 'Drawing Down The Moon' by Margot Alder, preferably the most recent version. It has helped me with different perspectives and beliefs to find my own that fit me.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Oh yeah the basic principles are different simply due to the monotheism vs poly or pantheism issue. No getting past that.

Heirerarchical issues etc etc..... But, add candles and ritualistic recitations and movements, even (potential dogma bomb here not meant to provoke) the polytheistic aspects of the trinity, then add the transmogrification... It starts to look familiar.


One year I did a major comparison of the worlds major religions. When you scrape of the human rules and dogma you get: Be nice to each other.

The golden rule: do unto others, the wiccan rede: Harm None.

Do we really need all the rest to actually do that?

Apparently. Sacralized rules seem to be the only ones we will follow - most of the time.

 

[ruby]

Santa Claus!

 

[Q9]

Quote:
Erm... Not trying to start a huge debate here, but I don't recall any pagan civilization that was matriarchal. Romans, Babylonians, Greeks, etc., all were patriarchal.